Chapter 514: A New Mirror for the Wolf Pack

A mirror?

Crippled Wolf immediately started rummaging through the side pocket of its just-changed protective suit, looking for its tiny mirror—the little mirror it carried everywhere and currently its favorite thing.

“No, no, not that mirror. I mean the upgraded one.”

But Xia Qing was even quicker. She pulled a full-length mirror—90 centimeters tall and 40 centimeters wide—from behind the cabinet and set it out for Crippled Wolf to inspect.

She had splurged—thirty credits—asking Zhong Tao and Zheng Kui to bring this mirror all the way from the Safe Zone just for Handsome Wolf. To catch Crippled Wolf’s eye, Xia Qing even picked out a pink frame.

Third Brother had once said wolves are colorblind, seeing the world only in varying shades of black, white and gray. But Xia Qing was convinced Crippled Wolf could see more. It especially liked to stare at anything pink.

Maybe the pink it saw was nothing like what humans did, but she was sure it still looked special to the wolf.

“Handsome Wolf, check yourself out in this. It’s way clearer than your little mirror.”

Crippled Wolf’s eyes lit up the moment it saw its reflection in the big mirror.

Seeing her trading partner look so satisfied, Xia Qing was hopeful this deal might just go through. She pitched hard: “You can still carry your little mirror in your pocket, but this one can hang right up in your den. I even added a string so you can hang it up yourself.”

After hanging the mirror on the wall, Xia Qing kept selling its perks. “Handsome Wolf, don’t you look even more dashing now? With a mirror like this in your den, you have the best taste and the best home on Blue Star! Even the Queen would have to come to your place to look at herself!”

The Alpha glanced over with those flashy golden eyes, then turned his attention back to the wild chicken roasting in the fireplace.

Crippled Wolf flashed its tiny, adorable fangs, checking itself out from every angle in the mirror. Not satisfied with its smile, it suddenly struck a fierce attack pose, clearly having a blast.

When it looked like it was enough, Xia Qing took out a Yi Stone and started negotiating. “Handsome Wolf, you look amazing, so cool and powerful! Pretty good mirror, right? All it takes is a Yi Stone and the mirror is yours. One Yi Stone—you won’t lose out, you won’t be tricked, and you’ll definitely get your money’s worth!”

Crippled Wolf kept admiring itself for a while before glancing thoughtfully at Xia Qing and the pigeon-egg-sized Yi Stone in her hand.

To Xia Qing’s disappointment, vain as it was, Crippled Wolf made no move to trade. Instead, it dashed off to show off its new jacket to the Alpha.

Maybe this big mirror wasn’t worth a Yi Stone in Crippled Wolf’s eyes? Xia Qing started thinking about what else she could throw in to sweeten the deal—a little something to show real taste.

The Alpha yawned, stood, sniffed Crippled Wolf a bit, then came over to Xia Qing. Crippled Wolf followed, watching intently.

Xia Qing paused the deal and started changing the Alpha into a new protective suit.

This high-neck, full-coverage suit was a bit fancier than the ones Xia Qing had previously swapped with the Wolf Pack—the old ones only covered their backs and bellies. She slowed her movements, patiently explaining how to put on this new suit, zip it up, and secure the straps from the ankles and forelegs over the back.

The huge, top-grade, hardness-evolved Green Lantern Python the wolves had dragged in? They wanted Xia Qing to make protective suits out of it. She charged them a walnut-sized Yi Stone for labor and, aside from fitting suits for six wolves, walked away with over a thousand pounds of prime python meat and two snakeskin jackets.

She’d traded one snakeskin jacket for Xin Yu to help her take out Xu Pin, and used the python meat to barter for rare resources and Yang Jin the Iron Rooster’s support.

If Yang Jin ever found out what she’d gotten in these wolf deals, he’d rip that Iron Rooster nickname off himself and slap it right on her.

