Chapter 1099: A Foxy Visit and a Wolf’s Bargain

Judging by Er’s movements and expression, Xia Qing was sure another wolf was coming. She turned to look toward the Northern Buffer Forest, guessing which member of the pack it could be. Of course, her favorite was Number Four, then the Handsome Huge Wolf, followed by Alpha. Anyone but the stingy Broken Back Wolf would be great.

It wasn’t long before Xia Qing realized she was way off. Two gorgeous red foxes, with a baby fox in tow, slipped over the wall worth 250,000 credits and strolled right into her territory.

It had been a while since their last visit. Red Two-Fur and Red Three-Fur hung back, not daring to come any closer. Red Fur walked over, sniffed Er in greeting, then padded up to Xia Qing, lifting big tea-brown eyes to her and letting out a soft, whining sound.

A fox’s pupils are vertical, much like a cat’s. With the sun now set and the light fading, Red Fur’s pupils had dilated for better night vision. Those dark, glossy eyes combined with her reddish-brown fur and bushy tail instantly won Xia Qing’s heart—just like a ruler in the throes of indulgence.

Carrying her basket of vegetables, Xia Qing popped into the little cabin by the fields, pulled out some antiparasitic powder, and started dusting each fox, one by one.

The color of a red fox’s fur changes with the season and temperature. Now, in early September, the two adult foxes’ coats had shifted from the deep reddish hues of late spring to a rich, reddish-brown. But the fur still felt incredibly soft.

Healthy wild animals in the Evolved Forest all have their ways of keeping their fur clean. These three red foxes must’ve noticed that the old wolves, who posed a threat to them in Section Three, had left. Instead of cleaning themselves, they’d come straight to Xia Qing for a healing rubdown.

Xia Qing didn’t mind sharing a little powder. She cleaned each fox’s fur, then cheerfully invited them to stay in her territory for a few days.

There were still snakes, bugs, rats, and ants in Section Three that hadn’t been cleared out since the Devastation Rain. With three more foxes to help her and Er keep the land in order, Xia Qing couldn’t be happier.

But her plan to keep them was dashed quickly. Around 4 a.m., a weary old wolf swiped open the Northern Gate and slipped into her territory.

Fast asleep, Xia Qing groped for her phone to check the monitor. She recognized the familiar wolf, and since it didn’t seem urgent, she put the phone down, turned over, and went back to sleep.

“Clack. Squeee—”

The elder wolf greeted Er. When Xia Qing didn’t come out, it lifted a paw and tapped the window. Too tired to care, its sharp claws scraped the glass, making a horrible screech that was torture for anyone with evolved hearing.

Seems like the elder wolf hadn’t come home to sleep, but for something else.

Xia Qing dragged herself out of bed, put on her protective suit, and went downstairs. Eyes flicking to the tightly closed sheep shed, she grabbed a bottle of fresh spinach nutrient shake, mixed it with pure spring water, and handed it to the old wolf. Once it had gulped it down, she asked, “Number Four, what’s up?”

With its fur a little messy, the elder wolf’s eyes glowed green from the night vision goggles as it stared at the breast pocket of Xia Qing’s protective suit.

Xia Qing asked, “Do you need some pesticide?”

The old wolf turned to head outside, pausing to look back at Xia Qing.

She gestured, “Is it your packmate who needs medicine? Do you want me to go check on them?”

The old wolf bared its grayish-white fangs. Droplets hanging from its now-white muzzle splashed onto the muddy earth.

Was it one of the three wolves she’d rescued last time?

With more gestures and signals, Xia Qing finally learned its packmate was near Mount Twenty-Six in the Western Lands, and not just the three she’d helped before. Her mind raced. She was already thinking about striking a deal.

“My medicine costs credits. I treated you before because Er gave me a piece of Yi Stone—just like this one. If Number Four wants me to heal your packmates, you’ll have to pay up.”

Xia Qing pulled out a real Yi Stone and showed it to the weary old wolf. It sniffed the stone, glanced at the grinning Er, then turned back to her with a serious look.

