Chapter 330: Nine Evolutionary Wolves

Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Nine Evolutionary Wolves

The Head Wolf finished inspecting the bathtub and turned her gaze to the Sick Wolf, her expression still serious. Xiaqing wasn’t quite sure what she was thinking, so she began to explain, "Queen, Second... I mean, the Sick Wolf, he’s fine. The medicine in the bath causes some pain when it starts working, but it will disappear once the treatment is over."

The Head Wolf walked over and sniffed the Sick Wolf; it was clear she was very concerned about his condition. The Sick Wolf weakly lifted his head, and they sniffed each other.

Seeing that the Sick Wolf didn’t have the strength to stand up, the Head Wolf let out a low whimper. The Broken Waist Wolf immediately entered the bathroom, grabbed the Sick Wolf by the scruff of his neck, and dragged him out. The Head Wolf remained at the bathroom door, staring at the bathtub and Xiaqing. Clearly, she hadn’t blindly trusted Xiaqing’s words.

This was no ordinary Evolutionary Wolf. She was the leader of the Evolution Wolf Group, a Brain Domain Evolver who had boldly entered human territory with her injured companions to seek treatment. After confirming that Xiaqing had saved two of her injured packmates, she was the pack leader who had then brought another companion, one attacked by parasites, to her territory for help.

Having been around her for over three months, Xiaqing knew this wolf cared deeply for her companions, was decisive enough, and also cautious enough.

So, until she could confirm for herself that the Sick Wolf was fine, she wouldn’t believe a word Xiaqing said.

Still, Xiaqing did her best to explain with gestures, showing her utmost sincerity. "This potion in the wooden tub, after soaking in it, will make the place where Broken Waist Wolf’s back was broken, and where the broken leg wolf’s leg was broken, even stronger. They’ll be tougher in a fight. This pain is worth it. Queen, you’ll understand by morning. If the potion wasn’t useful, I, Sheep Leader, and Sick Wolf wouldn’t have put ourselves through this suffering."

Xiaqing, who had been the first to take the medicinal bath, ached all over. After sitting with her two companions as they finished their own baths, she really couldn’t hold on any longer. "I’ll have to trouble you, Queen, and you, Broken Waist, to guard the territory for me tonight. I’m going up to get some sleep."

If the Head Wolf and Broken Waist Wolf hadn’t been in the territory, Xiaqing wouldn’t have dared to immediately give Sheep Leader and Sick Wolf their baths right after her own, leaving herself and two companions unable to fight at the same time.

Xiaqing crawled back to the second floor on all fours. She didn’t even make it to her bedroom before collapsing on the wooden floor and passing out. Sheep Leader was lying on the tatami mat, snoring. The Sick Wolf, having been dragged next to Sheep Leader by Broken Waist Wolf, was also lying motionless with his eyes closed.

After confirming that the Sick Wolf was still breathing, Broken Waist Wolf lay down beside them to stand guard. The Head Wolf watched over Sick Wolf and Sheep Leader for a while before going up to the second floor to check on Xiaqing.

After confirming Xiaqing’s condition was the same as Sheep Leader’s and Sick Wolf’s, the Head Wolf circled her once, then lay down next to her and slowly closed her eyes.

A light rain pattered down all night long.

The next day, Xiaqing woke up, stretched, and kicked her legs. Even though she had slept on the floor all night, she didn’t feel cold at all; in fact, she felt refreshed all over. If she had to describe the feeling, it was like a heavily worn old engine that had been coated with a thick layer of high-quality lubricant, now running with exceptional smoothness.

’Once I finish all eighteen doses of the Body Injury Healing Potion over the next six months, what state will my bones and muscles be in?’

Xiaqing opened her hand and looked at the two scars on the web of her right thumb, filled with anticipation.

The rain was still drizzling down, and the chirps of the Little Swallows and the crowing of the rooster sounded listless, but none of it could dampen Xiaqing’s good mood.

After washing up and going downstairs, she found the living room empty of wolves and sheep, but she could hear breathing from the bathroom.

Xiaqing first checked on the fish and rabbits before heading to the bathroom door, where she was surprised to find the Head Wolf standing next to the bathtub, staring intently at the medicinal liquid inside.

