Chapter 135: No Place to Hide in Territory Nine

Tang Huai rolled his eyes. “Wear it for what? Do you not trust the army or Third Brother?”

“We’re just ordinary folks. Our bodies aren’t as strong as the Evolvers, so best to put it on,” Shi Du’s mom said, motioning for Xia Qing to wear her protective mask. She buckled it on her son’s face, then finally put on her own.

Unlike Xia Qing’s brand-new, high-quality mask, the ones Shi Du and his mother wore were basic models from the Safe Zone—better than nothing.

Once everyone had their masks on, Tang Huai snorted and told his brother, “You put yours on too.”

Tang Heng buckled the mask on his brother first before putting on his own. Even though Tang Huai talked tough about not wearing it, he hadn’t actually taken it off. It was the first time Xia Qing saw these two interact, and she realized they got along pretty well.

“Captain, all the other lords have arrived,” Su Ming the Vision Evolver whispered to Tan Junjie. “This is way too dangerous. Should we send them all back?”

Xia Qing heard Tan Junjie quietly ask Zhang San, “Lord Zhang, is it dangerous for them to stay here?”

Because he was wearing an airtight suit, Zhang San couldn’t talk easily; he just waved his hand to mean there was no danger.

Seeing Third Brother wave his hand, Tang Huai became even more self-assured. “See? I said with Third Brother here, there’s no need for masks at all! You’re all scaredy-cats—worse than a bug!”

The other lords, masked up, pretended they didn’t hear Tang Huai’s jabs. Da Jiang, whose hearing was enhanced, shot him a glare. “So your nerves are tougher than a bug’s, huh? Can you stop yapping?”

Tang Heng stopped his brother from getting into a shouting match with Da Jiang, instead motioning for him to look at the Hazardous Chemicals Clearance Team parked under the Territory Nine sign.

Tan Junjie pulled out the loudspeaker clipped to his waist and called out, “Lord Li Si of Territory Nine! The Hazard Inspection Team has received permission from the Land Management Department. We will now enter your territory to search for hazardous chemicals. Please cooperate with us.”

As Tan Junjie began repeating the announcement, Shi Du muttered quietly beside Xia Qing, “They’re definitely hiding something in Territory Nine. What if Third Brother can’t find it when he goes in?”

Da Jiang pointed to the woman in camouflage near Zhang San. “Doesn’t matter if they hide it. See her? That’s a level ten Olfactory Evolver.”

“Level ten?!” Everyone was stunned. They hadn’t expected another top-level Evolver in the area besides Luo Pei—especially a woman.

Shi Du’s mom whispered, “I wonder if she’s married. If a top Evolver like her marries another high-level Evolver, their kid would be a genius for sure.”

Yuan Yan answered softly, “She looks pretty young—probably not married yet.”

“If I were a top Evolver, I wouldn’t even think about marriage before thirty-five,” Zhu Li grabbed Xia Qing into the conversation. “Right, Xia Qing?”

“Aunt Kuang’s right. I’m the same,” Xia Qing gave a brief reply. Her attention was mostly on the team under the Territory Nine sign, especially eyeing the grenade launcher Huzi and the others carried.

After repeating the official warning three times, Tan Junjie changed his tone: “The Hazard Inspection Team has notified you three times. Since Lord Li Si hasn’t responded, the Inspection Team will now enter Territory Nine. If you have objections, you may file a protest with the Land Management Department later. If anyone inside uses force to resist, the Inspection Team may take necessary action to complete the search.”

“Ka-chak. Ka-chak.”

The sound of ammunition chambering was sharp and full of tension. Everyone held their breath, watching as the team entered Territory Nine.

Once the Inspection Team crossed the wild grass wall, nobody outside could see anything anymore. As soon as even footsteps faded, and with no gunshots inside, everyone found themselves left in suspense.

But no one left. Everyone wanted to see the final outcome with their own eyes. Kuang Qingwei sidled up to Tang Huai, grinning. “Huai, can you hear what’s going on?”

Kuang Qingwei and the others didn’t know Da Jiang was also a Hearing Evolver, so they turned their attention to Tang Huai.

Tang Huai gave a smug snort. “They haven’t even arrived yet. What’s the rush?”

