Chapter 464: Chapter 213: Long Mountain News, Ecstasy, and Riot (Part 3)

This is what a clever person does!

This Cheng Ping, although he usually abuses his little power, he is quite perceptive when faced with a life-and-death crisis.

After dealing with Cheng Ping properly, Xia Hong then turned his head toward the cave entrance, his brows slightly furrowed as he said, “You’ve been spying for so long, it’s time to come out!”

Someone outside is spying?

All seven people, including Cheng Ping and Wang Hun, who were kneeling on the ground, were all stunned.

“Ahem…”

A gentle cough came from the direction of the cave entrance, followed by two figures, one big and one small, slowly stepping inside. It was Li Baihe and Luo Cheng, the uncle-nephew duo, who had just rushed over from Luo Ming’s side.

The two of them, at this moment, looking at Xia Hong, were full of shock and astonishment on their faces.

Xia Hong did not show any surprise at their reaction.

He perceived very clearly that the two had come along with Cheng Ping and the five others. Seeing everything that happened inside the cave, such a reaction was not surprising.

“Brother Hong Yu, your strength…”

This is nowhere near someone who is critically ill; clearly, he is an incredibly formidable expert, surpassing even the Earth-digging Realm Limit. Just a moment ago, the kick that smashed and killed four people and injured Cheng Ping instantly made Li Baihe deduce that the man’s strength surely surpassed his and Luo Ming’s.

No, not just surpassed.

At least several times stronger, maybe even at the Cold Resistance Level!

Cold Resistance Level?

The thought popped into Li Baihe’s mind, and he immediately focused his gaze on Xia Hong’s face, but he could not discern any familiar features.

Until, he met eyes with Xia Hong.

Li Baihe was stunned, and then a wild joy immediately appeared on his face.

“This Li Baihe is quite smart!”

Xia Hong’s memory drifted back to the night two years ago when Luo Ming left, recalling that among the twelve-man team, only Li Baihe frequently looked back. It wasn’t unexpected that he could recognize him.

“Was it Brother Luo who sent you to rescue me?”

Upon hearing the reference to Luo Ming, Li Baihe understood, realizing Xia Hong didn’t want to reveal his identity. He immediately nodded and said, “Xia… Brother Hong Yu, indeed it was brother who sent me. This is my brother’s son, Luo Cheng. Xiao Cheng, quickly pay respects to your Uncle Yu.”

Luo Cheng obviously hadn’t recovered from the shock. Being nudged by Li Baihe, he quickly walked to Xia Hong, bowed slightly with an admiring expression:

“Luo Cheng pays respects to Uncle Yu!”

Luo Cheng.

Xia Hong looked at Luo Cheng, slightly sensing his Qi Muscle, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

He didn’t seem much older than ten, just a step away from the Logging Realm.

Even with such talent, in today’s Great Xia, it’s considered quite good.

No wonder Luo Ming left Redwood Ridge for this little son.

“Not bad, get up first, let me tidy up here.”

Xia Hong smiled and praised him, then gestured for him and Li Baihe to step aside. He then walked over to the seven people in front of Wang Hun, asking with a slight shift in his expression, “How do convicts and slaves like you come into this mining area?”

“My lord, we…”

“No need for you to speak, you two speak instead.”

Just as the five were about to answer, Xia Hong interrupted them, signaling for the other two to speak instead.

There were seven people in the cave; those who planned to attack him last night were only Wang Hun and his five men, while the other two obviously weren’t under Cheng Ping’s instruction and even showed sympathy for him, clearly different from Wang Hun’s group.

