Both of them wore goggles and black face masks, dressed just like Little Stutterer had been earlier.
Soon, they arrived at the mouth of the Cave. The taller one stepped forward and knocked on the door.
"Yu Hong of White Mound Village?"
"That's me. What is it?" Yu Hong replied from beside the door.
He was not hiding behind the door. Instead, he had avoided it and leaned against the stone wall.
"I heard you have better Glowstone for sale?" The man did not identify himself, merely asking his question as though it were only natural.
"What better Glowstone? I don't know what you're talking about. And who are you?" Yu Hong asked in a low voice.
"Stop beating around the bush. We've both seen the two pieces in Lin Yi Yi's hands. They're incredible. With a skill like yours, you shouldn't stay here any longer. You should come with us to town. There are more Glowstones there, enough to let your craft shine, and you could save more people too." The taller man spoke in a low voice, trying to persuade him.
"Also, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Zhao Zheng Hong. He's Xu Yang. We're both from the United Army in town."
"The United Army..." Yu Hong's heart stirred. "Sorry, I don't want to go to town. Staying here alone feels safe enough. I can sell Enhanced Glowstone, but not right now. I don't even have enough for myself, and I don't have the time to make more."
He had indeed considered trading Enhanced Glowstone for supplies, but he could not mass-produce it yet. Each piece took three days, which would be an enormous waste of the Black Mark.
"It's the High Tide Period now, and there are plenty of places that need Glowstone. If you come to town with us, you'll have most of the people there protecting you. You'll definitely be able to focus on making new Large Glowstones. However you look at it, that has to be more comfortable than hiding here alone and handling everything yourself." Zhao Zheng Hong continued persuading him.
"No need. I'm used to living alone, and I'd actually be uncomfortable in town. Thank you for your kindness." Yu Hong refused again. "If you want to buy some, you'll have to wait until after the High Tide Period."
Hearing this, the other man behind Zhao Zheng Hong quietly reached for the Pistol strapped to his thigh.
Zhao Zheng Hong raised a hand and stopped him.
"Mr. Yu Hong, according to the Wartime Emergency Regulations established when the United Army was founded after the Black Calamity appeared two years ago, Article Twenty-Eight, Paragraph Three: when technology or talent capable of greatly improving military strength is discovered, compulsory recruitment may be carried out, with compensation provided afterward according to need."
He paused.
"In fact, we can forcibly recruit you regardless of your wishes. But since we're all locals from White Stone Town, I'll give you a chance. You don't have to go. But you'll have to contribute the method and technique for making Large Glowstone, won't you?"
"At a difficult time like this, every additional Large Glowstone might mean one less person dies. Besides, after you share the technique, it's not as if you won't be able to make them yourself. It won't affect your secluded life here at all, and you'll be contributing to everyone while avoiding a lot of trouble. Isn't that right?"
Zhao Zheng Hong's speech was reasonable and well-supported. If it had been someone else, they might truly have been persuaded.
Unfortunately, Yu Hong's Enhanced Glowstone had nothing to do with any technique he had mastered. It relied on the Black Mark.
And the Black Mark's ability could not be exposed to the light of day.
"Sorry, I only accept trades. As for the technique, you won't be able to master it." Yu Hong replied with steady emotions.
With the Reinforced Wooden Door, he did not think they could get in, so his refusal was extremely decisive.
A flicker passed through Zhao Zheng Hong's eyes outside the door. He did not lose his temper, merely smiling.
"Fine. Since that's the case, we'll come visit again next time. Mr. Yu Hong can think it over. After all, suffering here alone can't compare to enjoying life in the bunker, where you won't have to worry about food or drink—and where girls will even be assigned to keep you company."
He patted his companion. The two turned and walked down the stone steps from the Cave entrance, heading into the distance.
Before long, the two vanished into the mountains and woods without a trace.
But in an angle invisible from the window at the Cave entrance, a figure in camouflage was silently pressed against the rock wall, hiding to the right of the door.
The figure was dressed exactly like Zhao Zheng Hong and his companion. He gripped a dagger in one hand, his back against the rock wall, standing ramrod straight like a motionless gecko.
From this position, the moment the Cave's main door opened, he could pounce inside and seize control of the people within.
At the Cave window, Yu Hong quietly moved his eye away from the gap in the Viewing Window and exhaled. He watched for a while, and only after confirming that no one was there did he relax slightly.
The people I want to trade with aren't like this.
Enhanced Glowstone attracting unwelcome guests was inevitable. But for Little Stutterer's safety, he still had not hidden his supply.
Besides, now that word of Enhanced Glowstone would spread, more people would inevitably come looking to trade with him.
After all, the previous kind of Glowstone was far too bulky and inconvenient to carry. When Little Stutterer had driven away the Ghost Shadow earlier, she had thrown the Glowstones out by the handful.
Coming back to himself, Yu Hong did not go outside again. Instead, he quietly waited in the Cave.
He had enough food and drink for now, and the water would last at least another day. There was no rush to go out.
If those two still had some trick up their sleeves, it would be troublesome.
Leaning against the fireplace and feeling its warmth on the surface, Yu Hong felt for the first time that perhaps living peacefully in the Safe House like this forever would not be such a bad thing. Then his stomach suddenly began to gurgle.
Yu Hong's expression changed. His good mood vanished without a trace.
He quickly rushed to the corner, pulled out a small bucket, took off his pants, and positioned himself over it.
Gurgle.
The moment he got into position, a series of watery sounds burst forth.
