Chapter 1620: Gold-Hunting on the Ruins Continent

Zhang San ate a plate of delicious rice noodle rolls, took a walk around Territory Three, focusing on inspecting the crops being cultivated in the laboratory, and reluctantly checked out the fermented premium manure that Xia Qing had ceremoniously introduced, then took Yang Jin along back to Territory Seven.

By the time Xia Qing and Yang Jin came out of Territory Seven again, it was already past nine in the evening. The reason they had stayed so long at Territory Seven was that Yang Jin, Zheng Chen, and Yan Long — three top experts — had held a round-robin tournament at Territory Seven's training ground, and afterward everyone had gathered for a meal.

Yang Jin and Xia Qing had taken an armored vehicle to Territory Seven, but on the way back they could only walk. As the two of them walked back along the northern isolation belt, Xia Qing asked, "In the sparring just now, did you go all out?"

The results of the sparring: Yang Jin first, Yan Long second, Zheng Chen third. This result didn't surprise Xia Qing, because Yang Jin was a top-tier speed evolver, and in close-quarters combat he held an absolute advantage. What did surprise her was that during Yang Jin's match against Yan Long, he had been hit over twenty times.

Yang Jin, whose face had been beaten even more colorfully than Xia Qing's, answered honestly, "When I fought Zheng Chen I used full strength. When I fought Sister Yan, I used full strength only in the last five minutes."

The first half? Yang Jin had deliberately exposed openings to let Yan Long hit him. Because both Zhang San and Xia Qing wanted to see him get beaten, and Yan Long also very much wanted to beat him up, she struck without mercy.

Xia Qing was still relatively rational, but the way Zhang San looked at him made Yang Jin understand that if he didn't take a solid beating today, he'd definitely end up on the big shot's blacklist.

Even while getting beaten, Yang Jin was very happy. Because this showed that the petty-minded big shot had already included Xia Qing within his "protective" range, and Xia Qing's safety had gained further assurance.

After answering Xia Qing's question, Yang Jin continued sharing combat experience, "The fact that I can beat Sister Yan in the fighting arena doesn't mean I can do it in real combat either. Sister Yan is a high-level olfactory evolver; in alley fights or evolution-forest battles, she can lock onto my position through scent before I even detect her, weakening my speed advantage."

After speaking, Yang Jin quietly gazed at Xia Qing: you can too, because you're a high-level auditory evolver, and you also possess extremely strong reconnaissance ability.

Because Xia Qing hadn't revealed this ability, Yang Jin didn't say it out loud.

Xia Qing nodded. It was precisely because she had this ability that she was desperately learning from Yan Long to improve her close-combat skills.

When the two returned to Territory Three, Guan Tong and Er Yong, who had been watching the territory for Xia Qing, very tactfully greeted them from afar and left through the south gate.

Xia Qing stopped beside the breeding greenhouse. Sheep Leader was inside the greenhouse, Wolf Lao Er was patrolling the territory; she should rejoin her companions and head home to rest.

Yang Jin stopped and asked, "What does Sister Qing want to eat tomorrow morning?"

Xia Qing answered immediately, "Rice noodle rolls. How long does the rice need to soak in advance? Should I soak it tonight?"

When Yang Jin grinned, the motion pulled at the wounds on his face, distorting his smile a little. "Four to six hours is enough. If you soak it before bed, put the bowl in the fridge to chill, otherwise it might ferment and go off."

Winter was cold, but Xia Qing's home had a fireplace burning, so the indoor temperature wasn't low; soaking the rice overnight could indeed ferment.

"Good, get some rest early."

Xia Qing had walked to the door of the small house beside the greenhouse, but hadn't heard Yang Jin's footsteps. She turned her head and found the guy still standing where he was.

The night sky was cloudless, and under the bright moonlight, the beaten-up Yang Jin was still a sight to behold. Xia Qing knew what he was waiting for, and turned around to walk back.

Yang Jin only froze for less than half a second before charging over at top speed to embrace Xia Qing, pressing his burning face against her cold protective mask, his arms gradually tightening, a great sense of fulfillment he had never experienced rising in his heart.

Three seconds later, Xia Qing patted his back, signaling that he should let go.

Yang Jin was reluctant to release her, and began telling her about a deal that should have been discussed after breakfast the next morning.

