Chapter 177: Moonlit Bargain with the Alpha

She didn’t want to leave the territory for the Evolver Forest in the middle of the night, but today it was time to change the dressing for the wolf with the injured waist. After nearly a month of treatment, she couldn’t just give up halfway.

A Sufeng Squad member was keeping watch at the edge of Territory Three?

Heh. In the eyes of Xia Qing, a high-level triple-system Evolver, they were nothing. Not only could she easily slip past their surveillance, dealing with them outright was child’s play for her.

Xia Qing sent a text to Hu Zifeng, then made her way north along the mountain ravine between Territory Three and Territory Four. Tall grass hid her figure while the sound of running water covered her movements. She soon crossed the North Barrier and reached the valley where the abandoned Breeding Center was.

The buildings and iron fences here had all been dismantled and hauled away. Azure Dragon Unit took over this area and merged it into Area Three of Mountain 49. Now this valley belonged to Xia Qing alone.

She entered the valley and stopped outside the abandoned cave near the wild boar Breeding Center, lifting her gaze to the alpha wolf standing high atop the rocks.

With moon and starlight on its back, the alpha looked even stronger and more mysterious.

Strangely, after last night’s argument with the alpha, Xia Qing felt less afraid of it. Even as it looked down on her from above, she wasn’t scared. She shook the vacuum bag with the medicine inside. “I’m here to change the dressing for the injured wolf.”

Once the alpha figured out why Xia Qing had come, it leaped away and vanished.

Xia Qing waited outside the cave. It was too dangerous to go in—she’d let the injured wolf crawl out on its own, or be carried out if need be.

By now, the effects of the anesthesia had worn off.

Soon there was movement inside the cave. The alpha, having entered from who-knows-where, dragged the waist-injured wolf outside and set it before Xia Qing, then disappeared back inside.

With her back against a solid boulder, Xia Qing squatted down, carefully unclipped the protective gear from the wolf’s waist, and began changing its medicine with practiced hands. She filled a basin with spring water and medicated powder. “Drink this. Stay here for the next few days. When Third Brother’s back, I’ll take you for a check-up. You’re almost healed.”

The brain-evolved wolf let out a low whine before starting to lap at the water.

There was more noise from the cave. Xia Qing recognized the sound of the Wolf with the Broken Leg moving around. Its hind legs were still bound with splints—whenever they bumped against the stone, the sound was unmistakable.

A second, weaker set of footsteps—Xia Qing knew it was the sickly, frail wolf.

A feeble sick wolf wasn’t much of a threat, but the nearly recovered Wolf with the Broken Leg definitely put Xia Qing on edge. She took a few steps back, pressed against the rocks, gripping her weapon for defense.

The Wolf with the Broken Leg came out ahead of the sick wolf, standing by the water basin and staring at Xia Qing with wild eyes, clearly considering which part of her would make the best snack.

After that, the frail wolf shuffled out, fumbling around with its head low as it hunted for the spring water.

From its movements, Xia Qing figured the wolf must be blind by now, relying on sound and scent to move.

The medicated water was meant for the two wolves with bone and muscle injuries, but Xia Qing didn’t stop the sick wolf from drinking.

After the sick wolf finished, it was the Wolf with the Broken Leg’s turn.

When all three wolves were done, Xia Qing used her bamboo pole to drag the basin back, preparing to head home. Just then, the alpha stepped out of the cave again. Step by step, it approached Xia Qing, lowered its head, and spat out a stone the size of a walnut. Then it retreated to sit by the sick wolf, staring straight at Xia Qing.

If it wasn’t for her face mask, Xia Qing’s eyes would have bulged right out of her head.

A Yi Stone!

And even bigger than the last one she received!

She’d made it abundantly clear to the wolves—hinted, signaled, outright said—how much she wanted a Yi Stone.

Stay calm. You have to stay calm…

Biting back her excitement, Xia Qing fought to keep her expression and voice even as she calmly asked the alpha, “Is this for me? What do you want in exchange?”

