Chapter 431: Breaching the City

Looking at Wang Meng's doubtful eyes, Fan Bing racked her brain for the right words.

It hardly took any time; she forcibly suppressed the sourness and shock in her heart, and instead said flatly:

"I know, but Lin An doesn't like her."

"So, my father didn't immediately send Tang Wan's family onto a plane to the secret prison for custody, did he?"

"I also don't want to see her family."

"After all, you understand.."

Quick-witted.

Fan Bing also recalled her earlier conversation with Gao Yan, when, to better play the part, she had specifically asked Gao Yan about many recent events.

According to Gao Yan, the Wangjiang Military Region indeed sent a batch of people to the secret prison.

But who, she didn't say.

At that time, Lin An and the others were busy preparing for the city defense mission, and didn't pay attention to this detail.

But now thinking back, I don't know whether Gao Yan deliberately concealed this fact, or felt it wouldn't be good to speak of it.

So she also didn't volunteer an explanation.

Seeing Wang Meng's expression of understanding, Fan Bing couldn't help but secretly let out a breath.

Phew, phew..

Good thing my reaction was quick enough.

As for what Wang Meng understood, there's no need to say more.

She was also just guessing and bluffing.

Fortunately, with her status here, Wang Meng didn't dare to press further.

After her almost "perfect" explanation, everyone in the meeting room felt they had heard a huge piece of gossip.

As for Fan Bing's words, they already believed them ninety percent.

All signs indicate that it is indeed possible.

However, many Awakened Ones who secretly admired Gao Yan felt a pang of sourness and jealousy.

As the chief elder's daughter, Gao Yan is not only good-looking but also quite capable.

She has no young lady's temper, and never uses her status to pressure others.

She is approachable, and her conditions are also good.

In other words, she is the military region's belle.

Whoever marries her..

In this apocalypse, does that not mean the Wangjiang Military Region is practically half a "dowry"?

A chorus of sighs.

Everyone present kept sighing, only wishing they weren't Lin An.

How is this kid so lucky? It's like he stepped on dog shit!

His subordinates, the Awakened Ones, are extraordinarily talented, and he was the first to establish a safe zone.

At this point, even our own military region might end up taking the surname Lin!

Jealousy ran high; many who already disliked Lin An now wished he would die at the hands of zombies.

Such a cowardly, petty person.

He lacks both strength and character—what exactly attracted Gao Yan to him?

At this moment, many Awakened Ones who regard Lin An as a love rival yet can't see clearly couldn't help but say, sourly:

"Miss Gao Yan, please don't be deceived by Lin An."

"Look at him—he hasn't shown up even now."

"This Long'an Base is about to fall."

The staff officer beside him glanced at Wang Meng's complex expression and also chimed in softly:

"Yes, miss."

"In the apocalypse, this best reveals a person's nature and character."

"Such conduct.."

"Lin An is absolutely unreliable."

"Not to mention whether, even if he were one of us in the future, he could be relied upon to help the chief elder."

"Even if.."

"This person lacks both strength and breadth—how could he bear a great responsibility?"

Looking at the city wall on the screen swaying on the verge of collapse, Wang Meng sighed:

"Gao Yan."

"You're still young; perhaps you've had too little contact."

"Now is not like before the apocalypse."

"Before the apocalypse, you could like whoever you wanted, after all it was a peaceful prosperous age."

"But now.."

He shook his head, pointed at the defending soldiers on the screen about to be defeated, and sighed:

"Now it's the apocalypse! No strength! Everything is fake!"

"Lin An has been hiding in the back, greedy for life and afraid of death! How can I believe your words?"

"Show strength? What strength?"

"Send our own people to die? Let our Awakened Ones sacrifice in vain?"

"I, as the acting commander of the Military Region, advise you with a word!"

"If this person were to later be stationed in our Military Region, this kind of person... I wouldn't even use him!"

"If a general is incapable, he will exhaust the entire army!"

Wang Meng realized after speaking that his tone might have been a bit heavy.

