Chapter 232: The Return of the Queen

Chapter 232: Chapter 232: The Return of the Queen

Xiaqing was busy working on her own territory, not caring one bit whether the Auditory Evolver outside was having a breakdown or not.

However, because she was on familiar ground and protected by her rain canopy, most insects couldn’t harm her. Despite having plenty of energy, Xiaqing was mentally exhausted, and her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

By noon, Xiaqing couldn’t hold on any longer. Just as she was about to turn back and go home for a nap, she suddenly spotted a familiar figure on the rocks of the North Buffer Forest.

The figure was soaked and filthy, but next to the even more pathetic-looking Little Weasel, it appeared exceptionally large and imposing. Its brilliant gold eyes, in particular, gleamed like jewels.

"Queen, I’m over here! Congratulations on your triumphant return, Queen!" Xiaqing was instantly wide awake. She jumped off her micro-tiller and waved excitedly. She’d been so busy she had completely forgotten that Yang Jin had said the Head Wolf would be bringing the herbs back in the next couple of days.

’What a team! The Head Wolf and Yang Jin, a pair of powerhouses, muscled their way through the Harmful Rain in the Evolution Forest to get the job done. Impressive!’

Seeing Xiaqing scampering over, the Head Wolf stood perfectly still. The Weasel, which was carrying something, shrank back behind the Head Wolf in fear.

Xiaqing leaped across the wide, rushing stream and arrived at the base of the rock. "Queen, you’re finally back! Your brothers and sisters are on my territory. They all made it through the third Harmful Rain safely and are resting in the sheep pen right now."

The Head Wolf remained motionless. The Weasel, wearing a strained smile, crept out from behind the Head Wolf, placed the satchel it was carrying in its mouth next to her, and then, with a SWOOSH, it was gone.

Xiaqing’s eyes lit up as she stared at the satchel, which was so dirty its original color was impossible to tell. "Are the herbs in here? You’re amazing, Queen!"

After piling on the praise, Xiaqing picked up the bulging satchel. Opening it, she found the herbs inside mashed into a large, muddy ball. Tucked within were two sealed bags.

’No doubt about it. The herbs in the sealed bags must be from Yang Jin’s team, and the Head Wolf brought them back too. I really don’t know how that man and this wolf communicate, but she actually delivered the goods right to me.’

Just as Xiaqing was about to unleash a torrent of praise, the Head Wolf leaped away and vanished into the Injurious Grass.

"Take care, Queen! Don’t be a stranger, come by any time and get some rest!"

After her enthusiastic send-off, Xiaqing pulled out her phone to share the good news with Yang Jin, then immediately contacted Zhang San. Afterwards, she stared for a few seconds at the picture of the Weasel that Yang Jin had sent. It was an excellent shot, capturing both the look of the deep Evolution Forest—a place Xiaqing had never been—and the Weasel’s distinct features. Xiaqing saved the image to her phone.

’I don’t get why the Head Wolf brought a ’plucker’ along to gather herbs, but looking at it now, the little guy is actually pretty cute.’

’If I get another chance to trade with the Wolf Group, I’ll ask the Head Wolf if the little guy is up for trade.’

"Really? That’s fantastic!"

Not long after the herbs were picked up, Zhang San called. He told Xiaqing that the muddy ball of herbs the Head Wolf had brought back contained the two types they needed. Xiaqing was ecstatic. "Is it enough to cure Brother Luo and the Sick Wolf?"

Zhang San was in high spirits too. "There are even a few extra plants. I’ve already planted them in the greenhouse. The herbs are very fresh, so they’ll definitely survive."

’That’s wonderful news!’ A thought struck Xiaqing. "Brother San, is this bundle of herbs enough to clear my debt for the interior wall panels?"

Zhang San gave a definite reply, "After clearing your debt, you’ll have one hundred and twenty thousand points left over. Add that to the points from the braised meat you sent last time. What would you like to trade for?"

’One hundred and twenty thousand?!’

’No wonder all the capable people risk it all in the Evolution Forest. The rewards are so much higher than what you get from toiling away on a farm. The catch is, you have to have the ability. Otherwise, you’re just going in to become fertilizer for the Evolution Forest.’

