[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times":3,"chapter-the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-168":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Fiercest Man in the End Times",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2319406,4536,"Chapter 168: The Saintly Lady Makes Bombs","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-168",168,"\u003Cp>After lunch that afternoon, Zhang Su took several members of the team and circled the homestay area; the entire cluster of Nongjia Academy lodgings was built along the mountainside in terraced layers, totaling seven establishments, each with its own character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The owner of this Xin Xin Nongjia Academy runs a bathhouse in the city—huge business. That one over there, Qing Feng Xiaozhu… the two-story one—don’t let its elegant name fool you; it’s the cheapest homestay here, nothing but an apartment with no charm, catering entirely to corporate retreats and budget tourist groups…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That one over there with the cartoon-style decor is more popular with the young crowd, Boss Zhang, let me tell you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zu Meng served as their guide, introducing local conditions: who owned each homestay, which ones secretly arranged special services, and which ones were known for overcharging customers and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After gathering a fairly detailed understanding, Zhang Su reached a final conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The terrain of Tianma Yu is naturally advantageous; establishing a secure base here is far simpler than in a village—just fortify the path up the mountain, and the homestay zone can become a defensible stronghold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The homestay area can support cultivation and livestock, has fish ponds, and lacks neither water nor electricity—it can sustain itself indefinitely!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss Su, isn’t this exactly the ideal place you told me about back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing on a viewing platform, Zheng Xinyu said to Zhang Su, pointing to the Tianma Yu gorge ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su nodded: “Right. Everything looks good. Now it’s just a matter of future development.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing on the viewing platform, gazing into the distance, the mountains weren’t tall but were jagged with strange rocks; the ravines weren’t wide but twisted into secluded paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su nodded in satisfaction. The scenery of Tianma Yu scenic area meant nothing to him, but the geographical conditions of the homestay zone were truly exceptional—he firmly decided to establish a secure base here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss Su, I have a half-baked idea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having grown accustomed to darkness, even with lights available, everyone still kept only one small emergency lamp on—it had become habit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey hey hey, don’t brag.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mountains need not be high to be famous; waters need not be deep to be spiritual. You may not know…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zu Meng smiled and said: “There are some, sure—but those places are probably only accessible to monkeys.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I called everyone here to discuss Tianma Yu. We toured the area this afternoon and believe it meets all requirements for a secure base. Any thoughts? Speak freely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This place is perfect in every way—but that’s exactly why I’m suspicious. It shouldn’t be unoccupied. Or at least, no one’s set up a secure zone here yet. But what if someone else spots it later? Won’t we be in danger?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su called Zu Meng over and pointed to the ravine: “Old Zu, where does that ravine lead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since lunch had been late and especially lavish, the two head chefs boiled a large pot of vegetable porridge for dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su spoke bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Qi Xiaoshuai looking slightly uneasy, Zhang Su encouraged him: “Just say it. Are we in class now? Do you need to raise your hand? Go ahead, Qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zu Meng followed Zhang Su’s finger and said: “From what I recall on the map, this ravine stretches over ten kilometers. On the other side should be… hmm, I actually don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell. Zhang Su’s group checked into Wangshan Homestay, closest to the parking lot. They parked the vehicles against the homestay courtyard and gathered in the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delivery boy Qi Xiaoshuai raised his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steaming vegetable porridge, paired with tender, smooth eggs and a few drops of sesame oil, was both comforting and warming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, Xiao Shuai, you say that like you’ve never held a gun and still stand tall? We’re in danger? Who dares cause us trouble? It’d be just like your old job!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Xiaoshuai spoke with great caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are there other routes into Tianma Yu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su asked, staring into the depths of the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Dezhu was extremely confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Same as your old job? What do you mean?” Qi Xiaoshuai looked puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu chuckled: “Anyone who comes here is just delivering stuff—delivering takeout!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone smiled. Though Zhao Dezhu seemed a bit arrogant, given the team’s current firepower, perhaps confidence was more accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su smiled and lowered his hand: “Xiao Shuai’s concern isn’t impossible. Tianma Yu isn’t far from Qincheng; future outlying teams will inevitably pass by. We can’t rule out them finding this place. But we won’t abandon it just because it’s too good and might attract attention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With our strength, we can fully claim this exceptional location to build our secure base!