’The color of this potion really is ugly, but it works so well.’ Xiaqing asked, "Queen, where are Leader, Broken Waist, and Sick Wolf?"

The Head Wolf ignored Xiaqing, remaining focused on studying the potion in the tub. Xiaqing asked, "This potion is still effective. Queen, would you like to get in for a soak? It hurts, but you’ll be stronger after the pain."

The Head Wolf turned to look at Xiaqing, clearly tempted.

Xiaqing immediately fetched a heating rod, plugged it in, and began to heat the liquid in the tub. "The potion works best when its temperature is close to body temperature. Queen, I traded eight hundred thousand points for this medicine... eight hundred thousand points."

Xiaqing chose a unit of measurement the Head Wolf could understand. "Four Yi Stones this big"—she gestured—"the same amount of Yi Stones you gave me when you first brought your two injured companions into my territory. That’s what it costs to trade for a specially-formulated Body Injury Healing Potion."

After heating it to 40 degrees, Xiaqing removed the heating rod. "Go on in, Queen. You’ll start to feel pain after a little while, but I’m sure with your strength, you can definitely last for an hour."

Letting her companions take the medicinal bath wasn’t a reckless decision. Xiaqing had specifically consulted her idol, who said that animals could use it, but the effects wouldn’t be as good as when Xiaqing used it. After all, the medicine had been specially configured for Xiaqing by Zhang San.

After the Head Wolf got into the bath, the Sick Wolf returned with a small basket of insects in his mouth and went into the utility room to feed the fish.

The insects Sick Wolf had been catching to feed the fish these past few days were all palm-sized Evolved Insects. Because the territory had been thoroughly cleared, large Evolved Insects were becoming scarcer. To feed the fish, Sick Wolf now had to run to Zone Three of Mountain 49 to catch them.

After killing the insects and bringing them back, he didn’t just dump the basket and its contents into the tank and leave like Sheep Leader did. Instead, he would hold a large insect in his mouth, place it on the water’s surface, and wait for the fish to finish it before dropping in another one.

Watching the fish fight over the insects, the Sick Wolf would even wag his tail happily. It was clear he really enjoyed the process of feeding them.

Xiaqing recorded the scene with her phone before heading out to patrol the territory.

With five cameras running twenty-four hours a day, Xiaqing felt much more at ease, but she still patrolled the territory at irregular times each day to check on everything.

Although it wasn’t Harmful Rain falling now, three straight days of moisture had caused a new layer of tiny sprouts to emerge from the ground. They were of all different colors, making it look as if a clean, colorful carpet had been laid across the territory. It was quite a pleasant sight.

Sheep Leader was eating grass in the pasture shed, and Broken Waist Wolf had run off somewhere. Everything in the crop greenhouse was normal. The pods on the mung bean plants needed to be picked today, otherwise they would burst open as soon as the weather cleared.

The husks of the grains on the Green Rice stalks were turning yellow, a sign that they were beginning to ripen. Once the weather cleared, Xiaqing would harvest these ninety-odd stalks of early-sown Green Rice.

The Green Light Spinach, which had already bolted and finished flowering, would be bursting with spinach seeds next month. She’d have to put up protections in advance to keep them from blasting the greenhouse full of holes.

Arriving at the Spring Cave, Xiaqing moved the large rock blocking the entrance, took a water bucket out of her backpack, and placed it inside to collect spring water. She had used up all the spring water at home for the medicinal baths. At ten o’clock this morning, she also had to deliver a bucket of water to Zone Three of Mountain 49 for Wei Chengdong.

Luo Pei also needed Pollution-free Spring Water to use with medicine to expel the Qiang Synthesized Poison from his body.

Xiaqing switched on her flashlight and carefully inspected the two stalks of Qiangwu Grass inside the Spring Cave, finding them completely unchanged. If she hadn’t seen the roots of the Qiangwu Grass with her own eyes, Xiaqing would have suspected the two stalks were fakes made of plastic.

BZZZT—

Xiaqing pulled out her phone, saw it was a call from Hu Zifeng, and immediately answered.

"Xiaqing, there are nine Evolutionary Wolves crossing the valley between Mountain No. 49 and Mountain No. 50. Judging by their direction, they’re heading for your territory. The wolf in the lead is wearing a Protective Suit; it should be the Broken Waist wolf from your territory. Should we intercept?"