Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

"Uh, Brother Ding, I was wrong before, I shouldn’t have, shouldn’t have taken what others liked. This knife... this knife is yours..."

Zhang Xin stepped forward, his face apologetic as he handed the knife sheath back to Ding Yong Country. If he had known Ding’s background earlier, he wouldn’t have pulled such a dumb stunt.

"Ah? This... this isn’t right, I’ve already smoked some of the cigarettes, and the jerky, the jerky too..."

Ding Yong Country looked longingly at the military saber, apologetically waved his hand, and patted the pack of cigarettes in his pocket. The jerky was already in his and Zheng Ziwen’s stomachs.

"Just take it, it’s only two packs of cigarettes. I’ll pay you back. If I remember correctly, I haven’t paid you for the goods worth over ten thousand yuan from two transactions in July and August. Now you don’t have to pay me back. What a bargain, haha."

Zhang Su tilted his head at Zheng Xinyu, who promptly retrieved two packs of cigarettes from her bag and handed them to Zhang Xin.

His business dealings with Ding Yong Country involved delaying payments but not defaulting. Payments usually sat in financial software for a month or two to accumulate interest, because even a small amount like mosquito legs is still meat, and interest of a few dozen is still money...

The mention of money by Zhang Su stunned many people around him.

Money, the thing they once worked day and night for, had now become a relic of history, bringing many memories to the surface, as if it were just yesterday.

"Hey, hey, no way, Brother Su, I dare not take your stuff. Brother Ding, the cigarettes don’t matter. I have plenty. It was wrong of me to forcibly take your weapon, please, take it back."

Zhang Xin was stammering as he rejected the two packs of Yuxi that Zheng Xinyu handed him, while earnestly urging Ding Yong Country to take back the Dog Leg Military Saber.

"Hehe, let’s see if he dares next time."

"Always doing things without class..."

Zhao Dezhu and others watched the spectacle with amusement, thinking how unprincipled the Fruit Man was. Now he knows discomfort...

"Then I will, well..."

"If returning it to us means you take it, why are you so hesitant?"

Whoosh, before Ding Yong Country could finish his polite refusal, Zheng Ziwen decided for him, turning and taking the knife from Zhang Xin’s hand. He cast an impatient glance at his uncle, then silently returned to his luggage to begin packing.

...

Lu Yubo and Zhao Dezhu exchanged a glance, both pointing at Zheng Ziwen. Their expression was identical to the real deal, even the smile on their faces was exactly the same, and only one word echoed in their hearts: fuck.

Zheng Xinyu looked disgusted, like someone live-streaming a PK match lined up against an online opponent eating dung. How could someone with the same surname as her be such a jerk?

"Uncle Ding, why not let this little brother take your surname Ding?"

"Ah?"

Ding Yong Country felt his brain couldn’t keep up with the conversation.

"No worries, Old Ding... I just need a word with him!"

Zhang Su chuckled, waving to sidetrack the conversation, then stepped forward and grabbed the back of Zheng Ziwen’s collar, lifting him quickly.

As if lifting a chick, Zhang Su turned Zheng Ziwen around, pressing his cheek against him, speaking sternly: "Kid, the fact you’ve survived until now is all thanks to your uncle. If you want to live well, you better behave and listen, got it?"

Ding Yong Country instinctively wanted to stop Zhang Su, but realizing his nephew had indeed acted like a jerk, he stood aside without speaking, wearing a complex expression.

His feelings for Zheng Ziwen stemmed entirely from his mother. Ding Yong Country had more than once thought of abandoning this ungrateful guy, but in the end, the tie of kinship always made him compromise. However, that didn’t mean he didn’t have his own thoughts.

Tolerance is like a credit card; it has a limit, and once the limit is reached, it maxes out...

Now, someone was willing to discipline his disobedient nephew. Ding Yong Country felt quite pleased.

Zheng Ziwen had killed zombies in the post-apocalypse, but never a person. When faced with a strong killing intent, a glance pierced him like a needle, and the items dropped from his hands with a clatter, his head nodding mechanically like a zombie. In his dry throat, he squeezed out three words.

"Yes, sir."

