Chapter 574: Winter Calm in the Abandoned Village

After bringing her honored guest inside, Xia Qing immediately set to work boiling water, plucking feathers, and checking the quality of the wild chickens. She discovered, yet again, one was a Yellow Lantern and the other a Green Lantern. She cleaned both birds, packed the innards into Crippled Wolf’s personal food bowl, and set the meal before him.

She stored the Yellow Lantern Wild Chicken in the fridge and went downstairs to hang the Green Lantern Wild Chicken over the fireplace. Glancing back, she noticed Crippled Wolf had already finished eating and was now licking up every last bit around his mouth.

Crippled Wolf was always particular about hygiene and his image. Those two months dragging his back legs around must’ve been pure torture—unforgettable in every sense.

Xia Qing picked up her phone from the table, planning to show Crippled Wolf the top bounty task from the mission board. But when she looked, it was gone.

Had someone taken the job, or had the platform taken the post down?

Luckily she’d been quick earlier and saved a screenshot. Xia Qing pulled up the image, called Crippled Wolf over, and spoke slowly, gesturing as she explained, “Crippled, remember this wolf? That’s the Alpha—back when you and the Queen were howling on the mountain, keeping that pack out of the territory.”

The wolf in the photo looked ruthless, fur matted with blood around his mouth and body. Wolf and human corpses lay beside him. Crippled Wolf stared, looking dead serious.

Xia Qing then pulled out the photo she’d taken of the Handsome Huge Wolf on Hill Sixty, holding up both phones to show him the two wolves side by side. She asked, “This Alpha and that Handsome Huge Wolf in your old pack—did they grow up together? Were they littermates, raised from pups in the same den?”

Wolves are pack animals, but not every wolf spends its whole life in the pack it was born into.

Once a young wolf in the pack is old enough to hunt, it might leave—either because there’s not enough prey or for other reasons. These adolescent wolves could join other packs, start their own, or rarely, live as lone wolves.

Xia Qing figured these two wolves in the photos probably grew up in the same pack. Maybe they were even born in the same litter—though they’ve split into different packs as adults.

Given how the north borders the Western Evolved Forest, it wasn’t out of the question.

If that’s the case, this situation gets complicated. If the team who took the mission mistakes one wolf for the other, they might provoke the Northern Wolf Pack. And those two huge wolves could’ve recognized each other during their standoff the night of the beast tide and decide to team up again.

Crippled Wolf stared intently at the two images on the phone, then tilted his head just a little and showed Xia Qing his adorable, snowy-white pointed fangs.

This guy was even cuter now when he smiled. Xia Qing couldn’t help but grin herself. “So these two wolves grew up together? They know each other, right?”

Crippled Wolf stopped smiling and looked at Xia Qing as if deep in thought.

“Is that not what you mean?”

Xia Qing racked her brain, trying to follow this wolf’s logic. “You think you look better than both of them, don’t you?”

Crippled Wolf bared his little sharp fangs in a proud, happy grin.

Xia Qing… Seriously? I’ve been waving around photos all this time and that’s what you care about?

“Yes! You’re more handsome than either of them! You’re the most dashing wolf on Blue Star—a true wolf atop the pyramid, Handsome Wolf. So tell me, were those two raised together?”

With Xia Qing watching him expectantly, Crippled Wolf stretched with a big lazy yawn, then trotted upstairs and dragged down a basket that held the laptop. He put it on the low table and looked back over at Xia Qing.

For a wolf this clever, he definitely understood her question—but he just didn’t care about it.

Xia Qing could only power up the laptop for this smart and handsome wolf, using big icons to display the files. She asked, “Handsome Wolf, what do you want to watch tonight?”

Crippled Wolf lifted a big furry paw and pointed squarely at the video about Evolved Microorganisms.

“Got it—back to the Evolved Microorganisms.”

After starting the video for Crippled Wolf, Xia Qing went to flip the roasting chicken over the fire. Er Gou stuck close by her side, while Old Goat lay next to Crippled Wolf.

Xia Qing had watched this science program with Crippled Wolf already, so she wasn’t interested in a rewatch. She settled by the fireplace, tending the roast chicken while scrolling through countless unread messages—over 99 notifications—in the Section One group chat on her battered old phone.

The voiceover from the science video, Old Goat quietly chewing his cud, the crackle of dry wood, the sizzle of chicken fat, and the shrieking winter wind outside all mixed together, making the little abandoned base in the territory feel extra peaceful and safe.

But the group chat itself wasn’t half as calm.

Tang Huai had put the chat together this afternoon. Aside from Territory Two, Territory Seven, and the empty Territory Nine, they’d somehow gathered representatives—or the actual Lords—from all territories numbered one to eighteen except for One, Eight, and Fifteen. Xia Qing tapped on Lord Yan Meng’s all-black avatar from Territory Fourteen, scanned it, then dove into the group history.

She skimmed hundreds of mostly pointless messages and quickly found what she was after.

Half an hour ago, Tang Huai had asked: Did anyone notice the top bounty for exterminating the Western Wolf Pack is gone? @Hu Zifeng Qinglong, did you take this mission?

Hu Zifeng didn’t answer.

Lord Wen Nengjie from Seventeen joined in: Doesn’t matter who took it—let’s hope they wipe out those wolves. Did you all see the combat footage? Those wolves and leopards are scary strong.

Lord Zhao Huisheng from Eleven chimed in: Are you all heading back to the Safe Zone for shelter? I’m leaving tomorrow anyway—my greenhouses are ruined, so there’s no point staying.

Tang Huai snapped: Shelter, my ass! The Red One Base’s investigation team is here—nowhere’s safer than our territory. @Hu Zifeng Quit dodging the question!

Wen Nengjie from Seventeen tried to smooth things over: Take it easy, Tang. Maybe Hu is just busy.

Tang Huai shot back: Busy fighting ghosts in the middle of the night?

More pointless chatter followed. Xia Qing glanced up at Crippled Wolf, diligently studying, then pulled out her printed notes and got to work herself.

Once the roast chicken was ready, Xia Qing packed it up. Crippled Wolf closed the laptop with a paw, nudged it back into its basket, grabbed it in his jaws, and carried it back upstairs to the tool shed.

After tying the chicken to Crippled Wolf for him to carry, Xia Qing spoke with utmost seriousness, “Handsome Wolf, you have to protect the Queen’s pups and yourself, no matter what.”

Crippled Wolf flashed her another grin with his little sharp fangs, then turned and gestured for her to check his protective suit’s side pocket.

She reached in and found two hickory nuts, grinning in delight. “Thank you for the gift, Handsome Wolf! You really are a refined wolf, one who understands the art of social etiquette—a true evolved wolf atop the pyramid. Next time, could you bring me a Yi Stone? I like Yi Stones even more than hickory nuts.”

Crippled Wolf shut his mouth, gave her a thoughtful look, then turned and left.

Xia Qing let out a sigh…

Winter is perfect for staying home…