Chapter 97: New Lord of Territory No. 12

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: New Lord of Territory No. 12

Yang Jin disagreed with Luo Pei’s assessment of Xiaqing. "It’s true she hasn’t had professional, systematic training, but she’s been in real combat since she was fifteen and hasn’t suffered any injuries. She’s a Three Systems High Level Evolver, so of course her potential is greater than mine. But we have different goals. She couldn’t care less about the combat power rankings, and even if the base created a farming leaderboard one day, she wouldn’t care about that either."

’That’s true.’ Luo Pei couldn’t help but laugh. "You have a pretty high opinion of Xiaqing. But if she heard you say that, her first reaction would definitely be to think you’re trying to haggle down the price in a trade."

Yang Jin smiled too, in an excellent mood. "Brother Luo, I’m heading to Hui Yi to go to sea with the Fiery Fire Team for a while. Communications will be cut off. I’m leaving the team to you and Old Xie. I’ll be back as soon as I can."

After Luo Pei was poisoned, Yang Jin had led a team through one Evolution Mountain Forest after another to reach Phoenix Mountain in Hui Yi Base One. There, he struck a deal with Fire Phoenix of the Fiery Fire Team. One of the conditions was that after Luo Pei was cured, Yang Jin would accompany Fire Phoenix on a mission.

Because of Xiaqing’s appearance, the Green Dragon Team only had to retrieve water from Phoenix Mountain once, but Yang Jin still decided to go on the mission. First, he had promised Fire Phoenix. Second, he was very interested in the mission’s objective. As for the third reason, that was naturally because Yang Jin and Fire Phoenix had reached a new agreement: the spoils from this mission would be split seventy-thirty, with the Fiery Fire Team taking seventy percent and the Green Dragon Team taking thirty.

The larger share for the Fiery Fire Team was Yang Jin’s way of thanking Fire Phoenix for being willing to provide the water to save Luo Pei when he was in danger.

Although the terms Fire Phoenix had offered at the time were harsh, the fact that she was willing to trade the water was enough.

In the Disaster Year, every meeting could be the last, and every farewell could be final.

Luo Pei clapped Yang Jin solemnly on the shoulder. "The sea is far more dangerous than the Evolution Forest. Should I contact Yan Long and trade for a set of the latest diving combat gear?"

Yan Long’s real name was Deng Yan. Her underwater combat skills were exceptional; before the Natural Disaster, she had served as the captain of Hui City’s Frogman Special Team. The callsign Yan Long wasn’t one she chose herself but was given to her by her special forces teammates. She was a dragon in the water, unrivaled by any.

Yang Jin shook his head. "No need. The military would never trade away its latest equipment. I’ve already contacted Old Wan."

Wan Ji was the biggest arms dealer in Hui Yi Base One; he was sure to have something good. Luo Pei nodded. "Come back as soon as the mission’s over. Be careful of Fire Phoenix pulling any tricks. No amount of supplies you bring back is more important than your safety."

Yang Jin acknowledged with a grunt. "Brother Luo, do you remember Duan Shaoqing? He enrolled in the same year as me."

Military Academy A enrolled several thousand new students each year. It was easy for students to remember their instructors, but difficult for instructors to remember all their students. Luo Pei had no memory of the name. "What about him?"

"He’s with Fire Phoenix now. After the Natural Disaster began, he spent half a year running with Xu Pin," Yang Jin explained.

Xu Pin’s abilities couldn’t be limited to just Endurance Evolution, or he would never have become the vice-captain of the Su Feng Team. The Green Dragon Team had been investigating him secretly but had made no progress. Perhaps Duan Shaoqing was the breakthrough they needed. In the early days of the Natural Disaster, humans who had just gained their abilities were often in a state of euphoria and loved to show off.

It was highly likely that Xu Pin had shown off or tested his other abilities in front of Duan Shaoqing.

Luo Pei reminded Yang Jin, "If Duan Shaoqing knows Xu Pin’s true abilities and is still alive, that means he’s no simple character himself. You need to be careful."

"Understood." Yang Jin’s expression turned serious. He gave Luo Pei a military salute, then turned and left.

’That brat from the academy training grounds, with his cocky, juvenile attitude, always looking like he was begging for a beating... he’s really grown up.’ Luo Pei straightened his cap. "Chengdong, what’s the planting team busy with?"

Wei Chengdong answered, "I think they’re studying how to make compost today."

The first thing Luo Pei did after his return was not to clear Mountain No. 49, but to transfer two planting teams from the Green Dragon Team’s Planting Area to Territory No. 1 to start cultivation.

This was also why Hu Zifeng had traded six bags of fungal spawn with Li Si. The arable land in Territory No. 1 would soon be completely planted with crops.