The alpha turned and licked the sick wolf’s ear, then focused back on Xia Qing. She could see clear pleading and urgency in those golden eyes.

Save it.

Even after their big fight the night before—whether Xia Qing had misunderstood the wolf pack’s intentions or not—despite getting chewed out, the proud alpha didn’t give up on this sick wolf. It even brought out a Yi Stone to strike a bargain with her again. Clearly, this sick wolf mattered deeply to the alpha.

For the sake of the queen bowing her head, and for the sake of a Yi Stone, Xia Qing decided she’d at least try.

But she needed to be honest: there was no guarantee she’d succeed. This had to be made clear before any deal was struck.

To show her sincerity, Xia Qing took off her protective mask.

The moment she removed the mask with its air filter, a foul stench hit her straight in the face.

Chang Li’s medicine had side effects: the already frail wolf now had diarrhea and its condition was quickly deteriorating.

Xia Qing picked up the Yi Stone, took off her night vision goggles, and stared into the alpha’s rich golden eyes. She made her offer seriously: “This wolf is gravely ill. I can try to save it, but there’s no guarantee. Even after treatment, it might still die. Are you sure you want to trade this precious stone for just a chance?”

From the moment the alpha dropped the Yi Stone to trade, Xia Qing was certain it understood just how valuable the stone was. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t have tried to barter with the stone after she’d refused to make a deal over the Greenlight python.

Xia Qing wasn’t sure if the gold-furred alpha understood every word, but it licked the sick wolf’s ear again and stared right back at her.

The alpha was unwavering about saving this wolf.

“Alright, I’ll agree to the deal.” Xia Qing took it as a yes, slipped the Yi Stone into her pocket, put her night vision goggles and face mask back on, then contacted Ji Li right away.

Judging by how sick the wolf was, even the team doctor in Plot One probably couldn’t save it. She had to ask Zhang San from Territory Seven for help. Even if Zhang San asked for two hundred thousand points, Xia Qing would pay—this Yi Stone had to be worth that much.

It was already past two in the morning—Xia Qing didn’t dare call Ji Li directly. Instead, she sent over the lab report and two photos of the sick wolf that Chang Li had given her.

She followed up with: Ji, this wolf is in critical condition and needs Third Brother for a lifesaving operation. I’ll agree to whatever it costs.

And then the long wait began.

The sick wolf couldn’t hang on any longer and collapsed onto the stones.

But in truth, the wait wasn’t that long—twenty minutes later, Ji Li called. “Our Lord is busy right now, so I gave the lab results and photos to other experts. It’s possible, but whether the wolf survives depends on how much fight it has left. I’ll have someone head to Territory Three now, okay?”

“Thanks, Ji. I want to give it a shot no matter what.” Xia Qing thanked him and quickly explained, “Sufeng Squad is currently monitoring our territories because they lost a pangolin. I’ve moved the wolves to the abandoned cave in the Breeding Center, so it’s tricky to bring medicine here. Can I go to the Buffer Forest in Territory Seven to pick up the meds?”

Ji Li didn’t care about Sufeng’s informants at all. “No need. They’ll be at the abandoned cave by the Breeding Center in ten minutes. Your passcode is two-one-six—three-five-five.”

“Thanks so much, Ji. When you’re back, I’ll treat you to something good.”

After hanging up, Xia Qing turned to the alpha. “Two humans will be coming soon to drop off medicine. Your Majesty, please don’t attack them.”

The people from Territory Seven arrived on time outside the abandoned cave. After exchanging the secret code to confirm their identities, one immediately asked Xia Qing, “Which wolf is it?”

Xia Qing pointed at the wolf lying on the ground. “That one.”

They didn’t even bother with flashlights. The other said, “Miss Xia, please carry the patient into the cave. We need to operate right away.”

“Alright.” Xia Qing turned to the alpha. “Your Majesty, please take your pack to that side for now. The humans need to treat the wolf inside the cave.”

The alpha swiftly picked up one wolf and led the others aside, retreating to the spot Xia Qing showed, standing guard and watching the three humans at the cave entrance with wary eyes.