Chapter 36: Terms of the Deal

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Terms of the Deal

At the agreed-upon time, Xiaqing confirmed no one was watching within a two-hundred-meter radius before shouldering a water tank of over one hundred liters and entering the West Buffer Forest. The spring on her mountain produced about three hundred liters of water a day. Over the next four months, Luo Pei would use up nearly half of it. This was the biggest trade she had made since leaving her territory.

Handing the life-saving water tank to Wei Chengdong, Xiaqing lowered her voice. "Same time tomorrow."

"We appreciate the trouble." Right now, Wei Chengdong wanted to worship Xiaqing like a goddess. He took the tank and asked cautiously, "Our Captain Yang would like to discuss Brother Luo’s treatment with you. Is that okay?"

After dark, she had seen the aircraft land in the No.1 Territory, so Xiaqing had already guessed that Yang Jin might have arrived. She also figured he would want to see her, so she nodded calmly. "Alright."

Seeing that Xiaqing was about to follow him back to the No.1 Territory, Wei Chengdong quickly added, "It’s the middle of the night; we can’t have you making another trip. Captain Yang is waiting just over there."

With that, Wei Chengdong turned, gave a hand signal, and called out in a low voice, "Boss."

Xiaqing had already heard human breathing from within the Buffer Forest of the No.1 Territory. She’d assumed it was just people coming to carry the water, never expecting it to be Yang Jin, the leader of the Green Dragon Team.

As Yang Jin, the leader of the Green Dragon Team, emerged from the Buffer Forest, Xiaqing could see his superb physique even through the camouflage Protective Suit under the moonlight. Only one thought crossed her mind:

’Other people’s leaders and my leader truly are two completely different species.’

"Our boss doesn’t like to talk much, but he’s a really good guy." Fearing that Xiaqing would be intimidated by his boss’s cold expression and his "Iron Rooster" negotiating style, Wei Chengdong stressed the point before shouldering the water tank and leaving.

’Of course Yang Jin is a good guy,’ Xiaqing thought. ’If he hadn’t brought the Green Dragon Team to Hui San Base, the Su Feng Team’s monopoly would have allowed them to be even more tyrannical, and my life would be even harder.’

’Yang Jin is one of the top figures in Hui San Base, while I’m just an obscure nobody. Even though I have the upper hand in this deal, I have my own goals; I’m not just granting a favor. So, of course, I can’t put on airs in front of a big shot like him.’

So, when Yang Jin walked over, Xiaqing took the initiative to introduce herself. "Hello, Captain Yang. I am the Lord of the Third Territory, a Level 4 Strength Evolver, Xiaqing."

The Green Dragon Team had been in Hui San Base for five years, and Xiaqing had been on many missions with Luo Pei’s squad, but this was the first time she had ever spoken to the Green Dragon Team’s captain.

The incident last time—when Yang Jin and Tan Junjie came to the Third Territory to clear out the large Qiang Evolution tree in the West Buffer Forest and saw her brawling with the Sheep Leader—had been voluntarily deleted from Xiaqing’s memory.

Because Xiaqing wasn’t wearing Night Vision Goggles, Yang Jin took his off as well. He followed her lead and introduced himself, "Miss Xia, I’m Yang Jin, captain of the Green Dragon Team. The No.1 Territory has too many eyes and ears. Could we talk inside your territory?"

Xiaqing genuinely disliked people entering her territory, but since she was negotiating a deal with the Green Dragon Team, safety had to be the priority.

"Of course. This way, please. The mountain path is rough, so you should put your goggles on." Xiaqing couldn’t afford high-end equipment like Night Vision Goggles; she only had a standard hand-held night vision device. However, under the faint moonlight at three in the morning, Xiaqing, who possessed a Visual Evolutionary Ability, didn’t need any visual aids on this familiar path.

Going back to her home was out of the question. Xiaqing led Yang Jin to a relatively intact room in the Deserted Village below the West Buffer Forest.

"Relatively intact" meant the room had walls and a roof. After settling in her territory, Xiaqing had sealed the room’s window, using it as one of her hideouts for when danger arose.

