Chapter 339: Will a Stalk of Qiangwu Grass Do?

Chapter 339: Chapter 339: Will a Stalk of Qiangwu Grass Do?

Seeing the Head Wolf had closed its eyes to rest, Xiaqing took out a Special Level Nutrient Liquid and negotiated with the Broken Waist Wolf standing guard nearby. "Handsome Wolf Brother, could you find a few companions to help me carry supplies back to my territory? I’ll trade this Special Level Nutrient Liquid for it."

A single Special Level Nutrient Liquid was worth 3,000 points. If she posted a mission in the Safe Zone to recruit Strength Evolvers for transport, she could easily gather them.

The Broken Waist Wolf, who knew its value, snatched the Special Level Nutrient Liquid from Xiaqing’s hand and quickly brought three large wolves over.

These three wolves had all been to the Third Territory yesterday for the medicinal bath. They seemed to be the Head Wolf’s "inner circle." The giant wolf that had carried Xiaqing yesterday was also among them. Although these wolves were plenty wild, the look in their eyes was much "kinder" than the other wolves on the mountain.

Those other wolves lay behind trees or rocks, quietly observing Xiaqing. If the Head Wolf hadn’t been there to intimidate them, Xiaqing would have long since been torn to shreds and devoured.

The Broken Waist Wolf was indeed very reliable.

Having a sheep companion, Xiaqing knew exactly how to pack supplies so that animals could carry them conveniently and safely. Three large wolves helped her carry six big bags of mountain walnuts, while she only had to carry the supplies she brought with her and the Python Skin.

After stuffing in the entire Python Skin, the total weight of the supplies Xiaqing carried was less than two hundred, which was a breeze for her.

She shouldered her backpack and called out to the Sick Wolf and the sleeping Head Wolf, "Queen, Second, why don’t you come back to my territory for treatment?"

The Sick Wolf limped over to Xiaqing’s side. The Head Wolf also rose slowly and walked over. To Xiaqing’s surprise, the broken leg wolf even emerged from the cave carrying the wolf with two broken hind legs on its back, joining the team of wolves hauling the mountain walnuts.

The Sick Wolf’s front leg was swollen. Although it limped, it wasn’t a major issue, and it could manage. The Head Wolf, however, wasn’t limping, but its condition was terrible.

Xiaqing tried to reason with the Head Wolf. "Queen, you have injuries on your legs and can’t travel far. Let Broken Waist carry you, or I can carry you back?"

The Head Wolf acted as if it hadn’t heard Xiaqing. It raised its head, puffed out its chest, and led the group forward with steady steps.

It had its own persistence and pride. Xiaqing stopped trying to persuade it. She waved goodbye to the Broken Waist Wolf standing at the cave entrance and followed the Wolf Group away from Mountain No.60.

Seven wolves and one human headed south. Their destination: a human territory.

After walking for a while, Xiaqing discovered a terrible truth: the one dragging down the entire group’s travel speed wasn’t the "patient," the Head Wolf, or the limping Sick Wolf, as she had assumed. It was the only human in the group—herself.

As the wolves in front repeatedly glanced back at her, the sweat-drenched Xiaqing saw clear, undisguised contempt in their eyes.

At first, Xiaqing grumbled a bit about only having two legs. But after following the Wolf Group at full speed for over two hours, she didn’t even have the energy to complain.

Because in order to accommodate her—a human moving at her top speed—the Wolf Group hadn’t been moving at *their* top speed. But this pace was truly Xiaqing’s absolute limit.

Although they were on a Beast Path frequently used by the Wolf Group, and the various Evolved Creatures on either side couldn’t attack her, it was still an immense challenge for Xiaqing. She had to run through colorful, bizarrely-shaped plants, tread on slippery mountain rocks and sticky mud, and keep up with a pack of Evolutionary Wolves native to the Evolution Forest. They scrambled over mountains, leaped across bottomless ravines, and crossed swamps by stepping on stones right next to alligator jaws.

’Damn it, those were four-to-five-meter-long alligators with their mouths wide open! Are you kidding me?’

’What the hell are those Evolved Plants with serrated petals on both sides of the Beast Path? Why do they stay perfectly still when the Wolf Group passes, but start drooling when I go by?’

’Damn it, these seven wolves are either injured or carrying heavy loads, yet they’re still running the whole way!’

If she hadn’t taken a Special Level Nutrient Liquid, Xiaqing would have collapsed long ago.

