Su Lin blinked innocently, pointing at himself:
"Talking about me? How could such an honest guy like me have any rumors? Maybe someone is slandering me?"
"Ha! Just like the rumors say, your thick-skinned skill is getting deeper by the day!"
Liu Jun was amused and began counting on his fingers, "Shot Hou Yong for supplies, played mad and stupid with Jinlian, shouted 'My grandpa is Su Can', forced Zhao Zhu to send meat... Are all these just rumors?"
Su Lin touched his chin, wow, all these trivial matters have been turned into a limerick?
In the post-apocalyptic world, people surely have time to gossip.
Zhao Yaxin listened to Liu Jun's words, her cold eyes first appeared confused, then gradually showed a hint of subtle curiosity.
Xiao Lu, seeing this, immediately jumped up and excitedly said:
"Sister Yaxin! Sister Yaxin! You don't know what happened, right? Let me tell you! Let me tell you!"
After receiving Zhao Yaxin's subconscious nod, he started chirping, adding fuel to the fire, pouring out all the "heroic deeds" of Su Lin circulating in the village.
After hearing everything, Zhao Yaxin was completely stunned.
She had heard a bit about the shooting of Hou Yong, but messing with Zhang Jinlian and using Old Su's name to extort three pounds of meat from Zhao Zhu was all new.
These were not major issues, but the person who did them was this lazy and unlearned uncle... When did he get so shrewd and daring?
She slowly turned to look at Su Lin, who was sitting on the chair, maintaining an expression of "honesty" with great effort, her gaze became extremely complex.
He seemed to have really become a different person...
Except for that familiar indecent focus below her waist.
She opened her cherry lips slightly: "You..."
"Ahem!" Su Lin covered his mouth and pretended to cough, then said seriously, "If you're going to praise me, go ahead, although I'm thin-skinned, I can take it!"
"Pfft—" Xiao Lu burst into laughter, even Old Liu Jun couldn't help but shake his head.
Zhao Yaxin's mouth curled up imperceptibly, then she suppressed it, her face pretending to be indifferent, turning to talk about what happened after Chang Sanheng came to the Su Family to Liu Jun.
Liu Jun listened, his brows furrowed:
"Zhong Wubin, the leader, is only about four or five portions of Treasure Meat away from unlocking the skeletal genetic lock.
"He used this excuse last month, and now this month again, of course the villagers are upset, but he got Old Su as a shield, now even the villagers probably agree."
Su Lin asked in confusion: "Can't the villagers let him hunt the lord with Old Su? Wouldn't that be safer and more reliable?"
Xiao Lu made a face at him, giggling teasingly:
"Lazy Uncle is so dumb! Even I know how important a First-Transformed Martial Artist is to our village, and you ask such things?"
Su Lin's face turned red and, in anger and shame, he pinched Xiao Lu's little face:
"What Lazy Uncle!? Call me Brother! Calling my sister Sister Yaxin but calling me Uncle? Mixing generations!"
The previous ignorance was something he felt burdened by.
Zhao Yaxin watched him and Xiao Lu playfully, a hint of familiarity in her eyes, "That's the uncle I remember."
She then explained to Su Lin in a clear, cold voice:
"When upgrading to a Level 5 Safe House, during Night of Survival, there will be hordes of boss-level shadow beasts that low-tier mechanisms cannot withstand, so we must rely on a First-Transformed Martial Artist or Tier One Mechanism to hold on.
"And in our small village, obtaining blueprints for Tier One Mechanism is much harder than cultivating a First-Transformed Martial Artist.
"Even if Shunfeng Travel Group has stock, we absolutely can't afford it, the prices are exorbitantly calculated in gold coins.
"So, what the whole village can rely on is someone quickly becoming a First-Transformed Martial Artist."
She paused for a moment.
Seeing Su Lin still somewhat confused, Zhao Yaxin sighed lightly.
Then meticulously explained the relation between mutant beasts and shadow beasts:
"The cities humans once built have now become dangerous wilderness. During Night of Survival every month, a batch of mutant beasts will be born in the wilderness.
