Chapter 50: Xiaqing’s Ability Enhancement

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Xiaqing’s Ability Enhancement

The next day, at the agreed-upon time, two members of Hu Zifeng’s team entered the Third Territory to watch Xiaqing’s home. Xiaqing put on her Protective Suit, grabbed her backpack, powerful slingshot, and machete, and went to the western isolation belt to meet up with Hu Zifeng’s team.

Xiaqing didn’t bring a gun this time, not only because her aim was poor and she was better with her slingshot, but also because Hu Zifeng’s team was so well-equipped that the risks of digging for bamboo shoots in the mountains were manageable.

Why didn’t Hu Zifeng just take his two team members into the Evolution Forest?

It was because, in a situation with manageable risks, a High Level Strength Evolver was more useful than two combat-oriented members. From their last mission, Hu Zifeng had confirmed that Xiaqing’s carrying capacity was no worse than that of the Level 5 Evolver, Guan Tong. And a level higher than five is six—a true High Level Strength Evolver.

The gap between Level 5 and Level 6 was a massive chasm separating General Evolvers from High Level Evolvers. This chasm was three times wider than the gap between Level 4 and Level 5. In other words, a Level 6 Evolver had the carrying capacity of eight ordinary people.

When team size was limited and the risks were manageable, bringing one more High Level Strength Evolver was better than bringing several more combat-focused members, as it allowed them to haul more supplies out of the Evolution Forest.

When Xiaqing arrived at the meeting point, she found that besides Hu Zifeng’s team, there was another eight-person team in the isolation belt. Although they were all wearing Protective Masks, Xiaqing recognized them at a glance—it was the Dongyang Team.

Moreover, the team’s leader today was actually the Dongyang Team’s captain—the Level 5 Speed Evolver, Chen Dongyang. Flanking him were the Level 5 Endurance Evolver, Xue Jinchang, and the Level 3 Auditory Evolver, Xu Juan. The others were also core members of the Dongyang Team.

Just to dig up some bamboo shoots for Zhang San, the Dongyang Team, ranked eleventh in Hui San Base, had sent out all their elites!

’What kind of ability user is Zhang San? Or what scarce resource does he possess that makes the tyrannical Tang Huai of the Tang Family and Hu Zifeng of the Green Dragon Team treat him so politely? He can even order Chen Dongyang to come dig bamboo shoots for him?’

Seeing everyone looking over, Xiaqing openly took off her Protective Mask and greeted Xu Juan, "Sister Juan."

Xu Juan immediately took off her Protective Mask and rushed toward Xiaqing, clicking her tongue in amazement. "I thought that looked like you, but I wasn’t sure. It’s only been a little over a month, how have you changed so much you look like a different person!"

Xiaqing, her face a dark red hue, smiled. "I got a new Protective Suit."

Her old Protective Suit had several obvious patches and gave off an air of shabbiness. The one she was wearing now was brand new, and its color and style were similar to everyone else’s, so she didn’t stand out as much.

Xu Juan laughed. "You’re still so straightforward."

The Dongyang Team’s captain, Chen Dongyang, stood quietly in the background, watching Xu Juan and Xiaqing.

Chen Dongyang was Xu Juan’s boyfriend, but she wasn’t his only female companion. He had no obvious scars on his face, was decent-looking, and had a high EQ, making him very popular in the Safe Zone.

During the Disaster Years, humanity worshipped and followed the strong. Powerful male and female Evolvers were always surrounded by admirers, and many of the strong changed bed partners faster than they changed equipment.

Xu Juan had once mentioned to Xiaqing during an idle chat that Chen Dongyang was the highest-level Evolver with a decent enough character that she had access to, which was why she was with him.

After Hu Zifeng and Chen Dongyang discussed and settled on a division of labor, Hu Zifeng led his team into the Evolution Forest first. Xu Juan and Xiaqing returned to their respective teams.

Once Xu Juan returned to the group, Chen Dongyang gave her a questioning look.

Both teams had an Auditory Evolver, so it was inconvenient to speak openly. Xu Juan shook her head, indicating she didn’t know why Xiaqing was with Hu Zifeng. When they were in the Safe Zone, she and Xiaqing would still run into each other occasionally for a chat. But now that Xiaqing was out here farming, they had lost touch.

