Chapter 390: Peculiar Hobby

Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Peculiar Hobby

"So, between the 11th and 12th, we need to haul 2,604 cubic meters of soil back from the Evolution Forest on Mountain No. 50. And between the 11th and 15th, we need to cut down as much thorn wood and shrubbery as possible—enough for a 7,000-meter-long thorn wall—and bring it back by truck!"

Zhao Ze circled the mission’s quota with his pen and looked up. "Xiaqing, what models are the transport trucks and excavator you rented from No. 8 Territory?"

After Xiaqing reported the models of the construction vehicles, Zhao Ze asked for more details about the terrain and soil quality of the Thorny Wood Forest and the Yellow Clay River Slope, then quickly came up with a plan.

"Tomorrow morning, we’ll split into two groups again. One group will take the chainsaws to cut down trees, and the other will work with the excavator to load clay onto the trucks. The mini-tiller will head out at 5:30 in the morning to clear the path to the river slope, and it must be done before 7:00. Xiaqing, I need to go with them. How many more people do you think we need?"

Xiaqing answered immediately, "Two more people should be enough. Brother Qi will go, and... can Brother Yue send someone too?"

Qi Fu had also worked on a construction crew back in the Safe Zone, and he was an Evolver, so he was a quick study. Yue Haiying was sure to have capable people on his end as well.

Yue Haiying nodded. "We do. Yu Shou, a Level 4 Strength Evolver. He operated heavy machinery before he retired from the service. I’ll have him wait under the north road sign of Territory No. 15 at 5:30."

"Okay, the four of us will head over first tomorrow."

Zhao Ze continued, "All six of our territories will put their current work on hold to focus our manpower on cutting trees and gathering soil. Each territory now needs to report how many able-bodied workers they can send to Mountain No. 50. They must have full protective gear. Excluding me, Territory No. 4 can send seven people."

"Third Territory, just me. I can stay in the Evolution Forest for the full five days and handle transport, machine operation, or guard duty."

"Territory No. 5, including the two of us, can send 11 people."

"No. 6 Territory, 13 people including me."

"Tenth Territory, my wife and Shi Du. That’s two."

"Territory No. 15 can send 21 people, including myself. Thirteen of them are Evolvers. Although most of the people in our territory have some form of disability, they have no problem with manual labor. We also have three guns, so three people can take on guard duty."

Hearing that Territory No. 15 not only had a lot of people but also guns, the Lords were ecstatic.

Kuang Qingwei, the one in charge of accounts, noted the numbers in his book. "Everyone will work together. Able-bodied laborers will be compensated at 4 points per day, guards at 10 points per day, and Zhao Ze, as the chief engineer, will get 20 points per day. After the work is done, we’ll calculate whether each Lord will receive or owe points based on the materials transported to their territory and their labor contribution. Does anyone have any objections?"

After everyone agreed, Zhao Ze began assigning tasks.

"Tonight, each territory needs to clear a space for unloading the soil and timber, and build a path from your road sign to the unloading spot. The path must be at least 3.5 meters wide with the ground as level as possible. The paths for Territories No. 4, 5, 6, and 10 are already done. Xiaqing, Brother Yue, will that be a problem for you two?"

After confirming there were no issues, Zhao Ze continued with the arrangements. "We’ll set out at 5:30 tomorrow morning. Xiaqing, Brother Qi, Brother Yu, and I will go to Mountain No. 50 first. Xiaqing, Brother Qi, and Brother Yu will work on the path while I survey the construction site. Everyone else will put on their Protective Suits, grab their tools, and gather under their respective road signs at 6:40. You’ll take the construction vehicles coming from No. 8 Territory to the site..."

Once the tasks were assigned, the Lords immediately dispersed, returning to their territories to begin clearing paths and unloading areas.

The greenhouse area and paths within the Third Territory didn’t need any more work, but Xiaqing still had an important task to complete that night.

After grabbing spring water and medicine from her home, Xiaqing hurried to the Wolf Cave in Zone Three of Mountain 49.

Because the valley entrance was blocked with thorn wood, Xiaqing had to climb the slope in Zone Three of Mountain 49. Standing at the top of the abandoned valley, she called out, "Queen! Broken Waist! Are you in the cave?"

Hearing no response, Xiaqing raised her voice again. "Broken Leg Sister, are you in there?"

GRRR— A low, intimidating growl, full of wildness, came from inside the cave. It was an Evolutionary Wolf.

Xiaqing understood. "So Broken Leg Sister is here, but Broken Waist and the Queen are out? Do you know where they went?"

