Chapter 44: Entering the Evolution Forest to Dig for Bamboo Shoots

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Entering the Evolution Forest to Dig for Bamboo Shoots

Over the walkie-talkie, Qi Fu explained the key points for planting the upcoming seedlings. "Don’t water them every day. Let the soil dry out before you water them again. Spray them frequently with Evolved Camphor Tree Juice to prevent chewing insects. If you see a seedling with leaves that aren’t diseased or bitten, but it’s still yellow and wilting, then the problem is most likely in the soil."

Crouching by the field, Xiaqing diligently recorded Qi Fu’s words in her phone’s notepad. Zhao Ze asked, "Brother Qi, what kind of problem? Can you be more specific?"

"We’re all clearing new land for our first crop and we’ve used insecticidal and fungicidal powders, so there shouldn’t be many pathogens in the soil. The most likely culprits are those two bastards: evolved grubs and evolved cutworms." Qi Fu’s voice was filled with frustration, as if he were grinding his teeth.

The Lords had all witnessed how destructive these two insects were in the wheat, cotton, and mung bean fields. After discovering a bitten seedling, you had to dig up the soil to kill the pest. But even if you were extremely careful not to damage the taproot, the seedling would still be weakened after being replanted.

What was most infuriating was digging up the soil only to find the root had been chewed on, but the insect was already gone. The fragile seedling, first bitten by the pest and then dug up by a person, became even weaker.

Every night, some Lord would be driven mad with rage over this.

Xiaqing, having undergone Auditory Evolution, used her exceptional hearing every day to clear pests from her vegetable garden, fields, and orchards, as well as the surrounding area of over ten meters. Not only did she never get angry about this, but she had also established friendly neighborly relations with the four Evolutionary Magpies and two Evolved White Egrets within her territory.

The two White Egrets had moved in a few days ago, building a nest in a small patch of the Fir Forest north of the reservoir. Xiaqing, who hadn’t eaten eggs in years, was now eagerly waiting for her new neighbors to lay some so she could go steal them.

After turning off the walkie-talkie, Xiaqing looked up and confirmed that the Asparagus Chrysanthemum shoots had grown to between twelve and fifteen centimeters long and were ready for harvest. This was the second harvest of Asparagus Chrysanthemum. Xiaqing snipped off all the ready shoots and traded them with Tan Junjie for thirty-five liters of diesel.

Although she had no other Evolved Asparagus Trees to compare it with, Xiaqing was quite satisfied with the yield from this large Asparagus Tree. Carrying two fuel canisters, Xiaqing told Tan Junjie her plans for the next day. "I’m leaving the territory for half a day tomorrow. I traded some supplies with people from No. 1 Territory to guard my land for me."

She had planted so many things in her territory, and the amount of important supplies at her home was growing, so it couldn’t be left unattended. This was why Xiaqing was using her own ’security team’ for the first time. She informed Tan Junjie in advance to prevent any misunderstandings if he saw people from No. 1 Territory in or around her territory during his patrol tomorrow.

Tan Junjie nodded and left. He didn’t ask Xiaqing what she had traded with No. 1 Territory, nor did he ask what she was doing outside her territory. Of course, Xiaqing didn’t pry into how Tan Junjie planned to use the Asparagus Chrysanthemum either.

Curiosity killed humans. This was true before the Natural Disaster, and even more so after. It didn’t kill cats, however, because most cats had become incredibly powerful after evolving and had the ability to back up their curiosity.

After arranging tomorrow’s trip with Hu Zifeng, Xiaqing began to consult the Sheep Leader. "I’m going to dig for bamboo shoots tomorrow. Do you want to come? It’s the same bamboo forest where we cut bamboo before. You’ve been there."

After the Chicken Shit Vine incident, Xiaqing felt the Sheep Leader was a bit smarter than she’d initially thought. As a result, she became more talkative around it, hoping that one day the Sheep Leader would truly understand what she was saying.

The Sheep Leader didn’t even lift its eyelids, continuing to lie on the tatami mat and chew its cud.

The straw mat on the tatami was one Xiaqing had recently woven while bored from guarding the vegetable seedlings. On top of it lay a large, comfortable straw cushion. Xiaqing had specially made it to thank the Sheep Leader for its concern, designing it according to her own understanding of ovine ergonomics.

Judging by the Sheep Leader’s expression, it was quite pleased.

Looking at its smug expression now, Xiaqing’s desire to cook it into an eighteen-course lamb feast lessened considerably. She smiled, "Good night, Sheep Leader."

