Chapter 80

Seventeen Woodcutting Realm cultivators.

A valley with an excellent location, high concealment, and unique advantages.

Two coal and iron mines that can be directly mined.

Not to mention that as soon as Great Xia takes over the Luo Ge camp, it will logically become the strongest camp in the vicinity.

From now on, the outskirts on the east side of Red Wood Ridge will basically be under Great Xia's control.

This seems like a proposal that doesn't need consideration; just take it.

But nothing should be thought of too simply. If it were really that good, Luo Ming wouldn't be kneeling here begging him to take over the Luo Ge camp.

First, the integration of over a hundred people is not simple, let alone the seventeen Woodcutting Realm cultivators among them. Currently, Great Xia only has nine Woodcutting Realm cultivators. Will there be conflicts when the two groups merge? If conflicts arise, Xia Hong could suppress them with his strength, but that would only make integration more difficult.

The hundred-plus people brought by Shi Qing are different. The Great Stone camp was completely destroyed, and all the Woodcutting Realm cultivators were wiped out. Without Great Xia's shelter, they wouldn't be able to survive at all. Therefore, out of gratitude, they have unconditional trust in Xia Hong, and because they know they are newcomers, they are all trying very hard to integrate actively.

But the hundred-plus people from the Luo Ge camp are different.

According to Luo Ming, giving up the valley base means Xia Hong has to take these three hundred-plus people and move there. People will inevitably be resistant, and the number of Woodcutting Realm cultivators in the Luo Ge camp is nearly double that of Great Xia. When the two sides meet, conflicts are very likely to arise.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Hong asked:

"Leader Luo, forgive my bluntness, but since seventeen Woodcutting Realm cultivators were left behind, why not choose one of them to serve as the leader and continue to lead the others to survive?"

Hearing this question, a look of admiration appeared on Luo Ming's face. At the same time, he confirmed in his heart that he hadn't misjudged the person, and his thoughts became even firmer.

"Brother Xia Hong, I did have this idea two days ago, but among the seventeen people left in the camp, I truly cannot find anyone more suitable than you."

"First, their strength is not as good as yours, and secondly, these people truly do not possess the qualities to be a leader."

"It has only been two days since the great disaster, and many of them are still immersed in the sorrow of losing their loved ones. When I proposed to take people away, they were even more disheartened."

"Let alone letting them lead the camp, I worry that as soon as I leave, these people might be the first to sink into despair, eventually causing the other hundred-plus people in the camp to be unable to survive. I really had no other choice but to come and beg you, Brother Xia Hong."

After listening, Xia Hong was initially a bit puzzled, but recalling the tragic state of the Luo Ge camp before, he quickly understood.

Out of over thirteen hundred people, only a hundred-plus remained. Even Luo Ming, the leader, was disheartened, let alone the Woodcutting Realm cultivators under him.

Coupled with Luo Ming's proposal to take people away, and judging by his tone, he intended to take the three Earth-Digging Realm cultivators—Shang Ping, Li Baihe, and Xu Kang—along with their children.

In this way, the remaining people would likely be even more desperate.

Under such circumstances, it is indeed impossible to let them lead the camp.

Wait, wait—perhaps these people are acting this way on purpose just to prevent Luo Ming from leaving. If he agrees to Luo Ming, wouldn't that be indirectly facilitating Luo Ming and the others' departure? He might end up being hated even more.

Xia Hong's expression suddenly became strange.

Luo Ming happened to see it and gave a bitter smile:

"Brother Xia Hong is clever and saw it at a glance. That's right, they are indeed trying to use this as a threat to keep me from taking people away. But I, Luo, now only have my young son as a concern, and I truly do not wish to continue staying in Red Wood Ridge. Firstly, I fear seeing things that remind me of the past, and secondly, I worry that if I encounter danger in the future, I won't be able to protect my young son on my own."

"Therefore, Luo Ming's departure is imperative."

Speaking of this, Luo Ming changed the subject, his tone resolute: "Brother Xia Hong, rest assured, as long as you agree to accept them and promise to treat them equally, I will do my best to persuade them before I leave. For those who truly cannot be persuaded, you can deal with them as you see fit, and I will have no complaints."

