Chapter 140: Courtesy Demands Reciprocity

Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Courtesy Demands Reciprocity

Ignoring the goofball with its wild and arrogant expression standing between Yang Jin and the Head Wolf, Xiaqing asked Yang Jin in a low voice, "Captain Yang, between you and the Head Wolf, who’s stronger?"

’A Top Level Speed Evolution Wolf with a developed brain area versus a Top Speed Evolver like Yang Jin. Now *this* is going to be a show!’

Yang Jin calmly gazed at the Evolutionary Wolf he had once tracked, returning the Yi Stone to Xiaqing before answering her question. "Without weapons, it would be stronger in the Evolution Forest. Here, I’m stronger. But neither of us could easily kill the other. Don’t worry, it won’t pick a fight. There are still two wolves from its pack recuperating in your territory."

Xiaqing...

’I’m not worried. I want to see you two fight! I’ve never seen two Top Speed Evolvers go at it before.’

"MEEHH!!" Sheep Leader called out to Xiaqing, signaling for her to hurry over to its side and not pick the wrong team.

Xiaqing felt that, judging by Sheep Leader’s posture, it was even more eager than she was to see the Head Wolf teach Yang Jin a lesson. ’How can a stubborn sheep that usually has such a deadpan face make such expressive faces?’

Yang Jin lowered his voice and spoke to Xiaqing. "The Wolf Group values strength above all else. If you want to get more supplies from them in future trades, we should stand together. Let them think I’m your ally."

Staring at the Head Wolf, Xiaqing tilted her head and asked Yang Jin quietly, "Does that mean I’ll have to give you a cut of the supplies I get from trading with the Wolf Group?"

She had finally dropped the formal address. Yang Jin smiled. "Just give me whatever you think is fair. I’m not picky."

’Well, *I* am!’

’He really is an Iron Rooster! He wants a cut just for helping me put on a show of strength!’

’Besides, if I go stand next to Yang Jin now, how am I any different from the smug Sheep Leader showing off next to the Head Wolf?’

Xiaqing refused. "When they came looking for me the other day, it wasn’t because of my combat strength. I’d rather not bite off more than I can chew. I’m quite satisfied with our current trade terms."

’If the Head Wolf thought I was allies with Yang Jin and Luo Pei, what would I do if it showed up one day with a Yi Stone, asking me to help fight bears and snakes to seize territory? Should I go or not?’

’What would I even do? Carry a rocket launcher for Yang Jin, or lug ammunition for Luo Pei? Based on my current abilities and the contribution I could make, how big of a share would I get after the fight?’

’It’s best to rely on my own merits when trading with the wolves. That way, whatever I earn is all mine. I won’t have to split it with anyone.’

After hearing Xiaqing’s decision, Yang Jin’s smile grew even wider and his eyes brighter. "As long as you’re satisfied, that’s what matters. Shall we continue our negotiations, then?"

"MOO!"

Outside, the smug Sheep Leader grew angry when it saw Xiaqing still hadn’t come out.

"I’ll take one Grenade Launcher, but my three Yi Stones are not for trade. The spring water, however, is. Just let me know in advance when you want to collect it. As for the spinach, I’ll have to think about it."

Xiaqing concluded the deal in a single breath. She could tell that neither Yang Jin nor the Head Wolf had any intention of fighting, and she didn’t want Sheep Leader to keep making a scene.

"Deal." Yang Jin was tactful. "I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving. I’ll have Brother Luo contact you about the water."

"Okay." Xiaqing immediately handed Yang Jin a small basket filled with a pound or two of wild fruit. "I don’t have much to offer from my territory at the moment. These wild things are about the only presentable gift I have. I hope you don’t mind, Captain Yang."

"Thank you." Yang Jin accepted it readily and, in turn, handed Xiaqing a small, palm-sized pouch. "We went to the coast a while back, and the team picked up a bunch of these pearls. They don’t have any practical use and aren’t worth many points. They’ve already been decontaminated, so I hope you don’t mind the humble gift either."

"Thank you, Captain Yang." It was a polite exchange, so Xiaqing accepted it without hesitation and saw Yang Jin out of the house.

Xiaqing recalled that when she had gone on missions outside the Safe Zone with Luo Pei, he would also bring back small, impractical trinkets, saying the children on the team liked them.

Once the door was open, the Head Wolf remained motionless, its eyes fixed on Yang Jin. Sheep Leader, however, threw a fit, shaking its spiral horns and pawing at the ground in a show of bravado. The sight made Xiaqing want to walk right over and smack it.

