Chapter 578: Trouble Brewing on the High Slope

“Captain Yang, please wait a moment.”

Xia Qing dashed over to her two companions and quickly updated them, “Boss, Er, have either of you seen these before? These animals right here.”

She flipped open her laptop, revealing footage of monkeys leaping and swinging through the trees. Old Goat just glanced at the screen, lost interest, and went right back to showing off his spiral horns to Yang Jin. Er Gou, on the other hand, stared with a serious look—he clearly recognized the monkeys.

Shutting the laptop, Xia Qing warned her companions in all seriousness: “If we don’t stop these monkeys, they’ll snatch all our strawberries, corn and chestnuts.”

At the threat of losing strawberries and corn, Old Goat immediately forgot his contest with Yang Jin. Both he and Er Gou now stared intently at Xia Qing. Food was more important than any fight.

Xia Qing ruffled the curly hair on Old Goat’s head, then reached over to rub the thick fur on Er Gou’s neck, her tone firm. “Boss, Er, let’s head home and put on our protective suits. Er, you’re coming with me to find the Wolf Pack. Boss, guard the territory.”

From inside the little house, Yang Jin watched as the trio—a human, a sheep and a wolf—raced back home. Once they’d left Section Three, he made his own exit, picking up the phone to call in for updates from within Section Three of Hill Forty-Nine.

Moments later, the three of them—now fully geared up—reappeared on the high slope in Section Three. Xia Qing addressed Old Goat solemnly: “Boss, you’re the protector of our territory, the lead sheep of the flock. Once Er and I leave, the land is in your hands. I know you won’t let us down, right Boss?”

Old Goat held his head high and puffed out his chest, looking every bit the dependable leader.

Xia Qing rubbed his tightly curled wool again, beaming. “I always knew you were the best, Boss. You’re the strongest evolved sheep on Blue Star. Having you as my companion is an honor. When Er and I get back, let’s dig in to those strawberries together, how about it?”

“Baa!” Old Goat replied cheerfully.

Xia Qing nodded, her praise genuine. “I knew you were the most reliable. I’m lucky to have a friend like you.”

Watching the scene quietly, Yang Jin thought, if Xia Qing spoke to him this way—even if she asked him to single-handedly wipe out the attacking monkey horde for the sake of the territory—he’d set off right then and there.

Just as Xia Qing and Er Gou made it into Section Three of Hill Forty-Nine, her walkie-talkie crackled to life.

“Xia Qing, you looking for me?”

She stopped at once and pressed the button. “Yes. Third Brother, the Red One Reconnaissance Team is requesting to scout the Third Peak of Hill Fifty for any traces the Wolf Pack left behind.”

Zhang San understood her immediately and replied flatly, “The Third Peak is a high-risk forbidden zone. No unauthorized entry is allowed. Tan Junjie, you there?”

“Here,” Tan Junjie answered.

“Let the investigation team know: if they want to see the Wolf Pack’s tracks, they can come to Ji Li. After the beast tide, Ji Li sent out reconnaissance drones the next morning and saved the footage. Also, the teammate with the broken thigh can be picked up now.”

“Got it, thanks Third Brother!” Tan Junjie replied.

Zhang San checked again. “Zhu Li, are you online?”

Zhu Li chimed in quickly. “Here, Third Brother!”

“Kuang Qingwei is awake. Come pick him up soon.”

Joy lit up Zhu Li’s voice. “Thank you so much, Third Brother! I really owe you for this. How many credits do I owe for the medicine? Should I pay in credits or supplies?”

Zhang San answered lazily, “I’ve already settled it with Kuang Qingwei.”

“Alright, thanks again Third Brother!” Hearing her husband was awake and able to discuss fees with Zhang San, Zhu Li was overwhelmed with happiness and relief.

While the lords relayed messages over the walkie-talkie and the scouting team hurried toward Territory Seven, Xia Qing, Yang Jin and Er Gou took off north at full speed.

After crossing the expansive northern marshes of Hill Forty-Nine, Xia Qing stopped at the base of Hill Fifty-Two. She pulled out her phone and gave Er Gou instructions. “Er, I can’t keep up anymore. I’ll wait here. Go and find Broken Back and Handsome Huge Wolf for me, okay? Handsome Huge Wolf looks like this.”

She showed Er Gou a picture, then reminded him again, “You must bring back both Handsome Huge Wolf and Broken Back. Thank you, Er.”

Broken Back glanced at Yang Jin trailing behind them.

Xia Qing gave his head a gentle rub and said in a soothing voice, “That’s Yang Jin, he’s my teammate. Don’t worry, he won’t hurt me. Er, be careful out there—watch out for crocodiles.”

Satisfied, Er Gou nudged his head against Xia Qing’s leg before darting off north, soon vanishing into the vast snowy expanse.

Now Yang Jin approached Xia Qing. “Were the protective suits for the wolf and evolved sheep also made at Huo Family Forge?”

“Yes, Uncle Huo’s craftsmanship is excellent. If you need any custom gear next time, he’s the one to call.” Xia Qing took the chance to recommend Uncle Huo, then gave Yang Jin a sincere thank you. “If it weren’t for this special protective suit you traded for me, I would have been badly injured during the beast tide explosion.”

This special protective suit, made with new materials, outperformed even Grade Five field suits in every way. If not for the suit and matching mask, Xia Qing’s tinnitus would be much worse.

In even more dangerous scenarios—like a closer blast or a storm of debris and rock—the suit could easily save both her and Er Gou’s lives.

Of course Yang Jin wasn’t about to say that the moment he heard the new suit had passed testing, he set out to get Xia Qing one. Or the fact that, after trading for it, he strutted right over to her in hopes she’d ask for it. Or that, learning the invaders used a swarm of bats to bomb Section Three, all he could think was how grateful he was that suit was already in her hands.

At that moment, the two rested together on a sunlit rock shielded from the wind. Yang Jin grinned as he asked, “You’re almost out of filter cartridges for your protective mask, aren’t you?”

Xia Qing nodded, “Almost gone.”

Yang Jin continued, “Those filters aren’t available in the Safe Zone, and Zhong Tao’s group can’t get them either. But you can trade me for some. For just two pounds of python meat, you’ll get five cartridges. How many do you want?”

A moment ago Xia Qing was full of gratitude; now her face was blank. “No need to bother. Third Brother can make filter cartridges, and his price is much more reasonable.”

Yang Jin looked curious. “What’s he charge you?”

No way was she telling him that. “Third Brother gives me the alliance internal rate. I can’t share it with you.”

“Heh.” Yang Jin chuckled, his voice so warm it made Xia Qing’s ears tingle. She cleared her throat and finally asked about that night of the beast tide—how had over a thousand people died in the Safe Zone?

Yang Jin carefully explained what happened, step by step. “Fire Phoenix’s main goal this time was to destroy Hui Three’s High-Evolution Spinach fields, so they joined forces with several other groups…”

This inner city battle didn’t involve just Fire Phoenix and Su Feng. People from Hui One, Hui Two, Hui Four, and Hui Five all took part in the ‘riot’ at Hui Three. Everyone was there for resources and profit.

Apparently, the base wasn’t just divided between Base Leader and Deputy Base Leader factions—there were spies from other bases too. The combat teams themselves were a tangled mess, with intricate relationships and all sorts of motives for participating in the melee. Everyone had their own agenda in the chaos.

All the scheming in those cramped quarters sounded exhausting. Xia Qing thought she’d rather stay here planting crops. She was just about to ask Tang Huai what he meant about Su Feng being overtaken by Qinglong when the sound of evolved wolf claws stomping through the snow reached her ears.