Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely-Chapter 179 - 130: The New Deceitful Monster

That scream was so shrill it startled many people outside the cabin.

Xia Hong and his companion were the first to rush to the tunnel entrance. Seeing the scene before them made their hearts pound.

Inside the tunnel, a wailing and screaming man engulfed in flames was writhing and rolling on the ground, desperately reaching out for help. His body was already starting to dissolve from the fire, but upon seeing Xia Hong approaching, he recognized him at once.

"Ah, it’s me, Wang He, save me, please save me..."

"Leader, save me, save me..."

At the mouth of the mountain tunnel, there were guards posted every day, ensuring that only those who presented the correct password when returning from outside were allowed to enter.

The two guards had retreated in a panic and quickly explained the situation to Xia Hong as he approached.

"We were assigned to guard duty tonight. We just heard someone outside give the password, thinking it was the Collection Team or the Logging Team returning. So we opened the door and found it was Wang He from the Collection Team who went missing some time ago.

As soon as Wang He entered the tunnel, he self-combusted after just a few steps!"

Xia Hong listened intently, frowning, until the man named Wang He on the ground was burned to ashes, just as the two finished their recount.

"A few months ago, among the missing members of the Logging Team, there indeed was someone named Wang He. But it’s been three to four months; how could he suddenly return, and why is he involved with some deceitful monster?"

Upon hearing Xia Chuan confirm Wang He’s identity, Xia Hong’s frown deepened.

At the moment they saw the man self-ignite, both he and Xia Chuan knew that this person on the ground was no longer the original Wang He.

Since the camp had a surplus of wood, torches and solidified fire oil had been in abundance.

Torches could act as bait for Cold Beasts during hunts.

Solidified fire oil could be used to ward off deceitful monsters.

Since both resources were plentiful, Xia Hong decided to make use of them.

He had long ordered a coating of solidified fire oil applied all around the valley, especially at the tunnel entrance, where it was applied daily.

This Wang He, connected with deceitful monsters, evidently came into contact with the solidified fire oil in the tunnel, which caused him to self-ignite, similar to when a Wooden Puppet Monster attempted to escape using a decoy before.

Many in the camp were aware of the solidified fire oil application.

The two guards realized this too and understood Wang He was a deceitful monster, a look of fear dawned on their faces.

Everyone who gathered outside the cabin was full of dread.

In just over half a year, could a new deceitful monster have emerged at Redwood Ridge?

Xia Hong was also shocked, but seeing the fearful expressions around him, he steadied himself and spoke in a calm tone:

"Do not panic; within the radiation range of the Iron Refining Furnace, deceitful monsters dare not come. Besides, we’ve spread solidified fire oil all around the valley, no monster can get in.

You two clean this up and quickly shut the door."

After calming everyone and instructing the guards to clean up, Xia Hong went upstairs, with Xia Chuan closely following.

"To know the camp’s secret code and recognize people, based on his reaction before dying, he might not even have known he was controlled by a deceitful monster. This..."

Upon reaching the third floor, Xia Hong’s face turned grim immediately.

"This is likely a more difficult entity to deal with than a Wooden Puppet Monster..."

Hearing Xia Hong’s muttering, and combining it with Wang He’s combustion, Xia Chuan realized and said sullenly:

"Brother means, Wang He was merely a probe for our camp’s resources, and the deceitful monster is hiding behind the scenes?"

Xia Hong didn’t answer, but his tightly furrowed brows served as the reply.

Clearly, this deceitful monster was similar to the Wooden Puppet Monster, capable of controlling humans from the shadows, and based on Wang He’s last moments, its abilities were much stronger than the Wooden Puppet Monster.

Since it dared to let Wang He probe, this proves that it knew of the Great Xia’s valley base, and it’s quite likely, when Wang He just entered, that the deceitful monster was lurking nearby.

Thinking about a deceitful monster stronger than the Wooden Puppet Monster lurking around the valley and eyeing the Great Xia Camp made Xia Chuan’s back shiver; he immediately suggested:

"Enemy is hidden while we are visible, brother, the camp needs to pause outdoor activities, otherwise..."

"I am thinking, wait!"

Xia Hong raised his hand to interrupt Xia Chuan, thought for a moment, then shook his head:

"No need, since it sent Wang He as a scout, it shows the monster itself dares not enter the valley, at least not yet. There’s no need to upset ourselves because of it. As it stands, it’s the enemy that’s in the dark, it makes no difference if we go out or not. If it likes keeping an eye on us, let it continue. As long as there are no casualties, it doesn’t exist!"

The camp’s resources are limited; prolonged cessation of outside activities is certainly not viable.

Lumber is not an issue, but Cold Beast Meat cannot be consumed without end; iron mines are within the valley, albeit fine, but coal mines are at Redwood Ridge, necessitating outings.

Initially, the Wooden Puppet Monster dared to confront us because Great Xia was weak then; now it’s different. Torches and solidified fire oil are inexhaustible, there is no lack of the Earth-digging Realm, and more than two hundred people are in the Logging Realm.

