Chapter 255: Evolved Silly Roe Deer

Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Evolved Silly Roe Deer

Xiaqing didn’t hear a thing, which once again confirmed that the Sick Wolf’s hearing was more evolved than hers. This was normal, as the hearing of wolves or dogs is naturally superior to that of humans.

Xiaqing pretended not to see the Red Squirrel and continued picking cotton. After the Sick Wolf determined the Red Squirrel was not a threat, it lay back down to warm its belly.

Seeing that Xiaqing and the wolf were ignoring it, the Red Squirrel inched forward on the rooftop, its eyes fixed on the cotton.

’Here to mooch more cotton?’

Xiaqing stood up. "Second, stay here and guard the cotton. Don’t let that Red Squirrel steal it. I’m going to get something."

Xiaqing quickly returned with two peanuts and two Chestnuts, sat down, and resumed picking cotton. Seeing that Xiaqing and the Sick Wolf were still ignoring it, the Red Squirrel moved to a spot three meters away from them and stopped, not daring to get any closer. At this distance, even if Xiaqing and the Sick Wolf suddenly lunged, they wouldn’t be able to catch it.

Xiaqing felt the time was right. She placed a tuft of pale-yellow cotton to the side. "This is for you."

’First, I’ll set the bait. Once the Red Squirrel understands how good the cotton is, it’ll be easier to move on to the trade.’

The Red Squirrel remained squatted in place, unmoving. Xiaqing assumed the squirrel was afraid she’d try to catch it, so she backed away a few steps. She then realized that even though the Red Squirrel was now standing right beside the pale-yellow cotton, it was still staring eagerly at the cotton in her own hands.

Now Xiaqing understood. ’This little freeloader... it’s turning its nose up at the smelly, pale-yellow cotton!’

Xiaqing picked a pristine white tuft and placed it beside her, telling the Red Squirrel, "This one’s for you."

The Sick Wolf thought Xiaqing was talking to it, so it got up, walked over to the cotton, pinned it down with a large paw, and went back to lying down to warm its belly. Xiaqing didn’t say anything. She picked another pristine white tuft of cotton, placed it on the other side, pointed at the Red Squirrel, then at the cotton. "Red Squirrel, this white cotton is for you."

After Xiaqing moved away again, the once-hiding Red Squirrel stared at the pristine white cotton for a moment, then dashed over, snatched the cotton, and ran off.

After the Red Squirrel ran off, Xiaqing began to count silently: one, two, three...

In less than a minute, the little guy was back, flicking its big, fluffy tail and rubbing its little paws as it continued to stare at the snow-white cotton in Xiaqing’s hands.

’Still trying to mooch? You turn your nose up at the smelly stuff, and now you demand the pure white, odorless kind? Forget it! I don’t care how cute that tail-wagging is!’

’The wolf paying its medical fees with a Yi Stone still has to hand over edible meat every day while it recovers on my land.’ Xiaqing picked a tuft of pristine white cotton and took out a single peanut in its mottled shell. "Want this cotton? If you do, trade a peanut for it."

Xiaqing noticed that after she took out the peanut, the Red Squirrel switched its gaze to it. So, Xiaqing simply shelled the peanut, ate the kernel, and tossed the shell onto the rooftop.

Seeing Xiaqing eat the peanut, the Red Squirrel became so angry it hopped up and down for a moment, then ran off.

Smiling, Xiaqing finished picking the cotton, secured the insect-proof netting, and went downstairs with the Sick Wolf. The Red Squirrel didn’t reappear by the time she was back inside.

Failing to trade cotton for peanuts meant today’s transaction was a failure, but Xiaqing wasn’t disappointed. Not every animal would become super-intelligent after evolving; otherwise, there would truly be no room for humans to survive on Blue Star.

It didn’t matter that the Red Squirrel hadn’t brought any peanuts. Xiaqing planned to check its den every day. Once she confirmed there were peanuts in its den, she would follow it to collect them.

’As long as it has the locator on it, the Red Squirrel is my personal food scout.’

Xiaqing took the Yellow Light rabbit she had just received that morning from the refrigerator, cut half of it into chunks, and put it in a pot to stew with Pollution-free Spring Water. Then, she sent a message to Yang Jin: Captain Yang, are you free anytime soon? I have a business proposition I’d like to discuss with you.

