Chapter 840: Stand-Off Between Wolves and Bears

The Bear Pack and Wolf Pack might be evenly matched, but when it came to Xia Qing versus Monkey, Xia Qing won by a landslide.

So, in the showdown between the two sides, the Wolf Pack claimed victory. The wolves threw their heads back and howled, spirits soaring and fighting will blazing. If Alpha gave the signal now, the wolves would charge in without hesitation and tear the bears to shreds.

The Bear Pack, realizing they had lost the upper hand, gathered their weakest in the center while roaring wildly at the wolves. Especially the huge bear that had roared with Xia Qing, now poised to pounce, just waiting for the command from its leader to rush over and smash Xia Qing.

Both sides were waiting—waiting for their leaders to give the order to attack.

At that moment, Alpha suddenly leapt down from the boulder, coming to stand between the Wolf Pack and Bear Pack. The Speed-Evolved Huge Bear stepped forward as well, and a fierce staring contest began between it and Alpha.

The wolves fell silent. The bears grew quiet too.

Xia Qing, her throat raw from all the howling, took the chance to grab her kettle and gulp down several big swigs of water. She clicked her protective mask into place and slipped behind Broken Back and the Handsome Huge Wolf to watch.

She could hold her own in a shouting match, but she knew she’d never hold up in a real fight. Her speed couldn’t even outrun a single slap from that monkey-carrying giant on the other side.

Of course, not fighting would be best. If they came to blows, there’d be casualties for sure. No matter who won, either side losing strength would mean trouble for the combined power of Hui Three’s Northern Evolved Forest.

If the two packs got weaker, even bigger beasts from deeper in the forest would charge out to steal this vast and rich territory.

Up on a nearby mountain slope, the Balding Weasel nervously poked its head out to look below.

A few leopards stood on distant, towering trees, watching the wolf-bear showdown with grim focus.

Little White Weasel, medicinal herbs gripped between its teeth, darted like lightning through the depths of the forest, dodging pursuit from the Monkey Troop.

Along the shore of Crocodile Lake by Hill Fifty-Two, some little birds pecked at scraps of meat inside the giant crocodile’s gaping jaws.

In Python Pond on Hill Fifty-Five, a massive black python raised its head over four meters above the surface, flicking its forked tongue as it checked out the latest developments.

Several carrion birds circled above, waiting for their feast.

“Why did the howling suddenly stop? Is the fight over?”

Two kilometers outside the main warzone, Jing Kuan’s squad radioed Xin Yu for an update.

Meanwhile, Tang Huai sent the same question to Xia Qing over the Lords’ channel: “Xia Qing, can you hear who won?”

Chang Li pressed the walkie-talkie and mimicked Xia Qing’s tone as she replied, “No idea.”

Squatting in a dirt pit, Tang Huai tickled his ear and muttered, “Xia Qing’s acting weird today. Did she get in a fight with Hu Fengzi and cry about it?”

From the helicopter, Xin Yu watched the wolves and bears below frozen mid-action, and lowered her voice to report, “Stage one – the roaring contest – is over. They’re moving into phase two. The real fight hasn’t started yet, so don’t do anything to draw attention.”

“Copy that,” Jing Kuan answered.

Animal researcher Zhang Song analyzed the current standoff: “The bears and wolves don’t really want to fight. They’re trying to find a way to sort out today without violence.”

“Not true,” Yan Long disagreed. “That wolf and that bear are fighting for dominance. Real winners and losers are decided before the first blow is struck.”

Xin Yu frowned, pained by Yan Long’s intense and active energy.

“Bzz—Bzz—”

Hearing cicadas and crickets, Xia Qing realized it wasn’t insects—her damaged hearing was protesting.

All the insects had already fled the face-off between the wolves and bears long ago.

Xia Qing couldn’t see Alpha’s expression or eyes, but she could see the massive bear on the other side. Even without sensing its aura, Xia Qing could tell just by its face that this bear was seething with rage.

