Chapter 997: Honeysuckle Harvest and the Disaster’s Approach
by xennovelYang Jin switched on the high-beam flashlight and examined the ore Xia Qing found. His eyes lit up in excitement. “Glacial Crimson Vein Stone! This thing’s massive. Even the Apocalypse Sect would be floored if they saw it.”
Whether they kneel or not, Xia Qing didn’t care. She was only focused on whether this stone was enough to flatten Fire Mountain. “When are you planning to make your move?”
Yang Jin carefully tucked the Crimson Vein Stone away. “The Apocalypse Sect’s been torching and smashing places for the past two months—wiped out three of Fire Phoenix’s shops. Fire Phoenix struck back, took out over twenty of theirs. After a third round of Devastation Rain, I’ll use this stone to pry into fate. Then the Apocalypse Sect will be howling to blow up Fire Mountain. Why so fired up, Sister Qing? Did Fire Phoenix cause more trouble for you?”
Xia Qing just nodded calmly. “They planted spies at the Ninth Center. Nearly crushed a worker a few days ago.”
Spies? Yang Jin’s eyes gleamed with a crafty light. “We might be able to use those people. Make Fire Phoenix suspect anyone but you and Third Brother…”
An hour later, after seeing Yang Jin off, Xia Qing made a thorough sweep of her territory. Once she was sure nothing was wrong, she headed into the breeding greenhouse.
Using spinach seeds, Xia Qing had bartered with Yang Jin back in June and gotten six honeysuckle plants, four Wild Ba Zi, and two thousand Bidens Pilosa seeds.
Those plants and seeds, as well as nectar plants Xia Qing had collected from the Evolved Forest, were all growing in the planting greenhouse. With plenty of fertilizer and good water, everything thrived. The honeysuckle and Bidens Pilosa were already in bloom. Even though Xia Qing didn’t have evolved scent abilities, the floral fragrance hit her the moment she stepped inside.
White-faced snub-nosed monkeys were omnivores and had a real sweet tooth for flowers. So after giving Goofball a bath and dusting him with repellent powder, Xia Qing let him stay there and munch to his heart’s content.
Once the Azure Dragon Squad finished the third Devastation Rain and released some Green Lantern Bees, Xia Qing planned to “buy” a box and raise them in the greenhouse, letting them settle in and produce honey. Just imagining honey cake and honey-glazed roast made her mouth water.
“Hey!”
Seeing Xia Qing come in, Goofball picked a huge honeysuckle flower, ran over grinning, and held it up for her to eat.
Xia Qing took it and gave it a sniff. “Smells amazing. Let’s pick some to take home and brew into porridge for breakfast.”
Other than porridge, sun-dried honeysuckle made good tea. Xia Qing had already dried a small jarful and gifted it to her Idol.
Clever as ever, Goofball dashed off to get a little basket, then helped Xia Qing pick honeysuckle blooms. Cooking porridge didn’t take much, so Xia Qing managed to catch the eager little monkey and explain which flowers had the best medicinal effects. “Tomorrow morning, pick the just-budding white flowers—the big golden ones have already lost most of their potency.”
“Come on, Goofball, let’s go home.”
Goofball, still wanting to pick more, instantly put down his little black hands and obediently followed Xia Qing out. Since Xia Qing had chewed out the Giant Bear on Hill Fifty-Nine that morning, Goofball was a lot more well-behaved. Now, back in the territory, he didn’t dare touch any food aside from what Xia Qing gave him in the greenhouse or at home. He was terrified she’d yell and kick him out.
Xia Qing scooped Goofball up, switched off the lights, and left the greenhouse. Like humans, white-faced snub-nosed monkeys had lousy night vision. Without night goggles, she needed to carry him.
Passing the pasture shed, Xia Qing called out to another companion, already lounging content in the grass. “Old Goat, you ready to head home?”
