Chapter 650: Queen and the Wolves: Reunion Beneath the Northern Wall

Yu Dongming arrived with two helicopters and over twenty bodyguards in tow. Even though they were staying in the northern sector of Territory Eight, it paid to be careful. That’s why, as soon as the wolf pack entered Hill Forty-Nine, Hu Zifeng immediately called Xia Qing.

Xia Qing agreed—letting the wolves wander into human territory was risky right now. “No need to stop them. Captain Hu, could you send someone to watch over the territory for me? I’ll go wait at the Wolf Den.”

Wolves moved fast. Xia Qing quickly pulled on her protective suit, called out a quick hello to Old Goat downstairs, slung on her backpack, then dashed out of the territory. She raced through the newly erected iron mesh wall marking the northern barrier and into Section Three of Hill Forty-Nine. There, she spotted Alpha standing tall on a rocky outcrop, already waiting for her.

Over the past year, Xia Qing had come across plenty of ordinary wolves, Evolved Wolves, and even enormous ones. But none looked as impressive as the leader before her now—a wolf with a missing notch in its left ear.

It stood there quietly—not as big as the ash-brown giant behind it, but its aura was unmistakable. With one look anyone could tell this was the king of the pack.

Clearly, it had heard her running and decided not to enter the territory, waiting here instead. Smart as ever!

Xia Qing bounded over and leaped onto the rock, greeting the Queen in a cheerful whisper. “Your Majesty! It’s been ages! Did Broken Back and Er stay behind on Hill Sixty to guard the pups?”

Even with its protective suit on, Xia Qing could tell Alpha had already given birth—her belly looked much smaller than the last time Xia Qing saw her on the Bear Cave camera.

Alpha stared at Xia Qing with her striking golden eyes, calm as always. But Lame Wolf couldn’t help herself—she barked, charged over, and almost knocked Xia Qing clean off the rock.

Xia Qing wrapped her arms around Lame Wolf’s neck and laughed. “Lame Wolf, long time no see! Big Black, Lame Wolf’s little sister, it’s been ages, too.”

After greeting her wolf friends, Xia Qing’s gaze landed on the two lactating female wolves who weren’t wearing protective suits.

Including Alpha, at least three female wolves had pups this year. Lame Wolf’s little sister might have given birth too, but with the full-coverage snake skin suit she wore, there was no way to tell just by looking.

If those pups survived, the Northern Wolf Pack would only grow stronger.

The two unprotected mothers lined up with Lame Wolf’s little sister, flashing their sharp fangs at Xia Qing in a show of pride.

The ash-brown giant and Black Wolf stood calmly on either side of Alpha, unfazed by it all. Lame Wolf, meanwhile, clung to Xia Qing, bouncing around in pure excitement.

Xia Qing handed her a piece of freeze-dried meat, then walked over to Alpha and bent down.

Alpha lifted a paw and gave Xia Qing’s protective mask a gentle nudge—a greeting—then looked over at Lame Wolf.

Without so much as a howl from Alpha, Lame Wolf obediently trotted over and lay down.

Alpha planted her heavy paw on Lame Wolf’s neck, then turned to Xia Qing.

After Broken Back tried the new insect repellent four days ago and survived, the pack was convinced of its effectiveness. Now, Alpha had brought her important lieutenants to get treated, too.

“Got it! Time for their external insecticide!”

Xia Qing set down her backpack, pulled out the newly traded repellent, unzipped the top of Alpha’s suit to expose her neck, and carefully dripped 5 milliliters onto her fur. Next up was Lame Wolf, who was still sprawled on the ground.

She pointed at the damp patch left on Lame Wolf’s neck and gave a stern warning. “Your Majesty, don’t let them lick this. It’ll make them sick. Stomachaches, at the very least.”

Honestly, the repellent Zhang San made wasn’t really dangerous to powerful Evolved Wolves. Xia Qing only warned them because if the wolves licked it off, it wouldn’t work.

Once Lame Wolf had scampered away, Alpha glanced at the others. Black Wolf was first to step forward. Xia Qing unzipped his suit and put on the drops, then the ash-brown giant came next.

She’d always liked this giant one—it had carried her before. Xia Qing gave its neck a good rub, then put 7 milliliters of repellent onto its thick fur.

This one was huge—it took a lot of the repellent. Good thing Xia Qing had traded for a whole bottle, or she’d have run out tonight.

Finally, under a low growl from Alpha, the three mothers who’d bared their teeth earlier crept over and flopped on the ground, still eyeing Xia Qing warily. Once she’d dosed each of them, the trio darted away, shaking out their fur.

Xia Qing could handle the wolves so directly for two major reasons: Alpha’s authority kept them in line, and her snake skin protective suit made her immune to claws or fangs—no matter how sharp.

After she finished treating the pack, Xia Qing led Alpha to the edge of the Evolved Forest and they crouched side by side in the grass. Pointing at a new wall nearby, she whispered, “Your Majesty, humans built another barrier. See that gap? They’ll install a door there. Once it’s finished, you can come find me through that door—it’ll be safe.”

Only Xia Qing would have access to the door controls. With Territory Three to the south and Hill Forty-Nine’s north guarded by the Azure Dragon Squad, it was usually pretty safe. Once Chonglian’s people left, the wolf pack could move freely.

Alpha fixed her eyes on the new wall, sniffed the air, then let out two low howls.

Xia Qing heard the call and wondered if Alpha was summoning Old Goat or maybe the balding weasel back in the Sheep Shed.

But she found out soon enough. Out of the night popped a tiny white animal shining like a beam of light. It hopped the tall wall of Territory Three, slipped through the gap in the northern barrier, and stood right in front of Alpha. After greeting each other with a nose-to-nose sniff, Alpha licked the glossy little weasel, then turned to look at Xia Qing.

Alpha gave the white weasel a lick and turned her gaze on Xia Qing.

Who would have thought? In front of Alpha, White Weasel got way more respect than the balding one ever did.

Xia Qing nodded quickly. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. White Weasel is safe here in my territory—I won’t let any humans touch him.”

Satisfied, Alpha turned back to her subordinates and fished a pigeon egg-sized Yi Stone out of Big Black’s pack, dropped it, and nudged it over to Xia Qing.

Xia Qing had no idea if the Yi Stone was payment for the repellent or a thank-you for saving White Weasel’s family, but whatever the reason, if the Queen gave her a stone, she’d better accept it.

Refusing would have been disrespectful—to both the Queen and the stone itself!

Cradling the Yi Stone, Xia Qing gushed with heartfelt thanks. “Thank you, Your Majesty! You’re always so generous. You really are the leader of the pack—a true goddess on top of the pyramid! If any more wolves need treatment, just bring them. And don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on White Weasel’s whole family…”

Alpha listened quietly as Xia Qing finished. Just as she was about to leave, Xia Qing called her back and offered up a packet of jerky. “Your Majesty, do you like freeze-dried meat? It’s a new recipe.”

Alpha took a sniff, pinned the packet down with her paw, tore it open, and started eating.

Clearly, she enjoyed it.

When Alpha finished, Xia Qing pulled out another packet and tucked it into her side pocket. “Could you please bring this one to Er? Tell her if she wants more, just come back to me.”

It’d been four days since they’d been apart—both Xia Qing and Old Goat missed Er a lot.