Chapter 1659: Yiyi's Rapid Recovery

Facts proved that even the former Tiger King, covered in scars and thin as a rail, was still a king.

At 11 p. m. on January 24 of Year 12 of the Calamity, the southern Bulangqun of Hui-3—except for the pregnant wolves and the guard wolves—swarmed out in full force, carrying packs large and small as they followed the western former Tiger King. They crossed deep ravines one after another, climbed over snow-capped peaks one after another, and after nearly two hours finally reached their destination for this trip—Peak Two of Hui-3 Mountain Thirty-One—from the cliff of Hui-3 Mountain Twenty-Two. Upon arrival, Xia Qing, on the wolf's back, sincerely uttered the sentiment above.

Here, looking up was a granite cliff face; looking down was a vast, boundless Evolution Forest. Xia Qing, wearing night-vision goggles, swept a casual glance and spotted no fewer than twenty large herbivores.

A Evolution Tiger thin as a sheet could still hold such a large patch of densely wooded Evolution Forest, rich in prey—it must have its own fierce qualities.

While Xia Qing was eyeing those plump, delicious prey, Zhang Shi, riding on a wolf's back, was carefully observing the environment where she would be working and living for the next several months. Little Ye Yiyi, sitting in front of her, was also peering around through the night-vision goggles.

After Xia Qing had surveyed the terrain here, she asked, "Fourth Brother, where do we unload?"

To relocate the Evolution Forest clinic, the southern Bulangqun dispatched eighteen members—every wolf that could come did, except for the pregnant wolves, the elderly wolves, and the wolves guarding the core territory. Add to that five members from the northern Bulangqun, and the relocation team numbered twenty-three wolves in total.

Apart from Fourth Brother leading the way, Missing-Ear Wolf bringing up the rear, Scarface Little Wolf, and Little Wolf Brother, the other wolves had all been running for two hours carrying supplies or humans and were already exhausted; they needed to unload as quickly as possible.

Fourth Brother nuzzled its friend, and the already weary western Tiger King began to climb the cliff face. The wolf pack followed closely behind, entering a natural rock cave on the nearly vertical granite cliff more than thirty meters above the ground.

This spacious rock cave—easy to defend, hard to attack, and offering an excellent strategic vantage point—reassured Xia Qing. "Brother Tiger picked a good spot. Fourth Brother, do Tenth Sister and Ye Yiyi also live inside this cave?"

The old wolf led the way at the front, walking more than ten meters into the cave, passing through a crevice in the rock more than half a meter wide and over three meters long, and entering an oval-shaped cave that wasn't as spacious as the outer rock cave but still covered an area of more than forty square meters.

Xia Qing switched on her flashlight and looked around. "It's dry and well-sealed here. What do you think, Tenth Sister?"

"This place is wonderful. Thank you, Sister Qing, Fourth Brother, Brother Tiger." Zhang Shi was genuinely very satisfied. To enter this cave, one had to pass through the Tiger King's den, so the sense of security was instantly maxed out.

"Aow." Little Wolf Brother spoke up in displeasure.

Zhang Shi hurriedly added, "Thank you, Little Wolf Brother, Missing-Ear Sister, Scarface, and all the other companions for helping us carry the luggage and equipment."

Xia Qing switched on a floodlight, swiftly unloaded the cargo, and then, drawing on years of construction experience, quickly divided this cave into a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and workroom. She immediately set to work with Zhang Shi and Ye Yiyi cleaning the cave and assembling the tent, so that Ye Yiyi would have a place to sleep.

The rest of the supplies, Zhang Shi would sort and assemble slowly the next day.

Missing-Ear Wolf and Scarface Little Wolf led their companions swiftly back to the southern Bulangqun territory. The Paper Tiger, having drunk the X Nutrient Solution, lay together with Fourth Brother in the outer large rock cave, quietly gazing down at the Evolution Forest below. After getting Paper Tiger's permission, Little Wolf Brother led the four giant wolves of the northern Bulangqun into the valley and caught an Evolution Moose for a late-night snack.