Compared to the sweet-smelling plants in the greenhouse, Old Goat much preferred the crisp, tasty, and nutritious Evolved Grass in the pasture shed—things like cloud grass, alfalfa, perilla, and White-Haired Chicken Manure Vine. That’s why he rarely hung out in the breeding greenhouse.
Old Goat narrowed his eyes at the sight of his little brother carrying the monkey, looking a bit annoyed.
Xia Qing strolled over, laughing, and hefted her three-hundred-pound companion with ease. “Come on, let’s head home and rest.”
The pasture shed lights were motion-sensitive, making it easier for Old Goat to munch. Not long after Xia Qing left the shed, only starlight remained.
At the house ruins, Elder Wolf heard them coming. He opened his eyes to see Xia Qing hauling the goat and carrying the monkey home, yawned, and promptly closed his eyes again.
“Number Four, keep an ear out for any weird noises. If a bunch of bugs start flying around and you hear chittering, wake me up. I’ll make you a boiled egg in the morning.” Xia Qing gave Elder Wolf a friendly nod, then headed to her yard, put down her two companions, and turned on the walkie-talkie.
It was a little after eight and most Lords were idly chatting.
Wen Nengjie was speaking. “Did you guys see the video I just posted? This wave of locusts is nuts.”
Zhao Ze was still rattled. “Yeah, I saw it. Jie sent it. Which territory got hit?”
Wen Nengjie replied, “Territory 123. Ten acres of corn, all wiped out.”
After showering and changing, Xia Qing finally checked Tang Huai’s group chat for Lords 1-26. People were always talking in there, so she had notifications on silent.
She quickly scrolled up to Wen Nengjie’s video.
If Xia Qing hadn’t been a farmer herself, she’d never have guessed that the bare stalks in the video were once corn. In the brief flash onscreen, the figure sitting in the middle of the field, face obscured by a protective mask, was pure exhaustion and despair.
Three months of hard work, and now the corn—just starting to tassel—was ruined. Anyone would be devastated. Xia Qing pressed the walkie-talkie. “Jie, got any locust photos?”
“Sure, I’ll send a few to the group right now.” Hearing Xia Qing’s voice, Wen Nengjie immediately uploaded several locust pictures.
Xia Qing commented, “These locusts aren’t that big, but their mandibles look razor sharp.”
“Evolved jaws, for sure. Otherwise how could they chew through corn stalks?” Qi Fu shuddered. “Wonder how far Southern Territory is with extermination. Can’t let these things breed—every last one has to go.”
Kuang Qingwei asked, “Jie, any idea where these evolved locusts came from?”
Ever since Kuang Qingwei got iced out by Hui Three’s suppliers and middlemen, news just didn’t come as easily.
Wen Nengjie answered, “Word is, they hatched from eggs inside Territory 124. That Lord is a slacker, never inspects the wild areas, and never sprays pesticide like he’s supposed to. With the place bone dry, the locust eggs in the dead grass hatched and turned into a nightmare.”
Tang Heng popped online. “This disaster affected over fifty acres of farmland around Territory 124. Hope that Lord’s got enough credits and grain saved up to pay for the losses.”
Tang Huai snorted. “How much land can a lazybones even farm? Ten or fifteen acres tops?”
Everyone was speechless…
Xia Qing, whose territory only had twelve planting sheds, two greenhouses, and one pasture shed—a grand total of 13.4 acres—went about her strength training in peace.
An awkward silence fell in the channel. Tang Huai tried to backtrack, “Just because someone farms less land doesn’t mean they’re lazy. Sister Qing’s acreage is low, but she runs Ninth Center and Hill Fifty, and practices shooting too. Uncle Huo’s not farming much ’cause he’s busy forging and upgrading farm tools.”
Xia Qing still didn’t chime in. Huo Lei logged on. “If Huo Zhun could work half as hard as Shi Du, I wouldn’t be so dead tired!”
Everyone…
Huo Zhun…
Sensing trouble, Zhu Li quickly changed the subject. “Anyone check the forum today? Hui Two’s got a bunch of pregnant women having miscarriages, and the fetuses are getting taken for experiments.”