Chapter 940: Hidden Motives and Quiet Deals

Xia Qing stayed quiet, sitting across the table while calmly eating bamboo shoots. She figured if Xin Yu were here, she’d probably have a headache right now, since while Zhang San looked zoned out, his mind was actually racing a mile a minute, probably throwing off some serious magnetic vibes.

By the time Xia Qing finished her sixth bamboo shoot, Zhang San snapped out of it. “There are two possibilities. One – Ji Li or someone on his team, or maybe even one of their tamed beasts, is a high-level scent evolver like your red squirrel. Two – Ji Li has a device that can instantly check the quality of soybeans.”

Zhang San’s voice went cold. “Right now, the most likely culprit is a tamed beast. I’ll have someone look into this fast.”

Tamed beast? Aren’t the only tamed beasts in Territory Seven Princess Cat and her kittens…?

Ji Li might feed them a lot, but those two cats eat, sleep and play with things that Third Brother earns with his own credits, working himself to the bone just to keep them happy.

Xia Qing felt her heart clench with worry too. “He was carrying a backpack and a bag full of pesticide. If it’s a tamed beast, it must be pretty small. Third Brother, next time you’re trading goods, could you mention on the Lords’ channel that you don’t care for my soybeans? Otherwise, Ji Li or someone else might try to sneak into my territory to ruin or steal them.”

Zhang San shot Xia Qing a look. “At lunch I only ate one edamame.”

Wow. Just as expected of Blue Star’s most legendary idol.

“You’re incredible as always, Third Brother. From Ji Li’s actions today, I’d say Fire Phoenix already knows about the bio-weapon soybean leak. They’re trying to cover it up, not go scorched earth. Doesn’t that mean they haven’t found out the whole story yet, and Wang Wu is still safe, at least for now?”

The moment Wang Wu’s name came up, Zhang San looked thoroughly annoyed. “If he’s exposed, he’s exposed. If he dies, he dies. Bunch of brainless fools! I’m so busy I can’t even sleep, I don’t have time to care whether they’re dead or alive!”

Xia Qing didn’t really care if Wang Wu lived or died. But if they couldn’t get Wang Wu out, there’d be no way to obtain evidence against Fire Phoenix. That was what she truly cared about.

Still, with her idol visibly fuming, Xia Qing wisely chose not to push the topic and risk making him angrier. Besides, there wasn’t much she could do to help anyway.

Just as she was about to slip away, Zhang San called out, “Next time, bring your squirrel with you.”

Xia Qing paused, and before she could speak, he started scolding her:

“I don’t eat squirrel meat, and I have zero interest in cutting one open!”

“Okay, Third Brother. Next time I bring Monk-faced Monkey in for a checkup, I’ll bring the red squirrel too.”

Zhang San fell silent…

When did I ever agree to examine that ugly monkey?!

As Xia Qing walked out of her idol’s office with some files in hand, she caught sight of Zheng Chen strolling towards her in the sunset, not wearing a protective mask. His tall frame was bathed in the golden light, making him look way more manly than the chubby foxes rolling around in the sunset back in Section Three—though somehow, that only made Xia Qing want to hit someone more.

The two squad leaders in Territory Seven—one follows orders and pulls tricks behind the scenes, the other spends his days slacking off like a lazy fox!

If the Alliance wasn’t so short on high-level firepower right now, Xia Qing would’ve loved to kick them all out and swap in her own people. That way, her idol could research whatever he wanted and sleep for as long as he pleased.

Seeing Xia Qing staring at him with a blank face, Zheng Chen couldn’t quite tell what she was thinking or which foot to step with next. Once he finally reached her, he asked calmly, “All done? Want me to walk you out?”

When Zheng Chen turned north, Xia Qing stopped him with a deadpan, “Zheng, I’m leaving through the South Gate. I need to make a stop at the Ninth Center.”

Zheng Chen turned around and walked south with Xia Qing, making small talk along the way. “You have to farm your own territory and handle things at the Ninth Center. Doesn’t it get exhausting?”

