Chapter 124: Midnight Rescue: Wolves and Allies

Time was running out. Xia Qing dialed Luo Pei’s number without hesitation. “Brother Luo, is Doctor Wang still with you? I have two injured wolves that need urgent care. One has a broken hind leg, the other, I think, has a spinal fracture.”

Instead of answering right away, Luo Pei calmly asked, “Xia Qing, what time is it now?”

This was the code Xia Qing and Luo Pei had agreed on—if things felt off, they’d ask for the time. If the other replied with the exact time, it meant everything was safe. But vague answers like “Let me check” or “I don’t know” meant danger.

Xia Qing answered right away, “It’s 2:35 AM.”

Hearing Xia Qing give the time, Luo Pei went silent for two seconds. He knew the Azure Dragon Unit had stationed people on Mountain Forty-Nine, and Tan Junjie’s squad was patrolling tonight. How had wolves gotten into Xia Qing’s territory?

And how did they even communicate with Xia Qing to ask for help treating their wounds?

“So, the wolves ran into your territory injured and want you to help them?”

Luo Pei was much calmer than Xia Qing expected. She kept her tone steady too. “It’s the same wolf that attacked the Wild Boar Breeding Center back on May fourteenth. It brought them here and even brought some herbs. That wolf’s lying on my front roof right now. The two injured ones are in my yard. I already gave them calming capsules.”

Given this situation, there was no way out—the wounds had to be treated. Luo Pei replied, “Put the herbs away for now and let the wolves know you agree. I’ll bring Doctor Wang over right away.”

Xia Qing breathed a sigh of relief. “They’re already put away. Thanks, Brother Luo. Make sure everyone wears protective suits, and I’ll do my best to keep that wolf calm.”

To avoid the surveillance from Plot Two, Luo Pei led his group through Mountain Forty-Nine, circling into the North Buffer Forest of Territory Three, heading for Xia Qing’s village. On the way, they triggered five of Xia Qing’s traps. The metallic clanging echoed clearly to Xia Qing—and to the lead wolf.

The lead wolf stood on the highest point of the ruined buildings, watching northward.

Xia Qing explained gently, “These are people I trust who came to help with your wounds. They’re my friends—you can trust them.”

Worried the wolves might fight with Luo Pei and his team, Xia Qing nudged Boss Sheep. “Boss, go tell your wolf friend that they’re with me. No need to cause trouble.”

Boss Sheep didn’t quite get it. He stood beside Xia Qing with his eyes half-closed, peacefully ruminating as if the world was a beautiful place.

The moment Xia Qing heard footsteps, she noticed the two wolves behind the lead wolf slipping away—one to the left, one to the right. Xia Qing spoke up in a low, commanding voice. “The people coming are friends of mine. Hurt them, and I’ll take it out on your pack.”

The lead wolf remained unmoved, its gaze fixed on the road leading into the village from the left.

Xia Qing felt ignored, so she decided to act. She stepped out to greet Luo Pei, with Boss Sheep trotting at her side. With her back to the lead wolf, Xia Qing kept her senses sharp and muscles tense. At the slightest sound behind her, she’d dash for the trees or the ruins in a heartbeat.

Not until Xia Qing and Luo Pei’s group of five met up did the lead wolf finally relax. Xia Qing felt a wave of relief and quickly briefed Luo Pei. “The moment the wolves heard you coming, the two uninjured ones hid. The lead wolf’s still just outside the yard.”

The female squad member beside Luo Pei spoke quietly. “One wolf’s behind the tree, thirty meters to the left. The other is behind the right wall, twenty meters in a straight line.”

Looks like this woman was a much better hearing evolver or maybe an olfactory evolver than Xia Qing. She quickly matched the reporting style, adding, “The other’s on top of the ruined building to the south of us, about two hundred meters straight ahead.”

Luo Pei nodded, not bothering with the wolves for now. Instead, he introduced his own people. “This is Chang Li. She’s great with external injuries, so I brought her along.”

Xia Qing exchanged a quick greeting with Chang Li, then led the group forward. Luo Pei, Hu Zifeng, and Wei Chengdong took up the flanks and rear, keeping Doctor Wang and Chang Li in the center.

