Chapter 67: He Who Follows the Dao Gains Many Helpers; He Who Abandons the Dao Gains Few

If asked who had the easiest time in tonight’s fierce battle against the Wood Puppet Wraith,

it certainly wasn’t the strongest: Yang Ning and Li Hu.

It was Xia Chuan, who had remained outside the valley entrance all along.

The commotion inside the valley was immense, especially those final impacts—the ground trembled. It wasn’t just audible outside the tunnel; even hundreds of meters away, one could hear it clearly.

Xia Chuan heard every sound, and his heart burned with anxiety.

Outside, he paced like an ant on a hot pan, worried for Xia Hong and the safety of the entire Daxia camp, countless times wanting to rush in and help—even at first, he had stepped into the tunnel several times.

By sheer luck, once before, when he was about to enter and check the situation, a large pile of rubble had fallen from above, blocking the inner entrance, so he couldn’t get in.

Later, when the tunnel reopened, Xia Chuan hesitated to enter.

Remembering Xia Hong’s instructions before he went in, he ultimately gave up.

Whether Xia Hong, Luo Ming, Yang Ning, or Li Hu—all of them were stronger than him. Luo Ge and the other four camps had plenty of Woodcutting Realm fighters; they didn’t need him.

Even if he went in, he wouldn’t be able to help much.

Better to follow his brother’s orders and stay posted at the entrance.

If he rushed in recklessly and disrupted Xia Hong’s plan, it might ruin everything.

With this thought, even when the valley’s commotion lessened, Xia Chuan no longer considered entering—he chose to remain outside the entrance.

Until just now, sensing someone emerging from within the tunnel, Xia Chuan instantly perked up, moving closer to the entrance and becoming sharply alert.

As he neared the entrance, he could hear Xia Hong’s voice inside.

Hearing his brother order everyone not to come out, and the three voices behind him echoing the same, he immediately understood his duty.

Sure enough, when he saw all figures inside retreat back into the valley, except one stealthily creeping toward the entrance, Xia Chuan immediately prepared for battle.

Unfortunately, the moment the figure reached the exit and was about to rejoice, his foot suddenly burst into flame.

In that instant, Xia Chuan, hiding to the side, didn’t hesitate—he lunged out and swung his stone axe straight at the man’s skull.

Earlier, following Xia Hong’s orders, he had coated the exit with Congealing Fire Oil; the moment the man stepped on it, he ignited—his identity was obvious.

“You little brat, stop right now!”

Before the axe could strike, Xia Chuan heard Li Hu’s furious roar.

But Xia Hong had ordered him to attack anyone emerging, and he was certain the figure was the Wood Puppet Wraith.

Moreover, he had always disliked Li Hu.

With all these factors combined, how could Xia Chuan stop?

The axe cleaved into the man’s forehead; thick black mist erupted from the wound. Before Xia Chuan could pull back, three golden lights shot from the mist, striking his forehead and vanishing inside.

The three golden lights flashed into his mind—Xia Chuan’s head exploded with pain. He clutched it instinctively, about to scream for Brother Xia Hong.

But before he could make a sound, a powerful kick landed squarely on his chest.

Thump…………

Xia Chuan’s body flew backward five or six meters like a cannonball.

Already in excruciating pain, this kick sent him crashing to the ground, unconscious.

“Stop! You dog!”

Xia Hong, just emerging from the tunnel, saw Xia Chuan kicked five or six meters away—his fury surged instantly.

Xia Hong cursed, hurled his great sword at Li Hu, then rushed to Xia Chuan’s side, lifted him up, and checked his pulse—his breath was still there, just unconscious. Xia Hong exhaled in relief.

Li Hu casually batted away Xia Hong’s thrown sword, his face still furious, even glowering at Xia Hong and Xia Chuan with a hint of murderous intent.

Not just him—Yang Ning beside him also stared fixedly at Xia Chuan, cold glints flickering in his eyes.

Huh…………

Xia Hong exhaled softly, looked the two straight in the eye, and said with a touch of mockery:

“Gentlemen, it seems the artifact on its body has no connection with you.”

Though Xia Hong still seethed over Li Hu’s kick, he couldn’t help feeling ecstatic inside.

