Chapter 1123: Opportunities and Challenges of Survival

Xiong Wang sniffed the Yi snake, then roughly tore it into segments with his two front paws and distributed them to his hungry companions; Daigua, as a member of the bear group, also received a palm-length segment.

From this, Xia Qing concluded that Daigua's status within the bear group was not high.

However, Xiong Wang was not angry that Xia Qing had only given him one snake, which showed that he also followed a prey-distribution principle similar to the wolf pack's, believing that prey caught by Xia Qing should be distributed by Xia Qing herself. This put Xia Qing's mind at ease considerably.

After the lead wolf finished eating, he washed his protective suit in the river channel; the other wolves, after finishing the Yi snake meat, also went to clean themselves, including the handsome giant wolf who had injuries and medical tape on his body.

Then, the lead wolf took a high position to oversee the situation, while the wolf pack dragged their companion's corpse away to bury it; the other kinds of snakes that could serve as food were carried off by a few wolves.

Xia Qing guessed that they were probably carrying the snakes back near the cave of the injured wolves to feed the wolves guarding the cave. Ordinary snake meat was not the wolf pack's favorite food, but this was a special period—having food to eat was already good enough.

The bear group on the opposite bank, after dividing the meat, also began cleaning the bloodstains off their bodies, dealing with the prey, and dragging away their companion's corpse.

The broken-legged wolf took two wolves to the bear group's territory on the opposite bank of the river channel and brought back two wolf corpses; two giant bears also crossed the river, entering the wolf pack's territory to drag away one bear corpse from this side.

During this process, there was no communication between the wolves and bears. The Wolf King and Xiong Wang stood on their respective king platforms, calmly watching the movements in the valley and occasionally glancing northward toward the python lake.

After Xia Qing packed her backpack and was about to tell the lead wolf that she needed to return to the territory, the broken-waist wolf returned to the valley and came to Xia Qing's side.

After Xia Qing gestured and explained to the broken-waist wolf the harm of the Yi snake's aura, she found the broken-waist wolf looking completely calm. She gestured and asked, "Broken-waist, did you already know that kind of white snake would make you and the bears get angry and want to fight?"

The broken-waist wolf bared his lips, revealing bloodstained fangs.

Xia Qing gestured and continued asking, "Over there, the river channel guarded by Broken-leg Girl, Little Wolf Brother, and Little Wolf Sister—has no white snake invaded?"

The broken-waist wolf bared his lips again.

Xia Qing nodded, "I understand."

Obtaining high-quality prey to improve combat power and physical fitness comes with danger; casualties are inevitable.

The wolves born this spring are not allowed to participate in the fighting in this valley because they are still young and have poor emotional control. Next year or the year after, Little Wolf Brother and the others will also stand in this valley, participating in the battle to hunt Yi snakes.

Only wolves who can control their emotions and survive the battle can obtain high-quality food and become core members of the wolf pack.

Those who fail will be eliminated.

Understanding this, Xia Qing said no more. She pointed at her backpack and told the broken-waist wolf, "I need to send the two wolves with internal organ injuries from the cave to Territory Seven. Let Wolf Lao Er come back with me, alright? Once the treatment is over, Wolf Lao Er will stay in Wolf Valley to take care of the injured wolves, and I'll come back here to continue catching Yi snakes and prevent the pythons from invading."

The lead wolf and Xiong Wang kept watching the python lake, and Xia Qing judged that the pythons would definitely launch the next round of attack.

Wolf Lao Er's share of Yi snake will be hunted by Xia Qing.

The broken-waist wolf thought for a few seconds before revealing his bloodstained fangs.

Xia Qing waved at Daigua on the opposite bank of the river, telling him to stay with the little bear; she and Wolf Lao Er needed to make a trip back to the territory and would return soon.

After Daigua jumped back to the opposite bank, Xia Qing shouldered her backpack, said goodbye to the lead wolf, took Wolf Lao Er, and went to take a look at the western lake-entry river channel first.

After repelling the snake group, the wolf pack had once again entered combat readiness; the well-fed little flat-head was currently fighting with another honey badger.

The wolf pack noticed Xia Qing, gave her a glance, and showed no particular reaction.

However, a little yellow weasel was running toward her, carrying two bright red Qiang snakes in its mouth.

Without a doubt, this little yellow weasel must be a youngster from the Plucker family.