Even though everyone wore night vision goggles, Xia Qing still used a flashlight. The beam was for Boss Sheep—but it also showed the wolves where the humans were going, making it clear they meant no harm.

As they entered the village, Luo Pei’s gaze fell on the lead wolf, standing in the moonlight atop the ruins, its left ear notched. He whispered, “A top-level evolver.”

Xia Qing gave a subtle nod. “No question.”

Under the wolf’s sharp gaze, the whole group stepped into Xia Qing’s yard. With their backs to the house, facing the wolf, the tension finally let up a bit. Hu Zifeng let out a slow breath. “This is…something else.”

He’d fought wolves before, but he’d never been in a situation like this. Words couldn’t capture just how bizarre it felt.

But what Hu Zifeng found the strangest wasn’t the wolves in the ruins or the ones in the yard. It was the evolved sheep calmly pacing between the wolves and the humans.

Doctor Wang and Chang Li, with Xia Qing, Hu Zifeng, and Wei Chengdong watching their backs, moved in to check the wolves’ injuries.

Luo Pei gripped his gun, facing off with the lead wolf. Two top-tier evolvers—if it came to a real fight, who knew who’d win?

Before long, Chang Li gave her first verdict. “One has fractures in both hind legs. I can handle that. The other’s got a spinal injury. We’ll need an X-ray to know how bad it is. I can keep it alive, but there’s no way I can actually heal it.”

Xia Qing asked, “Is there any way to fully heal the one with the severe injury?”

Chang Li glanced at Luo Pei, only continuing when he gave a slight nod. “Fastest route would be to go see the lord of Plot Seven. If he’s in a good mood and willing to help, there’s a chance.”

Third Brother, her idol? Instantly, Xia Qing had a plan. “Could I trouble you both to handle the one with broken legs first? I’ll get in touch with the lord of Plot Seven right away.”

Chang Li gave a reminder. “This late at night, he’s either asleep or deep in research—and he’s never in a good mood if interrupted.”

Xia Qing gripped her phone, asking, “If we wait until morning, is there still hope for the injured one?”

Chang Li shook her head. “No way.”

So, it had to be now. Xia Qing took out the four herbs the wolf had brought. “Could you two check these plants? Any idea what they’re for?”

Chang Li worked on resetting the broken bones while Doctor Wang examined the dirt-covered herbs under the flashlight. “They’re all for treating external wounds. Good color, healthy roots—they’re actually really high quality.”

High quality made things easier. Xia Qing took a steadying breath, then, risking getting blacklisted by her idol, made the call. With every ring, the pit in her stomach grew heavier.

After five rings, the call finally connected. Zhang San’s voice sounded rough and annoyed, clearly woken from sleep. “Xia Qing… sleepwalking or what?”

That was typical of her idol—even half-asleep and irritated, he still thought up an excuse for her.

Xia Qing’s nerves finally relaxed. She apologized right away. “Third Brother, I’m really sorry to bother you this late, but there’s an emergency. Boss Sheep’s wolf friend is badly injured and just brought here. I need your help.”

Zhang San fell silent.

Xia Qing quickly added, “The wolf even brought over four herbs. I don’t know what they are, but they seem valuable. I can send them over first if you’d like.”

Zhang San replied coolly, “You and Ji Li bring the wolf over.”

“Got it! Thank you, Third Brother!” Xia Qing ended the call, grinning so wide it nearly split her face. “Brother Luo, Ji Li will be here soon. He’ll help me carry the wolf over.”

The fact that Zhang San had picked up Xia Qing’s call—and even agreed to help—left everyone at the scene surprised. Luo Pei nodded. “I’ll handle things here. Let Zi Feng go with you.”

Xia Qing shook her head. “Third Brother said it should be just me and Ji Li. Besides, Hu just brought the kitten back. If he ends up covered in wolf scent and Princess Cat catches a whiff, she might just snatch the kitten right back.”

Hu Zifeng hadn’t expected Xia Qing to think of his troubles as a newly minted cat servant, even in a crisis like this. He was touched. “The wolves in hiding won’t know why you’re carrying one out. They’re bound to follow. Better let Chengdong protect you, just in case.”

He definitely wasn’t going—encountering Princess Cat was the last thing he wanted right now.