Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Zhu Yang didn’t have the confidence to fall out with them, and his relationship with Zhu Tong was not worth the risk of offending Gu Tianxiong and Institute Chief Huang to forcefully frame East Ridge.

Having entered Beishuo City several times over the years, Lu Yang knew quite a lot.

Previous hints from He Wuyang about Zhu Yang’s assignment to the Jingxi District didn’t surprise Lu Yang, as he had already predicted it.

Zhu Yang, now over ninety, was the oldest among the seven Deans of the Beishuo Inspection Office. Given his age, breaking through to Xianyang was unlikely for him, so being marginalized was inevitable.

Of the seven major districts in Beishuo, Jingxi was the most peripheral, lacking space for expansion to the west or east. Although there was potential for northern expansion, the current focus was on Zhongyang, Dongchuan, and Heya. Jingxi’s weak strength and border with Double Dragon Cliff, coupled with its remote location from Beishuo and less favorable environment, meant this route was blocked.

As a result, the lack of attention to Jingxi District was entirely normal.

Since Jingxi wasn’t prioritized, it was only natural that the dean in charge of Jingxi would be the least regarded among the seven.

“Gu Tianxiong is only in his sixties and still in his prime. When he broke through to the Peak of Cold Resistance last year, I anticipated his reassignment. Sending Zhu Yang here indicates that this branch of the Zhu Family is completely declining in Beishuo. Therefore, further suppressing East Ridge at the risk of offending Gu Tianxiong and Institute Chief Huang would be a thankless task. Besides…”

Lu Yang’s smile grew as he looked at Zhu Tong and his two brothers standing behind Zhu Yang.

Zhu Yang and Zhu Tong’s grandfather, Zhu Ting, were indeed cousins, but that was four or five generations ago. If Zhu Yang truly valued Zhu Ling Camp, he would have stepped in for Zhu Tong’s three men much earlier.

So, no matter how you looked at it, Zhu Yang wouldn’t…

“Leader Lu, where it’s possible to forgive, forgive. Your East Ridge may be powerful today, but that doesn’t mean it will be forever. How about granting this old man a favor and reducing the five-year tribute to one year, giving Zhu Ling’s five families a path to survival?”

He really plans to intervene…

Lu Yang was momentarily stunned by Zhu Yang’s words, and then he saw He Wuyang behind Zhu Yang nodding at him, clearly signaling him to accept Zhu Yang’s proposal. Lu Yang raised an eyebrow.

He didn’t even consider much, just said with a cold sneer, “If East Ridge had lost today, I wonder if Dean Zhu would have asked Zhu Tong and the others to repay your favor by reducing five years to one year?”

Zhu Yang was initially stunned by this retort. Then, realizing Lu Yang didn’t intend to give him face, his expression turned into a hint of anger.

Lu Yang didn’t continue to press aggressively, simply saying, “Since Dean Zhu intends to impose by power, East Ridge is small, naturally we must comply. But this grievance, I, for one, will never swallow. I don’t believe there is no one in Beishuo City who can uphold justice for East Ridge!”

With that, he turned, flicked his sleeve in frustration, and addressed the people of East Ridge beside him, “Let’s go, tomorrow we’ll head to the Beishuo Prosecution Office!”

“Good, good, good. Leader Lu indeed has courage; since this old man’s face doesn’t matter to East Ridge, then this matter today is left for the eight families to handle on their own!”

Having been brushed off, Zhu Yang’s voice became noticeably angry, and he turned to leave toward the camp’s exit. As he passed by the people of East Ridge, he glanced at Luo Cheng and the five young juniors with a frosty gaze, and said in a low voice,

“Leader Lu, while youthful exuberance is fine, there should be limits. Though old, I may not be much in Beishuo City, yet your East Ridge Camp is worth even less. As the supervisor of Jingxi going forward, I’ll have plenty of time to play with you East Ridge, hmph!”

With a cold snort, Zhu Yang skimmed over the snow and left the area.

The eight leaders remained where they were, everyone looking up at Lu Yang as if expecting him to show some fear or apprehension.

“Old men will be old men, full of bluster but incapable of action!”

With one sentence from Zhao Hu, everyone’s hopes were dashed.