Chapter 426: Winter Shares and Hidden Strengths

After soothing the Wolf Pack and watching them head back to Wolf Valley, Xia Qing swaggered home with Old Goat in tow, only to find Yan Long and the others had already carved up over four meters of python meat.

With things getting so out of hand, Xia Qing felt a bit awkward. Before she could apologize, Huo Zhun changed the subject.

“Xia Qing, have you ever seen a yellow weasel hanging around that pack of wolves? Anything about it that would help me spot it right away?”

“Yeah. Its mouth curves up slightly, like it’s always smiling. It’s jumpy, so its whiskers are constantly twitching. Huo, if you run into it in the Evolved Forest, steer clear—its attacks are no joke.” After answering, Xia Qing disinfected her Long Blade and started chopping more python meat.

Neither Xia Qing nor Yan Long were big talkers, but Da Ya and Huo Zhun had enough stories to fill the whole afternoon. As they worked on the python, Xia Qing learned plenty of fun tidbits and recipes. Once all the meat was sorted, Huo Zhun and Yan Long headed off through the Northern Gate, hauling both the python meat and skin.

Da Ya wiped his hands and grinned at Xia Qing. “Let me see your phone, Xia Qing. Third Brother asked me to set up anti-surveillance mode for you.”

Xia Qing unlocked her phone without hesitation and handed it over.

Da Ya noticed Xia Qing was still using a pre-Disaster model. The fact it was still working and in such good shape was impressive.

Once the people from Section Seven left, Xia Qing called over Hu Zifeng’s Squad, handed over 250 pounds of python meat—their exchange for Yang Jin—then passed another bag to Hu Zifeng. “This is top-grade Evolved Green Lantern meat, boosts Hardness Evolution. I set aside forty pounds for you guys.”

Xia Qing kept a thousand pounds of python meat—five hundred each for herself and Er Gou. The other five hundred were for bartering, but only with her ‘friends.’

Azure Dragon Squad and Xin Yu still had one hundred fifty pounds left. Xia Qing had it all planned out: forty pounds for Hu Zifeng’s Squad, twenty for Tan Junjie’s group, five pounds each for every Territory in the Alliance—twenty-five total. The last sixty-five pounds would be made into jerky, kept as rare emergency supplies.

Except for Territory Fifteen, Xia Qing knew the members of her Alliance had never tasted top-grade Evolved animal meat. The effects would speak for themselves, boosting resistance in visible ways.

Especially the Zhao family next door—Xia Qing hoped this boost would help them hold out against Devastation Rain and the environmental fallout, letting them live a few years longer. She really didn’t want a change of neighbors.

Hu Zifeng hadn’t expected they’d get a share and was over the moon. “How many Credits a pound?”

“Five hundred.” Xia Qing explained lightly. “Third Brother says this python meat is off-the-charts nutritious.”

“That’s a steal—kind of Evolved Green Lantern meat you can’t buy anywhere, even with Credits. Thanks, Xia Qing.” Hu Zifeng instantly transferred the Credits to her.

The going rate for top-grade Evolved Green Lantern meat was three hundred Credits per pound, but that was for domesticated high-level Green Lantern poultry from the Safe Zone’s Breeding Center. Hu Zifeng had tried it before—not a bit of evolution boost from the stuff.

But this Green Lantern python was wild, Evolved Forest-born. Even if Xia Qing priced it at a thousand Credits a pound, people would scramble to buy it.

Er Yong, who had tagged along with him, couldn’t keep the grin off his face. And why not? This was top-tier Green Lantern meat!

What did it mean to eat meat like this? It meant stronger resistance to environmental corruption, and maybe even a jump in your body’s own Evolution!

Both things gave you a better shot at survival.

Seeing them so excited, Xia Qing couldn’t help but warn them, “Don’t get your hopes sky-high. An Evolution boost isn’t guaranteed.”

Er Yong grinned, “If we don’t try, there’s zero chance. Thanks, Sister Qing, for thinking of us when you get your hands on the good stuff.”

That python really was massive, but if Azure Dragon Squad had been the ones to bring it in, their share per person would have been way less than what Xia Qing just gave out.

Besides the share for Hu Zifeng’s Squad, Xia Qing set aside twenty pounds for Tan Junjie’s Inspection Team, plus five pounds for every Territory in the Lords’ Alliance. She had Tan Junjie deliver them.

Xia Qing only had one rule for selling them top-grade Green Lantern meat: eat it yourself or give it to your family to boost resistance. No spreading the word, no reselling.

Not that she really needed to say it. Anyone with a brain wouldn’t part with something this valuable—let alone something that might trigger body evolution.

Qi Fu called his wife back from the Greenhouse, keeping his voice low as he handed her the meat. “I’m headed back to the Greenhouse to keep watch. Half this meat goes on ice in the cellar, the other half gets dried. Starting tonight, you drink a bowl of meat broth every day.”

Yuan Yan pushed back. “No way, we’re eating together!”

Qi Fu shook his head hard. “You eat it—all of it. You and your abilities matter most now.”

In Territory Five, Kuang Qingwei made a similar choice. “You’ve been weak for years. Eat the whole thing, build up your health. If you happen to awaken an ability, our kids will have it a whole lot easier.”

Zhu Li threw her arms around her husband and planted a loud kiss on his face. “Thank you, honey!”

In Territory Ten, Shi Du flatly refused his parents’ plan. “We’re eating together! You two need better resistance more than me. If you won’t eat, I won’t either. Let the meat rot for all I care!”

In Territory Fifteen, Tan Junjie patted an old comrade on the shoulder. “This one’s from Xia Qing. Qiqi’s share is with me.”

In Territory Four, Zhao Ze clutched the meat and broke down crying. If only he’d met Xia Qing a few years earlier, maybe he’d have awakened a talent, maybe his dad would still be alive, maybe his mom wouldn’t have lost her arm…

Meanwhile, over in Section Three’s Greenhouse, Xia Qing was hoeing fresh soil after fertilizing. Old Goat, MVP of plowing duty, lounged nearby with droopy eyes, chewing his cud.

Er Gou wandered over and looked up at Xia Qing.

She paused, rubbing Er Gou’s head. “Er’s back? Don’t worry about me—I just realized how weak I really am. I’m figuring out how to get stronger.”

“Baa.” Old Goat gave a drowsy grunt in agreement.

Today, Xia Qing had finally seen the gulf between her and the top experts. “I asked Sister Yan—she’s not a Speed Evolver, but her attack speed is so fast I couldn’t even react.”

Not long ago, Xia Qing still felt proud that after half a year of training, she’d reached the level of a two-and-a-half–stage Speed Evolver all on her own.

But after sparring with Yan Long, she saw her weaknesses up close.

She was just too slow—running, reacting, everything. No wonder Luo Pei said she had to train herself up to a fourth-stage Speed Evolver before she’d be allowed into real fights.

The way she was now, she’d just end up as cannon fodder.

In other words, if Hu Zifeng’s Squad weren’t protecting her and Xu Pin sent elites to take her out, Xia Qing would have no chance to escape.

If she wanted to survive, she had to push her training—to the limit.

This winter, she’d have to stick close to Yan Long and train hard!

Er Gou nudged Xia Qing’s leg, then started pawing at the earth to help her build up the planting beds. Xia Qing stopped him before he could mess things up, shooed him off to rest with Old Goat, then went back to selecting vegetable seeds for planting.