Chapter 827: Settling Old Scores and New Alliances

Fire Phoenix strode into Territory Nine, flanked by two bodyguards. She glanced around, clearly impressed. “Li Si left Fire Mountain and came here a year ago. I never found time to check on things here. I had no idea there’d be such flat farmland at the foot of the mountain, with surface water to irrigate the fields. This really is a prime spot.”

So, is she saying everything Li Si did here has nothing to do with her? Then again, it’s not like Li Si has done anything over the line.

Xia Qing replied graciously, “That’s exactly why after you left, Fourth Sister, the base decided to turn this place into a planting center. This way, Captain Deng. Watch your step.”

“They’re in, guys! They’re in!” Tang Huai reported in a low voice from within Territory Two’s eastern wild grass wall.

One of Fire Phoenix’s bodyguards caught the movement behind the wild grass wall and turned, eyes locking on Tang Huai’s hiding spot.

What are you staring at? Think I’m as timid as Wen Nengjie? Tang Huai relaxed, knowing he was protected by Territory Law while on his own turf. He kept on, “All three of them are in.”

“How’s it looking, Brother Huai?” Wen Nengjie called quietly.

Even though both bodyguards wore those solid black, one-way protective masks, Tang Huai recognized them by their build. “Top ten on Hui One’s combat ranking. Guess how much those suits cost? Oh, and their protective suits are top-notch. Must be new material.”

Damn… seriously?! How much?!

Wen Nengjie didn’t dare say another word.

Ignoring Tang Huai now, the two bodyguards looked up, watching a ribbon-tailed sea eagle circle high in the southwestern sky.

“Section Four’s powerhouse Huo Zhen, Section Six’s Huo Ting. Both of them are cyborgs,” someone muttered.

Inside Territory Eight, Zhou Zhaoping briefed Xin Yu on the identities of the two bodyguards following Fire Phoenix. “This is the first time they’re showing off this gear—looks like an upgrade to me.”

Xin Yu zoomed in on the surveillance feed, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized where Huo Zhen and Huo Ting’s protective masks met their suits. “The face masks and suits are seamlessly connected. Definitely an upgrade. No doubt this is a new material.”

Zhou Zhaoping quickly searched his computer then turned the screen toward Xin Yu. “Here’s the list of new materials Fire Phoenix has purchased since last June. Black means open purchase; red is what we found from the underground market. In total, there are 54 types. Take a look, Miss.”

Xin Yu skimmed through the list. “Compile the materials and get them to Huo Lei. He’ll be able to figure out what they’re made of.”

“Will do.”

Back in Territory Nine, Fire Phoenix followed Xia Qing toward what barely passed for an ‘office.’ She didn’t bother asking why it was in such poor shape.

She already knew exactly when and why this place had gotten blown apart.

And the reason was standing right in front of her, now the manager of this entire territory!

Fire Phoenix looked away, turning to Yue Haiying, who was holding the door open for them. “I’d heard Captain Yue retired. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Hui One and Hui Three weren’t far apart, and in recent years, they’d handled quite a few disaster relief missions together. Yue Haiying’s unit and the Blazing Fire Squad had teamed up more than once. While Fire Phoenix never personally led missions, she and Yue Haiying had crossed paths a couple of times.

Yue Haiying didn’t buy that she’d just found out he was stationed here. He nodded politely. “Director, Captain Deng, please come in.”

As they entered, Fire Phoenix spotted Yan Yue sitting in a wheelchair inside and smiled at Xia Qing. “Lord Xia has a keen eye for talent and isn’t afraid to think outside the box. The Ninth Planting Center really is full of hidden gems.”

Tang Huai made a face. “Whoa, that’s three idioms in one sentence. Impressive.”

“No kidding!” Liu Jing, crouched next to Tang Huai, chimed in with admiration, but sighed. “Boss, they closed the door. We can’t hear a thing now.”

Inside, Xia Qing’s ‘office’ was just as bare as the outside—one desk, two chairs—but spotlessly clean. Once inside, Deng Yufeng took off her protective mask, revealing a face that burned a fiery red.

Seen up close, her face had a shocking impact—some couldn’t even look her in the eye. Xia Qing, though, barely reacted, since she’d spent five of the last ten years with a face just as dark and red.

Every time she caught her reflection in the cracked mirror of the dim Evolved fighter dorm bathroom, Xia Qing felt like she’d stumbled into a horror film.

She took off her own mask and opened a bag of disposable cups. “Sorry the place is so rough. We don’t have distilled water, Captain Deng. Is filtered water okay?”

“Of course. Water’s water.” Deng Yufeng peeled off her gloves, making sure to show the needle tracks on her still-red hands as she accepted a cup. She took a sip. “You’ll laugh, but back with Third Brother just now, I was so nervous I couldn’t even drink. Couldn’t manage a single swallow.”

“Well, Third Brother’s still mad at me. Didn’t even offer me a bottle of water,” Deng Yufeng said, looking at Xia Qing with honest eyes after downing half her cup.

“Miss Xia, let’s not beat around the bush. I knew Dan Ying wanted to get revenge on you and I didn’t stop her. After all, you killed the only family she had left. I couldn’t stop her from wanting revenge. It wasn’t until Third Brother called later to warn me that I learned he owed you a favor. That’s why I came here in person, to apologize to both you and Third Brother.”

“You’re too kind, Captain Deng. Dan Xiang’s death was my fault.” In Xia Qing’s official report on the Fire Phoenix Trapping Team deaths, Dan Xiang’s cause had been listed as ‘accidental.’

Xia Qing had written that Dan Xiang attacked her from behind a rock while she was already poisoned. She claimed she’d misjudged her strength in self-defense and ended up smashing Dan Xiang to death by accident.

Did anyone really believe that?

But the Fire Phoenix Trapping Team fired first and picked the fight. So whether or not Dan Xiang was killed by accident, Xia Qing was cleared of blame. No one bothered to verify her story anymore.

Fire Phoenix’s voice was as sincere as ever. “Third Brother saved my life. My people attacked you, and I let them. Which means I did it too. Of course Third Brother should be angry, and it’s only right you cut off one of my income streams because of it. Miss Xia, how about we call the past water under the bridge?”

Just like that? No compensation at all? Xia Qing nodded calmly. “Of course. Hearing you say that really lifts a weight off my shoulders. I can focus on growing grain now.”

Fire Phoenix tried to smile, but it faded as sadness crept in. She slumped back in her chair and muttered, “If only I’d had your luck, Miss Xia—if only Third Brother had looked out for me back then, I wouldn’t have ended up like this. Not quite human, not quite monster.”

A few seconds passed, but Xia Qing didn’t ask her how she’d gotten this way. Fire Phoenix got the hint. “So you already know about the underground experiments, Miss Xia?”

Xia Qing nodded. “Brother Yue mentioned it a while back. Anyone who made it out of that hell alive had more than luck—they had real strength. Captain Deng, you’re impressive.”

Most of the people turned into test subjects down there never lasted long.

Fire Phoenix’s attempt at self-pity fizzled in the face of Xia Qing’s blunt honesty, so she switched gears. “Yeah, compared to those who died down there, I guess I really was lucky.”