Chapter 1635: Pretty Points Card and Fines

"Handsome Wolf Brother, look at this card—isn't it pretty? There's even Her Majesty's portrait on it!"

The next morning at the training ground, Xia Qing, who had lasted three extra minutes before being taken down by Yanlong, quickly adjusted her condition and pulled out a bling-bling pink points card printed with the Divine Wolf's portrait from her backpack.

The wolves on Xia Qing's left and right, and Bai Yan the raven perched on the tree branch, all looked at the flashy points card in her hand. Old Four glanced once, then rolled his white eyes and continued watching the handsome giant wolf and Yanlong sparring in the center of the training ground.

"Aow." Scarface Little Wolf looked left and right, saw that Tilt-head Little Wolf was still staring at Xia Qing, and thought he had let out a very stern command telling Tilt-head Little Wolf to pay attention in class.

All five wolves of the southern pack turned their heads, while the six wolves of the northern pack were still staring at Xia Qing in unison.

Xia Qing, whose face hadn't yet gained any new injuries today, smiled especially brightly. "I knew it—Handsome Wolf Brother is the most tasteful evolved wolf on our Blue Star! If all the wolves on Blue Star—no, all living creatures—could have half your taste, our Blue Star would absolutely stand proudly at the very top of the universe's pyramid! Only a wolf with taste like yours deserves to stand beside Her Majesty!"

Broken-back Wolf grinned, revealing four little pointed fangs.

Seeing that Xia Qing was only calling out and not pulling out food, the three half-grown wolves of the northern pack also turned their heads to watch the handsome giant wolf fight the human.

Xia Qing laid out her terms. "Handsome Wolf Brother, this points card has 200 points in it. Go to the hot spring lake basin on Mountain 67, have Does Daigua use your phone to call me, and I'll give you this card. How about it?"

Yesterday afternoon, after Xia Qing returned from Mountain 50, Zhang Song had anxiously sent her a message saying Does Daigua had something to discuss with her and asking her to contact Does Daigua as soon as possible. Knowing Xia Qing was very busy every day, Zhang Song had also sincerely offered that if Xia Qing didn't have time to go, he could go on her behalf to see what Does Daigua needed.

Why didn't Does Daigua just call Xia Qing?

Because the danger coefficient of the Mountain 67 basin was too high. To protect Does Daigua, whose combat ability was very low but who had a lot of monkey supplies, Xia Qing had brought back its phone, backpack, clothes, points card, and other supplies to her own territory.

The risks Xia Qing spoke of didn't come from the raptors above the basin, the overwhelming Bear King inside the basin, the giant python lurking in the lake, or the ubiquitous venomous snakes, insects, and poisonous plants throughout the basin—but rather from members of the survey team who might observe the basin's ecology through the remaining cameras at any time, and from humans and their tamed beasts who, in order to capture the Fire Phoenix and seize her 300 million supplies, might recklessly invade Mountain 67.

For safety, the two gua with their dirty little faces were now wearing tracking collars around their necks, pretending to be ordinary monk-faced monkeys in the basin.

How did Zhang Song know Does Daigua was looking for Xia Qing?

Of course it was because Xia Qing had arranged with Does Daigua that if Does Daigua had something non-urgent to discuss with her, it would comb Ergua's head fur three times in front of the camera; if there was something urgent requiring Xia Qing to contact it immediately, it would first comb three times, then another three times.

Mutual grooming is how monk-faced monkeys communicate affection, and two little monkeys grooming each other while staying with the monkey troop was perfectly normal behavior—no one observing would find anything wrong with it.

Does Daigua had sent the signal, but now the Mountain 67 basin was guarded by military patrols. Even with top sniper Xia Qing accompanying them, she would only be on the helicopter and couldn't conveniently enter the basin to meet Does Daigua, so Xia Qing could only send Broken-back Wolf to make the trip.

This fellow was now even more shrewd than Iron Rooster Yang Jin; Xia Qing had to pay a fee to get it to do anything. This beautiful points card worth 25 points was an offer Broken-back Wolf couldn't refuse.

Broken-back Wolf, looking very serious, was about to raise a paw to counter-offer when Little Wolf Sister came over, nuzzled her dad's neck with her head, and whined aowu-aowu coyly.

Little Wolf Brother moved to Xia Qing's side, his eyes shining as he stared at the points card in her hand, clearly meaning that if his dad wouldn't go, he'd make the trip himself for this pretty card.

