Chapter 428: The Storm Over the P3 Lab

Zhang San’s voice was calm but everyone could hear the displeasure in it. “I don’t care if you’ve overdosed on Evolution Element in the lab and lost your wits, or if Fire Phoenix talked you into doing something stupid—none of that is my problem. If you can’t meet my requirements, don’t come to me for a partnership. Tan Junjie, are you there?”

“Here.” Tan Junjie replied.

Zhang San’s voice stayed flat, but a murderous edge crept in. “As the Lord of Territory Seven, I am officially reporting to Hui Three Base authorities: The lab in Territory Seven is a state-approved P3 laboratory, formally established. According to the disaster-era safety regulations for P3 labs: Any organism that approaches the laboratory or the surrounding restricted zone without approval will be considered a threat to lab safety and may be neutralized on the spot.”

“In short: Any organism entering Territory Seven without permission from the lord or their appointed agent may be killed immediately, and those responsible will bear all legal consequences.”

Hiss—

Xia Qing sucked in a sharp breath. Territory Seven is a P3 lab?! Holy crap, just what is Idol researching here that calls for a lab this high-level?

She wasn’t the only one. The whole territory was thrown into shock, everyone’s nerves instantly on end.

Tan Junjie answered with grave formality. “Understood. Captain Tan Junjie of the Sixth Inspection Team, I’ll report this at once to both Base Management and Territory Management.”

Dan Ying could barely believe it. “I’d believe your lab is P2, but come on. Across all 43 bases in the country, there are only 40 P3 labs, and every single one is inside a Safe Zone. Who authorized you to build a P3 lab out in a territory?”

But Zhang San, firmly in a petty mood now, ignored Dan Ying. “Tan Junjie, as the Lord of Territory Seven and head of a national P3 laboratory, I officially file a protest with the Territory Management Department. Fire Phoenix and Sufeng Squad sent people to provoke the evolved bear at Hill Fifty, clearly hoping to incite a fight for their own gain. Please send investigators immediately and punish Fire Phoenix and Sufeng as an example to all.”

“Idol! Hey, Boss, Second Brother—did you hear that? That guy is my idol!” Xia Qing couldn’t help smacking Old Goat on the head in her excitement.

Old Goat narrowed his eyes and, with one swift kick of his hoof, sent Xia Qing flying right onto Er Gou.

Still beaming like a fool, Xia Qing rammed her forehead against Er Gou’s. “Er Gou! We’ll be able to go dig up Green Lantern peanuts real soon!”

Pinned beneath her, Er Gou grinned wide and stuck out his tongue, laughing along with her.

Back in Territory Two, Zhou Xun shrank into himself, terrified, not daring to look at Xu Pin beside him. Xu Pin, for his part, ignored Zhou Xun completely and called Tang Zhengsu right away.

On the Lords’ channel, Tan Junjie pressed, all serious, “Lord of Territory Seven, do you have any proof?”

Zhang San answered without pause. “No.”

Before Territory Two or Territory Nine could say anything, Yang Jin logged in. “I’ve got evidence.”

Xia Qing’s joy grew. She nudged Old Goat with her foot. “Did you hear that, Boss? Even Yang the Boss, who shares your name, is just as capable. We’re about to rack up some credits!”

Tan Junjie kept pressing. “Yang Jin, can your evidence be handed over to the Inspection Team?”

“I can, but I’m not in my territory right now. I’ll contact you as soon as I return,” Yang Jin replied.

As soon as he finished on the walkie-talkie, Yang Jin watched his phone light up as Dan Ying from Fire Phoenix and Xu Pin from Sufeng each tried to call him. He simply looked at the screen without picking up.

The third caller was Xia Qing. Yang Jin picked up straight away.

“Captain Yang, would you consider letting Xu Pin leave the territory for that evidence in your hands?”

Yang Jin answered with certainty. “No way. The guy’s a coward. He won’t step foot outside Sufeng Squad’s support convoy until it reaches Territory Two. And if you’re thinking of assassinating Xu Pin, you’ll have a tough time. Both his bodyguards are level-six evolvers—one’s got speed, the other’s got advanced hearing. They’re both strong.”

