Chapter 1019: Seeing Off a Companion

Xia Qing, who had originally planned to run to Mountain Fifty-Five, changed to taking the helicopter over.

The pilot was still Huo Zhun, and the passengers were two people and one monkey.

Zhang Song sat across from Xia Qing and Does Daigua the monkey, suppressing his excited and complicated feelings as he carefully observed the person and the monkey opposite him, each calmer than the last.

After the helicopter flew past the territory of Mountain Fifty-Five, Huo Zhun asked for instructions, "Sister Qing, should we still land on that same peak as last time?"

"Yes." Xia Qing was an ally of the wolf pack, so her helicopter could only land within the wolf pack's territory. If she landed inside Xiong Qun's territory, it could be seen as a provocation. The Calamity Rain was about to arrive, and Xia Qing had no desire to clash with Xiong Qun at such a critical moment.

After the helicopter landed smoothly, the noise finally stopped.

Xia Qing didn't rush to open the cabin door. Lowering her head, she asked the little monkey pressed close against her side, clutching its backpack, "Does Daigua, which one in your backpack is the medicine you rub on when you itch?"

Does Daigua immediately unzipped its little backpack, rummaged out a small medicine bottle with its tiny black paws, unscrewed the cap, dug out a pinch of medicinal powder, then parted the fur on its arm and dabbed it onto the skin.

Zhang Song watched Does Daigua's whole sequence of actions, his eyes bulging into spheres.

"Very good. This powder can't be eaten—eating it will give you diarrhea." Xia Qing straightened Does Daigua's little hat on its head and its little clothes on its body, then led it off the helicopter.

Zhang Song was very tactful; he didn't follow them down, just sat obediently by the cabin edge, watching eagerly.

Xia Qing led Does Daigua to a large rock nearby, gesturing slowly as she gave instructions: "If Does Daigua wants to return to my territory, when you spot the helicopter flying over, just bring your backpack and stand here, or on the mountaintop of Mountain Sixty over there, and wait for me. I'll come pick you up. Make sure you recognize our helicopter, and don't let any other humans catch you. Remember to gather herbs, look for stones…"

After finishing her instructions, Xia Qing settled the backpack properly on Does Daigua's back. "Go back to your territory. The Calamity Rain period is very dangerous—don't run around."

According to the weather forecast, the third Calamity Rain period of this year would begin the day after tomorrow. At this most dangerous moment, Does Daigua naturally wanted to stay with its family.

After Does Daigua the monkey ran out of sight, Xia Qing asked Zhang Song and Huo Zhun to wait for her a while. She stepped onto her personal flight device and flew straight into Mountain Sixty.

The giant bear standing on the halfway slope of Mountain Sixty-One watched that annoying human land inside the territory of Mountain Sixty, then turned its head to look down at the one monkey and one bear running toward the border area between Mountain Fifty-Nine and Mountain Sixty-One.

"Broken-Leg, long time no see." Xia Qing landed, greeted the Broken-Leg Wolf that had rushed over, handed it a pack of dried roasted meat, and asked, "Is Lao Er around here?"

The Broken-Leg Wolf, about to gnaw on the dried meat, raised its head. "Aowu—aowu—"

"Aow—wu—"

Hearing Lao Er's response, Xia Qing happily howled along, "Aow—wu—"

Her shout stunned the Broken-Leg Wolf and several evolved wolves nearby. The other wolves bared their fangs, and the Broken-Leg Wolf stared at Xia Qing, seemingly pondering what she was trying to do.

Xia Qing pulled out another handful of dried meat and distributed it to the surrounding wolves, calmly explaining, "I was happy, so I let out a howl."

The wolves immediately stopped baring their teeth. Just as they picked up the dried meat and each found a spot to eat, Lao Er rushed up to Xia Qing and grinned at her happily. Xia Qing hugged Lao Er's neck. "Lao Er! I came to send Does Daigua back to its territory, and on the way stopped by to see you and Broken-Leg. How have you been these past few days, Lao Er?"

Lao Er nuzzled Xia Qing, still grinning happily.

Seeing that it hadn't lost weight and its eyes were bright, Xia Qing felt reassured. She pulled a chain strung with Yishi beads from her pocket, fastened it around its neck, tucked it into its thick fur, then gave it a big pack of freeze-dried meat and earnestly instructed, "The Calamity Rain period is coming. Lao Er, eat till your belly's full, don't come out and get rained on, and sleep well in the den."