Xia Qing, whose future was bright with money, said cheerfully, "Broken-back, you don't need to raise a paw. Your payment for running to the Mountain 67 basin is this points card. Just take a few extra steps while patrolling your territory, and you can get such a mighty, domineering, and beautiful card with Her Majesty's portrait. Tell me—is it a deal or not?"

Broken-back Wolf grinned, revealing snow-white little pointed fangs, and turned around.

Xia Qing tucked the card into the side pocket of Broken-back Wolf's protective suit. "Thanks for the help, Handsome Wolf Brother. Watch out for helicopters on the way, and don't let humans spot you running around in a protective suit."

Broken-back Wolf showed his little pointed fangs again, indicating this was no challenge for him at all.

Little Wolf Brother raised a paw to tug at Xia Qing's arm, whining aowu-aowu.

Having finished her business, Xia Qing asked, "Little Wolf Brother wants a pretty card too?"

"Aow~"

"Sure. Little Wolf Brother catches me an adult Gaoshan springbok, and I'll trade you one."

Little Wolf Brother closed his mouth and stared at Xia Qing seriously.

Xia Qing reached up to help this clever half-grown wolf remove a length of dried thorn vine caught in his fur, and with an equally serious expression repeated her trade terms. "If Little Wolf Brother wants the points card, go catch an adult Gaoshan springbok and bring it back."

In just over a month, the northern pack's new litter of wolf pups would be born, and last year's little wolves would no longer be cared for by pack members. Sub-adult evolved wolves who couldn't successfully hunt or defend the territory, no matter how clever, would never earn the pack members' respect or quality food.

After morning special training ended, Xia Qing changed into her protective suit and returned to her territory. She called out on the lord channel, then drove off with Zhao Ze, Yuan Yan, Shi Mu, Tang Huai, Lord Huo Lei, and Yu Shou, heading for the hidden valley on Mountain 50.

Xia Qing planned to harvest all the sunflowers today, load them up, and bring them back to her territory. Then she would reassign the sunflower fields to Territory Seven for growing precious herbs.

Her allies also needed to harvest the crops from their respective fields, and then everyone would divide the work to improve the soil and set up multi-layer seedling trays to raise rice seedlings.

In about 30 to 35 days, the first qiang rain of Year Twelve of the Catastrophe would arrive. After the qiang rain, lords had to fertilize and till the land within half a month, then transplant the raised rice seedlings into their territory's fields, or they would miss the farming season.

"Director Xia."

After picking up Zhao Ze, Xia Qing continued on her way. When she stopped at the north gate of Territory Five to let Yuan Yan aboard, Jiang Cheng, a hydrology and geology expert from Red One, and Huang Wanmao, a biomedical engineering expert from White One, who were staying at Center Nine, walked out of Center Nine's main gate under the protection of Security Team Two. Seeing Xia Qing, Jiang Cheng greeted her warmly.

Xia Qing, wearing a one-way light-transmitting protective mask, nodded to the two experts and was about to step on the gas to move forward when she heard Huang Wanmao ask, "Is Director Xia heading to the hidden valley?"

Jiang Cheng silently took a step to the side, indicating he was not in the same group as Huang Wanmao.

Before Xia Qing could speak, Security Team Two Captain Dai Yan spoke up. "Professor Huang, your behavior of inquiring about the movements of Center Nine's mid-to-high-level personnel violates the residency agreement. This is your third violation of the agreement. You are now required to pay a 3,000-point fine, then immediately return to your quarters, gather all your personal belongings, and move out of Center Nine."

Huang Wanmao was furious. "I was standing outside Center Nine, having a casual chat with Director Xia!"

Dai Yan reminded him expressionlessly, "According to Article Two, Clause Three of the agreement, the area within 10 meters outside Center Nine's north and south walls falls under Center Nine's jurisdiction."

Standing three meters outside Center Nine's main gate, Huang Wanmao was furious, but before he could open his mouth, Xia Qing spoke. "Professor Huang didn't read the residency agreement carefully before signing, did you? Thank you for your trust in our center. Captain Dai, send some team members to explain the agreement's contents again to the experts staying at our center, to prevent any further unnecessary misunderstandings."

"Yes!" Dai Yan stood at attention and acknowledged the order loudly. These experts were all big money-makers for their center, and they had to provide professional and attentive service.