’Those two clever wolves aren’t here, which means all those wild boars are unguarded...’

Xiaqing’s mouth watered. She coughed, rappelled down the rope into the valley, and was about to push open the wooden door of the Wolf Cave when she heard a sound from inside. She immediately backed away several meters, pressing her back against the rock wall, her hand on the grip of her gun, ready for a fight.

CREAK—

A furry paw pushed the door open, and the Broken Waist Wolf’s head poked out. It grinned, revealing two small, sharp, snow-white fangs, and smiled at Xiaqing.

Xiaqing’s tense nerves relaxed. "Brok—"

CREAK—

Before Xiaqing could finish, the Broken Waist Wolf pulled its paw back, and the door swung shut on its own.

Xiaqing...

’What was that about?’

CREAK—

A few seconds later, the door was pushed open again, and the Broken Waist Wolf poked its head out once more.

’Is it addicted to playing with the door? What the hell kind of weird hobby is this?’

’Fine, let’s play!’

Xiaqing put her gun away, walked over, and knocked on the once-again-closed wooden door. Very formally, she asked, "Handsome Wolf Brother Broken Waist, are you home? It is I, Xiaqing. I have business with you."

The Broken Waist Wolf immediately pushed the door open and poked its head out, and sure enough, its grin was even wider.

Xiaqing laughed too, pulling supplies from her bag. "Why are the door hinges so noisy? I’ll fix them for you in a bit. I’ve brought medicine and water for the broken leg wolf’s sister. Broken Waist, go get her so she can take her medicine and drink."

CREAK—

The door swung shut again.

Xiaqing poured the water. She didn’t hear the sound of the broken leg wolf’s sister’s splinted hind leg scraping against gravel, but instead the rustle of hay being crushed.

Seeing a few strands of dry hay clinging to Broken Leg Sister’s leg brace, Xiaqing understood: that fellow, the Broken Waist Wolf, hadn’t just been playing with the door recently—he’d also spread a lot of hay inside the cave.

’Where did it get the hay? Don’t tell me it’s the stuff I cut and left to dry in Zone 3, the hay I haven’t gotten around to collecting yet...’

’Truly... a fine domestic wolf!’

’Queen, where have you gone? Come back and marry the Broken Waist Wolf, take him back to Mountain No. 60! This guy living here isn’t just wearing out my door, he’s using up my hay.’

The broken leg wolf’s sister, though fierce, drank her medicine incredibly fast. She was the first wolf Xiaqing had ever seen that would plunge its snout into a basin and gulp down water. When she ate meat, she barely chewed, just swallowed it whole.

In short, whether Broken Leg Sister was eating meat or drinking water, watching her gave one a hearty appetite. It made you want to jump in and take a few bites yourself.

After Broken Leg Sister finished her medicine, Xiaqing poured another full basin of water and carried it into the Wolf Cave. She cleared a spot in a corner on the thick layer of hay that covered the cave floor and set the basin down.

Glancing at the hay in the Wolf Cave through her Night Vision Goggles, Xiaqing truly felt a pang of regret. She sighed, took out her tools, and started to fix the door.

Seeing Xiaqing working on the door, the broken leg wolf’s sister bared her teeth and growled low, while the Broken Waist Wolf watched with a serious expression.

After fixing the door, Xiaqing bared her own teeth and let out a couple of roars at Broken Leg Sister. Once the other wolf was stunned into confusion, she turned to speak to the Broken Waist Wolf.

"I’m going to be very busy for the next few days. I’m leaving the territory tomorrow morning and won’t be back until night. While I’m gone, don’t go near the main gate to play, or you might be discovered."

Xiaqing paused for a few seconds, her expression turning stern and her voice severe. "One more thing."

She waited until the Broken Waist Wolf fell silent and looked at her before continuing, "Do you remember the first time we met? You clashed with the human team I was with, and I hid in a tree. In the end, you were victorious. You killed a lot of people."

The Broken Waist Wolf stared at Xiaqing, seemingly lost in thought.

"A companion of the Human Evolvers you killed has come to this territory. He’s an Olfactory Evolutionary, and he will definitely remember the scent of your Wolf Group. So..."

Xiaqing gestured very, very seriously at the area in front of her. "Other than my territory, Sheep Leader’s territory, and the valley where you keep the wild boars, the Wolf Group cannot go to any other part of this human-settled area."

"Broken Waist. If you step outside this area and that Olfactory Evolutionary discovers and recognizes you, I will absolutely not help the Wolf Group, nor will I warn you when he gathers a human team to get revenge."