Chapter 10: Wang Gongtou's Addition

Black Tortoise! Bring that person back to me!

Lin Yue himself couldn't tell, at the instant the order was given, whether it was that outdated humanity deep in his bones gaining the upper hand, or the mother-and-child skeletons in the convenience store stimulating him.

Perhaps, both.

He didn't want to become a beast that exists only to survive.

"Roar——!"

The moment the order was given, the Black Tortoise guarding the door moved.

Its huge head, the size of a millstone, boldly protruded from the supermarket's cover and walked toward the figure lying in the mud several meters away.

"Sizzle——!"

The gray-green raindrops struck the Black Tortoise's black skull, bursting into clumps of foul-smelling white steam, the corrosive sound making scalps tingle.

But the Black Tortoise's talent Indestructible now revealed its true worth.

That deadly acid rain, capable of melting flesh in seconds, fell on this skin gleaming with metallic luster, yet left not even a white mark.

Lin Yue saw it clearly in the supermarket; besides shock, he felt mostly relief.

The Black Tortoise came before that person, its massive head precisely pressing against the person's underside, its neck muscles suddenly exerting force—with a single lift and toss, the already unconscious figure, together with the toolbox he clutched tightly in his arms, was hurled whole into the air.

A black silhouette arced through the rain, forming a brief parabola; with a muffled "thud," it passed over the Black Tortoise's huge body and slammed heavily onto the tile floor at the supermarket entrance.

The whole sequence flowed smoothly, full of a simple, brutal beauty.

After the rescue, the Black Tortoise swayed its head proudly toward Lin Yue, as if saying, I'm the best!

"All right, I know you're the best!"

Lin Yue shook his head, laughing and crying at once; he really worried that the Black Tortoise's jolt would kill that person.

Not daring to delay, he rushed forward in quick steps.

The arrival was an elderly man over fifty, with gray-white hair and a face full of wrinkles, now completely unconscious.

His condition was worse than Lin Yue had anticipated.

The old man's clothes were corroded into a thousand holes, especially severe on his back—a bloody mess where new flesh and torn clothing fibers clung together, emitting the stench of burnt protein.

"Hiss……"

Seeing this gruesome sight, Lin Yue couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

"Old man, you've got a tough life."

He muttered under his breath, helped the old man into the supermarket interior, then quickly pulled out a bottle of mineral water from his backpack.

Now is not the time to be stingy with this resource.

He unscrewed the cap and carefully rinsed the old man's back wound with clean water.

As the clean water flowed, the flesh corroded by the acid rain emitted a faint "sizzle," making Lin Yue's scalp tingle.

He suppressed the nausea in his stomach, rinsed away the filth as best he could, then tore off a relatively clean corner of his T-shirt, dipped it in water, and wiped the mud from the old man's face and neck.

After doing that, he pried open the old man's tightly shut jaws from dehydration and fed him the remaining little clean water bit by bit.

Having finished all that, Lin Yue was exhausted and limp, sliding down the shelves to sit on the ground, gasping heavily.

He looked at the old man whose fate was unknown, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

For a complete stranger, wasting precious water and taking on unknown risk—this account is never worthwhile.

He didn't know if it was worth it.

But he knew he wasn't the type with a heart hard enough to leave that old man to turn to bones in the rain; otherwise he wouldn't have crossed into this world by saving someone!

"Cough……cough cough……"

A fit of violent coughing interrupted Lin Yue's wandering thoughts.

The old man on the ground twitched his eyelids a few times, then slowly opened his cloudy eyes.

His gaze first wandered blankly around the dim supermarket, and he saw Lin Yue sitting nearby, equally unharmed.

"Is… is it you who saved me?"

The old man's voice was hoarse like two rusted iron plates scraping, yet his articulation was clear.

"You're lucky; you're not dead yet."

Lin Yue neither affirmed nor denied, calmly replying.

The old man struggled to sit up, but it tugged at his back wound, making him grit his teeth and suck in cold air.

"Don't move; I just treated your wound."

Lin Yue reminded him.

Only then did the old man feel the fiery pain in his back, but he paid no heed, his eyes fixed on the Black Tortoise, then on Lin Yue, full of doubt,

"This… this giant beast is…"

"My pet."

Lin Yue put it briefly.

"Pet……pet?"

The old man's mouth opened wide, as if it could fit an egg.

