Chapter 221: Aren’t You Capable

Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Aren’t You Capable

Luo Pei replied, "No dangerous Harmful evolved creatures in No.1 Territory."

Tang Huai replied, "Second Territory found five low-danger, aggressive Injury Evolution saplings and shrubs. They have been cleared."

Hu Zifeng replied, "No dangerous Harmful evolved creatures in the Third Territory."

Territories Four, Five, Six, Seven, Nine, and Ten all reported no dangerous Harmful evolutions. Just as everyone thought Lord No.8 would remain silent, Xin Yu’s voice sounded, "A medium-danger Injury Evolution vine appeared in No. 8 Territory. It has been cleared."

...

’To be able to clear a medium-danger threat, Lord No.8’s abilities and equipment must be top-notch.’

Tan Junjie followed up, "The inspection team needs to enter No. 8 Territory to confirm that the medium-danger vine has been completely eliminated. We request permission from Lord No.8."

Xin Yu calmly replied, "Permission granted."

Tang Huai asked curiously, "Xin Yu, what were the attack capabilities of the medium-danger vine in your territory? How did you clear it?"

Of course, Xin Yu didn’t bother replying to such a pointless question. Hu Zifeng started mocking him, "Someone’s habit of always focusing on other people’s territory is truly incurable."

Tang Huai immediately shot back, "You’re one to talk! You run off to someone else’s territory to work for free, and you have the nerve to criticize me?!"

Hu Zifeng said smugly, "You couldn’t find someone to work for, even if you wanted to do it for free."

Tang Huai’s curiosity was instantly piqued. "You’re really working for free? Don’t tell me you have to bring your own food, too?"

Inhaling the aroma of braised meat, Hu Zifeng was in high spirits. "Lord No.3 got a Yellow Light Wild Boar. We’re stewing the head right now. The smell... it’s amazing—"

Braised pig’s head? Tang Huai swallowed. In a much friendlier tone, he asked, "Is Eryong the one cooking? Do you have enough spices? I have a full set here. I’ll trade you for half a pound of the meat."

Hu Zifeng chuckled dryly. "We have plenty."

Zhang San spoke up, his voice listless, "Hu Zifeng, is Eryong a good cook?"

Hu Zifeng replied, "Eryong’s cooking is much better than average. Once the meat is done, want me to send some over to you?"

"The cheek meat, the tips of the snout, and the ears. Give me two small strips of each, just to have a taste." Zhang San had clearly not eaten anything to his liking again today and was in a foul mood.

"Of course. I’ll have it sent over to you as soon as it’s cooked." Hu Zifeng immediately agreed. The food sent to Territory Land No. 7 could surely be traded for some good medicine from Xiaqing. In the Disaster Years, having extra medicine meant having extra lives, and who would complain about having too many of those?

Tang Huai took a sip of distilled water, a look of disappointment on his face. "If I had known a Natural Disaster was going to happen, I definitely wouldn’t have majored in archaeology back then."

Tang Heng, who was compiling data on crop losses for the Second Territory and Territory No. 12, smiled. "Brother, you’re only thirty this year. It’s not too late to study medicine or pharmacology."

After the great evolution of life on Blue Star, although the crisis of survival had increased, human lifespans had also been extended. At thirty, one was still in the developmental stage of their abilities. It was indeed not too late.

Tang Huai shook his head. "It’s not about age, it’s about mindset. I just can’t muster the focus to study something new comprehensively and systematically anymore."

Tang Heng’s hands continued to tap at the keyboard. "That’s why I really admire Xiaqing. She came from an ordinary family before the Natural Disaster, and had no one to rely on after it started. She’s made it this far all on her own, and she’s living much better than we are now."

Tang Huai leaned back in his chair, listening to the patter of rain outside, and snorted. "I admit she’s strong, but she also has a really foul temper."

"She doesn’t have a foul temper," Tang Heng corrected him factually. "Her temper is just bad when she’s dealing with us. It’s because our surname is Tang, and because this is the territory of the Tang Family’s eldest daughter."

"Our branch of the family was dragged down by Tang Zhengsu and his daughter." After saying this, Tang Huai seemed to rally his spirits. "Luckily, we’ve found a new way forward, so we don’t have to feel so stifled in the Safe Zone anymore. Have you seen how motivated Dad has been lately?"