After finishing her instructions to Lao Er, Xia Qing didn't spot any other familiar wolves, so she stepped onto her personal flight device and returned to the peak on Mountain Fifty-Eight where the helicopter was parked.

Huo Zhun reported on Does Daigua's situation to her: "After the little monkey met up with a bear, it was led by the bear into the dense forest."

Zhang Song added, "It's the brain-evolved bear that was tranquilized during the last poaching operation."

Huo Zhun… how did you recognize it?

Xia Qing nodded. "Brother Huo, let's head to the Third Peak of Mountain Fifty-Five."

"Copy that." Huo Zhun piloted the helicopter into the air and flew straight toward the next destination.

Zhang Song used this stretch of time to conduct an interview-style investigation with Xia Qing. "Sister Qing, what's in Does Daigua's backpack?"

Xia Qing answered calmly, "Besides a bottle of insect repellent and a printed picture, it's all food: sweet potatoes, mealworms, freeze-dried meat, cucumbers, and tomatoes."

And half a steamed bun from Territory Seven. It wanted to bring a whole one, but Xia Qing couldn't bear to part with it, so she only gave it half.

After scribbling down his notes, Zhang Song asked again, "Did it pick these supplies itself, or did you pack them for it?"

"It picked the food itself; I put in the repellent and the herb picture." Besides these, Xia Qing had also hung a Yishi necklace on Does Daigua, also hidden in its thick fur.

The Yishi necklaces Xia Qing prepared for her animal companions were all made with beast-hide cords. In case of an accident where the chain got caught on something, they could give a hard tug and the beast hide would snap, so they wouldn't get hurt because of it.

Watching Zhang Song scribble notes, Xia Qing asked, "Brother Song, how many monkeys are in Does Daigua's troop?"

Zhang Song answered, "White-faced Saki monkeys, just like before the disaster, still practice monogamy, forming small groups based on family units, with group sizes between five and nine. The cameras on Mountain Sixty-Two have spotted a total of six troops of White-faced Saki monkeys. Does Daigua's troop has nine members—it's the largest group."

Huo Zhun, piloting the helicopter, was surprised. "Only this few monkeys in one troop?"

That's way too low combat power.

"White-faced Saki monkeys are small omnivores. They live in the trees, eat little, and don't like fighting, so they don't need a large territory." After answering Huo Zhun's question, Zhang Song continued briefing Xia Qing: "Does Daigua was born last spring, already has the ability to survive independently, and is in the stage of exploring the Evolution Forest. When it reaches sexual maturity at four years old, it will look for a mate, form its own little family, and might establish a new monkey troop or continue living in its current troop, depending on the abundance of food within their territory."

"Brother Song, when you observe Does Daigua in the future, could you send me a photo or a video clip?" Xia Qing was quite pleased with this capable temporary worker.

"I need to ask Third Brother for permission. If he agrees, I'll send them to you." As a member of Zhang San's research team, Zhang Song needed Zhang San's approval before he could share research materials externally.

After entering the territory of Mountain Fifty-Five, Huo Zhun alerted Xia Qing, "Sister Qing, the Alpha Wolf is down below."

Seeing the helicopter arrive, the Alpha Wolf stood on the Second Peak of Mountain Fifty-Two, looking majestic and imposing.

Xia Qing didn't know whether it could recognize this as her helicopter, so she didn't change her order. "Brother Huo, hover above the Third Peak. After I rappel down, you and Brother Song head back to the territory. You don't need to come pick me up."

The Second Peak was the wolf pack's dwelling place, so landing on the Third Peak was more appropriate.

After Huo Zhun hovered the helicopter, Xia Qing, carrying a large pack on her back, skillfully rappelled down and landed on the summit of the Third Peak. The moment Xia Qing appeared, the Alpha Wolf's boiling killing intent subsided, and it raised its head in a long howl.

The evolved wolves in various locations heard the command and stopped paying attention to the helicopter, each returning to their post.

After the helicopter flew away, the Broken-Waist Wolf quickly appeared in front of Xia Qing, looking at her thoughtfully.

"Does Daigua needs to return to Mountain Sixty-Two, so I had Huo Zhun fly the helicopter to give it a ride." After explaining, Xia Qing headed with her backpack toward the pool she needed to inspect.