Chapter 184: The Test of Composure
by xennovelYang Jin nodded. “If they haven’t been trained to resist counter-interrogation, anyone with mid-level or higher emotion-detection and observation abilities—like a Brain-Evolved—will see right through them. So when they arrive, you can request the Inspection Team to check them in the name of territory safety and have them strip off any surveillance, video, or audio equipment they’re carrying.”
“If we do that, the Sufeng Squad will get suspicious. They’ll start wondering about me, and about Territory Three.” Yang Jin’s advice was solid, but Xia Qing wanted to try her own approach first. “Yang, I may not have formal training in this, but I can control my facial expressions, breathing and heartbeat. Could you ask Captain Xie to help test me when he has time?”
If she pulled that off, it’d be ideal. Yang Jin got to work right away. “Hu Zifeng’s squad will enter Territory Three with equipment soon.”
Xia Qing’s phone had satellite capabilities but only handled calls and messaging. Sending live video was still a dream.
Once Hu Zifeng’s people distracted the Sufeng monitors, he brought a laptop and comms gear into Territory Three. While skillfully piecing everything together in the shed by the fields, he explained to Xia Qing, “This is a broadband self-organizing radio based on the latest in mobile communication tech. It’ll be up in a minute.”
“Alright.” She got broadband, sure, but what did he mean by ‘self-organizing’? And was this the same kind of radio she was thinking of? It surprised her that Hu Zifeng knew all this.
Once her year-long contract was up, she planned to hire Hu Zifeng’s squad for long-term territory security. But Yang Jin would definitely hike the price, so she needed to crank up the Yi element levels in her spinach—and fast.
“Captain Xie.”
“Hey, madman! Long time no see. Looks like you’ve gotten bigger—life must be good in your territory. Didn’t bring your cat with you?”
Hu Zifeng grinned like an idiot at the screen. “No, it’s at home, sleeping.”
“Alright. Take your people and pull back six hundred meters. I need to have a word with Xia Qing.” The radio signal was perfect. Captain Xie Yu, in his signature light gray fisherman’s hat, came through loud and clear with smooth movements. Though Xia Qing was seeing the Azure Dragon Unit’s most mysterious captain for the first time, she’d heard the rumors: the legendary fisherman’s hat fused to his head, hiding a bald spot.
Once Hu Zifeng stepped out, Xia Qing stood in front of the screen to greet Xie Yu. “Thank you for your time, Captain Xie.”
Xie Yu’s expression was warm and his smile inviting, but the hat hid his forehead and eyebrows. His dark eyes pinned her through the screen, as if they could see straight into her mind. Anyone meeting his gaze felt a heavy pressure.
“No trouble at all. I’ve been wanting to meet you. But if our call drags on, people could notice. Let’s start now?”
Xia Qing smoothed out her expression, controlled her breathing and heartbeat. Five seconds later, she nodded calmly. “Ready.”
Xie Yu didn’t pull any punches—right off the bat, he went for the kill.
“You’re a lifesaver for the Azure Dragon Unit. Since we’re meeting for the first time, I ought to formally introduce myself.” With that, Xie Yu actually took off his fisherman’s hat, smiling right at Xia Qing through the screen. “I’m Xie Yu, Vice Captain of the Azure Dragon Unit. Level three, type four Brain-Evolved. Male. Twenty-eight. Single, never had a girlfriend, no bad habits.”
Xia Qing had never seen someone change so much just from putting on—or taking off—a hat.
Hat on, he was a mysterious big shot. Without it, he looked like the mischievous kid next door, all the intimidation gone.
So, Xie Yu wasn’t some clever bald guy after all. He had a head full of short, thick golden curls. The Evolved Squirrel could probably collect enough of his hair to make a mattress. The moment he took off the hat, Xia Qing understood—he wore it just for show!
Mentally running in circles, Xia Qing only let a hint of surprise show on her face before responding calmly. “Hello, Captain Xie. I’m Xia Qing.”
It was just a test, not a blind date. So Xia Qing skipped the rest of the self-introduction.
Xie Yu raked his hand through those springy curls and grinned. “Do you always talk this little?”
Xia Qing nodded. “When I was in the Safe Zone, unless absolutely necessary, I could go a whole month without saying a word. Ever since I started working the fields, I’ve talked a bit more.”
She was sparing with words. Her red skin gave away little in the way of expression, and her eyes stayed calm and steady. There was nothing to read on her face, so her voice was the only clue left. Xie Yu struck up some small talk. “Did your Evolved Sheep lose its mind?”
“No,” Xia Qing answered.
Xie Yu knew Boss Sheep hadn’t gone mad. He took note of Xia Qing’s current expression, tone and gaze as he pressed on. “That pangolin that Territory Two’s been after—you really haven’t heard of it or seen it? Don’t tell me you caught it yourself.”
Xia Qing stared back, expressionless. “I heard Tang Huai mention it in the Lord’s Channel. I didn’t catch it.”
Perfect—her demeanor hadn’t changed at all. Xie Yu kept going. “Then why not let the Territory Two people into Territory Three?”
“No reason. I just don’t want outsiders on my land.”
“You and Hu Zifeng from the Azure Dragon Unit seem to get along. He never mentioned the pangolin?”
Xia Qing held Xie Yu’s gaze and waited two seconds before answering. “No.”
…
After about ten minutes, Xie Yu came to his conclusion. “No problem. Xia Qing, I’m surprised you’re this good at it.”
Xia Qing smiled. “Thank you, Captain Xie. It’s not that tricky. Most people who’ve survived in the Safe Zone with secrets this long can do it.”
Xie Yu gave her genuine praise. “So far, I’ve only seen three people pull this off without formal training—one of whom had facial nerve issues from poisoning.”
He didn’t mention who the third person was. Xia Qing didn’t ask, her mind already drifting to another issue.
Back in July, when she returned to the Safe Zone for the Produce Trade Fair, a stranger messaged her with some vital info: Sufeng Squad’s Vice Captain Xu Pin had a secret power—Advanced Sensory Evolution. He could sense the goodwill or malice of everyone within a hundred-meter range.
But could an Advanced Sensory Evolver sense truth or lies, on top of intent?
Did the Azure Dragon Unit know about Xu Pin’s hidden skill?
Should she mention it to Xie Yu? The thought flashed through her mind and was immediately dismissed. If she did bring it up, it’d only be after checking with that person first.
Off-camera, Yang Jin quietly reminded her, “If they ask whether Hu Zifeng talked to you about the pangolin, just use the same expression as before. Don’t answer.”
Xia Qing didn’t ask why. She just nodded. “Okay.”
After ending the video call, Xie Yu couldn’t help but comment, “You’ve won me over. Xia Qing has nerves of steel and her emotions are rock-solid. Combined with her triple evolution potential, if she sets her mind to it, she could surpass even Huo Fenghuang. I’m honestly looking forward to seeing them square off one day.”
Hearing his best friend hype up Xia Qing, Yang Jin looked downright proud.
Xie Yu shivered and rubbed at his arm. “Come on, boss, enough with the creepy smile. My mental fortitude isn’t that high—I can’t take it.”
With the Azure Dragon Unit’s top Brain-Evolved Xie Yu’s test behind her, Xia Qing finally relaxed. Time to get back to work.
That day, Boss Sheep finished watering the seven greenhouses on the south side of the reservoir by water pedal-bike. Guan Tong carried the water tank up the terraced fields. Xia Qing tended the sick wolf at home and cleaned out the racks in the storeroom, getting ready to scout out the best exit for her third food storage cellar.