Chapter 136: Mind Your Own Business

This time, Xia Qing heard Zhang San's voice. He must have pulled open his airtight protective suit, otherwise the sound wouldn't be this clear:

"If anyone from Territory Nine dares to violate the law by releasing or discharging any prohibited hazardous chemicals outward, two hours from now Territory Nine will become the territory of super-evolved Staphylococcus aureus."

Li Si immediately seized on Zhang San's words. "Did you hear that? Zhang San has super-evolved Staphylococcus aureus — that's also a Class One hazardous chemical! I'm applying for a search warrant for Territory Seven, right now, immediately!"

Xia Qing heard Zhang San's laughter. "Ordinary Staphylococcus aureus isn't a prohibited substance. Are you doubting that I can't cultivate a super-evolved strain from ordinary Staphylococcus in two hours? How about I give you a little demonstration right here?"

After a dozen seconds of silence inside, Li Si reminded Zhang San, "Third Brother, don't forget that using bacteria to attack humans violates the Emergency Plan for Natural Disaster Relief."

"You actually remember the Emergency Plan?" Zhang San's voice carried indifference. "So what if it's illegal? After I deal with you lot, I'll just move somewhere else. I'm sick of this place anyway."

Hmm?

Hmm?

Ah!

Hearing those words, Xia Qing nearly jumped up. How could her idol move away? If her idol left, where would she fleece the wool? No — where would she deliver delicious supplies to her idol?

Xia Qing didn't jump, but Tang Huai did. "Shit!"

"What's wrong, Brother Huai? Are they fighting in there?" Kuang Qingwei asked anxiously.

"No, my leg went numb." Tang Huai shook out his leg and said quietly, "They searched out several hundred jin of contraband in Territory Nine."

Sev... several hundred jin? The lords were all stunned.

When Tan Junjie's squad came out carrying, hugging, and hauling piles of sealed bags and sealed boxes, everyone stepped back in unison.

That was several hundred jin of silencing poison — who would dare go up and seek death?

Although they didn't dare approach, they still had to ask what needed asking.

"Captain Tan, how will these poisons be handled?"

"Will the people from Territory Nine be driven away?"

"Just confiscating the stuff isn't enough, right? They'll definitely manufacture more."

"..."

Tan Junjie replied loudly, "The Territory Management Department will issue a punishment plan as soon as possible. Please return to your territories promptly."

"Understood, we'll head back right now. Thanks for your hard work, everyone, and thanks for your hard work, Third Brother." Zhao Ze waved and called back loudly.

Zhang San raised a hand, then followed Tan Junjie and the others away. Because he had already put his airtight protective suit back on, although everyone saw him wave, they still couldn't make out his face — a real shame.

With the show over, the crowd dispersed — east-bound heading east, west-bound heading west.

Under the Territory Three road sign, Tang Huai called out to Xia Qing, who was about to enter the territory, and Dajiang, who was heading west. "Hold on. What are you planning about the Territory Nine situation?"

Dajiang countered, "Plan what?"

Tang Huai lowered his voice. "Territory Nine is a ticking time bomb. If we don't use this chance to drive them out, there's no telling what trouble they'll cause later."

"Even if they blow up, it'll be your Territory Two or Territory Twelve that gets blown up. That's not my concern." Dajiang waved to Xia Qing and returned to Territory One.

Tang Huai cursed under his breath and called out to Xia Qing. "Among the nearby territories, you've benefited from Third Brother the most. I just heard Third Brother say that if Territory Nine doesn't behave, he'll wipe out Territory Nine and move away. Do you want him to move?"

Xia Qing's face darkened. "If you can't speak properly, then don't speak. What do you mean, benefiting from Third Brother? Every interaction I've had with Third Brother has been a mutually agreed exchange of supplies!"

"Sure, you're the talker, you're impressive." Tang Huai brushed her off, then asked again, "Just tell me — do you want Third Brother to move away or not?"

"That's not something I can decide." Xia Qing, who had been digging a mountain cave all morning, was starving. She finished speaking and headed back.

Tang Huai chased after Xia Qing. "You don't know yet, do you? Li Si is from the Blaze Squad. Five years ago, the Azure Dragon Squad was driven out of Base One by the Blaze Squad — there's old enmity between them. If you tell Hu Zifeng..."

Xia Qing didn't want to hear more and asked casually, "What about the Sufeng Squad and the Blaze Squad?"

Tang Huai answered, "They don't cross each other's paths."

"Territory Nine and I don't cross each other's paths either." Xia Qing refused to get involved in disputes between other territories. "The Territory Nine matter will be handled by the Territory Management Department. It's not my place, and I can't do anything about it."

Tang Heng grabbed Tang Huai, who was about to lose his temper, and gave Xia Qing an apologetic smile. "Sister Qing, head back first."

After Xia Qing passed through the wild-grass wall of Territory Three, she heard Tang Huai, who had already walked back to Territory Two, cursing under his breath: "How could Hu Zifeng take a fancy to such a bad-tempered woman?"

Tang Heng advised quietly, "She's just a strength-evolver with no backing, and her territory isn't even next to Nine. Of course she doesn't want to get involved. Brother, say less — if Dad hears, he'll lecture you again."

"If you don't tell Dad, how would he know?" Tang Huai grumbled. "Let's go home and eat, and tell our dad about the Territory Nine situation on the way. Damn it, both our territories border Nine — what rotten luck. Several hundred jin of poison, and they claim it's for self-defense — you believe that?"

Tang Heng's voice was very low. "The Blaze Squad has invited Zhang San several times without success. They probably plan to use force."

After hearing the two brothers walk away, Xia Qing rubbed the fur of Yang Laoda, who had been waiting for her. "Let's go, we're heading home to eat."

When she got home, Xia Qing found an uninjured wolf in the sheep pen.

It stood in front of the two injured wolves, striking a protective pose. The brain-domain evolved wolf behind it, the one with the injured lumbar spine, also raised its head to look outward. Its head was held higher than yesterday, and its eyes were more spirited.

Evolved wolves have astonishing recovery abilities. At this rate, these two honored guests will probably leave in another dozen or so days.

Honestly, Xia Qing wouldn't mind them staying a few more days — after all, the rent the wolf pack pays is more than generous. Hopefully tomorrow morning, the lead wolf will bring a live rabbit.

Xia Qing took off her protective suit and carefully washed her hands before starting to make lunch. She'd exerted a lot of energy digging the cave today, so lunch had to be a good one.

Mixed-grain noodles, coming right up.

Right up until Xia Qing finished making the noodles, brought them to the table, and started eating, no one in the lord channel said a word. Clearly everyone was wary of Li Si, who was still in the group, afraid that saying anything too harsh would set her off.

After the evening weather forecast and farming knowledge broadcast ended, it should have been the liveliest time in the lord channel, but today no one spoke either. Everyone was waiting for the Territory Management Department's ruling on Territory Nine.

Two days later, Zhong Tao and Zheng Kui came over to deliver worm castings and mentioned the latest developments. "The Blaze Squad sent people to our safe zone and went straight to Tang Zhengrong's office. I figure in the end it'll just be fines and revoked preferential measures — they can't actually drive them out, because they're legitimate lords."

Xia Qing nodded. Over the past two days, she'd been poring over the Lord Law and had guessed this outcome. For someone like Li Si, who has plenty of money, this kind of punishment is truly painless and won't serve as any warning.

Xia Qing felt that petty-minded Zhang San, after making such a big fuss, definitely wouldn't let Li Si off easily.