Chapter 164: Only Thunderous Methods Reveal a Bodhisattva

Click-click-click.

A series of safety disengagements rang out from several vehicles; each face bore a different expression—some tormented, others cruel, as if fury threatened to burst forth, while others remained indifferent, as if they had long since seen through the world's coldness.

This group before him was far more vicious than the villagers of Xida Camp, leaving Zhang Su utterly uninterested in negotiation.

"Brother Su, can I talk to them first?"

Yu Qing, holding an automatic rifle, its safety already off, walked to the driver's seat with a deeply conflicted expression and asked Zhang Su.

The leader of the United Village didn't know what was happening inside the vehicle, but he didn't rush them—he saw the three vehicles ahead as already within his grasp, merely wondering how much more he could extract.

Yet suddenly, a woman's voice rang out: "Fellow villagers, don't act rashly…"

Zhang Su gave Yu Qing an opportunity—an opportunity to see reality clearly.

"The end has come; we are all lucky survivors. Violence and killing won't solve anything—only unity can bring us progress. If you need anything, speak up. If we have it, we can trade."

The United Village leader sidled up to the RV's center, stared at the woman speaking behind the window for a moment, then burst into laughter: "This guy's got a whole set of fancy words—accepts barter, rejects violent robbery? Beautiful girl, you're cultured, right? Interested in becoming a wife for our United Village men? We'll make sure you're well-fed and well-clothed!"

Due to the angle, those outside could only see Yu Qing from the chest up—no one noticed the automatic rifle in her hand; even if they had, they'd likely have thought it fake, like Ma Changshou did…

Huh-huh-huh.

"Zhong Deng, you had your chance—you refused it, then…"

A dozen villagers joined in, pounding on the bed of the three-wheeled truck, chanting rhythmically.

Two young men jumped down from the three-wheeler, arguing over who got Yu Qing.

Yu Wen stepped to the window, placed his hands on his daughter's shoulders, and shook his head—signaling her to say no more.

The two quickly reached an agreement, easily settling their dispute; the loser blew a lewd whistle at Yu Qing.

"Qingqing, that's enough. Good words can't save those doomed to die…"

Hssss…

Yu Qing frowned, looked at the United Village leader, and said: "You're the pillars of your village. If you'd farmed honestly and traded fairly, you could've lived well. Why take this dangerous path? What will become of the elderly, weak, and women left behind if you die?"

"We accept barter—but reject violent robbery. Don't keep walking down this wrong road."

Zhang Su wasted no more time. He drew his USP, fired two shots—plunging a blood hole straight through the leader's skull, the second grazing past, leaving a white mark on the ground.

Yu Qing looked at the villagers before her and closed her eyes in sorrow.

Many nearby villagers frowned, instinctively stepping aside, clearly unwilling to be associated with them.

"Boss, I'll give up all my work points—this girl must be mine!"

"Fuck off! No matter how many points you've got, can they match mine? She's mine—I like cultured girls."

"Little beauty, we've decided—you'll be with both of us. No work, just food and drink every day. Get out now, let us take good care of you!"

Zhang Su watched every scene among the villagers, noticing many flaws—this United Village wasn't a unified whole.

"Look, look!" the leader pointed at Yu Qing and told his men: "This is what you call a bodhisattva's heart—too bad she's just a clay statue. Hah! Girl, you can't even save yourself, yet you worry about us? Hahahaha…"

Huh-huh-huh.

There was no chance for regret. The United Village leader died with his eyes wide in disbelief, staring fixedly into Zhang Su's dark gaze.

So… the chance he gave me… was real…

The final thought flashed through his mind as the United Village leader collapsed backward.

After the gunshots echoed, silence fell—time seemed to pause briefly, then shattered.

"Boss!"

The once-arrogant villagers on the three-wheeler froze. The two men who'd been approaching the RV to claim Yu Qing collapsed to the ground, paralyzed by terror at what they saw.

A row of black gun barrels extended from the windows, covering everyone—the very formation that had surrounded them now made them perfect targets.

"I surrender! I surrender!"

A loud cry rang out—a burly man dropped his homemade crossbow and the butcher knife in his hand onto the road, then dropped to his knees with arms raised, shouting nonstop.

"I surrender! I don't support bullying women! I'm not from Xiguan Camp! Don't kill me! Please don't kill me!"

Like the broken window effect, after the big man surrendered, most followed in unison—discarding weapons and crouching before their three-wheelers. Their earlier arrogance vanished; some had actually urinated themselves, droplets seeping from their crotches.

