Outside was a wilderness. The hiding place of the Mutant Wolf should have been easy to find, but the wilderness was a withered, yellowish hue. If the Mutant Wolf’s fur was the same color, then it would be difficult.
Fortunately, the Mutant Beast Guide roughly outlined an area for Tang Yun. Moving cautiously through the dry grass, Tang Yun couldn’t help but tighten her grip on the Tang sword in her hand when she saw the two-meter-tall Mutant Wolf.
Under the hazy night sky, she waited for the perfect opportunity.
Slowly approaching, before it could notice her, Tang Yun suddenly lunged, her sharp Tang sword slashing toward the wolf’s head!
“Bang!” The Mutant Wolf reacted too quickly. Even after being slashed, it knocked her to the ground and bit into her abdomen.
Gritting through the pain, Tang Yun’s sharp eyes fixed on the Mutant Wolf, bleeding profusely with its neck half-split open.
As the Mutant Wolf attacked frantically, Tang Yun tightened her grip on the Tang sword, pushed off the ground with all her strength, and leaped onto the Mutant Wolf like a fish, swiftly driving the sword into its body.
“Thud!!!” The Mutant Wolf was pierced through, and the massive creature suddenly collapsed. Without hesitation, Tang Yun continued to strike, decisively severing the wolf’s head!
“Thump!” Not long after, the Mutant Creature stopped struggling and fell completely still.
Tang Yun, injured in many places, leaned on her Tang sword and sat down.
Suddenly, the lifeless Mutant Wolf emitted a dazzling green light all over its body.
At the same time, the System prompted continuously:
Mutant Wolf Meat +1
Wolf Hide +1
Wolf Fang +1
500ml Bottled Water +2
50ml Spirit Spring +1
Deep Well Water Generator +1
Points +5
Tang Yun checked her inventory. The wolf meat alone weighed 300 jin and could be used for grilling or rendering oil. The wolf hide could be made into a blanket, and the wolf fangs could be crafted into weapons. Many of these items could be traded for needed supplies, but the Spirit Spring and Deep Well Water Generator were not for trade—these were undoubtedly rare treasures.
Limping slowly back to the Safe House, her head grew increasingly dizzy. Her injuries were severe, nearly costing her half her life.
“Host, 007 suggests you take a sip of the Spirit Spring. Just one sip can save your life.”
The cute electronic voice sounded again. Tang Yun simply sat on the ground. The Spirit Spring was only 50ml, and a small sip would cost about 20ml.
The Spirit Spring was too precious, and in this desolate place without medicine, even a small wound could kill her.
With no other choice, she took out the Spirit Spring and drank a sip.
In an instant, she was almost fully restored. Not a single wound remained on her body, and even her energy was replenished.
As the sky grew darker, she hurried back to the Safe House.
Outside the Safe House, she used Lumber to build a small yard and lit a bonfire to grill the wolf meat.
Skewered wolf meat turned over and over atop the crimson flames. Seizing the moment, she rendered a 500ml bottle of wolf oil inside the house.
The Safe House had no seasonings, but above all, she needed the most basic necessity: salt.
She lacked salt!
Tang Yun thought for a moment, pulled out her phone, and opened the trading section. Inside, she saw many players listing items for trade.
[Player: A1453]
[Trading: 500g Bread]
[Exchange: 50ml Drinking Water]
[Player: T6697]
[Trading: 1kg Mutant Snake Meat]
[Exchange: 100ml Drinking Water]
[Player: M24]
[Trading: 500ml Mutant Beast Blood]
[Exchange: 500g bread]
…
Tang Yun scrolled through a few pages and found that the items for trade were all sorts of strange things, though the vast majority of players wanted to exchange for drinking water.
Water was simply too precious.
Many people on the message board were asking for help on how to find water sources. Unfortunately, no one would answer. Not to mention whether there were any water sources to begin with, even if someone had found one, such an important survival resource would definitely not be shared with others.
Tang Yun listed the temporarily abundant wolf meat for trade.
[Player: E01]
[Trading: 5kg Mutant Wolf meat]
[Exchange: 100g salt]
As soon as she posted the trade, many people commented below.
“Oh my god! This E01 is awesome, daring to hunt even Mutant Wolves.”
“Mutant Wolves aren’t your ordinary Mutant Beasts; they’re too dangerous. If I saw one, I’d only have the option to run.”
“I haven’t eaten for a day. Seeing meat makes me crave it, but unfortunately, I don’t have any salt to exchange.”
“How much meat would a single Mutant Wolf have? E01 has hit the jackpot! Bro, could you lend me some wolf meat? I’m starving to death.”
“…”
The campfire crackled and popped. The wolf meat was roasted to a golden, translucent sheen, and a rich aroma of meat filled the air.
Without any seasonings, she wasn’t sure if it would taste good.
After a while, her trade was completed, and the items in her inventory changed.
Wolf meat -5kg
Salt +100g
Tang Yun used the salt sparingly, mixing it with water and brushing it layer by layer onto the wolf meat. The surface gradually turned a bright red, and the meaty aroma grew even stronger.
Once it was roasted, she took it down and took a bite.
The wolf meat was rather tough and barely edible. For someone hungry and lacking food, Tang Yun’s meal was considered a luxury.
Suddenly, a chubby squirrel hopped in front of her, a blue ribbon hanging from its raised paw.
“Squeak squeak~”
Tang Yun immediately drew her Tang sword. Although she didn’t sense any killing intent, she still held the sword in front of her defensively.
“Host, I am System 007.”
A familiar electric current-like voice came through. The chubby squirrel circled around the campfire, its bright, watery eyes fixed on the roasted meat.
“Hmm.” Tang Yun acknowledged and sat back down. She glanced at it, continued eating her roasted meat, then sliced off a piece of wolf leg meat and handed it over.
“Squeak squeak, want some?”
007 took the roasted meat and started gnawing on it, mumbling indistinctly, “Not squeak squeak, it’s 007.”
Tang Yun took out a bottle of water, drank a few sips, and casually asked, “Will I be living in Paradise from now on?”
007 ate with its mouth full of grease, “No, you still have to go on missions. Thinking about enjoying life in Paradise? Dream on.”
Enjoy life? Hah, they really dare to say that.
Tang Yun couldn’t help but complain. In this place, even getting a drink of water was difficult, and who knows how many people had lost their lives because of it. This was nothing like a “Paradise.”
She wanted to inquire about more information, but unfortunately, 007’s mouth was too tight. After finishing the roasted meat, it ran off.
Tang Yun returned to the Safe House and closed the Protection Door. She opened her inventory and began installing the “Deep Well Water Generator.” It was a Basic Equipment that could only produce 1L of drinking water per day.
That was too little. If she exerted herself physically, it would only be enough for one day.
Having temporarily solved the food problem, Tang Yun had to start thinking about her next steps.
Everything needed a plan; acting on the spur of the moment would only leave her passive.
She couldn’t just sit back and consume her resources until they ran out.
Because her own strength was still limited, she didn’t know if she could protect herself the next time she encountered other dangers.
First, she needed to solve the long-term food problem.
Water can be self-produced, and food is currently obtained by hunting mutant beasts and through trading. However, it’s not very practical to use water to exchange for large quantities of supplies.
Still, it’s better than others, because in the supply trading interface, she hasn’t seen anyone selling self-produced water.
Being one step ahead means staying ahead—this is her opportunity!
She calculates that for her Personal Safehouse to develop, everything needs to be upgraded.
Upgrading requires material synthesis, and materials can be sourced by trading with other players or by collecting drops from hunting Aberrant Beasts.