The relationship between their family and the two brothers, Tang Zhengrong and Tang Zhengsu, couldn’t be explained in just a few sentences. Tang Heng typed in the last number and hit save. "The rain seems to be letting up."

The pattering sound of the rain was especially hypnotic.

After a full five hours of sleep, Xiaqing woke up, her mind and body restored to peak condition. She went downstairs and got to work.

The current Harmful Rain level was yellow, and there was no toxic gas in the courtyard. Xiaqing removed the Protective Masks from the three wolves and the sheep, letting them relax for a bit.

Although there was no toxic gas, the concentration of the Harmful Element in the atmosphere was not low, enough to affect the animals’ moods. The broken leg wolf, which wasn’t wearing a Yi Stone, frolicked around in the sheep pen for a moment before pressing up close to the Broken Waist Wolf and staying still.

The senses of Evolutionary Animals were extremely sharp. The broken leg wolf wasn’t stupid; it must have discovered that the concentration of the Harmful Element was lower around the Broken Waist Wolf, which was why it had snuggled up.

Xiaqing went back inside and brought out a pouch. She showed the Yi Stone inside it to the Broken Waist Wolf, then gestured and motioned as she tried to negotiate with it. "You make the one with the broken leg behave, and I’ll put this pouch on it."

The Harmful Rain was expected to last for nearly sixty more hours. The broken leg wolf was currently the strongest fighter among the three wolves and the sheep. Ensuring its sanity and combat strength was crucial for the Wolf Group’s safety.

The Broken Waist Wolf understood. It let out a soft whine and lay down on the ground. The broken leg wolf copied the action, but its eyes remained fixed fiercely on Xiaqing.

As Xiaqing reached out to put the pouch on it, the broken leg wolf didn’t move, but it let out a low snarl, baring its sharp fangs.

"GRRR—" The Broken Waist Wolf bared its own fangs, issuing a stern warning to the broken leg wolf.

The Sick Wolf slowly approached, lifted a slender paw, and placed it on the broken leg wolf’s thick foreleg. The Sheep Leader also moved forward to stand beside Xiaqing.

Three against one. The broken leg wolf obediently retracted its fangs. Xiaqing quickly put the pouch on it, then rewarded the Sheep Leader, the Sick Wolf, and the Broken Waist Wolf in turn by rubbing their heads. Finally, she flicked the broken leg wolf on the forehead. "You with the broken leg, don’t be ungrateful. This is good stuff, I’m just lending it to you for now."

After the flick on the head, Xiaqing offered a carrot to go with the stick. She stuffed rations or dried meat into each pouch as a reward. Then, she put on her Protective Mask and began clearing the Injurious Grass in the yard.

CLICK, CLICK. Xiaqing heard the familiar sound of a pouch’s snap button being opened. She turned to look at the sheep pen, and her jaw nearly hit the floor.

The broken leg wolf was lying on its back, its four thick legs curled up, exposing its soft belly—a wolf’s posture of submission.

The Broken Waist Wolf had actually used its front paws to open the broken leg wolf’s pouch and take out the jerky she had just put inside for it. The broken leg wolf immediately flipped over, tore open the sealed bag, and started chewing on the jerky.

Noticing Xiaqing looking over, the Broken Waist Wolf lifted its head and watched her quietly.

Xiaqing finally understood. The evolution on Blue Star was basically a cheat code for brain-evolved animals. The Broken Waist Wolf’s intelligence and Observation made Xiaqing’s blood run cold.

’If you gave this thing a whole division of troops, it could damn well flatten the entire human Safe Zone in Hui San Base.’

CLICK, CLICK.

Hearing the sound again, Xiaqing, who was holding a handful of Injurious Grass, turned back to see the Broken Waist Wolf getting the jerky out for the Sick Wolf as well.

A vein popped on Xiaqing’s forehead. ’Damn it,’ she thought, ’I’m changing these pouches to zippers later. We’ll see how clever you are then!’

"Meeeh~~"

After pulling up another patch of Injurious Grass, Xiaqing heard the Sheep Leader’s whiny bleat. She turned to find it trying to act cute toward the Broken Waist Wolf, wanting to eat the rations in its own pouch.

The Broken Waist Wolf didn’t help the Sheep Leader. Instead, it just looked calmly at Xiaqing.