Chapter 16: Boss Sheep Loses Control

Chapter 16: Boss Sheep Loses Control

Even before the rain could fall, she could feel the irritability rising. Without even testing it, Xia Qing knew that the toxin element content in this rain would definitely be severely excessive.

As a precaution, she put on her newly replaced protective mask. Although the mask couldn't filter out the toxin elements in the air, it could filter out more than ninety-nine percent of toxic gases, preventing humans from being poisoned to death by gases emitted by creatures that suddenly evolve or go berserk during toxin rain.

This was where one of the major advantages of the Safe Zone became apparent. Because the Safe Zone had undergone repeated, deep cleaning, there was no need to worry about large-scale attacks from toxic gases or poisonous insects during toxin rain; except for the personnel on duty at the perimeter, no one else needed to wear protective masks.

However, if the level of toxin rain rose to the highest grade, there would be another fatal danger within the Safe Zone: excessive toxin elements could cause those with low resistance to lose emotional control. When Red-level toxin rain lasted for more than an hour, if people with low resistance did not take soothing capsules in time, they could be injured or even killed due to brawls or self-harm. There were also many who would use the toxin rain as an excuse to act insane, engaging in widespread smashing and looting.

In the summer of the eighth year of the natural disaster, a sudden Red-level toxin rain lasted for an hour and a half. At that time, the Hui San Base, which still had over two million people, saw more than eight hundred deaths due to brawls and self-harm.

During that rain, Xia Qing had killed two men who tried to take advantage of her.

Thinking of this, Xia Qing couldn't help but feel a bit agitated again. She took two deep breaths to steady her emotions and collected some rainwater for testing. She discovered that the toxin element content of this rain had indeed reached the highest danger level: Red.

The base must be in a state of high alert right now, everyone feeling vulnerable and terrified.

Fortunately, within her territory, she didn't have to worry about anyone plotting against her; she only had to deal with attacks from suddenly evolved creatures.

Xia Qing opened an umbrella to check on Boss Sheep. Seeing it lying comfortably on the hay, it seemed the toxin rain didn't affect it much. Boss Sheep's evolution level was not lower than her own, so its resistance to toxin rain was certainly not bad; otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to survive until now in the danger-filled Evolved Forest.

Relieved, Xia Qing returned to the building, locked the doors tightly, and began making a bamboo chair. Although she was a high-level evolver with strong resistance and would not lose control due to the toxin rain, finding something to do helped relax her mind.

Time passed minute by minute. An hour and a half later, Xia Qing's chair was still not finished, and the sky had turned pitch black. A toxin rain lasting an hour and a half had surely turned the Safe Zone into a living hell.

Xia Qing tossed a broken chair leg into the fire. Remembering the person who had sent her a text message, she pulled out her phone only to find no new messages. She then took out her night-vision goggles to inspect the courtyard.

In her cleaned courtyard, a dense layer of grass sprouts had actually grown! Plants that grew explosively during toxin rain had excessive toxin element content and might even evolve into unexpected dangers. She didn't know what kind of mess her courtyard would turn into in three days.

Xia Qing cursed under her breath, put on her protective suit and mask, and went to check on Boss Sheep.

Just as she pushed open the door, she heard the sound of Boss Sheep panting heavily and scraping its hooves from the sheep pen.

Was it about to lose emotional control?

Xia Qing immediately turned back into the house to grab a pack of soothing capsules. When she came back out, she found Boss Sheep already standing in the grass, braving the rain. Its squinting sheep eyes were wide open, and its rectangular pupils were faintly glowing red under the firelight.

Xia Qing used her calmest tone to soothe Boss Sheep, "Boss, don't get excited, it's time for your medicine..."

"Mooo!"

Before Xia Qing could finish, Boss Sheep let out a loud cry and charged toward her. Its head alone could definitely smash a hole through the roof of the building. Xia Qing couldn't dodge, so she braced herself and charged forward to meet it.

"Bang!"