“Not an assassination. Would you be willing to tell me your plan? I’d like to see if there’s a way we can work together,” Xia Qing said.

Yang Jin answered honestly. “This time, Fire Phoenix is using Sufeng as a pawn. The evidence I have can hit Sufeng hard, but it won’t hurt Fire Phoenix. So, I’m planning to use what I’ve got to pit the two of them against each other. Once they’ve bitten into each other, I’ll bleed them dry to make up for our Devastationweed leaf losses.”

Xia Qing asked, “So Xu Pin’s basically the brains of Sufeng, right? If we kill him and blame it on Fire Phoenix, maybe Tang Zhengsu will really go after Fire Phoenix. What do you say, Captain Yang, want to team up?”

Yang Jin smiled. “Absolutely.”

After hanging up with Yang Jin, Xia Qing contacted Xin Yu and shared her plan. Xin Yu had only one question. “Exactly what’s Yang Jin’s top speed? I need precise numbers to calculate the height and timing to throw the bomb.”

Once the plan was settled, Xia Qing took Old Goat and Er Gou and headed out to the greenhouse to feed the chickens, fish, rabbits, and bugs, then went home to cook.

The Lords’ channel fell silent, nobody daring to speak and shatter the uneasy peace.

“Bzzz.”

Xia Qing felt her phone buzz. She pulled it out, hands trembling. The person who’d texted her on the morning of New Year’s Day with crucial territory intel was reaching out for the first time!

She checked the phone number carefully and realized she’d misread it—the first nine digits matched that person, but the last two were 98. The other person’s ended with 89.

So, it wasn’t the same person.

Xia Qing opened the message. It was just six words:

You three are awesome, hehe.

She paused for a few seconds and put her phone away. No need to ask, only one person would send her a message with that cheeky tone: Tang Huai.

“Bzzz.”

Her phone buzzed again. Xia Qing checked it: Hehe, I finally got your number. Guess who I am?

A little later: Why was Old Goat upset this morning?

And a few seconds after that: Busy, didn’t bring your phone? Waiting for your reply.

Xia Qing tucked her phone into her pocket and bent down to check on the wheat seedlings.

“Beep beep-beep—beep beep-beep—”

That familiar car horn sounded outside. Xia Qing got to her feet and brushed the dirt from her gloves.

Kuang Qingwei announced in the Lords’ channel, all smiles, “Patrol car’s here, everyone! If you’re planning a trade, get your stuff ready.”

Zhao Ze, who’d been waiting for days, chimed in at once. “Thanks, Qing! I just traded for 500 chive roots and I’m digging the soil now. Qi, can I plant chive roots directly or what?”

Chive roots were a new vegetable variety the Territory Management Department had just promoted via loudspeaker. Chives don’t need much sunlight or heat, making them great for greenhouse cultivation.

Plus, the trade prices from the management are fair: 200 Yellow Lantern chive roots for one jin of Yellow Lantern corn, or 200 Green Lantern chive roots for three jin of Yellow Lantern corn.

So, most lords choosing to winter in their territories traded some extra grain for chive roots to plant in their greenhouses.

Qi Fu replied, “Don’t plant them straight away. Trim off any rotten roots and soak them in water for two hours first.”

Xia Qing asked, “Qi, what temperature water should I use?”

Qi Fu answered, “Anything that won’t freeze your hands is fine.”

To everyone’s surprise, even Li Si logged in to offer planting advice. “With these current temperatures, soaking them in 25 to 30 degree purified water works best. For sterilizing and encouraging root growth, it’s best to use rooting solution. If you don’t have any rooting solution, Green Lantern willow water or white vinegar water will do.”

One, two, three…

On her way home, Xia Qing silently counted to three, surprised when the next person to log in wasn’t Assistant Xiao Liu, but her idol Zhang San himself.

Zhang San, sounding easygoing, swooped in and stole some business from Territory Nine. “I’ve developed a new rooting powder! Just mix it with water and you’re set. Who needs it?”