Xia Qing opened her backpack and waited for the little yellow weasel to run over and place the Qiang snakes in a stone crevice three meters away from her, then poke out its little head and tremble as it stared at her. Only then did Xia Qing place four eggs under a nearby stone and say softly, "Little Plucker, the Qiang snakes you caught are my favorite—you're so clever. These four eggs are a trade for you."

After Xia Qing walked away, the little yellow weasel ran under the stone crevice and began eating the eggs. Only then did Xia Qing walk to where the little yellow weasel had just been hiding and dug out the Qiang snakes that had been bitten to death.

The little Plucker was very clever—it hadn't bitten open the bulge on the Qiang snake's head. Xia Qing carefully put the Qiang snakes into a bag and continued on her way.

The little wolf-dog, who had been watching this side, tilted its furry head, looking thoughtful.

Xia Qing, with Wolf Lao Er, passed by the cave-guarding wolf that was eating a snake, went into the cave, carried out the two wolves with internal organ damage who were still under anesthesia, and returned to the helipad of Mountain Fifty-Nine.

Seeing that Xia Qing was not injured and had even carried two wolves back with another wolf, Zhang Hongda opened the helicopter cabin door and went down to help, but was stopped by a fierce bark from Wolf Lao Er.

"I'm fine, I can carry them." Xia Qing first told Zhang Hongda to return to the helicopter, then she boarded with Wolf Lao Er, ordered the helicopter to take off, and briefly briefed her two companions on the situation: "Wolves, pythons, and bears have clashed. These two wolves are injured and need to be sent to Territory Seven for treatment. We'll land at Mountain Forty-Nine, Zone Three. After I send the wolves into Territory Seven, we'll return to Mountain Fifty-Nine."

"Copy that." Watching Huo Zhun piloted the helicopter, accelerating back toward the territory.

Da Zi reported, "Sister Qing, from the time we left the territory until now, a total of six Qiang snakes have been spotted on Mountains Forty-Nine and Fifty, far exceeding the number from that spring crisis. Third Brother couldn't reach you and asked that you call him back as soon as you come out."

"Alright." Xia Qing called Zhang San, the disaster response commander of Northern Zone One, and briefly reported the situation: "... The snakes in the python lake north of Mountain Sixty are very likely to attack again; the timing is uncertain... The number of Qiang snakes is unknown—at least fifty-plus that I've seen, and it's unclear how many animals have preyed on Qiang snakes... Three wolves dead, seven injured; one bear dead, number of injured bears unclear... Okay, understood, I'll arrive in twenty minutes. I'm bringing two wolves with internal organ damage... Okay, thanks for the trouble, Third Brother."

After hanging up, Xia Qing immediately contacted Hu Zifeng: "Captain Hu, please have the team member currently guarding Territory Three drive my car to outside the north gate. I need to transport two injured wolves to Territory Seven."

After finishing the calls, Xia Qing quietly gazed at the rolling mountains below, stroked Wolf Lao Er beside her, and said nothing more.

Huo Zhun and Zhang Hongda looked as calm as Xia Qing on the outside, but their hearts were anything but calm.

Several dozen Qiang snakes, casualties of over a dozen wolves and bears—no wonder it caused such a huge commotion. And the big shot at Territory Seven was actually this easy to talk to? Doesn't he always grumble in the lord channel that he's not a vet?

Especially Huo Zhun, who had been chased out by the big shot when begging for medicine a couple of days ago, was full of admiration for Xia Qing.

After the helicopter landed at Mountain Forty-Nine, Zone Three, Xia Qing had Huo Zhun and Zhang Hongda guard the helicopter. She told Wolf Lao Er to rest in Wolf Valley, and she herself, carrying the two injured wolves, drove to Territory Seven.

Territory Three raises a little yellow ox that isn't very bold; Xia Qing didn't dare let unfamiliar wolves recuperate inside the territory.

Sheep Boss? He's no ordinary sheep—he's a companion of the wolf pack.

Xia Qing hadn't noticed this before, but after seeing the normal sheep raised by Tang Huai, she realized just how extraordinary the sheep in her own territory was.

Wolf Valley has caves, a water source, and wild boars, and with Wolf Lao Er keeping watch, the two injured wolves wouldn't cause trouble once the anesthesia wore off. Xia Qing was very confident in Wolf Lao Er's ability to soothe animals.