Chapter 549: Signals of Danger and Alliance

Xia Qing gently fanned the Devastation Weed blossoms, finishing their pollination just as the sun climbed higher and the temperature began to rise. She opened the rain covers on the Lower Slope Greenhouse, then made her way around to open the rest of the covers and vents throughout the greenhouses, letting all the crops and animals in her territory breathe in the fresh morning air.

This winter was eight to ten degrees colder than last year. The only thing Xia Qing wanted now was for the winter wheat to survive the bitter cold.

The wheat sprouts had already survived Devastation Snow and the harsh winter. In another month, they’d face the first Devastation Rain of Calamity Year Eleven. Only the wheat shoots that survived that rain would have a real chance to green again and shoot up tall.

Growing winter wheat turned out to be a lot harder than she expected. Xia Qing was starting to regret her decision. Listening to those endless broadcasts about how winter wheat tasted better and was more nutritious than spring wheat, she’d foolishly used up all her seed by sowing it in the fields. She should have held some back and waited to plant after the first Devastation Rain.

Spring wheat only had to endure a single Devastation Rain while growing, so its yield was always much higher than winter wheat.

She was out of wheat seed now, but if needed, she could trade for more. Still, it wasn’t the most urgent matter and could wait.

What really mattered was figuring out how to handle a possible beast tide and, even more pressing, why Territory Two was suddenly so eager to answer the Inspection Team’s call.

In Xia Qing’s eyes, the threat from the latter might end up being much worse than any beast tide.

First, she headed home to grab the python skin protective suit, brought it to the breeding greenhouse, and put it on Er Gou, who was busy watching the rabbits. Pointing to a photo of Crippled Wolf on her phone, she asked him, “Er, could you go to Hill Sixty and ask Crippled Wolf to come over? There’s something really important I need to discuss with it.”

Er Gou nodded in understanding, circled around Xia Qing once, then sprinted up the high slope to check out of Section Three, crossed the barrier, and entered Section Three of Hill Forty-Nine.

Xia Qing radioed Hu Zifeng to report, “Captain Hu, Er Gou will be passing through another area of Hill Forty-Nine on his way to Hill Sixty. Expect at least two wolves returning to the territory soon.”

“Got it.” Hu Zifeng’s curiosity got the best of him. “I haven’t seen any wolves enter your territory from the northern Evolved Forest the past couple days. Is that group causing the beast tide in the western Evolved Forest connected to the ones you know?”

“They shouldn’t be related. The wolf pack on Hill Sixty isn’t short on food—they’ve still got wild boar in their valley,” Xia Qing replied, then took the chance to ask, “Captain Hu, any personnel movements in the Safe Zone? It’s weird how eager Territory Two is to join the Inspection Team this time. I have a bad feeling about it.”

Hu Zifeng didn’t keep anything from her. “I just got word from Captain Xie. There are three things to watch out for: First, out of the mission teams who still haven’t made it back to the Safe Zone, five are made up of Gui San Base refugees, and it’s confirmed that some of them are Blazing Fire Squad’s planted spies. Remember that level three Auditory Evolutionary who came by truck last October, claimed to be a chef, and asked to stay in your territory?”

Xia Qing nodded. “I remember. Gu Hong, she used to be with Silver Snake from Gui San Base.”

“That’s her,” Hu Zifeng confirmed. “She’s also among those teams still outside the Safe Zone. Captain Xie says she’s connected to the group that broke into Territories 158 and 159, killed the lords and Inspection Team, and stole the grain last time. Only, there’s not enough proof, so the Territory Management Department can’t arrest her.”

Xia Qing’s heart sank. “So there’s a real chance they’ll use the chaos to invade the base and grab food supplies.”

Hu Zifeng replied, “That’s right. But don’t worry, they won’t target your territory.”

After all, on paper, Xia Qing and the rest of the Lords’ Alliance had stored all their food in the Food Depot in Territory One.

Xia Qing guessed, “They’re planning to hit Territory One?”

“It’s possible. We’re ready for it,” Hu Zifeng said. Then he moved on to the second anomaly. “There’s something strange going on in the Safe Zone that’s tied to us: As soon as Tang Zhengbo got back and entered the Inner City, Tang Zhengrong and Tang Zhengsu asked to see him. He still hasn’t come out.”

Xia Qing nodded. “They’re probably trying to pull Tang Zhengbo and his son back into their camp.”

“No doubt. If the Tang brothers could be more tolerant and let Tang Zhengbo have a place in the Su Feng Squad leadership, Hui Three Base’s number one squad wouldn’t be as pathetic as it is now.” Hu Zifeng went on, “The third thing is trouble in the Territory Management Department’s top ranks. Director Jiang Quan covered for his nephew Jiang Yansheng, who muscled in on Sun Zhe’s earthworm casting business in Territory Forty-Eight. Now it’s blown up and Jiang Quan’s scrambling to save his neck.”

Xia Qing asked, “Who’s after Jiang Quan’s position?”

Jiang Yansheng’s move against Sun Zhe’s earthworm business had been going on for months, and Sun Zhe’s parents were still in Territory One. There’s no way this mess would be out in the open unless someone was gunning for Jiang Quan.

Hu Zifeng answered, “That I haven’t heard yet. I’ll let you know when I do.”

After finishing the call, Xia Qing looked out at the new signal tower rising up at the northern edge of Territory Two and let out a sigh.

If the wolves and leopards in the western Evolved Forest could stall just two more days, the ground-based signal stations in this area would finally be finished, and communications would go live.

Once the signal was up, she’d be able to reach out to Xu Juan inside the Safe Zone. As an Auditory Evolutionary, Xu Juan always had the latest news—she’d definitely know who was after Jiang Quan.

Xia Qing carefully went over the latest intel in her mind, her expression dark.

Before talking with Hu Zifeng, she’d only suspected Territory Two was up to something. Now, after their conversation, she was sure of it. Worse, they were probably teaming up with the squads still outside the Safe Zone to pull off something big.

A little over an hour after Er Gou left, he showed up again in front of Xia Qing—this time with Crippled Wolf at his side.

Crippled Wolf had climbed over the northern iron mesh wall of Section Three to enter, rather than passing through its usual northern gate. Even more strangely, it hadn’t caught a rabbit or wild chicken along the way for Xia Qing to roast. That was definitely not its usual style.

Once both wolves had lapped up a half bowl of warm spring water, Xia Qing took off the protective suit from Er Gou, let him rest by the fireplace, then turned to Crippled Wolf, who looked unusually serious. “Crippled, is the wolf pack slaughtering the herbivores in the western Evolved Forest your packmates?”

Crippled Wolf met Xia Qing’s gaze, thoughtful and silent.

She realized there was no way to have this kind of deep conversation with a Brain-Evolved Wolf and had to give up, instead stating why she’d called it over. “Crippled, I need your pack’s help watching over the Third Peak of Hill Fifty for a few days. Right here.”

Xia Qing pulled up a photo of the Bear Cave on Hill Fifty’s Third Peak, showed it to Crippled Wolf, and pointed to the valley behind—where Devastation Snake lingered and where she’d once dug up peanuts—”That spot is really important to me.”

“Crippled, could you get the pack to stand guard at the Bear Cave on Hill Fifty? Until the moon looks like this, don’t let anyone near it. I can trade you a magnifying glass—do we have a deal?”

After Xia Qing repeated herself several times, Crippled Wolf’s thoughtful gaze finally settled on the magnifying glass, and it didn’t move for a long while.