Chapter 229: Defending the Territory Under Crimson Xiang Rain

After trading supplies and inspecting goods with the people from Territory Nine, Xia Qing set the compost starter and plastic sheet on Boss Sheep’s seat, fired up the rotary tiller and got back to cutting Xiang grass, clearing the paths while pulling out the seedlings that had sprouted in the Xiang Rain.

Tree seedlings in the early stages grow rapidly under the Xiang Rain, often mutating through Xiang Evolution. Better to clear them out now and rest easy later.

An hour later, the Xiang Rain poured harder. Xia Qing went home, moved the supplies indoors, then parked the rotary tiller in front of the sheep shed. She took off the protective masks for the three wolves and one sheep, and let them drink their fill.

Afterward, Xia Qing told the sick wolf, “Number Two, your body’s still weak. If you need to go, stay inside and don’t let the rain get you.”

The wolves and sheep use the spot just outside the south wall as their ‘restroom.’ Before the Xiang Rain started, Xia Qing had already built them a covered shelter.

The sick wolf rubbed its bony body—little more than ribs—against Xia Qing, letting her know it understood.

Xia Qing put the protective mask back on the sick wolf, then turned to the Wolf with the Spinal Injury, gesturing seriously. “Your head’s the sharpest. If something urgent happens, howl right away. Take Number Two and the Wolf with the Broken Leg into the house and lock the security door behind you. As soon as I hear anything I’ll be back in no time.”

The Wolf with the Spinal Injury stared quietly at Xia Qing, intelligence flashing in its eyes like always. Time was tight, so she didn’t linger—she masked the wolf, waved for the Wolf with the Broken Leg—who bared its teeth and glared—and said softly, “Broken-leg, you’re their protector now. No matter what danger shows up in the territory, your only job is to keep your companions safe.”

She masked the fidgety Wolf with the Broken Leg, then called Big Boss over with gentle words. “Boss, this is the most dangerous moment yet. We’re shorthanded. I need you with me to guard the land. You’re the pillar of this place, our guardian spirit. With you here, we’ll make it through this Xiang Rain. Come on, let me put this on you.”

Looking mighty pleased, Boss Sheep donned the mask and had Xia Qing hold up an umbrella as the two of them headed out together to ‘the front lines.’

Standing outside in the pouring rain, Hu Zifeng was measuring the concentration of the Xiang element when he spotted Xia Qing and Boss Sheep striding over. He turned to Guan Tong without missing a beat: “That third round of crimson Xiang Rain is almost here. Wake everyone up and get them ready for battle.”

“On it.” Guan Tong hurried inside to rouse the squad, even though they’d barely been asleep three hours.

After sixty straight hours of Xiang Rain, another crimson-level wave could only mean trouble. More mutated crops would sprout in the greenhouses, and the chance of aggressive mutated plants attacking was higher than ever. They’d all have to throw themselves into the fight.

Hu Zifeng’s squad gathered inside the farm shed, faces solemn. Their mood stood in sharp contrast to Boss Sheep, who was happily munching grass right by Xia Qing’s side.

Xia Qing, calm as ever, placed ten vials of nutrient solution on the table. “These are premium ones—one for each of you. I’ll be counting on everyone for these next ten hours. Safety comes first: if things get out of hand, we retreat immediately.”

Ten premium nutrient solutions. Twenty thousand points.

The veteran members of the Azure Dragon Unit saw Xia Qing’s generosity and were floored.

Last night, Xia Qing had given Guan Tong one vial, but that was an emergency—they needed to clear the wild tung grove fast. With the crimson Xiang Rain not even here yet, wasn’t this a waste if the storm let up early?

A rumble of thunder snapped Hu Zifeng out of his thoughts. “Guan Tong, take half a vial. The rest of you, a full dose now. Ten hours left until Xiang Rain is over. Once you drink these, don’t you dare let me down!”

“Yes, sir!” came the resounding reply from all nine teammates. They downed the premium nutrient solutions and were instantly back at full strength.

At two thousand points each, these premium nutrient solutions were worth every cent.

“Will you take shifts with me at the greenhouse on the hillside?” Hu Zifeng asked Xia Qing.

Hu Zifeng kept it brief, but Xia Qing could tell he now understood exactly how she got her hands on those premium vials—which was why he made the spinach terraces on the highland a special priority.