And of course, the reason for its anger was the weak brown bear the others were protecting in the middle. Because they were different species, Xia Qing couldn’t clearly explain what caused all this, so she could only hope Alpha—enemy of the Bear Pack—could work it out.

One minute. Two minutes… five minutes… ten minutes.

The first to move was the giant bear leader. It broke off its stare-down with Alpha and turned abruptly toward Xia Qing.

The moment its gaze landed on her, adrenaline shot through Xia Qing. She wanted to jump on Handsome Huge Wolf’s back and bolt.

But reason kept her grounded. Xia Qing took off her facemask and met the Bear Pack’s top fighter with a steady, unflinching stare, wondering what it wanted to do.

One minute. Two minutes… five minutes. Xia Qing stood firm, not budging even as the phantom cicada screams in her ears multiplied several times over.

At the eight-minute mark, the giant bear backed down!

The Wolf Pack picked up on it right away, itching for action. Xia Qing’s blood was pumping with excitement.

The huge bear turned and headed north. As it passed the human corpse sprawled on the ground—clearly killed by wolves—it swiped at it with one paw.

The rest of the bears followed. The weakest little cub at the back stopped to grab the limp Monkey from the grass, shook it out, then doubled back and dropped it right at Alpha’s feet. Then, those wise eyes turned to Xia Qing, who was standing next to Handsome Huge Wolf.

Xia Qing suddenly got a very bad feeling.

Sure enough, after the Bear Pack retreated and the Wolf Pack’s victory howls started up, Alpha grabbed Monkey and jumped back onto the boulder, setting it down right in front of Xia Qing.

Handsome Huge Wolf, now keeping his distance from Xia Qing, just kept tilting his head back and howling in joy. Broken Back, meanwhile, turned and gave her a toothy grin—he was so happy, even the tiny sharp points of his upper fangs were showing.

When Xia Qing pointed her knife at Monkey, Alpha bared his own fangs at her, his expression stern. The message was clear: She wasn’t allowed to kill this monkey.

Xia Qing pressed her lips together, pulled on her black facemask, snapped her protective mask into place, and picked Monkey up by the scruff.

“Awooo——wooooo———!”

Only then did Alpha raise his head and let out a long victorious howl.

With the Bear Pack retreating and the fight over, it was time to clean up. Xia Qing slung Monkey over her shoulder, jumped off the boulder, and went to check on the poacher who’d been smashed by the bear.

His protective suit was decent—none of his broken bones had punched through. If she washed it, it could be used again. The bigger problem was the man-portable rocket launcher stuck in the mud from when the giant bear stomped it. Xia Qing winced in pain just looking at it.

Whether it still worked or not, she had to dig it out first.

Using her Black Blade, Xia Qing dug the rocket launcher free and hit the walkie-talkie. “Xin Yu, after the Wolf Pack leaves, tell Jing Kuan’s team to come clean up the battlefield, and tell Huo Zhun to land and load up the supplies. Ask Qinglong’s reinforcements if anyone can fly a helicopter and have them send someone over to take this one back. You come down too—let Sister Yan, Huo, and Brother Song ride the Territory Seven helicopter home.”

“Copy that,” Xin Yu replied.

“We’ve got someone who can fly a helicopter,” Jing Kuan chimed in.

As soon as the aftermath was sorted, Alpha came to Xia Qing’s side, rubbed against her, and motioned for her to go with the Wolf Pack. Er agreed as well.

Xia Qing put Monkey down and gestured as she tried to explain to Alpha, “Queen, I’ve got a companion in the helicopter up there. I need to get her back to the territory before I can leave with you.”

Alpha had no issue with that. He led the Wolf Pack away, while Xia Qing sent Er back to Section Three. Both helicopters landed, and Jing Kuan’s squad arrived.

Expression blank, Xia Qing lugged Monkey to the Territory Seven helicopter and held it out to Zhang Song.

Before she could speak, Zhang Song thrust his phone in her face: Third Brother had forbidden her from bringing Monkey back to Territory Seven for treatment.

Xia Qing was speechless…

Don’t tell me this dopey thing has to be kept in my own territory?!