Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1346 - 437: Killing and Interrogation, Five Great Feudal Towns, The Four Su Siblings, The Long-Lost Thrill (Part 3)

"Venerable Level, is that so?"

A flicker of seriousness crossed Xia Hong's face. Noticing He Qing's wary expression, he scoffed, rising and striding toward the man.

"Spare me, my lord, spare..."

He Qing seemed to grasp the gravity of his situation and, in sheer terror, began to plead for his life.

His words were cut short as Xia Hong sent him hurtling into the Bone-Eroding Path with a swift kick.

"Ah..."

The Black Wind of the Bone-Eroding Path instantly ravaged his flesh, and his scream lasted barely two breaths before a skeletal frame clattered to the ground.

"Which other Feudal Towns lie near Cai Qiu?"

"To the west is Chen Cang, to the north is Hezang, and to the east, Wei Bo. I've heard northeast, beyond Cold Wave Lake, there is another Feudal Town called Lulong. Those are the four I know of."

"What are the names of your Lord Landgrave and the four County Governors?"

"The Lord Landgrave is Cai Qianshan. The Lin Chu County Governor is Cai Qiuyang, Qingcang County Governor is Cai Qiuning, East River County Governor is Fan Zijing, and our Bai Shui County Governor is Cai Qiuhong."

"How is Cai Qiu administered?"

...

Within any organization, soldiers inherently possess greater authority than common folk, and the Great Xia is no exception.

With higher authority comes naturally greater knowledge.

Xia Hong considered his luck exceptionally good to have encountered this contingent of the County Guard Army so soon after exiting the Bone-Eroding Path. His primary objective in coming to Cai Qiu was to gather intelligence on the Feudal Towns. Since he wouldn't need to resort to covert infiltration or stealthy reconnaissance, he resolved to extract all the information he desired right then and there.

From the general might of Cai Qiu to its local governance strategies, from the hierarchical structure of the Feudal Town to its officialdom, from the army's overall combat prowess to its operational methodologies...

Xia Hong inquired about every detail that crossed his mind, dedicating nearly half an hour to the interrogation. He ceased only when his questions surpassed the soldiers' capacity to answer. Then, he posed another query.

"Where is the Blood Miasma Plain located?"

As before, the soldiers' faces registered bewilderment upon hearing the question.

Only a soldier from the rear ranks, after a moment of thought, replied, "I know. It seems to be south of Lin Chu County, adjacent to Yanze Lake. Rumor has it there are many treacherous monsters there. Last year, a commander from the Town Guard Army led a contingent of our elites over for an expedition. I heard there’s ongoing conflict there!"

Recalling the route Chu Yan'er had described, Xia Hong's brow furrowed slightly as he continued in a low voice, "Is Yanze Lake within Cai Qiu's domain? Can individuals from Chen Cang traverse through it?"

The soldier hesitated briefly before quickly answering, "Yanze Lake covers a vast area. We, of Cai Qiu, only administer a small section extending from the eastern bank. The western bank, however, falls under Chen Cang's jurisdiction..."

From the soldier's account, a mental map began to coalesce in Xia Hong's mind.

The Blood Miasma Plain approximates a circular expanse with a radius of 50 kilometers, spanning an area of roughly 7,000 square kilometers, encompassing the southern reaches of Yanze Lake. Yanze Lake itself is elongated from east to west, its ends constricted by Moao Mountain. The eastern portion belongs to Cai Qiu, while the western portion is territory of Chen Cang.

"As its name implies, the Blood Miasma Plain derives its moniker from the crimson miasma that perpetually envelopes the snow-covered terrain. The denizens within, be they Cold Beasts or treacherous monsters, exhibit ferocity and power several times greater than their counterparts found elsewhere. It is said the blood-colored miasma can cloud the mind, inciting violence and bloodlust. Those at the Cold Resistance Level who inhale it either succumb to madness or death, and even those at the Xianyang Level cannot endure prolonged exposure."

Upon hearing this last detail, Xia Hong's eyes flashed with a chilling smirk.

The path Chu Yan'er had provided was indeed treacherous.

"My lord, spare us!"

"Perhaps the lord is unfamiliar with Cai Qiu's pathways; spare our lives, and we shall serve as your guides."

"Indeed! We implore the lord to spare us for providing so much information!"

"Have mercy, my lord!"

......

Having answered numerous questions, the soldiers recognized Xia Hong as a formidable outsider. Perceiving his unfamiliarity with the local terrain, they immediately prostrated themselves, begging for clemency and each promising to guide him.

"Wishing to preserve your lives, are we..."

A cold smile played on Xia Hong's lips as he continued, "I shall ask but one final question. How did you come to collect those tolls?"

The soldiers’ faces turned rigid upon hearing this, remaining frozen for more than ten breaths, with not a single one daring to respond.

"My... lord... my lord..."

Su Jing, who had been kneeling to the side, could no longer restrain himself and spoke out.

He was clearly still terrified, his voice trembling as he called out. Noticing Xia Hong’s continued silence, his courage began to build. He cupped his fist and declared, "Reporting to my lord, the encampment in Evergreen Valley, while technically under the authority of Bai Shui County, has never truly treated us as their own. Each year, aside from dispatching individuals to collect tributes and occasionally conscripting some slaves, they offer no other form of governance.

We are all originally from Qingtan Village. Three days prior, they arrived in Qingtan Village, demanding 500 individuals under the age of 25 to report to the County City for labor. We volunteered eagerly, only to discover later that they intended to force us onto the Bone-Eroding Path to perish."

Upon hearing Su Jing’s account, all the soldiers lowered their heads.

Xia Hong’s expression revealed a trace of icy disdain as he sneered, "Utilizing human lives as a means of passage indicates your inherently wicked nature. I, too, have yet to pay any tolls, so you shall serve as my tolls!"

"Run!"

Hearing Xia Hong's concluding words, the soldiers understood their fate was sealed in death. With a desperate cry, they frantically tried to escape.