Before death, few remain calm—the freshly dead leader's warm body lay beside the RV, jolting every nerve.

As always, some clung to luck—four villagers who had cheered the loudest earlier slammed the gas pedal, revving their three-wheeler to escape.

Toot-toot-toot. Toot-toot.

Under this firepower, surrender was the only path to survival—flight meant certain death!

"Ahh…"

"Ugh!"

Zhang Su didn't know who fired—only that he'd killed one. The fleeing men all collapsed. Ironic—the three-wheeler kept rolling forward by inertia, as if to say, "This place is dangerous—I'm leaving first…"

Four corpses lay scattered in pools of blood, each in a different pose.

"Ahh… I won't run! We won't run! People from Xiaoxin Village, don't run! Brother, spare us!"

"People from Wangge Village, don't run either! Crouch! No—kneel! Hurry!"

After the automatic rifle killed the fleeing men, the remaining villagers grew even more obedient—barely short of crawling to beg for mercy.

No one had imagined that people driving a leisure RV would carry real military weapons—it was unthinkable. The last shred of hope vanished after five lives were claimed.

"Ambush robbery—fuck!"

Zhang Su cursed as he stepped out of the vehicle; the others followed one by one onto the road.

Everyone raised their guns and advanced toward the villagers.

"You two were the ones shouting you wanted her as your wife?"

Zhang Su pointed at Yu Qing and asked the pair who'd scrambled back into the crowd.

"Huh?"

"Brother, I—"

"Yes, it's them—Da Qiu and Gui Zi. They're from Xiguan Camp. Xiguan men love doing this!"

Before the two could even speak, others immediately pointed them out, revealing even more.

United Village—literally, a village formed by several villages merging. These people came from different hamlets, each with their own survival philosophies. Clearly, the dead leader's methods weren't universally accepted.

Da Qiu and Gui Zi looked terrified, waving their hands frantically, legs trembling like leaves, staring in horror at Zhang Su and the others. They tried to explain, but their words rang hollow.

"Yu Qing, see? The people you wanted to save—they don't appreciate you. They only want to possess you. Imagine what your life would've been like if you'd been taken back to their village. Still feel sorry for them?"

Zhang Su knew this was the perfect moment to teach Yu Qing a lesson. If she still couldn't change after this, she'd have to be sidelined—after all, Yu Wen and Zhao Dezhu still had value in the group.

Yu Qing shook her head, her eyes complex. She couldn't kill—but she wasn't foolish.

"OK. Take care of these two scumbags."

Zhang Su pointed at Da Qiu and Gui Zi.

"Ahh? No, no…"

"Granny, Master, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have spoken like that! I won't dare again! Give me a chance—I'll serve you as your ox or horse!"

Da Qiu and Gui Zi dropped to their knees and began banging their heads on the ground, blood streaming from their foreheads within moments—hitting hard, desperate.

Yu Qing watched them, torn inside. Memories flashed: her classroom, the innocent faces of her students, the chalk in her hand. How she longed to return—to be just a chemistry teacher, not a woman with an automatic rifle!

Yu Wen saw his daughter's struggle. He stepped beside her, gently patted her shoulder: "Qingqing, the world has changed. The path to growth is thorny. May you forge ahead through all thorns. Listen to Mr. Zhang."

"Ahh!!" Zhao Dezhu shouted: "Brother, these two bastards tried to steal my wife—I'll kill them myself!"

He stepped forward, ready to kill Da Qiu and Gui Zi for Yu Qing.

Zhang Su gave Zhao Dezhu a look and said calmly: "Zhuizi, you can help her once, twice—can you help her for life? Yu Qing, have you ever heard: Only thunderous methods reveal a bodhisattva's heart?"

"Only thunderous methods reveal a bodhisattva's heart…"

Yu Qing froze, muttering Zhang Su's words under her breath.

Suddenly, her gaze cleared. In that moment, the world seemed to enter bullet time—all around slowed. She saw the two men begging at her feet, but heard no sound.

She raised her rifle decisively, aiming at Da Qiu and Gui Zi.

"No! Female Bodhisattva, I'm sorry! I'll reform!"

"I'll change! I'll never do this again!"

"Go repent in hell!" Yu Qing pulled the trigger!

Tap-tap. Tap-tap. The automatic rifle's recoil jolted her slender shoulders, lifting her hair slightly.

As the shots rang out, the two men collapsed dead.

(End of Chapter)