Chapter 230: I Survived

Chapter 230: Chapter 230: I Survived

Commander Xiaqing immediately got on the radio. "Captain Hu, one hundred meters to your front-left, two o’clock position. An Injurious Grass inside the Wild Grass Wall is shaking and growing taller."

"Roger, clearing it now." Hu Zifeng quickly locked onto the target, severing the Injurious Grass that was already showing signs of attack with a single shot. He moved in, swiftly removed the roots, and then reported, "Clear."

Forty-five minutes later, Xiaqing was back on the radio. "Jing Kuan, sixty meters to your rear-right, five o’clock. A sapling is shooting up fast, visual estimate two and a half meters tall."

"Roger, going to check it out." Jing Kuan immediately turned and ran back to investigate, quickly reporting, "It’s a Huang Nai Tree sapling, ten centimeters thick at the trunk. Need support."

Xiaqing called out again. "Peng Jian, you’re closest to Jing Kuan."

Peng Jian replied at once, "Roger, on my way."

While Peng Jian was on his way to provide support, Xiaqing spotted three dark, drenched animals swimming out from the rushing stream that flowed from the Y-shaped valley in Zone Three of Mountain 49. From their movements, she could tell they had gone feral and lost all reason.

Leaning against a forked branch, Xiaqing raised her sniper rifle and shot them dead. "Evolved water rats in the river," she reported. "They’ve been cleared."

Peng Jian reported in, "The Qiang Evolved Huang Nai is cleared. The tree had already grown flower buds—it was extremely dangerous."

A plant that flowered after an aggressive Qiang Evolution was highly likely to release poison gas. Thankfully, they had cleared it before it could bloom, otherwise it would have been a huge hassle to deal with. Xiaqing had just breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the Speed Evolver, Eryong, call for backup. "The corn shed needs support."

Xiaqing quickly scanned the positions of the three people in her territory and issued orders. "Captain Hu, go to the corn shed. Peng Jian, stay where you are and continue searching for Huang Nai Tree saplings. Jing Kuan, go to the large Huang Nai Tree in West Huanlin, find and clear any saplings there."

"Roger." Hu Zifeng sped toward the corn shed at full speed to support Eryong and Sheep Leader.

"Roger." There weren’t many Huang Nai Trees in the Third Territory, so Jing Kuan and Peng Jian immediately split up to find the saplings and eliminate them completely before they could undergo Qiang Evolution.

The red-level Harmful Rain lasted for an hour. Gunshots echoed from every territory as they successively reported incidents of aggressive Qiang Evolution to the Danger Investigation Team.

After the Danger Investigation Team split into two groups to clear the threats in Territory No. 2 and No. 8 Territory, Xiaqing heard a barrage of gunfire from the direction of Territory No.5. Yuan Yan was calling for help. "An aggressive Qiang Evolved Huang Nai has appeared in Territory No.5! It’s flowering and releasing A-level poison gas! We need immediate support! Immediate support!"

A-level poison gas was incredibly potent. Forget the standard Protective Masks worn by personnel within the territories; even the air filtration systems of the Level 3 Protective Masks used in the field by the Green Dragon Team and Captain Tan Junjie’s squad might not be able to block it.

If a human inhaled A-level gas, their chances of survival were slim to none, and anyone who did live would be permanently disabled. Therefore, when encountering A-level gas with inadequate equipment, the only option was to retreat as quickly as possible.

If the humans retreated, all the crops in the greenhouses would be lost.

Tan Junjie, who had just entered No. 8 Territory, hadn’t even had a chance to reply when Xiaqing’s calm voice came over the Lord channel. "Yuan Yan, what’s the height and thickness of the Huang Nai Tree?"

The one who answered Xiaqing was a member of the Green Dragon Team hired by Territory No.5. "Currently four meters high and fifteen centimeters thick. The Harmful Rain is containing the gas to a small area, but we can’t get close."

’Territory No.5 is my ally, but that’s not the only reason. If I let this high-risk Huang Nai Tree continue to grow, my own territory will be covered in poison gas once the Harmful Rain stops!’

"I’m going to support Territory No.5. You all hold the Third Territory."

Xiaqing leaped down from the Asparagus Tree and raced toward Territory No.5 at full speed along the North Buffer Forest. "My Protective Mask can block the gas. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Keep firing bullets at the trunk and get the largest sealed bag ready. Captain Tan, Lord No.3, Xiaqing, can clear this alone. No support needed."

"Roger." Tan Junjie knew Xiaqing wasn’t a reckless person, but he still followed regulations, reporting to headquarters and requesting backup. However, with danger reports flooding in from all over, headquarters probably couldn’t spare anyone.

