Chapter 300: Hou Jing

48th Year of Longyou, June 22nd, second half of the night

On the snowfield west of the Bai Yuan encampment, a long dragon-like procession of about five or six thousand people was slowly moving toward the west side.

The front row of the procession consisted of the able-bodied, the middle was the old, weak, women, and children, and the thousand people at the back were hunting team personnel wearing iron armor and carrying longbows. The overall order was distinct; one could tell at a glance that it was a standard encampment migration procession.

If one were more observant, they would notice that among the hunting team personnel wearing iron armor at the back of the procession, there were a very small number of people wearing blood-colored battle armor.

Anyone familiar enough with the twelve camps of Longyou could identify at a glance through the blood-colored battle armor that this migrating procession belonged to the Zhaoyang encampment.

"Second Uncle, are the people of Bai Yuan not migrating to Longshan with us?"

At the very back of the procession, Hou Kong looked back at the Bai Yuan encampment, his brow furrowed slightly, and he asked his Second Uncle Hou Jing beside him in a low voice, his posture very respectful.

Similar to Longshan being dominated by the Li clan, Zhaoyang is dominated by the Hou clan. But compared to the Li clan, the Hou clan descendants were clearly much more promising. Zhaoyang had a total of twenty-four Cold-Resistant Realm experts, and their Hou surname accounted for sixteen, occupying nearly seventy percent.

Hou Jing is already over eighty this year, with gray hair and a decaying face, looking exactly like someone who wouldn't live past next year. He is the younger brother of Hou Hu's father, Hou Luan, and is the Hou clan member with the highest seniority currently alive in Zhaoyang.

In the Frozen Abyss world, seniority naturally doesn't count for much.

The main thing is strength!

Hou Kong knew very well that Second Uncle Hou Jing only looked old; his strength was absolutely not bad. Even Big Brother Hou Hu usually treated him with great respect, and if the encampment had any important decisions, they would first go to consult his opinion.

Hou Jing was wearing a date-colored cloak, his gray beard trembling slightly, and his movements seemed somewhat inconvenient. Hearing Hou Kong's inquiry, he turned his head to stare at the Bai Yuan encampment, a cold glint flashing in his turbid pupils, and said in a low voice: "Why should they migrate over with us? Bai Yuan and us are not of the same family."

Hearing this, Hou Kong's expression stalled.

Bai Yuan had merged into Zhaoyang as early as April. Bai Qiucheng even brought people personally to Pinggu to pay respects to Hou Hu. Later, when swords were drawn with Longshan, the Blood Guard Army was stationed directly in Bai Yuan.

But soon, Hou Kong understood his Second Uncle's meaning, his expression turned cold, and he said coldly: "Is Bai Qiucheng wanting to flip?"

"Zhaoyang is already gone, so whose side would he flip to? Everyone will have to be dogs for the Li clan from now on. For Bai Qiucheng to merge into Longshan under the name of his own encampment to get more benefits, it's not considered excessive."

Hou Jing is old and has seen such behavior of drifting with the tide, so he was mostly unsurprised. After saying this in a low voice, seeing that Hou Kong still had an angry look, he shook his head with a smile and said: "Don't be so angry. Times change; since Zhaoyang itself is no longer capable, don't blame others for being realistic..."

He paused, sighed, and continued: "800 sets of Hundred-Forged level armor were hijacked, the Blood Guard Army was almost completely wiped out, and Hou Ming, Hou Bing, Hou Ying, Lin Ye, Hou Tong, Hou Quan, Zhang Qingyuan, Lu Yin, Hou Ming, and Wang Lie—almost half of Zhaoyang's Cold-Resistant Realm experts were captured by Great Xia, life or death unknown. Even the leader himself was beaten into serious injury, almost losing his life.

With the little foundation Zhaoyang has now, let alone Bai Qiucheng, I estimate that Yu Bin of Xiling's mind has also started to become active. If it weren't for Dong Zhong being in the east and leading people to merge into Zhaoyang early on, Dongkang would absolutely have gone back on their word too."

