Chapter 393: Crossroads in the Evolved Forest

After Yu Shou left, Zhao Ze kept the rotary tiller moving forward while Qi Fu cleared the path behind the vehicle. Xia Qing took on the job of guarding the group.

“Miss Xia, do you copy?” Five minutes later, Yu Shou, who’d gone to negotiate with Territory Seventeen, called Xia Qing through the walkie-talkie.

“Loud and clear.”

Yu Shou reported in, “Territory Seventeen’s leader Wen Nengjie, along with thirteen people from their territory, are using chainsaws, saws, and axes to cut down thornwood. Besides the wood they’re collecting, they’re also hauling off yellow clay from the area.”

Wen Nengjie had scouted Thornwood just yesterday. At dawn today, he showed up with a whole crew, making it pretty obvious he’s looking to claim land and snatch up resources.

Since there hadn’t been a fight after Yu Shou arrived, that meant there was still room to negotiate. Xia Qing asked, “How much area are they planning to clear and dig up?”

“Over fifty evolved thornwood trees, more than three hundred square meters, and in total, they want to take away over three hundred cubic meters of yellow clay. Their rented construction trucks will arrive in four days—they’re just clearing the site in advance. The leader from Seventeen agreed that, before they start digging, we can use our rotary tiller and transport truck to get through the area they’ve already cleared.”

Turns out, the area Wen Nengjie picked was right on the route Xia Qing’s group planned to use for clay collection. If they tried to go around it, they’d have to clear over five hundred more meters. But getting through the marked zone only required another fifty-odd meters of work.

That was a lucky break.

Xia Qing told Yu Shou to regroup, and the four of them kept pushing the rotary tiller, clearing the path forward.

Twenty minutes later, the roadwork team reached the edge of the area Wen Nengjie’s group had cleared, and the two groups came face to face.

There are no security cameras or law enforcement in the Evolved Forest. Running into a strange team here is sometimes even riskier than meeting evolved animals.

Everyone from Territory Seventeen was equipped for battle. Some eyed the rotary tiller, others sized up Xia Qing standing perched on the vehicle’s roof. Xia Qing took in the crowd busy chopping down trees.

There were fourteen in total, four homemade firearms, four chainsaws, and everyone carried sharp machetes and axes. Judging from their gear, even if any of them had strength-based evolution, it wasn’t higher than level three.

The way they stood showed all the signs of a group used to turf brawls in the Safe Zone. The man in the center—broad and a bit over 1.6 meters tall—wore a protective suit. Judging from the shape of the pocket at his waist, he likely had a small handgun stashed inside.

That pistol-toting man had to be none other than Wen Nengjie, the leader of Territory Seventeen—the one they called Renjie.

“Miss Xia, the one walking over in the brown camo is Wen Nengjie, leader of Territory Seventeen,” Yu Shou whispered through the walkie-talkie. He put away his weapon, stepped forward, and raised his voice. “Hey, Jie!”

After all, if you want to use someone’s road, you have to show the proper respect.

Xia Qing hopped down from the protective cover, landing solidly on the ground, and clipped her sniper pistol to her belt. She followed Yu Shou toward Wen Nengjie.

Just a moment ago, seeing that Xia Qing’s squad only had four people, running a rotary tiller, with a woman in high-grade combat gear and advanced weaponry on the roof, the folks from Seventeen were tempted, even greedy. But when Xia Qing jumped off the roof with a pistol and strode right over, they immediately straightened up.

Why the sudden change?

Because the way she leapt off that vehicle was sharp and practiced—she was clearly no ordinary woman. Trying to rob gear off someone like that wouldn’t just fail, it’d probably get them killed in that forest.

Naturally, Wen Nengjie had noticed Xia Qing’s equipment and how she moved. He strode forward to introduce himself. “Old Yu, this must be the leader from Section Three, Miss Xia Qing, right? I’ve heard about you for ages. Glad we could finally meet. I’m Wen Nengjie, leader of Territory Seventeen.”

“No need to be so formal—just call me Xia Qing. Thanks for letting us through,” Xia Qing replied, stopping three meters away and giving a slight nod.

Before the disaster, strangers would keep about a meter and a half between them when asking directions. After the disaster, with humans evolving, that safe social distance had stretched to over three meters. Any closer immediately raised everyone’s guard and sense of threat.

Xia Qing could smile naturally when dealing with animals back in her own territory. But outside, in the Evolved Forest and facing strangers, easy small talk was beyond her. Her expression stayed calm and cold.

Wen Nengjie had no problem with that. If anything, he thought she was acting friendlier than he’d expected. He’d already heard that the leader of Section Three was notorious for being tough and antisocial.

Since settling in the territory, she’d connected with Hu Zifeng, captain of the Azure Dragon Squad. Life was going pretty well for her.

Someone like that was not someone Wen Nengjie wanted to mess with.

She was being civil by greeting him. He’d be a fool not to return the courtesy.

Wen Nengjie beamed, stepping closer. “We’re all farming the same patch of land. We ought to help each other out if we want to get through these disasters. I heard from Old Yu you’re heading to the riverbank for clay? I scouted there yesterday—the yellow clay isn’t as good as the stuff here. Why not dig here instead?”

Nobody took polite talk at face value. Xia Qing glanced at the ground beneath her feet. “The soil here really is better than the riverbank, but we’ve got six territories working together. We need nearly three thousand cubic meters of clay and only have the trucks for two days. Honestly, grabbing from the riverbank will be more efficient for us.”

When Wen Nengjie heard they had six territories working in concert, his face gave nothing away, but his mind was already churning with new plans. His attitude grew even more cooperative. “From here to the riverbank, there’s a bit of distance. Let my people clear the path for you, then we’ll get back to tree cutting.”

But Xia Qing was leading Qi Fu and Zhao Ze, who had no combat experience, so she wasn’t about to join forces with strangers she’d just met. “I can’t take up your time, Jie. We’ve got enough hands, but if we get overwhelmed I’ll come ask for help.”

Wen Nengjie took the hint and told his people to make way, then turned back to chopping trees and digging out roots.

Xia Qing discussed with Yu Shou. “We can’t use the rotary tiller up ahead—too thick. I’ll go open the way. The rain shield can block their weapons. Yu, just focus on keeping Qi safe.”

“Got it.”

With Xia Qing as the team leader, Yu Shou just followed her lead. Years in the military had made obedience instinctive.

After confirming the boundaries of Wen Nengjie’s clearing, the rotary tiller crept along the edge another forty meters.

Up ahead, the forest was thick with thornwood, bushes, and wild grass. They were still fifty meters from the riverbank spot, so the path needed clearing fast.

Xia Qing picked a path and gave orders over the walkie-talkie. “Qi and Yu, take off the dozer blade from the rotary tiller and put on the weeder wheels that are in the cart. I’ll go up front and hack down the big bushes. Qi, keep an eye out for large rocks—don’t let them hit the blades. Zhao, use the tiller to cut the grass. As for those three big thornwoods blocking the way, we’ll get rid of them with a chainsaw and digging shovel soon.”

“Roger that.”

Once she heard all three reply, Xia Qing drew her black long blade from across her back and strode into the brush.

Her sudden action caught everyone off guard.