Chapter 618: Spring Sprouts and Silent Bonds

Zhang San nodded at Xia Qing’s guess. “That’s certain. If it had gone through two years of Evolutionary Synthesis Element plus Devastation Rain, there’s no way the quality would still be this good.”

After speaking with Old Goat, Zhang San turned back to Xia Qing. “The gas you collected today was way weaker than yesterday’s. I think the Toon tree only releases the most gas when the buds are about to burst. Soon, can you try to bag as many unbudded branches as possible? This might be our last shot to collect the gas this year. I’ve run hundreds of tests, but with my resources, I still can’t synthesize it properly in the lab.”

Both the Devastation and Evolution Elements are just too active, practically impossible to control or synthesize by hand. But when your idol works so hard, how could Xia Qing refuse? “Sure thing. I’ll go cover them now.”

Seeing how cooperative Xia Qing was, Zhang San was in great spirits. “Your sheep is really top-notch, don’t let it go to waste. I’ll contact the other bases to see if we can find a ewe of the same breed for it to mate with.”

Xia Qing went quiet for a few seconds, then cautiously asked, “Third Brother, do you think we can get a pair instead?”

Old Goat really was quality stock—Xia Qing caught herself daydreaming about eating it all the time. But the thought of eating Old Goat’s wife and kids? Even she couldn’t go that far.

Zhang San stayed silent for a long moment, then, at a total loss for words, just hung up the phone.

Nowadays, supplies were so scarce you’d be called crazy for what Xia Qing was doing. Besides Xin Yu, who was her ally, anyone else would think she was a total fool for raising a Green Lantern Sheep as a companion and still refusing to breed it for meat.

But this grumpy, proud, and greedy Old Goat was the first companion she’d had in five lonely years. In Xia Qing’s eyes, it would always be a friend, not food. Its kids weren’t food, either.

And what about its grandkids, great-grandkids?

Hmm…

If it weren’t for her Brain Evolution, maybe even she would’ve caved.

Xia Qing rushed home, grabbed a huge pack of small bags, and went back to the High Slope. Using over three hundred bags, she covered every unbudded tip on the Toon Tree.

Her idol wanted these gases for medicine, so even if she had to give away the entire first batch of toon sprouts, Xia Qing didn’t mind one bit.

Besides, after she picked the first batch, the second wave would grow out soon enough. She and Old Goat would just have to wait a few extra days to eat.

She was lucky to move fast, too. By nine the next morning, once the temperature hit fifteen degrees, the large Toon Tree started budding a second time—so fast you could see it with the naked eye.

This time, most budding branches were already bagged up by Xia Qing, but a few buds still released gas into the air, luring spotted borer moths and birds straight to the tree.

Xia Qing was in the middle of building a greenhouse when she saw what happened. She immediately tied up Old Goat with rope, told Er Gou to keep watch, then sprinted to the little house near the fields to change into her airtight protective suit, grabbed the sprayer, and ran up the slope.

Slowing down on the High Slope, Xia Qing used her Magnetic Sense Evolution Ability to pick up on the magnetic field shifts from the Toon Tree.

When she was about fifteen meters away, Xia Qing clearly sensed those changes. She quickened her pace, dashed under the tree, and started spraying to wipe out the spotted borer moths and drive away the birds.

This time, Xia Qing also confirmed how long the Toon Tree released the Evolutionary Synthetic Element during rapid budding—an hour and a half.

Once everything was handled, Xia Qing headed back to the little house, changed out of her protective gear, and hurried to the fields to untie Old Goat. She quickly brought it a bowl of Yellow Lantern Peanut shells.

Old Goat hadn’t been exposed to the gas thanks to the distance, but being suddenly roped up still ticked it off—it was itching for a fight.

It stood up, shook the dirt from its coat, and narrowed its eyes at Xia Qing like it wanted trouble.

Cradling the bowl of peanut shells, Xia Qing beamed. “Good job, Old Goat! Try these treats. I’ve taken care of the Toon Tree, and tonight I’ll mix you some toon sprouts with nutritious blend, alright?”

Old Goat’s eyes flicked between the grinning Xia Qing and the fragrant peanuts, before finally lowering its head to eat.

Xia Qing ruffled its head, patted Er Gou nearby, then leaned against a rock and looked quietly at the Toon Tree standing tall on the slope.

“Old Goat, today is February 12th.”

Old Goat kept eating, not giving Xia Qing the time of day, while Er Gou just looked at her with rusty-colored eyes, listening silently.

So Xia Qing began telling the story to Er Gou. “I entered the Territory on February 15th last year—the Toon Tree had already finished budding by then. And on February 19th, I met Old Goat up on the High Slope. Its wool was a mess, dirty as could be, and it charged at me the moment it saw me. I couldn’t win, got beat up and had to climb the Toon Tree for safety. Three days later, it went even crazier during the Devastation Rain—crashed through our wall…”

Leaning against the rock, Xia Qing remembered those days, then finally said to Er Gou, “Lucky for us, we ran into each other, and then the Queen sent over Broken Back, the crippled wolf, and you, Old Two. I really do have good luck.”

Er Gou flashed a big wolfish grin.

During this disaster year, you could work yourself to the bone and still not reap a thing. But if you didn’t work at all, you’d get nothing for sure.

Spring is when a farmer sets the tone for the whole year. This was the busiest season. After a few words of reflection, Xia Qing downed half a bottle of plain water and got back to building the greenhouses.

It wasn’t just Xia Qing—other lords were breaking their backs reclaiming land and working the fields, not even sparing time to chat in the Lords’ channel.

After six days of work, Xia Qing finished five greenhouses. Once the insect netting and rain covers were finally in place, she let out a long breath.

At last, she finished everything before the first Devastation Rain of Year Eleven hit.

That night, as Xia Qing was soaking in her bath barrel, trying to ease her aching shoulders, she actually got a call from Yang Jin.

She stared at the screen for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and picked up. “Captain Yang?”

The tone in her voice said it all…

Standing on the snowy, star-lit summit in the Evolved Forest at Hui Five, Yang Jin paused for two seconds before speaking. “The reward for keeping the Monkey Troop out last time has come through. The twenty jin of Green Lantern Wheat seeds you wanted, a thousand rounds of ammunition, and a microscope are stored at the Qinglong base for now. Once the Devastation Rain is over, I’ll have someone deliver them to you.”

Only Yang Jin knew she’d called for Northern Wolf Pack support when the Western Wolf Pack was in trouble. So the reward for stopping the Monkey Troop’s invasion went to him.

“Thanks, Captain Yang.”

Knowing he wouldn’t be delivering the reward himself took a weight off Xia Qing’s mind. She really didn’t want to face Yang Jin’s handsome face right now. It wasn’t his fault—she just didn’t trust herself. She couldn’t tell if the scent effect was really gone yet. If he came for business and she lost her composure, it’d be a disaster.

After the reward talk, Xia Qing asked about Yang Jin and Luo Pei’s mission. “Did you and Luo manage to catch Tang Rui?”

If they hadn’t finished the job, Yang Jin definitely wouldn’t be calling.

“Yeah.”

Yang Jin looked out at the endless white snow and starry sky, breaking into a bright smile. “He and Tang Zheng ran off to Hui Five. Took some work, but we got them. The base is sending a helicopter over soon. They’ve also tracked down Xue Jinchang from Dongyang Squad, though it’s not likely he’ll be brought in alive—he escaped to Hui One with his men.”