Chapter 420: Warning Shots and Wild Alliances

Xia Qing leveled her silenced sniper rifle, taking direct aim at the giant python’s head and pulled the trigger from close range.

Bang!

The bullet didn’t just punch through the hardness-evolved python skin—it struck hard enough to crack a slab of stone as thick as a finger beneath the python’s skull with a sharp ‘clang’.

Crippled Wolf, who’d been chasing a wild boar, jumped in alarm and dashed back to shield his little sister, baring his teeth at Xia Qing. Lame Wolf and Black Wolf were startled by the gunshot too. They bared their own fangs at Xia Qing, growling low and dangerous.

Alpha, Crippled Wolf, and Er Gou all looked up, watching Xia Qing intently, trying to figure out what she was doing.

The heavy sniper rifle in Xia Qing’s hands was top-of-the-line military gear. It boasted incredible range, pinpoint accuracy, and destructive power—capable of wrecking a car engine in one shot and blowing straight through twenty centimeters of concrete to kill a target behind the wall. ‘Terrifying’ wasn’t an exaggeration.

Xia Qing put the gun away and moved closer, lifting the massive python’s head. She realized the stone slab hadn’t been split by the bullet itself but shattered from the impact. The shot hadn’t even pierced through the python’s muscle and the second layer of its skin.

The python’s skin was tougher than Xia Qing had expected. She thought the bullet would easily punch through both layers of snake skin and shatter the stone, making a point to the wolves.

If even a heavy sniper rifle could only break one layer of python skin, ordinary guns would never get through this kind of hardened hide. That made these pythons seriously dangerous.

Still, the wolves’ reactions told Xia Qing she’d already shown enough human firepower to make her point.

Gun in one hand, Xia Qing pointed to the bullet hole in the python’s head and warned the six wolves in a harsh tone. “This is a gun—humans’ weapon. That python was a top-tier hardness-evolved beast, yet its hide couldn’t withstand a human bullet. Even if you make armor from this python skin, it won’t protect you from guns.”

“Wolves have their territory, and humans have theirs. If you want to trade for python skin armor, fine. But if you put that armor on and dare set foot in human territory to cause trouble…”

With a dangerous glint in her eyes, Xia Qing leveled the barrel at Alpha’s head. “I’ll use this rifle to blow a hole in every single one of you.”

Alpha just looked at the gun that oozed danger with those gaudy golden eyes, then glanced calmly back at Xia Qing. After a long look, he yawned wide, flopped down, and promptly went back to his nap.

The moment Alpha lay down, Lame Wolf bounced over to Xia Qing, circling her once and rubbing her leg, clearly telling her to quit causing trouble. Then she sprinted back to chasing the wild boar.

Lame Wolf’s sister, though, smacked her brother hard as he ran past, then she and Black Wolf kept eyeing Xia Qing like they were ready to pounce.

Er Gou came over to rub his head against Xia Qing’s leg too. Grinning up at her, then glancing at his chosen wild boar in the distance, and then back at Xia Qing, he chuckled each time. His meaning was clear: don’t waste bullets on snakes. Shoot that fat boar and let’s bring home some pork for dinner.

Crippled Wolf studied the hole in the snake’s head, then Xia Qing’s rifle, deep in thought.

Immediately, Xia Qing put away her beloved sniper rifle, putting Crippled Wolf’s hopes to rest. “No way I’m trading this gun. Even if I did, your paws couldn’t work it. You see what human weapons can do now? Still want python skin armor like I’m wearing?”

Crippled Wolf grinned right away, showing his little sharp fangs for Xia Qing to see.

Message received.

Xia Qing pocketed the walnut-sized Yi Stone, signaling she’d agreed to the trade. Then she pulled out her phone and called the hot-tempered shop owner from Huo Family Forge, Huo Lei.

After six loud rings, Huo Lei’s shout nearly rattled Xia Qing’s eardrums. Even Alpha’s ears twitched from his nap. “You calling me this early for what?”

Rubbing her ears, Xia Qing spoke sweetly. “Uncle Huo, I got another hardness-evolved python skin—this one’s even better quality than last time. Could you make some armor for me?”

Huo Lei was silent for a solid twenty seconds before asking, “Weren’t you farming on your new territory? Why are you out hunting giant beasts now? Did you join the Azure Dragon Squad or start your own team?”

With six wolves in front of her, every one with a different look on their face, Xia Qing answered, “I built my own team. Now I’ve got companions.”

It was a shame, though—with the brain-evolved bears around, Xia Qing couldn’t hunt in the Evolved Forest with her ‘companions.’ If the wolves clashed with the bears again one day, the bears might vent their anger on the humans living in this territory.

If the Brain-Evolved Bear saw the wolves dressed in protective suits, it would know the wolves were working with humans.

No, that’d be a very different problem.

If the Brain-Evolved Bear saw wolves carrying human supplies, it would just assume those were spoils stolen by the wolves—just as humans took prey from the beasts.

Only if Xia Qing and the wolf pack showed up together as partners would the Brain-Evolved Bear realize humans and wolves were cooperating, or maybe think the wolves were being tamed like dogs.

Honestly, putting aside the bear-wolf conflict, Xia Qing really wanted to be on good terms with the bear pack. They were incredibly strong, and a good relationship would make the human territory much safer.

“You’ve met my son Huo Zhun, right? He’s a dual-evolution type, level seven strength and level five resilience. I’ll keep him registered on your team, so when he retires, he’ll come find you. Farming, hunting—he can do it all,” Huo Lei boomed.

…Xia Qing wasn’t expecting that.

Huo Zhun’s real abilities, just blurted out like that by his dad? A dual-ability high-evolver like him would be fought over by all the teams after he retired, not stuck for options.

If, a few years from now, Huo Zhun really did leave the service and the spring water source in her territory became public, Xia Qing would welcome him onto her team. But for now, that was out of the question.

She answered honestly, “Please, Uncle Huo, don’t put it that way. Huo Zhun’s stronger than me—when he retires, if he doesn’t go to a top squad, he can always build his own. He’ll do great wherever he goes.”

“He’s got all brawn and no brains, not as sharp as you and nowhere near as thick-skinned. If he tries to start his own team or join someone else’s, he’s doomed either way,” Huo Lei grumbled.

…Xia Qing could only sigh.

…

…

Brains and a thick skin? Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?

Huo Lei was just pre-registering his son, not insisting Xia Qing say yes right away. He continued, “Still want the full set of gear in the same three sizes as last time?”

“Not this time,” Xia Qing bargained. “Uncle Huo, have you ever made armor for evolved dogs? Like the ones worn by the dogs in Jiang Xiong Squad—the kind that covers the neck, belly, legs, and paws.”

“You mean Jiang Xiong Squad—ranked fifth in our base? Captain, members, even their dogs, all got locked up and still haven’t been released. I heard you had a hand in that, didn’t you?”