Chapter 554: Battle Before Nightfall

“Xia Qing, the fight tonight won’t be easy. Want to hire a few more hands? Since we’ve worked together so many times, I’ll give you a fifteen percent discount,” Iron Rooster, also known as Yang Jin, called first, asking if Xia Qing wanted to make a deal.

While making a heated enclosure for the Green Lantern Insect, Xia Qing replied calmly, “What do you want in exchange?”

Yang Jin was as agreeable as ever. “Green Lantern python meat or Green Lantern pecans are fine, up to you.”

……

Guy really knows how to talk!

Xia Qing asked, “How many people can I hire?”

Yang Jin answered, “We had six fighters available, but Tang Huai just hired four. That leaves two.”

Looking at how many are in the Azure Dragon Squad, Xia Qing realized there were only six who could be sent to earn credits this time. That raised the danger level for tonight. “If you’ll let me pay with credits, I’ll take both of the remaining two.”

In the Azure Dragon Squad’s office at the Safe Zone, Yang Jin leaned back in his chair, a faint smile in his eyes. “Can’t do the discount if you’re paying with credits, though.”

“That’s fine.” After settling the price with Yang Jin, Xia Qing asked, “Will the base deploy troops to support us?”

“We’re spread too thin tonight. No one to send. Luo is rushing his team back, but they were ambushed by an unknown squad and probably won’t make it in time. That’s why the base chief eased the Azure Dragon Squad’s defensive duties. It freed up some of our members for defense elsewhere.” Yang Jin relayed the latest intel in detail before ending the call.

Just as Yang Jin hung up, Xie Yu came in with a teasing grin. “I thought you’d at least tell Sister Qing to be careful.”

Yang Jin shot his friend a look. “She’s already prepared. Doesn’t need me worrying.”

Xie Yu quipped, “If you’re so sure she’s prepared, why do you still look like you’re going to a funeral?”

Knowing is one thing, worrying is another. Yang Jin rolled his eyes and changed the subject. “What did the base chief say?”

Xie Yu sat down at the table. “Most of Fire Phoenix and Hui One Base’s covert agents are making their move tonight. It’s going to be a real fight. I’m teaming up with the military; you lead the squad to hold off the beast tide. Watch out for sneak attacks from other squads.”

Yang Jin nodded. “Still nothing from Tang Zhengrong?”

Xie Yu gave a cold laugh. “Pretty sure Chen Dianming’s got dirt on him.”

Chen Dianming was Hui One Base’s deputy chief and had close ties to the Blazing Fire Squad. What Xie Yu said meant Tang Zhengrong would side with Fire Phoenix this time.

Yang Jin pressed his cigarette into the ashtray.

“Attention all territories, attention: The beast tide will begin crossing the southern Evolved Forest in one hour. Any members without defense duties, return indoors and stay put. Don’t roam the territory—the evolved birds of prey will attack.”

Tan Junjie’s stern voice echoed over the lords’ channel, signaling the start of the great battle on January 24th, Year Eleven of the Calamity.

After that announcement, Tan Junjie’s voice came through the earpiece walkie-talkie Xia Qing wore. “Now testing communication. All inspection team members, report in.”

Each inspection team member replied in turn, then Xia Qing answered, “Section Three, Xia Qing, reporting in.”

“Territory One, Tang Zhou, reporting in.”

“Territory Eight, Xin Yu, reporting in.”

That’s how Xia Qing learned that Xin Yu and Tang Zhou had also been called by Tan Junjie, joining the territory defense group.

Knowing Tang Zhou was already back made Xia Qing breathe easier. Tang Zhou ranked right after Yang Jin, Xie Yu and Luo Pei in the Azure Dragon Squad’s strength. With him holding the line, Territory One’s safety went way up.

“Now testing alliance communications. Alliance members, please report in.” Another earpiece walkie-talkie delivered Yue Haiying’s equally serious, steady voice.

Since the lord communicator had limited range, to keep alliance members connected, Yue Haiying issued two military earpiece walkie-talkies to every territory.

Xia Qing pressed the button. “Section Three, Xia Qing, reporting in.”

Hu Zifeng pressed his button. “Section Three, Hu Zifeng, reporting in.”

