The corpses of Wang Ming and the other three, along with the knife that hadn’t had a chance to be taken away, all proved that the Da Shi Camp previously must have encountered that Deceitful Monster.
Only finding four bodies doesn’t mean that only four people died in the Da Shi Camp.
After encountering the Deceitful Monster and suffering heavy losses, Shi Qing definitely went to the north, to Huang Zhao, Da Chuan, or even to request aid from the Rogel Camp.
That’s why they hadn’t seen anyone from the Da Shi Camp on this side of Redwood Ridge for a while.
But obviously, the request for aid didn’t go smoothly. Only Shi Qing and another person returned, carrying only a bag of Crystal Fruit.
Given that the Deceitful Monster rarely shows itself directly and is cunning, it is very likely controlling the corpses from the Great Xia Logging Squad to attack Shi Qing and the others.
It must be so, because that would explain why Shi Qing showed such a look of despair when he was surrounded by us just now.
He must have seen the impostor Xia Ding and thought that the Great Xia Camp had already been destroyed.
Suddenly seeing Xia Hong and the eleven young members of the Logging Realm, Shi Qing probably thought we were all Deceitful Monsters, which is why he was so desperate.
But when Shi Dong revealed his identity, realizing that we were not Deceitful Monsters, Shi Qing’s despair immediately disappeared and turned to joy.
He even understood clearly that the Deceitful Monster could turn into others, further proving that Shi Qing had indeed had dealings with the Deceitful Monster.
Shi Qing’s performance just now was normal from start to finish.
He didn’t know us, so he mistook us for Deceitful Monsters.
But how did Shi Dong recognize us?
Awoken by Xia Chuan’s words, Xia Hong suddenly realized that Shi Dong’s behavior from start to finish was too normal, unlike Shi Qing, whose expressions changed repeatedly, which was exactly the most abnormal aspect.
More importantly, he voluntarily revealed his identity, obviously afraid of clashing with us and delaying his return to the camp with Shi Qing.
"The real Shi Dong is most likely dead, and the one Shi Qing brought back to the camp is probably a fake."
While urgently chasing in the direction where Shi Qing and the other person left, Xia Hong became more convinced of the hypothesis in his mind.
Unfortunately, Shi Qing had been gone for a long time. Despite leading the group in a frantic sprint, they still couldn’t catch up and hadn’t seen their backs even when they reached where they could barely see Tower Mountain, where the Da Shi Camp was located.
Xia Hong kept accelerating, his expression growing increasingly grave:
"I’m afraid the Da Shi Camp is doomed!"
.........
At the base of Tower Mountain, Shi Qing and the other person went to the east side, skillfully found a vine, and quickly climbed to the top of the mountain using it.
The mountaintop was still covered in snow as when they left. Shi Qing walked straight to the middle, brushing aside the snow on top.
Under the snow was a five-meter-wide square wooden board.
Below the board was the station of the Da Shi Camp.
Seeing no traces on the board, touching it and feeling a warm sensation, Shi Qing confirmed that nothing unusual had happened at the camp and immediately relaxed.
He paid no attention to Shi Dong, standing behind him, whose face showed a sinister smile the moment the board appeared.
Shi Qing directly opened the board and jumped down through the three-meter-wide hole, with Shi Dong following him and closing the board as they descended.
As soon as they landed, several people greeted them with joyful expressions.
"Leader, you’re finally back!"
"The camp’s Crystal Fruit is gone. If you didn’t return, we were planning to organize people to go out tonight."
"Why are there only two of you?"
"What about the other three?"
Hearing everyone’s words, Shi Qing’s face instantly showed a look of pain.
Just as he was about to tell everyone what happened at the Rogel Camp.
Whoosh......
The Shi Dong behind him suddenly raised his hand and shot nearly invisible white thread at him.
The white thread, like a thin needle, directly pierced through his scapula, and then, as if alive, weaved throughout his body.
Almost instantly, Shi Qing was bound by the white thread.
Such a sudden change left Shi Qing unable even to speak, and his body became immobile, tilting directly to the ground.
"Leader, what’s wrong with you?"
"Shi Dong, what did you do?"
The few people who had just come up were completely confused, with some trying to help Shi Qing from the ground, while others questioned Shi Dong about what had happened.
"Heeh heeh heeh heeh......"
Shi Dong didn’t speak but suddenly lowered his head, letting out a rasping, grating laugh that resembled wood chips scraping, filled with a sinister delight.
This laugh was not only eerie but also terrifying, enough to make one’s skin crawl.
Hearing this familiar yet horrifying laugh, Shi Qing, still on the ground and not yet lifted, suddenly changed his expression drastically, quickly turning his head to look at Shi Dong.
"Thanks to you for bringing me over, or else, where would I find so many people? Heeh heeh heeh heeh heeh......"
Shi Qing immediately realized that this Shi Dong was fake.