Chapter 995: Monkey Returns with a Debt Repaid

After following Broken Back Wolf up another mountain and inspecting the second Green Lantern Pecan Tree, Xia Qing learned three things:

First, all the Wolf Pack’s dens on Hill Sixty are close to the pecan trees. This means the wolves rely on the Green Lantern Pecan Trees’ ability to attract Evolved Fireworms, using them as natural sentinels.

Second, the Alpha and Broken Back Wolf take security in their core territory seriously. That’s why Xia Qing wasn’t allowed to bring Huo Zhun in to pick pecans—these trees are too close to the pack’s dens. The two wolf leaders trust Xia Qing, but they don’t trust the human Huo Zhun. Even though Xia Qing has earned their trust, she’s only ever met the injured Little Four-Eyes out of all the half-year-old wolf pups.

Third, whenever Xia Qing asked to pick pecans, Broken Back Wolf’s refusal wasn’t due to stinginess, but because it simply wasn’t the right time. From now on, she resolved not to assume other’s motives and talk things through properly.

“At least this trip wasn’t for nothing. I got to see Er, Lame Wolf, Little Wolf, and Little Wolf’s little sister,” Xia Qing thought as she glanced up at the sun. She’d been on Hill Sixty for almost two hours—it was time to head back. “Broken Back, I need to return to the territory. Are you coming with me on the helicopter, or will you stay…”

“Awooo—oooo——”

Before Xia Qing could finish, an Evolved Wolf’s howl echoed across the mountain. Broken Back Wolf immediately lifted its head to answer, then turned and gave Xia Qing a look, signaling her to follow. With a few powerful leaps, it vanished over the ridge.

“Awoo—ooo——” Lame Wolf joined in, its howl crackling with anger.

Something was definitely up! Xia Qing sprinted after Broken Back Wolf and hadn’t gone far before Er came barreling toward her, urging her to follow.

“Bzzz—”

Suddenly, Xia Qing’s phone buzzed in her pocket. Huo Zhun was calling. “Qing, there’s a bear from Hill Sixty-One coming toward the helicopter, and there’s a White-faced Snub-nosed Monkey with a backpack on its back tagging along.”

“Goofball!” Xia Qing’s eyes lit up as she ran and asked, “Which bear is it?”

Um…

Huo Zhun raised his binoculars and took a closer look. The bear with the monkey—no missing eyes or ears, no obvious scars—didn’t match either of the two giant bears that had bellowed at the Wolf Pack last time. As for the monkey, it was most likely the one Qing had let go before.

Because it’s carrying a backpack.

Xia Qing replied, “Got it. The Wolf Pack will stop the bear. Don’t lift off yet. That monkey’s probably looking for me.”

By now, the Alpha and Broken Back Wolf treated the helicopter as vital to the Wolf Pack. No way were they letting a bear get near it. Even if the helicopter wasn’t in any danger, Xia Qing needed to get back fast—especially since Goofball was carrying a backpack. Clearly, it had come to pay back its debt.

At her current pace, running back would take at least half an hour. Way too slow! Xia Qing called out to Er, gesturing for height. “Er, fetch me a Giant Wolf. I need to hurry.”

Er nuzzled Xia Qing then dashed off. In no time, it returned with a brown-gray Giant Wolf.

This brown-gray Giant Wolf had lighter fur and eyes than Big Guy. It was a Strength-Based Evolution wolf. Over a month ago, the Alpha had sent it and Big Guy to Xia Qing’s territory to carry her to Hill Fifty-Nine to fight the Giant Raptor and save Four-Eyes. So they were already well acquainted. Xia Qing swung onto its back. “Good job, Er—found Big Guy so quick! Big Guy, take me over there. Fast! The Queen and Broken Back are already on their way.”

A companion howled a warning to the south. As a companion recognized by the Alpha, Xia Qing’s command was never questioned. Big Guy shot forward at top speed.

Er was running flat out, too—but toward the Wolf Den, not Hill Fifty-Nine. Its duty was to guard the pups.

