Chapter 35: The Leader of the Green Dragon Team, Yang Jin

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Leader of the Green Dragon Team, Yang Jin

Yang Jin was the captain of the Green Dragon Team, and Xie Yu was the vice-captain. When Xiaqing came looking for Luo Pei, she never expected to be able to hide it from them. "The two of them are an exception. Do you have any clean containers for water? I’ll find a chance to bring today’s water over after it gets completely dark."

Xiaqing chose to bring it over herself because she didn’t want anyone to know its source. Luo Pei nodded. "We have containers. What kind of weapon do you want?"

Xiaqing didn’t answer right away. "Let’s talk after we’ve confirmed the water is effective."

"Alright." Tears streamed from Luo Pei’s closed eyes, but a smile was on his face. "Territory Two has Visual and Auditory Evolvers at Level 5 or higher. Let me know before you come over. I’ll have someone draw them away and get Wei Chengdong to wait for you where he picked you up earlier."

After Xiaqing agreed, Luo Pei thanked her solemnly. "Xiaqing, from now on, your problems are my problems. As long as it doesn’t break the law, don’t hesitate to ask for my help."

"You’re giving me too much credit, Captain Luo. I’m making this trade to protect my own territory." She knew she couldn’t hide the spring’s existence forever, and her original plan had been to cooperate with the military when concealment was no longer an option. But now that she had discovered Luo Pei’s injury and his need for the water, she decided to work with the Green Dragon Team instead.

The Green Dragon Team wasn’t affiliated with any of the base’s factions, so they had more autonomy. With the Territory Law in effect and a powerful rival like the Su Feng Team looming, the Green Dragon Team—as long as they weren’t fools—would surely calculate that cooperating with her was far more advantageous than killing her to seize the spring.

Only after Wei Chengdong had escorted Xiaqing away did the team doctor come in to report the spring water’s test results. "Not only is the Harmful Element content of this spring water almost zero, but the ratio of trace elements like selenium, strontium, and metasilicic acid is nearly perfect. The Yi Element content is also five points higher than the base’s best spring! If there’s a sufficient supply of this water, I’m confident I can completely neutralize the poison in Brother Luo."

For a man who had gone from being a Level 10 Visual Evolver to a tormented soul on the verge of blindness, Luo Pei reacted to the news with surprising calm. "Dispatch three people to the perimeter of the Third Territory to protect Xiaqing. Do not let anyone, aside from the patrol teams, approach the Third Territory without her permission. Remember, this is protection, not surveillance. Do not enter her land."

Only after the team doctor had left did Luo Pei finally let his emotions show. His skeletal hands slowly rose to cover his dark-red face. The tall man standing beside him felt his own eyes redden.

"Brother Luo." Wei Chengdong returned after seeing Xiaqing out of the territory. He lowered his voice and asked, "Should we call our leader and call off the deal with the Fiery Fire Team? Any later and it’ll be too late."

To find a cure for Luo Pei’s poisoning, Yang Jin had taken two squads from Hui San Base all the way to Hui Yi Base One to trade with the Fiery Fire Team, who controlled a natural spring.

Luo Pei shook his head. "Xiaqing’s spring water must be kept an absolute secret. Our deal with the Fiery Fire Team cannot be canceled."

Wei Chengdong scratched his head. "But the Fiery Fire Team will definitely take this opportunity to fleece us."

A slow smile spread across Luo Pei’s face. "Is Yang Jin the type to get taken for a ride?"

"Of course not." Wei Chengdong snickered. "Even if our leader gave in to Fire Phoenix, he wouldn’t be the one getting the short end of the stick..."

Luo Pei just smiled without saying anything. It was true that Fire Phoenix had her eye on Yang Jin and had made him several offers, but not in the way rumors suggested. What she valued were his combat prowess and his strategic mind.

Wei Chengdong hadn’t even finished speaking when the Auditory Evolver on guard duty ran in and knocked. "Brother Luo, there’s a helicopter approaching!"

"What?" Wei Chengdong leaped to his feet and rushed outside. "Brother Luo, I’m going to take a look!"

As the helicopter drew closer, the roar of its metal blades slicing through the air sent the Lords of the neighboring territories scrambling for hard cover, from where they peered up nervously.

Xiaqing calmed the spooked Sheep Leader, who was about to charge out and ram the aircraft. Through her Night Vision Goggles, she watched the small helicopter, its Red Light flashing, as it landed in the First Territory.

