Chapter 461: Ambush Among the Pines

The wolves without fully enclosed protective masks could scout far better than Xia Qing could while wearing hers. Their attack formation meant Territory Nine’s ten-person squad wasn’t far off.

Looks like this group had already advanced past the spot Hu Zifeng messaged Xia Qing about.

Before leaving her territory, Xia Qing sprayed herself and the wolves with scent-blocker and made sure to clear any animal traces along the way. But this was a Trapping Team—of course they had sense- and hearing-evolved members, plus all sorts of modern gear and drugs. That’s how they tracked her and the wolves, even choosing the perfect ambush spot.

If the Bear Cave hadn’t been reeking with bear scent, and if Xia Qing hadn’t scattered bear droppings everywhere, the Trapping Team would have cornered her and the wolves for sure.

Xia Qing pressed down on the necks of Er Gou and Broken Back, signaling them to hide. She then switched on the miniature signal blockers around each wolf’s neck, planted a tiny speaker at a low point, and gestured to the wolves—wait until the Trapping Team gets drawn in by the sound, then strike.

This was the simple plan Xia Qing put together with the wolves in the Valley. She wasn’t sure if Er Gou really got it, but the two brain-evolved wolves definitely did—they buried themselves in the perfect attack spots right away. Er Gou circled Xia Qing once, then took up position to the right of the Alpha.

She’d traded with Da Ya to get these signal blockers for the fight. Once activated, they could disrupt and jam the wireless signals in the area, cutting off walkie-talkies, phones, and any kind of team coordination.

Was Territory Nine’s team using anti-jamming comms?

Well, tough luck. Her idol, Third Brother, always said Da Ya was a genius with this sort of thing—the nightmare for anyone using anti-interference gear.

Of course, Xia Qing also had a jammer on hand—a mid-sized one, actually, even better than the wolves’ models. But now wasn’t the time to flip the switch.

With the plan set, Xia Qing slung on her massive backpack built for strength evolvers and crept two hundred meters away. Using her hearing, she picked up the Trapping Team’s movements.

She played it cool, trekking down the mountain with her pack like she noticed nothing. The Evolved Forest was crawling with danger, so teams always followed the safest, already-mapped trails—switching paths on a whim just wasn’t worth the risk.

Another 150 meters, Xia Qing found the Trapping Team in a dense pine forest. Huge trees blocked out the daylight—no satellite or surveillance bird could see into this place. If anything happened, they could blame it on some violent creature in the Evolved Forest. Just ‘an accident.’

They sure knew how to pick an ambush spot.

Dim light like this was a dream for an elite vision-evolved sniper. Xia Qing almost had to give them credit for their location.

She kept up the act, walking carefully forward until a Trapping Team member in a winter protective suit stood up from his hiding spot. Only then did Xia Qing ‘panic’ and duck behind a huge pine.

The Trapping Team tried negotiation first. “Section Three’s leader, Xia Qing?”

Xia Qing stayed silent, hidden behind the tree.

“We’re not here to steal your supplies. Just tell us where those three wolves are and you’re free to go.”

Still, Xia Qing gave no response.

Frustrated, they cursed at her. “What, are you deaf or mute? Don’t think being a Territory Leader makes you untouchable—out here in the Evolved Forest, without the Inspection Team around, killing you’d be as easy as killing a rat!”

Perfect. Xia Qing’s tiny camera caught the Trapping Team’s threats as evidence—they’d started the aggression.

As she spoke, Xia Qing carefully moved back. “You’re from the Blazing Fire Squad, aren’t you? Couldn’t buy the evolved wolf I saved, so you want to steal it? That wolf already left my territory and rejoined its pack. No idea where it is now.”

The other side didn’t bother denying Xia Qing’s guesses. “Don’t push your luck. If you don’t talk now, I have plenty of ways to make you talk later!”

The Trapping Team’s sense-evolved member called in over the walkie-talkie, “She’s running. We follow, and we’ll find the wolves too.”

The Trapping Team captain issued the order. “Hu Duo, San Li—grab Xia Qing. The rest, get ready to catch the wolves.”

“Roger.” Two speed evolvers broke cover and chased after Xia Qing.

So they weren’t underestimating her—sending two chasers, at least. Xia Qing ducked behind her chosen pine, threatening to throw a grenade, and the speed evolvers quickly fell back.

Judging by how fast they retreated, Xia Qing pegged them at level four or five speed evolvers. That actually made her feel a lot better.

Realizing he’d been faked out, Hu Duo sneered. “So you snuggled up to Hu Fengzi from Azure Dragon Squad just to get your hands on some weapons? And now you think you can swagger around the Evolved Forest solo? Maybe farming made you stupid.”

San Li crooked his finger. “Come on, let’s see if you can toss that grenade faster than we can rush you.”

The two zigzagged between the trees, using cover to keep Xia Qing guessing and shatter her nerves.

First attack from their side—video proof, secured!

Xia Qing faked an awkward stumble as she dodged, looking panicked and clumsy, then pressed the remote for the tiny speaker.

A sharp wolf howl echoed in the distance, as if anxious about Xia Qing’s fall. Instantly, Hu Duo and San Li pulled back, expecting an evolved wolf ambush.

“Evolved wolf sighted! Move to capture! Hu Duo, San Li—grab Xia Qing and force her to make the wolves submit!”

“Understood!”

Crouched behind the trees, the two speed evolvers started searching for Xia Qing. They acted tough, but in reality, they couldn’t ignore a skilled sniper.

A sniper could easily shift the balance if she got distance. But even with the chaos, Xia Qing couldn’t have gotten far—she must still be nearby.

Sure enough, Hu Duo spotted a sliver of her massive backpack behind a pine fifty meters away, then saw her with a suppressor-equipped sniper rifle scoping for him from behind another tree.

Hu Duo still couldn’t help but laugh. For a farming leader who used to do construction work, her traps were laughable.

Using the thick pine as cover, Hu Duo signaled San Li, slipped out of sight of her rifle, and circled around behind to attack. The instant he stepped out, there was a soft ‘pop’ and something numbed his neck.

He knew the feeling—he’d been shot. He tried to dodge, but after two steps, collapsed.

San Li ducked behind a tree and quietly called for help on the walkie-talkie. “Captain, Xia Qing has a human sniper ally and Hu Duo’s down! We need backup now!”

No answer after two tries. San Li realized he was on his own. He tossed a rock to draw attention, then sprinted for better cover—but two paces in, he took a bullet to the neck and fell dead.

The Trapping Team had lost two.

After Xia Qing learned how to shoot moving targets from Luo Pei, she paid to join Azure Dragon Squad’s winter drills, using their speed evolvers for long-range sniper training. Those forty thousand credits paid off right here.

With the two dead, Xia Qing quickly slipped down from her perch and rushed toward the main battle area to ambush the rest of the Trapping Team.