Hearing Hou Jing mention Zhaoyang's recent huge losses, as well as those captured by Great Xia with life or death unknown, Hou Kong clenched his fists, his face full of hatred and anger toward Great Xia.

"What, still hating Great Xia?"

"Of course, Zhaoyang Hou clan's foundation was destroyed in one fell swoop, all because of Great Xia. This person Xia Hong is despicable and shameless. I hate that I cannot eat his flesh and chew his bones. The Leader taking us to merge into Longshan, isn't it to borrow Longshan's power to destroy Great Xia and take revenge?"

Zhaoyang reaching today is all caused by Great Xia single-handedly. How could he not hate it in his heart? Not just him, there isn't a single person in Zhaoyang who doesn't hate Great Xia to the bone.

"Borrowing Longshan's power to destroy Great Xia and take revenge, that's not wrong, but..."

Hou Jing paused and continued: "The most important reason is that our Zhaoyang only has this one road left to walk. If we don't merge into Longshan, the final result will either be being destroyed by Longshan or being destroyed by Great Xia. Do you understand?"

Hou Kong immediately fell into silence, not speaking for a long time.

He is not stupid. The moment the Blood Guard Army was wiped out last night, other Cold-Resistant Realm experts in Zhaoyang, including him, had long seen this point. This is why they were so anxious to merge into Longshan.

What he didn't understand was why Hou Jing wanted to say these words at this moment.

Especially just now, when asking him if he still hated Great Xia, Hou Jing clearly used a rhetorical tone.

"Second Uncle, do you not approve of the Leader's decision to merge into Longshan?"

Hearing Hou Kong's inquiry, the expression in Hou Jing's eyes tightened, but then he nodded brightly and gave an affirmative answer.

"That's right. When I went to Longshan last night, I indeed did not agree with Hou Hu's decision. Merging into Longshan, in my view, is not as good as surrendering to Great Xia..."

"How is that possible, Second Uncle? You are muddled. Longshan has over fifty Cold-Resistant Realm experts, three thousand Longyou troops, and over ten thousand Earth-Digging Realm experts. How could Great Xia, an outside force, be a match for them? Furthermore, Great Xia wiped out the Blood Guard Army, killed so many of our people, and captured so many Cold-Resistant Realm experts. Xia Hong even beat the Leader into serious injury. Surrendering to them is absolutely impossible!"

Hou Kong directly interrupted Hou Jing's words with a furious face, forgetting for a moment that he was an elder, his tone even carrying a hint of reprimand.

Hou Jing's expression sank slightly, but he wasn't angry. After shaking his head, he just said lightly: "Adding flowers to brocade can never compare to sending charcoal in snow. Once you understand this principle, you will know."

Hou Kong's expression stalled, seemingly unable to think of anything to refute Hou Jing.

But soon, he realized and his expression tightened slightly: "Second Uncle, you are wanting to surrender to Great Xia for the sake of Hou Bing and Hou Quan, right?"

Aside from this, Hou Kong truly couldn't think of any other reason that could make Hou Jing have the thought of surrendering to Great Xia.

Hou Jing only has two sons, Hou Bing and Hou Quan, who have now both been captured by Great Xia. He is worried about his sons' safety and wants to exchange a way of life for his two sons through the method of surrendering to Great Xia, which indeed makes sense.

"Of course, but I am not just doing it for my sons; I am also doing it for you all."

Hou Jing did not deny it and continued in a deep voice: "You are so certain that Longshan can destroy Great Xia, but have you thought about why Longshan was willing to take out the Sun-Yang Pill and 800 sets of battle armor to let us form an alliance with them to deal with Great Xia together?"

Hou Kong's expression tightened. The biggest reason Hou Hu decided to form an alliance with Longshan earlier was the Sun-Yang Pill and 800 sets of Hundred-Forged level battle armor sent by Longshan.

