"But there's still some good news," Yang Yang said, his voice crackling slightly through the speaker.
Jing Shu gave a low hum, her expression remaining cool. Her seeds weren't just at risk of being lost in the shifting geography of a broken world; they were at risk of being eaten by desperate men. What was there to be glad about? Still, she understood the necessity of the situation. If saving people meant saving the heroes who'd been guarding her life's work, she couldn't exactly complain. She just prayed they hadn't consumed the few varieties she treasured most, like the American black rice or the fragrant Thai jasmine rice.
There were hundreds of thousands of varieties in total, a massive collection covering plants from every corner of the globe. Surely those people hadn't been unlucky enough to pick those specific ones to fill their bellies. Jing Shu tried to find some small comfort in the numbers. It wasn't that she was stingy. If they had to eat some to survive, that was fine, but still, the thought made her chest feel tight.
Before she could finish that thought, Yang Yang spoke again.
"Since a portion of those seeds were intended for sale to the Wu City government, even though the deal hasn't officially closed, they technically count as government property. Because of that, the current leader, Jin Tianci, decided to dispatch a special rescue team."
Jing Shu rolled her eyes at the ceiling. "There's no need for that. Those seeds are still my private property. The higher-ups don't need to get involved."
While she knew a special ops team would be faster and likely have better odds of success, their presence would also make her life miserable. She couldn't use the Cube Space freely with eyes on her, she couldn't unleash her powers properly, and even the simple act of eating in front of others would become a chore.
Last time she had traveled to America with Tank and Zhen Nantian's group, she had trained herself to keep a straight face while others feasted on meager rations, but having people stare hungrily while she enjoyed a proper meal still felt awkward. If she ate well, others drooled. If she didn't eat, her own stomach growled. Either way, it was a form of torture she preferred to avoid.
"The decision is already made," Yang Yang continued, ignoring her protest. "The operation is code-named 'Rescue the Hamsters.' There will be five of us in the group. You aren't officially part of the team; you will act as a free agent. The main goal is to recover the seeds, not to restrict your movements."
He spoke with a steady, final tone that made it clear she wasn't getting a say in the matter.
"Fine," Jing Shu said, letting out a long breath. "Who is going? Is it anyone I know? Who is in charge of the group?"
If the authorities were determined to interfere, she might as well accept it. The seeds were too vital to risk over a matter of personal preference.
Yang Yang was quiet for several seconds before answering. "Hao Yunlai is one of them. The higher-ups want to utilize his specific ability. The team leader is Jin Tianci's nephew. The other two members came with him from the outside, and I don't have their information yet."
Jing Shu raised an eyebrow. "So it's a family connection? Great. I just hope he doesn't mess it up."
She wasn't exactly reassured. While she had saved Jin Tianci's life and earned a significant amount of credit in Wu City, the relatives of powerful people were always the most difficult to manage. One wrong move, and a person could go from being an ally to an enemy in seconds.
"I haven't met him personally," Yang Yang said. "I only heard he is from the Imperial Capital. His aunt is Jin Tianci's wife. They have deep roots there."
Jing Shu frowned. "Great, another one from a powerful family." It was just what she needed. She covered her face with one hand, rubbing her temples. "Perfect. If he is anything like Jin Tianci's brother-in-law, Jun Jia, we're doomed. If he is arrogant, I'm out. I will just go my own way."
She could hold grudges for years, and anyone who dared to covet her food or supplies was placed immediately on her mental blacklist.
"Don't worry too much," Yang Yang said, a small laugh escaping him. "This mission is too important. They won't send some spoiled idiot. This guy supposedly has a good head on his shoulders."
"Yeah, let's hope so." Jing Shu finally relaxed her posture. Jin Tianci wasn't a fool, and the seeds were vital for the future of Wu City. The price negotiation hadn't even wrapped up yet, but as her potential backer, she didn't mind giving him a little leeway.
Besides, she looked at the Imperial Capital's track record; they had bought seeds from her politely enough in the end. There had been some tension during the process, but things had turned out fine. People who contributed as she did were usually well rewarded, especially during times of crisis. They had even mentioned wanting to give her an award, to list her among China's Top Ten Contributors. She had refused the honor immediately. "Keep it low-key," she had told them, acting as if she didn't care about fame or fortune.
The truth was, she really didn't care. It wasn't as if they were giving her extra virtual coins. What use was a metal medal that she couldn't eat? All things considered, Jin Tianci wouldn't send just anyone to handle this.
"Anyway," Yang Yang added, "we're meeting in two hours at Nanshan, south of Wu City. The mission is expected to take five days. Bring your own bedding and food. Transportation, weapons, and water are provided."
Once the call ended, Jing Shu immediately started packing her gear. She dialed her father, asking him to drive her later since Nanshan was more than ten kilometers away.
When Grandma Jing heard her talking on the phone, she rushed into the room. She was holding a spatula in one hand and a rolling pin in the other, her apron dusted with flour. "Out again? Where are you going this time? How long will you be gone? We just got some peace and you're already leaving again?"
She looked as if she would smack Jing Shu with that rolling pin if the answer wasn't satisfactory.
"Grandma, my good grandma," Jing Shu said quickly, stepping forward to soothe her. "This time I'm not going far, just around the outskirts of Wu City. I'm going to pick up the seeds. It will take a week or two at most. Remember all that stuff we shipped back from America last year? It's finally arrived. Yang Yang and Hao Yunlai are going too."
Grandma Jing still looked wary, clearly remembering how Jing Shu had disappeared for half a year during her last excursion. But hearing that Yang Yang would be present made her relax. That boy was sensible.
"Grandma, there are hundreds of thousands of seed varieties this time, basically every plant in the world. Once I bring them back, you can grow whatever you want."
The older woman's eyes lit up with sudden interest. "Really? Anything?"
Jing Shu nodded firmly.
"Alright then, go. But you have to video call home every day. I will pack you some food. I will bake some flatbreads for the road, and you must take those milk powders and butter tea too." Grandma Jing started rambling through a list of instructions, her mind already moving toward the pantry.
She wasn't wrong, though. Since Jing Shu would be traveling with others, everything she carried had to look normal and logical. Her rations, her gear, and the proportions of her supplies all had to stand up to scrutiny. The team leader was Jin Tianci's nephew, so if anyone grew suspicious about her supplies, it could spell real trouble.
Fortunately, she was experienced in the art of the journey. The two large travel chests she had used last year were still in storage. Since the government was handling the weapons this time, she didn't need to bring her own modified gear, which freed up a significant amount of space.
And since the mission stayed within the country, the distance wasn't great. She wouldn't need to pack half a mountain's worth of supplies like she had for the American trip.
For normal people, packing meant daily necessities, food, and clothes neatly folded into a suitcase.
For Jing Shu, it meant survival kits, disguised equipment, and more secrets than anyone could imagine.