Chapter 72: Zhang Zhen Guo's enthusiasm!

Gazing at the few words on the system panel: "Is the pet to be instantly promoted to Lv4?"

At this moment, Lin Yue really wanted to shout "Yes."

But he ultimately still held back.

He took a deep breath.

No, not now, still not.

He glanced at the enormous Black Tortoise beneath him, already like a small mountain, and quickly calculated in his mind.

From level 1 to 2, the Black Tortoise's size multiplied several times.

From level 2 to 3, it directly surged from several tens of meters to 150 meters.

So this time, advancing from level 3 to 4, what kind of terrifying change would it be?

Lin Yue dared not imagine.

The only thing he could be certain of was that once the evolution began, the commotion would absolutely be more horrifying than any previous time.

Now, on the Black Tortoise's back, there are still nearly 500 survivors.

Although the system has never made a mistake, anything can happen.

He cannot gamble with everyone's lives.

"No!"

Lin Yue silently chanted in his heart.

"Mr. Lin, we have already entered the outer perimeter of the refuge."

Gui Ying's voice came through the communicator, pulling Lin Yue's thoughts back to reality once again.

"Understood."

Lin Yue's tone returned to calm,

"Captain Gui Ying, you may notify Commander Zhang."

"Good!"

Although Gui Ying is a member of the refuge, out of respect for Lin Yue, he did not notify Zhang Zhen Guo in advance.

……

Hangcheng, Third Prison Refuge.

Rows of fully armed soldiers patrolled the walls, the air filled with a solemn, lethal aura.

At this moment, before the refuge's heavy alloy gate, Zhang Zhen Guo led the refuge's senior officials, awaiting eagerly.

"Commander, you said… did Mister Lin really obtain salt?"

A logistics official approached Zhang Zhen Guo, lowered his voice, his tone full of disbelief.

"Yes, Commander,

another middle-aged woman in a white coat also said with a worried face:

"You know the refuge's situation best; this morning alone, over two hundred people have been sent to the medical department due to electrolyte imbalance from salt shortage. If this continues…"

She hadn't finished speaking, but everyone present understood.

Zhang Zhen Guo remained silent, but his usually calm face showed a rare hint of tension.

Just moments ago, Gui Ying told him via satellite phone that they would soon reach the refuge and had secured a large amount of edible salt.

But, not having seen the actual item yet, he still felt some worry.

At that moment, the earth began to tremble slightly.

"Here it comes!"

Someone let out a cry of alarm.

They saw a colossal beast slowly walking toward them, step by step.

As the distance closed, its outline grew clearer and more shocking.

When the Black Tortoise's mountain‑like body halted less than a hundred meters from the gate, time seemed to freeze at that moment.

"My…… heavens……"

"What the hell is this monster?!"

"How… how can it be this big!!

Each of the dozens of refuge officials present stood frozen, as if under a paralysis spell.

Some of them had not seen the Black Tortoise in drone reconnaissance footage.

But when this colossal creature truly appeared before them, the sense of oppression and insignificance could not be conveyed by any video.

Merely standing still there, it was enough to make all things submit.

"Gloop……"

Several officials with poorer psychological fortitude went limp, collapsing to the ground, a wet stain quickly spreading at their crotch.

Even Zhang Zhen Guo, this iron‑blooded commander who had killed decisively amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, unconsciously gripped his hands until his knuckles whitened.

Too huge…… too terrifying!

"Lord Lin."

Zhang Zhen Guo swallowed hard, forcibly suppressing the surge of shock in his chest, squeezing out a smile uglier than a cry, and went forward to meet Lin Yue and the others descending from Black Tortoise City.

"Welcome, everyone!"

His voice, because of extreme shock, even carried a barely perceptible tremor.

"Commander Zhang, you're too polite."

Lin Yue looked at his appearance, feeling amused inwardly, but he would not display such a lack of tact.

"This is the salt you requested!"

He said, shifting slightly, revealing the several heavy trucks loaded with salt behind him.

When he saw the neat rows of white crystals stacked on the trucks, the head of the medical department behind Zhang Zhen'guo could no longer hold back,

"Salt! We actually managed to get it! Commander Zhang, the refuge is saved!"

"Hahaha! Good! Good!"

Zhang Zhen'guo laughed to the heavens, and in his weathered tiger eyes, a faint glimmer of tears flickered.

He grabbed Lin Yue's hands with both of his, so excited he was almost incoherent:

"Mr. Lin! I, on behalf of the refuge's hundred thousand survivors, thank you for obtaining these tens of tons of salt for us!"

This sudden enthusiasm left Lin Yue somewhat overwhelmed.

"Commander Zhang, you're being overly generous."

Lin Yue pulled his hand away without changing his expression,

"We're just in a cooperative relationship, mutually beneficial, that's all."

"Exactly! Exactly! Exactly! Mutual benefit!"

Zhang Zhen'guo nodded repeatedly, pulling Lin Yue along with a beaming smile, he said:

"Mr. Lin, and friends from Xuanwu City who have come from afar, you've worked hard on your journey! We've prepared some light wine in the refuge to welcome you; please, do us the honor!"

This enthusiasm set off alarm bells in Lin Yue's mind.

One who offers flattery without cause is either a schemer or a thief.

This old fox certainly isn't just thanking me for such a simple reason.

"We appreciate Commander Zhang's kindness."

Lin Yue politely declined,

"We're just weary from our return journey, so we won't impose further. Please have someone take delivery of this salt as soon as possible so we can head back early."

He now has his mind full of the Black Tortoise's evolution; he has no mood to attend any banquet.

"Hey! This won't do!"

Zhang Zhen'guo put on a displeased face, feigning anger, he said:

"Mr. Lin, you've helped us so much; if I didn't even offer a meal, word would get out—what kind of person would I be? No! You must eat this meal today!"

Seeing his insistence, Lin Yue could not refuse any further and simply nodded in agreement.

The banquet was held in the refuge officers' mess.

Though called a banquet, the fare was actually quite simple—just some canned food, compressed biscuits, plus a few plates of boiled mutant beast meat.

But in the apocalypse, this was already unimaginable luxury.

During the meal, Zhang Zhen'guo repeatedly toasted Lin Yue; his enthusiasm was such that even Gui Ying could hardly bear to watch.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes,

Zhang Zhen'guo saw the timing was about right, and finally set down his wine cup.

He looked at Lin Yue and, in a casual tone, asked the question he truly cared about.

"Mr. Lin, forgive my boldness."

He paused, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with Lin Yue.

"I don't know…… how you managed to tame such a divine beast as the Black Tortoise and cultivate it to its present scale?"

"If this method could be promoted, it would be a tremendous blessing for our Hangcheng and indeed all of China!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire banquet hall fell silent at once.

The gazes of all the refuge's high-ranking officials turned toward Lin Yue in unison.

Here it comes.

Lin Yue gave a cold chuckle in his heart.

He knew this meal wasn't going to be that easy.