Chapter 944: Monkey Business and Strange Encounters in Section Three
by xennovelWhen Xia Qing didn’t object, Zhang San nodded in agreement.
After Zhang Song left, Zhang San reminded, “Zhang Song is an advanced Brain Evolutionary. His observation skills are top-notch. Even though he’s only interested in animals, just in case, it’s best not to let him into the breeding terraces.”
The Pure Spring Water is inside the terraces—that’s the biggest secret in Xia Qing’s territory. The fewer people know, the better.
“Got it.” Xia Qing asked, “Third Brother, he won’t leak the Wolf Pack’s secrets, right?”
“Don’t worry.” Zhang San explained where Zhang Song stood. “He shares my views on building a new ecological system on Blue Star. That’s why I agreed to have him join Territory Seven. Now, bring out your mouse—I need a sample.”
Excuse me, but that’s a legendary Red Squirrel, not a regular mouse…
Xia Qing obediently reached into the cage and pulled out Little Fei Mao. At the same time, Monkey took the chance to grab Xia Qing’s arm with its trembling little black hand. She didn’t shake it off; instead, she switched hands to pass Little Fei Mao to her Idol.
Zhang San headed into the testing room. Xia Qing still let Monkey clutch her with its little paw, letting this silly-looking advanced Brain Evolutionary cling to her for safety.
Earlier, Zhang Song said this monkey was brilliant—smart enough to understand multiplication. Xia Qing never tested that, but she suspected Crippled Wolf could probably do it too. Not that she’d ever let Zhang Song find out.
After Monkey caught hold of Xia Qing, it stopped shaking and started munching on the fig it had squashed in its grip.
Xia Qing took out her phone and carefully calculated how many Credits Monkey owed her and how many Red Vein Stones it would take to pay her back. She didn’t need it to master multiplication. As long as it could add and subtract and keep track of stones, that would do.
When Zhang San made it to the testing room, he saw Xia Qing grinning at her phone, like she’d suddenly gone silly. In the cage beside her, that ugly monkey was busy licking its fingers, looking as dopey as ever.
Seeing her Idol emerge, Xia Qing quickly put away her phone and took Little Fei Mao, tucking him back in the cage with Monkey. That was the rule in Territory Seven—foreign wild animals had to be caged, to keep the fragile researchers and equipment safe.
“Third Brother, did you find out how Ji Li picks her beans?”
Zhang San pulled off his anti-bacterial gloves and tossed them in the sterilization basket, slumping into a soft chair. “At the end of last month, Huiyi Research Institute sent a batch of lab mice. I had Da Ya steal some surveillance footage. Turns out, more mice were sent into the territory than entered the lab—one of the white mice went missing. I think that missing mouse has abilities like your little rodent.”
So it was a little white mouse all along… I’d been guessing it was Princess Cat or one of the kittens evolving a new ability.
Zhang San shot Xia Qing a look. “Cats are carnivores. They have zero interest in plant seeds. Here, this is the special deodorizer. If an animal pees somewhere, just dilute it ten to one with water and wipe or rinse the spot. I know you’re an advanced Evolutionary with high resistance to Evolution Bacteria, but you should still pay attention to hygiene.”
“…Thanks, Third Brother. With your custom formula, I can sleep easy at night.”
Neither Old Goat, Er nor Monkey ever pee in the cabin—they even rinse their feet at the door with water mixed with disinfectant. Only Little Fei Mao, too weak to push the door open, uses the dirt basin inside, and Xia Qing keeps the place spotless, tidying up morning and night, so her room never has a weird smell.
Still, there’s no way she’d turn down her Idol’s custom miracle medicine.
“Ah! Thud!”
Xia Qing carried the cage out of the office, only to hear a crash and a pained cry echo in the hallway. Monkey squeaked nervously inside the cage.
The moment the sound rang out, six armed Security Team members appeared in the deserted corridor. Ji Li and Zheng Chen rushed over in a flash. Four guards charged at Zhang Song, who was sprawled across his suitcase, while the other four trained their guns on Xia Qing.
