Chapter 50: Stockpiling Vehicles!

Jiang Qiyun stood in the open space of the base, gazing at the flock of large white birds that had just been brought back. They stood proudly atop the sheds, their slender bodies gleaming with a pristine white radiance under the sunlight.

She furrowed her brow slightly, calculating in her mind how best to make use of these birds.

"These birds look like they've got quite a lot of personality," Zhao Hu said, tentatively extending a hand to touch one of them. He was viciously pecked for his trouble, jumping back in pain as he hissed, "Ow! This fellow is quite fierce!"

Jiang Qiyun couldn't help but chuckle.

A faint frown crossed her brow as she suddenly recalled an offhand remark she had once heard about bird droppings making exceptional fertilizer.

A similar mention had caught her eye when she was casually leafing through a plant care manual during a trip to the supermarket.

A glimmer of contemplation flickered across her brow; perhaps these seemingly arrogant birds could bring unexpected benefits to the base's crops.

Jiang Qiyun turned her head, the corners of her lips curling into an ambiguous smile as she cast a playful, teasing glance at Zhao Hu. "Well, this must be fate. Since it singled you out first, you'll be the one to build their shed." She paused, pointing toward a relatively dry patch of open ground nearby. "That spot over there is nice, just right for them to live in. Make sure you put some effort into it."

Jiang Qiyun slowly stepped forward, halting less than two meters away from the flock of large white birds. She raised her head and locked eyes with the bird at the vanguard. It appeared to be their leader, possessing the largest stature and a gaze brimming with intense deterrence.

It was a sharp look, piercing enough to almost puncture the human soul, carrying the instinctive vigilance of a predator as if declaring that anyone daring to cross the line would be met with an immediate, unhesitating attack.

The surrounding large birds also slightly unfurled their wings, emitting low, rumbling cries. Their plumage bristled all over, and their wings trembled faintly, resembling taut bowstrings ready to loose an arrow at any moment.

"Be careful!" Zhao Hu couldn't help whispering, his palms already damp with sweat. "These creatures look like trouble!"

Not a trace of fear showed on Jiang Qiyun's face. Her gaze remained as steady as still water, profound and carrying a hard-to-ignore oppressiveness. Meeting the large white bird's gaze head-on, she did not retreat in the slightest.

Jiang Qiyun slowly extended her hand, her movements unhurried, attempting to touch the feathers of the lead white bird. Yet the moment her palm drew near, the bird abruptly beat its wings with a piercing screech and soared into the high air. Its snow-white feathers rippled slightly in the light, stirring up a fierce gust of wind as it shot straight into the upper reaches of the sky.

***

Infected by the sight of the lead white bird soaring high into the air, the remaining birds seemed to receive an order, one after another spreading their wings. Their calls echoed back and forth across the empty expanse of the base. That chorus of cries pierced the air with an untamed, wild momentum that felt as though one's chest had been struck by some immense force.

Just as the atmosphere grew as tense as a string on the verge of snapping, Zhou Hang's figure slowly walked over from the other end of the base.

His pace remained as feeble and listless as ever, his emaciated frame making it seem as though a gust of wind could blow him over. Yet the moment he appeared, the incessantly calling white birds instantly fell silent, as if smoothed down by an invisible hand, and gazed at him with complex expressions in their eyes.

He gave a soft whistle, and those large white birds immediately turned docile, lowering their heads in unison and instantly shedding all hostility. Their wings folded in slowly, a gentleness shining through their eyes.

Jiang Qiyun slowly raised her hand, her movements steady yet tinged with a hint of probing, as though some subtle tacit understanding were condensing in the air. The lead white bird tilted its head slightly, then lowered its proud crest. Its gaze was as gentle as a clear spring, allowing her palm to stroke its feathers softly.

"These are snow egrets," Zhou Hang explained. "Their droppings make superb fertilizer and can vastly improve soil fertility."

Zhou Hang gently raised a hand to point toward three different flocks of birds not far away, slowly introducing them. "Aside from these snow egrets, I've also brought back three special varieties of birds."

He gestured toward the first flock. Though small in size, they possessed vibrant plumage, their emerald-green feathers reflecting a gemstone-like luster in the sunlight. "These are green-feathered finches. Don't let their size fool you; they are extremely nimble and can help us clear pests from the crops."

Next, he shifted his hand to another spot, where a flock of slender-bodied birds had gathered. They appeared immensely agile, and the beating of their wings carried an imposing momentum. "These are hunting falcons. Renowned for their speed, they are absolute aerial predators. They can hunt nearby small zombies and other pest beasts that breach our territory, making them truly capable assistants on our defense line."

His gaze finally rested on a flock of large, grayish-brown birds. These creatures looked slightly clumsy, yet their strides were steady, giving them a profound and forceful appearance. "These are rock mountain geese. They withstand both cold and heat, are exceptionally well-suited for grazing, grow rapidly, and yield delicious meat, making them an optimal source of renewable food. Furthermore, their calls can alert us when danger approaches."

Having listened, Jiang Qiyun swept her gaze across the three new bird species.

Jiang Qiyun nodded, a plan already taking shape in her mind. She turned to Zhao Hu and instructed, "When building sheds for these birds, make sure to separate the different species."

"But building all these will take quite a lot of timber," Zhao Hu frowned and said.

"It's fine. If timber runs short, just head to the quarry," Jiang Qiyun waved a hand, signaling everyone to get to work immediately.

***

"Take some people and get the work organized first. Report back to me once you've tallied the specific requirements," Jiang Qiyun said, turning her head to give the order with a calm composure, as though the heavy crises at hand were merely ripples on a tranquil pool.

Following that, she raised a hand to massage her slightly aching temples from prolonged work, then turned and departed at a leisurely pace.

"Isn't the Lord worried at all?" Zhao Hu muttered under his breath, watching Jiang Qiyun's retreating back.

In truth, Jiang Qiyun was indeed rather anxious inside, but she understood even better that any plan required long-term deliberation and could tolerate no disorder whatsoever.

"Things have come to this." Jiang Qiyun walked over to Zhao Hu's side, reached out with steady composure, and gently patted his shoulder. "Let's go get a bowl of rice noodles first."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Jiang Qiyun's mind was already occupied by the image of a bowl of spicy and sour rice noodles.

She could almost smell the steaming aroma of red chili oil; the sharp, tangy vinegar blended with the fiery kick of chili peppers to stimulate her taste buds, while crystal-clear noodles hung heavy with rich broth. A single bite offered a slippery, refreshing texture where sourness and spice intertwined.

Add to that a spoonful of crushed peanuts and a handful of cilantro to elevate the flavor, and it was simply irresistible.

Suddenly, her peripheral vision caught a trace of anomaly. Those few sweet potato vines actually twitched slightly, as if swaying gently. Jiang Qiyun put down her bowl, walked closer to inspect them, and felt a wave of puzzlement in her heart.

"What's going on here?" she muttered to herself, reaching out to gently touch one of the sweet potato vines.

The vine seemed to sense her touch and gave a slight quiver.

How was it possible to detect even a hint of shyness?