Chapter 331: Pressure

Nine?

Recalling the first time the lead wolf led its pack into her territory, Xia Qing paused for two seconds and asked, "Are there any wounded or sick wolves in the pack?"

"No." Hu Zifeng answered firmly, emphasizing, "They're all very strong, very strong in combat."

Xia Qing replied, "Let them come through, no need to intercept."

Hu Zifeng, who was responsible for protecting Territory Three, was uneasy. "The wolves' attack capability is extremely high. Can you handle it? Shall I apply to Brother Luo and bring two squads over?"

Even through the camera, the wolf pack cutting through the rain in the dense Evolution Forest gave Hu Zifeng a powerful sense of pressure. Though they hadn't clashed directly, Hu Zifeng was well aware that his ten-person squad was no match for this pack.

The Evolution Cat Little Lao Wu, with only a fuzzy little head poking out from inside Hu Zifeng's protective suit, also stared with round black eyes at the wolves on the camera. Afraid the cat would be startled, Hu Zifeng gently scratched its little chin with his finger.

If Hu Zifeng and his men came armed to the teeth, the wolf pack might be provoked into a fight. Xia Qing directly told Hu Zifeng the purpose of the pack's visit. "The Broken-Waist Wolf came to trade with me yesterday. Because the items were quite large, it needs several more wolves to carry them away. They're coming to haul stuff."

What had the wolf pack traded with Xia Qing that required so many Evolution Wolves to haul? Hu Zifeng ran it through his head and figured the only thing in Territory Three with that kind of weight was the tiller.

Did the wolf pack need a tiller? Obviously not. He suppressed his curiosity and replied, "Got it. Contact me immediately if anything happens. I'll be on standby here."

After hanging up, Xia Qing filled a bucket with water and went back home. She saw the lead wolf still soaking in the bath tub, neither shivering nor forcing itself to endure pain.

The medicine's effectiveness had dropped this much?

"Your Majesty, is the water cold? Do you need it heated again?" Xia Qing took off her protective gloves and dipped her hand into the tub for a few seconds, but didn't feel the tingling sensation of the medicine seeping into her skin.

Logically, there should have been at least some effect; it must be that her hand hadn't soaked long enough. But Xia Qing didn't dare soak longer. First, because Zhang San had explicitly set the duration for the medicinal bath. Second, the lead wolf was staring at her fingers and seemed a bit displeased.

To be honest, the lead wolf with its wet head wasn't just un-imposing, it actually looked pretty funny. Xia Qing withdrew her hand and said solemnly, "The water temperature is just right. Your Majesty should come out in twenty more minutes. Soaking in this medicine too long isn't good either."

Xia Qing went into the kitchen and started making breakfast.

The sick wolf still got meat porridge. She herself had last night's big-bone radish soup, plus two mixed-grain steamed buns. With the Yishi refrigerator that could preserve food, Xia Qing could cook two meals' worth of dishes at once and steam enough buns for several days. Much more convenient.

After putting the meat porridge on to cook, Xia Qing went to check the wooden door placed under the eaves.

Out of sight, out of mind—but one look was a shock. On the wooden door she'd just varnished with clear lacquer last night, two muddy wolf paw prints had appeared at some unknown time.

No need to guess—Xia Qing knew which wolf had done it, because among the three wolves, only one was interested in the wooden door.

Why was the Broken-Waist Wolf stamping its paws on the door? Marking ownership?

Xia Qing fetched the clear lacquer and re-coated the damaged lacquer layer over the paw prints, then called the sick wolf over. "The Broken-Waist one is leading a pack of wolves toward our territory. Lao Er, you'll have to stand by my side later and give me courage."

Facing nine Evolution Wolves at once—even though one of them was an acquaintance—Xia Qing's heart still pounded with fear.

After Xia Qing finished speaking, she saw the sick wolf's ears swivel and its gaze turn toward the outside of the yard.