The two kneeling on the ground did not seem as fearful as Wang Hun and the others, instead, their faces were full of hope. At this moment, hearing Xia Hong’s question, one of them immediately spoke:

“My lord, I am Liu Hua, originally from a small camp north of the Hive. Last year, while leading a hunt outside, I encountered people from the Hive Camp. They not only robbed our prey but also abducted all seven of us here, forcing me to mine for them. I beg your lord’s great mercy to save us, please, my lord…”

The other person next to him also spoke: “I am Zhang Jun, I experienced something similar to Liu Hua, but I have been in the mining area much longer than him. To my knowledge, starting from Cave 80 and onward, half of the long-term residents are like us, abducted, while the other half were sent here as convicts, such as Wang Hun, who was originally from the Hive Camp. It’s said he’s been involved in several murders and raped and killed some women, which led to his dispatch here.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, I…”

“Shut up!”

Xia Hong dismissed Wang Hun’s defense with one word, then turned to Cheng Ping with a questioning look. Seeing Cheng Ping nod, he immediately understood that there were no issues with what Zhang Jun said.

Looking at the desperate-to-survive Liu Hua and Zhang Jun, and the frightened group of Wang Hun, Xia Hong touched his chin, quickly forming a plan.

“Things might get a bit chaotic here later, Brother Li, you take Luo Cheng and leave first. I’ll join your hunting team once it’s dark. Brother Luo should welcome me, right?”

“Brother Hong Yu, rest assured, my brother will surely welcome you!”

Li Baihe seemed to have somewhat realized something and immediately nodded heavily, answering before leaving the mining area with Luo Cheng.

After the two left, Xia Hong turned back to Cheng Ping and Wang Hun and the other seven on the ground, with a smile on his face, he said: “Being trapped in this dark mining cave with no hope of escape, I’ll give you a chance to escape, but you have to follow my instructions…”

The five of Wang Hun, Liu Hua, and Zhang Jun, were all beaming with changing expressions; whereas Cheng Ping, on the other side, was so terrified his face turned pale, wanting to say something multiple times, but ultimately held back, considering Xia Hong’s strength just now.

Click… Click…

Soon after Xia Hong finished speaking, the sound of seven shackles breaking rang out, and the newly freed Wang Hun and the other seven’s expressions immediately became ecstatic.

Of course, along with the excitement, their fear of Xia Hong also increased.

The shackles on their feet were made of Hundred Forged Iron, ordinarily impossible for Ten-forged Weapons to cut through let alone leave a mark, yet Xia Hong just lightly sliced with a knife, and the shackles broke into two pieces directly.

No, that doesn’t indicate anything!

Gulp…

Watching the long Yi Blade, which just tightly pinned him to the ground, being effortlessly wielded like a stick by Xia Hong, Wang Hun swallowed, filled with shock and terror.

Just at that moment, Xia Hong tossed a dagger each to Liu Hua and Zhang Jun.

“Use this dagger, unlock the shackles for others. In half an hour, I’ll open a passage in the mining area ceiling, then it’s up to you how far you can run.”

“Thank you, my lord, for your lifesaving grace. If there’s an opportunity in the future, Liu Hua will repay you at the cost of his life with no hesitation!”

“And I, Zhang Jun, thank you too, my lord!”

Wang Hun originally also wanted to mimic and offer his gratitude to Xia Hong, but seeing the two already turned and left, wanting to escape urgently, he immediately followed, with the remaining four trailing behind him.

Xia Hong finally turned back to look at Cheng Ping, raised the Yi Blade in hand, and directly slashed across his arm’s position.

Slash…

“Even when acting out a play, you have to make it look real; apologies, you won’t blame me, right?”

Though Cheng Ping’s arm bled painfully, he forced a smile and trembled, “Serving you, my lord, is my privilege.”

Not bad, very obedient!

Half an hour later, at the mining area connected to Passage 19 of the Hive.

Bam…

A loud noise erupted, shaking the entire Hive Station twice.

In the Hive Main Zone, many people immediately woke up from their slumber.

“What sound was that?”

“Was it coming from the mining area?”

“Seems like the mining area, exploded.”

“Oh no, hurry over and take a look.”

…

Even the main building was alerted, but as soon as the first wave of people returned to the main zone after checking, the news quickly spread.

There’s been a riot in the mining area!