Chapter 184: A Test from a Brain Domain Evolver

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: A Test from a Brain Domain Evolver

Yang Jin gave a firm reply, "Without anti-interrogation training, they can be read by an Intermediate or higher Brain Domain Evolver with Emotion Capturing Power and Observation. So when they arrive, you can request an inspection team on the grounds of territorial security to check them and remove any surveillance, video, or audio recording devices they may be carrying."

"If we do that, the Su Feng Team will only become more suspicious of me and the Third Territory." Yang Jin’s suggestion was viable, but Xiaqing wanted to try something else first. "Captain Yang, I may not have any professional training in this, but I can control my facial expressions, breathing, and heartbeat. Could I ask Captain Xie to test me when he’s free?"

’If she can pull this off, that would be even better.’ Yang Jin immediately made the arrangements. "Members of Hu Zifeng’s team will bring the equipment into the Third Territory shortly."

Although Xiaqing’s phone had satellite communication capabilities, it could only handle calls and text messages, not real-time video chat.

After having his team members lure away the Su Feng personnel on surveillance, Hu Zifeng carried a laptop and communication equipment into the Third Territory. As he expertly assembled the devices inside the small hut by the farmland, he explained to Xiaqing, "This is a broadband ad-hoc network radio based on the latest mobile communication technology. It’ll be ready in a minute."

"Okay." ’I know what broadband is, but what’s an "ad-hoc network"? And is "radio" what I think it is?’ She hadn’t expected Hu Zifeng to know about this stuff.

’After the one-year contract is up, I want to keep hiring Hu Zifeng’s team to guard the territory. Yang Jin will definitely demand a high price, so I need to raise the Yi Element content of my spinach as fast as possible.’

"Captain Xie."

"Zifeng, you madman. Long time no see. You’ve put on some weight; looks like life in the territory is treating you well. Didn’t bring your cat?"

Hu Zifeng grinned at the screen like a fool. "Nah, he’s sleeping at home."

"Okay, take your men and pull back six hundred meters. Stand guard. I need to have a few words with Xiaqing." The radio signal was excellent. Xie Yu, wearing a light gray fisherman’s hat, came through with a clear voice and no lag. Although this was Xiaqing’s first time seeing the Green Dragon Team’s most mysterious captain, she’d heard about his signature look—the fisherman’s hat that seemed permanently attached to his head to hide his baldness.

After Hu Zifeng left, Xiaqing stood before the screen and greeted Xie Yu, "Captain Xie, thank you for doing this."

Xie Yu was smiling and seemed friendly enough, but the fisherman’s hat hid his forehead and eyebrows. His eyes, staring straight out of the screen, were dark and deep, as if they could truly see into a person’s soul, placing immense pressure on anyone who met his gaze.

"It’s no trouble. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. We can’t talk for too long, or we’ll be detected. Shall we begin?"

Xiaqing’s smile vanished. She composed her facial expression, breathing, and heartbeat. Five seconds later, she gave a calm nod. "Okay."

Xie Yu came out swinging.

"You’re a great benefactor to the Green Dragon Team. Since this is our first time meeting, I should properly introduce myself." With that, Xie Yu unexpectedly reached up, took off his fisherman’s hat, and stared at Xiaqing on the screen with a wide grin. "I’m Xie Yu, deputy captain of the Green Dragon Team, a Level 3 Fourth-class of Brain Domain Evolver, male, twenty-eight, unmarried, no girlfriend, and no bad habits."

It was the first time Xiaqing had ever met someone who seemed like a completely different person with and without a hat.

With the hat on, he was a mysterious, unfathomable powerhouse. With it off, he was just a snot-nosed kid from next door, utterly lacking any intimidating presence.

So, Xie Yu wasn’t bald from being too smart, as the saying goes. He had a thick mane of small, golden curls—a Red Squirrel could have dragged that mop of hair home and used it as a bed. The moment Xiaqing saw him without his hat, she understood instantly: he wore it to put on an act!

’A million thoughts were racing through Xiaqing’s mind,’ but her face only showed a flicker of surprise. She calmly replied, "Hello, Captain Xie. I’m Xiaqing."