Hu Zifeng’s squad was assigned to protect Xia Qing and Section Three, so today he was counted as one of the territory’s defenders.

Once all the alliance members had checked in, the two Azure Dragon Squad members Xia Qing had just hired also called in.

Yue Haiying issued the order. “All members confirmed online. Please keep your walkie-talkies open and conversations relevant. The Territory Defense Battle starts now.”

The moment Yue Haiying finished, Xia Qing heard Tan Junjie report, “Birds of prey will reach territory airspace in three minutes. All snipers, heads up. Section Seven, be alert. Xin Yu, release the surveillance bird.”

“Copy that.” Atop the high slope under the pine tree in Section Three, Xia Qing raised his sniper rifle and looked southwest. He spoke gently to Er Gou, who stood below, “Er, let me know the moment you sense anything unusual.”

Beneath the tree, Er Gou—clad in a snake skin protective suit—looked up at Xia Qing. Only when Xia Qing glanced down did he turn south, nose twitching as he sniffed the air.

“Yep, the beast tide’s on the move. The ground’s shaking.” Xia Qing responded to his companion, then spotted the white-banded sea eagle taking flight from Section Seven and had to stifle a laugh.

Xin Yu actually dressed up her trained bird in a protective suit…

Tiny black dots moving through the air behind the beast tide quickly grew larger. Several birds of prey shed their chaff and soared over human territory, circling as they searched for food.

Two Evolved Hawks dove and were shot down by snipers stationed in the southern part of Section One. Another speed-evolved hawk shot straight for Territory Twenty, only to be taken out by a sniper up on Hill Forty-Nine.

Xin Yu’s cold voice came through the walkie-talkie. “Birds of prey are taking flight in the Northern Evolved Forest. First wave will hit territory airspace in roughly three minutes.”

“We’ll handle the ones flying in from the north,” Hu Zifeng announced on the alliance channel.

“Roger that,” Yue Haiying replied.

The best sniper in Section Three, Xia Qing, kept his eyes fixed on the incoming predators from the southwest and squeezed the trigger for the first time tonight.

“Bang.”

A speed-evolved black kite suddenly dove high above Territory Eleven. Xia Qing’s shot hit it dead on, sending it plummeting straight down.

An hour later, dusk fell. Zhao Ze couldn’t help but ask over the lords’ channel, “Captain Tan, is the beast tide still not over?”

It took Tan Junjie over ten seconds to reply. His tone was grave. “The main force has yet to arrive. Lords, do not leave your rooms and keep hidden.”

So that means the main horde will cross the southern Evolved Forest after nightfall?

Clutching his homemade firearm inside the greenhouse, Zhao Ze took a deep breath.

On the lords’ channel, Yue Haiying announced, “Don’t let your guard down. The real danger won’t hit until full night, maybe even past midnight.”

The sky was overcast tonight. Clouds blotted out the stars and moon, making visibility extremely low. Xia Qing held his breath, ready to—

But at least, with the darkness, there was one upside—the number of birds trailing the beast tide for scraps dropped. The inspection team’s snipers had mostly finished their job.

Even though the inspection team lost two snipers tonight, Xia Qing, Hu Zifeng, Tang Zhou and the others filled in and the operation to snipe the birds of prey wrapped up smoothly.

Xia Qing held his breath, quickly pulled off his mask and put on his night vision goggles. Leaning over, he whispered down to Er Gou, “Er, are you tired? If you are, just lie down and rest.”

The moment Xia Qing called, Er Gou lifted his head and was about to grin when suddenly his body went taut, tail straight, letting out a low growl at the sky.

Xia Qing immediately looked up, searching for the threat.

But even with low-light night vision, Xia Qing couldn’t spot a thing.

In the darkness, it’s dead silent. Relying on goggles that can only pick up faint light and infrared, you still can’t see certain threats in the sky…

Xia Qing’s eyes went wide. He jumped down from the tree, dropping to one knee beside Er Gou to match his angle. Sharpening his hearing, he listened for any shift in the wind, locked onto the general direction of the moving threat, then quickly pulled the trigger.

“Bang. Bang. Bang.”

“Boom—”

After three shots, the target Xia Qing hit exploded.