Chapter 108: The Hole-Shooting Cup Crossbow Tournament Ends Perfectly

“Who cares if Tan Sister covered or aimed—hitting the target is what matters!”

“Exactly, don’t waste time on useless talk—we’ve got one point!”

“Yes, yes, yes, you’ve got one point, why get so worked up…?” Zhang Su calmed the emotionally charged female members, then turned to Zhao Xue and said, “Xue, your turn—go for it!”

Zhao Xue took the crossbow, strained her arm, furrowed her brows, and winced—her wound ached. She shook her head. “Brother Su, I won’t embarrass myself—I can’t even lift this thing.”

“She’s covered in cuts—some haven’t even scabbed over…” Zheng Xinyu whispered to Zhang Su’s ear.

Zhang Su nodded slightly. “Xue is injured and can’t muster strength—let Teacher Yu go first!”

“I won’t either—I’m just as weak in the arms as she is, maybe even weaker…”

Yu Qing’s condition was actually better than Zhao Xue’s, but lifting a ten-pound crossbow was still a struggle—her hands trembled too much for any effective shot.

“My daughter is frail and has been unwell lately—she simply lacks the strength. I’ll make sure she trains harder going forward, so she doesn’t trouble everyone.”

Yu Wen quickly explained for his daughter.

Everyone understood—it was a schoolteacher, teaching academic subjects, with little chance for exercise. Since the disaster, she’d mostly been sick, plus going three days with only two meals—her poor stamina was only natural.

Seeing the parties themselves had no objections, Zhang Su said, “Since both women’s team members withdraw, it’s now one-all. Old Tan, Teacher Yu—you two proceed to the playoff.”

“Alright.”

“Fine.”

Both Yu Wen and Tan Huajun had no objections.

This time, Yu Wen went first—he loaded the bolt, focused his aim, and pulled the trigger…

Pah.

The bolt struck just beside the air conditioning vent, kicking up dust that drifted into the hole.

“Oh no…”

“So close!”

Yu Wen handed the crossbow to Tan Huajun with a hint of regret. “Ah, didn’t shout the chant—missed by a hair, lost by a mile. Tan Lady, good luck…”

“Tan Sister, go for it!”

“Let’s witness Technician Tan’s miracle.”

“Hehe, ladies on the attack—go get ‘em!”

Tan Huajun chuckled, looking at her expectant sisters. “If I lose and you don’t get sweet potato strips, don’t blame me…”

“No blame, of course not—go for it, you’ll nail it!”

Several women cheered Tan Huajun on. In combat strength, women had always been overshadowed by men—this was the first time they saw a real chance at victory, and they felt proud.

Tan Huajun loaded a bolt, calmed her mind, took aim—still that same half-hearted, seemingly careless posture—and gently squeezed the trigger with her plump fingers.

Shhh—woosh!

The bolt pierced the air conditioning vent again, dead-center, straight into the barber shop.

The men fell silent, exchanging glances.

“Yes!”

The women cheered quietly, elated.

At fifty meters, a hole the size of a tennis ball—hitting it twice in a row couldn’t be luck. If someone had stood there, their head would’ve been gone.

“I… haha, I got lucky again!”

Tan Huajun raised the crossbow happily, beaming with joy—humble as ever, still convinced she’d just been lucky.

“I can’t compete—I truly can’t. Haha, congratulations, Tan Lady!”

Yu Wen was the first to congratulate Tan Huajun. He didn’t really care who got the crossbow—getting it was fine, not getting it was even better. A stronger competitor meant good news for the whole team.

“Well… no sweet potato strips now…”

Zhao Dechu shrugged at Lu Yu.

Zhang Su waved his hand. “Alright—the first-ever Hole-Shooting Cup Crossbow Tournament is concluded. The women’s team wins. Individual champion: Tan Huajun. Prize: one crossbow for Tan Lady!”

“What kind of name is that? So gross…”

“Yeah, feels kinda unserious.”

“Not kinda—totally unserious! Brother Su, change the name—get rid of this stupid name!”

Several women voiced their displeasure over “Hole-Shooting Cup.”

Zhang Su spoke sternly. “Those with impure minds see dirt in everything. I warn you all—keep your thoughts positive and bright. That’s all. Come on, distribute prizes, then head to Yihe Auto Shop!”

In the apocalypse, a survivor group as cheerful and laughing as Zhang Su’s was a rare sight—unlike the farmers’ market, where only angry roars echoed.

“Where’s that bastard Duan Wu? Dammit, why’d he run off?”

Liang Xiao cheng stormed through the farmers’ market searching for Duan Wu.

“Big Brother, we’ve checked every shop—no sign of Duan Wu. He must’ve climbed the wall and escaped!”

Several subordinates gathered around Liang Xiao cheng, frowning.

“Fled to avoid punishment—definitely fled to avoid punishment! That bastard didn’t tell the truth yesterday! Dammit, dammit, damn it!”

Liang Xiao cheng kicked violently against a shop door—bang, bang, bang—the sound echoed endlessly through the empty market.

The four subordinates stood by, not daring to utter a word, waiting silently. Some even considered leaving themselves—following such an unpredictable boss offered no future, only possible death.

In the apocalypse, even the strongest fighter can’t survive without brains. People without brains are terrifying.

“I was counting on him to identify my brother’s killer—now… wait, if he ran, could he have been the one who killed my brother?”

Liang Xiao cheng stared at them with dark eyes, posing the haunting question.

“Duan Wu does seem suspicious, but honestly, Big Brother—he couldn’t have done it.”

“Yeah, I’d say three Duan Wus couldn’t beat Big Cheng!”

“Could it be… that Big Brother and Xiao Geng aren’t dead? Maybe Duan Wu stole the car to run off with supplies?”

“Bullshit!” Liang Xiao cheng immediately rejected the theory. “He’s not stupid—if that were true, why come back at all?”

No one understood why Duan Wu had fled secretly. With Liang Xiao cheng still furious, no one dared speak up—better to avoid trouble.

After wandering the farmers’ market awhile, Liang Xiao cheng’s anger cooled slightly. “Pack up. We’re leaving. Without Duan Wu, I’ll still find my brother’s killer!”

“Huh? How are we going to investigate?”

Someone was nervous—deep down, they didn’t want to follow Liang Xiao cheng into danger.

“First, get guns at Yihe Auto Shop. Then, head to the gas station at Phoenix International Community. I want to see what’s going on!”

Liang Xiao cheng gritted his teeth.

The others breathed easier at the mention of guns—it sounded plausible. But then they remembered Duan Wu’s claim that Yihe Auto Shop was swarming with zombies—and their hearts sank again.

(End of Chapter)