The reason the deceitful monster knows of the valley base but dares not enter head-on, instead sending Wang He as a scout, proves that the current strength of Great Xia is enough to make it wary.

"According to He Meng’s style, the Mirror Immortal Camp will likely violate the boundary to Redwood Ridge soon if we don’t go out for long periods, who knows, our territory might even be lost. It’s not worth it to prevent encountering a monster that doesn’t dare face us head-on."

Xia Hong’s message is clear: not going out briefly makes no impact on the monster, it will continue observing from the dark, slowing down camp development doesn’t help, especially for him who is eager to break through the Cold Resistance Level.

Prolonged inaction leads to strained resources, risking losing Redwood Ridge’s territories to Mirror Immortal Camp interference, all while the monster remains unscathed, potentially growing stronger with ways to target the camp. In essence, we lose more in the long run.

"In conclusion, by not going out, the monster simply cannot harm our people for a while, but it still lingers in the shadows. It has ample time to wait, but we do not. When resources run out, we must eventually venture out, becoming more passive then."

Xia Chuan pondered for a moment, nodded, and said: "But that would make outings very risky; during this period, everyone must be amply equipped with solidified fire oil and torches, and if possible, Collection and Logging Teams should be accompanied by several Earth-digging Realm members. It’s uncertain how strong the monster really is..."

Towards the end, Xia Chuan’s expression mirrored Xia Hong’s gloom.

The Wooden Puppet Monster hadn’t ascended to the intermediate level but already overwhelmed numerous Earth-digging Realm members, including two from Beishuo Town. This new deceitful monster appears even more unpredictable and capable.

If that’s the case, even a Hunting Team outing might not be safe, let alone the Collection and Logging Teams.

"Let’s not speculate blindly. Since the deceitful monster won’t reveal itself, we know nothing of its true power and abilities. So remain calm, let it reveal itself first; if not, just assume it doesn’t exist and continue as usual."

"Understood, brother!"

Despite their words, neither could dismiss it lightly in their hearts; past encounters with deceitful monsters were too horrific to not warrant caution, lest they suffer great losses.

After speaking, they headed straight to the second-floor Camp Supply Station warehouse.

"Leader, Lord Xia Chuan, we currently have 5,192 torches in stock and 1,210 blocks of solidified fire oil.

Coal predominantly fuels the Iron Refining Furnace these days, though wood can be burned concurrently.

Since the lumber surplus, under Lord Xia Chuan’s instructions, we have maximized torch and solidified fire oil production. We can produce up to 50 torches and 5 blocks of solidified fire oil per day."

While listening to Shi Ping’s report, Xia Hong recalled when he and Luo Ming had only a few blocks of solidified fire oil against the Wooden Puppet Monster, using them sparingly. Now, gazing at the small mountain of over a thousand solidified fire oil blocks and numerous small torches, he felt slightly dazed.

Though dazed, Xia Hong wasn’t particularly shocked.

Considering the camp’s current lumber surplus, the inventory level is quite reasonable.

Burning ten units of wood in the Iron Refining Furnace yields one torch, and a hundred units yield one block of solidified fire oil. Given the camp’s logging capacity, allocating just a hundred people could net over a thousand units daily, if not more.

A Logging Realm member with a stone axe could fell a tree in a night, yielding roughly five units of wood, which was true early on at the dirt slope.

Today, with iron tools and teamwork using saws, an individual can yield at least ten units of wooden resources daily.

As long as no major changes occur, solidified fire oil and torch supplies should remain constant.

"Inform Cheng Feng and Bai Dongying about the deceitful monster; from today, anyone from the Collection, Logging, or Hunting Teams venturing out must first apply a layer of solidified fire oil at the Supply Station, and additionally carry a torch.

Collection and logging groups must consist of at least ten members, and hunting groups at least three; no one is allowed to stray from sight.

Regularly apply solidified fire oil around the valley and tunnels.

Change the secret code for entering the camp daily.

Avoid any possibility of deceitful monsters infiltrating."

"Yes, Brother!"

Xia Chuan nodded earnestly and immediately left the warehouse to carry out the instructions.

Meanwhile, Xia Hong stood in place, a shadow gradually covering his face.

This newly emerged deceitful monster’s power and abilities were unknown, they didn’t even know what it looked like, and most crucially, it seemed well-informed about the Great Xia’s situation.

This passive feeling was truly uncomfortable.

Especially considering the immense pain the Wooden Puppet Monster inflicted on Redwood Ridge before.

A hint of trepidation lingered in Xia Hong’s heart, his expression growing even more solemn.

"Just after driving away the Rodent swarm and contending with the arrogant Mirror Immortal Realm, another new deceitful monster appears. Is it that the Great Xia is just unlucky, or does the Ice Abyss World truly intend to make human life impossible?"

Xia Hong stood in thought for a long time before finally clenching his fists.

"To counter soldiers with generals, water with soil. Initially, I planned to cautiously break through the Cold Resistance Level, but clearly, that won’t do. I’ll need to find a way to break through first!"