Chapter 407: Xia Qing's Warning

Seeing Xia Qing inside the wire-mesh wall raise her gun, four of the ten-person squad on the western quarantine strip immediately raised their guns and aimed at Xia Qing.

Although their guns weren't as good as Xia Qing's, and although they were in the wrong, these people were all grinning and laughing, showing not a trace of fear, waiting for Xia Qing to deliver her "warning."

Because they all believed Xia Qing wouldn't actually fire—just trying to scare people.

Only the strength evolver who had Xia Qing's gun pointed at him was still a bit timid, because Xia Qing's gun was very steady, and the gaze behind the protective mask was terrifyingly cold.

After waiting three seconds and finding that Xia Qing neither spoke nor fired, the knife-wielding strength evolver grew bolder. Just as he bared his teeth to mock Xia Qing for being mute, he saw Xia Qing's finger move.

"Bang!"

"Clang!"

"Ah—"

The gunshot and the sound of the bullet striking the machete rang out almost simultaneously. The machete in the strength evolver's hand and one of his fingers were knocked away by Xia Qing, and he let out a scream. The grinning, gawking members of the refugee squad had their smiles freeze on their faces, eyes wide with disbelief.

Didn't the inspection team just say to warn first? How did this woman just open fire?

Xia Qing's gun muzzle shifted from the wailing strength evolver to the refugee at the very front who was still aiming his gun at her, and she announced coldly, "Warning over. Beginning to take effective measures."

……

……

……

So her warning wasn't spoken—it was delivered with action directly?! After the warning, how she would take effective measures to protect her territory was beyond all doubt.

The squad leader holding a gun immediately raised both hands, retreating quickly while explaining loudly, "Don't misunderstand! We absolutely won't invade Territory Three, just passing through… just passing through."

After confirming Xia Qing wouldn't fire again, the squad leader turned and roared, "Xu Erpeng, shut your mouth for me, crawl back to Territory Two and get that wound bandaged. The rest of you follow me and keep moving. Walk properly for me, and stop your goddamn fumbling around!"

Seeing his companions actually leave him behind, panic flashed through Xu Erpeng's eyes. Then he fixed Xia Qing with a resentful stare, stepped forward, and used his left hand to pick up his machete and severed finger.

Xia Qing didn't even glance at him, only watching the refugee squad as they continued forward.

A sparrowhawk perched on a big tree by the quarantine strip suddenly flapped its wings and swooped over, snatching up the severed finger from the ground before Xu Erpeng could move, and flew off with it.

Watching the sparrowhawk fly toward Mountain Forty-Nine, Xu Erpeng's lips trembled, his eyes full of regret and fear. He had lost his right thumb, couldn't wield a knife anymore, and would never be recruited by an evolver squad again. What would he rely on to survive?

Farming?

If he could do it over, he would never have been so cheap as to knock on Territory Three's wall, provoking the crazy woman inside.

Under Xia Qing's gaze, the refugee squad practically ran as they left Territory Three's northern quarantine. Xia Qing holstered her gun, came down from Gao Po, returned to the greenhouse, and continued installing the steel frame.

Ten-some minutes later, the second, third, and fourth waves of refugee hunting squads walked out of Territory Two, passing through the quarantine strip between Territory Three and Mountain Forty-Nine, heading for Mountain Fifty. Without exception, these people were extremely quiet; none dared touch Territory Three's wire-mesh wall again.

After the refugee hunting squads left, Beard Feng's squad returned to Territory Three and continued helping Xia Qing build the steel frame. Beard Feng looked at Xia Qing's calm face, opened his mouth several times, but ultimately said nothing.

Xia Qing firing the gun wasn't a problem, because the other side had provoked her first.

But by doing so, she had openly slapped the faces of Territory Two, the Sufeng Squad, and Tang Zhengsu. Given Tang Zhengsu's vindictive character, he would certainly stop at nothing to recover his face.

Xia Qing alone against the Sufeng Squad… hmm…

Seems like it's nothing.

Chen Cheng lifted his nose and sniffed, exclaiming, "Sister Qing, I think I smell roasted sweet potatoes!"

Xia Qing pointed the welding torch at the fire pit beside the greenhouse. "I buried a few sweet potatoes under the fire. Keep an eye on them for me, don't let them burn."

"Don't worry, leave it to me!" Chen Cheng was overjoyed.

Seeing that Xia Qing still had the mind to roast sweet potatoes, Beard Feng's squad relaxed too, and started chatting and laughing again.

"Bang!"

Inside Territory Two, adjacent to Territory Three, Tang Zhengsu kicked Xu Erpeng into the wall, his face so dark it could drip ink. "What was the mission I gave you?"

Xu Erpeng hit the ground, face full of terror, body trembling, blood trickling down from the corner of his mouth, shivering and unable to utter a word. Sitting on a stool in the corner of the room, Tang Huai recalled every sad experience he'd ever had before he could stop himself from laughing out loud.

A fifty-meter-wide quarantine strip wasn't enough for you to walk through—had to be cheap and go provoke Xia Qing. Serves you right!

After Xu Pin waved for someone to drag Xu Erpeng out, he heard Tang Zhengsu furiously order, "Go find out what family Xia Qing has in the safe zone. Anyone inside, whether in the inner city or outer city, whatever their background—break every finger for me. Leave none."

Tang Huai secretly rolled his eyes.

Xu Pin replied, "Xia Qing of Territory Three has no relatives in the safe zone. All her family is dead."

Tang Zhengsu roared, "Then go after the people close to her!"

Remembering that Xia Qing actually did have a close friend in the safe zone, Tang Huai immediately spoke up, "The person closest to Xia Qing is her boyfriend, Beard Feng of the Azure Dragon Squad. He's right here in Territory One."

Go after him then. If you've got the guts, stop picking on the weak—go kill Beard Feng.

Tang Zhengsu turned to look at Tang Huai, whose upturned lips hadn't yet had time to fall. Before they could, Tang Zhengsu suddenly rushed in front of him, single-handedly gripping his neck and slamming him hard against the wall behind. Tang Huai's face instantly flushed red.

"Brother!" Tang Heng rushed over to plead for his older brother. "Second Uncle, don't!"

Tang Zhengsu kicked Tang Heng away and stretched his arm out straight. Tang Huai's feet left the ground, his face turning purple. He kicked and struck at Tang Zhengsu with his hands and feet. The snow-white bandages on his thigh were quickly soaked through with blood. Soon, Tang Huai's hands and feet went limp from asphyxiation, his eyes bulging.

Xu Pin watched quietly from the side, silent.

"Hmph!"

Tang Zhengsu tossed Tang Huai onto Tang Heng, listened to Tang Huai's violent coughing, took out a disinfectant wipe and cleaned his hands. "Get Tang Zhengpo over here for me. I want him standing right here, telling me personally where the wheat seeds for Territory Twelve came from."

"Third Brother, are you there?" Before Xu Pin could give the order, Tang Zhengpo's unhurried inquiry came through the lord channel. "The green-light purple potatoes in my territory have been harvested. Qiang element content 2.5‰, sugar content 9%. I just made some exploding purple potato cakes—they're pretty good. Would you like to try some?"

On the lord channel, Zhang San's listless voice sounded. "What do you want to trade?"

Tang Zhengpo answered, "My son's thigh was cut to the artery by a knife. I want to trade with you for special hemostatic medicine and a blood replenisher."

Zhang San asked, "Which son?"

"It's Tang Huai. Sorry to trouble you, Third Brother."

Zhang San yawned. "Twenty jin of green-light purple potatoes. Bring him over. I haven't sutured a wound in a long time—perfect for practicing my touch."