Xiaqing quickly made her trade request. "I’d like to exchange for a refrigerator first, and also one of each of the essential medicines for missions in the Evolution Forest. If there’s anything left, I’ll take it in the form of medicine infused with spinach juice. How does that sound?"

Zhang San readily agreed. "Sure. I don’t have a refrigerator in stock right now, but I’ll send one over in a few days. I’ll prepare more medicine for you when you run out of what you have. As for the injury medication, you can pick it up when you bring the wolf in for a check-up."

The medicine had an expiration date, so Xiaqing readily agreed.

Zhang San then asked, "Were your spinach losses heavy?"

Xiaqing answered truthfully, "I have 115 plants left. Don’t worry, Brother San, I’ll definitely be able to pay back the two thousand spinach seeds I owe you this year."

Feeling good, Zhang San took a rare moment to ask about his fan’s livelihood. "Are the losses in your other plots bad?"

Asked about her losses, Xiaqing, of course, didn’t tell the whole truth. She answered vaguely, "I haven’t had a chance to tally it all up yet. The fields are full of pits right now."

Why were there pits? Because when clearing out Qiang Evolved plants, you had to dig them up along with the soil around their roots.

After hanging up, Xiaqing drove her micro-tiller home gleefully. She found the Head Wolf, looking fresh and clean after a bath, lying on the Injurious Grass she had laid out to dry under the eaves, sleeping and sun-drying her fur.

The equally damp Sheep Leader was lying next to the Head Wolf, chewing its cud. The Sick Wolf was grooming the Head Wolf’s fur, while Broken Waist and Broken Leg were also lying nearby, sunbathing. The sheep pen hadn’t been cleaned in three days and was a mess; even the wolves didn’t want to stay in there.

The chickens in their coop were unaffected by the Wolf Group and went about their business. The Black Feathered Goose, however, was huddled in a corner of its cage, trembling.

Xiaqing cheerfully called out a greeting, "You’ve had a bath, Queen? You look so clean."

The Head Wolf closed her brilliant gold eyes and continued to rest.

Xiaqing pushed open the security door and saw two sets of wet tracks on the living room floor: one set of paw prints and another of dotted tracks.

’No need to guess now. Sheep Leader must have taken the Head Wolf to the bathroom, turned on the showerhead, and helped her wash up. I have no idea when that rascal learned how to flip the shower switch.’

It was a good thing it had rained for three days, filling the water tank with cold water so they didn’t get scalded. It was also a good thing she had modified the switch, or Sheep Leader would have broken it off with a hoof or a bite and drained all the water. Even though it was filtered water, the filter cartridges still cost points to buy.

Xiaqing went upstairs to grab a clean, old duvet cover, then came down and beckoned to Sheep Leader. "Leader, come here and let me dry your wool."

’The Head Wolf has another wolf to lick her fur dry, but my Sheep Leader doesn’t.’

Having wet wool was indeed uncomfortable. Sheep Leader immediately trotted over to Xiaqing—CLIPPITY-CLOP—and let her dry him off.

After taking care of Sheep Leader, Xiaqing picked up another old duvet cover. "Queen, would you like me to dry you off, too?"

The Head Wolf stared at Xiaqing for a few seconds, then closed her eyes.

’Does that mean yes or no?’

Before Xiaqing could figure it out, Sheep Leader nudged her toward the Head Wolf. Now she understood. Xiaqing moved a small wooden stool over, sat down next to the Head Wolf, and began to gently dry her damp, thick fur, searching for where she might be injured.

Even though Xiaqing wasn’t an Olfactory Evolver, she had smelled the scent of blood on the Head Wolf the moment she got home.

The Head Wolf’s wound was in the exact spot the Sick Wolf had been licking earlier. It was about three centimeters long and looked like a gash from a sharp weapon. Thankfully, it had only cut through the skin and flesh without damaging the bone.

’Whatever person or beast could injure a Top Level Speed Evolution Wolf was definitely no simple foe. The Head Wolf is injured... what about Yang Jin? Is he injured too?’