A person and a sheep collided, sending water and mud flying everywhere. Xia Qing took the opportunity to grab Boss Sheep's neck, trying to trip it, but the out-of-control sheep's strength was more than double its usual level. Xia Qing was thrown aside, crashing into the newly grown grass.

Seeing Boss Sheep charging, Xia Qing rolled on the ground to dodge, only to realize that Boss Sheep wasn't charging at her. It smashed through the newly built courtyard wall and rushed outside, crashing into things repeatedly.

If it kept crashing like this, even if it were fine, the walls of the entire village would collapse.

Xia Qing went back inside to get a thick rope, rushed out, and twisted the wall-smashing Boss Sheep into a knot. Then, while it was gaping its mouth to wail and struggle, she stuffed a soothing capsule inside and forced half a flask of spring water down its throat.

Soothing capsules were specialized medicine for relieving emotional instability caused by toxin elements. Their effect was similar to a potent neurosedative; after taking them, one would quickly feel sleepy and weak, which could alleviate depression and anxiety and reduce harm. However, if used improperly or in excess, they could cause various adverse reactions, poisoning, or addiction. If it weren't absolutely necessary, Xia Qing wouldn't want to give them to Boss Sheep.

Five minutes later, Boss Sheep slumped limply on the muddy ground, motionless. Xia Qing carried it back to the porch of the building, muttering while untying the rope, "I wonder how you survived all those toxin rains before you met me. Those houses and walls on Chun Tree Slope were destroyed like that—was that all from you crashing around when you lost control?"

Boss Sheep kept its eyes closed, showing no reaction.

Xia Qing felt all over its bones to confirm there were no fractures before she felt relieved. She first carried a bucket of purified water to wash the mud off her protective suit, then boiled a large pot of water.

Boss Sheep, which was already so dirty its color was barely visible, was now completely covered in mud. Xia Qing took the opportunity while it couldn't move to give it a wash.

What Xia Qing didn't notice was that the Boss Sheep lying on the ground had slightly opened its eyes, its gaze following her movements.

After preparing a large aluminum basin with water, disinfectant, and insecticide, Xia Qing carried the limp Boss Sheep into the bathroom and gently placed it in the basin.

As soon as it touched the water, Boss Sheep opened its eyes. It tried to cry out but made no sound, and its limbs twitched slightly, looking quite pitiful.

Seeing that its eyes were quite bright, Xia Qing felt much more at ease. She let its head rest on the edge of the basin and began washing the sheep. "Don't worry. I'm not boiling you; I'm washing the toxin rain off you and killing some parasites at the same time."

Perhaps sensing Xia Qing's kindness, or perhaps because the bath was very comfortable, Boss Sheep's wide-open eyes slowly returned to their normal shape and finally closed gently.

Boss Sheep wasn't just dirty; Xia Qing also picked eight evolved soft-bodied ticks and two other types of common animal surface parasites off it. Evolved ticks don't just suck blood; the neurotoxins they secrete can paralyze the host's muscles, eventually leading to death from respiratory failure. It seemed these ticks had been on Boss Sheep for a while, which had caused its body to become so weak that it couldn't even withstand the toxin rain.

It was a good thing Boss Sheep had made this scene today, otherwise, Xia Qing wouldn't have discovered these parasites on it.

It took a full four large pots of hot water before Xia Qing finally washed Boss Sheep completely clean and brought it back to the living room to dry its fur. "I found this bath towel at the convenience store; I didn't even dare use it myself. You're lucky."

A large bath towel could only dry the sheep halfway. Xia Qing gave it a deworming pill, threw two logs into the fire, and let it dry slowly by the hearth.

By the time all the commotion was over, it was eight o'clock in the evening, and the rain outside had stopped at some unknown point. Xia Qing put on her protective gear and took her night-vision goggles to do a perimeter check. After confirming there were no lurking massive dangers around the house, she took out a pot to cook.

She used white flour and perilla to make a fragrant pot of perilla dough soup. The steaming soup dispelled the cold and dampness. Sitting by the fire while stroking the soft, elastic fur of Boss Sheep, Xia Qing felt so happy she wanted to cry.