Chapter 33: 33. Chapter 33: The Reason Why Luo Pei Left the Safe Zone

Chapter 33: The Reason Luo Pei Left the Safety Zone

Huzi fixed a bicycle wheel—consisting only of the hub without the rubber tire—onto a thick wooden board over two meters long and palm-width, then drove the board into the reservoir until the water covered the hub. He then connected two iron pipes using T-joints to form a long, straight pipe and secured it to the reservoir dam. He threaded a nylon rope adorned with numerous round plastic discs through the iron pipe, using the rope to link the submerged hub with the bicycle's rear hub. Finally, he propped the bicycle up, securing it firmly on the shore.

As Huzi mounted the bike and stepped on the pedals, Xia Qing saw the water in the reservoir being driven into the iron pipe by the discs on the nylon rope, gushing out through the T-joint outlet. It truly opened her eyes. "Sister Qing, just like riding a bicycle, if you pedal, the water flows up through the T-joint. The faster you pedal, the faster the water comes out. This is much more convenient for watering areas than carrying buckets."

"I see, this is incredibly useful." Standing nearby, Xia Qing nodded repeatedly, unable to help but praise, "Who came up with such a brilliant idea? Truly ingenious!"

Since oil and electricity were difficult to obtain after the catastrophe, their exchange value for points was very high. This waterwheel, powered purely by human labor, was perfect for her.

Receiving Xia Qing's praise, Huzi's face turned red, and he didn't dare lift his head. "There are also hydraulic ram pumps that use only the kinetic energy of flowing water to pump upward without needing oil or electricity, but that device is more complex, requires more parts, and is hard to disassemble. If placed by the water, I'm afraid it might be bitten and damaged by evolved rodents. Besides, a ram pump doesn't discharge water as fast as this one."

Xia Qing couldn't visualize a hydraulic ram pump, but hearing that it involved many parts and was difficult to disassemble, she knew it wasn't suitable for current use. "This waterwheel can be installed when needed and disassembled to take home when not in use. It's simple and effective, better than a ram pump."

"I heard Captain Tan say that Sister Qing wants Boss Yang to pedal the waterwheel." Seeing that Xia Qing truly liked it, Huzi pulled out a pair of modified pedals designed for a sheep to wear, along with a large saddle, quickly swapped them onto the bike, and adjusted the saddle to its lowest position. "Boss Yang is strong and smart. If Sister Qing can get him on the bike, he'll definitely learn how to pedal."

In the distance, lying leisurely under a Chinese mahogany tree on a high slope, Boss Yang was chewing slowly. Xia Qing's eyes lit up by the reservoir.

Huzi reminded Xia Qing, "Although I picked the sturdiest frame I could find, it might not hold up if Boss Yang goes crazy. Take it easy, Sister Qing."

Xia Qing nodded with a smile.

Zhong Tao also said cheerfully, "In my opinion, don't bother connecting a long pipe to the T-joint outlet. It's only three or four hundred meters from here to your plot. We can just lay some earth and build a small canal to run it through."

Xia Qing couldn't bring herself to trouble them. "I can build the canal myself; it'll only take half a day."

Zhong Tao didn't stand on ceremony. Taking advantage of the time while Huzi was adjusting the waterwheel, he chatted with Xia Qing. "Captain Luo of the Azure Dragon Team has also left the safety zone to enter the territory; he's around here. Have you seen him, girl?"

"I knew he was coming, but I haven't had a chance to meet him." Since Zhong Tao had come from the safety zone, he was well-informed. Xia Qing took the opportunity to probe for information. "Why isn't Captain Luo staying in the safety zone?"

"Ugh." Mentioning Luo Pei, Zhong Tao's face filled with rage. "After the 'Pruning Rain,' high-risk evolved plants and birds appeared in the eastern forest. When Captain Luo went on a mission to clear them, he was schemed against by some bastard and hit with Pruning Synthetic Toxin."

