Chapter 518: The Wolf’s Bargain and the Flight Across the Snow

When the video explained how to prevent Super Evolution Fungus infection, it mentioned regular disinfection and taking antiparasitic medicine. Xia Qing paused the video again.

Once Crippled Wolf looked over with its amber eyes, Xia Qing started explaining. “Handsome Wolf, look at these pills. Taking them regularly can greatly reduce the risk of parasite infection.”

Pointing at herself, Xia Qing proposed a deal. “Hey, human here—I need to take these pills regularly too. Handsome Wolf, how about you trade for these pills and give them to your wolf pack? Each wolf only needs to take one pill every six months.”

After Xia Qing patiently explained twice, Crippled Wolf seemed to get it. It turned and left the greenhouse, then soon returned carrying a pigeon egg-sized Yi Stone from its home, placing it in front of Xia Qing.

With a serious shake of her head, Xia Qing gestured as she spoke. “You’ve already traded this Yi Stone for the laptop and all the knowledge inside. If you want the pills, you’ll have to give me another Yi Stone like this one.”

Business is business, even between friends.

Knowledge—valuable information that boosts survival—is precious. Xia Qing had traded valuable supplies with Yang Jin for it. If the Wolf Pack wanted it, they had to trade too.

The medicine was even more valuable. If the Wolf Pack wanted it, they had to exchange goods.

Crippled Wolf understood. It shut the laptop with its paw, nudged it into its basket, and carried it back home. There, it placed it inside the cabinet Xia Qing had assigned it in the storage room on the second floor, then left Section Three.

Xia Qing knew Crippled Wolf was off to get more Yi Stone. She quickly contacted Ji Li, and after confirming Idol wasn’t busy, she called him and explained her request.

“Third Brother, I’d like to trade for one hundred antiparasitic pills safe for Evolved Wolves. Does that work for you?”

“Sure,” Zhang San agreed without hesitation. His offer made Xia Qing smile. “Let’s trade for medicinal herbs. I’ll have Ji Li bring you some pictures.”

“Thanks, Third Brother.” Xia Qing asked, “Do you have any video guides about the herbs I need to collect? If you do, could you send one over? Now that I have a laptop, showing the wolves a video will help them understand the types and ways to gather the herbs you want.”

Even though the laptop had been traded to Crippled Wolf, it still stayed in Xia Qing’s house, so she could still use it. This trade was just too perfect for her!

Zhang San yawned. “Not this time, but I’ll see about making a video in the future.”

About an hour after Ji Li delivered the pills, Crippled Wolf returned. The bulging pocket of its protective suit looked like it held three round objects.

Crippled Wolf turned sideways, gesturing for Xia Qing to take them out.

With trembling hands, Xia Qing reached in, pulling out a walnut-sized Yi Stone—and two hickory nuts.

It wasn’t three Yi Stones, but Xia Qing was still satisfied. “This one’s more than enough. Thank you for the hickory nuts, Handsome Wolf.”

She took out a small pouch filled with pills and earnestly explained to Crippled Wolf, “These are medicine. Don’t take more than one. Each wolf gets a single pill.”

Worried Crippled Wolf might not understand, Xia Qing called Er Gou over from next door, where he’d been watching the fish. She placed a pill in front of Er Gou, then another in front of Crippled Wolf. “One pill for each wolf. Any more will make you sick, got it?”

Hearing the word “sick,” Er Gou immediately stopped grinning and stared at Xia Qing with his mouth shut.

Crippled Wolf stared thoughtfully at the pouch for a few seconds, then walked to the greenhouse exit, glancing back at Xia Qing.

“You want me to go to Hill Sixty with you? Door-to-door delivery? Absolutely!” Xia Qing’s eyes lit up like a true delivery hustler.

Crippled Wolf grinned, showing off his cute little fangs.

Hu Zifeng answered Xia Qing’s call, arranging for someone to watch over the territory since she’d be out half the day.

Watching Xia Qing with her massive backpack and a long cardboard box, leading two wolves out of the territory, Chen Cheng quietly asked his brother, “Hey, what do you think Sister Qing’s up to?”

“Wanna know?”

“Of course.”

With complete calm, Chen Zheng hefted his hoe and headed to the greenhouse. “You could chase after Xia Qing and ask her. Or the wolves. Or just ask Old Goat if you don’t feel like running.”

As Old Goat watched his friends leave, someone called to him in a snarky tone. He narrowed his eyes, pawed at the Devastation Snow, and charged at Chen Zheng.

“Aw, crap! It can hear from this far away?!” Chen Zheng dropped his hoe and bolted. Pretending to be innocent, Chen Cheng leaned against a tree, blending into the bark, grinning on the inside.

As the two wolves and one human left Hill Forty-Nine’s Section Three and entered the Azure Dragon Squad training base, they were immediately picked up by surveillance. In the monitoring room, Jing Kuan stared at Xia Qing’s gear in surprise. “There’s snow everywhere in Evolved Forest, what are Sister Qing and the wolves up to?”

The tabby cat sleeping on the desk lifted its head, staring at the screen, at the pair of wolves and the girl.

“Little Five, you seem awfully interested in Xia Qing and the Wolf Pack,” Jing Kuan teased, reaching to scratch Little Five’s head.

Little Five dodged fast, baring his fangs and huffing at Jing Kuan in warning.

Jing Kuan clicked his tongue in mock annoyance. “So stingy? Spit out my Green Lantern bamboo rat jerky already!”

The wolves and Xia Qing avoided the Hill Fifty construction crew and the Second Disaster Response Team. They trekked through the snow for over forty minutes before Xia Qing finally stopped.

The wolves assumed she needed another rest, but instead she opened her backpack and started rummaging through her things. Er Gou waited obediently, while Crippled Wolf doubled back, curious what she was up to.

“This is a personal flight device. I’ll be airborne soon, faster than either of you can run!” Xia Qing placed the flight gear down in a cleared patch, stepped on, clipped her shoes into the restraints, grabbed the controls, and called out excitedly, “Crippled Wolf, Er Gou, I’m about to take off! Try to keep up!”

“Whirrr—”

Xia Qing pressed the handle’s switch. The turbine engine roared to life—loud, but they were far from the noisy, dangerous zone of Hill Fifty, so no one would hear. The wolves, however, both flinched in surprise.

Crippled Wolf leaped a few meters, shielding Er Gou behind him, eyes wide as Xia Qing slowly lifted off the ground.

On her very first flight, Xia Qing stood just like in the training videos, rising steadily up a hundred meters. She waved down to her partners. “Crippled Wolf, Er Gou, time to speed up—let’s see who’s fastest!”

Crippled Wolf was still stunned, but Er Gou already dashed off after Xia Qing.

Soaring low, Xia Qing could clearly spot the wolves’ tracks in the Devastation Snow, as well as startled birds, racing rabbits, wild boars, pheasants, foxes, deer, and more below. The whole world felt suddenly new—even if she struggled with wind resistance and balance, making her slower than she’d hoped. Still, flying was much easier and faster than trekking through the snow-ridden, dangerous Evolved Forest.

The rush of flight—thrilling, nerve-racking—Xia Qing loved every second of it.

Wearing her full-length mirror on her back, Xia Qing soared over a dozen deep mountain crevices that looked like giant beasts’ gaping jaws. She flew across a crocodile zone where the water hadn’t frozen and past a jungle of wild vines—an area thick with dangerous Devastation Evolution plants. Ten minutes later, she landed on a beast trail still more than ten miles from Hill Sixty.