Chapter 1037: Airborne Hunt: Wolves, Tigers, and the Last Scavenger

The Scavenger Squad, living deep in the Evolved Forest, knew the terrain far better than Xia Qing. They picked a perfect valley along the border between the Western Wolf Pack’s territory and the Western Evolved Tiger’s land to dig traps and lure in both wolf and tiger.

This region was basically a public hunting ground—the outer edges of both tiger and wolf lands. Normally, as long as outsiders weren’t looking to settle in, even if predators or humans passed through, the evolved tigers and wolves wouldn’t care. During the Devastation Rain period, they didn’t even bother patrolling out here.

That’s why, as the Northern Wolf King led Xia Qing through mountain caves to a sniper spot, the scavenger across the peak lounged at the entrance to his own cave beside two giant lizards, relaxed and unworried.

But now, the Western Wolf King was pissed off and took off running thanks to Xia Qing. The Western Evolved Tiger had been brought down by Xia Qing with a couple of soothing capsules. Up ahead, somewhere in the grass-choked Evolved Forest, a wounded scavenger hid—someone who knew the woods like the back of their hand. Chasing him in recklessly was a losing game.

He had the home field advantage, with traps and poison at every turn, just waiting for us and the wolf pack to take the bait. Well, let’s see how he likes a little air assault.

The distance from here to the helicopter was definitely out of walkie-talkie range.

Xia Qing powered up her phone, found a satellite signal, and sent her location to Hu Zifeng before calling him. “Captain Hu, are you all still in the Evolved Forest? I’ve already taken out six enemies. Only one wounded scavenger left, hiding deep in the forest. If you could fly the helicopter over and spot him from the air… He’s tricky to catch alive. He knows every inch of this place and is a master of poisons and traps. It’s best not to go in on foot.”

“Copy that.”

Hearing Xia Qing was unhurt, Hu Zifeng relaxed and called out enthusiastically, “Er Yong, take off for the southwest! We’re heading out to clear the last scavenger. I’ll handle radar and surveillance. Jing Kuan, you watch for visual targets.”

Without missing a beat, Er Yong fired up the helicopter. “Roger! Sister Qing just took out six scavengers with a handful of wolves—now that’s what I call impressive!”

Jing Kuan gazed at the endless Evolved Forest cloaked in mist, shaking his head in wonder. “Sister Qing and those two wolves? Their combat strength already puts them beyond our squad—maybe even over Tang Zhou’s team.”

Hu Zifeng gave a level assessment. “During Devastation Rain, fighting in the Evolved Forest, Sister Qing’s wolf squad would win hands down. If it’s not Devastation Rain and the human squads have firearms, it’s fifty-fifty between her wolves and Tang Zhou’s team. But if the entire Northern Wolf Pack jumps in, it doesn’t matter the weather—Tang Zhou’s squad wouldn’t stand a chance. The Northern Wolf King is a brain evolver, and Sister Qing’s both a top sniper and a dual-system powerhouse.”

Er Yong grinned. “Relax—there’s no way we’ll ever end up on opposite sides from Sister Qing’s wolves.”

Jing Kuan asked, “Boss, now that word’s out you and Sister Qing have ‘split up,’ it’s only a matter of time before Aurora and Dead End try to poach her. What’s the plan? I mean, Sister Qing loves high-quality crop seeds and saplings. Maybe if we…”

Hu Zifeng, clearly understanding the situation, kept his eyes glued to the display. “That’s not our business to meddle in. We’re nearly at the target—let’s focus on the mission. Sister Qing, we’re over the target area now. I see you down there.”

How did they spot Xia Qing? On the radar, the figure beside an Evolved Wolf was a dead giveaway!

Of course Xia Qing heard the roar of rotors overhead. Waving her arm, she gave the chopper’s radar an even better image. “That’s me. The Evolved Forest to my north is all yours. I’m heading south, to the valley where the battle happened. Once you sweep here, look for a big black body bag on a boulder next to the valley’s beast trail, west over two ridges. The bag’s got a signal transmitter. Collect the body, then meet me in the southern valley.”

“Roger that.”

Hu Zifeng directed Er Yong toward the target, while Xia Qing and the Alpha set out together, running over the mountains to check on the evolved tiger she’d knocked out with her own medicine.

When Xia Qing arrived, she saw two giant wolves still guarding the huge bag with the evolved tiger stashed inside. Seeing that the paralyzed tiger hadn’t been torn apart or gnawed to the bone by crazed animals, Xia Qing finally relaxed.

When Xia Qing and the Northern Wolf King approached, the two giant wolves abandoned their guard post, trotting over to stand with the Wolf King—who was perched on a rock, howling out their victory.

The Northern Wolf King got caught up in the moment, climbing to a higher ledge and letting out his own long howl. The Western Wolf King glanced over, then leaped even higher and howled back.

They quickly turned it into a contest, each claiming their own mountaintop and trying to out-howl the other. High above, Hu Zifeng’s squad watched seven wolves across the peaks, absolutely stunned all over again.

Xia Qing’s throat was burning from running—there was no way she was joining in the howling. The evolved tiger’s wounds had been soaked in Devastation Rain, and if she didn’t treat them fast they’d be infected for sure.

Her big medical kit was still in the cave back in the battle valley. If she wanted to get the medicine, she’d have to haul the tiger back over. She definitely couldn’t count on that pack of howling giant wolves for help. So, with a resigned sigh, Xia Qing hefted the eight-hundred-pound evolved tiger and headed out.

With Xia Qing lugging the tiger, all seven wolves fell silent and followed her back down the mountain.

The wolves and evolved tiger sprinted for three minutes flat. Xia Qing, carrying the tiger at a jog, still took over twenty minutes to make it back to the valley where wolves and tiger had clashed.

She set the evolved tiger down in the main cave where the invaders had hidden, just as the wind picked up—bringing more moisture and tossing leaves. Another Devastation Rain was about to start.

The Western Wolf Pack gathered, looking ready to head home to their own territory.

Devastation Rain made it far too dangerous to stay outdoors. If not for the hunt against these invading scavengers, there’s no way the Wolf Kings would risk leaving their lands and packs at a time like this.

“Queen, tell them to wait! Alpha’s brother, you all hold up!”

After asking the Northern Wolf King to keep the Western Wolf Pack in place, Xia Qing sprinted back to her sniper’s perch and grabbed her backpack from the damp cave.

She opened her backpack, pulled out a collapsible water basin, set it on the ground, and poured in a big bottle of pure spring water. Then she dropped in a Devastation Element Antidote and six bottles of X Nutrient Shake before gesturing to the fierce group of giant wolves and speaking to the Northern Wolf King. “Queen, here’s some antidote and nutrient shakes. Take a few sips yourself, then let the others have some too.”

The wolves had all been exposed to red-level Devastation Rain, so their Devastation Element content was bound to be up. Xia Qing wasn’t about to let them get weak or lose control after fighting on her behalf.

Last year, when Xia Qing cleared out the evolved monkey troop corpses from the Western Evolved Forest, she’d fed Crippled Wolf and Handsome Huge Wolf antiparasitic pills right in front of the Western Wolf Pack, later handing the rest to Crippled Wolf to share with the others.

Later, Xia Qing checked with Crippled Wolf and confirmed that every wolf in the Western Wolf Pack had taken their pill.

This spring, when Crippled Wolf swapped the Northern Wolf Pack’s antiparasitic pills with Xia Qing, she provided enough for the Western Wolf Pack, too. And feedback was, they’d all received their meds.

So today Xia Qing wanted them to down the antidote and nutrient shake before heading out.