Since it was a familiar path, the two teams quickly reached the bamboo forest. The ninety-acre, unharvested section of the forest was divided into two parts. After the two teams drew lots to decide their respective areas, they began to scan and dig for bamboo shoots.

Hu Zifeng split his eight-person team into two groups. Within four hours, they had dug through their forty-plus acres of bamboo forest once and found two Green Light Bamboo stalks. Although they had been hit by bamboo leaf darts more than forty times, the harvest was gratifying.

The Dongyang Team had bad luck today. Not only did they fail to find any Green Light Bamboo, but they also stumbled into a nest of Evolved Poison Snakes. They only managed to harvest three bags of Yellow Light Bamboo Shoots, which was nowhere near enough to complete Zhang San’s task.

So, after they left the Evolution Forest, Chen Dongyang approached Hu Zifeng with a trade offer: a price nearly double the point value of a Green Light plant in exchange for thirty-three pounds of Green Light Bamboo Shoots.

After getting the approval of his team members and Xiaqing, Hu Zifeng made the trade with Chen Dongyang. Once the two teams parted ways, Hu Zifeng suggested they divide the supplies on the spot, which Xiaqing, who now owned a vacuum sealer, readily agreed to.

This time, Xiaqing had played a role just as important as Guan Tong’s. Without her, capable of carrying 770 pounds while moving at full speed, it would have been impossible for Hu Zifeng’s team to escape the perilous Evolution Forest with such a large haul.

Therefore, Xiaqing received the same share of supplies as Guan Tong.

In addition to the 220 pounds of Yellow Light Bamboo Shoots she had dug up herself, Xiaqing also received a share of thirty-three pounds of Green Light Bamboo Shoots, two Yellow Light Bamboo Rats, and three hundred eight-millimeter steel balls. The steel balls were part of the payment from Chen Dongyang, and Xiaqing took all of them, as the powerful slingshot was her preferred weapon.

We’ll leave aside Tang Huai, who was secretly hiding and eavesdropping behind a grass wall, and turn our attention to the Dongyang Team, who were carrying their supplies to Territory Land No. 7 to complete their task.

Chen Dongyang took off his Protective Mask, his expression sour. "No one on the Beard Squad uses a slingshot, yet he still agreed to trade Green Light Bamboo Shoots for steel balls. That means Xiaqing carries a lot of weight with him."

Before Xu Juan could speak, Xue Jinchang cut in. "Xiaqing was carrying the same load as the Beard Squad’s Level 5 Strength Evolver today, and she didn’t slow them down one bit. Her ability has improved. Xiaqing’s not bad-looking, just too skinny and poisoned. If she cured the toxins in her skin and filled out a bit, she’d be quite a beauty."

Chen Dongyang didn’t respond, but Xu Juan, who had been with him for years, could tell he had taken Xue Jinchang’s words to heart. She frowned and warned them not to get any ideas. "Xiaqing is protected by the Lord Law now. Unless she’s willing, no one can touch her."

Chen Dongyang thought Xu Juan was just jealous and simply smiled without saying anything. Xue Jinchang, however, chuckled slyly. "Well, then we just have to make her willing, don’t we? Sister Juan, aren’t you on good terms with Xiaqing? Didn’t she used to go on missions with you? You should have her number, right?"

Xu Juan, who never had a kind look for Xue Jinchang, replied coldly, "There’s no signal in the territories. Phones don’t work."

Xue Jinchang clicked his tongue. "Right, I forgot about that."

Another team member teased Xue Jinchang, "That’s easy. Brother Chang, just give her a satellite phone and you’ll be able to contact her."

"A single satellite phone costs enough for me to sleep with women prettier than her for a whole year in the Safe Zone." Xue Jinchang dropped the subject of Xiaqing and asked about the trade. "Brother Yang, are thirty-three pounds of shoots enough to trade for two vials of Yi Liquid?"

"With the other trade goods we brought, it’s enough for one vial. I just don’t know if he’ll want these six hundred sixty-plus pounds of Yellow Light Bamboo Shoots."

Of course, Zhang San didn’t want them. He was furious with the Dongyang Team for taking all day just to come up with thirty-three pounds of Green Light Bamboo Shoots and shooed them away like flies. "Go, go, go! From now on, you’re forbidden from accepting any tasks I post!"

Chen Dongyang, who was usually so concerned with his pride, bowed and scraped before Zhang San. "Please give us another chance. We definitely won’t disappoint you next time."