Chapter 854: Evening at the Territory: A Basket of Eggs and New Faces

When Xia Qing returned to the territory, the chickens in the yard had already gone back to their coop for the night. Er was squatting by the chicken house door, guarding a basket full of eggs and grinning happily at Xia Qing.

The basket, specially designed for carrying eggs, was something Xia Qing had put together earlier in the day during some free time.

The reason Er had broken over a dozen eggs this morning was because the old basket it was using just didn’t work for it.

So Xia Qing made a rectangular box-shaped basket with the inside lined with polyurethane foam egg trays—it could hold thirty eggs in total.

She took the foam from the packaging of Crippled Wolf’s big fridge. It was soft and bouncy, so Xia Qing cut off a small piece to keep in her backpack just for storing eggs and other things that needed a cushion.

If Er hadn’t been so eager to collect eggs lately, Xia Qing would never have been willing to use such a big piece just as a basket liner.

But it turned out the foam wasn’t wasted at all. Today, Er had gathered eighteen eggs, placing each one in a hole Xia Qing had made in the foam, and not a single one was cracked—that’s why Er was so pleased.

Xia Qing reached out and ruffled Er’s head, giving his companion some well-deserved praise. “Not a single egg broken—Er, you’re amazing! You’re right up there with the Queen and Crippled Wolf, standing at the top of the Blue Star evolved wolf pyramid. You’re the best of the best.”

She wasn’t just saying that to make Er happy—Er really was impressive. After Xia Qing finished making the basket, she only needed to show Er three times before it could collect eggs on its own.

Er, already in high spirits, looked even happier as it sensed Xia Qing’s cheerful mood.

After praising Er, Xia Qing raised the basket to show Old Goat, who was sprawled on the hammock chair beneath the eaves, sporting a look that practically begged for a smack.

“Old Goat, I cut some fresh Green Lantern grass for you outside. How about mixing it with Territory Two ration bars for dinner tonight?”

“Baa~” Old Goat opened its eyes, looking pleased with the idea.

Xia Qing asked, “So, Old Goat, why didn’t you go looking for Flathead for a fight this evening? Did you go up to the high slope and not see him?”

She’d searched Section Three but hadn’t spotted Flathead anywhere, which worried her a bit—after all, those two Eurasian lynx packs weren’t exactly pushovers.

Old Goat just narrowed its eyes, not interested in the subject at all.

The smile on Xia Qing’s face faded immediately when she saw Monkey lying in the sheep shed inside, blankly surrounded by flies.

Even Idol’s medicine hadn’t helped—Monkey was having diarrhea all over again. If this kept up, how many days did it have left? And if she really did let the monkey die, would the bear pack come after the wolves or hold her responsible?

She set down the eggs, vegetables, and her backpack before going to clean up after Monkey. That’s when Xia Qing realized Idol’s medicine actually had worked—Monkey wasn’t suffering diarrhea anymore, it had just peed itself.

After losing two huge bags of pesticide today, excessive peeing was pretty normal.

Still, pee or not, it needed a wash—especially since Monkey was lying right in it.

Xia Qing sighed as she cleaned up after the troublemaker.

When she delivered Huo Zhun to Territory Eleven today, she’d tried to take advantage of his good mood to convince him to look after Monkey.

Idol refused to let Monkey receive inpatient treatment. That meant only two people in the territory knew where the monkey originally came from: Xin Yu and Huo Zhun.

Xin Yu’s territory was home to eagles and ground-hunting hawks—not exactly the right environment for raising a monkey.

In the end, Huo Zhun said everything he tried to raise ended up dead, so Xia Qing had no choice but to bring Monkey back with her.

“Xia Qing, you there?” Tang Huai’s voice chimed in through the Lords’ channel.

Xia Qing, who’d just hung Monkey on the clothesline to dry, peeled off her gloves and pressed the button on the walkie-talkie. “Here.”

“You haven’t heard, have you?! Uncle Huo’s son has finished his military service and joined Territory Eleven. He’s a seventh-rank strength evolver—stronger than you!” Tang Huai was beside himself introducing Huo Zhun, thrilled that the northern alliance had just gained a real powerhouse.

Although Huo Zhun had spent a year and a half in Territory Seven, his main role there was handling surveillance and acting as Zhang San’s close bodyguard—so hardly any of the lords, except Xia Qing, had ever seen him.

