Chapter 146

Those on watch duty continued their posts; the rest inside the glass factory were wide awake and had gathered in the workshop.

Zhang Su and his group sat in a circle, with Jia Shiqin and the other two seated in the middle like prisoners awaiting trial; a camping lantern sat beside them, its light dimmed by a cover to avoid being too bright.

Tan Huajun wept softly, while Pei Lan and Yu Qing whispered words of comfort beside her; though they knew their words were hollow, they had to say something.

"Mr. Jia, let me ask you one thing: what exactly happened to Tan's daughter and father? Did they die? Were they bitten by zombies? Or something else?"

Seeing Tan Huajun in disarray, Zhang Su stepped in to question on her behalf.

Tan Huajun lifted her tear-filled eyes toward Jia Shiqin, hoping to hear some good news.

"This… Xiao Lu, Xiao Chao, do you know what exactly happened to Lanlan and Uncle Tan?"

After hearing Zhang Su's question, Jia Shiqin paused and turned to the two beside him.

"Uncle, I don't know—I didn't see anything, it was too chaotic back then…"

"I only knew Xiao Lan and Uncle Tan were on the fourth floor at the time. I don't know anything else."

Hearing this, Tan Huajun's hope flared up instantly. She pressed urgently: "Master Jia, what exactly happened? Tell us quickly!"

"Sigh… this is all my fault."

Jia Shiqin let out a long sigh and began to recount.

"After we left Phoenix International, we tried to reach the safety zone at the Olympic Center, but the journey was anything but smooth—streets were swarming with zombies, and we couldn't get through with the elderly and children. We had to change routes multiple times, only to end up farther away. Eventually, we reached the Jin Yuan Mall in the city center."

"There was already a group inside the mall at the time, but they were fewer than us, so no conflict broke out. For long-term survival, I suggested we merge our teams. They refused, saying they wanted to divide the space and leave each other alone. I thought that was reasonable, so we took Building A, and they moved to Building B."

"At first I didn't understand why they gave up Building A, but later I found out: Building A had a footbridge connecting to a nearby business center—and that footbridge was the problem! Everything had been fine; I remembered clearly reinforcing the footbridge's door. But somehow, yesterday at noon, zombies from the business center poured through the footbridge into Building A of the mall…"

"At the time, the three of us, plus two other squads—ten people total—were gathering supplies in the underground supermarket. The rest of our team were on the third and fourth floors. The footbridge connected on the second floor. By the time we realized zombies had broken through the main doors and entered the mall, it was too late. Our supply team was cut off from the elderly, women, and children upstairs—and that's… that's…"

Zhang Su cut in: "Then you guys just ran away, didn't you? Left the rest of your team behind?"

"No!" the food delivery guy immediately protested. "We tried to fight our way up to rescue the others! But… but there were just too many zombies. Kill one, three more rushed in. We were too few—we couldn't break through."

Zhao Xue frowned: "The interior of Jin Yuan Mall is complicated. If you'd just led the zombies in circles, you could've bought yourselves plenty of time!"

"That… we thought of that after we escaped. But back then, when we saw so many zombies pouring into the mall, our minds just went blank. I don't even remember how we got out."

The barber clutched his chest, still shaken—even though he was male, his posture and movements seemed effeminate.

"Xue, their biggest mistake wasn't running away—it was failing to station someone at the critical footbridge, or just sealing it off entirely. By the time the problem happened, it was already too late."

Zhang Su shook his head repeatedly.

Just like the zombie horde's attack last night—if no one was on watch, once the zombies surrounded the vehicles, there'd be no escape but death!

Everyone fell silent. Having faced zombie hordes before, they could all picture the scene clearly—it demanded quick thinking, with no time for deliberation.

"Wait a minute, Master Jia—you didn't actually see my daughter or father get bitten, right?"

Tan Huajun's hope surged again as she stepped forward to confront Jia Shiqin.

Meeting Tan Huajun's intense gaze, Jia Shiqin looked away: "I didn't see it… but with so many zombies, I think…"

"Stop thinking. Just answer: did you personally witness any of your teammates getting killed?"

Zhang Su cut off Jia Shiqin's rambling harshly.

"No…" Jia Shiqin replied.

"If you didn't see it, say you didn't see it! Don't pile on useless nonsense!"

Zhao Dezhu, growing impatient, snapped back sharply.

"They're not dead!" Tan Huajun stood up, resolute. "They're not fools—they won't just wait to be bitten. There's still a chance they're alive! Jin Yuan Mall, right? I'm going to rescue them! Brother Su, I… I'm going to save my father and Lanlan!"

She turned and hurried toward the factory exit.

"Wait, Uncle Tan!"

Zhang Su grabbed her arm. "Running there like this is just throwing yourself at the zombies!"

"But… but I can't just sit here! Brother Su, I…"

Tan Huajun helplessly opened her hands, tears streaming down her face.

"Little Tan, I know this is hard to hear, but I still have to tell you: don't go. The hope is too slim."

Jia Shiqin spoke with a furrowed brow.

"If we didn't know where they were, fine. But now we know they're trapped in Jin Yuan Mall—do you expect me not to go? If your own family were trapped there, wouldn't you go?"

Tan Huajun demanded of Jia Shiqin, her emotions rising.

"I…" Jia Shiqin opened his mouth, then whispered: "My wife and child are both dead."

Tragedy had struck everyone.

"Thank you for getting my father and Lanlan out of the compound. But now I must go save them!"

