Chapter 508: Plans and Preparations for the Mission to Hill Fifty

Xia Qing was making dinner at home when she got a call from Qi Fu.

“Xia Qing, Old Kuang has something he wants to report to you.” After Xia Qing agreed, Qi Fu handed the phone to Kuang Qingwei.

Kuang Qingwei exchanged a few polite words before getting to the point. “Wen Nengjie from Territory Seventeen came to see me just now. He wants to bring his people to join the mission on Hill Fifty and earn credits. What do you think, Sis? Wen Nengjie knows the person in charge of the evolving bees at our Safe Zone Breeding Center, and I was hoping to go through that channel to get some bees.”

Ever since the last Lords’ meeting, Qi Fu and Kuang Qingwei had discussed beekeeping and had been actively looking for a way forward.

The Lords’ Alliance had run into Wen Nengjie and his group while excavating yellow clay on Hill Fifty to build the greenhouse. Xia Qing still remembered the greedy and lustful looks they’d given her the first time they saw her.

People like that were everywhere now, but Xia Qing wasn’t about to pass up a good opportunity just because she didn’t like them. “Qing, how confident are you that we can get Green Lantern bees?”

Kuang Qingwei replied, “Forty percent, maybe. We can definitely get Yellow Lanterns.”

With those odds, this lead was worth pursuing. Xia Qing responded, “The main force for clearing the firebreak are the large machines. I’ll check with Zhao and see if we can add more people.”

After hanging up, Xia Qing walked over to the eastern iron mesh wall and called out with the high-powered speaker, “Zhao, Zhao Ze, are you free right now?”

Since Zhao Ze didn’t have a phone, Xia Qing had to use the loudspeaker to reach him. She didn’t want to mention this on the Lords’ channel because if Zhao Ze said there was no need for extra hands, Wen Nengjie might take it personally.

“Here! I’ll be right over.” Zhao Ze answered with his own megaphone, then jogged through the snow to the river, panting as he shouted through the iron mesh wall, “Boss Xia, what can I do for you?”

……

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……

“Just call me Xia Qing,” she corrected him. Boss Xia just didn’t fit her at all. After that, she explained the situation.

Zhao Ze responded right away. “I think we could add eight more people. That would finish the work two days early, but… we’d earn fewer credits ourselves. Also, Wen Nengjie’s group obviously doesn’t play by the rules. What if they cause trouble while they’re here?”

Xia Qing made the decision on the spot. “Finishing two days early means we can burn the mountain earlier and eliminate the risk of Super Evolution Fungus invading our territory. I’ll talk with Captain Yang first. With both the Azure Dragon Squad and the Inspection Team watching, they won’t dare try anything.”

“Whatever you say, Sis. I’ll do as you say.” Zhao Ze agreed, sounding a little nervous.

During these disaster years, chaos ruled. Those with powers crushed ordinary people, and among the ordinary, the powerful bullied the powerless. If none had power, it came down to who packed the hardest punch.

Zhao Ze couldn’t match Wen Nengjie’s crew in a fight, but now that he stood with Xia Qing and the big shot Zhang San, he had influence. He didn’t need to fear someone like Wen Nengjie, who relied only on brute force.

After returning to her territory, Xia Qing immediately contacted Yang Jin.

Clearing the firebreak would cost the Blazing Fire Squad their own credits, so of course Yang Jin had no objections. When Xia Qing mentioned Wen Nengjie’s group might be tough to handle, Yang Jin just laughed.

“Isn’t he that Renjie guy from West City? He never even straightened his back in front of the Azure Dragon Squad. Don’t worry. If he tries anything, I’ll make sure he stays down for a while.”

“Thank you for your help.”

If anyone else had said that, Xia Qing would have thought they were just bragging. But coming from Iron Rooster, she felt he was actually restraining himself—almost being kind.

With his skills, just rattling off a list of infractions could strip Wen Nengjie’s whole team down and make them pay up all their credits as fines.

Early the next morning, Xia Qing went to the eastern gathering point of Territory Seven to send off the mission team to Hill Fifty. Before she even got close, Wen Nengjie hurried over, bowing and scraping, trying to please. “Boss Xia, what brings you out in this freezing cold? You could have just shouted for me with the megaphone.”

Watching Wen Nengjie bow until his back could barely straighten, Xia Qing’s face stayed blank as she corrected him, “Just call me Xia Qing.”

Wen Nengjie quickly changed his tune. “Sure! Thank you, Sister Qing, for letting us brothers have a shot at earning credits and feeding our families. If you ever need anything, just let us know—we won’t let you down.”

Xia Qing’s face remained impassive. “Let’s finish this mission before talking about anything else.”

“Of course, Sister Qing, we’ll get to work.”

Wen Nengjie knew how to keep his distance. After his attempt to curry favor, he blended back into the crowd. When he saw Xia Qing walking over to Kuang Qingwei, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He’d bet right—going through Kuang Qingwei really worked.

Xia Qing checked on Zhu Li’s injuries and was relieved to hear she hadn’t been infected by the Super Fungus.

Madam Shi joined in, excitedly gesturing to Xia Qing. “Qing, after I got back yesterday, I tested my strength in Territory One. Look! I hit this number!”

Two and a half levels?

Xia Qing was happy for her, but still reminded her to take it easy. “Auntie, if you want to take on tasks as an Evolver, just let Zhao Ze know so he can assign you properly. But don’t overdo it—don’t wear yourself out or get hurt.”

To earn more credits, Evolvers had to work more. But if they took on a task they couldn’t finish, they’d lose credits.

“Yesterday I took on enough work for one and a half people—not tired at all. Today, I’m going for double!” Madam Shi beamed at Xia Qing, smiling so wide her gratitude shone through. There were too many people around for her to put it into words.

Seeing Madam Shi like this, Xia Qing felt like she’d taken years off her age—her scars even seemed to fade.

Evolving ability didn’t just mean being stronger. It also meant a longer life. So even though Zhao Ze’s mother was the same age, after her ability evolved she really did look ‘younger’ than before.

Madam Shi was the first person in the Lords’ Alliance to achieve an ability evolution after eating top-grade Green Lantern mutant python meat. In a few days, once the mountains were burned and allies drank the filtered hot spring water, there might be even more breakthroughs.

Xia Qing had high hopes for Zhu Li from Territory Six. She was healthy, had all four limbs intact, and was only twenty-two—right at the age when evolution was most likely.

Even if some allies didn’t become Evolvers, with improved health their chances of survival went up. As long as the Lords stood together, their alliance would only grow stronger and better.

After seeing the task team off toward the valley between Hill Forty-Nine and Hill Fifty, Xia Qing jogged home. She hadn’t even made it back when she spotted Red Squirrel perched outside her second-floor bedroom window, waiting eagerly for water.

When Red Squirrel heard Xia Qing coming, it leapt onto the roof, poking its tiny head out to peer eagerly at her.

It looked a little livelier than yesterday.

Back home, Xia Qing opened the window and set out a bowl of warm water for it.

Red Squirrel sprang down at once. After drinking its fill, it stared at Xia Qing, hoping for a free handout.

“Dream on! I’ve already given you enough food,” Xia Qing thought, closing the window with a blank face and ignoring her shameless neighbor.

Eight days later, before the firebreak could be finished, Zhong Tao’s convoy arrived, bringing Xia Qing a piece of critical gear: her advanced hardness-evolved snakeskin jacket.

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