Chapter 852: Pledges and Farewells Under the Shadow of Calamity

Xia Qing planted 50 of the 100 Green Lantern yellow-flesh sweet potato plants she got through trade in the Breeding Greenhouse, while the other 50 went onto the sweet potato terraces to be used for selective breeding.

Then, she snipped off 1,360 cuttings from the 110 sweet potato plants sown in the terraces during spring, planning to propagate even more sweet potatoes.

Xia Qing didn’t plant all the cuttings in the greenhouse. She had to save room for the breadworms and for the Green Lantern chickens that would be moved in come October. So the remaining 660 cuttings went into the Section Eleven greenhouse that had just finished harvesting overwintered rapeseed.

As long as there were no major natural disasters in the next few months, the October harvest would be plenty for Xia Qing and Er to get by.

Old Goat, being a grazing animal, loved sweet potato vines even more than the sweet potatoes themselves. Xia Qing would sometimes pick the leaves for cooking, but all the leftover vines and leaves became Old Goat’s ration.

Once the planting was done, Old Goat stepped on Xia Qing’s new water pump, just exchanged from Jiang Ying, and watered the cuttings to help them take root. Xia Qing then left her two companions to guard the house, bundled up the freshly cleaned Monkey right after his IV, and stuffed him into the car—off to Territory Seven, ready to take the heat.

Idol was always busy and Xia Qing hated to bother him over just a monkey. But if he truly didn’t want to be disturbed, he could’ve easily passed Monkey’s treatment to Zhang Song directly. Clearly, he wanted her to come.

The reason was simple—he wanted a chance to chat with someone familiar, someone who could ease his overworked mind.

“Self-hypnosis,” Xia Qing thought, carrying Monkey—now locked in a cage by Ji Li—and following him into Territory Seven.

Zhang San first checked on Xia Qing’s hearing recovery before instructing, “Go visit Yan Long. She’s leaving at noon today.”

The farewell came much faster than she’d expected. Xia Qing trailed Ji Li in silence to Territory Seven’s detainment room, where she found Yan Long sitting calmly as always, only this time she remained in her chair.

Clearly, her movements had been restricted. Xia Qing forced down the anger bubbling inside her and walked in with an unreadable expression.

Yan Long lifted her chin, motioning for Xia Qing to sit across the table, then glanced up at Ji Li.

Ji Li slipped quietly out and shut the door behind her.

The weak light streaming from the tiny window wasn’t enough to brighten the whole room. Had Yan Long and Huo Zhun really been locked in such darkness since flying back by helicopter yesterday?

Xia Qing felt a pang of guilt. “Sister Yan, I…”

“My being locked up here has nothing at all to do with you,” Yan Long’s gaze was as sharp and her tone as steady as ever. “Don’t give Tan Qi any special treatment on my account. She needs to earn her own place here. I called you for one reason only.”

Xia Qing nodded. “Whatever it is, I’ll handle it.”

Yan Long’s expression grew solemn. “Fu Tianfeng and his researchers are even more vital to Huaguo’s disaster response than you realize. Please protect and treat them well, as best you can.”

Though Yan Long had said, “Fu Tianfeng and his researchers,” Xia Qing knew she meant Zhang Shi and her daughter who stayed in the Bear Cave.

Protecting meant safeguarding Zhang San; being kind was for Zhang Shi and her daughter.

Xia Qing promised sincerely, “Don’t worry, Sister Yan. Third Brother’s medicine is essential for my survival. I’ll do all I can to protect and look after them.”

“I’ll remember what you said. If you fall short, believe me, I’ll come back to find you.” Yan Long lifted her chin, signaling Xia Qing it was time to go.

Standing up, Xia Qing looked at this fierce woman now trapped alone in the darkness and offered, genuinely, “Sister Yan, whenever you want the quiet life—farming and peace—come back. We’ll plant together, hunt together.”

