Chapter 1003: Let Go

Tan Junjie drove the patrol car out of Territory One, braked to a stop with a sharp drift, then floored it toward Territory Seven, kicking up a trail of dust.

As the patrol car passed the corridor between Territory Two and Territory Three, Huo Zhun and Beard Feng rushed out of their territories one after another and leapt through the window into the car. Right behind them, Tang Huai's flashy fire-red off-road vehicle also burst out of Territory Two.

Inside the wild-grass wall of Territory Fifteen, little Shi Yi endured her headache with her lip clenched tight; she desperately wanted to tell Auntie Qing that the magnetic field of the big fellow gripping her wrist was not a hostile attack.

Right now, he was in great pain.

Outside the south gate of Territory Seven, expressionless Ji Li tightened his grip on Xia Qing's wrist with his right hand, forcing her to let go, while reaching out his left hand to take the hundred-jin grain sack. "Give me the grain sack."

Xia Qing wasn't as fast as Ji Li, but she was strong—when she gripped the sack tightly, Ji Li couldn't wrest it from her hands.

Any more pulling and the sack would tear, spilling soybeans all over the ground!

To prevent the situation from escalating further, Xia Qing didn't make a move, only calmly ordered, "Brother Yue, contact Third Brother immediately and confirm whether this is his order."

"Got it." One-armed Yue Haiying lowered the gun aimed at Ji Li's temple, opened the walkie-talkie but heard only static, then pulled out his phone for a look. "There's interference here—communication devices can't be used."

"Squeal—"

The patrol car stopped ten meters away. Tan Junjie got out and strode over, his voice stern and cold. "Everyone, put down your weapons!"

Seeing that the people of Territory Seven wouldn't lower their guns, none of the territory members—including Tan Qi—put down their weapons either. Tang Huai rushed over with four bodyguards, their gun barrels also aimed at Territory Seven's guards.

Huo Zhun and Beard Feng stood on Xia Qing's left and right. Huo Zhun faced Territory Seven's guards, while Beard Feng aimed his gun at Ji Li's wrist. "Let go!"

Beard Feng had already released the gun's safety. Ji Li only stared at Xia Qing, the force in his hand growing stronger and stronger.

As if she couldn't feel the pain at all, Xia Qing stared expressionlessly into Ji Li's bloodshot eyes and called out to Tan Junjie, "Captain Tan, I suspect Ji Li's squad has mutinied and defied Territory Seven's orders. The signal here has been jammed—please use the loudspeaker immediately to contact Third Brother and request entry into Territory Seven to confirm whether he's safe."

Xia Qing raised her voice. "Hearing Zhu Li, use the loudspeaker to contact the Ninth Center and order the Ninth Center security division and construction team to bring all weapons and assemble on standby."

"Copy!" Hearing Zhu Li shouted, then sprinted back to find the loudspeaker inside Territory Six.

The last sentence was spoken by Xia Qing to Ji Li, bristling with killing intent:

"Anyone who dares to touch a single hair on Third Brother's head, I'll take his life."

Xia Qing's words ignited everyone's emotions. The territory personnel gripped their weapons tighter, glaring and ready to fight to the death.

"Territory Seven…"

Tan Junjie had just taken the big loudspeaker off the car and shouted two words when he switched to addressing Territory Six. "Territory Six, Hearing Zhu Li—Territory Seven's lord is confirmed safe, no need to contact the Ninth Center."

Hearing the loudspeaker announcement, people inside Territory Ten and Territory Five also realized something had happened and began rushing out. Only Zhao Ze in Territory Four, the farthest away, had no idea what was going on and was still channeling water to irrigate the fields.

Zhang San, pale-faced and escorted in the middle by the fully armed Zheng Chen squad, walked out through the wild-grass wall, his voice stern. "Xia Qing, hand the sack to Ji Li."

Xia Qing turned her head and looked at her idol, whose face was as white as a ghost's in the sunlight. Her taut nerves finally loosened a little.

Zhang San gave a slight nod. "Let go."

Only then did Xia Qing release her grip, letting Ji Li snatch the grain sack from her hands.

Having taken the sack, Ji Li released Xia Qing's wrist. "Put down your weapons."

"Click."

All thirty-plus members of Ji Li's squad put down their weapons.

"Put down your weapons."

Hearing Xia Qing's order, the territory personnel—including Beard Feng—also lowered their various weapons. Shi Du, Qi Fu, and Yuan Yan, who had been about to rush over, also stopped in their tracks.

Xia Qing strode to her idol. "Third Brother, are you alright?"

Zhang San shook his head and turned to look at Ji Li beside him.

Ji Li slowly raised his hand, saluted Zhang San, then turned and entered Territory Seven. The members of Ji Li's squad followed him in.

Hearing Zhu Li, who had run out carrying the big loudspeaker, asked, "Sister Qing, still contact Territory Nine?"

Xia Qing asked her idol, "Third Brother, do you need me to bring people into Territory Seven to protect you?"

Although Ji Li's squad's combat power and equipment were off the charts, Xia Qing teaming up with Huo Zhun, Zhang Hongda, and others was not without a fighting chance.

Zhang San shook his head. "Having you and Huo Zhun is enough."

Only after Xia Qing nodded did Hearing Zhu Li put down the loudspeaker and heave a sigh of relief.

Tan Junjie asked, "Third Brother, do you need the inspection team to assist?"

Zhang San gave a brief explanation. "No need. There was a miscommunication between me and Ji Li—it's resolved now, no need to report it."

After speaking, Zhang San nodded to everyone outside the territory and turned to go back inside. Xia Qing thanked the allies who had come out to help, then entered Territory Seven together with Huo Zhun.

The moment her father glared over, Tan Qi zipped into the territory with her twin blades in a flash and ran to little Shi Yi's side.

Tan Junjie drove the patrol car back to Territory One to resume the task of inspecting dangerous plants. After calling Brigade Commander Yang Jin to report what had happened, Beard Feng sighed. "Third Brother has probably made a complete break with Huiyi Base this time."

Huo Zhun, walking beside Xia Qing, wore an expression more grim and fierce than ever. Xia Qing had her abilities fully activated, alert to every rustle of wind and movement around them.

Why so tense? Because her idol, who stood at the very top of Jin Zita, had come out wearing nothing but a white lab coat!

Only after escorting her idol into the highly secure laboratory and closing the lab door did Xia Qing's suspended heart finally settle. "Third Brother, why did you go out yourself?"

Zhang San, pulling out a disinfecting wipe to clean his hands, shot Xia Qing a look. "You made such a huge scene—how was I supposed to wrap things up if I didn't come out?"

Xia Qing grinned sheepishly. "I didn't coordinate with the allies beforehand, and I didn't expect everyone to react so fast."

Xia Qing hadn't intended to drag the allies into today's drama, because the enemy was too strong. When she saw how forceful Ji Li was and worried her idol had been taken hostage, the forces she called on were also from the Ninth Center.

Because her idol was the person in charge and supreme commander of the Ninth Center. He was the one who had provided shelter for the Ninth Center's veterans—if something happened to him, the Ninth Center had to fight.

Still, when the allies rushed out one after another, Xia Qing was deeply moved.

Xia Qing asked, "Third Brother, will Ji Li and his people believe I brought all the soybeans? Will they break into my territory to search?"

When Xia Qing drove out, she had left Ram Boss and Does Daigua with Lao Si, telling the three of them to hide in Zone Three of Mountain Forty-Nine, and had hidden all the treasures at home too—just in case Ji Li's squad broke into Territory Three and hurt her companions.