"I’ll be going now. Thank you for your hospitality." Yang Jin paid no mind to the prancing Sheep Leader. He locked eyes with the Head Wolf for a few seconds, gave Xiaqing a slight nod, then put on his Protective Mask and headed toward the back mountain.

His expression was relaxed and his gait was steady, as if he wasn’t the least bit worried about the Head Wolf launching a sneak attack from behind.

He passed through a greenhouse full of crops, walked by two fish ponds, and crossed a stone bridge over the river. Upon reaching the mountainside, Yang Jin glanced back. He saw the Head Wolf still staring at him, Sheep Leader throwing a tantrum at Xiaqing, and Xiaqing herself bent over next to the Head Wolf, speaking to it.

Against the backdrop of the blue sky, white clouds, and green grass, the bizarre scene was surprisingly harmonious.

Yang Jin yawned, turned, and quickened his pace. He hadn’t rested in two days, and now he could finally go back and get some proper sleep.

"Queen, that man is Brother Luo’s partner. He’s a total cheapskate, but he is handsome, isn’t he? Easy on the eyes. Back in the Safe Zone, the line of women who have a crush on him would be hundreds of meters long." Xiaqing cautiously sidled closer, making small talk with the Head Wolf. "So, what do the handsome wolves in your pack look like?"

Only after confirming that Yang Jin was gone did the Head Wolf turn its eyes to the pouch in Xiaqing’s hand. In the sunlight, its amber-gold eyes were breathtakingly beautiful, and Xiaqing was instantly mesmerized.

’I want to pet it...’

’...but I don’t dare.’

"Want to see what’s inside?" To satisfy the itch in her hands, Xiaqing reached out and gave Sheep Leader’s soft fleece a couple of good pets. Only then did she open the small pouch from Yang Jin, discovering it was filled with pearls.

They came in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Since they were unprocessed, they weren’t particularly beautiful. They truly had no practical use and were probably worth less than a pound of Green Light vegetable.

Xiaqing picked out a tea-gold pearl the size of a peanut, admired it in the sunlight for a moment, then presented it to the Head Wolf. "This pearl’s color is just like your eyes, Queen. Do you want it?"

The Head Wolf gave it a disdainful look, turned, and walked away.

’You don’t want it? Well, I do.’

Xiaqing cheerfully put the pearls away and grabbed Sheep Leader just as it was about to follow the Head Wolf. She fumbled for the pouch around its neck. "Leader, where are the two compressed rations I gave you? Give them back."

Stealing? Sheep Leader shook its head violently and backed away, squaring up as if ready to fight Xiaqing.

"Bring it on! Don’t think I’m scared to thrash you just because you’ve got a wolf on your side!" Xiaqing, still buzzing with excitement from having made the Yi Stone Protection Shell, tossed the pouch of pearls to the ground and charged. She and Sheep Leader immediately fell into a CLANGING, BANGING brawl.

The Head Wolf, who hadn’t gotten far, glanced back at the brawling human and sheep, then quickened its pace.

After a satisfying brawl with Sheep Leader, Xiaqing lay on the grass, gazing up at the massive white clouds drifting slowly across the sky. She felt completely at ease. "Leader."

"Meehh," Sheep Leader grunted, sprawled in a messy heap beside her.

"The protection shell is finished. Once I’ve polished these pearls and strung them into a necklace, I’ll put it on you. I guarantee it’ll be dazzling enough to blind the entire Wolf Group."

Sheep Leader remained silent.

Xiaqing stretched and sat up. She pulled the two compressed rations from Sheep Leader’s pouch, stuffed them into her own pocket, and brushed the dirt off her clothes. "If you take tasty treats but don’t do any work, you don’t get to keep the rations."

Sheep Leader leaped up and ran off. A moment later, it charged back to Xiaqing with its small bug-catching basket in its mouth, giving her a look that demanded she return its rations.

Xiaqing chuckled and tucked one of the compressed rations back into Sheep Leader’s pouch. "Good boy, Leader. Off you go."

After sending Sheep Leader on its way, Xiaqing went back inside, downed the rest of the warm spring water tea, and began her inspection of the farmland.

The Yellow Light Corn she’d brought back from the Safe Zone had sprouted. Xiaqing did a careful count: out of approximately 3,000 kernels, only 1,600 had sprouted. That was a germination rate of about fifty-three percent, ten percent lower than the rate for the two pounds of Yellow Light Corn Luo Pei had given her.

And that was after she had soaked the seeds in her spring water. Other Lords, who didn’t have access to Pollution-free Spring Water, would surely have even lower germination rates.

The quality of this batch of seeds was not particularly high.