Chapter 634: Opening Battle

"We only got a text notification, no pictures. Sister Qing, you could ask our boss or Brother Luo — they're both on missions protecting the safe zone, so they might know."

It was the Thorn Rain period, and Xia Qing couldn't tell whether Yang Jin and Luo Pei were on a mission or resting, so she sent Yang Jin a message first, asking about the wolves' movements.

Compared to Luo Pei, who had been away from the territory for over half a year, Yang Jin had a better understanding of the relationship between Xia Qing and the wolves.

Less than half a minute after the message was sent, Yang Jin forwarded a few seconds of aerial footage and asked: Is this lead giant wolf from the northern wolf pack or the western wolf pack?

The infrared camera's nighttime aerial footage was black and white, and without being very familiar with the wolf packs, it was hard to confirm which giant wolf this was — Yang Jin had also been wanting to ask Xia Qing to confirm the wolf's identity.

Xia Qing tapped to watch it once, and her suspended heart settled. She replied to Yang Jin: Confirmed, the northern wolf pack's giant wolf is not in the video.

Not to mention a twenty-meter aerial view — even from two hundred meters up, Xia Qing could recognize Handsome Giant Wolf. Otherwise, how would she ever repay him for digging out a whole backpack of Spirit Stones for her!

Yang Jin quickly replied: Received. Get some rest.

Yang Jin didn't say more, and Xia Qing didn't ask more, because asking would be pointless.

Since the northern wolf pack hadn't gotten involved in the western wolf pack's revenge operation, Xia Qing wouldn't leave the territory to stop the wolves. She had no relationship with the western wolf pack, nor the ability to stop their revenge.

This wasn't something a farming lord like her should worry about.

At six o'clock, Er Yong, who was pulling thorn weeds in the yellow-light rapeseed shed, glanced at his phone for a few seconds and posted the latest intel at the same time as Tang Huai:

"Sister Qing, the beast tide from the western Evolution Forest is heading toward the southern territories."

"Did everyone hear? The wolves and leopards in the western Evolution Forest have launched another beast tide, charging straight at the southern territories."

Zhao Ze, already up, hurriedly asked, "Brother Huai, is the beast tide big? Will it hit our territory?"

"Medium scale — reportedly over two hundred large animals. It probably won't reach us, because our territory is protected by the Divine Wolf."

After speaking, Tang Huai pressed his palms together and silently mouthed: Thank you, Xia Qing.

Chen Cheng, who was patrolling Territory Three and eliminating dangers, speculated over the walkie-talkie, "Last time the western wolves launched a beast tide, they first hit the western territories. When they tried to invade our territory, the northern wolves stopped them, so they went and destroyed the eastern territories. This time they're heading for the southern territories again — looks like they won't stop until every human outside the safe zones is dead."

Xia Qing corrected him, "After the last beast tide, the western wolves were already lying in ambush near the southern territories. They retreated later because the monkey troops went to seize their territory."

"Right, I forgot about that." Chen Cheng asked, "Sister Qing, in your view, what would it take to make these wolves stop their revenge?"

Walking through the buffer forest, Xia Qing replied, "Find the one who brutally killed the cubs, and tear it apart."

Chen Cheng sighed, "Where would you even find them? Looks like the only option is to wipe out all the wolves and leopards."

Er Yong countered, "Wiping out the wolves isn't hard, but what comes after? Send you to guard the western Evolution Forest and stop the monkeys and other large animals from invading?"

On the lord channel, the lords were hotly debating the wall. The wolves' beast tide made them uneasy — they were only hoping the wall could be built sooner, to firmly protect their territories.

Xia Qing, listening to both sides, said nothing more.

Humans couldn't wipe out the wolves, because they relied on them to garrison deep in the western Evolution Forest, blocking the monkeys and other animals from invading that vast Evolution Forest and disrupting the established ecological balance. Erecting an iron-mesh wall would indeed make this territory a bit safer, but a wall over four meters high couldn't stop an evolved wolf — even one meter taller wouldn't stop them.

This point, Xia Qing understood better than anyone.

At six-thirty, Beard Feng's three-person team got up, finished breakfast, and relieved Xia Qing's three-person team, letting them go eat and rest. After they dealt with the red-grade Thorn Rain together, only then could those three go rest.

Xia Qing hurried to drink her evening tea soup, then busied herself feeding her companions and animals. After checking that everything at home was normal, she started up the micro-tiller and began cutting thorn weeds.

At seven-thirty, the red-grade Thorn Rain with a high thorn-element content began to drizzle down. Ten-some minutes later, thorn-evolved crop plants appeared one after another in the greenhouse, the yellow-light wheat field, and the yellow-light rapeseed field.

In places directly scoured by the Thorn Rain, thorn weeds began to grow wildly again — in uncut areas, they were already over a person's height.

Xia Qing drove the micro-tiller to patrol the territory, clearing the aggressive thorn-evolved plants in time; as for the constantly leaping insects, she had no time to deal with them now.

At seven-thirty, Territory Four sent an emergency: "Captain Tan, a tree is rapidly growing in Territory Four — species unknown. It's already over four meters tall."

Tan Junjie responded calmly, "Personnel in the territory fall back. The inspection team will arrive to clear it in ten minutes."

A few minutes later, Territory Ten, with only three people, also sent an emergency: "Captain Tan, a large number of evolved scorpions are pouring out of the village ruins in Territory Ten. We need support."

Tan Junjie responded calmly, "Received. The inspection team will arrive in five minutes. Personnel in the territory, stay alert."

Evolved scorpions?

Xia Qing turned the micro-tiller and headed to the ruined village in the southeast. Sure enough, she spotted plenty of venomous scorpions crawling out from the house ruins — a swarming mass that made Xia Qing's eyes gleam.

If it weren't the Thorn Rain period, she would have immediately released the chickens from the greenhouse and let them eat their fill.

Now, Xia Qing could only press the walkie-talkie button: "Captain Hu, a large number of scorpions have appeared in the ruined village to the southwest. I can't capture them all alone — I need two people for support."

Scorpions could be used for medicine and as food, so Xia Qing chose to catch them alive and trade them for points.

"Jingkuan, Er Yong, go provide support." Beard Feng, who was patrolling the northern part of the territory, immediately dispatched two speed-evolved individuals.

While the northern territories were in an uproar of activity, the beast tide driven by the western wolves met the first echelon of the disaster-prevention forces outside the southern territories.

In the red Thorn Rain, the animals had lost their reason and could no longer feel fear or pain — they charged wildly, fighting to the death.

Humans, whose combat power and firepower were limited by the Thorn Rain, could only wear protective suits and masks and hide behind cover, firing back with sniper rifles and submachine guns.

"Captain Yang, the wolves and leopards have split up and infiltrated the dense forest."

Yang Jin calmly ordered, "All personnel listen up. Follow Operation Plan Two, coordinate with each other to drive the wolves and leopards. As long as they don't break through the second defensive line, don't shoot to kill. The helicopter arrives in half an hour. Once you spot the silver-gray, blue-eyed giant wolf's position, report immediately."

Three minutes later, someone reported, "The silver-gray, blue-eyed giant wolf has appeared in the Evolution Forest 1,000 meters ahead of the Fifth Sniper Squad."

"Received." Yang Jin immediately walked out of the concealed tent and rushed at full speed toward the Fifth Sniper Squad's area.