Chapter 705: Old Faces, New Tensions

Ever since learning that Yan Meng was in Territory Fourteen, Xia Qing had been looking for a chance to figure out his intentions. But she was always busy, and Yan Meng kept to himself inside his territory, never socializing, so she hadn’t found an opportunity.

Now though, Yan Meng was the one coming out and making his intentions known.

If he really was just here to farm and planned to stay out of Xia Qing’s way, that would be ideal. But if he’d come for revenge for Yan Pan, Xia Qing didn’t mind sending him off to reunite the siblings sooner.

After a few steps forward, Xia Qing felt a wave of disappointment. Judging by the footsteps inside Territory Fourteen, that person’s stride was nothing like the tall, nearly two-meter Yan Meng.

“Xia Qing? Are you Xia Qing?”

A short, stocky man stepped out from the part of Territory Fourteen’s wild grass wall that had been cut open, his face breaking into a delighted grin as he greeted Xia Qing.

Xia Qing pretended not to recognize him, keeping her demeanor calm and polite. “I’m Xia Qing. And you are?”

Noticing Xia Qing didn’t recognize him, and that she’d kept her right hand over her gun, Liao Chen stopped where he was and didn’t come any closer. “I’m Liao Chen, a level-three Strength-Based Evolution fighter from Storm Squad. We met in the Evolved Forest back in May, Year Nine of the Disaster.”

In May of Year Nine, Xia Qing had joined Storm Squad’s resource-gathering mission as a logistics member. That was when they ran into the Northern Wolf Pack.

Storm Squad members provoked the wolves and got themselves killed. In the end, Xia Qing was the only one who survived.

Yan Meng had shown up and tried to kill Xia Qing afterward, but this very Liao Chen had stepped forward, pretending to calm things down. In reality, he blocked others who truly wanted to intervene and stop Yan Meng.

Later, within the territory, Yan Meng had brought Storm Squad after Xia Qing again, and Liao Chen was right there with them. Now, he only brought up their meeting during the May Evolved Forest incident, hoping Xia Qing would remember his “help” stopping an enraged Yan Meng from killing her.

Xia Qing pretended to recall the incident and greeted him politely: “Brother Liao.”

Behind his protective mask, the crow’s feet at the corners of Liao Chen’s eyes deepened. “Hey! From now on, I’ll be staying here in Territory Fourteen, farming alongside Meng. He’d just lost his only family back then—so he lost control. Let me apologize for him. We’ll be seeing each other a lot from now on, so there’s no need to keep holding onto grudges from two years ago. Don’t you think?”

Xia Qing just nodded calmly and kept walking.

Liao Chen watched her until she’d disappeared, then went back to Territory Fourteen and reported to Yan Meng. “Xia Qing’s grown taller and stronger. Her equipment’s better too. That pistol she carries? You can’t get one of those unless you know the right people.”

Seeing Yan Meng looking dark, Liao Chen lowered his voice. “Meng, you have to look forward in life. Living well is more important than anything. And besides, a gentleman takes revenge even after ten years. For us evolved fighters, fifty years isn’t too late! Let’s focus on making a good life first, alright? If we blow this chance, the two of us may never get another shot at turning things around.”

Standing tall, Yan Meng towered over Liao Chen by a full head. He lifted his eyes and gave a brooding look toward the mountain in the northwest.

At dusk, after finishing her work, Xia Qing headed home and ran into Liao Chen again at the north gate of Territory Fourteen.

He asked Xia Qing about bamboo. “There are too many pests here. Meng wants to set up the greenhouse as soon as possible. I heard from Brother Huai that you know the Evolved Forest here better than anyone. Do you know where there’s a lot of bamboo nearby?”

Qi Fu and Zhao Ze, who were walking with Xia Qing, eyed Liao Chen. They figured he was just making small talk to cozy up to her.

You could just ask that in the Lords’ channel and get an answer!

Xia Qing replied evenly, “Head down the road across from this passage into Mountain 51, walk to the river’s edge, then follow the river upstream for a while—there’s a bamboo grove there.”

“Thanks.” Liao Chen knew when to stop. After thanking her and nodding to Qi Fu and Zhao Ze, he headed back toward Territory Fourteen.

