Found the Real Culprit

Xia Hong's approach, completely different from previous lumber teams, was built on ample resources, but the people in the camp who didn't understand the situation didn't care.

They simply thought Xia Hong was capable and selfless.

Ever since that night they distributed the Frost Beast Meat, everyone in the camp looked at Xia Hong with fervent expressions, respectfully calling him "Leader."

Respect, admiration, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were almost like followers.

Xia Hong, of course, wouldn't foolishly stop them; these were special circumstances for a special environment.

For years, they had lived hidden in the shadows, unable to see the sun, never having enough to eat, and never enough clothes to wear. Even "extreme despair" wasn't enough to describe the plight of the humans in the camp.

In a world like this, giving them someone to rely on wasn't a bad thing.

After all, with someone to rely on, people naturally found hope.

Of course, all of this depended on having enough Frost Beast Meat.

After setting aside seventy pounds, and dividing it according to a three-five-two ratio, Xia Hong received one hundred and twenty pounds of Frost Beast Meat. At his current cultivation progress, this meat would only last him half a month.

Yue Feng and the other four also each received one hundred and twenty pounds. Xia Hong had calculated that, based on their progress, the meat they received this time wouldn't be enough for them to break through.

Therefore, there was still a shortfall in Frost Beast Meat, and the hunts couldn't stop.

Fortunately, as long as nothing unexpected happened, they wouldn't be short of Small Torches, at least.

"The lumber collection can't stop. As long as the Small Torches are continuous, hunting is just a matter of probability. If you encounter strong ones, don't rush them. As long as you can lure Frost Beasts each time, you'll eventually get a harvest."

After the Frost Beast Meat was distributed, everyone started gathering around the bonfire to roast meat.

In no time, the entire cave was filled with the aroma of roasted meat. Those in the camp who hadn't eaten it in a long time, or had never tasted Frost Beast Meat before, had expressions of bliss on their faces.

Seeing the contented looks on everyone's faces, Xia Hong felt something in his heart stir gently.

A meal was the simplest thing in his past life.

But here, it had become a luxury for these people.

In his past life, suffering from ALS, he had intensely resented the world, blamed it for being unfair, and in the end, even chose to end his own life.

He felt it was unfair, but what about the people in the Great Xia Camp?

What about the other humans living in this terrifying Endless Winter?

Did these people feel it was fair?

Living in the shadows, who could they blame?

"Perhaps, my coming to this world is so that I can do something for them..."

And just as the Great Xia Camp was celebrating joyfully.

Outside Redwood Ridge, Shi Qing, leading the twelve members of the Big Stone Lumber Team, had their expressions grow increasingly grim after searching the Great Xia territory for several rounds.

"For three consecutive days, we haven't found a single hair. Don't those guys under Old Ding need to come out and find food too?"

Shi Dong, with his short temper, was getting impatient after searching for several rounds with no results.

Wang Ming, holding his greatsword, also frowned. After glancing towards the east side of Redwood Ridge, he turned and spoke to Shi Qing:

"Big Brother, why don't we go towards the dirt slope over there?"

Wang Ming's words caused everyone to fall silent.

Even Shi Qing didn't answer immediately, falling into silence.

Weak camps like theirs generally adhered to a hidden rule.

That is, they had to maintain secrecy from each other.

Human nature under resource scarcity was extremely terrifying.

In the vicinity of Redwood Ridge, there were originally dozens of camps.

When food was abundant, there was naturally no issue.

But once they couldn't obtain Crystal Fruit and other food, and were truly at their wit's end.

Humans wouldn't hesitate to resort to cannibalism.

Furthermore, only those in the Lumbering Realm could go out freely at night. If someone from the Lumbering Realm rashly intruded into another camp, it was hard not to arouse suspicion.

Therefore, the weaker the camp, the more they maintained secrecy from each other.

Of course, because Big Stone was neighbors with Great Xia, even with their secrecy, they knew the general location of each other, just not the precise one.

But if, as Wang Ming suggested, they went to the dirt slope now and found the location of the Great Xia Camp.

Then the feud between the two sides would be significant.

It was even possible for it to escalate into a fight to the death unintentionally.

"There's no need. Old Ding helped us before. I don't intend to do anything serious to him. A lesson is enough to make them stop having ulterior motives."

Shi Qing shook his head, rejecting Wang Ming's suggestion.

As small camps, despite the competition, they were, in essence, all people struggling to survive.

That the Snow Mane was taken advantage of by Great Xia naturally made him angry.

But, to be fair, the other party hadn't directly harmed them.

Moreover, Xia Ding had even helped them out when they were short-handed during hunts in the past.

There was no need to make such an ugly scene.

"Hey, there are people over there, is that Old Ding?"

While deep in thought, Shi Dong suddenly pointed towards the inner part of the dense forest.

Shi Qing and the others all followed his gaze.

Indeed, deep within the forest, more than ten figures were slowly approaching them.

Shi Qing was an archer with excellent eyesight and quickly identified thirteen people.

Including Xia Ding, the Lumber Team from the Great Xia Camp had exactly thirteen members.

After taking a closer look at the build of the person leading the group, Shi Qing immediately confirmed it.

"It's Old Ding, we finally found him, come with me!"

They had finally found the person they were looking for.

Shi Dong, Wang Ming, and the other ten men immediately followed behind Shi Qing.

It was indeed Xia Ding.

Seeing that the leader was indeed Xia Ding, and recalling the deaths of three of their brothers a few days ago and how they were taken advantage of with the Snow Mane, the minds of everyone from the Big Stone Camp were filled with rage.

"Old Ding, after so many years as neighbors, you dared to plot against me!"

Unlike Shi Qing's relatively polite reprimand, Shi Dong and Wang Ming were very rude, even excessive.

"Xia Ding, how much of that Snow Mane meat is left, hand it all over to me, or don't blame my arrows for not recognizing you."

"Three of our brothers died, and you took the Snow Mane without even a word. If you don't give us an explanation today, you're not leaving."

However, after the three spoke, neither Xia Ding nor the twelve people behind him showed any reaction.

They just stared blankly at them.

After a long while, a smile finally gradually appeared on Xia Ding's face.

But this smile, in the eyes of the people from the Big Stone Camp, was incredibly eerie.

The smile was perfectly normal, yet it looked like someone with poorly coordinated facial features forcing a smile.

Shi Qing frowned and hadn't spoken yet when his younger brother, Shi Dong, couldn't help but take two steps forward and curse angrily:

"Smile my ass, are you deaf?"

But even after being cursed at, Xia Ding's group still showed no reaction.

Looking at the stiff expression on Xia Ding's face, and the twelve Lumber Team members standing in the shadows behind him, Shi Qing instinctively sensed something was wrong.

Whoosh...

A sharp sound, like a silver needle piercing the air, suddenly rang out.

Shi Qing's face suddenly changed drastically. He first retreated rapidly, then drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and shouted at everyone:

"Something's wrong, retreat quickly!"

However, it was already too late.

The three slowest to retreat suddenly froze, standing still.

Upon closer inspection, their pupils had become vacant, and a tiny red dot had appeared on each of their foreheads.

Blood gradually flowed from the red dots.

Three corpses fell to the ground.

Shi Qing and the others were filled with horror.