Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1261: 417: Yanze Lake and Blood Miasma Plain, Wang Yuxiu, and the Xiang Family’s Reversal (Part 2)

“Since you are obviously a sharp individual, I will skip the pleasantries. You hail from a respectable background, and eliminating you comes with unwanted consequences. While I do not fear Chen Cang, I have no desire to invite needless hostility; therefore, I shall let you be.”

Upon hearing this, relief washed over Chu Yan’er, yet when she noticed Xia Hong’s gaze drift toward the six individuals accompanying Chu Dongning, she grew tense once more.

“I am not a bloodthirsty man. So long as you reveal the path to Chen Cang, all six of them are free to depart unharmed.”

Faced with Xia Hong’s unshakable stance, Chu Yan’er wore a grave expression, though she made her choice almost immediately. She clasped her hands and declared: “Start at the northern boundary of Beishuo Town and trek 50 kilometers north alongside Moao Mountain. You will encounter a massive expanse of water known as Yanze Lake. We typically navigate around the perimeter, though Lord Xia Hong could surely fly directly across. Beyond the far end of Yanze Lake, you will find a region veiled in crimson mist referred to as the Blood Miasma Plain. Once you traverse the Blood Miasma Plain, you shall arrive at Chen Cang…”

At this juncture, Chu Yan’er faltered for a heartbeat before resuming: “Naturally, both Yanze Lake and the Blood Miasma Plain are treacherous. We always require two Xianyang Level escorts for these journeys. Given Lord Xia Hong’s formidable strength, however, these dangers likely pose no threat.”

Concluding her directions, she paused in silent contemplation. With a look of profound regret, she met Xia Hong’s eyes and spoke with sincerity: “My attempt to strike at those children was truly improper. Should Lord Xia Hong venture to Chen Cang, you will inevitably enter via Yanling. At that point, I extend a formal invitation for you to be my guest within the County City, where I will certainly seek to make amends!”

Xia Hong permitted an odd smile to grace his features as he peered at Chu Yan’er until she shifted under his scrutiny. He waved a hand dismissively: “Enough. You may all depart now. Ensure you do not linger within the Great Xia Territory. Should I chance upon you a second time, the outcome will be far less favorable.”

“Yan’er takes her leave!”

Terrified of further delay, Chu Yan’er performed a parting salute. She and her companions, including Chu Dongning, beat a hasty retreat toward the south and the Snow Forest, clearly eager to follow Xia Hong’s suggestion and exit through the North Bank of the Xing River.

Xia Hong watched the seven figures fade into the distance before shaking his head and returning to Xia City.

Great Xia Inner City, Prison Department Main Hall

“This Chu Yan’er is far too cunning; revealing such information so readily feels inconsistent with her nature. I suspect the route she provided is a fabrication, save for the names Yanze Lake and the Blood Miasma Plain,” Xia Chuan remarked, shaking his head repeatedly as he listened to his brother’s recount.

Xia Hong chuckled. “She hails from a major town, after all. Since no immediate harm was done, it is best to avoid complications. Furthermore, we still require her existence to eventually pin down the true path to Chen Cang.”

Xia Chuan nodded in agreement. “Yanling County is likely the regional name for Chen Cang. That Chu Yan’er styles herself as a Little Princess and even beckoned you to pay a visit, as if she were the proprietor of Yanling County. Remarkable, how high her standing in Chen Cang must be.”

“Had her status been anything less, I would not have granted her such an easy exit,” Xia Hong replied, his eyes narrowing. “Collect every painting she sold within the city walls over the last fortnight. Utilize the Camp Supply Department’s Yellow Candle to perform an exhaustive investigation. Any piece found to be tainted with trickery must be purged; return the rest.”

“It shall be done, brother!”

Chu Yan’er’s works were far from affordable, commanding prices upwards of a thousand taels per painting. Since these pieces were now valued personal property of the citizens, they could not be confiscated without cause.

While torches and solidified fire oil generally targeted malevolent entities, the Yellow Candle was a specialized item acquired after the Ancestral Spirit Stele reached the fifth tier. Although its primary function simply neutralized deception within its light, it proved remarkably adept at uncovering hidden extraordinary influence, making it the perfect tool for this task.

The portrait industry had flourished in Xia City, and the growing fashion trend among women to commission such paintings signaled a vibrant, burgeoning material culture within Great Xia—a development Xia Hong had no intention of stifling.

“As for Chu Yan’er, the responsibility of monitoring her rests with me. Devote your primary focus to the Eight Towns; accelerate the assimilation of the Jiangxia and Muyin people into our system, and begin sowing seeds of discord among the remaining Six Towns to facilitate the alliance of the Nine Towns.”

“I suspect this Chu Yan’er acted on her own whim rather than at the behest of someone powerful in Chen Cang. This implies that Chen Cang is likely incapable of mass movements toward the Nine Towns region in the near future, which grants us a precious window to prepare.”

Xia Chuan blinked, stunned momentarily, before the clarity of his brother’s deduction dawned on him, leaving him filled with admiration.

Indeed, the logic held firm. Had Chen Cang truly intended to invade, they would have either dispatched an official delegation or remained entirely silent to avoid detection.

Seeing through Chu Yan’er’s facade was, in its own way, a tactical victory.

“Reflecting on it, even if she did nothing but visit, Chu Yan’er has inadvertently done us a immense service,” Xia Chuan noted.

Confirming that Chen Cang was not yet prepared to advance south was a significant boon to Great Xia’s stability.

Xia Hong laughed dryly. “Precisely why our youths must be tempered properly. If they grow arrogant and blind to the world, they will inevitably stumble into ruin once they face the challenges outside. I have no desire to see Great Xia produce a generation of spoiled brats like Yang Ning or Chu Yan’er.”