“Hey you—stop right there!”

Liao Chen hadn’t gone far when he saw someone squeezing out of Territory Nine, pointing at him furiously while charging over. Two bodyguard types trailed right behind, looking ready to rough him up.

Liao Chen stood his ground, unfazed. Though hidden behind his mask, the corners of his mouth curled imperceptibly upward.

Tang Huai stormed over, fixed his protective suit, and jabbed a finger in Liao Chen’s face. “Who the hell are you? When did I talk to you?”

Liao Chen immediately introduced himself. “You’re the lord of Territory Twelve, right, Brother Huai? I’m Liao Chen, just arrived in Territory Fourteen a few days ago. You never spoke to me directly, but I hear you talk in the Lords’ channel all the time.”

When did I ever say Xia Qing was the one who knew the Evolved Forest best?

Tang Huai might not be fond of scheming, but he wasn’t stupid. He shot Liao Chen a glare before turning his attention to Xia Qing. Before he could say anything, Xia Qing glanced at her phone and suddenly dashed away.

“Qi, Zhao, something’s come up in my territory. I’ve got to run.”

“Xia Qing—”

Tang Huai tried to chase after her for a bit, but Xia Qing only got farther and farther ahead. She didn’t even bother with the door—just vaulted over the wall straight into Section Three.

Tang Huai braced his hands on his knees, panting, then sprinted to the south side of Section Three. He strained his ears, wondering what could possibly have Xia Qing in such a hurry.

By the time Xia Qing landed in her territory, she was already answering a call from Chen Zheng. “Sister Qing, Old Goat used facial recognition to sneak through the north gate, and now there’s a honey badger charging across the barrier. Looks like it’s come to fight Old Goat.”

“Let them fight. I’m on my way.” Xia Qing sprinted straight through both north gates, and when she reached Chen Zheng, Old Goat had just sent the little honey badger flying.

Yet after only a day, the little honey badger had clearly improved. Even after being tossed, it landed deftly on all fours and then—baring its tiny teeth—charged right back. Xia Qing’s heart clenched at the sight.

Old Goat wasn’t wearing its protective suit. If that honey badger—who ate poisonous snakes all the time—managed to bite him, it’d be real trouble.

Soon enough, Xia Qing’s tensed nerves finally relaxed as the little honey badger was sent flying again and slammed hard to the ground.

The honey badger was feisty today, and its fighting skills had definitely improved—but it was still small, short-necked, hornless, and a notch below Old Goat in strength.

“Xia Qing, what—is this…?”

Tang Huai, breathless and wide-eyed, rounded Section Three’s west wall, hands on his knees. “A honey badger? An invader?!”

Before Xia Qing could answer, Old Goat spun around after tossing the honey badger and charged straight at Tang Huai.

“Run!”

Xia Qing shoved Tang Huai back and moved to intercept Old Goat, scolding sharply: “Old Goat, this isn’t our territory, it’s a ‘road.’ Anyone can pass. You can’t chase him off.”

Chen Zheng called out, “Old Goat, the honey badger’s charging again!”

“Maa!”

Ignoring the now-retreating Tang Huai, Old Goat turned back and kept fighting the honey badger.

Tang Huai, after running a few steps, noticed Old Goat wasn’t chasing him anymore and caught his breath as he returned. “Xia Qing, did the honey badger steal something from your territory?”

“It’s my new companion. It just doesn’t get along with Old Goat. Those two are always itching to fight the moment they meet.”

Since the little honey badger had been brought over by the Wolf Pack, that made it one of their own. Xia Qing’s relationship with the Wolf Pack was a tangled web, so she didn’t bother explaining to Tang Huai—she just claimed the little Flathead was her companion.

She needed to say it not just to Tang Huai, but to everyone—hoping they wouldn’t hunt the little guy. “You’d better get out of here quick. Old Goat’s been in a foul mood lately. Once he’s done with the honey badger, he’ll probably come after you next.”

Tang Huai…

This woman’s got sheep, wolves, squirrels, yellow weasels—now a honey badger too?

What’s next? Is she opening a zoo for evolved animals?