After Xiaqing fell asleep, the Sheep Leader rested its large, spiral-horned head on the raised edge of the straw cushion and slowly closed its eyes.

Early the next morning, after completing her pest-control patrol, Xiaqing invited Hu Zifeng’s team in. Hu Zifeng’s team consisted of ten male Evolvers. Today, they had left only one member behind to guard No. 1 Territory; the rest had all come. Of these nine men, four would stay to guard Xiaqing’s territory, while the other five would accompany her into the Evolution Forest to dig for bamboo shoots.

Xiaqing wasn’t worried that the members staying behind would snoop around her territory. A team handpicked by Yang Jin wouldn’t do anything to tarnish his reputation.

Besides, this wasn’t the first time Xiaqing had met this team. Hu Zifeng’s team often collaborated on missions with Luo Pei’s team. Although Hu Zifeng looked fierce and had a booming voice, he was always the first to charge ahead when danger struck. Mission points were distributed within the team based on each member’s contribution, so the team was very united. There had never been an incident of them backstabbing their own, making them trustworthy.

Dressed in a two-piece camouflage Protective Suit and carrying a Handgun, Xiaqing walked out of the western Buffer Forest. She turned back again and shouted to the Sheep Leader, who hadn’t followed, "Leader, I’m heading to the Evolution Forest over there to dig for bamboo shoots. Are you coming or not?"

The Sheep Leader squinted, staring at the group of people standing in the isolation zone. Hu Zifeng’s group, in turn, curiously sized up Xiaqing’s "leader." Both sides remained silent.

Seeing the Sheep Leader wasn’t moving, Xiaqing waved to it. "Alright, I’m going by myself then. You stay and watch the house, Leader."

"BAA—"

Just as Xiaqing crossed the isolation zone and was about to enter the Evolution Forest, the Sheep Leader suddenly bleated. Already familiar with its cries, Xiaqing heard a clear warning in this one. ’Does the Sheep Leader sense danger over there, and is that its way of warning me not to go?’

But with a delicious prize so close, Xiaqing couldn’t turn back. "I’m fully equipped and I have a squad with me. Nothing will happen. Leader, just wait for me to bring back some tasty treats."

With that, Xiaqing asked the team members staying behind not to let the Sheep Leader wander into other territories. "Even though it’s a Red Light Animal and can’t be eaten, it’s not good to startle people in the other territories."

Hearing this, Tang Huai, who was hiding and eavesdropping in Territory No. 2, sighed silently. ’If that sheep wasn’t Red Light, I would’ve been feasting on roasted lamb chops long ago.’

Once Hu Zifeng’s team was a good distance away, Zhou Xun, a Visual Evolver, lowered his voice and reported to Tang Huai, "Boss, Hu Zifeng and his men went into the Evolution Forest with Xiaqing to dig for bamboo shoots. Should we follow?"

"Follow my ass!" Tang Huai stood up, crushing a few insects that were trying to crawl into his Protective Suit, and went back to guarding the vegetable patch. After listening to Qi Fu and the others drone on about planting for days, Tang Huai hadn’t developed any interest in farming. Instead, he had grown fond of listening for pests and digging them up.

Today, the mini-tillers in No. 1 Territory and Territory No. 3 were finally quiet, and he wanted to take advantage of this rare opportunity to dig up bugs to his heart’s content. This was way more interesting than his eavesdropping mission.

"Miss Xia, stay behind me. Everyone on high alert, maintain formation." Although Hu Zifeng didn’t know Xiaqing was the one providing the spring water, he knew Luo Pei was healing in her territory. Because of this, he was especially grateful and respectful toward her, speaking very politely.

Xiaqing thanked him and used the earpiece communicator built into her Protective Mask to remind Hu Zifeng, "This is the best time of year for bamboo shoots, so we need to be wary of dangerous animals that might be in the bamboo forest. My sheep is very sensitive to danger. The fact that it wouldn’t come means there’s a threat here it doesn’t want to face."

Based on Xiaqing’s experience, whenever a delicious plant ripened, Evolutionary Animals that favored it would gather nearby. ’An Evolutionary Animal that likes to eat bamboo... could it be an evolved giant panda?!’

Xiaqing’s eyes lit up. She pushed her auditory and visual senses to their limits, trying to catch a glimpse of a black and white figure.

’Then again, giant pandas would still be black and white after evolving... right?’