Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1235 - 411: Mu Longhe’s Hope, Departure, and New Discoveries (Part 3)

The grandson of Xiang Wentian has made a full recovery, leaving him with just two burning desires, or perhaps fixations. The first is to plant the roots of the Xiang Family firmly in Great Xia and nurture its growth, ensuring the lineage endures; the second is to seek vengeance for the Bashang victims who perished horribly in the turmoil at Dajue Temple, directing his wrath toward the three northern towns.

Five days prior, once his mind was set, Xiang Fuhai fully embraced his identity within Great Xia. Right at the break of dawn, as Xia Hong stood with the might of all Great Xia to cow the lords of the Six Towns, this moment without doubt cemented Xiang Fuhai's determination in his decision.

Joining Great Xia was without question the wisest path!

Convincing Mu Longhe to pledge loyalty to Great Xia marked the initial formal mission that Xia Hong assigned to Xiang Fuhai. He was determined to succeed, knowing it could shape the exact role Xia Hong might grant him in the future.

At 138 years of age, with long years as Bashang's lord under his belt, Xiang Fuhai gained deep insights even from merely residing in Xia City over four months.

Great Xia truly stands as a fledgling power!

From the people engaged in its affairs to the vibrant aura permeating Xia City, everything radiates youthfulness.

That sense of booming vitality and exuberant growth is utterly foreign to Xiang Fuhai, whether from his time in Bashang or elsewhere.

Youth brings vast potential for expansion, yet it also signals that numerous internal structures remain unfinished. Amid Great Xia's current thriving state, opting to merge proactively proves to be a guaranteed success.

'From Hongmen, the trek to Xia City demands traversing the whole Xing River North Bank, weaving through seven locations—Dragon River, Jinbi, Qinghepu, Baiyang, Songyang Ridge, Wuyuan—covering more than two hundred kilometers in total. Since Brother Mu's wounds haven't mended yet, we needn't rush our steps. During the journey, I can share insights about Great Xia with Brother Mu. What do you say?'

Xiang Fuhai naturally took charge of this expedition. Once beyond the city walls, he organized matters at once, and the four Silver Order Prison Wardens, Xiang Liang among them, agreed without hesitation, while Mu Longhe offered no resistance.

'Oh, by the way, Brother Xiang, I recall hearing that in Xia City, venturing freely across Great Xia Territory calls for a travel pass. For us...'

Dispatched by Li Tiancheng, the four Silver Order Prison Wardens had only Xiang Liang's name specified, so Xiang Fuhai turned to him for clarification.

As a Xianyang Level powerhouse, even sans any title, Xiang Fuhai commanded respect from Xiang Liang, who dared not slight him. With a warm smile and cupped hands, he responded: 'I never thought Lord Xiang would grasp Great Xia's regulations so thoroughly, even aware of the travel pass...'

Completing his words, he tapped the silver emblem at his side and went on: 'No worries, My Lord. In our roles as Prison Wardens, we frequently probe cases beyond the city. This token grants us unrestricted access through all sites. Arrangements for Mu Senior's circumstances were handled by Xia City well in advance, so entering the city poses no problem.'

From Xiang Fuhai's remarks, Xiang Liang inferred that Mu Longhe was likely to align with Great Xia ultimately, hence his use of a respectful address.

'Very well, onward we go!'

With Xiang Fuhai's command, the seven set forth toward Hongmen Pass at last.

Hongmen City lies a mere two kilometers from Hongmen Pass, lacking a straight path, so they proceeded on foot. The party advanced swiftly, arriving shortly at the inner gateway of the straight road into Hongmen Pass.

Mu Longhe paused in astonishment at the sight of the gateway, and inside, spotting the coal braziers suspended along the path's sides, his expression brimmed with intrigue.

'Brother Mu, doesn't Great Xia's straight road impress you? I was equally stunned on my initial encounter!'

Xiang Fuhai evidently aimed to leverage this chance to highlight Great Xia's landscape and further sway Mu Longhe. Noticing his interest, he promptly chimed in.

'This straight road stretches nearly across Great Xia's full domain. Consider the Xing River North Bank; the seven spots I named earlier—Dragon River, Jinbi, Qinghepu, Baiyang, Songyang Ridge, Wuyuan—link up via these roads, far surpassing the convenience of our Eight Towns' Bluestone Road...'

Xiang Liang and his three companions grasped Xiang Fuhai's purpose, choosing not to interject, instead attentively following along. Whenever Xiang Fuhai faltered on details, the four stepped in to elaborate.

To stretch out the time, Xiang Fuhai moderated their speed intentionally, and none of the other five pressed him, as the seven ambled westward leisurely.

With their cultivation levels, bypassing the straight road was feasible, but sticking to it shielded them from gales and flurries, offering far greater ease. Moreover, Xiang Fuhai wished to display Great Xia's innovations to Mu Longhe, rendering the straight road a vital element of the showcase.

The party pressed on at an unhurried gait, traveling without pause through the daylight hours for a solid two hours. Nearing Qinghepu, Xiang Fuhai at last proposed a rest.

'Qinghepu sits roughly fifty kilometers from Hongmen Pass; it formally instituted the Eight Departments this past June. As one of the two principal sites along the Xing River North Bank, its Defender is the esteemed Lord Hong Gang!

Once merely a locale's name, Qinghepu encompassed three villages—Qinghe Village, Upper River Village, Lower River Village. In May, the Governance Department's Director Yuan conducted a personal review, placing Qinghepu's administrative hub in the former Qinghe Village, while assigning the other two as subordinate sites, each with just a Defense Envoy.'

Well before the seven entered Qinghepu, the narration had shifted from Xiang Fuhai to Xiang Liang.

Having dwelt in Xia City for more than seven years, Xiang Liang possessed a deeper knowledge of Great Xia than most. Xiang Fuhai acknowledged this and gladly stepped back, letting him brief Mu Longhe straightaway.

Though Qinghepu had risen as a major site only in June, with its core drawn from the longstanding Qinghe Village, the area avoided barrenness, even if its populace appeared somewhat sparser than in prior times.