Chapter 1004: Balance of Secrets

“No.”

Zhang San tossed the disinfectant wipe into the trash, his face twisted with irritation. “Zhang Guannan just called. He told me to put the bigger picture first and stop digging into those ‘accidental’ soybean seeds. So whether or not you still have any of those problematic soybean seeds doesn’t matter anymore.”

Zhang Guannan, supreme director of Huicheng Base!

Xia Qing thought if she and Third Brother exposed the issue with the soybeans, the ones to step in would either be Hui One’s officials or the Blazing Fire Squad. She never imagined they’d shake the very top of Huicheng Base itself.

She quickly calmed down and began analyzing, piecing together what the base director’s so-called ‘bigger picture’ could possibly mean using the information she held.

“According to internal data from the agriculture department, Huicheng Base’s ten branches have planted a total of 6,300 mu of soybeans this year, 90 percent of which are first-generation seeds supplied by Blazing Fire Squad. If the gene-altered weaponized soybean incident got out, people would panic. That’s why Zhang Guannan prefers an internal, secret investigation into these seeds.”

Seeing Xia Qing stay so rational and analytical, Zhang San’s expression finally eased a bit.

After ten years among the base’s lower ranks and half a year in official departments, Xia Qing continued her analysis. “Deng Yufeng or Hui One’s base director Chen Dianming must’ve already reported the soybean problem to the main base director ahead of us. Of course, they definitely played down how serious it is. But for the sake of the bigger picture, the director also agrees not to expose the seed issue, choosing instead to label it an ‘accident.'”

“If we keep insisting that these are gene weapon soybeans planted by Blazing Fire for revenge, then what comes next is the Huicheng director ordering a professional investigative team to probe the fields in Section Three and Territory Seven—checking soil, water, fertilizer, the whole lot. In the end, they’ll deliver an official expert conclusion labeling it all as just another ‘accident.'”

Territory Seven had nothing to hide, but her own land couldn’t withstand an investigation.

Zhang San nodded, agreeing with Xia Qing’s reasoning.

Xia Qing drew a deep breath and asked, “Then why did they have Ji Li lead a squad to seize the plants and seeds and escalate things so badly?”

Zhang San shot her a look. “Didn’t you have your brain switched on a minute ago?”

Figure it out yourself!

Xia Qing immediately put her mind to why Ji Li acted so forcefully, then tried, “Maybe Hui One wanted to test Ji Li’s Squad to see if they’d still follow orders and obey commands strictly.”

Zhang San yawned lazily. “Try again.”

Hmm…

Xia Qing glanced at her bruised purple wrist, then looked up. “They want Ji Li’s Squad to cut ties with everyone here—burn bridges for good.”

Her idol kept quiet, so Xia Qing knew she’d guessed right.

Seeing his sour mood, Xia Qing didn’t dare ask if they could still rescue Wang Wu from Fire Mountain or how exactly Zhang Guannan’s ‘bigger picture’ worked. She just grinned and asked, “Third Brother, Ji Li wouldn’t steal Princess Cat and the kittens, right?”

It took Ji Li’s Squad only half an hour to pack up their gear and weapons, then line up to board the helicopter.

Huo Zhun, wearing a dusty yellow protective suit, stood behind Zheng Chen’s squad in tactical black and gray uniforms. Hands in his pockets, he leaned against the wall outside the lab, silently watching his former teammates board the chopper one by one.

When the helicopter’s engines roared, Ji Li glanced through the bulletproof glass of the copilot’s seat, looking toward Huo Zhun outside.

Huo Zhun just slouched against the wall as always, his face blank and unmoving.

Ji Li turned away and stared at the sunlit Northern Buffer Forest in Territory Seven.

Once the helicopter was gone, Zheng Chen made a hand signal to the crews manning the grenade launchers and laser cannons, letting them know they could stand down. “Huo, what was Ji Li looking at?”

Huo Zhun shot a glance at the reflective, sun-drenched cat sunbathing stone in the Buffer Forest—cleared out by Ji Li himself—and answered, “Who knows.”

When Hui One’s helicopter finally faded into the distance, Xia Qing asked quietly, “Third Brother, does this mean you’re finally rid of Hui One for good?”