"A new type of iron ore material has been discovered on the Ruins Continent. Steel plates smelted from this ore are not only more corrosion-resistant, they also won't trigger attacks from sea beasts. I'm leaving the territory tomorrow, heading for the Ruins Continent. Xie Yu has already returned to the safe zone from Hui Er, and Brother Luo will return to the territory the day after tomorrow at the latest. If you run into problems you can't solve, you can contact them directly."

Hearing that this good material suitable for shipbuilding had been discovered, Xia Qing was naturally very interested. "Do many people know about this news?"

Yang Jin answered, "I bought out this information, but the other party's chances of breaking the contract aren't small, so I need to get there as fast as possible to haul the ore back. Whatever I can haul, I'll haul; whatever I can't haul, I'll hide first."

The "other party" Yang Jin mentioned referred to the disaster gold-prospectors on the Ruins Continent, where the living environment was extremely harsh. Many gold-prospectors would pull off one job and then withdraw from the Ruins Continent, change their names, and enter human safe zones on other continents to enjoy life; their integrity really was very low.

Xia Qing asked, "Where are you transferring?"

Yang Jin answered, "At Bai Er. The risk coefficient of this mission is too high; the strength of the Green Dragon Squad alone can't handle this batch of ore, so I've reached a cooperation agreement with the White Sturgeon Squad at the Bai Er base."

The White Sturgeon Squad was the number-one ranked squad at the Bai Er base, and their strength was also quite formidable.

Xia Qing patted Yang Jin's back again, signaling him to let go of her; staying like this affected her ability to negotiate terms.

Yang Jin could only let go and step back.

Xia Qing asked, "How many times is this that you've gone to the Ruins Continent? How many tenths of a chance do you have of getting the ore?"

Yang Jin answered, "The third time. Based on the information I have, I only have a forty percent chance right now. I have to go over and play it by ear."

The original inhabitants of the Ruins Continent had already been cleared out by the disasters. Now there were only a few airports there, jointly established by various countries, with troops assigned to protect the airports' safety. Apart from the airports, all other areas belonged to ungoverned territory — a place where strength alone talked.

Xia Qing began negotiating. "Are your anti-radiation, anti-toxin, and wound-healing potions and equipment sufficiently prepared? Do you need me to ask Third Brother to prepare some for you?"

Yang Jin laughed, "Of course, the more of these the better."

If he needed them, that made things easy. Xia Qing laid out her terms: "Send me a list of the equipment and potions you need, and I'll contact Third Brother to see how much he can get. Based on the quantity and quality of the equipment and medicine, we'll then discuss the profit-split ratio."

Yang Jin began haggling. "The Ruins Continent is very chaotic; we may not necessarily be able to get our hands on the target ore this time. Can I use points or other supplies to exchange for Territory Seven's potions and equipment?"

Xia Qing wouldn't fall for it. "If you can't get the target ore, then I want whatever ore you do bring back."

Yang Jin, the iron rooster, wouldn't make a personal trip only to come back empty-handed. Even if he couldn't get the target ore, he would definitely bring back a batch of high-value ore.

"Sister Qing is getting more and more shrewd." Yang Jin smiled, took out his phone, tapped a few times with beeping sounds, and sent the equipment and potion list to Xia Qing.

The list was already pulled up — this guy had long planned to trade with Territory Seven. Xia Qing glanced at the long list and answered expressionlessly, "When do you need it?"

"Before noon twelve tomorrow." Yang Jin asked curiously, "Red One's inspection team has arrived, Third Brother is in a very bad mood. Can Sister Qing get the medicine and equipment from Territory Seven?"

Because Third Brother was in a bad mood, Yang Jin had switched to negotiating with Xia Qing, letting her act as the middleman. He hadn't expected that this time Xia Qing's self-positioning wasn't as middleman, but as Zhang San's partner.

"I'll try. If I can't get it, I'll notify you in advance." After saying that, Xia Qing turned and walked toward the breeding greenhouse to rejoin her companions.

"I'll try" was just Xia Qing's modest answer; she was confident she could get the potions and equipment. Because what Yang Jin was going to the Ruins Continent to obtain was good material for shipbuilding, and her idol had already agreed to board her ship — of course he wouldn't refuse to trade potions for materials.