Chapter 794: Seeds of Revenge

After several failed assassination attempts on her enemies, Deng Yufeng switched tactics and began researching synthetic poisons.

They dove into the study of chemical, biological and genetic weapons, determined to wipe out their enemies. Zhang San pointed out the massive soybean test report on the table. “This batch of soybeans is a genetic weapon. Eating these soybeans can cause genetic mutations in the target and their descendants, stripping them of any potential evolution abilities and leaving them weak, sickly, or even mentally disabled. What do you think of this method for revenge?”

Xia Qing answered seriously, “It’s satisfying, but these soybeans and the diseased genes might spread to innocent people. If it spreads across a few generations it could destroy the entire Base. Third Brother, since the mutated soybeans can be detected by Magnetic Sense, doesn’t that mean their weapon failed?”

“Right, it’s a failure,” Zhang San replied, barely containing his anger. “There are genomics and bioinformatics experts on Fire Mountain. Their real research aim was to alter the soybeans’ traits without raising the Devastation Element content, disguising them among edible beans. In that respect, they succeeded. After all, Magnetic Sense evolution is very rare.”

Everyone owns a Devastation Element Detector, but the more advanced analyzers are only found in labs or big organizations. If someone without Magnetic Sense grew these beans, they’d treat this dangerous, weaponized soybean as regular Yellow Lantern soybeans for eating and trade.

The consequences would be unthinkable.

Xia Qing pressed her lips together. “Can we use these soybeans as evidence to wipe out Fire Phoenix’s lab?”

Zhang San grew even more annoyed. “Who could prove it was intentional? On the surface, Fire Phoenix’s lab is in pharmaceuticals and crop breeding. They’ve launched a lot of useful medicines and cultivated over twenty top-quality seeds.”

“I’ve contacted Li Si. She said this soybean variety was only developed by Fire Phoenix in the second half of last year. When we exchanged goods last year, this was their first harvest—the second hadn’t even begun experimental promotion, let alone entered the market. If they continue to deny it, saying it’s just a breeding failure, what can you do? Genetics isn’t right or wrong itself; use it right, and you can save lives. Use it wrong, and it becomes a weapon of mass destruction.”

Seeing her idol in such a bad mood, Xia Qing nudged the strawberries closer to him. “Even if we can’t destroy them, we can still wait for the right time and place to make these soybeans public. That should get the authorities to put them under tighter scrutiny. At the very least, it’ll make them more cautious.”

After offering some comfort, Xia Qing started analyzing why this batch of soybeans was handed over to them. “Third Brother, are you one of Fire Phoenix’s revenge targets?”

Last October, Xia Qing traded Green Lantern eggs for Green Lantern soybeans with her—it was a totally normal deal. In November, Dan Ying entered Territory Nine. When her reconnaissance water rats were caught in Section Three, she settled the issue by trading five pounds of Green Lantern soybeans.

At that time, Dan Ying hadn’t come to Section Three to ‘buy wolves.’ Xia Qing hadn’t destroyed Fire Phoenix’s Trapping Team, and Li Si hadn’t been captured either. Even if Dan Ying was out of her mind then, there’s no way she’d use a newly developed gene weapon on Xia Qing and her idol just because of two reconnaissance rats.

Unless… her idol was already on Fire Phoenix’s revenge list.

“I was one of the first to expose their underground lab, which is why Deng Yufeng calls me her savior and kept inviting me to join the lab on Fire Mountain. I turned her down every time. We ended things badly, but back then, I definitely wasn’t her assassination target. Now though…”

Slumped in his chair, Zhang San sounded exhausted. “Because of Territory Nine, X-2, and you, Deng Yufeng now sees me as an enemy. To her, anyone blocking her revenge is a target.”

Xia Qing pulled back her hand from the strawberries, looking small and pitiful. “Third Brother, does that make me a target too?”

Zhang San shot her a glare and snatched away the bag, leaving only three strawberries.