“I know Number Four has neither Yi Stones nor medicinal herbs,” Xia Qing said, flipping to a picture of the One-eyed Tiger on her phone. “Remember this Evolved Tiger? You and Queen, and Er, once delivered medicine to him up on Hill Thirty-Seven, just a few days ago.”

The old wolf had learned what those pictures meant. It stared for a while before cracking a toothy grin.

“Lead me to that tiger first. I’ll trade him for the evolved violets in his territory, and after that, I’ll treat your packmates and bring medicine. Deal?”

Xia Qing went over her proposition a few more times. The old wolf finally understood, mouth stretching in a slow, sly grin.

“Number Four, you’re way too clever! Come on, inside for a bath and some medicine. Get some rest, and we’ll set out after.” Xia Qing warmly invited the old wolf in, treated its fur, gave it medicine, freeze-dried meat, and an anti-inflammatory pill, and took a sample of its saliva.

After filling its belly and getting a bath, the old wolf lounged on its ruined royal platform. Xia Qing tested its elemental levels there.

Devastation Element: 15‰. Evolution Element: 3.3. It was still infected with parasites and not fully cured. Having only recently returned to the Evolved Forest, it was barely stronger than when it first came to Section Three in late July.

If Xia Qing hadn’t given it a Devastation Element Antidote earlier, its condition would be even worse. The old wolf, having found its pack, definitely wouldn’t stick around for treatment daily—the wolves’ territory was simply too far. There was no way for them to pop over for medicine morning and night.

Watching the sky grow paler outside, Xia Qing first got in touch with Hu Zifeng and Huo Zhun to team up for a field mission.

Next, she called Zheng Chen, found out her Idol had been in the lab all night and still hadn’t left, and finally worked up her nerve to dial Idol directly.

“You’d better have a real reason,” Zhang San’s voice was brimming with irritation.

“Sorry, Third Brother, for calling so early. I do have a reason.” Xia Qing replied, panic lacing her tone. “I promised you I’d go to the Western Evolved Forest this morning for a medicinal trade with the tiger. Problem is, I’m unfamiliar with the tiger, so I first found the old wolf who knows him—the one who stayed here two months ago for parasite treatment…”

“Get to the point.”

“Right, sorry. The old wolf’s gotten worse and can’t stay for prolonged treatment. So, I need to trade with you for some miracle medicine to help with this illness. Should I send you the lab results?”

Zhang San’s voice turned icy. “I said, until your territory’s lab is finished, that room is sealed. No use of the equipment, either.”

Xia Qing, struggling for survival, quickly explained, “Third Brother, I still need to test my plants regularly, so I moved the Evolution Element Tester out before sealing the lab.”

There was a few seconds of silence before Zhang San roared, “Don’t let me catch you!”

Once Idol hung up, Xia Qing took a deep breath, printed out a test report, took a crisp photo with her battered phone, neatly edited it, and sent it to Idol—careful to do it by the book.

Idol might grumble and complain, but he hadn’t forbidden her from sending the report. So, she had to follow through.

Honestly, Xia Qing would’ve preferred to save a sheet of paper and just snap a photo of the detector’s electronic screen, but that created rainbow bands in the shot—and her own blur in the reflection—which Idol never accepted.

So while packing her backpack, Xia Qing waited, nerves on edge.

Fifteen minutes later, her phone rang. Zheng Chen called, “Xia Qing, the Lord told me to bring you the medicine right now.”

Xia Qing finally relaxed, her voice calm. “Great, thanks a lot, Zheng. I’ll meet you at the Northern Gate.”

Zheng Chen replied, then added, “The medicine’s worth 60,000 credits, and it’ll be a live transaction.”

Xia Qing…

Ouch, what a loss—she’d really taken a hit this time!

Had she known that miracle medicine was so expensive, she would’ve just knocked out all the old wolf’s packmates and stuffed them into a helicopter for treatment—anything to avoid bothering her Idol.