With that, Tan Huajun broke free from Zhang Su's grip and sprinted toward the RV—she needed to gather gear.

"Hey, Uncle Tan!"

Zhang Su chased after her. Tan Huajun was a core member of the team—he couldn't let a trusted, capable fighter walk into certain death.

Yet as Zhang Su stepped out past the long rectangular gate and left everyone's sight, a line of text appeared in his mind.

【How to handle Tan Huajun's dilemma: A. Strongly dissuade, B. Offer help, C. Ignore】

In the darkness, Zhang Su could faintly make out Tan Huajun's figure, frozen not far ahead.

This challenge had triggered—no surprise to him. This situation was extremely tricky.

For Tan Huajun, it was the life of a loved one. For Zhang Su, as the undisputed leader of the team, now with fifteen members, his stance on this matter would directly affect his personal authority and the team's future.

From the options, ignoring it was simplest—but Zhang Su knew choosing that would destroy his team's trust. Everyone would put themselves in Tan Huajun's place.

If the team doesn't stand for the individual, the individual will hesitate before giving for the team.

This was no longer the three-person escape squad from the apartment. This was a team nearing twenty. Each member's trust was precious—especially core members. He couldn't ignore this.

From what he'd just seen, dissuasion was unlikely—unless he restricted her freedom, which was impossible. Considering Tan Huajun's situation and his own, offering help was the best choice.

"B. Offer help."

Zhang Su chose.

【How to help Tan Huajun: A. Provide personnel support, B. Provide weapons and supplies, C. Offer moral encouragement】

"Here we go again…"

Zhang Su grumbled inwardly. What the hell was moral encouragement even good for?

Without hesitation, he thought: "A. Provide personnel support."

【How many personnel: A. Full team, B. Half the team, C. One partner】

Zhang Su stood with one hand on his hip, gazing toward the city, eyes closed in thought. As the countdown neared its end, he said: "A. Full team Chuji!"

If he was going to do this, he'd do it fully—for the reward, for his authority in the team, and for the team's safety. If things turned hopeless, they'd retreat together.

【Challenge generated: Full team Chuji to assist Tan Huajun in resolving her dilemma. Difficulty: A, Mo Qianlan ( ), Tan Chengwu ( )】

??

Zhang Su found this challenge oddly phrased. The two names were clearly Tan Huajun's daughter and father—but what did it mean?

"Does this mean 'live, find them; dead, find the body'?"

As he pondered, all sounds returned. Tan Huajun's anxious figure resumed running ahead.

"Uncle Tan!"

Zhang Su sprinted forward, caught up, and grabbed her. "I told you not to act rashly!"

"Brother Su, I'm calm. I know exactly what I need to do. I've learned a lot from you these past days. Thank you."

Tan Huajun's face was utterly serious.

Zhang Su heard the heavy footsteps behind him—he knew everyone had come out. He held Tan Huajun's arm and said: "Uncle Tan, you're luckier than Old Wang. Back then, when we fled separately, we couldn't help him. But now, behind you stands the entire team. If you're going to save your father and daughter, we'll help you."

After he finished speaking, the scene fell utterly silent.

Those who knew Zhang Su, and those who didn't, all fell quiet.

Zheng Xinyu had been silently grieving. She'd assumed Zhang Su wouldn't risk himself to help Tan Huajun—she felt sorrow for the older woman. She never expected to be wrong. Or had Zhang Su changed after everything? She simply hadn't updated her understanding of him.

Many others thought the same. They'd assumed Zhang Su would prioritize team safety and do nothing. No one expected this reversal!

In short, Zhang Su's words left many feeling both expected and surprised.

For the newest members, Liu Tianji and Wang Xin, Zhang Su suddenly seemed incredibly reliable—a trustworthy team leader.

Not everyone in the team truly wanted to go rescue Tan Huajun's family—but no one outright refused. At moments like this, it all came down to the leader's stance.

"The big brother's right, Sister Tan. We've fought side by side. If your daughter and father are trapped, I'm willing to lend a hand!"

Zhao Dezhu, though rough-looking, spoke with careful precision.

He only said he'd lend a hand—not commit fully—because Zhang Su hadn't yet revealed his plan. If he overpromised, it'd be bad. But deep down, he truly wanted to help Tan Huajun.

"If the team ignores an individual's suffering, what's the point of the team's survival to that individual? Mr. Zhang, I'm willing to lend a hand."

Yu Wen quickly voiced support, emphasizing that this initiative came from Zhang Su—he was merely responding, reinforcing Zhang Su's leadership.

"Sister Tan, I'll help you too!" Zheng Xinyu walked over, placing a hand on Tan Huajun's broad shoulder.

"Whatever Brother Su says, I do—even if I don't speak up, don't ask me!" Lu Yu swung his fist.

One by one, everyone present voiced their support—even Liu Tianji and Wang Xin, the newest members, didn't hesitate. They'd been moved by Yu Wen's words. Now, it was truly "everyone for one, one for everyone."

"It's a tiny thing—like Brother Zhu wanting to eat pork, no one cares. But Uncle Tan, this is a big matter. We won't abandon you!"

Zhang Su placed his hand on Tan Huajun's shoulder and addressed the group: "Xiaoshan and Pang Dakun haven't spoken yet. I'll speak for Xiaoshan. And Pang Dakun is Uncle Tan's adopted son—no question! It's decided: full team Chuji!"

"Full team Chuji!"

Everyone responded in hushed voices—soft, but their resolve was firm.

(End of chapter)