These wolves weren’t just Xia Qing’s companions, but business partners she truly valued. So she explained everything carefully.

Once the Alpha was dressed, Xia Qing turned to Crippled Wolf, who’d been observing closely. “Crippled, did you get all that?”

Crippled Wolf stayed silent, thoughtfully pondering.

Xia Qing called Lame Wolf, who was causing chaos in the yard, inside. The Alpha had to use his presence to keep the restless wolf in check while Xia Qing did another demonstration for Crippled Wolf.

“Got it? Ready to help Black Wolf with its suit?”

Still pondering, Crippled Wolf didn’t move.

Seemed like it hadn’t quite learned it yet. Xia Qing put suits on both Black Wolf and Lame Wolf, who bared her fangs as she went. She checked with Crippled Wolf again. It still stayed silent, but its face wasn’t as serious as before; it understood a bit, just not everything.

Totally normal. If a brain-evolved wolf could nail such a complicated suit after only a few tries, then Blue Star’s evolution had gone way too far.

Once all the wolves were suited up in snakeskin jackets, the Alpha, adjusting to his new gear, bumped his head gently against Xia Qing’s forehead and headed for the door.

No need for further instructions—the other five wolves followed immediately.

Wolves covered in thick fur now dressed in slick, hairless snakeskin jackets; not as striking as before, but Xia Qing still felt immense pressure. All their weak spots were protected now.

It was lucky having such companions. But as enemies? Terrifying.

Lame Wolf, walking last, noticed Xia Qing lagging behind and even glanced back.

Out of nowhere, Xia Qing felt like she synced minds with Lame Wolf. She pointed at the fireplace and explained, “I need to roast chicken at home. You guys go play, but keep it quiet. Don’t alert any nearby humans.”

“Da da da.”

After the wolves left, Old Goat clicked open the door with a hoof, entered, scrubbed its new shoes by the door, wiped off some more on the damp straw, then strutted in, narrowing its eyes at Xia Qing.

“Old Goat, you’re amazing! First time in shoes and you washed them spotless. You’re truly Blue Star’s smartest Evolved Sheep—the pride and soul of our Territory!” Xia Qing instantly showered it with praise.

Old Goat trotted up to Xia Qing, still holding its head high.

She could tell it was in a fantastic mood and asked softly, “So, Old Goat, are you so happy because the new jacket has great defense, or because now you have the same outfit as the wolves?”

Old Goat just kept its chin up, looking utterly full of itself.

“So handsome! You could crush a wild boar in this, Old Goat!” Xia Qing wiped the mud and dirty snow from the snakeskin jacket with a wet cloth, then took the jacket off. “We’ll keep this safe and only wear it when it really counts.”

An advanced, hardness-evolved snakeskin jacket, soaked in the Idol’s special medicinal mixture—supposedly, take good care of it and it’ll last eight years.

Eight years… even this plump little lamb would turn into a tough old sheep by then.

Old Goat snuggled up beside Xia Qing, happily chewing cud and staring at the fire in the fireplace. Xia Qing sat on a straw mat, leaned back against Old Goat and idly chatted with it.

“According to the books, a sheep could theoretically live ten to fifteen years before evolving. Meat sheep usually get slaughtered in about a year, and breeding rams get culled at seven or eight for bad teeth.”

“But you’re a pioneer in Evolved Sheep history, Old Goat, and we’ve got Third Brother on our side. If you don’t make it to forty, I’d be shocked.”

“If your teeth go when you’re in your teens, I’ll have Uncle Huo make you dentures. He’ll definitely manage…”

With Xia Qing’s rambling and Old Goat’s rhythmic chewing, dusk fell and the chicken roasting in the fireplace was nearly done. Xia Qing pulled out her own Green Lantern Chicken, scored it a few times, brushed it with seasoning and slid it back in to roast.

Once the meat was ready, the Wolf Pack came home right on time, no need for Xia Qing to call.