When the northern Bulangqun had eaten until their bellies were full, Xia Qing had already used a crowbar to shift several stones weighing over ten tons inside the cave into suitable positions. She then took off her gloves, opened her backpack, took out a bag from inside, and walked over toward Ye Yiyi, who was clearing the rock fragments inside the cave.

"Does Ye Yiyi like this hat?" Xia Qing stopped about two meters from the little girl, squatted down, and showed her the earthy-yellow rabbit-fur hat inside the bag.

Zhang Shi, who was pitching the tent, smiled, glanced over, and then continued with her work.

Ye Yiyi, wearing a protective mask, was immediately drawn to this fuzzy hat.

One month ago, this little girl had been moved from the basement of Territory Three into the southern Bulangqun territory, and her condition had improved rapidly.

Eleven days ago, Fourth Brother, Broken-Waist Wolf, and Zhang Shi had taken her to Hui-1 Mountain Twenty-Two in southern Hui-1, where she watched the battle between the southern Hui-1 Bulangqun and the Grey-Spotted Monkey Troop up close. This fierce battle seemed to have shattered a wall inside Ye Yiyi's heart; the little girl improved at a visibly rapid pace.

Seeing that she liked the hat, Xia Qing tried to communicate with her, just as she did when video-calling her. "If Ye Yiyi likes the hat, nod your head."

Ye Yiyi glanced toward her busy aunt, hesitated for a few seconds, then slowly nodded.

Xia Qing smiled, put the hat back into the bag, and said, "This hat is my New Year gift to Ye Yiyi. I hope Ye Yiyi stays safe and happy in the twelfth year of the Calamity."

Ye Yiyi looked toward Zhang Shi again. Zhang Shi gave her an accurate response: "When Ye Yiyi receives the New Year gift from Auntie Qing, what should Ye Yiyi say to Auntie Qing?"

Ye Yiyi turned her head back to look at Xia Qing, opened her mouth several times, but still couldn't make a sound. She stood quietly for a minute before slowly taking off her little gloves, pulling something out of her pocket, and slowly holding it out toward Xia Qing.

Under the lamplight, Xia Qing saw that what the little girl held in her hand was a flat grey stone the size of a pigeon's egg, with a small patch of black pattern on it. She looked up at Ye Yiyi in pleasant surprise and said, "The pattern on this stone looks just like Boss Sheep's head!"

Ye Yiyi's eyes lit up, and from her mouth came a breath of air that wasn't clear, but to Xia Qing sounded very distinct.

The little girl was laughing.

Xia Qing asked happily, "Does Ye Yiyi want to give this stone to me as a New Year gift?"

This time Ye Yiyi didn't hesitate; she immediately nodded in reply.

Xia Qing took the stone and said, "This is the best New Year gift Boss Sheep and I have received this year. I really like it, and Boss Sheep is sure to like it too. Thank you, Ye Yiyi—it's amazing that you could find such a beautiful stone!"

The little girl's eyes curved into a smile, and she pulled a few more small stones out of her pocket to show Xia Qing.

Xia Qing stepped closer, patiently observed the stones, and discussed with the little girl what the patterns on them looked like. Seeing that Zhang Shi had finished pitching the tent, Xia Qing pulled a small piece of luminous stone out of her backpack and handed it over. "This stone glows in the dark. Ye Yiyi can go into the tent, turn off the light, and see what color its glow is."

Zhang Shi spoke up at the right moment and called Ye Yiyi over. It was already eleven at night; Ye Yiyi needed to go to sleep, and Xia Qing also had to return to the territory as quickly as possible.

After the little girl had gone to sleep, Xia Qing handed Zhang Shi a black package. "Tenth Sister, this is your New Year gift."

Seeing the neatly written words "To Mom" on the package, Zhang Shi's eyes instantly reddened. She put the package into her suitcase and urged Xia Qing to return to the territory as soon as possible. "It's late, Sister Qing, hurry back. Have Little Wolf Brother and the others been around here? Is the road back safe for you?"

Xia Qing nodded. "In a bit I'll have Fourth Brother escort us part of the way; Black-Tail Wolf will stay behind to protect you and Ye Yiyi. Tenth Sister, grab the medical kit—let's go out first and give the Tiger King a simple checkup, clean its fur a bit, so it can truly feel the value of your staying here."