In just eight minutes, Xiaqing charged into Territory No.5, snatched the large sealed bag from Yuan Yan’s hands, and rushed to the base of the high-risk Qiang Evolved Huang Nai Tree that was releasing A-level gas. She immediately started hacking at it with her blade.

Sure enough, just like the Qiang Evolved Huang Nai Tree in the Third Territory, this one wasn’t very hard either. The parts of the trunk that had been shredded by machine-gun fire hadn’t recovered yet. With a few swings of her blade, Xiaqing severed the trunk, then quickly chopped off the flowering branches and stuffed them all into the large bag, sealing it tight.

Once she was done, Xiaqing pressed the button on her Lord’s walkie-talkie. "The high-risk Qiang Evolved Huang Nai Tree in Territory No.5 has been cleared."

"Roger. Good work." There was warmth in Tan Junjie’s voice.

"Xiaqing, thank you," Yuan Yan, who was usually calm and competent, said with a sob in her voice.

"Xiaqing, nice one!" Kuang Qingwei replied, panting. No. 6 Territory was right next to Territory No.5. If they had let that tree grow, they would have all had to abandon their territories.

The A-level gas was quickly suppressed by the rain. After the glaring Red Light on her arm turned green, Xiaqing waved to Qi Fu, who was standing in the distance holding a large axe.

Qi Fu immediately rushed over and took Xiaqing’s place, continuing to clear the Huang Nai Tree’s roots.

Just as she was about to return to her own territory, Xiaqing heard Kuang Qingwei yell, "Xiaqing, quick! A flowering Huang Nai has sprouted in my territory too! Please, hurry!"

’No. 6 Territory?’ Xiaqing immediately pressed the button to call for help. "Brother San, are you there? Can you send someone to clear the Huang Nai Tree in No. 6 Territory?"

Zhang San’s voice immediately sounded on the Lord channel. "The Huang Nai in No. 6 Territory will be cleared by Territory Land No. 7."

"Thank you, Brother San! Sorry for the trouble, Brother San," Kuang Qingwei said immediately, instantly feeling relieved.

Eliminating one high-risk Injury Evolution Tree was child’s play for Territory Land No. 7. After giving her thanks, Xiaqing quickly ran back toward her own territory. "The danger in Territory No.5 is cleared. I’ll be back at my post in ten minutes."

Hu Zifeng replied, "The risks within the territory are manageable. No need to rush. Stay safe."

Tan Junjie made an announcement on the Lord channel. "All Lords, immediately assign personnel to inspect the Huang Nai Trees in your territories. Clear any sprouting Huang Nai saplings at once. Don’t give them a chance to flower. If one does flower, report it immediately."

"The Investigation Team has already submitted a report. Before army reinforcements arrive, we request emergency assistance from Lord No.3, Territory Land No. 7, No.1 Territory, and No. 9 Territory."

Xiaqing, whom Tan Junjie had ranked first on the list, replied while running, "Roger."

"Roger," Zhang San agreed, adding a warning, "The third wave of red Harmful Rain has ended. The downpour is weakening, which means if another Qiang Evolved Huang Nai appears, the gas will spread very quickly."

’Dammit!’

Xiaqing ran for her life through the head-high Injurious Grass.

Luo Pei from No.1 Territory replied, "Ten Speed Evolvers from No.1 Territory have changed into airtight protective suits and are on standby."

Just as Luo Pei’s voice faded, Li Si also gave a calm reply. "Five people from No. 9 Territory can provide support."

The moment their voices died down, Shi Zhong sent out a plea for help. "A flowering Huang Nai Tree has appeared in the Tenth Territory! Requesting support!"

Li Si, who was closest to the Tenth Territory, responded calmly, "Report precise location."

Immediately after, Mrs. Zhao from Territory No. 4 sent a precise request for help. "Flowering Huang Nai Trees have appeared in the North Buffer Forest and the southwest corner of Territory No. 4. Requesting support from Captain Luo."

Luo Pei responded, "ETA five minutes. No.1 Territory will clear both trees."

"Thank you, Captain Luo," Mrs. Zhao replied at once.

With Luo Pei taking on the task of clearing Territory No. 4, Xiaqing headed straight back to her own territory. Before she could even catch her breath, she saw a dozen or so evolved water rats crawling from the water onto the bank. She immediately raised her sniper rifle and began eliminating the feral, invading animals.

The crisis triggered by the third wave of red Harmful Rain continued until one in the morning before finally subsiding, allowing the exhausted humans a moment to breathe.

Lying in the Injurious Grass, Tang Huai lifted a trembling hand, pressed the button on his walkie-talkie, and said in a hoarse voice, "The stars are out. To hell with the Harmful Rain, and fuck this damned Blue Star. I fucking survived again."

Standing beside a mountain of evolved water rat corpses, Xiaqing stared with killing intent at the two stars that flickered incessantly in the fine drizzle.

’Dammit. I survived too.’