Chapter 666: Profitable

"This grass either doesn't belong to the same evolved species as the one at Red One Base," Zhang San observed carefully before offering his deduction, "or it does, but has evolved a new form in response to environmental changes."

At four in the afternoon, the emergency pestilence state for the slaying-snake disaster in Northern Zone One territory was lifted. When Xia Qing was called by her idol to discuss matters at Territory Seven, she showed him the photos she had taken.

After hearing her idol's deduction, Xia Qing offered her own guess, "Do you think the evolution of the slaying-wither grass has anything to do with the increase in slaying-snake numbers in our region?"

As the saying goes, when evil rises a foot, virtue rises a yard. If slaying snakes have become more numerous, in principle the herbs in nature that can cure their venom should also have increased... right?

Zhang San neither confirmed nor denied Xia Qing's guess directly. "That's a hypothesis with a touch of the mystical to it. As for whether there's a positive correlation between the two, that would require extensive investigation and data analysis. I don't have time for that right now."

As a major figure in scientific research, Zhang San had many ongoing projects on his hands and was extremely busy.

Xia Qing was only curious in the moment and didn't insist on getting an answer. She began asking about the real business. "Third Brother, which plant should I cut leaves from this time?"

The two slaying-wither grass plants—one was setting seed, the other was growing side shoots—were both at critical stages, and Xia Qing couldn't make up her mind. So when her idol told her to bring over four leaves, Xia Qing only brought photos, planning to go back and cut the leaves after her idol made a decision.

Zhang San made the call directly. "Don't cut from either one, to avoid adverse effects on the plants. Red One is sending someone over tomorrow anyway to pick up the Gao Yi elemental spinach seeds. I'll have them bring four leaves along."

"Being able to trade with Red One's research institute is the best option." Xia Qing asked again, "Third Brother, can we use the herbs we gathered from Mountain Fifty-Five?"

Zhang San shot her a look. "If we couldn't use them, why would I have you cut the leaves? Tomorrow's first course of treatment will be fully prepared. The second course is still missing that one ingredient I sent you. Press the wolf pack to find it as soon as possible. Otherwise the first course will have to be extended—Zhang Hongda's poison can't be delayed any longer."

Xia Qing asked, "Understood. How many courses of treatment does he need in total?"

"Once we have enough herbs, two courses will cure him." Zhang San discussed with Xia Qing, "Tomorrow's medicine requires 300 milliliters of unpolluted spring water. I don't have enough on hand—can we use yours?"

"Sure." Xia Qing agreed readily. 300 liters of spring water was just one day's output from the spring in her territory. Compared to the 15,000 liters Luo Pei had used to synthesize the slaying venom antidote, Zhang Hongda's usage was a mere drop in the bucket.

"Right now Liehuo's external sales price for spring water is 220 credits per liter. Yours will be calculated at the same price, totaling 66,000 credits. Add the price of the 12 herbs, that's 186,000 credits in total. The remaining 20-plus herbs aren't worth much, so I'll round them to 400 credits. Total: 186,400 credits." Zhang San pulled a stack of credit cards from his drawer, picked out three to make up the amount, and handed them to Xia Qing. "Once I'm done with this busy stretch, I'll check your brain."

Said as if she had something wrong with her brain. Xia Qing's eyes quietly moved away from that thick stack of credit cards in her idol's hands. "Thanks, Third Brother."

Over 30 herbs sold for credits, half of which she'd give to Yang Jin, and she'd still have plenty left over—she'd made a killing!

Xia Qing left her idol's wonderfully soundproofed office in high spirits. Before she even reached Yan Long, Yan Long asked, "The weasels in your territory haven't left yet?"

Xia Qing stopped two meters away from Yan Long and didn't approach any closer. "Not yet."

Yan Long brought up the matter of the python pool at Mountain Fifty-Five. "I watched the surveillance. That black python isn't any smaller than the one we caught last year. Is it a brain-domain evolver?"

The surveillance permissions for the cameras installed by the python pool at Mountain Fifty-Five had been assigned to Territory Seven, so Yan Long could see the black python through the monitors. However, due to the angle, she only saw the python's back.

Xia Qing shook her head. "I can't be sure either, but that black python is definitely smarter than the other three, because it didn't rush out to attack me and Yang Jin."

Yan Long thought there might be another explanation. "There are two possible reasons it didn't attack: one, neither of you was carrying bait; two, the black python may be more sensitive to danger and wary of Yang Jin."

Creatures within the Evolution Forest were all extremely sensitive to danger. Both possibilities Yan Long mentioned did exist. Xia Qing asked curiously, "Does Sister Yan want to go to Mountain Fifty-Five to meet the pythons there?"

Yan Long was the captain of the Frogman Special Forces Team, unbeatable in water. Her concern about the pythons—was she thinking of getting one?

"Since a giant python has appeared nearby, it's necessary to improve Tan Qi's combat ability." Yan Long looked at Xia Qing. "If you're not busy..."

"I'm not busy!" Xia Qing immediately declared. "I'll join too. Thanks, Sister Yan. I'm available anytime."

What a joke! Training with Yan Long was a golden opportunity to boost her combat ability—Xia Qing absolutely couldn't miss it.

Yan Long nodded in satisfaction. "First, we'll use this period to bring your underwater combat ability up to par, then go to Mountain Fifty-Five for field training. Can you swim? What's your lung capacity?"

Xia Qing stood up straight, trying to look more confident. "I learned breaststroke before the Cataclysm. I could swim about 20 meters in a pool. I haven't been in the water since the Cataclysm. I haven't had my lung capacity tested, but it's definitely much stronger than before the Cataclysm."

Breaststroke, 20 meters, and only in a pool? Ji Li, who was in the surveillance room, silently lit a candle for Xia Qing. Huo Zhun began rummaging through his old man's inventory again, trying to find something good to keep Xia Qing alive.

Xia Qing followed Yan Long into the testing room, blew hard into the mouthpiece three times, then waited for the results.

Yan Long's brow furrowed slightly. "Before the evolution, the average lung capacity of adult women in our country was between 2,500 and 3,000 milliliters. After the evolution, this figure rose to 4,500 to 6,000. You're a high-level evolver, so your lung capacity should be between—but yours is only."

Still a long way from the passing mark, Xia Qing asked seriously, "Sister Yan, how should I improve my lung capacity?"

Yan Long was very pleased with Xia Qing's attitude. "I'll send you the training videos. What time are you free the day after tomorrow? I'll teach you and Tan Qi how to swim. Is it okay to use the reservoir in your territory?"

After setting a time with Yan Long, the two were walking briskly toward the Northern Buffer Forest of Territory Seven when a female guard suddenly approached and spoke to Yan Long in a very low voice:

"Captain Yan, a group from the Reunion Alliance is coming. I've already notified Captain Ji. Should I have him escort Miss Xia back?"

Xia Qing hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but her hearing had evolved to a high level, so she caught every word clearly. And she was absolutely certain that the moment that female guard said "Reunion Alliance," Yan Long's eyes instantly turned sharp.

It seemed Yan Long and the Reunion Alliance definitely had some history.

Xia Qing heard a burst of chaotic footsteps and looked up toward the Northern Buffer Forest.