“Nobody say anything,” Kuang Qingwei insisted, giving a pointed look at his wife. “Let Huai focus and listen in.”

Zhu Li huffed, twirling a blade of grass between her fingers. After half a year, this was the first time she’d seen anyone alive outside of Territory Six—she couldn’t help wanting to talk a bit more.

Xia Qing listened intently too and caught Assistant Liu using the ‘Lord’s Law’ protection clauses to push back against the search, while Tan Junjie argued his case.

Bits and pieces of their conversation drifted out—sometimes loud, sometimes barely audible. Xia Qing caught an angry man’s shout, then the sound of a scuffle, but the fight didn’t last long. Soon after, she heard Tan Junjie ordering the inspection to begin.

It grew quiet inside. Xia Qing heard Assistant Liu weeping and apologizing to Li Si.

“It’s not your fault. They’ve had their eyes on us for a while. Sooner or later they’d have found an excuse to barge in,” Li Si didn’t blame Liu completely.

The man who had just yelled at Tan Junjie turned on Assistant Liu. “Who else’s fault is it? You can’t even tell what you should or shouldn’t say! You women are hopeless!”

Li Si shot back coldly, “Oh, you’re so reliable? Let’s see you say that to the Captain’s face when you get back.”

By “Captain”, Li Si meant Huo Fenghuang, leader of the Blazing Fire Unit, Deng Yufeng.

That man instantly lost his bluster, voice shrinking to a mumble. Xia Qing couldn’t catch what he said, and things inside went silent.

Half an hour later, Xia Qing heard Tan Junjie loudly announcing the results of the search to Li Si.

“Within Territory Nine, we have found twenty canisters of high-concentration compressed Xiang gas, each containing four hundred and fifty milliliters; eight types of level one toxic substances weighing a total of 28.5 kilograms; thirteen types of level two toxic substances weighing a total of 82.65 kilograms. In accordance with the Hazardous Chemicals Safety Management Ordinance, these items will be confiscated. Lord Li Si, any objections?”

Hearing those quantities, Xia Qing was stunned.

She’d thought there were maybe a few pounds of contraband chemicals at most—but nearly two hundred pounds? And that didn’t even include the twenty canisters of compressed Xiang gas made for poison attacks or sabotage.

Li Si had regained his composure and didn’t argue. Instead, he pointed toward Territory Three. “Captain Tan, as a professional, I apply to join the Inspection Team in searching for hazardous chemicals hidden in Territory Seven.”

Tan Junjie asked sternly, “Lord Li Si, do you have any evidence that Territory Seven contains contraband chemicals?”

Li Si had no proof, but she was emphatic. “He specializes in medicine. His territory absolutely has toxic chemicals.”

Tan Junjie then checked with Zhang San. “Lord of Territory Seven, do you have any chemicals stored on your land in violation of the Hazardous Chemicals Safety Management Ordinance?”

Zhang San stayed silent in his sealed protective suit. After a moment, Tan Junjie said, “Understood. Lord of Territory Seven confirms there are no illegal items or chemicals on his land and accepts legal responsibility for his statement. Video records have been made.”

“I, Tan Junjie, Captain of Hazard Inspection Team Six for Territories 1–10, acting on behalf of Hui San Base Land Management, hereby inform all thirty-five people in Territory Nine, including Lord Li Si: Until Management issues a penalty, you are under the watch of the Inspection Team. No one is allowed to leave Territory Nine without permission. Violation means double punishment.”

Thirty-five people in Territory Nine? Xia Qing frowned—over thirty people carrying nearly two hundred pounds of poison? Clearly they’re after more than just native plants here.

Suddenly, Xia Qing heard Li Si shout, unable to hold back her anger, “Tan Junjie! I’m filing a complaint against you with the Hui City Main Base! And I’m reporting Hui San Base too!”

“That’s your right,” Tan Junjie replied, still calm and serious as his team headed out.

Li Si, still fuming, shouted, “You think just a handful of you can keep an eye on me? What a joke!”

Something about Li Si’s tone sent a chill down Xia Qing’s spine. Assistant Liu didn’t sound like herself today, and neither did Li Si. What exactly were they plotting?