Facing the high price offered by Longshan, plus the fact that Zhaoyang and Great Xia had already formed a feud because of the Hive, at that time, all the Cold-Resistant Realm experts in Zhaoyang, including Hou Hu, nodded and agreed to form an alliance with Longshan.

Being suddenly reminded of this by Hou Jing, Hou Kong suddenly realized.

The reason Longshan would offer such a high price is inherently intriguing.

From the surface, Longshan's strength far exceeds Great Xia's. Even if Zhaoyang and Great Xia joined forces, they might not be able to fight them. Did they need to offer such a high price to win them over to deal with Great Xia?

"Longshan's understanding of Great Xia must be more than ours. They know that relying on themselves alone to deal with Great Xia is difficult, which is why they offered such a high price to win us over. In other words, Great Xia's true strength has already made Longshan start to fear. Such a simple fact is placed right before our eyes. Hou Hu, and you few, were only blinded by anger and couldn't see it at all."

Hou Kong's expression became increasingly low, and his eyes started to drift, clearly starting to believe Hou Jing's words.

Leader, was he really wrong?

He even started to doubt Hou Hu's decision to merge into Longshan in his heart.

"Hou Kong, your brother Hou Ming is now in Great Xia's hands, not to mention those other cousins. Joining Longshan means standing completely on the opposite side of Great Xia. Have you thought about what you should do if Great Xia uses your brother's life as a threat?"

Hou Kong's father died early, and he was almost raised single-handedly by his older brother. His feelings for Hou Ming naturally go without saying. After Hou Ming lost contact at the Hive, he worried every day. Later, when he found out he was captured by Great Xia, he immediately asked Hou Hu to send people to negotiate with Great Xia, hoping to exchange supplies for hostages. Unfortunately, Great Xia directly refused, not even listening to what conditions Zhaoyang offered.

At this moment, Hou Jing's meaning couldn't be more obvious.

If Zhaoyang could turn to Great Xia, then his brother, including the nine Cold-Resistant Realm experts captured earlier, could all return alive.

No, no!

Hou Kong suddenly tightened his expression, turned his head to look at the migrating procession that had already walked far away, then turned back to stare at Hou Jing, and said sternly: "Second Uncle, are you a bit abnormal today? Merging into Longshan is the Leader's decision, and it also received the unanimous agreement of everyone. You are saying these things now..."

Tap, tap, tap...

Suddenly, a sound of footsteps rose from the flank, interrupting Hou Kong's words.

"Who is it!"

Hou Kong's expression stirred, and he scolded angrily, directly drawing the broadsword from his waist. Then he turned to look, only to find a young man in black who, he didn't know when, had silently walked to a position less than twenty or thirty meters away from him.

The man looked young, carried a thin, narrow blade on his back, and the material of his black clothes was clearly not ordinary. The most critical thing was that he had walked all the way from the snowfield, and there wasn't a single footprint left along the way, not even a very subtle one.

"Thin blade, black clothes—Your Excellency is Great Xia's Leader, Xia Hong?"

Although Hou Kong had never seen Xia Hong, he still deduced his identity from his attire, weapon, and that unfathomable strength.

Clap, clap, clap...

Even though Hou Kong had already drawn his weapon, Xia Hong had no psychological burden and walked all the way to a position no more than three or four meters away from him. Then he turned to look at Hou Jing and smiled: "It seems Elder Hou was unable to persuade Hou Hu."

Hou Jing bowed to Xia Hong with great respect and said in a deep voice: "Subordinate pays respects to the Leader. Hou Hu is stubborn and obsessed, determined to merge into Longshan. I truly failed to persuade him successfully. As per Lord Zhao Long's instructions, I have already distinguished all the people of Zhaoyang. The portion of Cold-Resistant Realm experts loyal to Hou Hu, as well as a portion of the die-hard Earth-Digging Realm experts—their families are all in the migrating procession tonight. In total, it is these five or six thousand people."