Tang Huai, who had also witnessed the scene, immediately called Xu Pin, the vice-captain of the Su Feng Team.

Xu Pin’s unconcerned voice came through the line. "How much water can one small helicopter carry, even if it’s packed to the gills? Isn’t it more fun to let Yang Jin see a glimmer of hope before we snuff it out?"

"You’re truly brilliant, sir. You hit the nail right on the head," Tang Huai said deferentially, then hung up with a grim expression.

The Visual Evolver Zhou Xun asked nervously, "Chief, the vice-captain doesn’t expect us to go blow up that helicopter, does he?"

"Blow up my ass. Get the hell out and keep watch," Tang Huai snapped, sending Zhou Xun away. He remained silent, his face grim.

Tang Heng, who bore a strong resemblance to Tang Huai, spoke up. "Luo Pei’s poisoning requires tons of water. For his sake, Yang Jin fell out with the base command and even led a team through the Evolution Forest to find a cure. If Luo Pei were on our team... Brother, what do you suppose our captain would do?"

’Not only would Tang Zhengsu never waste uncontaminated water—which was more valuable than gold—to save someone, he would exploit Luo Pei’s death to wring out every last bit of his value.’

Tang Huai leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the dim yellow lightbulb on the ceiling.

The helicopter landed and the cabin door slid open. After Yang Jin stepped out carrying two large water tanks, the helicopter’s rotors spun faster, and with a roar, it ascended and flew off to the northwest. Wei Chengdong rushed over to take the tanks. "Leader, where’d you get a helicopter? You’re incredible!"

Yang Jin didn’t let go. "You won’t be able to carry these. How’s Brother Luo?"

"He’s holding on." Wei Chengdong didn’t argue the point and trotted ahead to lead the way.

Yang Jin strode into the room, set down the water tanks, and took off his Night Vision Goggles. When he saw Luo Pei in the lounge chair, his bloodshot eyes darkened. "Brother Luo didn’t take his medicinal bath?"

His brothers were risking their lives to find water for him; as long as he could still bear it, Luo Pei would never waste it on a medicinal bath. He chuckled and replied, "Of course I did. Did you catch a ride back on a military plane?"

Seeing the team doctor lower his head and avoid his gaze, Yang Jin knew Luo Pei wasn’t telling the truth. He motioned for the doctor and Wei Chengdong to take the water tanks and prepare the medicinal bath at once. Only then did he close the door and answer Luo Pei’s question. "The Hui Yi Base One military was shipping supplies this way, so I tagged along to deliver these two tanks first."

Luo Pei smiled and asked Yang Jin, "What did Fiery Fire want? You or Xie Yu?"

Xie Yu was the vice-captain of the Green Dragon Team and a Level 3 Brain Domain Evolver. If Yang Jin and Luo Pei were the team’s muscle, then Xie Yu was its brains.

Yang Jin, who had been working around the clock for two days and nights to get the water, lit an Evolution Smoke to stay sharp. "We traded weapons for it."

"Just weapons?" Luo Pei was incredulous.

Yang Jin took a drag of smoke. "I have to lead a team on one mission with them. They keep whatever we get."

Just as Luo Pei was about to press for details, the team doctor walked in. "Captain Yang, Brother Luo, the water you just brought back is definitely mountain spring water, but its quality isn’t as good as the bottle from this afternoon. Brother Luo is extremely weak right now. I recommend we use the better water."

’The bottle from this afternoon?’ Yang Jin looked at Luo Pei. "Where did you get other water?"

Luo Pei dismissed the team doctor before telling Yang Jin about Xiaqing and her spring. "I haven’t discussed the details with her yet. Why don’t you and Chengdong go pay her a visit?"

When Yang Jin didn’t respond, Luo Pei added, "She may be young, but she has a clear head on her shoulders. She knows what she wants, and she knows how to repay a kindness, otherwise she never would have brought the spring water to us. Xiaqing isn’t like those women in the Safe Zone who are after you. Don’t scare her off with that cold stare of yours."

’Of course, she knows what she wants,’ Yang Jin thought, stubbing out the Evolution Smoke. A faint smile touched his lips.

Lying quietly in his lounge chair, Luo Pei couldn’t help but feel that there was something unusual about Yang Jin’s silence.