Xiaqing had planned to take five hours to cross the sixty-li Evolution Forest, but dragged along by the Wolf Group’s pace, she was forced to run it in just two and a half hours.

After entering her own territory, a mud-caked Xiaqing lay flat on her back in the Buffer Forest, panting heavily and waiting for rescue.

After reaching Mountain No. 49, Xiaqing had used her phone to notify Hu Zifeng’s team, telling them to return to the No.1 Territory to avoid a potential conflict with the Wolf Group. Therefore, the only ones within the Third Territory who could come to her aid were her companions.

Before long, the snow-white Sheep Leader appeared at Xiaqing’s side, its footsteps making a pleasant sound as it looked down at her.

The exhausted Xiaqing struggled to sit up, gasping for air. "Leader... I brought back... a lot of... supplies. Look."

Sheep Leader squinted at Xiaqing’s small backpack, then turned around.

Xiaqing loaded her backpack onto her companion’s back and called to the Sick Wolf, who was also resting nearby. "Second, let’s go... home."

When Xiaqing got home, the Wolf Group was already resting in the sheep pen. The six large bags of mountain walnuts were still hanging on the three big wolves. Although they were displeased, they didn’t dare to tear at the bags, intimidated by the Head Wolf.

Xiaqing entered the sheep pen, untied the ropes on the three wolves, and unloaded the bags. She then had Sheep Leader carry the bags in its mouth up to the roof of the scaffold warehouse.

The weather was nice and sunny today, but the corn Xiaqing had harvested was still in the underground storeroom, and the harvested green bean pods were drying on the second-floor balcony. So, the warehouse roof was still empty.

At the door, Xiaqing washed the mud from her hands and feet. She placed the bag containing the Python into the underground storeroom and the sealed bag with the Injuring Snake and the Python’s internal organs into the refrigerator. Only then did she drag her body, which felt like it was about to fall apart, into the second-floor bathroom to peel off her Protective Suit and soaked clothes for a shower.

The cold water on her burning shoulders felt incredibly good!

’This trip was exhausting, but I got a hardened Evolution Python skin and six big bags of mountain walnuts. Totally worth it.’

She took out a mountain walnut, placed it in the Yi Element Detector to test it, and after confirming that its Harmful Element level was also normal, Xiaqing called Yang Jin directly.

At the Green Dragon Team’s base in the Safe Zone, Yang Jin glanced at his phone, quickly finished the task at hand, closed his door, took a deep breath, and answered the call. "Xiaqing, you were looking for me?"

Xiaqing...

’What kind of question is that? I’m calling your number, who else would I be looking for?’

"Yes. Captain Yang, is it a good time to talk?" After getting an affirmative reply, Xiaqing sent him the picture of the Injuring Snake, briefly explained the Head Wolf’s current situation, and then asked, "Can Doctor Wang cure this kind of Injuring Snake’s poison? It needs Qiangwu Grass for the antidote, right? Would a price of one million points be acceptable to you?"

Unless it was absolutely necessary, Xiaqing didn’t want to ask Zhang San for the antidote. This was because the Qiangwu Grass and Pollution-free Spring Water needed to cure the Qiang Synthesized Poison were both available in her territory, but they were secrets she didn’t want to expose.

Luo Pei had been poisoned by Qiang Synthesized Poison, so the Green Dragon Team definitely had a specific formula for the antidote. Doctor Wang had been treating Luo Pei, so he should be able to cure the Head Wolf’s poison. As for the shredded skin on the Head Wolf’s four legs, the Green Dragon Team’s other team doctor, Chang Li, could suture it.

If Doctor Wang wasn’t confident, Xiaqing would then turn to Zhang San. However, that would require revealing her secret—the Pollution-free Spring Water—to her idol. Zhang San was too powerful, and a researcher to boot; Xiaqing felt she couldn’t be sure of him.

Ten years of the Natural Disaster had taught Xiaqing all about the evil of human nature. When faced with rare resources, Xiaqing, who lacked sufficient strength, didn’t dare to fully trust anyone.

Therefore, the fewer people who knew the secret of the spring water, the better.

Yang Jin didn’t mention the points. "Brother Luo was also poisoned by this type of Injuring Snake. The No.1 Territory has both the antidote formula and the medicinal herbs. Whether Doctor Wang can cure it will depend on an examination of the Head Wolf’s condition. I’ll set out right now to ’deliver’ the grass to you."

Xiaqing hadn’t known that the Head Wolf and Luo Pei were poisoned by the same type of Qiang Synthesized Poison. This was truly a stroke of luck in a disastrous situation.