Chapter 805: A Subtle Alliance and the Weight of Responsibility

Huh? Xia Qing looked confused.

“The research findings released by Gui City Base were made by observing the wolf pack at a distance with surveillance cameras. But you—you can actually communicate and trade with the evolved wolves. That means your understanding of true wild evolved wolf packs is far beyond anything the researchers know. If I wrote a report using all the information you’ve gathered, publishing it would shock all of Blue Star.”

Zhang San gave the nervous-looking Xia Qing a sideways glance. “Of course, there’s no need for that.”

Phew…

Only then did Xia Qing finally let out a breath of relief. Yes, yes, there’s no need for that. Low-key, that’s what I need to be—stay low-key.

Zhang San couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Xia Qing’s expression change.

The report might not be necessary, but there were still things Zhang San needed to say. Otherwise, this timid-yet-powerful person in front of him might never realize just how important her actions really were.

Why do people call Xia Qing strong?

First, according to Zhang San’s files, while Xia Qing isn’t the only Four-type Evolved Fighter in Huaguo, she’s the only one who’s mastered all four evolution abilities at an advanced level.

Second, she’s the only human recognized by wild evolved wolves within Huaguo’s borders. She’s actually formed a mutually beneficial partnership with the wolf packs from Hui Three’s northern and western perimeters. She can call on hundreds of evolved wolves, and with them, her combat strength in the Evolved Forest is nothing short of terrifying.

What’s even rarer is that, despite all this power, Xia Qing has no real desire for authority or endless wealth. All she wants is to protect her territory and live her life freely.

That last point was what Zhang San valued most.

Partnering with Xia Qing gave Zhang San a sense of peace and hope he’d never known before. Maybe one day, he could actually choose his own research projects without restrictions, or even step outside the lab for a meal, or stroll through the Evolved Forest just for fun.

So, with sincere warmth, Zhang San gently reminded his timid yet mighty ally, “As long as you stay true to yourself, you just might find a brand-new way for people and the great evolved beasts to coexist. If that happens, there’ll be a chapter in Blue Star’s evolution history with your name on it.”

Xia Qing…

Legendary status? Was her idol flattering her the same way he humored Old Goat?

But Zhang San knew from her face exactly what Xia Qing was thinking. His patience snapped again. “Take your mouse and go. Don’t ruin my nap.”

“Of course, Third Brother, thanks for your hard work. Rest well!” Xia Qing stuffed the points card and medicine into her pocket, carefully covered the baby red squirrel with a glass dome, and tiptoed out.

Back at her territory, Xia Qing took out a small piece of Yi Stone and hung it on the sheep shed’s wall.

During the Devastation Rain, this stone had protected the little squirrel. Afterward, she’d put it away for three days, but now it was back, acting as the little one’s lucky charm.

Once the stone was set up, Xia Qing moved aside some high-stacked bundles of straw, used the clean absorbent pad Zhang Song had given her, and built a cozy little nest right by the Yi Stone. She disinfected the unconscious red squirrel and the two cubs, then tucked them gently into the new nest.

Last was the baby that just had surgery. Xia Qing opened the glass dome, finally deciding to name this little guy who had cost her forty-five thousand credits and a scolding.

She held the tiny creature in her palms, studying it for a moment before settling on, “Little Fluff—you’re in my debt. I’ll remember this tab. When you’re older, you’ll have to pay it back.”

The extra thousand credits? That was what Xia Qing paid when she snatched it from the hawk’s talons—a life-saving fee.

Like idol, like fan. Her idol charged a hundred credits for a few drops of medicine, so why not keep up the tradition? Considering Little Fluff’s young age, Xia Qing only charged one thousand credits per bullet—it was a fair price.

After muttering to herself, Xia Qing gently tucked Little Fluff into Red Squirrel mom’s arms. The little one was still nursing, and mother’s milk was its main source of immunity, so Xia Qing couldn’t keep it caged alone.

Once the red squirrel family was settled, Xia Qing hurried over with the bag of Green Lantern Crab Seedlings Tang Huai had given her, arriving just in time at Section Three Northern Gate to hand them over to Zhang Hongda, waiting outside.

The valley’s temperature and water quality were perfect for crabs, so everyone in the Alliance agreed to keep all the exchanged crabs in the valley’s new pool, with members from Section Fifteen in charge of feeding and care.

Tang Huai drove in circles, handing out crabs to the different allies, mostly as a cover. Later, Zhang Hongda and Yu Shou would sneak out to cut bamboo, deliver the crabs and supplies to the Hidden Valley, and bring back several buckets of hot spring water.

If this worked, the Alliance would have a new area in the valley to raise crabs.

According to Zhao Ze and Yue Haiying’s calculations, with the hot spring’s flow and water temperature, and if they carved out an acre of planting space along the cliffside, the valley would become even better for growing wheat, rice and other crops.

Of course, the new development wasn’t random. Zhao Ze had poured through materials, factoring in the mountain fissure’s exact location, sunlight, wind direction and speed at Third Peak’s midway point before plotting the best expansion route.

Fifty’s Third Peak was still a high-risk zone, but the experiment using red Devastation Grass to draw out toxins would wrap up by the middle of June, lowering the risk. At that point, Zhang He and her team would return to Territory Seven, and the isolation greenhouses would be dismantled.

Until new research began, there’d be no permanent staff or security on Fifty. The Lords’ Alliance planned to use that window to start expanding the valley.

According to the plan, the work would begin in late June, after the lords had harvested the spring wheat and finished sowing summer crops. Zhao Ze would be lead, with whoever was free joining in, but no fewer than five people each day.

In a couple of days, Xia Qing would go discuss things with Zhang Shi. If she found the construction noisy, she could always move out during building and return once the expansion was finished.

After picking a basket of fresh vegetables at home and mixing some feed for Old Goat, Xia Qing grabbed the hawk—still locked in its cage—and headed for Territory Eight to drop off the bird and finally eat lunch.

Zhou Zhaoping greeted Xia Qing at the iron gate with utmost respect. She drove into Territory Eight, took a glance at the Evolved Hawk hiding in the grass, then got out and greeted Zhou Zhaoping.

Zhou Zhaoping led her to Xin Yu’s place—a small white building. “Our Lord is preparing lunch. Please, come inside.”

Xia Qing lifted the cage so Xin Yu could see the bird through the window, then turned to Zhou Zhaoping. “Uncle Ping, won’t you eat with us?”

Dressed smartly in a suit, Zhou Zhaoping smiled, “Director Tang invited me to Territory Twelve for a meal.”