Chapter 315: Rabbit Trades and the Return of the Alpha

“Qing, did you say seven snakes?” Shi Du was stunned by Xia Qing’s call. Everyone leaned in, eager to hear more.

Xia Qing confirmed, “Yep, caught seven altogether—four Green Lanterns and three Yellow Lanterns. They’re all alive. Come pick them up at the signpost. I’m worried they’ll suffocate if I wait too long.”

“Got it, I’m on my way!”

As Shi Du spoke, he tried to run out the door but his dad grabbed him, “Take the rabbit you caught over to Xia Qing first.”

“Okay.” Shi Du grabbed the rabbit cage and dashed out of Territory Ten, heading for Section Three.

Shizhong and Madam Shi were just as excited. Madam Shi, looking at her husband’s now much less swollen knuckles, teared up. “If these snakes survive, you won’t have to worry about your medicine anymore.”

“With seven, a few should definitely make it.” Shizhong hurried outside, sounding thrilled. “I’ll go catch some evolved insects for the snakes to eat. Winter hibernation’s coming—I’ve got to boost their energy while I can. Wonder if Tang Huai would be willing to sell me some mice…”

“Did you stir up a snake nest, Xia Qing?”

Tang Huai stood beneath the Territory Two sign, staring in amazement at the squirming cloth bag in Xia Qing’s hand. Today he leaned sideways against the post, only half his face turned to Xia Qing, his voice raspy.

“Honestly, yeah.” Xia Qing replied. With sharp hearing, she quickly realized Tang Huai’s vocal cords were injured.

When Shi Du’s hurried footsteps approached, Tang Huai stole a glance over his shoulder before looking away, but Xia Qing still caught sight of the bruises on the hidden side of his face.

Bruised face, injured throat—Tang Huai had clearly taken a beating. Xia Qing kept a straight face, but her mind raced.

“Qing!”

Panting and dripping with sweat, Shi Du stopped in front of Xia Qing, holding out the rabbit cage. “I went to Mountain 51 today to search for snakes and set a trap. Caught this Yellow Lantern rabbit, but I can’t tell whether it’s evolved. Can I trade it for one of your snakes? How much do all those snakes weigh?”

Rabbits breed fast and show up on the Safe Zone’s task board year-round. This rabbit was big, healthy, and free of scars—a rare find. It could fetch 1,200 credits if sold in the Safe Zone.

Xia Qing had always wanted a rabbit. She accepted it and traded over the cloth bag. “All seven are in there. The four Green Lanterns weigh eight pounds combined, the three Yellow Lanterns five pounds. Keep them in two separate boxes, don’t let direct sunlight hit them, but make sure there’s ventilation and water…”

Shi Du listened closely. “This rabbit isn’t enough for all those snakes. How do you want to handle the credit difference, Qing?”

“Just deduct it from the tree-chopping credits you owe me,” Xia Qing said, not really needing anything else.

“Deal.” Once Shi Du rushed off with the snakes, Xia Qing hurried home herself to set up a rabbit pen, leaving Tang Huai alone by the signpost.

He took off his protective mask, lit a cigarette, and stared at the clouds above. The bruises on his neck stood out even more than those on his face, but his eyes stayed icy-calm.

Back at home, Xia Qing’s arrival with the rabbit drew Old Goat and Er Gou. Old Goat, not interested in meat, glanced over and lost interest fast. Er Gou, thinking the rabbit was meant for him, happily panted and wagged his tail.

“We’re not eating this one; we’re keeping it,” Xia Qing told Er Gou very seriously. “When Er’s healthier, he can catch more live rabbits. We’ll breed them, and pretty soon, we’ll have all the rabbits we could ever want!”

Seeing Xia Qing give the rabbit water, Er Gou quickly figured out it wasn’t for eating. He behaved himself, quietly lying next to the cage as Xia Qing bustled around.

Xia Qing got the rabbit settled inside the old iron cage in the sheep shed—the same one she’d used for Red Squirrel—then grabbed a basket and headed to the greenhouse for some leafy greens.

Once outside the village, Xia Qing took out her phone to text Hu Zifeng and ask what was going on in Territory Two today. That’s when a pop-up from her security app caught her eye.

She tapped to check, and her eyes flew open in surprise.

After a whole month missing, the Alpha finally appeared on camera at the High Slope—with a Yellow Weasel in tow, dragging a rabbit.

The Alpha spotted the camera mounted in the Toon Tree and fixed it with those golden eyes, gaze sharp and unwelcoming.

“Your Majesty, please—we need that camera intact. It’s no threat to you. I’m on my way right now!”

Xia Qing sent a voice message through the camera, terrified the Alpha might smash it before she got there. That thing cost her twenty thousand credits.

Even though the new materials were tough, Xia Qing was sure the Alpha’s claws and teeth were tougher.

The Alpha sniffed the odd device that carried Xia Qing’s voice, decided it was the same type of thing she always carried—the walkie-talkie—and lost interest, moving on.

When he reached the Shady Slope Terraces, he paused by another camera on a stone, seeming deep in thought.

By the time Xia Qing reached the hillside, the Alpha was staring down the camera while the Yellow Weasel, clutching its rabbit, hid behind him and peeked at her.

Seeing the Alpha’s curiosity, Xia Qing hurried to explain, “Your Majesty, those are cameras. They protect the territory. They rotate but can’t attack—see?”

With that, she used her phone to make the camera spin. The Alpha glanced from the camera to Xia Qing’s phone as if piecing together their connection.

“Your Majesty, as a Brain Evolution expert, I’m sure you understand—the camera works with this phone. I traded a ton of food for it, so it’s really important and must be protected. Absolutely no damaging it!” Xia Qing warned the Alpha, making her point crystal clear.

The Alpha seemed to get it and looked over at his little sidekick.

The Yellow Weasel struggled to drag the rabbit to Xia Qing’s feet, then dashed off in a flash.

“This rabbit’s for me?” Xia Qing picked up the still-warm doe with a bit of regret. “Your Majesty, I just traded for a live buck. If this one’s alive too, I could start a breeding pair.”

The Alpha, having delivered the rabbit, ignored Xia Qing and continued on his way.

“Head home, Your Majesty! I’ll go grab some greens for the rabbit,” Xia Qing called cheerfully, then went into the greenhouse in the Shady Slope Terraces to snag some sweet potato leaves for feed.

As the Alpha walked away, the cameras along the route kept tracking him, tagging him as an intruder and sending alerts to Xia Qing’s phone.

She pulled up the camera feed from her yard and spotted the Alpha and Er Gou sniffing each other in greeting, while Old Goat cozied up to the wolf, rubbing its body affectionately. Xia Qing looked away, embarrassed for her motley crew.

Just as she was about to put her phone away, a message popped up. It was from Yang Jin:

Got a moment?

Was he back already? The fact that both the Alpha and Yang Jin disappeared and reappeared at the same time must mean something.

Xia Qing knew why Yang Jin was contacting her. She set the basket down and replied, No need for you to come—just send Dong over.

Luo Pei’s detox definitely needed pure spring water, and Yang Jin would be swamped after just getting back. No sense in making him fetch water himself; she and Yang Jin had already set terms for price and volume.

Xia Qing had barely taken a step before her phone buzzed again. Yang Jin’s reply was quick and to the point:

There’s something else.