Who could have imagined that Xia Chuan, who had done nothing all along and stayed posted at the entrance, would stumble upon this windfall?

From Yang and Li’s reactions, those three golden lights were undoubtedly priceless beyond imagination—after all, these two came from Beishuozhen, a town with over a hundred thousand people, and had seen countless treasures.

Even they coveted it desperately, willing to risk their lives for it.

Xia Chuan had just stumbled upon a massive fortune.

“No connection? With you and your worthless trash, do you think you can stop me?”

But first, they’d have to get past this moment!

Likely angered by Xia Hong’s mocking tone, Li Hu’s face turned icy as he stared at Xia Hong and the four behind him—his gaze brimmed with contempt, yet his voice was chillingly cold.

He even took a step forward.

As if ready to strike immediately.

But Yang Ning beside him reached out and stopped him.

Yang Ning stared at the unconscious Xia Chuan, his eyes flickering as if making a decision. He took a deep breath, pointed at Xia Chuan, then turned to Xia Hong and declared firmly:

“Hand him over to me. I’m taking him back to Beishuozhen.”

“Impossible.”

Xia Hong refused without hesitation, leaving Yang Ning embarrassed—he had issued an order, not a request.

Yang Ning fixed Xia Hong with a cold stare: “If I can’t take him, I’ll kill him.”

“Let me kill him, Brother! These fools aren’t worthy of such a precious artifact—leaving it with them, it’ll only be stolen again by some other wraith someday.”

Li Hu took two more steps forward. He had long despised Xia Hong; back at Hongmu Ridge, Xia Chuan and Yuan Cheng had openly contradicted him, and he’d never forgotten it—he’d longed to strike them down.

Yang Ning’s eyes flashed coldly; he quietly withdrew his hand, no longer intending to stop Li Hu.

Li Hu’s face twisted into a cruel grin as he stepped forward.

“In this purge of the wraith, we owe you both great thanks, Luo. I’m deeply grateful. Since the treasure now has a master, why insist on taking it?”

Luo Ming, who had remained silent since emerging from the tunnel, finally spoke.

Li Hu and Yang Ning turned to look at Luo Ming and saw he and Shan Ping’s group had moved to stand beside Xia Hong’s party—their expressions shifted slightly.

Xia Hong, touching his shoulder wound, relaxed his expression slightly.

Only now did he finally breathe easy.

“Luo Ming, are you siding with them?”

Li Hu’s direct, furious address of his name made Luo Ming’s previously calm face stiffen instantly.

He looked up at Yang and Li, his expression growing colder:

“Had it not been for Headman Xia, we might not have survived the Wood Puppet Wraith at all. Your help, I deeply remember—and if you have any request, as long as I can fulfill it, speak freely.

Before the Wood Puppet Wraith exploded, you two moved first to seize the treasure. Neither I nor Headman Xia said a word. But now that the treasure has no connection with you and belongs to another, you should accept it.

If you intend to bully others with strength, even contemplate murder to steal the treasure, I, Luo Ming, cannot possibly agree.”

Hearing Luo Ming’s words, Li Hu’s rage intensified. He seemed unwilling to argue further and took another step forward—clearly preparing to attack.

But at that moment, Huang Yong, leader of Huang Zhao’s camp, and Hong Gang, leader of Dachuan camp, also stepped forward beside Xia Hong, staring straight at Li Hu:

“Headman Xia just saved our lives—we cannot agree!”

“Dachuan camp owes Headman Xia a great debt—we absolutely cannot agree!”

The leaders of two other camps, Lu He and Chen Ying, along with over a hundred ordinary people rescued from the wooden hut in Luo Ge’s camp, all moved to stand beside Xia Hong—some even stepped directly in front of him.

“You lacked the ability to hold onto the treasure—whose fault is that? If you want to bully Headman Xia, we won’t allow it.”

“We won’t stand by while you bully Headman Xia.”

“We won’t allow it.”

“Back in the hut, Headman Xia saved me—I won’t allow it either.”

………………

Watching Li Hu halt his advance and Yang Ning’s grim expression behind him, Xia Hong silently shook his head, eight words rising in his mind.

He who follows the Dao gains many helpers; he who abandons the Dao gains few.

(End of Chapter)