Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1273: 419: Xiang Liang's Prospects, Dire Situation at Hongmen, the Decapitator Spirit and a Big Score

Likely believing Hongmen provided superior prospects over Jinshan Town, he leased a shop back in October and acquired the house at East District No. 85, relocating his entire family of 12 to make Hongmen their home at the year's start.

Bai Shanning showed a touch of astonishment after absorbing Zheng Xianglong’s details. Numerous folks have flourished in Hongmen much like him, yet scarcely any manage to purchase homes, lease stores, and relocate their families here—scarcely more than two hundred across the vast city.

Little surprise that Xiang Liang described this man as somewhat renowned.

Something's off!

Bai Shanning swiftly caught on and inquired, “What’s this fellow’s power level?”

“18 Zong…”

That response hit Bai Shanning like a bolt, explaining why Xiang Liang had pinpointed the victim’s identity and worn such a grave look before.

With 18 Zong strength nearly matching my own, it's clear why he amassed such wealth to lease shops, relocate his family, and invest boldly.

Yet the pressing concern at hand lies elsewhere entirely.

“An 18 Zong powerhouse slain without a sound—this deceitful monster grows ever more formidable, and it's now evident it preys specifically on Cold Resistance Level folk!”

Xiang Liang recalled the prior 32 murders by the deceitful monster at those words, nodding gravely as he replied, “South City’s small torches now rival North City’s density, but the beast keeps slaughtering. It either fears the torches not at all, or its hiding techniques are devilishly shrewd. In either case, it’s a nightmare to counter!”

Months back, when monsters first stirred within the city walls, Guardian Lin Kai rushed in heaps of small torches and solidified fire oil from Xia City as countermeasures.

Such vital supplies demand careful use, naturally. Solidified fire oil requires personal Contribution Value purchases outside official duties, but small torches differ—with Great Xia’s vast reserves and the government’s duty to safeguard the city, Lin Kai freely distributed them in North City to shield its dwellers.

Post-installation, North City’s killings plummeted sharply, effectively thwarting the deceitful monster. Emboldened, Lin Kai extended them to South City, albeit at lower density.

That held true initially. But as days dragged on, whether the monster cracked the torches’ patterns, boosted its might, or some other factor intervened, victims kept piling up citywide.

Lin Kai ramped up South City’s torch density out of necessity.

Today, virtually every populated zone boasts small torches.

Still, the deaths persist!

Even worse, Zheng Xianglong—the victim ranking in the city’s top 500 amid hundreds of thousands by strength—was decapitated undetected. Imagine the fate of weaker targets facing the deceitful monster!

Xiang Liang bowed his head, searching Zheng Xianglong’s corpse briefly before extracting a black, greasy goo. His face darkened instantly: “Zheng Xianglong carried solidified fire oil—why leave it unused?”

The Treasure Tower peddles solidified fire oil openly, and Zheng Xianglong’s riches made buying it a breeze. Yet against the deceitful monster, he never deployed it?

Bai Shanning snorted softly, brow creasing as he stated: “Fresh from drinks, his death-mask screams terror—likely forgot the solidified fire oil, or the fiend was so bizarre that he knew it’d prove useless anyway…”

Xiang Liang gave a faint head-shake, his visage weighed down heavily.

The first scenario remains somewhat controllable, but the second signals the deceitful monster’s prowess and abilities surpass all expectations.

“Monster intel spreads uncontrollably now; folks are trickling out of the city already. With three confirmed beasts rampaging inside, nonstop killings will spark a full panic flight!”

Bai Shanning’s brows knitted at Xiang Liang’s words, pressing on, “We can’t handle this solo. Alert Director Yuwen and Lord Lin!”

“Bashang’s teetering too. Director Yuwen headed there a fortnight past, while Lord Lin left for Muyin on official matters five days ago, due back the day after next.”

With a soft sigh, Bai Shanning responded, “Chief of Punishment Zhao’s tied to North City duties and can’t budge; our sole recourse is begging Commander Liu for extra troops to blanket-patrol South City.”

Xiang Liang’s forehead creased at Bai Shanning’s proposal. Ultimately, though, he dipped his head, voice laced with resignation: “No alternative—it’s our only play.”

The deceitful monster strikes solely in dim alleys and hidden corners, always solo hits to date. Thus, relentless patrols through South City prove efficacious.

Trouble is, South City’s populace swells enormously. The two-km main avenue manages fine, but east and west residential zones house over twenty thousand souls.

Surveilling that multitude nonstop defies possibility.

Hongmen hosts the Cloud Dragon Army garrison; Liu Yuan dispatches its nightly South City patrols. At the monsters’ initial frenzy, he sent one battalion of five squads—100 strong. Now it’s five battalions, 500 troops, nigh half the full force.

Cloud Dragon Army rank-and-file need rotations and repose like any mortal; ceaseless 24-hour vigils lie beyond them. Deploying 500 on daily South City rotations scrapes the absolute ceiling.