Yang Jin hadn’t shown his face since coming out of the Evolution Forest.

PING. Far to the north of Hui San Base, beyond White Seven Base, a faint, water-droplet-like notification sound chimed inside a snow-white tent pitched amidst a vast expanse of snow.

Yang Jin pulled a phone from an inner pocket. A smile appeared on his scruffy, bearded face. After taking a few sips of boiled snowmelt, Yang Jin called Xiaqing directly. "Xiaqing, have you made a new discovery?"

On Yang Jin’s end, Xiaqing could hear the wind whipping against canvas; he had to be in an outdoor tent. The wind was so loud it meant Yang Jin wasn’t at Hui San Base. However, since he called her back, it must have been a convenient time to talk. Xiaqing answered concisely, "I’ve discovered Green Light chestnut trees. The Harmful Element content is just over two parts per thousand, and they taste excellent. Brother San from Territory Land No. 7 said a pound could sell for at least four hundred points. I want to partner with you to cultivate Green Light chestnut tree seedlings."

Yang Jin understood. "You found the chestnut trees in Zone Three of Mountain 49?"

Xiaqing nodded. "Yes. The leaves of the edible chestnut trees have evolved to be extremely sticky, allowing them to trap insects. They’ve formed a symbiotic relationship with Evolved Bees. An adult tree can produce around a hundred pounds of Chestnuts a year."

Yang Jin, who had explored Mountain No. 49 before, recalled a forest in a valley that had been full of those bees. His objective at the time had been to find a Pollution-free Spring Water source, so he hadn’t noticed they were actually chestnut trees.

’Were there Chestnuts on them back then?’ Yang Jin clutched the Yi Stone Protection Shell, a smile in his tired eyes. "If these trees are cultivated properly, they won’t just be a source of food; they could also serve as a protective wall. How many seeds do you have?"

’How many seeds? Heh.’

Xiaqing suppressed a smile and answered calmly, "These evolved chestnuts are more than double the size of the ones from before the Natural Disasters. It takes just over thirty to make a pound. Right now, I have twenty-five pounds of Green Light and over six hundred and fifty pounds of Yellow Light."

Yang Jin laughed. His voice was slightly hoarse, but his laugh was very pleasant. "This one deal will be enough to earn back the points you spent buying the mountain."

’More than enough. I also traded for eight hundred thousand points’ worth of medicine to heal my injuries.’ Xiaqing was in an excellent mood. "So, you agree to partner with me?"

Hearing her use that formal tone again, Yang Jin gripped the Yi Stone Protection Shell tightly. "Of course. We’ll discuss the details when I get back. This matter can’t involve the squad; No.1 Territory has to be the one to handle it. Otherwise, the Alliance will definitely stick their oar in."

Xiaqing was pleased. "Then I won’t keep you. I’ll talk to Brother Luo."

Luo Pei was the Lord of No.1 Territory.

Yang Jin disagreed. "Brother Luo shouldn’t be troubled right now. Wait until I get back."

"Alright." Xiaqing then asked, "If you still need to gather medicinal herbs for the treatment, you can send me pictures. I’ll go talk to the Wolf Group."

"We only need one last herb to have them all, and the Wolf Group can’t get here." Yang Jin didn’t hide anything from her. "This herb grows deep in the Evolution Forest north of White Seven Base. I’ll bring it back in a few days."

Bai... Bai Qi?! Yang Jin was currently deep in the Evolution Forest north of the northernmost base’s Safe Zone in Hua Country?!

Xiaqing was shocked. "I remember the broadcast saying that’s the territory of evolved tigers and evolved brown bears."

Yang Jin laughed. "Mm, not just tigers and bears. There are also snow wolves, arctic foxes, and roe deer. The roe deer are still just as goofy after evolving. There’s one standing outside my tent right now, tilting its head and watching the fun."

Inside the tent, Wang Liang glanced at the "goofy" evolved roe deer outside—which stood taller than a man and looked quite ferocious—then at his boss, who was grinning like a smitten fool. Speechless, he stared up at the canvas roof.

The image of a goofy roe deer was so amusing that Xiaqing was still fighting a smile long after she hung up.