Chapter 971: Bargains and Boundaries

Zhang Song gave his diagnosis. “This wolf is suffering from a series of liver and gallbladder injuries and inflammation caused primarily by liver flukes, as well as general weakness from malnutrition. It’s not critical and can be cured.”

“But the periodontal tissue beneath its four canine teeth has already degenerated quite a bit. Even after recovery, it won’t regain its former strength or be able to hunt large prey. Let’s head back and get its medicine ready?”

Actually, the lab in Territory Seven developed a drug called 41-6, which can strengthen bones and skin. For now, though, only the Hui One Military has access to it. Because of secrecy agreements and lab rules, Zhang Song couldn’t tell Xia Qing about this specialized remedy.

Once they got in the car and buckled up, Zhang Song started, “Sister Qing…”

But Xia Qing, starting the engine, corrected him, “Brother Song, just call me Xia Qing.”

From her idol’s tone, it was clear she wanted Xia Qing to learn medical basics from Zhang Song. He was the teacher, she was the student, and since he was eight years older, it made sense for Xia Qing to be modest.

Zhang Song nodded easily. “Okay. Think the leader of Territory Two is still waiting outside?”

“Doubt it. There’s a little house near the north wild grass wall in Territory Two with listening and surveillance equipment. I only have anti-eavesdropping gear inside the territory. Once we leave, she’ll know right away.”

Zhang Song nodded, making a mental note about one of the leader’s quirks. “Looks like she’s not into worm digging.”

Xia Qing brought the car to a stop after passing through the wild grass wall. She hopped out, opened the south gate, drove the car out, jumped down again to lock up, then headed to Territory Seven.

Let Zhang Song get out to open the gate? She was worried that, with all his evolution abilities focused on his brain, he’d end up hurting himself again.

Once Xia Qing was back in the car, Zhang Song rubbed his knee to get his blood flowing. “Isn’t it a hassle to open and close the gate each time? Never thought about an automatic one?”

Xia Qing shook her head. “Automatic gates cost too much.”

Spend tens of thousands of credits to heal a wolf? Xia Qing thought nothing of it. But she’d balk at the price of a one-thousand-credit gate for her own territory. Clearly, her investment in the wolves was bound to pay off.

Medicinal herbs, or maybe some other supplies?

Zhang Song was smart enough not to ask further.

Once they got back to Territory Seven, he led Xia Qing into the laboratory. He first walked her through how Blue Star’s evolved drugs had changed before teaching her hands-on how to mix up medicine for Elder Wolf.

After that, Zhang Song gave Xia Qing a stack of professional books and case studies, plus a hard drive packed with instructional videos so she could deepen her medical knowledge.

When Ji Li saw Xia Qing off, he asked, “You’re going to learn medical skills now?”

Xia Qing nodded calmly. “I can’t always bother Third Brother with little problems. If I learn this stuff, I might save a life in an emergency.”

Ji Li didn’t press further, just watched as Xia Qing drove away.

As Xia Qing pulled up outside the south gate of her territory and got out to unlock it, Tang Lu walked over from Territory Two. She spoke earnestly. “Xia Qing, could I borrow a few minutes of your time?”

She was just calling her Miss Xia earlier, and now switched to first names already?

Xia Qing nodded calmly.

Tang Lu hurried over, looking friendly. “It’s too hot outside, can we talk in your place?”

“Sure.” Xia Qing opened the gate and drove in, then pushed open the door to the little house by the wild grass wall. “Come on in.”

Based on her talk with Zhang Song, Xia Qing guessed Tang Lu would want a chat today. So when she dropped Zhang Song off earlier, she’d cracked the window of the little house on purpose.

And sure enough, it came in handy right away.

After thanking her, Tang Lu went into the guard room of Section Three, sat on a rough wooden stool, took off her protective mask, and let out a small sigh of relief.

It was a stuffy spot, but at least it didn’t reek like the insect greenhouse in Territory Two. She figured she could handle it. But no sooner had she steeled herself than Xia Qing took off her own mask, revealing a face Tang Lu just couldn’t stand. Her irritation flared up all over again.

She wasn’t about to waste time sweating it out with this woman, so she got straight to the point. “You must have heard from my brother—I got accepted to Baiyi University’s Medical School.”

Xia Qing’s expression didn’t change. “And your brother is?”

Tang Lu clenched her fist. “Tang Huai, my uncle’s son.”

So she couldn’t keep her cool for long. Xia Qing nodded, signaling Tang Lu to go on.

Biting the inside of her cheek, Tang Lu laid out her situation. “Both my parents killed themselves. My brother is in prison. I fought nonstop these past six months to get into Baiyi University. To cover my tuition and living costs, I sold the last property my family left me—a two-bedroom in the Safe Zone. Now I have nowhere to go, so I had to move to the territory…”

When Tang Lu kept rambling, Xia Qing raised her hand. “I’ve got a lot to do. Just get to the point.”

Clenching her teeth, Tang Lu skipped the details and named her offer. “If you introduce me to the leader of Territory Seven, I’ll pay you two hundred thousand credits.”

Just like Zhang Song predicted. Xia Qing replied with a straight face, “If you want to see the leader of Territory Seven, go to Territory Seven or have the Inspection Team relay your message. Anything else?”

You think I haven’t tried? Clearly, Xia Qing was just unhappy with the price—how many credits could she even earn from farming in a year? This woman was insatiable!

Tang Lu didn’t want to offer more. Eyes red, she kept her voice low and pitiful as she explained, “You’re a woman too. You know how hard it is for a young woman with no backing to survive. If I go to Baiyi, where I don’t know anyone, I’ll be bullied to death without support.”

“If not for me, you wouldn’t have gotten this land last spring. I don’t care why you wanted it; as long as you help me, I’ll agree to any terms you name.”

Seeing Xia Qing unmoved, Tang Lu upped the stakes. “You don’t want credits—what about a Yi Stone? You should know what that is, right? If you bring me to the leader, I’ll give you a primary Yi Stone worth at least two hundred thousand credits.”

Still faced with Xia Qing’s stony expression, Tang Lu snapped, her features twisting. “Fine! Two stones! I’ll give you all my Yi Stones—happy now?!”

Xia Qing shook her head, expression calm as ever. “If you want to meet the leader, go directly to Territory Seven or let the Inspection Team deliver your message.”

“Alright. I’ll go try. Sorry for bothering you.” Fighting the urge to hurl her protective mask at Xia Qing’s face, Tang Lu got up and left.

After seeing Tang Lu out of Section Three, Xia Qing locked the main gate and stood quietly just inside the wild grass wall, listening to the sharp steps as Tang Lu stormed away.

One step. Two. Three…

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

Eighty-eight steps later, about forty meters away, Tang Lu crashed into the door of the makeshift monitoring room. She stormed inside, smashing things and cursing under her breath.

That was all the resilience she had. Eleven years, and she’d never truly suffered a day in her life.

Xia Qing left the wild grass wall, closed the little house window, and drove toward home—only to spot Elder Wolf stretched out atop the house ruins on the south side of her yard, eyes locked on the Green Lantern Chickens clucking away in the chicken yard.