Chapter 979: Return After the Rescue: Homecomings and Quiet Nights

When the Azure Dragon Squad’s helicopter flew out toward the Northern Evolved Forest, the lords barely spared it a glance. But once darkness fell and the helicopter still hadn’t returned, an uneasy feeling began to settle over everyone.

Those in Territory Ten, Eleven, Twelve, and Fifteen, who knew where the helicopter had gone, climbed to the highest spot in their territories after nightfall, craning their necks north and praying for their loved ones to come back safe.

As the sky grew darker, the tension only mounted. It wasn’t until Tang Huai checked in on the Northern Alliance group chat that everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Near eleven at night, the helicopter touched down smoothly inside Territory Twelve.

Once the cabin door opened, Xia Qing—strapped with her sniper rifle—was the first to jump out, despite being the last one to board before. Next came Shi Du, carrying Tang Huai on his back.

Tang Heng rushed over to thank Xia Qing, then helped his brother and turned to Shi Du and Huo Zhun. “Sister Qing, Shi Du, Huo, thank you all so much. Dinner’s ready. Once you’re done eating, I’ll drive you back home.”

Xia Qing shook her head. “No need for dinner. You go take care of things.” A ride home, though, she wouldn’t turn down.

Xia Qing, Shi Du, Huo Zhun, and Zhang Hongda—who brought Little Shiyi along—left in the car. Their first stop after passing out of Territory Twelve’s north gate was the north gate of Territory Fifteen.

Yue Haiying and Ye Yang, who sat in a wheelchair, were already waiting outside Territory Fifteen’s north entrance.

Little Shiyi was anxious, but she still got out of the car with Zhang Hongda, trying her best not to look at Xia Qing.

Xia Qing stepped out, quietly watching her walk toward Ye Yang.

“Shiyi, come here to Uncle.”

Ye Yang called to Little Shiyi with a gentle voice, using her new name. He took her small, mud-caked hand and offered his thanks to the trio, “Sister Qing, Huo, Shi Du, I can’t thank you enough.”

Yue Haiying handed over three bags of steamed buns. “These are pork and chive buns from the canteen. Have them tonight.”

Xia Qing thanked her, grabbed the buns, and got back in the car to continue her journey. Having delivered Little Shiyi to Ye Yang, she’d finished Zhang Shi’s request. Now she could finally go home.

In the back seat, Shi Du let out a long sigh. “Kids born after the disaster just aren’t like the ones from before.”

This five-year-old had lost her dad and survived a firefight, yet she’d stayed so silent the whole way—she didn’t even cry out loud. It tugged at his heart.

Up front, Xia Qing stayed quiet as always. Huo Zhun, holding a bag of buns, couldn’t help but grin. “Blue Star’s evolving, so humans have to get tougher, too. I’m thinking of trading in my mission credits for a laptop. What about you, Shi Du?”

Shi Du shook his head. “My dad’s meds are all gone and I need fertilizer for the fields. After the autumn harvest, maybe I’ll hunt down a used laptop. If you go looking, help me keep an ear out for deals, okay?”

Xia Qing chimed in, “Huo, do you have a connection to buy laptops?”

“Nope. Actually, after hearing Shi Du talk about fertilizer, I think I’ll get that first, too. Laptop can wait until fall harvest.” Huo Zhun changed his mind on the spot—didn’t want to risk getting scolded. “Sister Qing, let’s grab missions together when there’s a chance, yeah?”

He’d been kicked out of the force for breaking the rules and only got a small severance. His dad pumped all their money into securing Territory Eleven. This round-trip mission brought in thirty thousand credits—Huo Zhun couldn’t be happier.

Taking missions was a shortcut to earning credits and upgrading your life!

Xia Qing nodded. “Once things slow down in the territory, we can think about it.”

“Count me in, too! Sister Qing, I’ll keep training and I swear, I won’t drag the team down.” Shi Du said his piece, then got out of the car at Territory Ten’s north gate.

