Chapter 81: Danger in the North: Seeds of Suspicion

Tan Junjie rattled off the numbers. “I can’t speak for everywhere else, but just in the northern Territory of the Safe Zone, we’ve lost ninety-four people.”

In a population of two million, that figure would barely register. But here in the Territory, where people are scarce to begin with, it’s downright shocking.

At this rate, casualties across all Territories could easily top three hundred.

Weren’t the seeds from the Planting Center supposed to be thoroughly screened? How did so many aggressive Xiang-Evolved plants slip through and injure hundreds?

Standing behind a tall wall of dense grass, Xia Qing weeded out the Xiang Grass while listening closely. Sure enough, she heard Su Ming grumbling, “With casualties like this, the Tang Family has to take most of the blame.”

Tang Zheng, daughter of Deputy Director Tang Zhengrong of Hui San Base, worked on the management team at the Safe Zone Planting Center. Was she the one who released those Evolved Potato Seeds?

The Tang Family has always been a blight on Hui San Base. Honestly, the sooner they’re dealt with, the better.

That afternoon, Xia Qing accepted Luo Pei’s invitation. She brought along three Greenlight cucumbers to visit.

Luo Pei had been recovering in Territory Three for over two months now and had only messaged Xia Qing twice before, both times about contract reviews and signatures. So when he just now reached out, asking her to come by, Xia Qing agreed without hesitation.

During this last Xiang Rain, Xia Qing had shot down over a dozen Evolved Rats and destroyed a hostile Xiang-Evolved potato plant. Experiencing firsthand how useful a gun could be, she felt even more determined to improve her marksmanship.

If she could master even a tenth of Luo Pei’s skills, she wouldn’t end up with wounds all over every time.

Arriving in the basement, Xia Qing was surprised to find the living room nearly empty. Only two folding chairs and a small table remained.

Luo Pei, cheeks still a bit flushed, checked on her injuries first. “Take these meds back with you.”

“Thanks, Luo Ge.” After Xia Qing accepted the medicine, Luo Pei asked about how she got hurt. Then he reminded her seriously, “Shooting is just one side of it. You also need to work on your reaction speed and learn how to dodge attacks.”

Once he finished explaining ways to train her reflexes, Luo Pei urged her earnestly, “Ever since people started evolving, reaction speeds have doubled on average. In the military, even regular soldiers can reach triple the standard of Evolvers after proper training. If they can do it, you, being a high-level Evolver, definitely should too.”

Xia Qing straightened her back and lifted her chin. “Don’t worry, Luo Ge. I’ll get my speed up to the triple-Evolver standard.”

“At least quadruple.”

Xia Qing raised her head even higher, her voice loud and clear. “Four times it is!”

The more Luo Pei watched this student, the more satisfied he felt. His tone softened. “Make sure you rest up first. Heal up before you start training again. Next month, around the middle, I’ll take you up to Mountain 49 for some real-world drills.”

Xia Qing tried to persuade him. “Let’s wait until you’ve detoxed before heading up the mountain, Luo Ge. Also, why’s this place so empty now?”

Luo Pei explained why he couldn’t keep hiding out here. “A huge wave of Evolved Rats was released from Plot Two the afternoon before last, heading for Plot One. They were probably looking for me. To cover it up, they also sent a few rats into three of the neighboring Territories. Hu Zifeng’s team helped you clear the rats in your area so quickly that it tipped them off to this spot. Later, they dumped even more Evolved Rats onto Territory Three. So I can’t stay here—I’ll be moving back to Plot One soon.”

With a spring on her Territory Three, Xia Qing knew trouble would follow if the Tang Family started watching her.

She hadn’t realized the Evolved Rats were a deliberate move from Territory Two. Balling her fists, she asked, “Luo Ge, did Tang Huai send those rats?”

“No.” Luo Pei shared what he’d learned. “Xu Pin brought the rats over ahead of Xiang Rain. Tang Huai probably didn’t know beforehand, and he took a big hit from the rat attack too.”

Xia Qing frowned. “Luo Ge, we really need to find a way to deal with Plot Two before it gets even worse.”

Luo Pei nodded. “Just focus on healing. We’re working on it.”

Tang Sufeng was Xia Qing’s enemy, so breaking down the Tang Family or Sufeng Squad was something she thought about all the time.

Right now, she actually had an idea. “Luo Ge, I think I have a plan. Not sure if it’ll work…”

After finishing up with Tang Family talk, Xia Qing changed the subject. “For your treatment water, are you going to have it delivered through the underground tunnel, Luo Ge?”

Luo Pei explained the plan. “I’m using a quarter of my original water now, only need to fetch it once every three days. Once I move back to Plot One, on the surface it’ll look like a helicopter is delivering water. But in reality, Wei Chengdong will circle around Mountain 49 and collect it from your Territory. Will that work for you?”

Xia Qing didn’t quite get it. “Wouldn’t using this tunnel be easier?”

Luo Pei clarified. “Not with Evolved Rats around. We can’t keep this tunnel anymore. In fact, we have to fill in this whole basement.”

Xia Qing caught on. “Luo Ge, are you worried they have Brain-Evolved rats?”

Luo Pei nodded. “Even if not, they’ve got some way to control rats. Next time you see one, shoot it on sight. Be careful. If things get out of hand, call Hu Zifeng.”

“Will do.” Xia Qing took note, then explained why she’d really come by. “Luo Ge, do you have a device for testing Yi element content? I’d like to trade for one. You can have spring water or Greenlight vegetables in exchange.”

It’s true she owed the Azure Dragon Unit 800,000 points, but she could pay that back with a month’s worth of spring water. Since they weren’t pressing her, Xia Qing kept up normal business with them.

Luo Pei didn’t bother asking why she wanted a Yi Element Tester—he just agreed right away. “There’s one in the second-basement lab that hasn’t been moved. I’ll teach you how to use it, then have Chengdong bring it over for you after dark.”

As the name suggests, the Yi Element Tester measures the amount of Yi element inside a living being.

Xiang element is harmful to humans, Yi element is beneficial. Published test results say edible organisms have anywhere from 0.000X% to 0.004% Yi element—so not much variation in food sources.

Since it’s easier to test for Xiang than Yi, Xiang Testers are much cheaper. That’s why Xia Qing only owned a Xiang Tester, and had never even seen a Yi Element Tester before.

But if Luo Pei had to say “move” instead of just “bring,” and insisted on teaching her how to use it, Xia Qing knew we were talking about a big, complicated machine.

Sure enough, when she reached the second basement lab and saw a device the size of her old school’s popsicle freezer, Xia Qing gave up the idea of swapping for it.

A machine that big probably cost more than a mountain. Besides, if she took something that advanced, the Azure Dragon Unit would have a really tough time getting a replacement.

“Luo Ge, I thought the Yi Element Tester would be about the size of a Xiang Tester, not something this massive. Never mind, then—could I just run a few samples through it? I’ll pay for the test reagents I use.”

Luo Pei couldn’t help but laugh at how formal she was being. “Cut the crap. Just show me what you want tested.”

Xia Qing pulled a bunch of Chinese toon shoots, a few sprigs of Evolved Perilla, and a piece of spinach root from her basket. “These three, that’s it.”

As Luo Pei ran the tests on the three samples, he also explained how to operate the Yi Element Tester and pointed out things to watch for.

Forty-five minutes later, the test results for all three popped up on the screen. Both Xia Qing and Luo Pei stared in shock.