Chapter 230: Firestorm of Xiang Rain

Commander Xia Qing wasted no time. “Captain Hu, a Xiang Grass is shaking and growing taller inside the wild grass walls, one hundred meters ahead at two o’clock.”

“Copy that. Clearing it now.” Hu Zifeng locked onto the target and fired, breaking the Xiang Grass showing signs of aggression. He quickly dug out the roots and reported, “Target eliminated.”

Forty-five minutes later, Xia Qing called out again. “Jing Kuan, sixty meters behind us at five o’clock, there’s a sapling shooting up fast—looks to be about two and a half meters tall.”

“Roger. On my way to check.” Jing Kuan spun around and sprinted back to investigate. He quickly reported, “It’s a Chinese cork sapling, trunk ten centimeters thick. I need backup!”

Xia Qing issued another order. “Peng Jian, you’re closest to Jing Kuan—head over and assist.”

“Understood. Heading there now.” Peng Jian replied instantly.

As Peng Jian rushed to help, Xia Qing caught sight of three soaked, black-furred creatures swimming out of the swift creek running through Plot Forty-Nine Area Three. Just by their crazed movements, she knew they’d gone berserk.

Bracing herself against a tree branch, Xia Qing raised her sniper rifle, took out the crazed water rats, and reported, “Evolved mutant water rats spotted in the river. They’ve been cleared.”

Peng Jian checked in. “The Xiang-evolved Chinese cork has been removed; it already had flower buds. It was extremely dangerous.”

Once Xiang-evolved aggressive plants start blooming, they’re almost certain to release poisonous gas. Good thing they handled it before it flowered—otherwise, cleanup would’ve been a nightmare. Xia Qing had just relaxed when Er Yong, the Speed Evolver, called for backup: “The corn greenhouse needs help!”

Xia Qing quickly checked where everyone was and ordered, “Captain Hu, get to the corn greenhouse. Peng Jian, stay put and keep checking for Chinese cork saplings. Jing Kuan, head to the western buffer forest and clear out any saplings near the big Chinese cork tree.”

“On it.” Hu Zifeng bolted toward the corn greenhouse to support Er Yong and Boss Sheep.

“Got it.” There weren’t many Chinese corks in Territory Three, so Jing Kuan and Peng Jian split up and raced to find saplings and clear them before any Xiang evolution happened.

For an entire hour, the red-level Xiang Rain hammered down. Gunfire broke out in every territory as reports of Xiang evolution dangers poured in to the Inspection Team.

The Hazard Inspection Team split up to handle threats in Territory Two and Plot Eight. Suddenly, a burst of gunfire erupted from Plot Five, and Yuan Yan urgently called, “We have an aggressive Xiang-evolved Chinese cork tree in Plot Five! It’s blooming and releasing Class A toxic gas! We need backup, repeat, we need backup!”

Class A toxic gas is no joke. Even the outdoor level-three filters on the Azure Dragon Unit and Tan Junjie’s Squad’s masks probably can’t stop it, let alone the standard-issue protective masks most folks wear.

If a human inhales Class A gas, odds of survival are slim—those who make it won’t come out whole. When Class A gas appears and gear isn’t enough, the only move is immediate evacuation.

But if everyone flees, the crops in the greenhouse are instantly doomed.

Tan Junjie had just stepped into Plot Eight when Xia Qing’s calm voice came through the Lord’s Channel: “Sister-in-law, how tall and thick is that Chinese cork?”

A member of the Azure Dragon Unit, hired by Plot Five, answered, “It’s currently four meters tall and fifteen centimeters thick. The toxic gas is held in a small area by the Xiang Rain, but we can’t get close.”

Leaving aside that Plot Five was her ally, if they let this high-risk Chinese cork grow, once the Xiang Rain stopped, Xia Qing’s own territory would be blanketed in toxic gas too!

“I’m going to support Plot Five. You all stay and guard Territory Three.”

Xia Qing jumped down from the Chinese Toon Tree and tore through the North Buffer Forest toward Plot Five. “My protective mask can filter the gas. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Keep shooting at the trunk and prep the largest vacuum bags. Captain Tan, as Lord of Territory Three, I’ve got this—no backup necessary.”

“Roger.” Tan Junjie knew Xia Qing wasn’t reckless, but still followed protocol and reported to headquarters for backup. With trouble everywhere, though, it was unlikely any help would come.