After saying this, he pointed to the migrating procession behind him to signal to Xia Hong.

Xia Hong nodded slightly, then cast his gaze toward Hou Kong.

Hou Kong now couldn't fail to realize that his respected Second Uncle Hou Jing had already rebelled and secretly turned to Great Xia, and even the crowd migrating tonight was divided by him intentionally.

His face turned between blue and red, his expression changing many times. Realizing that Xia Hong was looking at him, he quickly retreated dozens of meters, then angrily said to Hou Jing in a deep voice: "Zhao Long is the person who previously served as an envoy from Great Xia to Longshan. In April—Second Uncle, in April you were already mixed up with Great Xia?"

He had already remembered that after Great Xia took Wu Shuang in April, they had sent a special envoy to Longshan, and that envoy's name was Zhao Long.

Hou Jing shook his head and denied: "That's not it. In April, I just chased out to ask Lord Zhao Long about Hou Bing's situation. I said it; what truly made me decide to turn to Great Xia was the current situation in Longyou. Turning to Great Xia is the best way out."

Having said this much, Hou Kong understood even if he were stupid.

Zhaoyang had ten Cold-Resistant Realm experts captured by Great Xia. Hou Hu took Hou Ning, Wang Peng, and Lu Yan to Longshan. The encampment originally only had ten Cold-Resistant Realm experts. Excluding himself and Hou Jing, the other eight—five had already gone to Longshan.

Now thinking back carefully, those five were indeed die-hard Hou Hu supporters. The remaining three who didn't go were likely already won over.

In other words, Hou Jing deliberately escorted the migrating procession with him tonight, but in reality, it was to win him over to turn to Great Xia together with him.

"Hou Kong, take my advice. Your brother is doing very well in Great Xia. As long as you turn to Great Xia with me, you can be reunited with him immediately..."

Hou Jing probably felt that Hou Kong, as a younger generation, had a high probability of being won over, so he kept persuading him. Even if Hou Kong didn't give any reaction, he never stopped.

Xia Hong was silent on the side, saying nothing. Even as Hou Kong didn't give a reaction for a long time, his expression was even a bit irritable.

A Cold-Resistant Realm expert with only three-mane strength, in Xia Hong's view, naturally had no great need to be won over. The biggest reason he was willing to stand here and wait was to give Hou Jing face.

"Hou Kong, how do you think these five or six thousand people are walking tonight? If the Leader were willing, he could completely capture these ordinary people and use them to hold all of us hostage. But not only did he not do so, he even ordered me to separate those willing to merge into Longshan, including their families, and let them all go to Longshan smoothly.

With such a broad mind from the Leader, what else do you have to worry about following him?"

This sentence made Hou Kong's expression stall. He looked up at Xia Hong, a trace of complexity rising in his eyes.

Indeed, Hou Jing's words were not wrong at all.

Great Xia only needed to send a few Cold-Resistant Realm experts, and with Hou Jing's cooperation, capturing the families of all their Cold-Resistant Realm experts would be easy, and then using the families to threaten them would be even more certain.

But Great Xia didn't do that!

After pondering for a long time, Hou Kong clearly had an answer. He clenched his fists and asked Xia Hong in a clear voice: "May I ask Leader Xia, if I do not surrender to you tonight, will my brother Hou Ming lose his life?"

Xia Hong was looking toward the east side. Hearing this question from Hou Kong, he didn't hesitate in the slightest and directly waved his hand: "Go to Longshan! Rest assured, I will not kill Hou Ming."

…………

Hearing this, Hou Kong's expression was stunned. Then, seeing that Xia Hong didn't even turn his head when he said this, his expression was a bit awkward, but more of it was complex.

After pondering for a long time, he still cupped his hands and bowed to Xia Hong:

"Many thanks, Leader Xia. If there is a chance in the future, Hou Kong will definitely repay you."

After saying this, he bowed to Xia Hong, then immediately turned and chased after the migrating procession on the west side.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 301 =====