Chapter 33: Lin Yue and Han Ya's First Contact

Inside Xuanwu City, the bonfire was burning brightly.

The orange-red flames licked the makeshift wire mesh above, a few thick slices of meat cut from a luncheon meat can sizzled under the high heat, the rendered fat dripped onto the coals and burst into a small cluster of bright sparks, the rich meat aroma mingled with the distinctive smoky scent of charcoal, spreading unchecked through the air.

Yet, in this dead silent apocalypse, the human scent of food within Xuanwu City seemed so luxurious, so unreal.

Lin Xiaozi, thank you!

Wang Gongtou picked up the hot tea beside him and took a satisfying sip.

You don't know, in the shelter, forget about grilled meat—even a piece of unmoldy biscuit costs your life to obtain. Who would have thought that this old bones of mine could one day sit here, eating grilled meat and drinking hot tea...

As he muttered, he placed a piece of luncheon meat, grilled golden on both sides with slightly charred edges, into Lin Yue's bowl, his cloudy old eyes reflecting the dancing firelight.

Lin Yue smiled and said nothing more.

He could feel that the old man's emotions were somewhat complicated.

Just then.

... Is there anyone... save us...

That voice came through some kind of loudspeaker equipment, intermittent, and in the dead silent night it sounded especially abrupt.

What's the commotion?!

Wang Gongtou jumped in fright, his teacup almost slipping from his hand.

He sprang to his feet, staring warily toward the outside of the city.

In the middle of the night, how could someone be out and about? Don't they want to live?!

His face was full of surprise and doubt.

In the apocalypse, the night is a forbidden zone for survivors.

Mutant beasts become more ferocious and bloodthirsty at night than by day; any sane person would never choose to travel after dark.

Don't be nervous, Old Wang.

Lin Yue, however, remained seated calmly, even having the leisure to flip the grilled meat.

There was no sign of surprise on his face.

The guests have long been here; they just didn't dare to speak up until now.

As early as half an hour ago, Black Tortoise had already sensed that modified jeep loitering in the distance.

But they seemed to have been merely observing, not daring to speak.

They've been here all along?

Wang Gongtou stared, then realized, his face full of astonishment,

Black Tortoise's perception ability... is just too divine!

He hurried to the city wall, picked up the previously captured military binoculars and looked out—sure enough, a military-green modified jeep was parked silently in the ruins a hundred meters away.

And that plea for help was coming from that vehicle.

We... have no ill intent...

Han Ya's voice came through the loudspeaker, sounding somewhat hoarse from tension and weakness.

She didn't know what consequences this shout would bring.

But she had no other choice.

Her brother Han Yu's breathing was growing ever weaker; if he didn't receive treatment, he would surely die.

Her palms gripping the loudspeaker were slick with cold sweat, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap from her throat.

Beside her, A Qiang and Xiao Hui were even more terrified, their faces deathly pale, gripping their weapons tightly, their bodies trembling like sieves.

We really can't go on... we beg you to take us in.

As long as you accept us, we'll do anything you ask!

Han Ya exerted all her strength to shout those words; after finishing, she slumped limp in the driver's seat, gasping heavily, together with the two others in the car, anxiously awaiting the other side's response.

Time passed, minute by minute.

Inside Xuanwu City, there was still only the crackling of the bonfire.

No response.

This silence was more despairing than any refusal.

It's over... they... refuse to take us in...

Xiao Hui's psychological defenses completely collapsed; she clutched her head and began to sob softly.

A Qiang's face was also filled with despair.

Han Ya's heart sank bit by bit; the very situation she feared most had come to pass.

Just as she was preparing to shout again, making a final struggle, a sudden change occurred!

Rumble...

A low, thunderous roar, like the shifting of tectonic plates, came from the back of that giant beast.

Hearing the movement above the giant beast, several people hurriedly disembarked.

They saw that the thick wall made of earth and stone, four meters high, slowly opened before their eyes, revealing a huge doorway!

Immediately after, a stone-made suspended staircase, three meters wide, extended from that doorway, floating silently in midair, stretching all the way to a point no more than thirty meters from them.

A slender figure stepped out from the doorway, walking along the staircase step by step toward them.

Each step felt as if it were stepping on the hearts of Han Ya and her two companions.

A god... an immortal...?

Xiao Hui opened her mouth wide, completely dumbfounded, even forgetting to cry.

A Qiang went further, plopping straight onto the ground, his steel pipe clanging to the floor without him noticing.

Han Ya's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of a pinprick.

Her mind was a blank.

The scene before her had completely surpassed her comprehension.

Although it was night, Han Ya could not see the other's appearance or eyes at all, but she could feel that the person's gaze toward them was extremely bland, lacking the vigilance shown by other refugees.

However, when Han Ya saw the towering beast behind that person, as huge as a small hill, she understood.

If she could tame such a terrifying beast, she would probably be like that person!

And while Han Ya was lost in thought, Lin Yue stood there in midair, looking down at the few people.

Perhaps after the Black Tortoise evolved, its master also got a slight boost.

Although it was now deep night and the surroundings were pitch black, it did not affect Lin Yue's vision at all; to him, night and day were hardly different.

A woman around twenty, with a determined gaze, bore a fierce killing aura mismatched to her age; obviously a battle-hardened warrior.

Behind her was a young couple whose courage had been shattered by fear, not worth worrying about.

And the child she carried on her back...

Lin Yue's eyes narrowed slightly.

That child was obviously gravely ill; without treatment, he likely wouldn't survive the night.

"Braving great risk, to come here by crossing over ten kilometers of ruins at night..."

Lin Yue's thoughts raced.

"Either they were truly driven to desperation, having no choice but to fight to the death."

"Or they had another motive, wanting to use this child as a stepping stone to gain sympathy."

However, no matter what the other's purpose, Lin Yue didn't care at all.

He believed that as long as the other stayed in Xuanwu City for a while and personally experienced its safety and prosperity, they would surely be reluctant to leave.

Moreover, the construction of Xuanwu City indeed needed manpower.

Relying solely on Wang Gongtou, an old man, many delicate tasks simply couldn't be kept up with.

And the Black Tortoise could only do rough work like leveling ground and building walls.

Thinking this through, Lin Yue had already made a decision.