Chapter 75: Contact Zhao Ling'er

She suddenly recalled Zhao Ling'er, with whom she had once made a transaction, who seemed quite sensible, and thus she discussed it with Li Qingxuan.

Li Qingxuan opened the other's avatar—a smiling face in the sunlight, a girl with a high ponytail exuding youthful vigor, pure and innocent. "Hmm, that Zhao Ling'er looks sensible enough, but you never know a person's heart."

Li Feifei was about to open the Private Chat when a large hand with distinct joints reached over, lightly covering the back of her hand and stopping her movement.

Li Feifei startled, then realized she had indeed been too hasty. She tilted her head slightly, her lips almost brushing his nearby jaw, then quickly turned back, her heartbeat skipping a beat. "Well… we have to make Contact first to know; why not ask her if she's willing to come over?"

"Hmm… okay, but don't reveal too much of our details." Li Qingxuan's fingertip lightly tapped the back of her hand, as if thinking, "The fortress's location, scale, and specific output—not a word can be mentioned. Only speak generally of recruiting personnel, providing food and lodging and safety guarantee, requiring hardworking people, needing review."

"Safety guarantee……" Li Feifei chewed on the words, her gaze sweeping over the channel's messages filled with bloodshed and violence; she knew well how heavy those four words were in today's world, enough to move countless struggling survivors to action and draw them in.

But what comes with it could also be an unforeseen Danger.

"Right. We also need to know her family situation." Li Qingxuan seemed to see through her worry, his arm around hers tightening slightly, giving a silent reassurance and declaration, "This is the biggest bargaining chip, and also the place requiring the utmost vigilance. So screening must be strict."

His gaze also fell on the screen: "Besides this Zhao Ling'er, we should make Contact with others too, to see if anyone is suitable."

"Hmm." Li Feifei renewed her Spirit and continued screening.

"Well… I'll make Contact first, then consider it carefully later." She said softly, her fingertip's movement becoming slow and heavy.

Recruitment is no longer merely about sharing work or countering "firepower"; it now concerns the fortress's future foundation and potential risks.

Behind every person may lie a family and responsibility that need to be borne.

Li Feifei opened Zhao Ling'er's Private Chat, her fingertip hovering over the cold touchpad for a moment, as if gathering courage.

On the screen a simple chat box popped up, the cursor blinking, urging her to type.

She took a deep breath, her fingertip lightly tapping, and began to type cautiously: "Hello, Zhao Ling'er. We are recruiting here, offering safe lodging and food supply, needing those who can endure hardship. If you're interested, you can reply to discuss details."

The wording was brief, yet each word carefully weighed, for fear of leaking even a hint of the fortress.

The moment she pressed send, she instinctively held her breath, eyes fixed on the screen, afraid to miss any message.

Before she knew it, Li Qingxuan had quietly stepped closer, his warm chest nearly touching her back, one hand casually resting on the chairback, his sharp gaze sweeping over what she had typed.

"Just like that?" his low voice sounded in her ear, "Too vague, but that's fine—it won't reveal our depth."

His breath brushed her neck, sending a faint shiver that made her already tense nerves even more taut.

The chat box remained blank, the few seconds of waiting feeling stretched into eternity; Li Feifei could clearly hear her own heartbeat thudding against her chest.

She couldn't help but glance at Li Qingxuan's expression—his lips slightly pursed, his eyes deep as a pool.

Greenhouse light from outside streamed through the window, casting mottled shadows on the desk, making her fingertips turn slightly pale.

Suddenly the screen lit up with a notification, Zhao Ling'er's avatar jumping, a line of text quickly appearing: "Really? Thank you so much! I'm willing to work—can you tell me the exact location? I'll pack up right now!"

Between the lines lay eager delight, yet it made Li Feifei's heart tighten.

Li Qingxuan's fingertip lightly tapped the desk, producing a faint knocking sound, "She agreed so quickly?" his voice tinged with doubt, "Let's first ask about her situation—family, address, any companions, what skills she has; then I'll go pick her up." After saying that, he glanced at the time—it was already past seven in the morning—and Li Qingxuan went to prepare breakfast.

Li Feifei's gaze returned to the Control Panel, "What skills do you have? Are there others with you? Can you describe your location? Who else in your family hasn't come to this world?"

After sending the message, she leaned back in her chair, let out a long breath, her heartbeat still rapid—half from the earlier conversation, half from her own suggestion.

Recruiting means taking on responsibility for others, and also means that the peaceful world of just the two of them will be broken.

But if we don't recruit…… she lowered her head, glanced at her slightly sore arms and waist, and in her mind rose Li Qingxuan's seemingly tireless vigor and the look in his eyes after each encounter, still unsatisfied… she couldn't help but shiver—no, for long-term development and to work better, we must find an assistant!

Sharing the firepower burden is urgent; besides… well, just besides, it could also help oversee the ever‑expanding plantation area and various chores.

"I can cook, dance, drive; other things I can learn. Right now I'm with my sister; my parents sacrificed themselves earlier so we could survive, leaving no one else at home. We're currently on the south side of a mountain about two thousand meters high, roughly ten or so kilometers from the peak."

"Alright, we don't yet know how far we are from you, and the route is dangerous, so we'll come pick you up. Once we locate you, we'll contact you when we're getting close."

Li Qingxuan walked out holding a bowl of noodles, seeing the steaming noodles before him, he couldn't help feeling truly fortunate.

After telling Li Qingxuan about Zhao Ling'er's situation and location, Li Qingxuan also felt somewhat troubled.

There is only one Teleportation Scroll, making it impossible for Zhao Ling'er to abandon her sister; moreover, if she truly did so, Li Qingxuan would not want such a person.

After the two finished their meal, Li Feifei tidied up, as usual busy with Transaction and the Greenhouse.

The sky glimmered with a faint light, like a sheer veil, slowly draping over the vast earth.

Li Qingxuan climbed the Low Hill behind the fortress, gazing far into the distance where rolling hills and the white‑expansive plain met his view, among them many tall mountains, seven or eight of which stood two to three thousand meters high.

His gaze finally settled to the southeast—the direction of the roughly two‑thousand‑meter mountain Zhao Ling'er described, which lay nearly a hundred kilometers away.

Going another ten or so kilometers south, in peacetime it would be just a press of the accelerator, but now it could be deadly at every step.

The mountain wind swept past, carrying biting cold that lifted the hair on his forehead, making Li Qingxuan shiver involuntarily.

"It must be around minus thirty degrees by now, and I don't know if it will drop further. South of a mountain over two thousand meters high…" he murmured, repeating Zhao Ling'er's information, his mind racing to sketch the best route.

Open terrain offers a wide view but lacks cover, making it easy to be spotted by wandering monsters or even more dangerous "hunters".

Mountain paths are winding and concealed, yet they may take several times longer, and the mutated beasts of the forests are often deadlier.

The outline of that high mountain is somewhat blurred in the dim light.

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