Xia Qing quickly fished out a handful of roasted jerky from her pocket and set it on the sparkling white table. “This is Green Lantern chicken jerky from Tang Heng’s family restaurant. Try it.”

Xia Qing knew her idol’s temperament too well. You had to say the jerky came from Tang Heng, not Tang Huai’s family. Otherwise, Third Brother would remember the spoiled meat and lose both his appetite and his mood.

With the jerky on the table, Zhang San visibly relaxed. “You weren’t important enough at first. I’m the one who dragged you into this mess.”

Xia Qing stared speechlessly…

…

…

Where’s the rope? She needed to climb out of this shame pit!

“In the last Devastation Rain, Dan Ying went all out, pulling on Fire Phoenix’s network and resources to set up a trap—she was determined to kill you for Dan Xiang’s revenge.” Zhang San finished off the last two strawberries, his tone softening.

“Dan Ying wouldn’t dare go that far unless Deng Yufeng noticed you too and gave her tacit approval. That’s why I called Fire Phoenix and warned her: touch you, and I’ll make sure none of their future medicines ever turn a profit.”

Xia Qing instantly let go of the imaginary rope, eyes brimming with tears as she snatched up a shovel and dug herself a deeper shame pit. “Third Brother!”

Zhang San immediately snapped, “Stay away from me! If you’d given Dan Xiang half a chance back then, Dan Ying wouldn’t be after you now!”

Xia Qing obediently hung her head. “You’re right. I acted recklessly that time.”

Xia Qing had never told anyone that Dan Xiang was killed by Crippled Wolf, so her idol didn’t know.

Zhang San grabbed a piece of jerky, changing the subject. “Over the years of these disasters, Huaguo lost over a billion people, but plenty of scum survived. People like those—skinning them alive wouldn’t be enough.”

Xia Qing nodded hard. “Exactly!”

When it came to human trash like that, Xia Qing could rattle off a dozen names without thinking.

“Fire Phoenix’s been secretly doing human experimentation. Deng Yufeng insists all those she caught deserved death.” Zhang San tore open the jerky and sniffed it, then set it back down.

Clearly, the scent of this jerky did nothing for his appetite.

Lost in thoughts of punishing scum, Xia Qing looked up. “Claims, huh? Weren’t all those they caught actually scum?”

Zhang San’s eyes turned cold. “If you base guilt on someone’s personal standards or a group’s morals instead of the law and actual evidence, anyone can be painted as scum. Right now, in their eyes, you’re just as guilty.”

Once a person or a small group stands above the law, it’s a disaster worse than any natural calamity. Xia Qing probed, “Third Brother, what’s the relationship between Fire Phoenix and Dan Ying?”

“The one in power—and her blade.”

Idol’s meaning was crystal clear, so Xia Qing didn’t pry. She circled back. “Last winter, when we got these soybeans, you and Territory Nine hadn’t fallen out yet. X-2 hadn’t leaked, and I hadn’t even crossed Dan Ying. So you weren’t an enemy to Fire Phoenix then. Their goal in trading these poisonous Green Lantern soybean seeds to you wasn’t to poison anyone.”

“Seeds this important wouldn’t be misplaced or handed out by mistake.” Xia Qing explained her theory. “I think someone inside Fire Phoenix who had access to them wanted you to discover their genetic weapons project. Given that, any guesses who in Fire Phoenix might have done it?”

“Oh, I have guesses.” Zhang San seethed. “One, two—hell, three morons at least. All tricked onto that sinking ship, now hoping I’ll pull them out when reality hits. Why should I? I’m sick of it! They can rot for all I care!”

No need to ask—Li Si was definitely one of those ‘morons.’

“Exactly! Why should you care after all that?” Xia Qing played along, knowing her idol understood everything and just needed to vent.

As she ranted, she kept pulling out individually wrapped snacks.

Pork jerky and egg snacks from Er Yong, her own homemade bamboo shoots…

Only food could quell her idol’s rage now. He didn’t like the Tang Family’s jerky, but with so many Green Lantern snacks, surely one of them would do.