In a chorus of wolf howls and bear roars, Big Guy carried Xia Qing to the frontline in just five minutes. The helicopter waited on a small hilltop. The Alpha led over a dozen Evolved Wolves at the foot of the hill, facing off against a big and a little bear across a stream over three hundred meters away—each side bellowing at the other.

Up on a tree by the bears, Goofball the little monkey with the backpack spotted Xia Qing and immediately opened its mouth to call her. But its tiny voice was drowned out by all the howling and roaring.

Xia Qing jumped off the wolf’s back and dashed to the Alpha’s side. “Queen, that’s Goofball! It’s here for me!”

With that, Xia Qing shouted across the stream, “Goofball!!!”

Goofball saw that Xia Qing had noticed, and quickly swung itself across the stream by grabbing a branch, its little backpack bouncing as it went. Xia Qing rushed to meet it. “Goofball!”

The bears stopped roaring and the wolves stopped howling. In perfect unison, everyone stared at the human and the little monkey making a beeline for each other.

Five meters away, Goofball pushed off the tree with all its might, two little black paws outstretched, leaping right at Xia Qing. Xia Qing reached out and caught the little monkey as it landed.

Goofball clung to Xia Qing’s arm, bursting with excitement. “Oh!” it chirped.

Xia Qing ruffled Goofball’s somewhat longer buzzcut. “Did you see the helicopter so you came looking for me?”

“Yup.”

Goofball replied with a little sound, then turned to show off its heavy backpack to Xia Qing.

If Goofball had its bag packed waiting for her, Xia Qing would’ve flown straight here with the helicopter. Taking the little backpack, Xia Qing fished a nutrient shake from her protective suit pocket and gave Goofball a bit to drink, followed by two dried Green Lantern figs, which she tucked into its black paws. “Goofball, did you find Red Vein Stone?”

Mouth busy with figs and hands too full to respond, Goofball let Xia Qing unzip the little backpack—which was so grubby its original color was impossible to tell. Right at the top sat a chunk of Red Vein Stone bigger than Xia Qing’s fist.

Never mind what the rest of the rocks were—for her, just this one piece was more than enough.

Xia Qing fondly patted the munching Goofball. “You did amazing! This is exactly the Red Vein Stone I needed. Thank you. Now we’re even.”

With the Wolf Pack and two bears watching, Xia Qing emptied all the big and small stones from Goofball’s bag into her own, then unzipped her food pouch. “Goofball, choose whatever you want!”

The cub in the back sniffed the air, catching the scent of honey, and just started to crawl forward before the bigger bear beside it stopped it with a heavy paw. “Roar!”

Having finished the delicious figs, Goofball started loading up its little bag with food—dried Green Lantern breadworms, boiled eggs, dried figs, honey-roasted jerky, sun-dried bamboo shoots, freeze-dried meat. Stuffing the bag to the brim, it looked up at Xia Qing with big pleading eyes.

To Xia Qing, Goofball had never looked cuter or more endearing.

“Can’t fit anymore? Here, take this whole bag. Snack to your heart’s content.”

Goofball grabbed its backpack in one hand, the bag in the other, still peering up at Xia Qing with hopeful eyes.

Xia Qing got it. She pulled a printout from her pack and handed it to Goofball. “Craving sweet potatoes? I didn’t bring any this time, but next time, if you want some, bring the herb on this picture to my territory and we’ll trade.”

Goofball didn’t take the paper. Clutching the food bag, it freed one finger and hooked it into Xia Qing’s protective suit sleeve.

“Want to go back to the territory with me? Sure.” Xia Qing pointed at the two bears across the stream. “But what about your friends?”

Goofball turned and stared at the cub being held down by the bigger bear. After a moment, it laid its backpack before Xia Qing, grabbed the food bag in its mouth, and climbed up a tree, swinging back toward the bears.

Xia Qing stood there quietly, watching.

There was no way she’d dare approach. That unlucky little cub was sitting right next to the giant bear who, last time during the standoff with both the Wolf Pack and Bear Pack, had been so enraged by Xia Qing’s insults that it nearly tried to swat her flat.