Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1355 - 439: Hu Brothers Enter the City with Cai Yunzhou (Part 2)

Upon hearing the sound, Hu Tiejiang promptly retrieved several pieces of coal stone from the leather satchel slung over his back. He then deliberately raised the curtain, using his own body to shield against the incoming cold light. As the opening was sufficiently concealed, he slipped inside with practiced speed, artfully closing the curtain behind him with a swift backward motion.

Observing her eldest brother Su Jing’s face etched with curiosity, Su Xing’er leaned in close, whispering, "I saw them yesterday. The individuals inside that carriage are the wives and children of Uncle Hu’s brothers. Among the five children, the eldest is merely seven years old, and the youngest is still an infant cradled in arms."

It made perfect sense now!

The children were exceedingly young, possessing no cultivation and thus unable to endure exposure to the light.

Su Jing’s confusion dissipated, and he gave a decisive nod. However, his gaze lifted to the brightly lit sky, his expression turning markedly tense, his countenance swiftly clouding over.

Not only Su Jing, but Su Xu and Su Zhi as well, had overheard their younger sister’s explanation. Naturally, they were not oblivious. Perceiving the shift in their eldest brother’s demeanor, they contemplated for a brief moment before quickly grasping the implication, their own expressions similarly darkening.

Meanwhile, within the confines of the second carriage.

Hu Tiejiang first placed the coal stones into the stove, igniting them, before turning his attention to his wife, Fang Jing, and his sister-in-law, Wang Qing. Noticing their visibly nervous expressions, he immediately moved closer and murmured, "Jing’er, sister-in-law, have no fear. We shall reach Qinghua City shortly. Upon our arrival, we will proceed directly to the Subordinate Bureau to first nullify the Slave Status and our lowly standing, and then officially register as citizens. Fei and the other five are venturing to the Subordinate Bureau for the very first time. Once we are registered as citizens, they will automatically attain that status."

Each of the two women clutched a baby, appearing to be in their thirties, their faces pleasing and clearly indicating they were not individuals accustomed to long stints hunting in the wilderness.

Heeding their husband’s reassurances, Fang Jing and Wang Qing’s anxieties visibly diminished.

Hu Tiejiang produced two parchment documents from his inner pocket, his gaze fixed on the prominent "Slave Status" inscription at the apex. Clenching his fist, he declared in a deep, resonant voice, "Leader Zhang has gone too far. We had an agreement; Tiechuan and I would hunt for him without remuneration for a period of two years, and in return, he would provide me with your two Slave Status documents. Those two years have concluded, yet he obstinately refuses. While he may have acted with impunity then, he cannot fault us for reciprocating now. These two Slave Status documents rightfully belong to us. If he dares to pursue this, I shall not be intimidated..."

Having spoken, he glanced towards the children held by the two women, and the trio of six or seven-year-olds standing behind them. His expression firmed as he continued, "Unless we abolish this Slave Status and lowly standing, Fei’s five children will inevitably share our fate. Only by becoming citizens can they truly be regarded as human..."

......

"Five Mane strength, and still of lowly status. Cai Qiu is truly formidable!"

Inside the foremost carriage, having overheard Hu Tiejiang’s pronouncements, Xia Hong’s eyes flickered with initial disbelief before settling into admiration for Cai Qiu’s remarkable power.

That was the only logical explanation!

Cai Qiu certainly possesses the might of at least five Mane strength, placing him beyond the Cold Resistance Level. He is demonstrably not lacking in power.

"It is hardly surprising. Four months prior, I observed the County Guard Army soldiers; all of them exhibited strengths exceeding six Mane, and they represented the most rudimentary echelon of troops. The entirety of Cai Qiu boasts over 300,000 soldiers. Considering this, a strength of five Mane is indeed insignificant. Furthermore, the minimum cultivation threshold for citizenship is precisely five Mane. In essence, only individuals possessing strength above five Mane qualify to be recognized as ordinary persons."

Of course, merely qualifying!

The act of citizen registration necessitates a considerable financial outlay.

One could deduce from Hu Tiejiang’s earlier statement that the process of removing one’s status is evidently a rather intricate undertaking, requiring not only financial resources but also the explicit consent of the original owner.

"Thus, the Hu brothers are burdened with a lowly status, while their wives are classified under Slave Status, presumably serving as domestic slaves within the household of the aforementioned Leader Zhang. The brothers were deceived into working for two years without compensation. Unable to bear it any longer, they absconded with their wives' Slave Status documentation, intending to abscond to Qinghua City and effect the removal of their status..."

Xia Hong swiftly pieced together the sequence of events in his mind. He then glanced down at his simple black summer attire, instantly comprehending the reason behind the two brothers’ desire to depart alongside him the previous night.

It was evident that Hu Tiejiang harbored concerns about Leader Zhang’s potential pursuit or any unforeseen incidents on their journey. Last night, at the Yakou Village rest stop, he had noted certain indicators from Xia Hong’s clothing. To ensure their safety, he had feigned camaraderie with Su Jing and his companions, thereby securing passage with them.

After grasping this, Xia Hong let out a soft chuckle. Hu Tiejiang's actions were nothing more than the survival tactics of a lesser individual; it wasn't truly a significant transgression.

The crucial issue, however, was...

"We haven't encountered any pursuit whatsoever during our journey. This either means they haven't yet discovered the theft of the Slave Status, or they've already formulated a counter-plan and are nonchalantly delaying their pursuit."

The former scenario posed no immediate threat, but if it was the latter, the Hu Brothers' aspiration to shed their status might only be realized moments before they officially entered the city.

Having traveled a considerable distance, the convoy found itself enveloped by the deepening night. Due to the rugged terrain surrounding Qing Valley, they had only managed to cover a meager five kilometers in nearly an hour.

"We've reached our destination!"

"The gates of Qinghua City lie just ahead."

"Qinghua City! What a colossal city wall!"

"This is the South Gate of Qinghua City, directly facing Evergreen Valley."

"There is but a single exit from the entirety of Evergreen Valley."

...

Before long, amidst the chorus of exclamations erupting from the convoy, a fifteen-kilometer expanse of the formidable Black Iron Wall gradually materialized within their field of vision.

Sensing the awe resonating from the convoy, Xia Hong couldn't help but lift the carriage curtain.

Upon beholding the city wall, his eyes gleamed with a subtle brilliance.

This Black Iron Wall, with its extremities seamlessly merging into the mountainsides on either flank, resembled less a conventional city wall and more a monumental gateway governing the entire pass of Evergreen Valley.

"Erected precisely at the strategic pass for both ingress and defense, Qinghua City, from a geographical standpoint, serves as the southern bastion of the entire Cai Qiu territory. Beyond this point, Longqing Valley possesses only a solitary southern egress: the Bone-Eroding Path. With no external threats and no outward migration of its populace, maintaining control over this location is tantamount to commanding the entirety of Evergreen Valley..."