Chapter 1667: Transferring Pianhu

Knowing that the new human in front of him didn't like using her brain to analyze firsthand data or extract key information, Zhang San didn't hand the test results directly to her, but gave a concise summary. "After testing the 122 samples Xiaoduan brought back, we can confirm that the Qiang-18 toxin was mixed into tree resin and smeared on the bark."

Zhang San's bony, pale fingers moved the mouse, then turned the laptop screen toward Xia Qing. "It's a green-pine tree. Its bark constantly secretes resin, ensuring the Qiang-18 won't be washed away by rain or snow—it acts like a slow-release capsule."

Xia Qing nodded. "Pine bark is very rough. Not only tigers, but bears, wild boars, and other animals also like to rub against pine trees to scratch itches, grind their teeth, or sharpen their claws."

"Through testing the toxin samples, we confirmed it's a highly specific gene-targeting agent." Zhang San gave a brief, intuitive explanation of the poison. "The researchers who developed this agent put a 'shell' on Qiang-18, turning it into a smart bullet. Its 'shell' is a synthetically engineered nucleic acid chain whose three-dimensional structure perfectly matches and locks firmly onto this gene site…"

Realizing he couldn't explain it clearly in a few sentences, Zhang San grew a bit irritated. His fingers quickly tapped the laptop screen, pulling up the genetic test results for Pianhu.

"I pulled tiger population genetics literature from a public platform database and confirmed that at base pair position 719 of this segment, there exists a unique, stable single nucleotide polymorphism. Whether this gene site is unique to this tiger or shared by related tigers within the western tiger population still needs to be confirmed."

Dazzled by the entire page of text, letters, and helical structures, Xia Qing asked very sincerely, "Third Brother, could you send me this literature? I'll read it carefully when I get back, and consult you on anything I don't understand."

Zhang San's expression softened a bit. He sent the literature directly to Xia Qing before continuing his explanation. "Only evolved tigers with this unique gene site—after rubbing against or licking this toxin—will cause the 'bullet' to disintegrate, releasing the real killer inside the agent—synthesized thallium Qiang poison."

Xia Qing understood. "Third Brother, when was this poison deployed?"

Zhang San's slow voice carried anger. "Based on analysis of evolved tiger fur, spinner claw sheaths, and fecal samples Xiaoduan collected from different areas, the poisoning time is confirmed as late September last year."

Xia Qing speculated on why they chose that time to act. "Late September is during migratory bird season. Human attention is focused on capturing and guarding against migratory birds. Military helicopters and ground patrol teams also concentrate their surveillance on the birds' overnight roosting areas. Poisoning at this time would be easier to succeed. Third Brother, is this big pine tree the only poison source in Mountain Area 31?"

"It's very likely the only poison source. If that evolved tiger could still access other poison sources, its poisoning symptoms would be more obvious—it shouldn't have survived until now."

After giving an affirmative answer, Zhang San began analyzing the source of this toxin. "The three people Xiaosi rescued yesterday at Mountain Area 21 are all family members of senior researchers at the Huicheng base held by Liehuo. Wang Rujiang's wife is among them."

Xia Qing was pleasantly surprised. "Third Brother, how many points are these three worth?"

To save Pianhu, Old Four will have to spend nearly ten million points this time. Hopefully they can recoup some of that through these three people.

Zhang San shot Xia Qing a look. "Ask Xie Yu."

Xie Yu can't handle it—price negotiations need Yang Jin. Yang Jin left for the Ruins Continent to prospect for gold nine days ago; he should be back soon.

Xia Qing didn't pursue this question further and asked in all seriousness, "Third Brother, did you contact Wang Rujiang and break him?"

Plant genetic engineering expert Wang Rujiang, also known as Wang Wu—the one who, the winter before last, deliberately used the bioweapon soybeans he had developed to replace normal soybeans and sent them into Northern Zone One, Territory Nine, thereby sending a distress signal to Zhang San, hoping Zhang San would pull him off Liehuo's pirate ship.

On November 6 last year, to find a batch of high-value supplies lost in the southern wolf pack's territory in Hui-Three, Liehuo poisoned and shot five members of the southern wolf pack, causing the toxin to spread. In response, Zhang San activated a cross-base emergency disaster-containment procedure.

At the request of emergency disaster-containment commander Zhang San, Wang Rujiang and Fire Phoenix went to the disaster-containment tent at Hui-One, Mountain Area 26. Zhang San summoned Wang Rujiang not only to have him assist with disaster containment, but also to give him a chance to break away from Liehuo.

However, Wang Rujiang not only failed to seize that opportunity to atone for his crimes with meritorious service, but instead gave Zhang San false intelligence and took full responsibility for the poisoning himself. Fire Phoenix and Liao Wen, who were investigated, walked away scot-free, while Wang Rujiang was sentenced and imprisoned.

Now, Xia Qing understood why Wang Rujiang wouldn't talk.

Zhang San nodded. "While at Liehuo, the projects he led and participated in were all genetically modified crop research. Apart from him, no other Liehuo researcher has the ability to manufacture this level of agent."

Xia Qing understood. "Liehuo sent the predator genetic data they collected to other research institutions, who developed this agent targeting Pianhu, or Pianhu's family. Their purpose might have been to test the poison, or to obtain high-value resources within the tiger territory. Regardless of the purpose, these people are definitely still watching the western tiger population."

The headache Zhang San felt eased slightly. He stated the reason he'd called Xia Qing over. "Although this tiger isn't under tight surveillance, it's definitely in a monitored state. We're spending nearly ten million points worth of medicine to detoxify it, which will inevitably attract attention. Even if we secretly transfer it and detoxify it in secret, this tiger will eventually return to the Evolution Forest. Even if we use dye to change its fur color, we can't fool these people, because they hold the tiger population's genetic data."

When that time comes, the other side just needs to test a fecal or fur sample from Pianhu and compare it against the gene bank to confirm its identity.

Her idol's recent state hadn't been great. The fact that he'd come to discuss things with her rather than just issuing orders directly meant he hadn't yet found the optimal solution.

So Xia Qing directly proposed the plan she'd thought of. "Third Brother, from the moment you said Pianhu was poisoned with Qiang-18, I've been thinking about how to detoxify it without exposing our relationship with the wolf pack and tiger population. Does detoxifying Pianhu require uncontaminated spring water? Can the spring water from Mountain Area 50 be used?"

After Broken-Waist Wolf and Yang Jin conducted a source-tracing investigation of the Mountain Area 50 hot spring, they've been able to confirm it's a damaged uncontaminated spring.

Although this spring's Qiang element content has risen and Yi element content has dropped, it's still a water source of decent quality. Xia Qing remembered her idol saying that after treatment, this hot spring could still be used in the medical field.

Zhang San's fingers, which had been pressing his temples, stopped. He answered, "After Qiang-reduction and Yi-enhancement treatment, it's theoretically feasible, but the cost will be at least 20% higher than using uncontaminated spring water directly."

Hearing it could be used, Xia Qing felt relieved. As for how to turn theory into reality, that wasn't her concern. "Cost isn't an issue. Let's transfer Pianhu from Mountain Area 31 to Mountain Area 50 and use the treated hot spring water to detoxify it."

Zhang San looked at the new human across from him, silently asking how to transfer it.

?? Hmm… set the wrong release time