Chapter 305: A Morning of Trust and Trials in the Territory

Dawn had barely broken, but the camera on the high slope had night vision, so the images were crystal clear. Adjusting the camera’s angle and focus from her phone, Xia Qing spotted Red Squirrel intently eyeing the hillside terraces where she’d planted her sunflowers.

The sunflowers were almost at the end of their growing season—just a few more days and they’d be ready to harvest. This little guy sure had a good eye for picking the right target.

Red Squirrel could have easily chewed through the insect net and slipped into the greenhouse to steal some sunflower seeds. But after getting caught by Xia Qing twice, he’d learned his lesson: stealing from humans meant trouble at home. So now he just sat outside the terraces, too nervous to go in.

The sunflowers weren’t ready to eat yet, but Xia Qing had a better gift for Red Squirrel. She still hadn’t forgotten how he’d helped her in the Evolved Forest yesterday, knocking away that mutant crow trying to untie the rope.

Getting dressed, Xia Qing grabbed two torreya seeds she’d saved just for him out of the fridge, their flesh already cleaned off. Just as she did, her phone’s alarm went off again. Checking the camera, she saw Red Squirrel had left the high slope and now perched on a stone by the edge of the corn greenhouse—spotted again by another camera there.

This time Red Squirrel kept his distance, since between him and the corn stood the imposing guardian of the territory—Wolfdog Number Two.

Even when Xia Qing was resting, Wolfdog Number Two stayed faithfully at his post, keeping watch. Touched by his dedication, Xia Qing left the torreya seeds and some fresh spring water for Red Squirrel, then headed downstairs to make a hearty meat porridge for Number Two.

Old Goat? The moment Number Two returned, Old Goat called it quits. Other than going out to pee, he’d barely left his tatami all night. But sheep like Old Goat don’t have night vision, and he’s really more about strength-based evolution than night patrols anyway. Xia Qing never expected him to be a reliable night guard—now that Number Two was back, she was perfectly happy to let him return to his true calling.

After checking all four cameras and confirming nothing unusual inside the territory, Xia Qing wasn’t in a hurry to go out. Instead, she scooped the medicine from the bath barrel into a bucket and took it downstairs to reheat with her electric rod. She’d actually ordered this rod from Zhong Tao specifically for her medicinal baths, and after trying it last night was pleased with how well it worked.

When the bath water reached just the right temperature, Xia Qing called out, “Old Goat, come take a soak!”

Old Goat paused mid-chew and turned to give Xia Qing a look—like he was checking whether she’d finally lost her mind.

Hadn’t he just had a bath yesterday? And now she wanted to soak him again first thing in the morning?

Xia Qing knew exactly how he’d react. So she took half a chilled corn cob from the fridge and held it up. She didn’t even have to call—Old Goat saw the treat, his eyes sparkled, and he eagerly trotted after her straight to the bathroom.

Wherever Xia Qing turned the corn cob, Old Goat’s nose followed. “See this, Old Goat? That’s medicine in there. A soak will make you even stronger! Right now you’re the toughest sheep on Blue Star—take this bath and you’ll be the toughest sheep in the whole galaxy. Stay in for an hour and this corn is all yours!”

With that, Xia Qing lifted Old Goat and set him in the bath barrel. At first he squinted his eyes and seemed to enjoy it, but after twenty-five minutes he started to squirm, trying to jump out. He lasted ten minutes longer than Xia Qing had managed herself—that must be because she’d already done it once, the water had sat overnight, and the medicine was probably weaker now.

Old Goat was stronger than Xia Qing by far. If he got really mad, a single kick could shatter the bath barrel. She quickly broke off a few kernels of corn and stuffed them in his mouth. Greedy Old Goat stopped struggling, deciding he might as well eat before fighting the bath anymore.

Xia Qing coaxed him in a gentle voice, “Tasty, right? I know soaking isn’t all that fun, but you’ll feel so much better afterward. My shoulders feel way looser today. Can you stick it out a bit longer, Old Goat?”

“Baa!” He managed another five minutes before bleating—a little pained. Xia Qing popped three more kernels into his mouth and kept coaxing, “You’re the backbone of the territory, Old Goat. We’re all counting on you to guard this place. If you can’t handle a tiny bit of hardship, maybe we should call you Number Three instead!”

By forty minutes, Old Goat was at his limit. He refused to eat even a single corn kernel and gave a determined look—he wanted out, now.

Seeing him shaking from pain, Xia Qing lifted him from the barrel, dried him off, then carried him to his tatami. As she gently rubbed his fur, her voice softened. “Thanks for trusting me, Old Goat. Take a nap. Once the pain fades, your muscles are going to feel amazing.”

If he didn’t have complete trust in Xia Qing, Old Goat would never have stayed that long in medicine that made him ache.

Old Goat didn’t even have the strength to lift his head—he just lay on his tatami, ignoring Xia Qing completely.

Xia Qing patted his head once more, then called out to Er Gou, who was coming from the fish-supply room with a little basket. “Thanks for all your hard work, Number Two. Your turn for a bath!”

Wolfdog Number Two had heard Old Goat’s pained cries earlier but still trotted obediently to Xia Qing’s side.

Xia Qing checked the temperature then explained seriously, “This is medicine in the water. It won’t feel good while you bathe, but it’ll help heal you—make your muscles and bones even stronger, make you faster and better at jumping. How about soaking for a bit, Number Two?”

Trustingly, Er Gou stepped onto the little stool and climbed right into the bath. At first he panted, tongue lolling, but after thirty minutes his mouth snapped shut and his expression turned serious.

But no matter how tame, Er Gou was still a wild wolf raised in the Evolved Forest. Xia Qing didn’t dare touch him once the pain started in case he lashed out. She just coaxed softly, “Hurts a bit, right, Number Two? Stay strong—a little longer in this water, and your body will only get better.”

By now, the medicinal bath was even weaker and the pain much dulled, but Xia Qing didn’t expect Er Gou would last long once he started to hurt. After all, he was a wary predator—unlike Old Goat, he didn’t trust her completely.

But to Xia Qing’s surprise, Er Gou held out for the entire hour. The water shook as his body shivered, but he never tried to get out. When she finally lifted him from the barrel, dried him off and scratched his chin, Xia Qing felt both admiration and heartache for the wolf.

This was a wolf who’d survived skin disease, parasites, and even blindness from grass seeds—to fight his way from the wildest heart of the Evolved Forest all the way to human territory. Reaching Section Three was about willpower, pure and simple. That tenacity had him soaking in painful medicine, refusing to jump out no matter how much it hurt.

To survive—it’s the one thing every life shared during the disaster years.

Maybe he sensed Xia Qing’s feelings, because Er Gou licked her palm, his tongue soft and warm. Looking down at his barely open eyes, Xia Qing finally made a proper offer.

“Number Two, stay here for good from now on. You’re getting older, your body’s not what it was, and the Evolved Forest is too dangerous for you. Stay here with me and Old Goat—we’ve got food, water, and shelter, and we can guard this place together. Let’s live out our days in peace.”

Er Gou licked her hand again, laid his furry head over her palm, and fell sound asleep.

With her hand warmed by his neck, Xia Qing felt—for the first time—what it meant to be completely trusted by this evolved wolf.