Zhang San stretched out, relaxed and smiling. “I met the terms of our agreement ahead of schedule, so they’ve got no reason to keep sending guards.”

Xia Qing’s eyes lit up. “So this new batch of Devastation Element Antidote you made—you won’t have to hand any over to Hui One anymore, right?”

Seven days ago, Xia Qing and Yang Jin’s second batch of cordyceps fungus had been delivered to Territory Seven. The next round of Devastation Element Antidote should have been produced by now!

But her idol just looked at her like she was an idiot, so the sparkle in Xia Qing’s gaze faded. “Ji Li already boxed it up and took it with them.”

Damn it!

Xia Qing’s miserly expression was almost too much for Zhang San to watch. He stood up in disgust, turned, and muttered as he opened the lab door, then brought out a bag of dry ice and sealed medicine, set it on the table, and nudged it toward her.

“Twenty doses. Make them last.”

Xia Qing gazed at her shining idol, eyes brimming with tears. “Third Brother, you’re the ultimate boss at the top of the pyramid! The number one idol!”

“I couldn’t care less about your family’s pyramids.”

“I’ll water the fields this afternoon, and tomorrow morning I’ll pick chestnuts and torreya nuts.”

“And kill a fat old hen while you’re at it.”

“No problem, I’ll pick the plumpest one, dress it, and bring it right to you.”

“Hand. Show me your wrist.”

A helicopter touched down smoothly on Territory Seven’s helipad and a squad of thirty, fully armed, disembarked in strict order.

“Clack, clack, clack, clack.”

Boots marched down the lab corridor, growing louder, until they stopped outside Zhang San’s lab door. He jerked his chin at Xia Qing, signaling her to open it.

Xia Qing swung the door open.

Standing outside was a square-jawed man, nearly two meters tall, wearing the armband of Hui Three’s special forces. He snapped to attention and saluted Zhang San. “Zhang Jingwu, captain of Hui Three’s Squad Three, reporting for duty with thirty members. Please assign our tasks, Lord.”

For once, the always-lazy Zhang San stood up straight and returned a flawless military salute.

Xia Qing blinked rapidly. Since when did her idol don a brand-new persona?

“Xia Qing, go call Zheng Chen, Da Ya, and Er An over here.”

“Yes sir!” Xia Qing snapped to attention as well and answered crisply, giving Zhang Jingwu a nod before heading out.

Zhang Jingwu—mid-tier brain domain, dual-evolved with Level Seven elasticity. Xia Qing had never seen him face-to-face, but she knew his voice from last month’s mission when, under the codenames Qinglong and Night Heron, she joined the giant raptor ambush and Zhang Jingwu was commander of the front defense line.

Now that Ji Li’s squad was pulled out, Hui Three took over their post, teaming up with Red Eleven’s special forces to guard Territory Seven. Judging from the current climate, Hui Three’s officials were eager to cooperate with Territory Seven—so Zhang San got to assign Zhang Jingwu’s duties.

Even though the tainted soybean case never saw the light, and Wang Wu might be lost inside Fire Mountain, Zhang San, as lord of Territory Seven and head of the P3 Lab, now held more power and autonomy than ever.

For Xia Qing, today’s drama had wrapped up perfectly. As for Wang Wu? She’d never met him, so what did it matter!

On the off-roader ride back to the territory, Huo Zhun opened his mouth a couple of times before finally saying, “Sister Qing, did your arm get hurt?”

Hands on the steering wheel, Xia Qing shook her head. “Nothing broke, just a bruise.”

“Actually… Ji Li’s not such a bad guy.” Huo Zhun muttered, but trailed off—his mind tangled with mixed feelings.

Staring at the deeply rutted dirt road ahead, Xia Qing answered calmly, “We’re all just trying to survive.”

“…Exactly.”

Huo Zhun leaned back in his seat and gazed out at the dust swirling, collecting on the Wild Grass Wall outside.

When Xia Qing got back, Hu Zifeng was the first to check on her arm.

“No breaks, just a minor injury. Captain Hu, thanks for helping out earlier.” Xia Qing flexed her wrist and led Hu Zifeng toward the meeting room by the fields.