Chapter 416: Giant Python

Chapter 416: Chapter 416: Giant Python

Xiaqing had slept for less than four hours when she received a call from Hu Zifeng. "Four wolves escorting a Giant Python over ten meters long have entered Valley No. 1 in Zone Three."

These were extraordinary times. Letting the Wolf Group cross the isolation zone into the Third Territory with a python in tow would be far too conspicuous. Xiaqing was also worried the Python might get stuck in the North Gate and break it, or that it might startle or anger the wolves.

That was why she had asked Hu Zifeng last night to give her a heads-up immediately if they spotted the Wolf Group entering Mountain No. 49 with the Python.

Hu Zifeng informed her of the Wolf Group’s whereabouts, then added, "Last night, the Second Territory sent three people to the Northern Isolation Zone, one after another. The patrol team took them all away. I’ve already sent men to guard both the east and west ends of the North Isolation Zone of No.3 Territory, so you don’t have to worry."

The Security Team, which she had acquired in exchange for Pollution-free Spring Water, had been diligently protecting the Third Territory ever since they started. Of course Xiaqing wasn’t worried. "Captain Hu, does the Su Feng Team suspect I was the one who blew up their helicopter?"

Hu Zifeng replied, "We still don’t know the specific reason they’re targeting you, but it’s definitely related to the helicopter explosion. Besides you, they’ve also sent people to watch No.1 Territory and Territory No. 12. To be safe, you’d better not go to Mountain No. 50 to gather Green Light Peanuts for the next few days."

"Don’t worry, Captain Hu. Until the Su Feng people pull out, I won’t go anywhere besides my territory and Mountain No. 49," Xiaqing immediately agreed.

The Green Light Peanuts from Mountain No. 50 were indeed important, but her safety was more so. Although her strength had increased, she definitely couldn’t defeat the main members of the Su Feng Team, the top-ranked team at the base. So, she had to continue laying low.

This winter, she had only one main mission: participate in the Green Dragon Team’s training camp on Mountain No. 49 to improve her combat strength.

Xiaqing put on her Protective Suit and went downstairs. She spoke to her two companions, who were sleeping on thick grass mats on the first floor. "I’m making a trip to Zone Three of Mountain 49. Are you coming with me, or are you staying to guard the territory?"

Sick Wolf immediately stood up to follow. Sheep Leader didn’t even lift its head, keeping its eyes closed and continuing to sleep, its actions making it clear that it would stay behind to guard the territory.

After the sound of human footsteps faded into the distance, a small red head poked out from a pile of hay in the sheep pen. It glanced around a few times before shrinking back into its warm, grassy nest.

Inside the Northern Wilderness Grass Wall of the Second Territory, a hidden sentry using a sound amplification device heard the footsteps in the Third Territory and immediately reported to his reconnaissance captain.

The reconnaissance captain, who was lying on a long sofa in the monitoring room, rubbed his face and sat up. He ordered a team member, "Send out a Reconnaissance bird. Observe Xiaqing’s movements from high above the Second Territory."

’It’s only five fucking A.M. For Xiaqing to be up and out now, something must be up!’

"Yes, sir."

The Reconnaissance bird took off with its camera. It had just ascended to over thirty meters, and its infrared camera hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Xiaqing’s figure, when its altitude began to drop rapidly.

The reconnaissance team member was shocked. "The Reconnaissance bird’s been hit!"

The captain’s eyes widened, and he immediately started cursing. "Who the fuck told you to fly the Reconnaissance bird out of the territory?!"

The team member, who had dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, felt wronged. "Boss, I confirmed the Reconnaissance bird was in the airspace above the Second Territory."

On the roof of the small building in No.1 Territory, Jing Kuan’s eyes never left his scope. He reported through his headset-style walkie-talkie, "Boss, the Reconnaissance bird launched from the Second Territory has been shot down."

"Roger that."