Pruning Synthetic Toxin was a synthetic toxin made by combining purified excess Pruning elements with various other toxins. Once it entered an evolved animal or human body, it caused severe damage to the organism and was extremely difficult to clear. It could be said that Pruning Synthetic Toxin was the most insidious method of harm following the Great Evolution of Earth, and its manufacture and use had long been strictly prohibited by the state.

In the midst of the catastrophe, Luo Pei—a high-level visual-evolution sharpshooter—was the strongest combat force for the Hui-3 Base in defending against attacks from evolved flying beasts. Whoever used Pruning Synthetic Toxin to harm Luo Pei, regardless of their identity or motive, deserved to be torn into a thousand pieces.

Xia Qing's body tensed, and her gaze sharpened. "Since Captain Luo was poisoned, why didn't he stay in the safety zone to undergo detoxification?"

Mentioning this made Zhong Tao even angrier. "Captain Luo needs a lot of pollution-free water to detoxify. I don't know which damn bastard started spreading rumors, saying that to treat Captain Luo's injuries, the base misappropriated all the hospital's pollution-free water and even diverted all the water used by the planting center to cultivate high-quality evolved grain. Tens of thousands of bastards in the safety zone were incited; they rushed to the Azure Dragon Team headquarters, demanding an explanation from Boss Yang and calling for Captain Luo's death!"

Damn it!

Xia Qing suppressed her urge to curse. "Was it the people from Su Feng?"

"Who else but those bastards?" Zhong Tao grew more furious as he spoke. "When the commoners couldn't break through the Azure Dragon Team's defenses, those bastards from the Su Feng Team pretended to rush forward to 'maintain order' just to try and break the doors. They only ran away after Boss Yang personally wiped out a few of them. Bah! Those bastards! As if all the damn pollution-free water was used for Captain Luo—f***ing hell, do they think I'm blind? Even Tang Lu's bathwater is..."

"It's set up. Brother Tao, let's head back." Hearing Zhong Tao's words becoming increasingly vulgar, Huzi sped up his movements to finish adjusting the waterwheel and called Zhong Tao back.

Xia Qing used evolved animals she had caught to exchange for reagents and gave two small bundles of evolved perilla as a thank-you gift before seeing them out of her territory.

Xia Qing didn't need Zhong Tao to explain the rest; she could guess. The Su Feng Team didn't want Luo Pei to recover, so they spread rumors to incite dissatisfaction and riots within the safety zone, which was why Luo Pei had left.

Of course, Luo Pei leaving the safety zone certainly wasn't to abandon treatment, but to facilitate it.

With the capabilities of the Azure Dragon Team, she had no doubt they could find the pollution-free water needed for his detoxification, but she could also guess that they would undoubtedly pay a massive price for it.

As one side rises, the other falls; weakening the Azure Dragon Team was equivalent to strengthening the Su Feng Team.

The stronger the Su Feng Team became, the harder it would be for Xia Qing to avenge her father.

After coaxing Boss Yang to carry soil to build an earthen path level with her farmland, and then constructing a water canal along the path leading to the fields, Xia Qing drove her shovel deep into the ground. An enemy of my enemy is a potential partner.

In the afternoon, Tan Junjie arrived at Xia Qing's territory to collect exchange goods. Xia Qing handed him the Chinese mahogany buds and perilla, then inquired about Luo Pei's condition. "Captain Tan, is Captain Luo's injury any better?"

During this time, Luo Pei had occasionally said a word or two during the Lord's nightly chats, but Xia Qing could not judge his current condition from his voice. Since Tan Junjie had a good relationship with Yang Jin, Xia Qing felt he should have visited Luo Pei at Site No. 1.

Tan Junjie replied vaguely, "His injuries require slow recuperation."

This implied he wouldn't recover in the short term. Pruning Synthetic Toxin had to be treated as quickly as possible; the longer it was delayed, the greater the damage to the victim's body. It seemed the pollution-free water found by the Azure Dragon Team was insufficient.