After listening to the other Lords’ discussions over the past few months, Luo Pei had gradually become interested in farming himself. ’Farming... watching the little seedlings grow bit by bit... it’s really quite stress-relieving.’

But whether it was stress-relieving or not depended on the person. On the Lord channel, Zhao Ze was worrying. "I’m out of nails and glue. Does anyone know how to make a waterproof wooden box?"

Kuang Qingwei immediately came online. "I have nails and glue. How many boxes are you planning to make, and what are you offering in exchange?"

Zhao Ze didn’t want to trade. "Brother Wei, my supplies are really about to hit rock bottom. Is there a way to make a waterproof box without nails and glue?"

Hearing that Zhao Ze didn’t want to trade, Kuang Qingwei’s interest waned considerably. "I wouldn’t know about that. You should ask someone who knows carpentry."

Zhao Ze directed his plea to specific people. "Brother Qi, Brother Shi, how did you make your boxes? Can you teach me?"

Shi Zhong chuckled. "I still have nails and glue."

Qi Fu replied, "I didn’t use nails. I used mortise and tenon joints with a little bit of glue, but it’s not something I can explain in just a few words."

Luo Pei spoke up gently. "Brother Qi, when you have some free time, would it be possible for me to send a couple of my people over to learn how to make wooden boxes from you?"

Qi Fu was flattered. "Of course! We don’t have any heavy work right now, so they can come over anytime."

After Luo Pei’s "return," he had strengthened ties with the surrounding territories by signing purchasing contracts with them. The Green Dragon Team would buy any and all agricultural products they produced at the public market price. Luo Pei’s stated reason was that the population in Territory No. 1 was growing, increasing the demand for food, and he didn’t want to transport supplies all the way from the Safe Zone when there were closer sources.

Of course, any Top Level ingredients from the surrounding territories were first offered to Zhang San and Li Si. Luo Pei only collected what they didn’t want.

Territory No. 8 was also not part of the trade agreement, as its Lord never responded to anyone.

Territory No. 2 and Territory No. 12 were also excluded by Luo Pei for a simple reason: after returning from being poisoned, he no longer trusted anyone from the Tang Family or the Su Feng Team. The new Lord of Territory No. 12, Tang Zhengpo, was the father of Tang Huai and Tang Heng. Before the Natural Disaster, he was Chairman Tang Zhengpo, the head of Hui City’s largest hotel chain.

After Qi Fu finished speaking, Tang Zhengpo also spoke up. His voice was neither servile nor overbearing, his pace was unhurried, and his enunciation was exceptionally clear. Listeners could immediately tell he was a man of great refinement. "Qi Fu, may I come over and learn how to make wooden boxes from you?"

Normally, the Lord of No. 12 shouldn’t have been in the communication channel for the Lords of Territories 1 through 10, but Tang Zhengpo had joined on the pretext that they were all acquaintances and experienced farmers.

And it was true that the channel was full of Tang Zhengpo’s acquaintances: his two sons were in the Second Territory; Qi Fu of Territory No. 5 used to be a truck driver who hauled goods for him; Kuang Qingwei of No. 6 Territory used to rent one of his storefronts; and a city park built by Zhao Ze of Territory No. 4 had been constructed with his donation. If not for the arrival of the Natural Disaster, Tang Zhengpo would have been a figure so far above them they couldn’t hope to reach him even on their tiptoes.

After the Natural Disaster, human society was reshuffled according to ability, and now Tang Zhengpo, the chairman of Hui City’s largest hotel chain, was out farming a territory.

Qi Fu was close to the Green Dragon Team now, so of course he wanted to keep his distance from the Tang Family. But with Tang Zhengpo himself asking, Qi Fu didn’t dare refuse. "Chairman Tang, if you’d like to come, you’re welcome anytime."

Qi Fu desperately wanted to say that his carpentry wasn’t even as good as Xiaqing’s and suggest that the people from Green Dragon and Su Feng go learn from her instead, but he didn’t dare.

These days, Qi Fu, Zhao Ze, and Kuang Qingwei could hear Xiaqing on Mountain No. 49, up above the Buffer Forest, clearing the Evolution Forest with a constant THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. Their reverence for her grew with each passing day.

The Green Dragon Team had officially begun clearing Mountain No. 49, and both Xiaqing and Shi Du were participating in the operation. However, the two of them were not on the same team. Xiaqing was part of the mission to clear the section of the Evolution Forest north of Territories No. 1, 3, and 4. After accepting the "mission," Xiaqing could openly enter and exit her private training ground every day to clear the land and conduct combat training.

The current Xiaqing was busy and fulfilled.

Hearing the Lord channel fall silent, Xiaqing, who was in the middle of picking green beans, spoke up. "Brother Qi, after picking green beans, how many days do they need to be sun-dried? And should I shell them first or dry them in the pod?"