Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1682 - 532: The Five Sons of the Chu Family, Covert Struggles and Open Confrontations

Daxia Year Thirteen, January 1st

Just as Xia Hong and Cai Qianshan’s first formal negotiation fell apart, five figures stood in the high-altitude clouds two kilometers to the west of Aikou City.

The five were shrouded in a thin layer of white mist, through which the biting wind passed without causing the slightest flutter in their clothing. Even the birds occasionally passing overhead seemed entirely oblivious to their presence.

"Lord Landgrave’s Qi Concealing Shield technique is simply divine. We won’t even mention Xia Hong, but being only two kilometers apart, Cai Qianshan didn’t notice a thing."

"Though Xia Hong is only at the Xianyang Level cultivation, his basic strength is over 240 jun, which already matches a Second Turn Tribulation Body Realm! Among the five of us, I’m afraid there’s no one who can take him down."

"Indeed, I remember Cai Qiuhu is at the Second Turn Tribulation Body Realm strength. Not only did Xia Hong withstand one of his attacks, but he also managed to counterattack. If it weren’t for Cai Qianshan’s interruption, I suspect Cai Qiuhu would have lost face today."

......

"This Xia Hong is certainly no simple opponent!"

As a middle-aged man with a sword on his left spoke, the other four immediately turned their heads to look at him.

"Third brother, weren’t you scared stiff in Beishuo City?"

"I heard that Xia Hong only brought out two single-batch Five Luminaries Realm Beast Emperor Puppets. You should have been able to protect a Yang Zhun by going all out, but you were scared away. How embarrassing for us Chencang people!"

The middle-aged swordsman was none other than Chu Tianxu, the one frightened off by Xia Hong in Beishuo City. Upon hearing the words from the two on his right, his brows slightly furrowed, and a shadow crossed his pupils.

"Third brother withdrew from Beishuo City for the long-term planning of our Feudal Town. Dealing with the Deceitful Monsters from the Blood Miasma Plain is Chencang’s immediate priority. How could we suffer because of a mere Great Xia?"

Seeing that third brother Chu Tianxu remained silent, the fourth brother Chu Tianmang chimed in to respond.

"The Deceitful Monsters from the Blood Miasma Plain have retreated for now, how does that change things? The Jiuqu Blood Corridor has already been given up. We should now advance southward. If the Deceitful Monsters retaliate, we focus on them. If not, we seize the opportunity to include the entire Southern Slope Territory into our Feudal Town territory. This way, we accomplish two things at once and help third brother regain his standing. Isn’t that better?"

The two who spoke earlier on the right, also with middle-aged appearances, were the sons of Landgrave Chu Longteng of Chencang, Chu Tianming, and Chu Tianhe.

Standing slightly further ahead, Chu Tianming appeared more mature. Holding a silver-gray long spear, he exuded a fierce demeanor, and his words carried an undeniable authority.

After his final question, Chu Tianming turned his head to glance at fourth brother Chu Tianmang, his face clearly displaying displeasure and disdain.

Behind him, Chu Tianhe’s eyes were slightly narrowed, revealing a shrewdness. Noticing his eldest brother’s gaze, he immediately chimed in with a smile, "Third brother hasn’t even spoken yet, fourth brother, you’re more anxious than him. If you weren’t careful, one might think you were appointed prefectural governor by third brother."

Chu Tianmang’s face immediately flushed with anger upon hearing this. He stepped forward, clearly prepared to retort against Chu Tianhe.

However, before he could speak, Chu Tianxu preempted him.

"Eldest brother, second brother, no need to rush. I merely suggested something to Father Landgrave. Whether to listen is up to him. Haven’t you also voiced your opinions to Father Landgrave? In the end, Father Landgrave will make the decision. What use is there in arguing with me?"

After saying this, Chu Tianxu gave fourth brother a look, then stepped back with him, no longer saying a word.

Chu Tianmang clearly listened to this third brother. After taking a breath, he quickly retreated as well.

Seeing the two of them adopting a united front, Chu Tianming’s gaze was filled with gloom. He opened his mouth intending to say something but eventually held back, giving second brother Chu Tianmang a look instead.

Chu Tianmang caught the hint, looking at Chu Tianxu and Chu Tianhe with a cold smile and said, "It’s been said around the Feudal Town that though third brother and fourth brother aren’t of the same mother, they still seem to share the same pants. I used to think it was a joke, but now it seems true. Fourth brother, Father Landgrave is still in his prime, and already you’re setting up third brother as your backing. Your thoughts run deep."

"Third brother willingly suffers humiliation rather than jeopardize the Feudal Town’s major affairs, choosing righteousness over personal gain. Naturally, I support this. My heart belongs to the Feudal Town, and I only wish for Chencang’s growing strength, without any intent of relying on anyone!"

Chu Tianmang finally couldn’t hold back. Of the five brothers, only the eldest and second were of the same mother. He, third brother Chu Tianxu, and fifth brother Chu Tianba did not share the same mother. Although their relationships were good, they naturally weren’t as close as the eldest and second brothers.

Thinking of this, he paused, then looked at Chu Tianhe with a cold smile and continued, "Besides, older brother is like a father. With Father Landgrave not around, the eldest brother is the father figure. To speak so, when it comes to finding backers, who in all of Chencang could surpass the second brother?"

Chu Tianhe’s face flushed with rage at such mockery, glaring at fourth brother Chu Tianmang with eyes filled with anger.

He had said this in an extremely private setting, but because nothing stayed secret from Landgrave Chu Longteng, the words quickly reached Father Landgrave’s ears.

The statement wasn’t hugely problematic. Father Landgrave Chu Longteng had praised him when he heard, saying he understood etiquette and had the demeanor of a virtuous younger brother.

Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue, but the problem arose afterward. Father Landgrave Chu Longteng said the phrase was beneficial for enhancing Chencang’s awareness of elder-younger hierarchy and ordered that the words "older brother is like a father" be widely disseminated, letting all the Chencang people know.