Xia Qing had long noticed the sick wolf had excellent hearing. Did this gesture mean the wolf pack was coming? Xia Qing took a deep breath, took out her phone, and opened the surveillance feed from Gao Po's camera.

Half a minute later, the Broken-Waist Wolf in a protective suit appeared first on the surveillance feed, followed by gray, black, brown, and tan wolves, one after another appearing on the screen. Even while traveling, the pack had formed a formation—able to advance and attack, or retreat and defend.

The camera captured one unfamiliar moving intruder after another, sending warnings to the phone again and again. Xia Qing's heart trembled along with each warning.

This was the Evolution Wolf pack that had casually wiped out an entire squad last year—god, the pressure was immense!

Damn it, it's just hauling a wooden door, was all this pomp and ceremony really necessary? Way too scary, or what?

Hmm?

Xia Qing, who had been tense, saw the brown-gray Evolution Wolf leaping and bounding at the very rear of the group, and half her tension drained away.

Oh ho, isn't that the Broken-Leg Wolf? Long time no see.

The wolf pack crossed the river channel without even using the stone slab bridge—they just jumped. Four or five meters of water and they cleared it in a single bound. Each one's movement was so effortless, so cool. Xia Qing watched with envy.

Then, Xia Qing saw her companion Ram Boss trot over to greet them, sniffing noses with the Broken-Waist Wolf and slipping into the pack with ease. The scene was utterly lacking in harmony.

The sick wolf nuzzled Xia Qing's leg, then went out into the rain to greet its companions. At this, Xia Qing was completely relaxed.

She checked the time, went inside, and discussed with the lead wolf, "Your Majesty, it's time to come out. Your subordinates will arrive any moment."

Seeing it not move, Xia Qing put on a stern face and urged again, "You can't soak in this medicine too long, or it'll harm your body. Come out."

The lead wolf stared at Xia Qing for two seconds, then leaped straight out of the tub and looked up at her.

"Okay, right away." Xia Qing used the heated filtered water to rinse the medicine liquid from its fur. "All done. Your Majesty, give a good shake, and I'll dry you off and comb your fur."

The lead wolf indeed shook its body vigorously and tossed its head, flinging off all the big water droplets.

Watching its movements, Xia Qing finally confirmed that this wolf's pain tolerance was even greater than the sick wolf's. After soaking so long, it came out as if nothing had happened. "Your Majesty, your subordinates are all here. Shall we go out?"

The moment the lead wolf took a step, Xia Qing realized she had overestimated it. It was in so much pain its movements were uncoordinated—no wonder it had leaped straight out earlier.

The lead wolf was very proud. Xia Qing didn't dare pick it up and carry it out, so she followed it outside.

The wolf pack had already arrived, but the Broken-Waist Wolf left the others outside the yard and brought only the Broken-Leg Wolf in, who was currently rinsing its paws under the eaves.

"Broken-Leg, long time no see." Xia Qing stopped looking at the wildly fierce, ferocious wolf pack and took the initiative to greet the Broken-Leg Wolf.

The Broken-Leg Wolf, who had been playing in the water with the Broken-Waist Wolf, heard Xia Qing greet it and got so excited it kicked the water basin flying. The wolf pack outside the yard was startled and one by one took attack stances, baring their fangs.

Xia Qing...

"Woo—"

The lead wolf let out a stern low growl. The Broken-Leg Wolf immediately behaved, drooping its head and standing stock-still on the spot, not daring to move. The wolf pack outside the yard also sheathed their fangs and stood quietly.

The Broken-Waist Wolf washed its paws clean, then rubbed them on the dry grass, walked over, and sniffed noses with the lead wolf. Then the lead wolf lay down on the dry grass under the eaves to rest.

The Broken-Waist Wolf walked up to Xia Qing, raised its head, and gestured for Xia Qing to touch the pocket on its body.

Xia Qing's heart leaped at the bulging pocket on the Broken-Waist Wolf's protective suit.