Thinking that Lin An was the person Gao Yan liked, he unconsciously eased his tone:

"Sigh."

"I, too, have watched you grow up since childhood, and as your uncle, I advise you with a word."

"Give up."

"If Lin An truly had ability, perhaps I would still look highly upon him."

"But now..."

Wang Meng shook his head, his hand pointing at the screen never lowering.

"Gao Yan, look clearly!"

"The city!"

"It's breached!"

Just as his words fell, the right side of the city wall in the broadcast footage, under the frantic chiseling of the attackers, collapsed with a boom.

Along with the soldiers defending above, they were also buried amid the surging corpse tide.

Just as he was about to contact Chu An again to ease the final ultimatum, a message suddenly came back.

Sender: Chu An.

Wang Meng glanced at the message and couldn't help but freeze in place.

He saw that the message center contained only two short sentences.

"Strike and die."

"In three days, my forces will surely arrive at the city gates!"

Chu An's reply changed from his usual manner of speaking with Lin An, instead exuding a murderous aura.

Seeing Wang Meng freeze in place, over a thousand Awakened Ones could not help but urgently ask:

"Commander Wang?"

He flew into a great rage.

Wang Meng gave a cold snort, his right fist fiercely smashing the table in front of him, his chest heaving rapidly.

He glanced at the nervous Gao Yan beside him and gave a cold hum.

"Look at their reply!"

"Miss Gao! This is the person you chose!!"

Having said that, Wang Meng suddenly stood up, his eyes fixed tightly on the collapsing Long'an Base in the screen:

"Strike and die?"

"I actually want to see, see who will die!"

Without hesitation, he directly issued an order without turning back:

"Convey my orders!"

"The armored corps must not 'assist' Long'an Base in the slightest! If anyone escapes, blast them to death for me!"

"Damn him!"

A surge of anger welled up; he shoved aside Gao Yan, who still wanted to say something, and crossed his arms.

"Hah."

"Also tell their Awakened Ones."

"If they want to flee to the Wangjiang Military Region, that's not impossible."

"Bring Lin An's head to see me!"

Everyone, seeing the enraged Wang Meng, couldn't help but briefly mourn for Long'an Base.

Chu An daring to reply like this could only be with Lin An's approval.

He lacks ability, but his tone is quite big.

Many people couldn't help but feel a bit of schadenfreude for a moment.

It would be best if Lin An died.

At the stronghold's core, Lin An stood on high ground like a motionless stone statue.

Late at night, the icy cold wind brought a strong smell of blood and gunpowder.

In the team's voice chat, he could already hear the miserable cries around the teammates.

The city has fallen.

Gao Tian and An Jing Tian were leading the Awakened Ones in an attempt to block the invading zombies, buying time for others to retreat.

Compared to Chu An's earlier prediction of seven minutes, they actually managed to hold out a bit longer.

However, what can be foreseen is:

In the coming few minutes.

Long'an Base, having lost the protection of its walls and defenses, will fall into a brutal slaughter.

"Lin Dui.."

"Sorry.."

Gao Tian, barely able to pull his bow, gave a bitter smile as he looked at the zombies lunging at the crowd, while An Jing Tian, submerged in the corpse tide, desperately activated his skills to draw the mutants' fire.

Even the tireless heartless puppets stiffened in their movements, as if overstuffed.

Zombie's howls and Survivors' desperate roars intertwine in the night.

The voice is hoarse.

Lin An's tone, contrary to usual, regained calm.

Only his clenched fists reveal his current mood.

"Mo Ling.."

"How is it.."

Time is locked at 56 minutes.

Lin An, guarding the core fortress, still hasn't detected any abnormality; everything is just a nonexistent crisis and deception.

On the other end of the line, An Jing Tian panted, glanced at Mo Ling following behind, and gave a bitter smile:

"Lin An, everything is normal.."

"Mo Ling.. is right by my side."

As An Jing Tian's words fell, time steadfastly moved toward the final moment.