Zhang Su didn’t release him immediately. After holding him still for three to five seconds, he finally replaced his stern face with a smile and let go.

Zheng Ziwen’s feet hit the ground, but his heart was still not at ease. Just moments earlier, he felt death approaching, and suddenly recalled how people addressed the figure before him.

King Yama, a name that suddenly felt apt, because this guy was definitely scarier than any zombie.

When lifted up, Zheng Ziwen had considered resisting, but he just couldn’t bring himself to act. It felt like some invisible force locked him in place, and taking any action would lead to doom.

If Zhang Su knew his thoughts, he’d likely commend him, because Zheng Ziwen’s instincts were spot on.

"Just giving your brat a bit of education, haha. I’ll head out now; you sort this out and we’ll talk later!"

With that, Zhang Su left briskly, and as he walked away, he overheard Ding Yong Country’s conversation with Zheng Ziwen.

"Uncle, that guy is scary. Is he even a good person? Maybe we should go elsewhere."

"Ziwen, if you keep acting like this, I can’t protect you. If you feel uncomfortable here, then go your own way!"

Ding Yong Country was tired and no longer wanted to carry the heavy burden of a relationship that held no value.

There would surely be another argument, but Zhang Su had no time to listen further. His crew moved upstairs to the pickled fish restaurant.

"The zombies’ enhancements this time are pretty ridiculous. Considering the safety of survivors spread across our divisions and for more efficient and secure zombie combat, I’ve decided to gather everyone at the Civilization Guardian’s barracks. Do any of you have issues with this arrangement?"

Zhang Su surveyed the crowd straight to the point, his fingers tapping the piled-up table, thumping as everyone, including him, stood.

The group understood that Zhang Su was asking about any issues, indicating this was a decided plan and not up for discussion. If there were inconveniences, they could be voiced, but they must find solutions.

This arrangement left Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi sharing a rare relieved glance, both admitting a large sigh. The previous night they had talked about how to broach this topic with Zhang Su, not expecting he had come to the same conclusion.

"Brother Su, no hiding it from you, Old Yang and I spent the night worrying. To be honest, with just strays guarding the kindergarten yesterday, we avoided a large-scale attack. Otherwise... honestly, I think combining forces is great."

Liu Yao had a relieved yet pained smile, knowing the kindergarten was far from smooth yesterday. It faced six to seven scattered zombie attacks, ranging from a few to over twenty at a time, killing nearly a hundred total. They were fortunate not to encounter any large ones, or the situation would be far less optimistic.

"Civilization Guardian is well-staffed and equipped, and with Chairman Li’s governance, it’s a great camp. As long as Chairman Li doesn’t mind, we have no objections."

Yang Xinqi nodded in agreement, openly stating his stance.

Li Zongkai waved his hands, "Not at all, there’s no longer a Chairman Li, I’m just one member of Celestial Horse Island, acting under Mr. Zhang’s guidance. It’s an honor to help everyone, and I hope you all cooperate in the future."

While the statement seemed courteous, it carried underlying implications, mainly that once they were in the barracks, they must obey, behave, and understand that orders came from King Yama, not them!

Wu Baokang couldn’t catch these nuances, but noticed Li Zongkai finishing and said, "I don’t oppose going to the barracks, but there’s a material shortage... that’s an issue!"

Being in a remote barracks was common knowledge, with its surroundings nearly scavenged clean by Civilization Guardian. The worsening conditions made it difficult to expand resource-gathering reach, implying short-term supply shortages.

"Resources are critical but not yet dire. I can guarantee food supplies, and we’ll need to figure out daily essentials from the city. What matters most now is consolidating forces for stability!"

Zhang Su promised, ensuring that food would not be an issue, as rural supplies were plentiful.

The group wore bitter smiles. After these apocalyptic months, they’d gone from nothing to something, fostering a sense of imminent human civilization revival – only to be reset by a rainstorm.

Thump, thump, thump...

During the brief silence, rapid footsteps echoed from the stairs. Zhang Su then heard Wu Daqiang urgently speak to Zhao Dezhu about needing to find Li Zongkai...

Urgency!

Zhang Su despised this word, as every incident from yesterday to today had urgency. He wished for a break, but reality wouldn’t allow it.

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