“The spinach fields on the highland, the green-light sweet potatoes, and the greenlight rice in the greenhouse—all those have extra-special protection. They’re basically safe from Xiang Evolution.” At this critical moment, Xia Qing decided to lay her cards on the table.

Not that she needed to spell it out—Hu Zifeng’s team had mostly figured it out. The Xiang Rain had been falling for three days. For other crops, the mutated loss rate was over twenty percent, but in the areas Xia Qing mentioned, they’d lost nothing.

The difference was obvious. Even if you dragged a skittish Evolved Squirrel out of its tree hollow, it’d take one look and know exactly which plot to hide in.

Hu Zifeng nodded, then suggested, “How about you take point from here on out?”

The next round of crimson Xiang Rain would be especially treacherous—the whole operation needed someone in control. After so many joint fights, even if Xia Qing hadn’t admitted it, Hu Zifeng, a Level Five Vision Evolver, had already realized Xia Qing’s vision was way beyond his own.

Lord Xia Qing nodded and assigned everyone their roles. “I’ll scout from the highest spot in the territory and report any dangerous mutations. Boss Sheep will stand guard in the corn greenhouse. Each greenhouse gets one person. The rest cover the territory patrols—Hu, you handle the specifics.”

As a Level Nine Vision Evolver, Xia Qing only needed enough height to see anything unusual happening anywhere in the territory.

With rain drumming all around, Hu Zifeng barked out orders. “Xiao Jiang, guard the cotton shed. Guan Tong, the vegetable shed. Er Yong at the corn greenhouse. Peng Jian, Jing Kuan and I will be outside. If any greenhouse gets overrun, request backup immediately!”

Clearing mutated plants from the greenhouses mattered, but patrolling outside under the rain to hunt down aggressive mutants was an even bigger priority. With Hu Zifeng and Peng Jian—both Level Five Vision Evolvers—and Jing Kuan, a Level Five Speed Evolver, handling patrol, the team’s strongest fighters could sweep for danger and rush to help when needed.

Xia Qing dropped Boss Sheep off at the corn greenhouse, gave it a rousing pep talk, then headed toward the hillside.

“A sunflower just mutated. It’s blooming with flowers in all kinds of colors—really something to see!” Guan Tong joked from the vegetable shed. “Anyone nearby? I’ll move it out. If you find a nice patch of ground, maybe we can grow this as an ornamental!”

In years of disaster, just getting fed was hard enough—who had the energy to plant flowers? Nobody took him seriously. Xiao Jiang quipped, “Admire what? The way it shoots sunflower seeds everywhere when it goes hostile?”

Laughter echoed through Xia Qing’s earpiece as she slogged through muddy ground and running water. Near the fish pond, she paused, reporting, “There’s a crack along the north embankment of the fish pond on the right—everyone take the long way around.”

“Baa.” Before anyone on Hu Zifeng’s team could reply, Boss Sheep answered first, his voice carrying a nervous edge only Xia Qing would catch.

Alone in the corn greenhouse, with no Xia Qing or wolf pack close by, Boss Sheep was clearly anxious.

Nothing could be done about splitting up. In a gentle, quiet voice, Xia Qing reassured him, “Hang in there, Boss. Just one more night to go. Tomorrow I’ll whip up some rations with cucumber and perilla for you.”

“Baa.” Appetite won over worry, and Boss Sheep settled right down.

The stone bridge leading up the hillside had already disappeared under raging river water. Xia Qing picked up speed, leaping over the stream in one go, then skirted the space between the shelter and the woods up the lower slope.

She hadn’t even reached the highland when Tan Junjie’s serious voice crackled over the lord’s walkie-talkie: “Third wave of crimson Xiang Rain incoming.”

This was it—the final showdown had begun!

Xia Qing took a deep breath and scrambled up the big chinquapin tree, scanning the area. It wasn’t the highest spot, but being a greenlight tree, it was much safer than the others.

From her perch, all 2,600 acres of farmland south of the river fell within Xia Qing’s nine-level vision.

Ten minutes in, the Xiang grass began growing even faster.

Twenty minutes later, reports of mutated crops in the greenhouses started piling up. Luckily, the premium vials had everyone in top shape, and even Boss Sheep was holding the corn house steady—no shouts for help anywhere.

Thirty minutes in, a stalk of Xiang grass inside the southern grass wall shot up, shaking in a strange, unsettling way.