She invited Yang Jin inside, then blocked the low, narrow door—which only allowed one person to pass through crouched over—with a wooden plank. After starting a fire for light, she was about to invite Yang Jin to sit on the crude log that served as the only real seat by the fire, but when she turned, she saw he was already sitting on a rock on the other side.

’His face is even more captivating in the firelight than in the sun,’ Xiaqing observed. ’What’s rarer is the sense of tranquility he exudes, like the sky itself. In the chaotic social order and constant crisis following Blue Star’s great biological evolution, such a feeling is incredibly scarce. No wonder the ever-proud Tang Lu is so shamelessly chasing after him.’

’His youth and good looks are secondary. Yang Jin is a Top Level Evolver with a 150-year lifespan and the captain of the Green Dragon Team. Being with him means no more worrying about food and safety. That’s why it’s not just Tang Lu; many women in Hui San Base want to land him.’

Xiaqing had also heard that Deng Yufeng, the Fire Phoenix—leader of the renowned Fiery Fire Team from the Hui City Main Base, also known as Hui Yi Base One—had her eyes on him too.

The last time the Fire Phoenix came to Hui San Base, Tang Lu had foolishly gone to provoke her, only to be effortlessly put in her place. It was an incident that everyone in Hui San Base had applauded, but unfortunately, Xiaqing had been on a mission at the time and missed seeing it firsthand.

Xiaqing sat on the log and explained to Yang Jin why they were talking here. "I have an Evolutionary Sheep that’s extremely territorial. If I brought you to my home, it would cause a huge commotion."

’When others addressed him formally, Yang Jin felt nothing. But hearing Xiaqing do it made him want to grab the word, tear it to pieces, and make sure she could never put it back together again.’

Though he had a lot on his mind, Yang Jin’s expression remained neutral as he cut straight to the chase. "What kind of weapons do you want?"

Since she didn’t know much about weapons, Xiaqing humbly asked for Yang Jin’s advice. "My goal is to protect myself and my territory. What kind of weapons do you think would be suitable? My territory is a total of seven thousand five hundred acres. The farmland, three villages, and the reservoir make up about three thousand acres, while the buffer forests on the western and northern slopes cover the remaining four thousand five hundred acres. There’s only me and one Evolutionary Sheep on the territory, and I don’t plan on adding more people."

Hearing that she didn’t plan on adding more people didn’t surprise Yang Jin at all. He looked at her calmly from across the fire. "What’s your sheep’s combat capability? Can it communicate with people and follow orders?"

Xiaqing felt a little sheepish. "It’s a Strength Evolution, with an Evolution Level no weaker than a Level 5 Strength Evolved People. It’s pretty smart when it comes to food and can understand simple commands, but whether or not it follows them depends on its mood."

’An Evolutionary Animal that has to be bribed with food can’t be relied upon to act independently.’

Yang Jin crisply laid out the alternatives. "There are three options for protecting your territory. One: we enclose the entire territory with an electric iron-mesh fence. Two: I dispatch a ten-man medium-sized squad from the Green Dragon Team to guard the perimeter of the Third Territory and intercept all threats. Three: we station a ten-man medium-sized squad at the No.1 Territory, ready to act on your command at any time. For the first option, we’ll be responsible for the equipment and installation. For the latter two options, the protection period is one year."

The electric fence was a tempting offer, but the subsequent maintenance costs would be too high, and it would draw too much attention. Xiaqing made her choice immediately. "I’ll take option three."

’A predictable choice.’ Yang Jin continued, outlining the plan best suited for her. "To ensure your safety, we will provide you with a Handgun, an automatic rifle, and a long-range sniper rifle, with three hundred Bullets for each. Additionally, you’ll receive three sets of our best protective gear—two for you, and one for an Evolutionary dog, which a sheep can also use."

Yang Jin had added the protective gear for the sheep on the fly, because he could see how much Xiaqing cared for it. Regardless of whether the Evolutionary Sheep was useful, what she wanted was a companion—a companion she wouldn’t have to worry about betraying her and turning on her.

Yang Jin understood perfectly why Xiaqing chose an Evolutionary Animal over a human as a companion. Because no matter how much an animal evolved, its mind would never be as complex or as difficult to understand as a human’s.