After Luo Ming finished saying this, he bowed to Xia Hong again.

Although he didn't look at Xia Hong's expression, Luo Ming already had eighty percent certainty in his heart. To be precise, before he came, he already had sixty percent certainty that Xia Hong would agree to take over the hundred-plus people from the Luo Ge camp.

Although he had only briefly interacted with Xia Hong when they were fighting the Wood Puppet, Luo Ming had been a leader for so many years, and given his age, he still had some ability to judge people.

Xia Hong's ability to run over to notify him regardless of the risk upon learning that the Wood Puppet had infiltrated the Luo Ge camp, and his willingness to return to the camp with them to help deal with the Wood Puppet, proved his good character.

When fighting the Wood Puppet, leading a group of people with orderly advances and retreats, and having both courage and strategy, was also something Luo Ming saw with his own eyes. The four words "outstanding ability" were absolutely deserved.

This is also why Luo Ming favored him and felt he could take on the responsibility of leading those hundred-plus people in the camp.

Just now, when he said there were seventeen Woodcutting Realm cultivators left in the camp, everyone else was immediately all smiles and excited, only Xia Hong remained calm and quickly considered the difficulties of merging the two groups, which could be called exquisite thinking to the extreme.

Most importantly, Luo Ming saw that Xia Hong had ambition.

Especially after hearing the meat distribution rules Xia Hong formulated just now, Luo Ming was even more certain that he hadn't misjudged him.

An ambitious leader will not stubbornly stick to the few people Great Xia has now and remain unchanged. Any ambitious leader knows that resources are important, but population is the greatest foundation.

Without a large population, any ambition is just empty talk.

A leader with good character, outstanding ability, exquisite thinking, and ambition, facing over a hundred people delivered for free, along with the ready-made resources of the Luo Ge camp, plus the low posture he had taken just now...

Xia Hong could not refuse, nor did he have any reason to refuse.

"Leader Luo, Great Xia accepts those hundred-plus people!"

Although he had certainty in his heart, hearing Xia Hong agree, Luo Ming still let out a heavy sigh of relief.

"Brother Xia Hong, thank you!"

Xia Hong smiled and stepped forward, finally successfully helping Luo Ming up.

Although he didn't know why Luo Ming had to leave.

But with so many good things handed over, Xia Hong had no reason to refuse.

The hidden valley of the Luo Ge camp, the ready-made coal and iron mines, the vast territory on the outskirts of Red Wood Ridge, and over a hundred people, including seventeen Woodcutting Realm combatants.

No matter which item it was, it was extremely tempting to Xia Hong.

Although he knew these benefits were accompanied by trouble.

But isn't trouble meant to be solved!

Supporting five hundred people is just a matter of getting more crystal fruits;

If there are troublemakers among the seventeen Woodcutting Realm cultivators, persuade them first; if they can't be persuaded, at worst, suppress them with strength;

The supply of cold beast meat has suddenly increased significantly, which is just a matter of going to Red Wood Ridge to hunt a few more cold beasts.

Once these troubles are thoroughly resolved, and Great Xia's strength improves, completely replacing the Luo Ge camp, this area on the east side of Red Wood Ridge will be under Great Xia's control from now on.

With such a moving prospect, no matter how troublesome it is, Xia Hong must accept it.

After discussing the specific details, Luo Ming left with satisfaction.

After Xia Hong saw Luo Ming off and returned to the cave, seeing everyone staring at him with excited expressions, he couldn't help but feel a trace of excitement in his heart.

"Pack your things. As soon as night falls tomorrow, we will start moving!"

"We're moving, hahahaha."

"That valley of the Luo Ge camp is a good place."

"Not just the valley; from now on, their territory will also be ours."

"Hahaha, with over a hundred people joining Great Xia, our population will exceed five hundred. Doesn't that make us a medium-sized camp?"

For a time, the camp was bustling with noise, and everyone cheered.

(End of chapter)