Everyone just knew that Huo Lei had a son working at Hui One Base, who would join the territory after demobilizing.

As soon as Tang Huai finished, Huo Lei jumped on comms. “Qing, my son Huo Zhun showed up this afternoon. He’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he’s plenty strong. If you ever need anything from him, just say the word.”

Huo Zhun immediately joined in too. “Sister Qing, it’s me, Huo Zhun. From now on, I’m with your team.”

Used to chattering with wolves and sheep, Xia Qing was still out of her element with small talk. She just pressed the walkie-talkie and replied awkwardly, “Uncle Huo, you’re too kind. Huo, welcome.”

Everyone else quickly gave Huo Zhun a warm welcome. Lord Wen Nengjie of Territory Seventeen chimed in, curious, “Huo, did you enter our territory from the south gate?”

The northern gate belonged solely to Xin Yu; the west gate was always closed; only the south and east gates stayed open. Wen Nengjie’s territory bordered the east gate—so if Huo Zhun entered that way, he should’ve heard him.

Huo Zhun pressed the walkie-talkie, answering honestly, “I came back on this afternoon’s helicopter.”

Zhao Ze was also curious. “Was it the chopper flying in from the south, or the one from the north?”

Huo Zhun answered cheerily, “The one from the south. But you guys, I can’t reveal any more details—it’d be against regulations. Before I arrived these last few months, thank you all for looking after my dad. I’ll be hosting a dinner in the territory noon after next; please come and join the feast.”

“You’re far too polite, Huo. These past few months, we’ve all been the ones benefiting from your dad. He’s fixed every broken shovel and iron fork in the territory,” Qi Fu joined in on comms.

Someone from Territory Ten joined as well. “Huo, this is Shi Du from Territory Ten. Are you planning to go hunting tomorrow?”

Huo Zhun replied, “Yeah, planning to try my luck. Brother Shi, do you know where there’s a good spot for game nearby?”

If you’re going to treat everyone, you need to have some decent meat on the table.

Tang Huai immediately jumped in. “I know! Huo, Xia Qing, how about we team up and go hunting tomorrow?”

Shi Du followed right up. “Count me in. Huo, I’m a fifth-rank strength evolver. I’ll join you too.”

Zhang Hongda from Territory Fifteen also joined in. “I’m Zhang Hongda, a fifth-rank speed evolver from Territory Fifteen. Count me in, Huo— I know where to find wild boars and herds of deer.”

Tang Huai quickly added, “I’m a fifth-rank auditory evolver. Xia Qing, are you in?”

Xia Qing replied, “I’m busy tomorrow, you guys go ahead. Huo, let’s team up next time when there’s a chance.”

When Xia Qing declined, both Yuan Yan and Zhu Li—who had been about to join—stopped short. But Tan Qi didn’t hesitate. She pressed the button; her voice was a little raspy. “Huo, this is Tan Qi from Territory Fifteen, a four-and-a-half rank speed evolver. Can I join your team for the hunt?”

Huo Zhun agreed without a second thought. “Sure. Let’s meet at the east gate at 8:30 tomorrow morning.”

Seeing his son so well received, Huo Lei couldn’t help but give a little advice. “Zhang Hongda’s ex-military, same as you. Shi Du often teams up with Xia Qing, so he has plenty of experience. Tang Huai from Territory Two is a fifth-rank evolver, but he’s got zero real combat time—honestly, he’s not as tough as ten-year-old Tan Qi. The hunt isn’t the main point—what matters is bonding with everyone and keeping an eye on Tang Huai. Don’t let him get hurt.”

“Got it.” Huo Zhun was no stranger to the lords’ channel; he was familiar with these folks. Still, when his dad talked, he listened.

No choice but to behave, unless he wanted a beating.

Once he finished, Huo Lei started to mutter. “Why didn’t Xia Qing join your team? She was looking pretty grim when she dropped you off. Don’t tell me you said something that upset her, you brat!”

Huo Zhun answered honestly, “Sister Qing wanted me to help care for a sick monkey, but I was afraid I’d end up killing it, so I didn’t dare accept.”

And it wasn’t just any monkey—it was the bear pack’s monkey, the sort that really suited Sister Qing’s style. There was no way he dared take that on.

“You idiot!” Huo Lei smacked his foolish son. “First thing tomorrow, go bring the monkey home for me—I’ll raise it!”