After Shi Du left, Huo Zhun scooted closer, curious. “Sister Qing, can I check out your night vision goggles?”

Xia Qing finally realized why he insisted on hitching a ride, circling all these territories instead of getting off at the one next to his. She took off her night vision goggles and handed them over.

Huo Zhun flipped on the car light, examined them carefully, then put them on and stared out the window for a while before giving them back to Xia Qing with a big thumbs-up.

These goggles are seriously amazing!

Of course they are! Her idol heard her mention her previous ones were useless and specially picked these out from the seventh territory’s supply room. Xia Qing accepted them calmly, slipped them on, then hopped out to unlock the big padlock on the south gate, arms full of dinner. She greeted Er Yong and Chen Cheng, who’d watched her territory in her absence, then stopped by the pasture shed to cut a bundle of Green Lantern grass. Time to head home.

It was already late. She had to hurry back and cook for Old Goat, Number Four, and Crippled Wolf.

Passing by the village entrance, Xia Qing glanced toward the ruins south of her home. Two glowing green wolf eyes stared out from the wreckage. The sight made her worry about her chickens—would the hungry Elder Wolf sneak one while she was gone?

“Baa—”

Hearing her footsteps, Old Goat called out urgently from the yard.

“Old Goat, I’m home!”

Xia Qing ran into the yard, spotting her snow-white sheep standing there and Crippled Wolf pressed against the living room window, watching her through the glass. The warmth of home spread through her heart.

She didn’t have family anymore, but she still had her sheep and her wolf!

Seeing his little human come home so late, Old Goat narrowed his eyes and pawed the ground, ready to give her a lesson.

Xia Qing quickly raised her fresh-cut grass. “Old Goat, tonight you get Section Three feed mixed with pumpkin. How’s that sound?”

“Baa~~” Old Goat instantly stopped pawing. Section Three’s feed—his favorite!

Xia Qing looked over the yard and glanced at the ruins to the south. Not seeing a single stray chicken feather, she called to Elder Wolf, “Number Four, want eggs tonight?”

Hearing there’d be eggs, Elder Wolf immediately climbed down from his perch and stepped into the yard, waiting for dinner.

Inside, Xia Qing noticed Crippled Wolf, damp fur and all, peering at the laptop. She asked, “Broken Back, is the TV out of power again?”

Crippled Wolf bared his teeth in confirmation—she’d nailed it.

Xia Qing sniffed the air. “Did you soak in the medicated bath for long hair again?”

Crippled Wolf grinned wider—she’d guessed right again.

“Take a patrol around the territory and let the wind dry your fur. I’ll cook up some eggs for you.”

Crippled Wolf thought for a second, then pointed his paw at the air conditioner and then at the TV.

“Alright, as soon as you get back, I’ll switch in a fresh battery. You’ll have your AC and TV.” Xia Qing said, heading upstairs to take off her protective suit and shower.

Crippled Wolf left happily, pushing open the door to start his patrol.

After showering, Xia Qing cooked up eggs and Green Lantern meat, mixed up fresh feed for Old Goat, swapped in a new battery for the AC and TV, then pulled today’s mission footage and started a video playback on the television.

Back from his patrol, Crippled Wolf watched the video on TV for a few seconds before glancing at Xia Qing.

Still munching on a bun, Xia Qing pointed to the map spread on the table. “Today I flew my helicopter out to Lan Five—here—to rescue a bunch of people. The clip is from the camera on my helmet.”

She fast-forwarded, then paused and zoomed in on Little Shiyi in the helicopter cabin, her half-covered face peeking up beneath a protective mask.

She hadn’t been mistaken—Little Shiyi’s face was much thinner, and her complexion and the shape of her eyes had changed completely from before.

No wonder Zhang Hongda’s expression never faltered when he brought Little Shiyi back. He probably didn’t recognize that Ye Shiyi, standing right there with him, was the very same Little Shiyi from the hidden valley on Hill Fifty!