In his own monitoring room, Hu Zifeng gave orders to the team members guarding the North Isolation Zone of No.3 Territory. "Jing Kuan, Eryong, Da Jiang, Chen Zheng, hold your positions. Intercept anyone who isn’t from the patrol team trying to enter the North Isolation Zone of No.3 Territory. If they resist with force, eliminate them on sight. This is a direct order from the big boss, and it must be carried out without fail."

"Roger that."

"Roger that."

Xiaqing heard a gunshot from the direction of No.1 Territory. She glanced back and muttered to Sick Wolf, "How far can Second see in this fog?"

The Night Vision Goggles Xiaqing was currently wearing were the ones she had traded with Yang Jin back in March. They used light-amplification technology, allowing the user to see at night. However, this technology performed poorly in foggy weather, which made Xiaqing—who was accustomed to observing her surroundings with her Visual Evolution ability—feel very insecure.

Xiaqing took off the goggles and pulled a pair of thermal imaging goggles from her backpack. These were part of a Special Protective Clothing set that Yang Jin had traded to the Base Commander for spinach seeds.

Thermal imaging goggles worked by capturing infrared radiation emitted by objects, requiring no light source, so not even smoke could block their "all-seeing eye." But their biggest problems were imaging lag and high power consumption, which was why Xiaqing rarely wore them after getting them.

Today, their time to shine had finally come.

After swapping the goggles, the greenish view changed to a black-and-red one. The most conspicuous object was the red Sick Wolf beside her; even the air it exhaled formed a red mist. Xiaqing observed her surroundings for a moment before moving on.

As she and Sick Wolf crunched over the frost-covered ground and left the Third Territory through the North Gate, Xiaqing noticed clear tire tracks left by the patrol team’s vehicle in the Northern Isolation Zone.

In the past four hours, the patrol team had driven through here six times, which showed they were taking their hazard patrol duties seriously.

On both the left and right sides of the North Isolation Zone of No.3 Territory, there were two figures each. The distance was too great to identify them through the thermal goggles’ blurry-edged view, but she could make out that they were standing in the middle of the isolation zone, holding guns in a defensive stance.

This was her Security Team, and she felt completely secure.

Xiaqing stepped over the tire tracks and hurried through the thin fog toward Wolf Valley in Zone 3 of Mountain 49.

The valley, surrounded by mountains on all four sides, effectively blocked the cold wind. The frost on the plants inside the valley was lighter than in her territory, and the water in the pond hadn’t frozen. Xiaqing could hear the sound of water and birds moving by the waterside.

Xiaqing followed Sick Wolf down into the valley and pushed open the door to the Wolf Cave. Once inside, she found that the little bit of spring water left in the basin had actually frozen into a thin layer of ice. It turned out there was a crack in the stone wall next to the door, allowing the cold air to seep into the cave and blow directly onto the iron basin.

Xiaqing glanced at the sister of the broken leg wolf, who was affectionately cuddling with Sick Wolf, then took the basin outside, turned it upside down, and knocked it against the ground to break the ice.

CLANG—

The crisp sound of the basin being struck startled the small birds drinking by the pond, sending them flying.

After knocking the ice out and refilling the basin with the fresh spring water she had brought, Xiaqing carried it back into the Wolf Cave. While waiting for the Wolf Group to arrive, she took the opportunity to grab some mud from the pond and patch up the drafty crack in the stone wall.

SCRAPE—

The sound of something heavy being dragged came from the direction of Valley No. 1. About a minute later, Xiaqing saw the Head Wolf, looking majestic, leading its three subordinates out of the fog with their prize. In the thermal imaging goggles, the long body of the dead Python was much paler than the wolves, but it was still a powerful, visually shocking sight.

Xiaqing switched back to her previous Night Vision Goggles and immediately felt more comfortable.

The Head Wolf showed no surprise at seeing Xiaqing there. It had clearly already detected her presence through its sense of smell.

"Queen, Broken Waist, broken leg, Black Giant, long time no see." Xiaqing lowered her voice and greeted the Wolf Group with overflowing enthusiasm before leaning in to get a closer look at the huge Python they had brought.