Chapter 724: A Day of Trials and Trust

That massive black python on Hill Fifty-Five looked like it had gone through Hardness Evolution. Xia Qing never planned on messing with it, but she knew sooner or later the Wolf Pack would have to face it.

Once the Wolf Pack defeats the python, they’ll bring its skin over so Xia Qing can make even more Snake Skin Protective Suits for them. By then, getting a pair of gloves for Cao Xianyun would be no problem.

So Xia Qing didn’t make any promises. She just said, “If I manage to hunt it, I’ll save you a piece of the skin.”

“Thanks, Sister Qing!” Cao Xianyun grinned, her smile splitting wide with joy.

After roasting the vines, Xia Qing made sure to thoroughly clean all her gear and her Protective Suit. Only when she was sure there wasn’t a single Wild Tung Tree seed clinging to her soles did she head home with the vines strapped to her back.

She was just here as backup, so once her support mission was done she didn’t have to join the others. She could return to the Territory. As for the Credits from taking down the Giant Raptor, they’d get handed out once Tan Junjie reported to the mission board.

With Xia Qing’s weight plus dozens of vines, she was way over the Personal Flight Equipment’s load limit. So all she could do was hike back with the vines and her gear.

She followed the path she and Xin Yu had cleared, trekking for over an hour before finally reaching the Territory again. Standing on the high slope, she let out a breath of relief when she saw all the Greenhouses intact inside the Territory.

“Sister Qing, run!”

“Moo!”

No sooner had Chen Cheng finished shouting than Old Goat’s furious bellow rang out.

One listen was all it took to know Old Goat’s anger couldn’t be soothed with just a bunch of Green Lantern grass or a handful of Green Lantern shoots this time.

“It’s fine. Everyone worked hard today. Go get some rest.”

Xia Qing told Chen Cheng and the others to head out—it was best not to get caught in Old Goat’s crossfire. She set down the vines, backpack, sniper rifle and Black Blade, then marched right up. Old Goat sent her flying over a dozen times before his temper cooled.

Once he seemed less angry, Xia Qing pulled out the bunch of Green Lantern grass she’d gathered and spoke gently, “Old Goat, see those mountains smoking over there? Some high-risk plants showed up. If I didn’t go help clear them out, both our Territories would’ve been under attack.”

Old Goat munched the purple-red grass, but his eyes still blazed. Xia Qing limped up a tree, snapped off some toon leaves and kept coaxing, “Old Goat, did a Giant Raptor or Evolved Hawk attack while I was gone?”

“Baa!”

“That sounds terrifying,” Xia Qing murmured softly. “Good thing you guarded our Territory. If you hadn’t, I’d have never dared leave to wipe out those dangerous plants…”

Past the iron mesh wall, Chen Cheng saw Xia Qing sling her gear and stroll home behind the proud, strutting Old Goat. He was genuinely impressed. “Sister Qing’s got a real talent for sweet-talking evolved sheep! If she set her mind to it, she could win over the squad leader, never mind the boss.”

Chen Zheng rolled his eyes at his younger brother. “Win them over for what? Can either of those guys plow thirty acres of land in a single breath?”

Chen Cheng was speechless.

Exactly!

Xia Qing’s sharp ears picked up every word from the Chen brothers and privately agreed one hundred percent with Chen Zheng.

Her Old Goat ran on grass and spit out electricity—he could plow thirty acres without breaking a sweat. Nobody could outwork him!

Back home, Xia Qing found dozens of chickens locked in the Chicken House, loudly complaining. She rushed to drop her supplies and went in to pull the iron plates from the passages leading to the Chicken Yard.

The Black-Feathered Rooster charged out first, perching tall in the wide Chicken Yard and flapping its wings with a proud crow. The rest of the chickens followed, spreading out to wander the yard.

Nine hens, each with their chicks in tow, darted through the low tunnels from the Chicken House, clucking quietly to keep their babies from straying too far.

When Xia Qing saw the hoofprints near the iron plate, she froze. Hadn’t Chen Zheng and the others closed up the Chicken House?

Pulling out her phone, Xia Qing checked the surveillance camera footage from the yard.

The moment the Giant Raptor screeched, Old Goat sprinted home, dove inside, and after a bit, ran out again into the Chicken House.

After leaving the Chicken House and shutting the door, Old Goat stood guard outside, staring tensely at the eastern sky. When the raptor shrieked grew louder, he panicked, opened the Chicken House again, and hid inside.

Later, Liangzi showed up, sniping at the diving birds to defend Xia Qing’s yard. Once he’d scattered the flock, he glanced inside the Chicken House, then left.

Old Goat stayed put until Xia Qing returned to the Territory, only then did he dash out.

A wave of emotion swept through Xia Qing. She walked out into the yard, rubbed the little curls on Old Goat’s head and spoke softly, “Old Goat, you put those iron plates down to protect the flock. You’re incredible—the most reliable evolved sheep on Blue Star, standing at the top of the food chain. You’re the reason this place is so beautiful…”

Usually, Old Goat barely paid attention to the animals at home. Morning and evening chores like opening or closing the Chicken House were Xia Qing’s job.

But today, with Xia Qing gone and danger looming, Old Goat had blocked the Chicken House exits and defended the flock. It left her both surprised and touched—and just a bit guilty.

For sheep, creatures like the Giant Raptor were natural enemies.

Words of praise weren’t nearly enough to thank Old Goat.

Without even taking off her Protective Suit, Xia Qing fetched steel pipes from storage, quickly cut and welded them into a sturdy square frame. Using the fresh vines, she wove a rectangular hammock chair shaped just for sheep and hung it from the frame.

She laid a straw mat inside and carefully lifted Old Goat onto it. At first his muscles tightened, but once he realized it just rocked gently and wasn’t dangerous, he finally relaxed.

Once he’d settled in, Xia Qing let go, giving the hammock chair little pushes. “How’s that, Old Goat? Comfortable?”

“Baa~”

Noticing how much Old Goat enjoyed it, Xia Qing changed clothes and fed the chickens before getting back to welding her own steel frame, chatting as she worked. “I saw Xin Yu had a hammock chair in the glass house at Territory Eight, so I’ve wanted to make a couple. Never found the right material until now.”

“Baa.” Old Goat, stretched out and sunbathing, replied lazily from the hammock.

“This kind of vine is perfect. No matter how hard you kick or jump, it won’t break. And if it does, I’ll just make a few spares for replacements.”

“Baa…”

Xia Qing roasted the thicker vines over the fire, bending them into shape. With the thinner vines she braided the three main pieces into a teardrop-shaped hammock, hung it on her own steel frame and lined it with a cushion before settling in herself.

By then the sun had dipped behind the western hills and there was no sunlight left under the eaves, but lying in the hammock chair still felt delightfully comfortable.

“It’s a bit late today. Tomorrow I’ll add an Insect Net to the steel frame, so you and I can lounge in these hammock chairs and soak up the sun together.”

Hearing no reply, Xia Qing turned her head and saw her companion already fast asleep in his hammock chair.