Yan Long, always so stern, actually smiled. “Farming’s too dull for me. Not my thing. If the day comes I’m hauled back on my last breath, and I’m still in one piece, do me a favor and gather some medicinal herbs. But if I’m missing limbs, tell Third Brother and Tan Qi not to waste their effort or medicine on me. I have no interest in being a burden.”

“Alright, I’ll remember.”

Xia Qing left the detainment room with a calm look on her face.

In these years of disaster, everyone chose their own path. Xia Qing loved growing crops and stockpiling food, Yan Long thrived on battle, Xu Juan longed for comfort. As long as no one harmed anyone else, how they chose to live was entirely their business.

“Sister Qing!”

The moment Ji Li locked the door, Xia Qing saw Huo Zhun waving excitedly at her, army bedding in hand. “Sister Qing, what brings you here?”

“I drove over.”

“Mind giving me a lift later? I’ve been discharged and have only half an hour to leave Territory Seven, but I’ve got too much gear to carry alone.”

Xia Qing…

Just say you want a ride! You’re a seventh-rank strength evolver—if anyone shouldn’t have trouble with luggage, it’s you.

“Huo Zhun was one of Yan Long’s soldiers, only following orders. So Hui One didn’t punish him harshly, just wanted him reassigned. But Huo Zhun insisted on the tough route and applied for discharge.” Zhang San handed Monkey and four new types of medicine to Xia Qing. “The sedatives upset Monkey’s digestion. Follow the instructions with the meds—after this course, he’ll be fine. What did Yan Long say to you?”

Xia Qing repeated Yan Long’s final words. Zhang San snorted, “I’m far too busy for her right now, treatment will have to wait.”

Xia Qing just grinned, pivoting to the helicopter story to please her Idol. Then she added, “The Chuan Yun Model Three isn’t half bad either. If you ever need to go anywhere, or want someone sent, we can use our own helicopter now.”

Sure enough, Zhang San’s mood improved. “When he’s got time, get Huo Zhun to teach you how to fly. You’ll definitely use that skill in the future.”

“No problem, Third Brother. I’ll learn fast.” In times like these, having a license hardly mattered—no one was out there checking your papers when driving or piloting.

Anyone stopping you now was after your supplies—they wanted to rob you.

Xia Qing got back to business. “Third Brother, I’m heading to Hill Fifty-Five this afternoon to fill in the python pond. Where are the two Devastation Snakes with tracking rings? Hope they didn’t get crushed by any rocks.”

Back in March, a batch of Devastation Snakes showed up all across the northern evolved forest. Zhang San told Zhang Song to tag the two found in Section Three of Hill Forty-Nine with tracking rings.

After a video conference with snake experts from around the country, Zhang San decided to track and study these snakes in the wild for a whole year. It was only yesterday, when Xia Jingwei spotted one twined around a giant python, that they remembered.

Once he heard why Xia Qing needed the pond filled, Zhang San was unimpressed. “Fill it however you like. If a snake gets killed by rocks, it’s not worth researching.”

“All right.” Xia Qing agreed, then moved on to a topic that would interest her Idol. “Third Brother, how about those herbs I brought back yesterday—were they effective?”

Just mentioning it made Zhang San’s mood even better. “Very effective. Soil analysis says they came from the territory near Hill Sixty-Nine. I’ve already sent them to Red Eleven Base. With those three herbs, I traded for a new batch of guards. The ones replacing Yan Long are a Special Forces team from Red Eleven. Their captain’s name is Zheng Chen. Last winter he did a stint in our Safe Zone—Qi Zhongye had nothing but good things to say about him.”

Xia Qing chuckled. “Zheng Chen. Special Third Company Captain at Red Eleven Base. He’s seventh-rank speed and fifth-rank vision evolver. Not just strong, but easy on the eyes too—second only to Yang Jin in popularity around here.”

Zhang San frowned. “Go about your business. I’ll call Red Eleven to send someone uglier—and far less popular—instead.”

Xia Qing…

Idol, is it too late to take back what I just said?