Chapter 603: Dawn at Territory Seven: A New Litter and Old Bonds

Was the reason Territory Seven asked Huo Zhun to bring me in today because Sister Yan can’t stand bad smells?

With those two little stinkers always causing trouble, Xia Qing felt the gap between her and the goddess Yan Long was growing. Even the dream of cuddling a cute kitten seemed to drift farther and farther away…

Huo Zhun was the type who never picked up on hints. Even when Xia Qing didn’t answer, he just grinned and said, “Let me get you a basin of warm water. Want to wash up this little guy?”

“Thanks, Huo,” she replied. It’d definitely help to give him a wash. The little White Weasel was still in the operating room getting a C-section, and when he came out, Balding Weasel would need to take care of him. If Balding Weasel was all caked in mud, there was a real risk of infection for White Weasel.

“It’s no trouble at all.” Huo Zhun happily left and soon came back, lugging a laundry tub half-filled with warm water. There was enough in there to wash not just a weasel, but a half-grown wild boar.

Before Xia Qing could say anything, Huo Zhun ran off again and brought her a small basin meant for washing hands. “Use this one to wash your hands first, then clean the weasel with the big basin.” His thoughtfulness showed in the details.

Huo Zhun knew better than to underestimate the anesthetized Yellow Weasel. After all, this scrappy little guy might just become his most important partner since leaving the army.

“Thank you, Huo.” Xia Qing set the towel-wrapped weasel on the ground and started washing her hands. The corridor in Territory Seven gleamed so white and clean—much cleaner than either her or the weasel right now.

As Xia Qing rinsed the mud off her protective gloves and arms, Huo Zhun squatted by her side, eyes glued to Balding Weasel.

When Xia Qing swapped out her gloves for thin medical ones and put the little Yellow Weasel in the big tub, Huo Zhun couldn’t help but marvel, “It’s so small, not even as big as a cat—how does a weasel like this evolve to spit out such potent toxic gas?”

She’d thought about that herself. “Toxic gas is a weasel’s main form of defense. It makes sense evolution on Blue Star would strengthen that ability.”

Huo Zhun nodded with real understanding. “Yeah, that tracks. My dad used to be a blacksmith, so he was way stronger than most people. When the Great Evolution hit, his strength shot through the roof—he became a Strength-Based Evolution. I got it from him, too.”

Xia Qing nodded. “My dad was a Strength-Based Evolution too.”

Having avenged her parents, Xia Qing felt calm bringing them up.

Huo Zhun knew Xia Qing no longer had family. Not the best with words, he squatted quietly to one side, keeping her company while she washed the weasel.

After she gave Balding Weasel a quick wash, Xia Qing lifted him up and smoothed him out from head to tail several times, squeezing out as much water as she could. Then she grabbed an absorbent towel from her backpack, wrapped the little guy and rubbed him quickly to soak up the leftover moisture. Finally, she changed to a fresh towel and bundled him up in her palms.

Honestly, the little guy was surprisingly nice to hold…

Not even an hour later, the operating room door swung open. Zhang He walked out, with an assistant trailing behind her, holding a box.

Xia Qing recognized the assistant as Zhang Song, the animal specialist who’d come to Section Three last year to collect water rats.

Before Xia Qing could even speak as the ‘family member’, Zhang He started explaining. “This albino Yellow Weasel was a first-time mom. It was a tough birth—three of her eight pups had died already. The remaining five made it through and are in good condition. Take a look for yourself.”

“Thank you, Sister He. If it weren’t for you and Brother Song, those five wouldn’t have survived,” Xia Qing said as she took the box from Zhang Song.

Opening the box, Xia Qing saw the albino Yellow Weasel lying on her side on a pale blue absorbent pad. A small surgical cut on her belly was sealed tight with medical tape, and five tiny, fuzzy pups snuggled up and nursed at her belly.

Three of the pups wore pale brown coats, one was pure white, and the last had a brown back and white belly. The way they squirmed for milk showed they were indeed healthy.

Xia Qing asked, “Sister Zhang, can I take the three dead pups home with me?”

Zhang He had no objection, sending Zhang Song back in to fetch the remains of the three weasel pups from the operating room.

Zhang Song handed her a small sealed bag with the pups’ bodies—their birth membranes not yet cleaned off—and reminded her, “Miss Xia, don’t touch the mother or the pups with your bare hands. If your scent gets on the pups, the mother might reject them, or worse.”

Xia Qing took the bag. “Thank you, Sister He and Brother Song, for working so early. I still have to…”

“No need. Our lord will settle the medical bill with you,” Zhang He interrupted. “We used the best medicine for the incision—no stitches, no changing dressings needed. As long as she keeps it dry and avoids infection, she should heal in three to five days.”

Xia Qing gave her thanks again, gently placing Balding Weasel and the three dead pups in the box with the mother before leaving, box in hand.

As Huo Zhun walked her out, he whispered, “Are you planning to keep this whole litter of weasels?”

Xia Qing gave him a flat, “Nope.”

The Devastation Rain season was around the corner. She had to protect the fields and valley, prepare for spring planting, and train her combat skills—there was no way she could raise a litter of weasels. Once the anesthesia wore off, the new parents were free to take their pups wherever they pleased.

By the time Xia Qing returned to the territory, dawn was breaking. Er Gou spotted her hauling a box up the slope and came right over to give it a sniff.

Xia Qing stroked the muddy, frost-bitten fur on Er Gou’s head and whispered, “It’s done. Most of the pups made it, White Weasel’s fine too. I’ll show you when we get home.”

Box in hand, Xia Qing headed for the Toon Tree and called to another companion: “Old Goat, how come you’re up so early? It’s only just warming up—the Toon Tree won’t bud today.”

Old Goat didn’t answer. He just lifted his head, staring up at the Toon Tree.

Xia Qing gave his head a quick rub. “Keep guard, Old Goat—I’m going home to make us breakfast.”

Old Goat shook his head. He clearly had opinions about Xia Qing’s habit of petting his head any time she was bored.

Down the slope, Er Gou let Xia Qing know he wanted to carry the box.

“All right, bite down here. Don’t drop it.” Xia Qing handed over the box, then hurried to the little house by the fields. After updating Guan Tong and Chen Zheng, she got home to find Er Gou had already placed the box in the sheep shed, nestled on a pile of straw and firewood.

The moment she got home, Er Gou leapt up from his post beside the box and flashed a big wolfish grin at her.

“Er, do you really think the weasels belong in the sheep shed?” Er Gou wagged his tail, looking downright pleased with himself.