Xia Qing reached Plot Five in just eight minutes, grabbed the large vacuum bag from Yuan Yan, and sprinted to the high-level threat Chinese cork, now spewing Class A toxic gas. With a swift motion, she started hacking at it.

Sure enough, like the Xiang-evolved Chinese cork from Territory Three, this one wasn’t too solid either. The trunk was already shredded by machine gun fire and hadn’t regenerated. In just a few swings, Xia Qing severed the trunk, chopped off the flowering branches, and crammed them all into the large vacuum bag, sealing it tight.

Once she was done, Xia Qing pressed the comm button. “High-risk Xiang-evolved Chinese cork in Plot Five neutralized.”

“Copy that. Thanks for your efforts.” There was warmth in Tan Junjie’s usually steady voice.

“Thank you, Xia Qing.” Yuan Yan, usually so calm, spoke with a trembling voice, almost in tears.

“Well done, Xia Qing!” Kuang Qingwei replied between gasps. Territory Six was right next to Plot Five—if that tree had grown any bigger, they’d have lost their home too.

Rain quickly pressed down the Class A gas, and once the glaring red alert on her arm turned green, Xia Qing waved to Qi Fu, who was lugging a big axe in the distance.

Qi Fu rushed over and took her place, carrying on with clearing the Chinese cork roots.

As Xia Qing turned to head back to her own territory, Kuang Qingwei yelled, “Xia Qing, hurry! A flowering Chinese cork just popped up in my territory too! Please, I need you! Come quick!”

Territory Six? Xia Qing hit the comm button for backup. “Third Brother, are you there? Can you send someone to clear the Chinese cork in Territory Six?”

Right then, Zhang San’s voice came through the Lord’s Channel: “The Chinese cork in Territory Six will be cleared by Territory Seven.”

“Thank you, Third Brother, really appreciate it.” Kuang Qingwei replied right away, feeling instantly relieved.

Taking out a high-risk Xiang-evolved tree was child’s play for Territory Seven. After thanking them, Xia Qing sprinted back to her own land. “Danger in Plot Five cleared, returning in ten minutes.”

Hu Zifeng replied, “All risks controllable here. No rush, just be careful.”

Over the Lord’s Channel, Tan Junjie made an announcement. “All Lords, immediately send people to check every Chinese cork in your territory. Remove any saplings before they bloom. If one flowers, report at once.”

“Inspection Team has reported in. Before the army can send support, we’re requesting emergency backup from Lords of Territories Three, Seven, One, and Nine.”

Running at full tilt, Xia Qing responded, “Received.”

“Roger.” Zhang San added a warning. “This was the third wave of red Xiang Rain—rain’s already letting up. If another Xiang-evolved Chinese cork appears, the toxic gas will spread fast.”

Damn it!

Xia Qing slogged through head-high Xiang Grass, running for her life.

Luo Pei from Plot One checked in, “Ten Speed Evolvers in airtight suits stand ready in Plot One.”

As Luo Pei finished, Li Si from Territory Nine reported calmly, “Five available to support from Territory Nine.”

Before their voices faded, Shi Chong called for help. “A flowering Chinese cork just appeared in Plot Ten. Requesting support.”

Li Si, nearest to Plot Ten, responded calmly, “Report exact position.”

Immediately after, Zhao Ze’s mother from Territory Four made a precise call for help. “There are flowering Chinese corks in the North Buffer Forest and southwest corner of Territory Four. Captain Luo, please assist.”

Luo Pei replied, “Arriving in five minutes; Plot One will clear both trees.”

“Thank you, Captain Luo.” Zhao Ze’s mother responded instantly.

With Luo Pei handling the crisis in Territory Four, Xia Qing raced back home. Barely catching her breath, she spotted over a dozen mutant water rats crawling out of the river onto the bank. She leveled her sniper rifle and started picking off the crazed invaders.

The third wave of red Xiang Rain brought non-stop danger, finally easing up after 1 a.m. Exhausted survivors could finally breathe again.

Lying in the Xiang Grass, Tang Huai lifted a trembling hand and pressed the walkie-talkie. His voice was hoarse. “Stars are out. Screw the Xiang Rain, and to hell with Blue Star. I survived again!”

Standing by a mountain of mutant water rat corpses, Xia Qing glared murderously at the two twinkling stars shaking in the misty rain.

Damn right I survived too.