Chapter 166: Hunt for the Greenlight Pangolin

That evolved sheep is her most important companion. Upgrading its gear is a big deal for her.” Yang Jin flicked his cigarette ash. “Now she’s got something—and someone—she wants to protect. Luo Ge has already pointed out her weaknesses. No need to rush her. She’ll push to get stronger on her own.”

“I was too impatient. In ten years facing disasters I’ve never seen someone as promising as Xia Qing.” Luo Pei didn’t finish, but Yang Jin and Xie Yu both understood exactly what he meant.

After Luo Pei was poisoned with Xiang Synthesis Poison, it took him four grueling months of detox before he got back ninety percent of his strength. But stubborn traces of the poison still linger deep in his damaged organs and won’t budge. If Luo Pei had been at his peak to intercept the flock of evolved birds, there’s no way even one Evolved Monkey Eagle would’ve escaped.

Luo Pei is afraid his stamina will keep slipping as the leftover poison does its work. That’s why he’s eager to train up a top-notch sniper to take his place. Xia Qing is a high-level triple-element esper with sharp senses, determination and raw power. She’s the best candidate Luo Pei trusts and can rely on right now.

“Don’t worry, Luo Ge. If we can’t round up all the detox meds by November, I’ll ask Zhang San to come with me to Central Base in Red City.” Xie Yu laid out the plan to set Luo Pei’s mind at ease. “Red City’s bound to have what we need.”

It’s not worth it if his condition might not even get worse.

But before Luo Pei could speak, Xie Yu steered the conversation elsewhere. “While you two were out gunning down that flock of evolved birds, I grabbed a meal with Tang Sufeng and Tang Zheng. I can basically confirm now—the Sufeng Squad has that pair of Greenlight Pangolins from the auction.”

The Greenlight Pangolin scales are a key ingredient in the detox formula Zhang San prescribed for Luo Pei. When Xie Yu heard there was a Greenlight Pangolin being auctioned at the Red Three Base’s tamed beast auction, he rushed over. But in the end, the bidding got heated and he sensibly backed off.

For the past month, Xie Yu has been tracking down the whereabouts of those pangolins. Since the Sufeng Squad would be the last ones to want Luo Pei healthy again, they became Xie Yu’s obvious suspects.

So when Tang Zheng invited him for tea, Xie Yu didn’t turn the chance down. He even picked the right moment—just in time to catch Tang Sufeng too.

The way brain-evolved creatures are classified isn’t like other evolvers at all.

Instead of ranking by ten levels like other evolver types, brain-evolved beings are sorted by degree of evolution: first, second, or third tier. So a third-tier brain-evolver already counts as high-level.

Plus, brain-evolvers are also split into five specialties: intelligence, observation, memory, reasoning, and emotional perception. Only a rare few brain-evolvers advance in three or more at the same time.

Xie Yu is a third-tier, four-specialty brain-evolver. The only thing he hasn’t advanced is memory. He can pick up huge amounts of info just by watching people’s moves, their words or the slightest change in facial expression. Sharing a meal with Tang Sufeng, who loves showing off but rarely uses his head, Xie Yu got pretty much all the intel he wanted.

Luo Pei couldn’t help sighing. “Five million. The Sufeng Squad really doesn’t mind splurging.”

“If the auction house wasn’t lying, five million’s not that much. Find one batch of Yi Stone and you’re already breaking even.” The ever-shrewd Yang Jin grinned. “Keep someone tailing Sufeng. Grab those two pangolins as soon as we can—use the little one for medicine and bring the bigger one to the Evolver Forest to look for Yi Stone.”

“Sounds good.” Xie Yu agreed, then asked, “Hey, Jin, is there anything special about spinach juice from Territory Three?”

If it wasn’t special, Yang Jin wouldn’t want to trade with Xia Qing for it next month.

Yang Jin answered, “Liangzi’s also a level-six hearing evolver, but after taking medicine he’s still laid up in bed. Zhang San’s not home, and Xia Qing has no special meds, yet she’s already bouncing around like nothing happened.”

Xie Yu caught on quick. “So you think her spinach juice heals damage from ultrasonic attacks even better than medicine or special additives?”

Luo Pei sided with Jin. “It’s possible. The water there is incredibly pure too.”

Yang Jin stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. “We’ll know for sure after we trade for some and try it out. Even if it turns out to be nothing special, we’re not losing anything here.”

“Exactly.” Xie Yu could crunch the numbers just as well as Jin. “Once her spinach seeds are harvested, no matter what the price is, we need a batch to plant for ourselves. Luo Ge, you think that’s doable?”

Luo Pei knew Xia Qing well. “She’s already done a trade with Zhang San. After this next harvest, if we propose a deal, she won’t say no. She needs weapons and people she can trust to protect her territory.”

Inside Territory Three, after Xia Qing hung up, she didn’t bother turning on the walkie-talkie. She slipped right into full-focus training mode.

Luo Pei’s criticism was spot on. Xia Qing is a level-nine vision evolver with the country’s best sniper rifle, but her mindset and skills are nowhere near worthy of that top-class power and weapon.

If she were just a bit better, she could have taken out the Evolved Monkey Eagle with one shot. Her livestock wouldn’t have died, Boss Sheep wouldn’t have been hurt, and her VIP guest wouldn’t have been puking from the ultrasonic blasts.

Training means all-in focus. If you’re half-listening to the Lord’s Channel or daydreaming about farming while you practice, you might as well not bother.

After three solid hours of training, Xia Qing took a shower, flopped on her bed and finally started thinking about what to do tomorrow.

Hu Zifeng hadn’t said a word about teaming up for more swamp clearing, so tomorrow, she decided to stay put and tidy up the cellar.

Next morning, as usual, Xia Qing was woken by the cheeping of chicks and the thunk of beaks on the cage. A few days ago that racket had annoyed her, but today she just felt happy.

Because those sounds meant her little chicks had bounced back from the ultrasonic attack and were lively again.

Heading downstairs, Xia Qing spotted Boss Sheep dozing and chewing its cud. It looked in great shape and she felt a lot better than yesterday too.

Spinach juice—it’s basically the cure-all!

She flicked on the Tool Room light, checked on the poultry in the cages and was just about to get busy in the cellar when she heard a commotion in the courtyard.

Turns out the Wolf Pack hadn’t been knocked out by the ultrasonics. Right on time, they trotted in, carrying their catch into the yard. But today, instead of the usual prey, they’d brought a pair of pangolins—one big, one small.

What? There are pangolins like that living in the nearby evolved woods? How’d the wolves catch them?

Xia Qing stared at the Alpha Wolf in disbelief, only to find the proud creature narrowing its eyes at her. Right away she launched into wild flattery: “My Queen, you can even catch pangolins now? That’s incredible! You’re the best evolver wolf on Blue Star—the one leading your kind to a new era, the most beautiful wolf at the top of the food chain…”

After discovering how much the Alpha Wolf loved shameless praise, Xia Qing started laying it on thick every time. After all, talking was free—didn’t even cost her any Points.

Only when she’d finished did the Alpha Wolf finally drop the little pangolin at her feet.