Chapter 1012: Teaming Up with My Idol

What does the magnetic field released by the evolved giant hornet feel like?

Xia Qing tried to describe her sensations as accurately as she could. "When I was about five meters from the giant hornet, I felt its magnetic field—it was like walking in the shade and suddenly being hit by sunlight, warm and pleasant. When the distance closed to two meters, I felt a distinct burning sensation between my brows, but it was still bearable. Anything closer than two meters, I don't know yet."

Zhang San quickly pulled up data from the database and gave his assessment. "To date, humans have identified 28 naturally occurring Yi-synthesized elements. Of these, 12 are synthesized by microorganisms, 10 by plants, and 6 by animals. The magnetic field sensation you described doesn't match any of the 28. So this is very likely a new Yi-synthesized element."

Xia Qing's eyes lit up at once. "Third Brother, if this is real, then this would be the third Yi-synthesized element you've discovered and named!"

Is that the point?

Zhang San was speechless for a few seconds, then continued. "The lifespan of a giant golden-ringed hornet is about nine months. We have to confirm, before this one dies, whether the element is synthesized by the giant hornet itself or by microorganisms using it as a host. Go back there tomorrow. When the giant hornet comes out to attack you, use an anesthetic to knock it out, and quickly take samples of its saliva, hemolymph, and the microorganisms on its body surface…"

Zhang San turned the computer screen toward Xia Qing again and carefully walked her through how to obtain the samples.

Xia Qing figured that, at her current level, brushing a hornet and drawing saliva were no problem, but accurately extracting hemolymph—and completing all the tasks within thirty seconds—was far too difficult. "Third Brother, can Song Ge go with me?"

Zhang San shook his head. "I suspect the hornets' evolution in the valley is connected to Forty-Nine Mountain having pollution-free spring water. It's not yet time to let Zhang Song and the others in on this secret."

The secret that Territory Three had pollution-free spring water was known, besides Xia Qing, to only six people: her idol, the three heads of the Azure Dragon squad, the team medic Wang Shunhong who detoxified Luo Pei, and the team member Wei Chengdong who fetched the spring water.

Thanks to Xia Qing's strict secrecy, even Beard Feng's squad, who often roamed around Territory Three, only knew that her territory had two plots of high-Yi-element soil and guessed that the original X-2 came from Territory Three—they had no idea Territory Three had pollution-free spring water.

The problem now was: the giant hornet could not be anesthetized for more than one minute, or the hive would be harmed, but Xia Qing couldn't guarantee she'd obtain the samples on time and to standard without hurting the giant hornet.

So she needed to bring someone who could handle the job. Only two people both had the ability and knew the spring water secret: Azure Dragon's squad medic Wang and Zhang San, who was sitting right in front of her.

Squad medic Wang and Chang Li had both gone out on a mission with Luo Pei, so there was only one candidate left.

Xia Qing asked with a smile, "Third Brother, how about the two of us team up tomorrow and head to the valley in Zone Three of Forty-Nine Mountain? That valley is my turf, so safety is guaranteed."

Zhang San, who had been slumped in the soft chair, froze on the spot.

Seeing that look on her idol's face, Xia Qing quickly tried to backpedal. "If Third Brother's busy, I'll just go to the chestnut grove and catch a few ordinary evolved hornets, learn how to draw hemolymph first, then go take samples from the giant hornet. That giant hornet looks pretty sturdy to me—it definitely won't die in three to five days."

Under Xia Qing's anxious gaze, a smile slowly spread across Zhang San's face.

When he worked at Hui One Research Institute, his movements were restricted and he couldn't leave the institute. After coming to Territory Seven, his partners still used his safety as an excuse and wouldn't let him leave Territory Seven.

Now his partners were Red Eleven Base, Hui Three Base, and Xia Qing. If not for Xia Qing's suggestion, he would have forgotten that he now had freedom and could go out.

Realizing this, Zhang San grew impatient and eager. "Tomorrow the two of us team up—you handle defense, I handle sampling. To cover the real purpose of this mission, after taking the samples, let's first go dig a few bamboo shoots in the evolved bamboo grove on Fifty-Two Mountain, then check on Zhang He's project progress on Fifty Mountain, and then come back. How about it?"

Seeing her idol so enthusiastic, die-hard fan Xia Qing certainly wouldn't object, but—"Fifty-Two Mountain is a purely natural evolved forest. I'll contact Yang Jin and invite him to team up with us tomorrow?"

Xia Qing was a top-tier sniper of three systems; long-range sniping was her forte. Yang Jin was a top-tier speed evolver with explosive close-combat ability. The two of them teaming up to protect her idol while digging shoots in the bamboo grove near Forty-Nine Mountain would absolutely guarantee his personal safety.

Whether they could dig up a green-light shoot depended on luck.

Zhang San waved his hand. "Yang Jin is busy searching for the missing magneto-sense evolver from Hui Three and preparing for the Plague Rain period—no need to call him. I'm not much of a fighter and I have no real combat experience, but I can bring extra medicaments to protect myself. Just bring along two evolved wolves with decent combat power."

Zhang San was very interested in the northern wolf pack and wanted to use this rare opportunity to observe up close how Xia Qing interacted with them.

That… wasn't entirely unworkable. "Third Brother, when we set out tomorrow morning, remember to clean the cat hair and cat smell off you thoroughly."

After returning to her own territory, Xia Qing gathered the medicaments and supplies needed for trading with the wolf pack, crossed Forty-Nine Mountain and Fifty-Two Mountain, and entered Fifty-Five Mountain. After greeting two evolved wolves on sentry duty, she went straight into the northern wolf pack's core territory—on the second peak of Fifty-Five Mountain.

On a large rock above the python pool, which had already been filled in to become a shallow water pit, Xia Qing found the wolf pack leader sunbathing.

"Queen, is that board comfortable?" Xia Qing first greeted the head wolf lounging on the king platform she had built, then cheerfully looked toward the shade, where Curly Wolf was studying with a notebook. "Broken-Waist, the fur on your leg's grown back in a bit—congratulations."

Broken-Waist Wolf extended the foreleg whose fur was still shorter, fitted with a stylus, and bared its cute little fang tips. The head wolf stretched, rolled over, and fixed its rich-gold eyes on Xia Qing.

Xia Qing took out the head wolf's favorite long-and-short-tooth comb and, while brushing its fur, slowed her speech to discuss the cooperation.

Broken-Waist Wolf paused the video and listened carefully.

"Queen, before the sun comes up tomorrow morning, could you bring Handsome Wolf, Giant Wolf, and Plucker to Wolf Valley and wait for me? Third Brother—the human Third Brother who healed Handsome Wolf's back injury—needs us to protect him…"

After hearing Xia Qing out, the head wolf remained lazily sprawled, while Broken-Waist Wolf wore a thoughtful expression.

Xia Qing understood—this had to be negotiated with Broken-Waist Wolf. She first finished brushing the head wolf's fur, then walked over to Broken-Waist Wolf and explained again with gestures.

On hearing that Zhang San wanted to take samples from the evolved giant hornet for research, Broken-Waist Wolf was clearly tempted.

Xia Qing seized on that at once. "Handsome Wolf can learn how to take samples from Third Brother. It's really hard—I can't do it either. Only Third Brother can."

Broken-Waist Wolf looked thoughtful. The head wolf yawned, rolled over, and went on sunbathing.

"Of course, there's a reward for this mission. As long as the Queen, Handsome Wolf, Giant Wolf, and Plucker come with me to protect Third Brother, Handsome Wolf can have whatever he wants."