"These mutant beasts' shadows transform at night into shadow beasts of equivalent strength, attacking human settlements.
"Therefore shadow beasts are divided into Tier Zero, Tier One, and even higher tiers, corresponding to humans' ordinary Martial Artists and First-Transformed Martial Artists and above.
"Among mutant beasts, there's also a clear division based on strength: 'Ordinary', 'Boss', 'Lord', officially classed as danger levels in the past.
"An ordinary Martial Artist can face Tier Zero ordinary mutant beasts, maybe one against ten with equipment, but facing a same-tier boss is a balance.
"As for Tier Zero Lord? It often requires a whole Hunting Group's full collaboration to hunt.
"The strength of a Tier Zero Lord even exceeds that of an ordinary Tier One mutant beast!"
Zhao Yaxin, the ice-cold beauty sister-in-law, patiently sorted through such post-apocalyptic knowledge for him.
Su Lin pushed Xiao Lu's annoying little face aside and showed an understanding expression:
"Oh! I get it! A First-Transformed Martial Artist can not only support a Level 5 Safe House, but also independently hunt Tier Zero mutant beast lords, greatly enhancing the village's safety during the Night of Survival!"
"Yes, exactly so."
Zhao Yaxin nodded, feeling a dryness in her mouth.
Liu Jun timely handed her a cup of water, adding:
"Upgrading to Level 5 Safe House is highly risky but the reward is equally immense! The house area can be greatly expanded to accommodate more tenants.
"More importantly, it unlocks underground manufacturing lines, enabling mass production of bullets. With sufficient manpower, producing two thousand bullets daily is achievable!
"This can reduce bullet prices in the village from the current twenty copper coins each to one or two copper coins, truly ensuring a plentiful supply!
"Moreover, the Level 5 Construction Platform unlocks manufacturing rights for pistols, shotguns, and even grenades and other hot weapons.
"One could say, once the village has a Level 5 Safe House, it can quickly arm the entire village, greatly enhancing the safety of all villagers!
"At the same time, it's a crucial ticket to becoming a township-level settlement. Becoming a town-level settlement, food, even meat—enough to satisfy all!"
Su Lin took a deep breath.
He finally understood why Zhong Wubin was so fearless.
A First-Transformed Martial Artist and a Level 5 Safe House carried the hope for the village's safety and rise!
Receiving a wealth of post-apocalyptic knowledge from Sister Yaxin and Old Liu, Su Lin's determination to upgrade his Level 3 Safe House grew stronger.
Relying on a mountain, it can crumble; relying on water, it can flow.
Only self-reliance is eternal!
Not to mention Zhong Wubin is not friendly to the Su Family.
If he truly became a First-Transformed Martial Artist and upgraded to a Level 5 Safe House, how would the now prestigious leader treat the Su Family?
"Train! As soon as I return, train!"
Su Lin gritted his teeth fiercely.
This once lazy guy is now pushed forward by invisible pressure.
Su Lin and Zhao Yaxin prepared to leave.
Before leaving, Su Lin remembered the matter of Hou Yong, so he explained to Liu Jun.
"That kid from Hou Family, alright, I know."
Liu Jun nodded indifferently.
"The dogs from Hou Family are well-trained, useful in searches, but Hou Yong, like you before, is the same, a father like a tiger with dogs; all he got from his dad Hou Chen was just superficial knowledge of breeding fierce dogs and hunting dogs."
After sending Su Lin and Zhao Yaxin out of the tavern.
Returning inside, Liu Jun suddenly furrowed his brows again, worrying and muttering to himself:
"Hiss... I just remembered, Hou Chen and Hou Yong's wife were abused to death by those scumbags from Black Scale Village.
"We've lost so many people this month, even Ah Ming...
"Sigh..."
His worried gaze fell on his grandson Xiao Lu.
"And hope the Black Scale Village folks haven't heard the news quickly, or if they take advantage of the chaos, it will be another disaster."