Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1287 - 422: Ji Jiang’s Predicament, True Sibling Bond, the Head-Taker Strikes Again (Part 4)

While Ji Jiang gradually explained the circumstances, Ji Hong at last comprehended the dire straits of her shop.

"Things have felt strange in Hongmen City lately. Five days back, Director Yuwen sent the Dragon Slayer Army here. He and Director Yuan appear to have arrived as well. Rumors say a cunning monster has been wreaking havoc throughout the city..."

Ji Hong halted mid-sentence, casting a glance at his sister, reluctant to continue.

He had rushed back upon hearing news of the deceitful monster plaguing Hongmen.

His initial plan was to urge his sister to abandon Hongmen and head back to Xia City.

Yet after witnessing the recent events and her enthusiastic talk about the shop, convincing her to depart now seemed utterly futile.

Thus, he decided to drop the subject entirely.

"So, your store is short on rare beast hides and premium fabric supplies right now. Fix that, and you'll secure steady stock, expand your offerings, and boost those earnings, correct?"

Sharp as ever, Ji Hong swiftly pinpointed the core issue from Ji Jiang's account, highlighting her shop's business woes.

"Spot on! Purchasing from others just isn't sustainable for me—the prices are steep, slashing my profit margins badly."

Bang...

Ji Hong smacked his thigh, shaking his head with regret. "If only I'd known, I wouldn't have turned over all those beast hides and collected fabric materials to the Camp Supply Department..."

Noticing Ji Jiang's puzzled look, Ji Hong hastened to elaborate.

Great Xia's current military setup is known as the fusion of warfare and hunting.

This fusion means troops battle in times of war and ramp up hunting efforts intensely during peace.

The Dragon Martial Army based in Bashang ventures out for hunts regularly, even without conflicts, but they operate at battalion scale at minimum, sometimes sparking beast tides with small fires for soldier drills.

Hence, in peaceful times, the army slays far more Cold Beasts than any hunting squad. Soldiers hand over just half their spoils too, making army hunting far more lucrative than team hunts.

"Over recent months, I've bagged tons of Cold Beasts alongside the Dragon Martial Army, including plenty of high-grade hides. I turned them all in. If I'd realized how desperately you needed beast skins, I'd have saved them for you."

Ji Jiang couldn't help but feel a pang of regret at her brother's revelation.

"No worries though. Going forward, I'll hold onto every prime beast skin from Bashang hunts and ship them your way. Plus, fellow soldiers like me submit to the Bashang Camp Supply Department—I can snag some from them at a small premium and forward them to you. Sound good?"

Ji Jiang's eyes sparkled instantly as she nodded vigorously. "That'd be fantastic!"

In the military, troops submit only half their hunt, trading the rest privately. The Camp Supply Department stays out as long as prices stay reasonable. Reselling those for garments promises solid profits.

"Oh, brother, how long are you staying this visit?"

Grinning, Ji Hong replied, "It's my leave rotation—seven days total. Since you're low on hides, I'll join you on Beining Mountain hunts for these days. Nabbing an intermediate Cold Beast is easy, and I'll stockpile extra skins to keep your shelves full."

Ji Hong, seeing his sister's deep attachment to the shop, was determined to aid her fully. His power now let him fell advanced Cold Beasts with a couple allies, so intermediates posed no threat.

"Brother, you're the best!"

Ji Jiang beamed with delight at his offer to hunt in the mountains together, gripping his arm even tighter in her thrill.

The long-separated siblings naturally talked late into the evening.

Only when Ji Jiang recalled his long trek from Bashang without rest did she shut the shop swiftly, guide him to their North City home, and bustle about making a lavish meal to nourish him before letting him unwind.

......

Daylight lasted a mere two hours, slipping away swiftly.

As dusk deepened, South City's once-empty streets burst into vibrancy. Vendors hawked loudly, roadside shops flung open doors, and crowds swelled with passersby.

Simultaneously, city lights flickered on, patrol guards stationed in South City, while coal braziers, torches, and street bonfires blazed to life along the avenues.

Just past the first hour of night, South City thrummed with energy, a stark contrast to daytime's serene hush—packed with folks streaming in and out, buzzing with activity.

Naturally, in this vast 25-square-kilometer metropolis, some South City nooks lingered in gloom, particularly dark lanes off the main drag in eastern and western districts with scant illumination.

Certain folks, seeking shortcuts, chose those shadowy paths.

West of the main thoroughfare, a pale-robed youth with rosy cheeks stumbled from a tavern, lurching north along the road for tens of meters, clearly lost. He stopped briefly, peered back, then eyed a murky alley to his left.

"This... this... this path... shorter..."

Slurring his words in drunken haze, the white-garbed lad plunged into the alley without a second thought.

Though alley light was faint, it dimly outlined his silhouette. Yet his intoxication made footing treacherous, his shadow wobbling wildly side to side, precarious.

Before long, he delved deep, roughly a hundred meters from the street, with torches sparse on walls. Illumination trickled mainly from flanking homes.

Whoosh......

A sinister breeze howled, jolting the youth with a shiver. He whipped around to check behind, scanned both sides. House chatter eased his nerves somewhat; grinning, he shook his head.

"Heh, brave against Cold Beasts, yet spooked by a mere gust?"

Chuckling, he pressed onward.

"Hee hee hee hee..."

Yet after barely two steps, eerie cackles erupted from below his feet.

The white-clad youth's face locked in shock, body frozen stiff.

Only after several tense breaths did he muster the courage to dip his gaze downward.

And what met his eyes made his pupils contract sharply, icy sweat drenching his features.