Chapter 1014: Secrets, Surveillance, and Wolves

Peng Lin and Zhang Kui from the Ninth Center, along with Chen Xia, had tightened their surveillance on her. Any time she went to the center’s office for work, either Zhang Kui or Chen Xia would always be within thirty meters. If she left the center and returned to her own territory, Peng Lin seemed to find any excuse to loiter near Section Three.

Following the plan she worked out with Yang Jin, Xia Qing pretended not to notice these pests, letting them feed detailed daily reports about her movements to Hui One or Fire Phoenix. This would prove she had nothing to do with Hui Eight or the Apocalypse Sect.

These pests wouldn’t last much longer. After all, the Glacial Crimson Vein Stone the Apocalypse Sect worshipped as a holy relic was about to appear before their leader as a “gift from fate.” The moment it did, Fire Mountain was sure to become the next target of that mad leader’s wrath.

Once Fire Mountain was blasted to ruins and its survivors no longer had the resources to keep their vast network running, it would be time for Hui Three’s northern territory to sweep up and get rid of these pests.

After Flathead took a beating from Old Goat and stayed down, Xia Qing handed it a Yellow Lantern Fish as thanks for its daily ‘friendly’ scuffles with Old Goat.

Xia Qing didn’t know if honey badgers ate fish before the disaster, but the pack’s honey badgers sure did now. As soon as Flathead caught the scent of food, it leapt up, grabbed the fish, and trotted off, tail wagging.

She followed the triumphant Old Goat back to the territory, picked up two Green Lantern Fish, and then set off by car toward Territory Eleven.

At six the next morning, Xia Qing handed the territory off to Guan Tong, packed all the weapons and gear she’d need, and first traveled to Wolf Valley on Hill Forty-Nine to confirm her team was ready. Next she drove to the northern gate of Territory Seven to rendezvous with today’s other human squad member—Idol, Zhang San.

She arrived ten minutes early, got out of the car to greet Zhang Jingwu, then stood quietly on the barrier at the northern edge, waiting.

With the air of someone chatting idly, Zhang Jingwu spoke to Xia Qing: “Miss Xia, this land of ours truly is something special.”

Expressionless, Xia Qing looked up at the captain of Hui Three’s Squad Three.

“If you look through history, for five thousand years, whenever crisis hit this land, no matter how chaotic things got, key figures always emerged to keep China’s people flourishing here.”

Zhang Jingwu dropped his smile and met Xia Qing’s gaze. “Now we’re facing the greatest calamity our people have ever seen. The leader of Territory Seven and you have both stepped up as key figures in this struggle. Miss Xia, I’m counting on you.”

So that’s what this was about, after all. The Idol was certainly a key figure in this disaster, but Xia Qing knew she didn’t measure up. She nodded. “You flatter me. Xia Qing is just fine.”

Light footsteps approached. Out from behind the wall of wild grass stepped Zhang San, kitted out in a special protective suit and wearing a jet-black one-way protective mask. He spoke in Zhang Song’s usual voice and manner: “Sister Qing, you’re here early.”

The Idol had clearly prepared thoroughly for this mission, but Zhang Song’s gait was never this precise.

Once the Idol was on board, Xia Qing drove back to the high slope north of Section Three, parking at the territory’s northern gate. Once she and Zhang San left, Er Yong would come out and drive the car back.

After entering Section Three of Hill Forty-Nine and confirming they weren’t being watched, Xia Qing let herself smile. “I half-expected you to show up in an airtight suit dragging a giant suitcase.”

That was how Zhang Song always came prepared.

“Hey, I’m harvesting bamboo shoots, not handling hazardous chemicals.” Zhang San undid the hidden snap on his sleeve and pulled it up, revealing his gear—the row of vials strapped to his wrist. “These are potent enough to knock out every animal within two hundred meters, even humans in hi-tech masks.”

“I…”

“Special-issue only. Not allowed to share them outside the team.”

…Fair enough.

Xia Qing quickly explained the important details about working with the wolf pack to the Idol:

“Today we’ve got five Evolved Wolves and one Yellow Weasel. From now on, you’ll want to stay as calm as possible. Wolves have sharp senses and can easily pick up on your emotions—any big shifts will put the pack on alert.”

“The Alpha, Crippled Wolf, and Handsome Huge Wolf all know your voice. So, speak in your own voice and let them see your eyes. Making eye contact is crucial for Evolved Wolves to communicate and show strength. When you do, keep your mind quiet. Can you take off the black cover on your mask? If not, there’s a spare clear one in my pack you can use.”

With her wolf expertise, Xia Qing’s advice was gold. Zhang San pressed a button on his mask and swapped to a clear visor, then asked, “Why so many Evolved Wolves today? And is that Yellow Weasel the one with the super toxic gas?”

The reason there were so many? One shrewd, stingy wolf had crunched the numbers and figured that bringing extra wolves along for the mission would let him pay Xia Qing one less Yi Stone.

Xia Qing agreed, since the extra wolves made the mission safer, so she went along with Crippled Wolf’s plan.

Trading Yi Stones with the wolf pack was Xia Qing’s closely guarded secret—even the Idol wasn’t in the loop. “That’s right, it’s that Yellow Weasel. All the wolves here today are the finest from the Northern Pack. With them and the support of Hu Zifeng’s squad and Huo Zhun, this mission’s got the best odds possible.”

The wolf pack was familiar with Hu Zifeng’s squad and Huo Zhun. They could work together without any clashes.

“Queen, Handsome Wolf, Big Wolf, Black Wolf, Big Guy, and the plucked one, thanks for waiting. This is the person you’re assigned to protect—Third Brother.”

Zhang San had crossed paths with the pack before, but always with the wolves sedated on the operating table—he’d been in control.

But now, in the heart of the perilous Evolved Forest, this was his first face-to-face meeting with Blue Star’s apex beasts. Staring into the eyes of two giant wolves taller than him and three others just as big and fierce, Zhang San’s first instinct was to hit his wrist and drop them all.

He quickly checked himself, waited for Xia Qing to introduce him to the Northern Wolf Pack, then forced his voice steady. “I’ll be counting on all of you today.”

Crippled Wolf didn’t just recognize his voice—it remembered his face. It tucked away its fangs and gave Zhang San a thoughtful look.

For Alpha, seeing Zhang San for the first time, the killing aura was palpable. Handsome Huge Wolf, Black Wolf, and the brownish-grey giant wolf bristled with the same threatening energy, backing up their leader.

Across the way, Balding Weasel peeked out with a tiny round head, its own small cub at its side. Apparently, it had even brought its youngster along to watch and learn.

If Zhang San weren’t here, Xia Qing would’ve reminded Crippled Wolf in advance: cubs on field trips didn’t count as fighting strength—no more haggling.