Yu Hong's expression changed completely.
He had diarrhea! Waves of cramping pain in his stomach told him that this was no simple chill-induced upset stomach. It was very likely an intestinal infection!
Soon, after wiping himself clean with leaves, Yu Hong had barely gotten up when he felt his stomach churn again.
He lifted the wooden lid of the shit bucket once more and unleashed another torrent.
This is bad!
After getting up, Yu Hong quickly searched through the miscellaneous supplies he had moved in. Before long, he found a small black box.
Inside were two Dark Blue Capsules of unknown purpose.
But Yu Hong remembered that this medicine seemed to be the cold medicine Doctor Xu had given him. It was not Anti-inflammatory Medicine.
He had already taken all the Anti-inflammatory Medicine before. Later, when they ran short, Little Stutterer had even used quite a few good things to trade with Doctor Xu. Unfortunately, it still had not been enough, and Doctor Xu had made one loss-making exchange out of goodwill.
Only after taking the medicine had his body gradually recovered.
No. I have to find a way! Yu Hong covered the shit bucket, but by then the stench had already spread throughout the Cave.
He had no choice but to open the Viewing Window and let the air circulate between inside and out.
I need medicine. Intestinal Anti-inflammatory Medicine or Antidiarrheal Medicine will do! Yu Hong was frantic. He suspected that drinking unboiled rainwater was what had caused his diarrhea.
But strangely, he had previously drunk water filtered through Little Stutterer's filthy Filter Pot and had not fallen ill. The rainwater, on the other hand, had looked odorless, yet drinking it had upset his stomach.
Clutching his stomach, Yu Hong glanced at the Comprehensive Physical Training Method newspaper, which was still under Enhanced countdown. Only a little over two hours had passed. There was still a long way to go before completion.
He glanced at the sky outside. Gritting his teeth, he stuffed two boards into his vest, against his chest and abdomen. Then he picked up the Steel Nail Glowstone Rod and walked to the door.
He had to visit the other villagers' homes in White Mound Village and ask whether the Post Office there had any medicine.
Otherwise, if the diarrhea continued until tomorrow, he would definitely become weak and lose his strength. His condition would be even worse then.
He also had to find a way to replenish his medicine supplies. Once he returned, perhaps he could try enhancing some with the Black Mark.
Yu Hong gripped the doorknob and twisted hard.
Click.
The lock turned with a sharp sound.
But Yu Hong remained where he was, quietly waiting.
He even lightened his breathing, listening to every movement outside.
Whoosh! Suddenly, he shoved the door outward.
Then, with a bang, he flashed back and slammed it shut.
With a crisp crash, the instant the door closed, a figure flashed past outside and fell heavily down the stone steps, smashing into the grass.
"Fuck!"
The man cursed as he got up, then shouted a few phrases in some unknown dialect.
Seeing no movement at all from inside the Cave, the man glanced at the sky, snorted coldly, and turned to leave at a brisk pace.
Behind the door.
Yu Hong inhaled, cold sweat beading faintly on his skin, but his expression relaxed. He remained motionless behind the door.
After waiting another dozen minutes, he repeated the earlier test several times. Only after confirming that there was no further movement outside did he slowly open the door.
The light outside was bright. It was noon, when the sunlight was at its strongest.
There are at least five hours until dusk. The Post Office is a little over a mile away, so going there and back will be no problem. I can also ask the nearby villagers if they have anything worth trading. If the Post Office has no medicine, the others might have some.
As for what to trade, Yu Hong brought along the cup he used to filter water. The Filter Cup had been Enhanced, its workmanship decent, and its filtering effect far stronger than ordinary devices. It should be popular.
And this thing was entirely his own creation. The wooden cup did not even have a handle; it was simple to make—just hollow out a round pit in a piece of wood.
As for the filtering material, it consisted of a piece of cloth and some charcoal. The cost was extremely low, and the Enhancement time was short.
It could easily become his specialty product, something he could trade with others.
With the Filter Cup in hand and the rod held at his side, he stuffed a few pieces of dried meat and a leather waterskin into his belongings.
After leaving the Cave, Yu Hong followed the direction Little Stutterer had given him and ran toward the Post Office.
Because he had made the trip so many times, a small path had long since been beaten into the ground.
The grass along the road had also been cleared, growing shorter than elsewhere.
On top of that, Little Stutterer had deliberately carved marks into the trees so she would not get lost.
Yu Hong jogged along without taking a wrong turn.
About half an hour later.
He finally reached what White Mound Village called its Post Office—a square white Stone House.
A fence surrounded the house. Hanging on the Wooden Door set into the fence was a sign that read: Visitors, Ring the Bell First.
Yu Hong glanced at the Stone House and walked up to the sign, only to discover that the bell had fallen onto the ground.
He picked it up. It was a Copper Bell about the size of an egg. He gave it a gentle shake.
Jingle!
The bell rang.
He kept shaking it, and the sound continued to ring out, echoing through the woods and spreading outward in waves.
But there were no birds and no insects. Only gusts of wind rustled the leaves and branches, as if answering him.
He shook it for several full minutes.
There was still no movement from inside the Stone House. It seemed no one was there.
"Stop shaking it. The Mailman went to the Town Bunker. No one's here."
A cautious middle-aged woman's voice drifted from behind and to the side.
Yu Hong turned toward the voice and saw a short Blonde Woman in a dark-green men's jacket, bending over as she rose from a clump of grass.
Before you continue