Chapter 664: An All-Nighter’s Rewards

Yang Jin had no objections. “We’re heading back through Hill Forty-Nine? And checking for the Devastation Snake along the way?”

Xia Qing, who could track the Devastation Snake using magnetism, nodded. Silently, she thought,

He really lives up to his nickname, Iron Rooster. That shrewdness is almost scary.

Once they entered Hill Forty-Nine, where the Azure Dragon Squad was stationed, the danger dropped off sharply. Xia Qing relaxed and asked how many medicinal herbs Yang Jin had dug up by the python pond.

Yang Jin replied with precision. “I got twelve of the target herbs, roots and all. Should be enough to detoxify. I also dug up another twenty-six that looked like medicinal herbs, no idea if they’re valuable.”

From the moment he entered the pond to when he came out, it was less than a minute. Yet he’d managed to dig up thirty-eight herbs and remember the count exactly. That speed and focus—Xia Qing couldn’t help but be impressed.

“We’ve got the herb roots. If it’s not enough, Third Brother could plant a few more in the greenhouse. In two or three months there’d be fresh ones. Are you taking them to Territory Seven, or should I go?”

“Can’t we go together?”

Yang Jin paused for two seconds. “You’re the main force on this mission. It’s better if you go.”

Xia Qing nearly stumbled over his polite form of address. Holding onto a nearby tree for balance, she glanced back.

Night vision goggles only helped in the dark, so after leaving the dim valley of Hill Fifty-Five’s python pond, they both took theirs off. Through the face mask, Xia Qing could clearly see the emotion in Yang Jin’s eyes and understood what he meant.

Counting the time they ambushed Tang Zhengsu, she and Yang Jin had fought side by side twice now. They were also about the same age—not exactly senior and junior. All this formality just felt off.

So Xia Qing dropped the courtesy. “Alright, I’ll hand it in. Once the emergency is over, are you heading back to the Safe Zone?”

Yang Jin’s eyes, which held a hint of resentment moments ago, suddenly brightened. “Not yet. I want to talk some business with Yu Dongming. Too bad that Chonglian construction worker you knocked out didn’t get pics or video of Territory One or Hill Forty-Nine, or I could’ve driven a harder bargain.”

Xia Qing was speechless.

Care to guess if it’s because everyone knows how ruthless you are they don’t dare point a camera at your turf?

While hacking away vines that blocked the path, Yang Jin discussed how they’d split the profits from picking herbs. “Let’s go fifty-fifty with the credits we get. Sound fair?”

They’d worked as a team on this mission. Yang Jin lured off one python, Xia Qing lured two. Yang Jin gathered the herbs while Xia Qing stood guard. When the black python appeared, it was Xia Qing who pulled Yang Jin out of the water. Both had done their jobs.

Objectively, Yang Jin’s was a bit more dangerous but Xia Qing had handled an extra python. Their contributions were balanced—splitting fifty-fifty made sense, and Xia Qing had no objections.

Black Wolf had helped too, but he was in Xia Qing’s crew. Once she got the credits, how she split them with Black Wolf was her business—not Yang Jin’s.

On the way, Xia Qing didn’t spot any Devastation Snakes. They split up at the edge of Section Three in Hill Forty-Nine. Xia Qing left the Evolved Forest heading for Territory Seven to turn in the mission; Yang Jin stayed in the mountains to continue the search.

Instead of returning to her own territory after leaving Hill Forty-Nine, Xia Qing followed the eastern stretch of the iron mesh wall that marked the Northern Barrier—straight to hand in the mission.

At the northern border of Territory Five, Xia Qing greeted the construction squad leader, Lu Yuhui, in her Level-3 Wild Protection Suit. She stopped again at the northern edge of Territory Six to check in with Zhu Li, who was searching for Devastation Snakes in the Northern Buffer Forest with a machete in hand, and only then continued toward Territory Seven.

After an extensive check and full-body decontamination, Xia Qing let Ji Li lead her into Territory Seven.

The moment Xia Qing saw her idol—panda-eyed and so thin she barely looked like herself—her heart ached.

She skipped the small talk and handed over her haul. “Third Brother, this bag’s got twenty-six live Devastation Snakes—green and red both. Caught by the pond at Hill Fifty-Five.”

Because the Devastation Snake is seriously dangerous, Ji Li took the bag and placed the snakes in a glass specimen box. Seeing so many of them made Zhang San’s face turn even grimmer.

“Here’s water and soil samples from the pond.” Xia Qing had made a habit of collecting samples whenever she spotted a potential problem, so Zhang San didn’t even have to ask.

For the first time, a spark brightened Zhang San’s weary eyes. He asked, voice weak but spirited, “Excellent work. Where are the herbs?”

“Right here.” Xia Qing handed over the bag Yang Jin had given her. “Twelve of the herbs that might counteract the poison, roots included. The rest, I’m not sure if they’re useful—take a look.”

Hearing there were twelve of the urgently needed herbs in the bag, Zhang San actually looked less exhausted by the second. “Good. Very good! Go get some rest. We’ll talk details later.”

Right after, Zhang San disappeared into the lab with the herbs. Xia Qing quickly called out, “Third Brother, can I trade for some Green Lantern Vegetables?”

“Find Da Ya.”

Once Zhang San had ducked into the laboratory, Ji Li led Xia Qing to find Da Ya, the food stores manager for Territory Seven.

Da Ya didn’t even stutter at Xia Qing’s request. “What kind of veggies are you after?”

Xia Qing didn’t really know what they grew here, so she just explained. “I’ve got spinach, perilla, alfalfa and chives at home—been eating the same stuff all winter. Anything fresh for a change would be great.”

Da Ya beamed. “Like celtuce? I can harvest a few for you.”

Celtuce sounded perfect! Xia Qing’s face lit up. “Of course. Thanks, Brother Ya!”

While Da Ya headed out to the greenhouse, Ji Li quietly asked, “Is that for your Evolved Sheep?”

Not bad for a cat owner—he’d guessed right away. Xia Qing nodded. “I haven’t been back all night. I’m worried it’ll throw a fit if I don’t bring something home.”

Ji Li fell into silent envy. Xia Qing was worried her evolved sheep would get mad if it didn’t see her last night, so she had to bring food. Meanwhile, when Ji Li left for Hui One and brought food back, it wasn’t because Princess Cat would get angry—it was out of fear she’d just forget him.

In no time, Da Ya returned with four celtuce stalks—roots, leaves, each over half a meter long. “Take these home and try them. If you like them, come back for more. Celtuce is hard to grow outdoors but does great in a proper greenhouse.”

Xia Qing thanked him again. Da Ya just grinned. “No need, they’re from Third Brother. If you have time to dig up more celtuce shoots this year, bring me a few too. Our Third Brother’s stomach’s been acting up—he can barely eat anything these days.”

“I’ll head out in the next couple days!” Her idol’s allergies were acting up, forced to work nonstop with hardly any rest, those dark circles looked like they’d swallow her whole. Never mind celtuce—if the idol wanted crocodile, Xia Qing would drag one back without blinking.

Still, before she went digging up celtuce for her idol, Xia Qing had to placate her own housemate.

Heading back, Xia Qing crossed the Stone Bridge out of the Buffer Forest. When she spotted Old Goat barreling toward her, horns spiraling and fury in every step, she quickly raised the big celtuce stalk high. “Boss! Look what I found on my trip out!”