Chapter 235: Cloud Watching in the Wake of Rain

After drying and burning the Xiang Grass, Xia Qing didn’t rush to tidy up the fields. Instead, she decided to take a day off at home to clean up and do laundry.

She gave her entire house a deep clean, even freshening up the sheep shed with a new grass mat. Then Xia Qing settled in the courtyard, sitting inside the insect net tent, sipping white tea while watching the clouds.

The sky after the Xiang Rain was an especially vivid blue, and the clouds looked bigger and fluffier than ever.

Lounging on her chair, Xia Qing took a sip of tea, popped a dried fruit into her mouth and stretched out. “Boss, look up! The clouds today are gorgeous!”

Boss Sheep didn’t even lift its head, eyes narrowed in on the dried fruit on the little table.

Xia Qing handed one over. “Try the dried brambleberries, Greenlight’s batch—just a bit tart.”

Boss Sheep ate one, then lost interest. Clearly, dried brambleberries weren’t to its taste, but Xia Qing found them delicious.

She tossed a few more into her mouth just as her phone rang on the table. Glancing at the screen, she immediately snapped upright. “Team Leader Yang!”

Yang Jin answered, his voice a little hoarse. “I’m back.”

Alpha Wolf and the Yellow Weasel had already returned for three days now, but Yang Jin just got out of the Evolver Forest. He must have run into trouble. Xia Qing guessed it was probably other squads out for herbs too, since the wounds on Alpha Wolf looked like they were sliced by human weapons.

Yang Jin sounded exhausted, so Xia Qing didn’t pry. She went straight to business: “When do you have time to come over for a cup of tea and talk shop?”

Business was business—the sooner they talked, the better.

Yang Jin paused for a few seconds before turning her down, “Not right now, I need to hurry back to the Safe Zone.”

Hah, hurry back to the Safe Zone? You just don’t dare come see Xia Qing! Luo Pei, wearing his protective mask, couldn’t hold back anymore—he slipped out, closed the door and silently doubled over laughing.

Xia Qing heard the door close but couldn’t see what was happening on Yang Jin’s end. Still, she figured he really was swamped, which made perfect sense. “Alright, we’ll set something up whenever you’re free.”

Yang Jin glanced out his window at Luo Ge, who was acting totally unhinged, but stayed calm as he replied, “Sounds good.”

As Xia Qing was about to end the call, Yang Jin suddenly asked, “That yellow weasel in the photos I sent—did it come back with Alpha Wolf?”

“Yeah, it’s back. Still plucking chicken feathers in my yard this morning. Why, what’s up with it?” Xia Qing answered right away.

Yang Jin would rather Xia Qing not find out about his embarrassment, but more than that, he didn’t want her to suffer through the same ordeal. “Better steer clear of that yellow weasel. Don’t scare it or try to catch it. Its evolved ability is releasing poisonous stench—and I mean, unbelievably foul.”

Okay.

Wait—what?!

Xia Qing’s eyes went wide. She really wanted to ask how Yang Jin knew about the yellow weasel’s stench, but it just seemed… inappropriate.

Before she could say anything, Yang Jin continued: “It let off its poison gas in the Evolver Forest and made a bunch of people vomit. One guy who took the full blast even passed out.”

“That serious?” Xia Qing blurted out. “Is everyone alright now?”

Yang Jin kept it simple. “The one who passed out wasn’t from my squad.”

That person was fine now, but after falling into the pond, he’d been swallowed whole by an evolved python. Shame about that set of top-tier gear.

If it wasn’t someone from the Azure Dragon Unit, then it had to be someone from another squad or faction fighting for herbs in the Evolver Forest. Serves them right for getting knocked out. Relieved, Xia Qing couldn’t help wondering if the poor guy passed out from poison, the stink, or both at once.

But hold on.

A thought struck her. “Aren’t you all supposed to be wearing protective masks inside the Evolver Forest?”

Was the yellow weasel’s stench really strong enough to get through the mask’s air filter?

Yang Jin answered steadily, “The fighting got too intense so the mask broke.”

Luo Pei, overhearing Yang Jin, just cracked up even harder. “Ha—hahaha—!”

When Luo Ge’s hysterical laughter came through Yang Jin’s phone, Xia Qing lost it too. The image of that yellow weasel fumigating and flooring humans was just too much to handle. She did her best, but honestly, she couldn’t hold back. She hung up and slapped the table, doubling over in laughter.

Boss Sheep had already endured enough of the noise, not to mention taking a few slaps. Furious, it leaped up and knocked over Xia Qing’s chair with a single, well-placed horn.

Flattened on the ground, Xia Qing kept howling with laughter, pounding the floor.

Elsewhere in Plot One, Yang Jin’s head was filled with the echo of Xia Qing’s clear, hearty laughter. He couldn’t help but laugh himself. In a better mood, even watching Luo Ge go nuts against the window wasn’t so annoying anymore.

After drying and burning the Xiang Grass, Xia Qing didn’t rush to tidy up the fields. Instead, she decided to take a day off at home to clean up and do laundry.

She gave her entire house a deep clean then refreshed the sheep shed with a new grass mat. Sitting in the courtyard under the insect net, Xia Qing sipped white tea and gazed at the sky.

The sky after the Xiang Rain looked breathtakingly blue, with big, fluffy clouds drifting by.

Lounging on her chair, Xia Qing took another sip of tea and a bite of dried fruit, letting herself fully relax. “Boss, look up! Those clouds are something else today.”

Boss Sheep still didn’t lift his head, eyes squinting at the dried fruit on the little table.

Xia Qing handed him one. “Try a dried brambleberry from Greenlight—kind of tangy.”

Boss Sheep ate one, then looked away. Clearly brambleberries weren’t his thing, but Xia Qing really liked them.

She tossed a few more in her mouth before her phone buzzed. Checking the caller ID, she sat up straight right away. “Team Leader Yang!”

Yang Jin answered, his voice rough. “I’m back.”

Your Majesty had already come out three days ago, but Yang Jin was only now returning from the Evolver Forest. He must’ve run into some kind of trouble. Xia Qing wasn’t about to pry, so she went straight to business: “Got time soon to drop by for tea and chat?”

Business is business—no time to delay.

Yang Jin paused, then said, “Not now, I’ve got to rush back to the Safe Zone.”

Yeah right, rush back—he was probably just scared! Luo Pei, safely hidden behind his protective mask, couldn’t take it anymore. He left the house, shut the door and laughed so hard his sides hurt.

He was a busy guy after all, and it made sense that he’d want to get back after so many days away. Xia Qing just replied, “No problem, just let me know when you’re free.”

Yang Jin glanced out the window at Luo Ge, who was going off the rails, and replied evenly, “Alright.”

Right as Xia Qing was about to hang up, Yang Jin spoke again. “That yellow weasel in my last photo—did it come back with Alpha Wolf?”

“Yeah, it’s back. Was plucking chicken feathers in my yard this morning.” Xia Qing was dying to ask how Yang Jin managed to cut a deal with Alpha Wolf and Yellow Weasel, but since he didn’t bring it up, neither would she. He was obviously busy, anxious to return to the Safe Zone—not really in the mood for idle chitchat.

Yang Jin didn’t want Xia Qing to know about his own embarrassing ordeal, but even more, he didn’t want her to experience the same misery. “Better keep your distance from that yellow weasel, and don’t even think about frightening or catching it. Its evolved ability is to unleash a poisonous stench. It’s incredibly, incredibly foul.”

Okay.

Wait—what?!