Chapter 540: He's No Good Man

This clever brain-evolved wolf had noticed that the magnifying glass was made of the same material as the glass set into the window frame, and it was studying the difference between glass and a magnifying glass.

The difference between the two was difficult for a clever wolf's brain to puzzle out.

Xia Qing set the seed-soaking basin by the fireplace to make sure the water inside wouldn't freeze, then wiped her hands dry, picked up the magnifying glass from the low table, and went to the window to help Broken-Back Wolf understand the difference between the two. "The magnifying glass and the glass on the window look alike, but they're not the same. The magnifying glass bulges outward; the glass is flat."

Xia Qing held Broken-Back Wolf's front leg and let it feel the flat surface of the glass and the convex surface of the magnifying glass with its paw. Once the wolf began actively using its paw to feel the difference between the two, Xia Qing went to turn the rabbit so Her Majesty's takeout wouldn't burn.

Once the rabbit was roasted crisp on the outside and tender inside, Xia Qing took it out and packed it up with practiced ease. The research-minded Broken-Back Wolf noticed the rabbit was done, stopped pondering the difference between the magnifying glass and the glass, and bared its little fang tips at Xia Qing to signal it was leaving.

Xia Qing held up the magnifying glass and negotiated a trade with Broken-Back Wolf. "Handsome Broken-Back Wolf, see how nice this magnifying glass is? One Yi stone and it's yours. But this thing is dangerous—if you don't use it right it can start a fire, so after the trade you still need to keep it in my territory, just like the laptop."

After gesturing several times, Xia Qing confirmed Broken-Back Wolf understood, but judging by the wolf's expression, it didn't seem interested in trading for the magnifying glass.

Life isn't easy, and being a middleman is no picnic. Xia Qing sighed, led Broken-Back Wolf to the tool room on the first floor, and pointed at the power-generating bicycle inside. "Broken-Back, this is the power-generating bicycle you traded with me. Are you taking it with you this time? Need me to deliver it to your door? For one Yi stone this big, I'll deliver it and install it for you."

To Xia Qing's surprise, Broken-Back Wolf actually had her carry the bicycle upstairs and set it next to the cabinet that held the laptop.

Xia Qing understood what it meant: that cabinet belonged to Broken-Back Wolf, and placing the bicycle next to it meant the power-generating bicycle was also its property.

But what was the point of that?

Xia Qing asked, "Broken-Back, you traded the power-generating bicycle with me, but you're not installing it in the District Three wolf den, and you're not taking it back to Mountain 60 either—you're just leaving it here?"

Broken-Back Wolf, carrying the roasted rabbit on its back, crouched beside the cabinet that belonged to it and opened its mouth to reveal its adorable little fang tips.

Its smile was so cute that Xia Qing couldn't help smiling along. "Alright, you're the buyer; wherever you say to put it, that's where it goes."

After Broken-Back Wolf left, Xia Qing turned on the lord's walkie-talkie and kept close watch on the construction team and the inspection team.

Today the construction team was installing the signal tower on the south side of the territory first, so they definitely wouldn't be anywhere near Territory Three. Although Territories Four, Five, Six, and Ten grew more crops than Xia Qing, the inspection team spent less than half the time in their territories that it spent in Territory Three.

It was obvious that Zhou Qianpeng and his team had come specifically for Xia Qing's territory—or more precisely, for the green-light spinach growing inside it.

After finishing lunch, Xia Qing confirmed that Zhou Qianpeng's team and the other teams had driven back to the Safe Zone, and decided to head to Mountain 49 for the training session.

While she was waiting near the north gate of her territory for Beard Feng's squad to come guard it, she happened to catch the inspection team's Cao Xianyun and Su Ming driving a patrol car past the north gate of Territory Three.

Su Ming jumped out of the car and said to Xia Qing, fuming, "Zhou Qianpeng's team inspected six territories in total. Unlike your place, they only sampled one or two kinds of vegetables from the other territories, and the inspection wasn't as thorough as what they did here. Qing-jie, I get the feeling they're targeting you."

Xia Qing nodded. "I trade supplies with Territory Seven often, so Territory Two and Territory Nine have always suspected the vegetables in my territory are better quality than the others. They've tested the waters many times before, and now that they finally have a legitimate reason to come in, of course they're going to inspect carefully."

Cao Xianyun, who was driving, nodded. "A thief you can guard against; it's the thief who's set his mind on you that's the worry. Hopefully after this inspection they'll quiet down."

Xia Qing asked, "Do you know anything about the background of that Chai Shuling in Zhou Qianpeng's team?"

Chai Shuling's credentials listed her position as Assistant Researcher in the Hui San Territory Management Department. But based on Xia Qing's observations, Chai Shuling must have another identity—otherwise the snobbish Zhou Qianpeng wouldn't constantly be watching her expression.

Su Ming shook his head. "She should be newly transferred here; I've never heard of her before."

Cao Xianyun did recall something. "That other one called Li Chang—I saw her in the Safe Zone once. She was wearing a yellow badge."

A young ordinary person becoming an intern researcher at a research institute meant either her connections were solid enough, or she had put in tremendous effort and achieved something in her field of study.

It seemed Xia Qing needed to find someone to thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of Chai Shuling and Li Chang.

Su Ming opened his mouth several times before finally blurting it out. "Qing-jie, that Zhou Qianpeng looks decent on the surface, but he's no good man. Him actively trying to set you up with someone definitely means he's up to no good."

On top of her identity as lord, Xia Qing now had three additional titles: Advanced Strength Evolver, Sniper, and Manager of the Mountain 50 Experimental Zone.

According to the information Su Ming had gathered, quite a few people had designs on Xia Qing.

Xia Qing nodded. "I know. I've run into him a few times back in the Safe Zone."

Su Ming let out a breath of relief, winked at Xia Qing, and said in a low voice, "If Qing-jie ever breaks up with Beard Feng and wants to find a partner, just tell me. Whatever type you want, I'll find them for you—guaranteed satisfaction!"

Xia Qing smiled and didn't take Su Ming's words to heart.

Why bother finding a partner? She already had companions when she wanted them and food when she wanted it. Any time spent looking for a partner would be better spent attending the training session and improving her combat ability.

With higher combat ability, she could defend the resources she already had and go after more.

When Chen Cheng from Beard Feng's squad came to guard the territory, he grinned and discussed something with Xia Qing. "Qing-jie, Er Yong is also attending the training session today. He asked me to talk to you about something: if he's unlucky and doesn't end up in the same group as you, could you let him stay alive a little longer?"

Er Yong was a Speed Evolver and one of Xia Qing's main sniper targets during the Mountain 49 training session. According to the Blue Dragon Squad training rules, the first few members eliminated from a defeated group received the harshest punishment. Er Yong's training load was already heavy; with extra punishment added on, he'd probably have to roll his way down the mountain.

Xia Qing nodded in agreement, passed through District Three of Mountain 49, cleared the checkpoint manned by the stationed personnel, and entered today's training area with her sniper rifle on her back.