Chapter 542: Trouble in the Evolved Forest

Since Zhu Li said the injury wasn’t serious, Xia Qing didn’t press for details and kept the team moving forward.

“Xia Qing, the tree that burned Old Kuang should be somewhere up ahead. Be careful,” someone reminded her.

As the task squad prepared to enter the Evolved Forest beneath the Fourth Peak of Hill Fifty, passing through the valley between the Forty-Ninth and Fiftieth Hills, Qi Fu gave Xia Qing a heads-up.

Hu Ningsheng, who’s guarding the right flank, chimed in. “Xia Qing, want me to clear the path with you?”

Hu Ningsheng, from Territory Fifteen, was a level five Auditory Evolutionary. Poison gas left him with burns and cost him his left ear, severely damaging his hearing and forcing his retirement. Still, his limbs were intact, and now he was a main force in Territory Fifteen’s foraging teams.

Today, with Xia Qing as the strongest on the team, she pulled out her long blade. “I’ll check ahead first. If I need help, I’ll call. Everyone else, rest here for now.”

“Copy that.”

“Copy that.”

While the others took a break, Xia Qing gripped her long blade and followed the group’s old tracks into the Evolved Forest, searching for the Devastation Evolution Tree that oozed corrosive venom.

The team thought Xia Qing was relying solely on her eyesight, but she had already locked onto her target using her Magnetic Sense.

A dozen meters in, Xia Qing stopped in front of a plain-looking six-meter-tall deciduous tree. Its leaves had fallen so she couldn’t judge its species by the branches alone, but something about it set her on edge.

This nagging unease reminded Xia Qing of the kind of trees she’d seen when Huo Zhun had carried her through the Evolved Forest chasing runaways from Territory Nine.

Within a twenty-meter radius, this was the only tree that seemed off. A branch was snapped near the end.

The longer she watched, the creepier it felt. The forest was dense, but around this tree there was a clear ring over three meters wide—space cleared by the tree’s venom.

No doubt about it, this thing was both powerful and dangerous.

Xia Qing gave the order over the walkie-talkie for the squad to join her and circle around the tree before heading on.

Zhu Li didn’t doubt Xia Qing’s judgment, but it was still hard to believe this nondescript tree nearly cost Old Kuang his arm.

Staying close behind, Zhu Li whispered, “Sister Qing, shouldn’t we just cut the tree down?”

Xia Qing explained, “We haven’t verified how dangerous it is yet. If we chop it down recklessly, the stump might spray venom. That could make things worse. On the way back, I’ll break off a branch for Third Brother to test in Territory Seven, then decide what to do.”

“Got it.” If this thing really sprayed high-corrosive venom, it was terrifying. Zhu Li made a mental note—this kind of knowledge was life-saving.

After pushing on for over half an hour, the squad made it into a sheltered, sunlit valley. Xia Qing quickly spotted today’s digging target: wild kudzu.

Mountains are full of surprises.

Up high, temperatures would drop below minus twenty, but down in these wind-shielded valleys, it was only minus four or five. Most of the vines and little plants still had leaves.

Even though winter was the safest time to move in the Evolved Forest, danger still lurked everywhere. That’s why Qi Fu and the others had asked Xia Qing to lead—without her, just the few of them and their weapons would be walking to their deaths.

“Look, Xia Qing! The kudzu has greenish leaves. We tested the one on the outside yesterday—it’s a Yellow Lantern!” Qi Fu said with excitement. With so much kudzu here, there had to be Yellow Lantern roots beneath. And if there were roots, there might be kudzu bugs as well.

A pound of Yellow Lantern kudzu flour could sell for 130 credits, and each Yellow Lantern bug fetched 10 credits! If luck was on their side and they found a Green Lantern, they’d really hit the jackpot.

With those credits, the lords could buy better seeds, farm tools, and gear.

Xia Qing understood why everyone was excited but kept her cool, ordering everyone to put on the anti-insect pesticide they’d traded for with Territory Seven. This liquid would protect them for three hours from regular and most evolved insects.

Afterward, she had Yue Haiying, Yu Shou, and the Endurance Evolutionary Cheng Ping from Territory Fifteen stay behind to guard the others. Then Xia Qing, Shi Du, and Hu Ningsheng went ahead to clear away venomous snakes, insects, and rodents before letting the rest of the team in.

Armed with guns, Xia Qing, Yue Haiying, and Hu Ningsheng protected the group, while the others checked the kudzu, dug up the roots, and searched for bugs.

Digging up kudzu and hunting for bugs was second nature to Xia Qing. Before she started farming, she did this all the time on task squads.

Shi Du also had plenty of experience with foraging and digging. She shared advice: “Look for swellings on the vines—that’s where the bugs are. The bigger the lump, the more bugs inside. Start with the Yellow Lantern vines and work your way along. Sisters-in-law and Zhao, hunt for bugs together. My mom, Yu, Qi and I will focus on the roots.”

Zhao Ze added, “I’ll dig with you for now, swap out once I get tired.”

With jobs assigned, everyone jumped into action.

Good news came fast—Zhu Li called out, “Found kudzu bugs! They’re pupating!”

Madam Shi cheered, “Pupating’s even better—they’re cleaner and taste great. Shame it’s a Yellow Lantern though. If it were Green Lantern, we could send it to Territory Seven—Third Brother would love a treat.”

Up ahead, Yue Haiying reported through the walkie-talkie, “Xia Qing, there are fresh marks from a wild boar rooting around. Looks like from two days ago.”

With their high moisture and sugar, kudzu roots are a wild boar’s favorite snack. No surprise they showed up here.

Xia Qing replied, “Got it. Brother Yue, let’s swap defensive spots.”

“Understood.” Missing his right hand, Yue Haiying switched posts with Xia Qing, leaving her at the most dangerous position.

Qi Fu’s voice came through the walkie-talkie, “Fresh evolved rodent droppings near the kudzu.”

Rodent threat levels really depended on how evolved and numerous they were. Xia Qing ordered, “Spray Number One pesticide and wait ten minutes before digging. Hu, keep an eye on the rodents.”

“Roger that.” Despite his impaired hearing, Hu Ningsheng’s sense of sound was still keener than most.

“Xia Qing!” Yuan Yan called out with good news, “Found Green Lantern kudzu!”

Green Lantern—great, the Idol could finally have a real treat today. Xia Qing’s eyes lit up. “Gather up every bit of Green Lantern kudzu and tag the roots. Shi Du, you’re in charge.”

“On it.” Shi Du dropped her mattock and rushed to Yuan Yan’s side. Scoring Green Lantern kudzu was far more valuable than digging up Yellow Lantern roots.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch—

Rhythmic footsteps crunched in the snow. Xia Qing’s ears twitched and she warned softly, “Something big is coming. Team, rally up. Defense squad—get ready.”