Chapter 62: Blue Mountain Refuge

Salt.

When Zhang Zhen Guo slowly spat out that word from the other end of the phone, the already tense air in the command room seemed to freeze in that instant.

Everyone instinctively looked at the satellite phone in Lin Yue's hand.

Lin Yue's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained expressionless:

"Commander Zhang, what do you mean by that?"

"Hehe, Mr. Lin, neither of us likes to beat around the bush."

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Zhen Guo's laughter sounded a little dry.

"We're short on salt; this is basically a problem for every survivor gathering place. The salt consumed daily by my hundred thousand mouths is an astronomical figure. Our stockpile… is almost exhausted."

In his words, there was no concealment at all; instead, he laid out his predicament openly on the table.

Lin Yue remained silent, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the tabletop.

"Basically?" It seems this old fox knows something.

"Speak up, Commander Zhang, what exactly do you want to trade?"

Lin Yue didn't want to keep going in circles with him.

"Refreshing!"

Zhang Zhen Guo gave an approving sound, then his tone became extremely solemn.

"Mr. Lin, I know a place with a large amount of edible salt."

"We've learned that about seventy kilometers west of Hangcheng, in a straight line, there is a massive rock salt mine; after the apocalypse, the miners there banded together and formed a settlement called the Blue Mountain Refuge."

"Salt mine!"

Lin Yue and his companions never imagined there would be a salt mine near Hangcheng.

This means there is a large amount of edible salt there!

"After the apocalypse, that place was occupied by a group of miners who established the Blue Mountain Refuge. We also once tried to send people to make contact, but…"

Zhang Zhen Guo gave a bitter laugh, his voice filled with deep helplessness.

"But getting there is extremely difficult; dozens of mutant beast groups, big and small, lie in wait along the way. Of the reconnaissance teams we sent out, only three out of ten returning would be considered good."

He openly admitted his helplessness.

This frankness actually made Lin Yue think more highly of him.

"So, Commander Zhang, you want me to go?"

Lin Yue instantly understood the other's intention.

"Exactly!"

In Zhang Zhen Guo's voice, there was a hint of earnestness.

"Mr. Lin, or rather, only Black Tortoise has the ability to get there unscathed!"

"I am willing to provide you with all the intelligence we have on the Blue Mountain Refuge!"

"My condition is only one!"

Zhang Zhen Guo emphasized his tone.

"I hope that after you obtain the salt, you can also allocate a portion to our Third Prison Refuge. Of course, we will certainly not let you suffer a loss! Besides the food we will provide for exchanging salt, what else do you need? Weapons and ammunition? Medical supplies? Anything we have, we can give you!"

In the command room, a pin drop could be heard.

Everyone's gaze focused on Lin Yue.

To go, or not to go?

Lin Yue's tapping fingertips on the tabletop came to a stop.

At this moment, his mind was entirely on the system interface.

【Energy points needed for promotion to level 4: 6738/】

He still needed over three thousand points; Black Tortoise would then be able to promote to level 4.

And now, an excellent opportunity lay before him—how could he possibly give it up?

Dozens of mutant beast groups!

To others, it's a death zone, but in Lin Yue's eyes, it's practically a moving treasure trove of energy points!

Perhaps returning from the Blue Mountain Refuge, the energy points needed for Black Tortoise to evolve to level 4 could be gathered!

Most importantly—the System Mall.

Just thinking about that, Lin Yue no longer hesitated.

"Good."

He slowly uttered a word.

"I agree to your terms."

"Great!"

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Zhen Guo felt relieved, his voice brimming with uncontainable joy,

"Mr. Lin, on behalf of the refuge's hundred thousand survivors, I thank you for your decision!"

"However, I have one more condition."

Lin Yue added.

"Go ahead!"

"I hope that after this matter is settled, you can send over a batch of medical supplies."

"Sure, no problem!"

Zhang Zhen Guo agreed without even thinking,

"To show our sincerity and to facilitate your trade with the miners of the Blue Mountain Refuge, I will immediately send someone to deliver fifty tons of grain to you! The relevant information materials will also be sent along!"

Fifty tons!

Wang Gongtou and Han Ya, along with the others, were once again stunned by Zhang Zenguo's grand gesture.

This old fox sure is willing to pour out the money.

After hanging up, Lin Yue glanced at everyone's expressions and gave a faint smile.

"Don't just stand there, get ready. Once the refuge sends over the supplies, we'll set out."

Half an hour later, a heavy truck bearing the refuge's flag, escorted by the Night Blade squad, slowly arrived outside Xuanwu City.

Lin Yue saw that the arrivals were still members of the Night Blade squad, and couldn't help but smile knowingly.

During this time, the Night Blade squad has really been working hard!

……………………..

Gui Ying handed a sealed military data box to Lin Yue, speaking in a low voice:

"Mr. Lin, this is the route map and all relevant information you need. Additionally, our refuge's situation is somewhat serious. Various complications caused by salt shortage have begun to appear on a large scale. So… please, you must use these fifty tons of grain to exchange for as much salt as possible."

After receiving the data box, Lin Yue said nothing, merely nodding silently.

…

The night grew darker.

Inside the command room, the lights were bright.

Lin Yue opened the computer inside the data box, and the next second, a huge three-dimensional map of the mountainous region appeared before everyone via holographic projection.

On the map, countless red light points flickered incessantly, making one's scalp tingle.

Each red dot represents a confirmed Mutant Beast nest.

"Good heavens… how can there be so many Mutant Beast nests?"

Wang Gongtou was also left heart-pounding with fear,

"No wonder they don't dare send a large force—whoever goes, dies!"

However, Lin Yue's face showed not a trace of fear.

His fingers flew across the virtual screen, pulling up the detailed data corresponding to each red dot.

【Black-scaled Leopard, Level 1 Mutant Beast, gregarious, extremely fast, weak point: head.】

【Steel-bristle Wild Boar, Level 2 Mutant Beast, thick-skinned and muscular, strong impact, weak point: abdomen.】

【Ghost-faced Vulture, Level 1 Mutant Beast, flying unit, adept at sonic attacks, weak point: wing joints.】

…

Looking at these materials, Lin Yue's breathing gradually grew somewhat rapid, a flicker of excitement flashing in his eyes.

Although the Mutant Beasts stationed along the way are numerous enough to be frightening, their individual strength is at most Level 2.

With Black Tortoise's current strength, dealing with them is nothing short of a dimensional strike!

Lin Yue instinctively called up his system panel.

【Current total energy points: 6738/】

Still lacking three thousand two hundred sixty-two points!

He roughly estimated that, according to the monster density marked on the map, as long he steadily advances, pushing straight through……

By then, not just three thousand points—perhaps even five thousand won't be enough!

This far exceeded Lin Yue's expectations.

"Green Mountain Refuge……"

Lin Yue looked at that green dot on the map, and the smile on his face could no longer be contained.

"I'm here!"