Xia Qing stood still as a statue.
“It’s fine, really, I’m okay! Just tripped over the suitcase,” Zhang Song explained, climbing to his feet with Ji Li’s help and adjusting the protective mask on his head.
Only when Ji Li waved her hand did the Security Team lower their weapons. Zheng Chen hefted the thirty-odd-pound suitcase at Zhang Song’s feet and asked, “Where do you want this delivered?”
“It’s all lab equipment. Send it to Section Three.” Zhang Song smiled ingratiatingly at Xia Qing. “I’ll carry the monkey, Sister Qing, can you grab the suitcase?”
Xia Qing…
So you’ll carry the monkey, I carry the suitcase, and what—should I piggyback you too?
As soon as Zheng Chen realized Zhang Song was headed for Xia Qing’s territory, he volunteered, “I’ll drive you over! Xia Qing, is that okay?”
Xia Qing nodded. Ji Li double-checked the suitcase at security and confirmed it only contained standard equipment before letting them through.
Zheng Chen loaded up the car, then drove Xia Qing and Zhang Song to Section Three.
By the time Tang Huai heard the car and ran out, Zheng Chen had already left, and the South Gate of Section Three was locked tight.
Xia Qing led the way with the suitcase in one hand and the cage in the other. Zhang Song hobbled after her, quietly promising, “Sister Qing, just go about your business—pretend I don’t exist.”
If only I could pretend you didn’t exist… if only Old Goat and Er agreed.
After they walked through the five-meter-wide Wild Grass Wall, Zhang Song caught a glimpse of a gray blur flashing by and asked, “What was that just now?”
Xia Qing warned in a low voice, eyeing Zhang Song in his Level 3 Wilderness Protective Suit. “That was Wolfdog Number Two. It stays within the Wild Grass Wall. Don’t get too close to the village on that side—that’s Er’s core territory. And steer clear of the Northern Buffer Forest—there’s a Green Lantern Toon Tree there, that’s Old Goat’s territory.”
Since Xia Qing brought Zhang Song in, Old Goat and Er ignored him. Otherwise, he’d be flying through the air or pinned under a paw by now.
That Level 3 suit might guard against bug bites, but it’s useless if Old Goat decides to rough him up. Xia Qing didn’t want to see him with a broken bone.
Zhang Song was an animal researcher—he knew the rules. He kept his eyes forward and stuck close to Xia Qing. “Understood. Where does this monkey have its territory? Western Buffer Forest?”
“It doesn’t have a territory. I’m taking it to the greenhouse to work. You can tag along.” No working, no treats—if Monkey slacked off, it’d run straight to Er. If Zhang Song followed, he’d get pummeled for sure.
Never mind how obedient Er acted around Xia Qing—the Evolved Wolf was still a pure wild animal with serious fighting skills.
Work… as in, actual labor?
Zhang Song’s eyes shone. “Can I record a video?”
Xia Qing replied, “Only the monkey—no shots of Old Goat, Er, or my face.”
“Understood.” Zhang Song followed Xia Qing to the edge of the fields, where they stopped by the Monitoring Room. He opened the suitcase, slung a camera around his neck, grabbed a few more instruments for his back, and held his laptop as he trailed after her.
Xia Qing opened the cage, and Little Fei Mao darted out of sight. Monkey clambered toward Xia Qing, still too slow to run off yet—Zhang Song’s presence made it nervous, so it instinctively snuggled up to her for security.
Zhang Song aimed his camera at Monkey, only to see Xia Qing scoop up the advanced Brain Evolutionary like it was a plush toy, dangling the precious monkey as she headed out.
The same monkey that was so skittish in the lab now obediently let Xia Qing carry it around like a ragdoll.
Inside Greenhouse Six, Xia Qing handed Monkey a basket.
She took a small packet of roasted breadworms from her pocket and gestured as she spoke to Monkey. “Go pick up the peaches on the ground. Like this—put them in the basket. Do a good job, and I’ll give you some roasted snacks.”