’This was a test, not a blind date.’ Xiaqing decided to skip that part of the introduction.

Xie Yu raked his fingers through his springy curls, grinning at the screen as he asked, "Are you always this quiet?"

Xiaqing nodded. "Back in the Safe Zone, I could go a whole month without saying a word unless it was absolutely necessary. I’ve only started talking more since I came out here to farm."

’She’s a woman of few words, her red skin shows little expression, and her gaze is perfectly calm. I can’t detect anything from her face, so I’ll have to probe using her voice.’ Xie Yu made some small talk with Xiaqing. "Did your Evolutionary Sheep go mad?"

"No," Xiaqing replied.

Xie Yu knew the Sheep Leader hadn’t gone mad. He memorized Xiaqing’s expression, tone, and eyes at that moment, then continued his questions. "The Pangolin the Second Territory has been looking for... you’ve really never heard of or seen it? You didn’t catch it, did you?"

Xiaqing stared at Xie Yu, her face a blank mask. "I heard Tang Huai mention it in the Lord channel. I didn’t catch it."

’Excellent. No difference from before.’ Xie Yu pressed on. "In that case, why won’t you let people from the Second Territory enter the Third Territory?"

"There’s no reason. I just don’t want outsiders in my territory."

"But you’re on good terms with Hu Zifeng of the Green Dragon Team, aren’t you? He never mentioned the Pangolin to you?"

Xiaqing looked calmly at Xie Yu, only replying after a two-second pause. "No."

...

After ten minutes, Xie Yu gave his conclusion. "You’re clear. Xiaqing, I never expected you to have this kind of skill."

Xiaqing smiled. "Thank you, Captain Xie. It’s not that hard. Most people who’ve survived this long in the Safe Zone by keeping secrets can do it."

Xie Yu gave his sincere assessment. "So far, I’ve only met three untrained people who could pull this off. And one of them only managed it because poisoning caused facial nerve dysfunction."

Xie Yu didn’t say who the third person was, and Xiaqing didn’t ask. Her mind was already on something else.

When she returned to the Safe Zone in July for the agricultural trade fair, the stranger who had messaged her gave her a crucial piece of information: Xu Pin, the deputy captain of the Su Feng Team, had a Hidden Ability—Super Sensory Perception Evolution. He could sense the goodwill and malice of anyone within a hundred-meter radius.

’Besides sensing goodwill and malice, can an ability user with Super Sensory Perception Evolution also detect lies and truths?’

’Does the Green Dragon Team know about Xu Pin’s Hidden Ability?’

’Should I mention this to Xie Yu?’ The thought flashed through Xiaqing’s mind, but she immediately dismissed it. ’Even if I do, I have to wait until I’ve asked *that person*.’

Yang Jin, who was sitting just out of the camera’s view, reminded Xiaqing, "If they ask you whether or not Hu Zifeng told you about the Pangolin, just give them the same look you gave a moment ago. Don’t answer."

Xiaqing didn’t ask why. She just nodded. "Okay."

After the video call ended, Xie Yu remarked, "I believe you now. Xiaqing’s mental fortitude is incredible, and her emotions are rock-solid. With her potential as a Three Systems Evolver, she could definitely become an even more powerful figure than Fire Phoenix if she wanted to. I’m really looking forward to the day those two face off."

Hearing his good buddy praise Xiaqing, Yang Jin beamed with pride.

Xie Yu rubbed the goosebumps on his arms. "Boss, don’t smile like that, it’s gross. My mental fortitude is weak, I can’t handle it."

Having passed the test set by Xie Yu, Hui San Base’s strongest Brain Domain Evolver, Xiaqing felt a sense of relief. It was time to get back to work.

That day, Sheep Leader finished watering the seven large greenhouses on the farmland south of the reservoir using the water bicycle. Guan Tong, shouldering the water tank, finished watering the terraced fields. Xiaqing stayed home to care for the Sick Wolf, clean the warehouse’s shelving tower, and start looking for a suitable exit for her third food storage cellar.