Although the apocalypse has only been underway for over half a year, humanity on this side has never thought of taming mutant beasts as pets.

Or rather, they've had the idea, but haven't yet found a way.

But no matter what, this huge beast before him is definitely the only known tamed mutant beast he knows of.

"Sir, who are you? How could you be out alone in the acid rain?"

Lin Yue didn't give him much time to be shocked, getting straight to the point.

"I… I'm Wang Jianguo; just call me Wang Gongtou."

The old man caught his breath and introduced himself,

I used to be a construction engineer; I'm retired.

Construction engineer?

Lin Yue's heart stirred; this profession is a rare resource in the apocalypse.

Wang Gongtou gave a bitter laugh and continued:

My squad……was scattered in the previous beast tide. I was carrying the team's most important items toward the shelter when……I ran into this deadly acid rain.

He said, subconsciously clutching the silver metal toolbox in his bosom.

Little brother, great kindness needs no thanks! If it weren't for you, my old life would have ended here today!

Wang Gongtou struggled to express his gratitude.

Lin Yue waved his hand, indicating it wasn't necessary.

Nowadays, in this world, being able to keep one alive is already one.

He said the same words, but his state of mind was completely different.

He glanced at the box in Wang Gongtou's arms, then looked outward at the mighty Black Tortoise, and a notion quietly formed in his mind.

He decided to take a gamble.

Old Wang, what do you think of my pet?

Lin Yue asked seemingly casually.

How could it be just 'how'! This is……simply a miracle!

Wang Gongtou stared at the Black Tortoise, his eyes glittering with strange light,

Little brother, to be frank, you're the first person I've ever seen who can tame a Mutant Beast! How did you do it?

Secret.

Lin Yue smiled and threw out the real bait,

Moreover, it can keep growing.

Grow?

Wang Gongtou froze.

Yes.

Lin Yue's gaze turned sharp,

As long as there are enough Energy Crystals, it can continually evolve, its size and power will surge. Even building a city on its back is not impossible!

A moving……city……

Wang Gongtou murmured, repeating these words.

He struggled to crawl to the Black Tortoise's leg, extending his trembling hand to caress its icy, hard shell, forged like steel.

Suddenly, he jerked his head back, staring fixedly at Lin Yue, his voice trembling violently from excitement:

Little brother! This isn't a pet! Do you understand? This is absolutely not a pet!

He pointed at the Black Tortoise, then pointed at its broad turtle back,

If it's truly as you say, it will definitely be humanity's safest mobile fortress!!

Little brother, listen to me!

Wang Gongtou's emotions grew ever more excited,

As long as it can grow large enough, we can build houses on its back! Build walls! Build farmland! Even construct a mobile city capable of holding hundreds or thousands of people!

As a construction engineer, nothing fascinates him more than building a one-of-a-kind structure.

By then, beast tides, acid rain—we'll have nothing to fear!

Seeing Wang Gongtou in a frenzied state, Lin Yue did not find him laughable.

He has read/watched too many apocalypse novels and movies!

In the apocalypse, nothing is more important than survival.

And once the Black Tortoise grows large enough to build a city on its back, those living on it will be extremely safe.

Haven't you seen how safely the furry tribe lives on the elephant lord's back in One Piece? (That Jack-type case is purely an exception!)

The old man before us truly understands the Black Tortoise's real value!

Wang Gongtou suddenly remembered something, ignoring the severe pain in his back, he painstakingly pulled out a small waterproof cloth bundle from an extremely concealed inner pocket of his clothing.

He trembled as he opened the bundle; two diamond-shaped crystals, the size of a fingernail and emitting a soft glow, rolled into his palm.

They are Grade-1 Energy Crystals!

These are what I previously obtained; I give them to you!

Wang Gongtou solemnly pushed the two Energy Crystals toward Lin Yue,

Little brother, this old bone of mine seems it can still last a while; if possible, I'd like to join you in building your mobile fortress—would that be alright?

Couldn't be better!

Lin Yue did not refuse Wang Gongtou's request; this was also his purpose in stating that the Black Tortoise could evolve and grow larger.

Afterward, he turned and walked toward the Black Tortoise.

【Detected 2 Grade-1 Energy Crystals, energy value 20 points.】

【Current energy: 112/100, meets the condition for pet advancement to level 2.】

【Proceed with evolution?】

Yes! Evolve immediately!