Face completely expressionless, Xia Qing replied, “It’s manageable.”

That two-word answer killed the conversation on the spot, leaving Zheng Chen to see her off to the South Gate in silence.

“Xia Qing?”

Standing outside the South Gate was She Xing, looking tired but full of energy as she pretended to be surprised and hesitated before calling out.

Xia Qing understood instantly. She Xing didn’t want people from Liangqing Squad to know they’d pulled some strings to get Lu Fangchun and Wang Bo into Territory Seven. She wanted to avoid having Chen Deng’s anger turned on her. Xia Qing nodded back. “That’s me. She Xing, what brings you here?”

She Xing and Fu Xiaodan walked up with bright smiles. “It’s been two years—you’ve changed so much, I barely recognized you! We brought Fangchun and Xiaobo over this morning and asked Third Brother to treat them. By the way, we left our squad. I’m moving to Territory Twenty-One, Xiaodan’s going to Twenty-Two. We’ll need your advice on farming in the future.”

After their check by Ji Li’s Squad, Xia Qing walked out of Territory Seven and nodded to Fu Xiaodan. “Third Brother is the best when it comes to medicine. Don’t worry—Fangchun and Xiaobo will be fine.”

She Xing and Fu Xiaodan both believed that without a doubt. Qinglong’s Chief Luo and Dr. Wang Xin from the Inner City Hospital had both been treated by Senior Expert Fu, so Fangchun and Xiaobo would surely get back on their feet too.

If it weren’t for Xia Qing’s help, there’d have been no way they could get their kids into Territory Seven. So, even though they kept their gratitude hidden, She Xing and Fu Xiaodan held it deep in their hearts.

Once Xia Qing left, She Xing and Fu Xiaodan headed to the security gate for a check and then inside to visit the two children undergoing treatment. Territory Seven had strict rules; they couldn’t stay to keep watch, only visit at scheduled times every other day.

Ji Li glanced at Zheng Chen, who was still staring intently at Xia Qing’s retreating figure, then turned to lead She Xing and Fu Xiaodan back into the territory.

“Captain Zheng, what are you staring at?” teased a Ji Li Squad member, nudging Zheng Chen with his shoulder.

Zheng Chen pointed at the brilliant clouds in the western sky, but his eyes stayed fixed on Xia Qing’s tall silhouette.

Xia Qing didn’t care about whatever Zheng Chen was doing behind her. She was totally focused on the overgrown wild grass wall ahead of Territory Fourteen, carefully inspecting the line.

The North Gate of Territory Fourteen, which Liao Chen had cleared out four months ago, had once again been swallowed up by towering grass. There were no fresh footprints. If the Green Lantern soybean was picked here, then Ji Li must have made the trade with Yan Meng or Feng Wen on the south side of Territory Fourteen.

“Sister Qing!” Zhu Li called out cheerily, stepping out from the Section Six signpost, “Finished for the day?”

Xia Qing shook her head. “Still have to head to the Ninth Center.”

Seeing Xia Qing still had work, Zhu Li didn’t press further and handed her a steaming bag of mantou. “Just made these Green Lantern mantou, take them—you won’t have to worry about dinner now.”

“Thanks.” Xia Qing took the mantou, then pulled out a small packet of Green Lantern bamboo shoots from her pocket. “I made these—the taste isn’t bad.”

“Thanks, Sister Qing!” Zhu Li grinned, accepting the bamboo shoots before asking, “So, how did Third Brother like the Green Lantern edamame you sent over at lunch?”

Xia Qing shook her head. “He said he only ate one and didn’t care for it.”

“Pfft!”

No sooner had Xia Qing spoken than a low, gloating chuckle rang out from inside Territory Fourteen—Feng Wen clearly enjoying herself.

The laugh was so soft Zhu Li didn’t catch it. She patted Xia Qing’s arm instead. “It’s probably just the way it was made, don’t worry about it.”