Chapter 586: A Night Away from Home

Third Brother, I’m leaving the territory tonight. If all goes well, I’ll be back before dawn the day after tomorrow. If anyone tries to break into Section Three looking for me while I’m gone, could I count on you to hold them off?

Carrying a tray of strawberries, Zhang San gave Xia Qing a quick glance. He didn’t ask where she was off to, just, “So what do you want to trade? Still got enough medicine for now?”

Xia Qing nodded. “I’ve still got the good medicine I got from you. When I run out, I’ll come back for more.”

After leaving Section Three, Xia Qing divided up her last thirty-two pounds of snake meat among her allies and collected the New Year’s supplies they’d prepared for her.

Even though Kuang Qingwei was never confirmed to have Brain Evolution by Zhang San, Xia Qing still shared as much snake meat with Territory Six as she did with Territory Fifteen. Both Kuang Qingwei and his wife were injured—they needed the extra nutrients. Of course, the place she gave the most snake meat to was Territory Five. Yuan Yan and Qi Fu were alliance partners Xia Qing deeply valued.

Then, after meeting up with Xin Yu in Territory Eight, Xia Qing finally returned to Section Three.

Having finished a bamboo rat dinner with Hu Zifeng and Chang Li, Xia Qing slung her sniper rifle over her back and spoke with utmost seriousness to Old Goat and Er Gou. “Boss, Second, I need to run an errand. When the sun rises over there, sets over here, and rises here again, I’ll be back. Watch the house for me ’til then.”

Old Goat might act arrogant, quick-tempered, always trying to show off, but at the end of the day, it’s still a grass-eating sheep—a sheep that always feels a little insecure.

But this isn’t just any ordinary sheep. Old Goat was Xia Qing’s very first companion and is the main workforce for generating power, plowing, and irrigating Section Three. It eats grass, sure, but happily pulls the weight of three or four strong men. To Xia Qing, it’s the best farming partner anyone could ask for.

What makes it even more special—it’s pure-hearted, immune to bribes and scheming, and would never stab Xia Qing in the back for a few extra credits. On top of that, whenever danger shows up in the territory, it howls for the wolves or leads the way to safety without hesitation.

A partner this loyal and dependable—of course Xia Qing would treasure and take care of it.

If Old Goat were the only evolved animal left in the territory and Xia Qing was out overnight, it would be uneasy and restless. But with Er Gou in the territory to keep it company, it feels safe and just quietly waits for Xia Qing to come home.

Feeling reassured, Xia Qing rubbed Old Goat’s head and gave Er Gou some detailed instructions. “Second, you’re in charge of feeding the fish. Forget the chickens, rabbits, and insects—Hu Zifeng will cut grass for them. If you get hungry, have some jerky from that basket. I’ll be back in a day. When I return, how about we go catch some rabbits together?”

Er Gou is another vital partner for Xia Qing—smart, hardworking, always ready to keep watch at night, so Xia Qing can sleep easy. But Er Gou belongs with the wolf pack. Once its stomach heals enough to eat raw meat again, it might leave Section Three and go back to Hill Sixty.

It’s because of that possibility, Xia Qing cherishes every moment they get together.

Sitting with half a basket of jerky, Er Gou perked up at the mention of catching rabbits and wagged its tail with joy.

“Old Goat,” Xia Qing said softly, crouching down to touch foreheads with it, “give me some of your luck, wish me success. I’m off now—the house is in your hooves.”

“Baa.” Old Goat squinted its eyes in delight, responding in a good mood.

Leaving home, Xia Qing said goodbye to Hu Zifeng and Chang Li. “Captain Hu, Li Jie, I’m counting on you both while I’m gone. If anything urgent comes up, just say so in the Lords’ channel. Third Brother, Captain Tan, and Xin Yu will have your back.”

Hu Zifeng nodded.

Chang Li nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry. The territory will look exactly the same as you left it when you come back.”

With steady steps, Xia Qing headed out the northern gate and met up with Tan Junjie. That night, they rushed to the regimental base on the northwest side of Hill Forty-Nine.

The 372nd Regiment is a mountain infantry division stationed in these hills, tasked with protecting the cities nearby. After the disaster hit, most of their forces were sent for relief and maintaining order, leaving only a small unit at the regimental base.

Tan Junjie serves in the Section One Inspection Team, which belongs to the 372nd Regiment. Xia Qing had never been this way before, but Tan Junjie was clearly familiar. It took less than half an hour in the patrol car before they reached the main gate.

“Thanks, Captain Tan.” Already changed into new gear, Xia Qing thanked him and pushed open the car door to get out, only to hear Tan Junjie’s soft reminder:

“Come back safe, all right?”

The last time she heard words like that was back when her father was still alive. Tears pricked at Xia Qing’s eyes. She managed a low reply, pulled on her protective mask, got out of the car and walked toward the base gate. After saluting the sentry and showing her ID, she gave the day’s code phrase and entered the 372nd Regiment smoothly.

Guided by the directions in the documents, Xia Qing, wearing her silicone mask, found her assigned quarters for the night.

Tonight, she’s not Xia Qing—she’s Yan Ning, a female soldier from Red Eleven, on temporary transfer to Hui Three’s Special Third Company.

She needs to join the rest of the Special Third Company trainees at seven tomorrow morning for the return to the Safe Zone. Tonight, she has to get some real rest before tomorrow night’s decisive battle.

Not long after turning off the lights, Xia Qing heard the faintest sound outside her door. She gripped her knife, pressed herself beside the door and listened intently.

“3241.”

Hearing the code, Xia Qing froze, her knife still in hand.

Why is he here? In a low voice, Xia Qing answered, “0952.”

With the code verified, Yang Jin knocked softly on the door. Xia Qing swung it open at once and let him in. After coming inside, Yang Jin set up an anti-eavesdropping device on the door. Only then did he quietly ask, “Everything go smoothly?”

“Smooth so far.” If she’d only worn the silicone mask, she would’ve been exposed for sure—but with an added protective mask that blocks most light, and the cover of darkness, nobody could tell a switch had happened.

Xia Qing took off her protective mask and pulled a small stool from under the table. “Captain Yang, please sit.”

Yang Jin sat down, placed his own protective mask on the table, and spoke in a low voice to Xia Qing. “Yan Ning is an old schoolmate of mine, one of Captain Tan’s former recruits. When the Base Commander wanted to borrow someone from Red Eleven, I tipped her off and slipped one of our squad into the Special Third Company under her name. That day you said you wanted in on taking down Tang Zhengsu, so I added you—you’re a lot stronger than she is.”

Xia Qing…

So all this planning started months ago…

Impressive.

Still, does Qinglong actually have a female member with a build that matches hers? Xia Qing couldn’t recall ever meeting one.

She asked quietly, “Is Tang Zhengsu really planning to bolt tomorrow night?”

“Red One’s investigation team already caught Zhou Xun and several surviving refugee infiltrators. Zhou Xun has a recording of Tang directing the refugees’ invasion. If he doesn’t flee, he’ll be looking at no less than ten years behind bars and hard labor.”

Xia Qing asked softly, “Will the recording hold up as evidence?”

“He could just claim the voice was a Voice Evolution fighter imitating him, try to put the blame on somebody else.”

Yang Jin smiled. “That’s exactly the argument his lawyer used to get him released on bail. Zhou Xun and Tang Zhengbo have other evidence too, but they’re waiting for the right time to play it.”