Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Da Shi Camp Annihilation [Please Follow!]
"Ah... my leg, my leg..."
"Boo hoo... my neck is broken, it hurts so much."
"Mom, donāt die, donāt die..."
"My sonās head, whereās my sonās head, has anyone seen it..."
...
The Deceitful Monster fell, yet not a trace of joy was seen on Xia Hongās face.
Because echoing in his ears were the painful wails of the remaining survivors from Da Shi Camp.
The phrase āgrieving cries throughout the landā truly manifested before his eyes at this moment.
Sigh...
Xia Hong surveyed the tragic scene around him, and in the end, could only let out a sigh.
"Chunyu... Chunyu..."
Shi Qing staggered tremblingly toward a corpse.
Although the threads on his body had been removed, the wounds left through his body remained, with several bloody holes on his back scapula, lips, and even his limbs and torso, oozing blood.
The corpse was cut in half by the Deceitful Monster at the waist; only half of it remained. Based on the attire and the name Shi Qing called, it was clearly his wife.
Beside the corpse, a pair of fifteen or sixteen-year-old siblings were crying bitterly in pain.
"Mother, father, please save mother, we canāt do without her..."
The girl had clearly lost her mind, seeing Shi Qing approach, she looked up with tear-filled eyes, pleading with her father.
The mournful cries were heart-wrenching, causing Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng, and others who had come over to tear up.
Shi Qing, trembling, first embraced his wifeās remnants, then looked back at his brother Shi Dongās beheaded corpse. He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing, closing his eyes with a face full of pain and regret.
Witnessing this scene, Xia Hong sighed silently in his heart.
Behind him, Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng, and the other nine people couldnāt help but turn their heads away.
They all understood Shi Qing.
Because earlier, the Deceitful Monster had also controlled Xia Ding, slaughtering people from Great Xia.
The ability of the Deceitful Monster to kill so many was largely because he wore a face familiar to everyone.
Death is terrifying, but the horror slaughter perpetrated by someone familiar is even more chilling and devastating, especially when both the killer and the killed are oneās own people.
"Leader Shi... please accept my condolences!"
Xia Hong stepped forward and patted Shi Qingās shoulder, intending to console him, yet the words turned into consolation instead.
Seeing Shi Qingās expression still dull, immersed in grief, he sighed, looked around, and continued, "Leader Shi, time is precious, that Deceitful Monster could return at any time. Many people are still alive in your camp; if you donāt pull yourself together quickly, tragedy might happen again!"
Evidently stirred awake by Xia Hongās words, Shi Qing suddenly awoke, casting a grateful glance at Xia Hong, then turning to his children.
"Ping, go count how many are dead and how many survived, search every corner of the cave, some might be hiding below, get them out quickly."
"Lu, inform everyone to pack up quickly, gather at the cave entrance once ready, we will relocate immediately."
"Yes, father."
Although still grieving, the two young ones, recognizing the urgency, swiftly rose to execute the orders.
After instructing the two, Shi Qing turned his gaze to Xia Hong.
"Leader Xia..."
One look was enough for Xia Hong to understand what Shi Qing was thinking.
Mainly, the plea in his eyes was too obvious to ignore.
Shi Qingās scapula, limbs, and torso were just pierced by the Deceitful Monsterās white thread, now stained with blood, making movement difficult, almost rendering him useless.
Not to mention leading the remaining camp members to find a new place to live.
Whether he could successfully complete this migration with others was a big question.
Moreover, losing their last Logging Realm combat strength, especially being the soul of Shi Qing, meant that:
Da Shi Camp was now in name only.
Shi Qingās imploring eyes clearly expressed more than just asking for help moving; his meaning was evident.
He wished to entrust the remaining people of Da Shi Camp to Xia Hong.
Shi Qing didnāt say it directly, leaving Xia Hong room to refuse.
He knew well that suddenly taking in hundreds is no simple task.
Despite the recent improvement in Great Xia Campās situation after Xia Hong defeated the Deceitful Monster, Shi Qing did not expect Xia Hong to easily take in so many people.
Whatās more, the current remaining people in Da Shi Camp were all ordinary.
Even his sole Logging Realm combat strength was already crippled.
As Xia Hong stayed silent, the hope in Shi Qingās eyes dimmed gradually, being replaced by despair.
"Letās go back to Great Xia Camp with us; we can discuss the future then!"
Hearing Xia Hongās words, Shi Qingās body trembled, looking up at him suddenly.
After confirming Xia Hongās consent, Shi Qing, too stirred to speak, could only gaze at him filled with tremendous gratitude, nodding heavily.
"Father, the camp has lost 132 people, with 187 remaining, and sister has informed them to pack, they should be done soon."
Shi Ping came over at this time, with Shi Lu following behind, plus some who had packed up, slowly gathering around.
"Chuan, organize yourselves, have someone at the cave entrance to assist, first pull the children up, and lead them down the mountain, the elderly can climb themselves to speed things up."
"Yes, Leader!"
Xia Chuan led nine people to orderly direct everyoneās evacuation.
During the last Great Xia Camp relocation, although it was led by Xia Hong, Xia Chuan had assisted by his side, so he gained some experience, and bringing eight others to help now sped things up considerably.
Before long, the children were placed at the forefront, with Yuan Cheng leading people to pull them up one by one with ropes, followed closely by adults with belongings and supplies.
Seeing everyone from the camp leaving in order, Shi Qingās emotions eased significantly.
"Leader Shi, come on, youāre not in good condition, Iāll carry you."
Upon seeing Xia Hong intending to carry him, Shi Qingās eyes flashed with surprise, then moved, repeatedly waved his hand with a bitter smile, "Leader, please donāt joke, Iām a cripple now, I wouldnāt bother you, let Shi Ping carry me."
Listening to Shi Qingās address for him, Xia Hong raised an eyebrow.
Shi Qingās tiny thoughts were quite clear to him, merely concerned he wouldnāt take care of the nearly two hundred people in Da Shi Camp, already trying to establish his leadership title.
Although he hadnāt planned on abandoning these people, seeing Shi Qing cautiously testing the waters, Xia Hong felt a heavy sense in his heart.
Shi Qingās reaction showed how difficult small campsā conditions were, with resource limitations making mergers unfeasible, and entering stronger camps required proving value and assuring resource surplus, failing these, they might not be accepted.
In fact, with the current power of Great Xia, taking these nearly two hundred individuals was unqualified. But letting them fall prey to Deceitful Monsters and Cold Beasts was also something Xia Hong couldnāt do. Coupled with Shi Qingās desperate yet pleading eyes, he had reluctantly accepted.
"Donāt worry, Leader Shi, I wonāt abandon them, letās first head to Great Xia Camp."
Hearing Xia Hongās reassurance, Shi Qingās face finally relaxed, he even forced his body to kneel toward Xia Hong.
Of course, Xia Hong didnāt let him complete the kneel, reaching out to hold him up.
Just then, Shi Ping came over, Xia Hong helped place Shi Qing on his back, leading the two toward the cave entrance, while inquiring Shi Qing:
"Leader Shi, when you encountered the Deceitful Monster in Great Xia Territory earlier, how did you escape, did only Wang Ming and the others survive, did everyone else die?
How did Shi Dong get swapped, didnāt you notice?
Also, did you see that Deceitful Monster with your own eyes?"
Xia Hong posed several questions, with the last being particularly crucial.
He wanted to learn more about that Deceitful Monster.
Perched on his sonās back, Shi Qing first showed a flash of pain in his eyes at these questions but soon adjusted his emotions and began to answer Xia Hong.