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Zhang Su’s words, everyone felt a surge of ambition—it was the greatest affirmation each of them had received.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the apocalypse, everyone had endured the initial period of confusion. After wandering endlessly, they’d finally found a place to settle. No one wanted to give it up lightly; their hearts longed desperately for a safe haven to shelter body and soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right now, we’re mainly discussing the construction of the secure base. Who has relevant experience?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su looked around at the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked deflated. They were all ordinary people, doing ordinary jobs—who could possibly have experience with apocalypse base construction? That’d be too cool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as everyone fell silent, someone spoke from the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, Boss Su, I’ve played some construction simulation games with apocalypse settings. Can I give it a try?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker was programmer Liu Tianji.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure. Write up a rough plan. We’ll discuss it together later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su felt a surge of relief—he’d only had scattered ideas. If someone could draft a detailed plan, that’d be perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like to know everyone’s specific skills—what can you do? Carpentry, masonry, electrical work, that sort of thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tianji pulled out his phone to take notes. Though there was no signal, at least he could play small games—he’d kept up the habit of always keeping it charged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me,” Jia Shiqin raised his hand first: “I’m an electrician. Certified, experienced.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can do carpentry. I also have some knowledge of farming and planting. If I have the equipment, I can handle basic turning, milling, and planing too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Wen followed closely. No one expected this middle-aged Chinese literature teacher to possess so many talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think I’m just a fish-gutted guy? Heh, I can also raise fish—I ran the aquaculture section at the supermarket and trained the apprentices!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Dezhu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I have materials, I can… uh, try making some homemade explosives and bombs—for defense against enemies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yu Qing spoke, she noticed everyone staring at her with strange expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re serious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su looked at the Saintly Lady with a peculiar expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saintly Lady making bombs? Who’d believe that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Qing nodded: “Making bombs isn’t hard. The difficulty lies in controlling the materials. With the right materials, I can make them. You all could too—just be careful during operation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about bullets?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su pressed urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Qing thought, then shook her head: “I can’t make new bullets. Bullets require machine tools and extremely precise craftsmanship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So if you had machine tools, you could handle bullets too?” Zhang Su seized the key point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something like that. I think…” Yu Qing nodded uncertainly, then added: “But spent casings can be reused—replace the primer, add the right amount of powder, then fit a new bullet. But I don’t recommend it—it carries some risk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… Teacher Yu, you reminded me—I saw online before that if the casings aren’t too deformed, it’s low-risk, but hand-loading bullets is still tough. You need tools, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Lue chimed in. His online knowledge was broad but shallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Qing nodded: “Correct. You need some tools and equipment, but not high-precision machine tools—hand tools will do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. So bullets can be reused. Let’s collect every casing from now on!” Zhang Su said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d brought only thirty thousand rounds from the military camp. It seemed like a lot, but consumption was rapid, leaving everyone anxious. If reuse was possible, that’d be excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go on, keep going.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su gestured for others to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can handle minor injuries and illnesses. We have a full supply of medicine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know much, but I learn fast. Teach me, and I’ll do it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After surveying everyone, the gap in technical skills was huge—there was no way around it. Everyone had been ordinary people doing ordinary jobs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad there was no internet—if there were, much knowledge could be found online. Modern people’s learning ability wouldn’t make it too difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beginning might be hard, but it still filled everyone with hope. Having their own secure base, building it step by step, was far better than wandering endlessly on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At nine at night, Zhang Su stood on the second-floor balcony of Wangshan Homestay, gazing at the entire homestay zone. The room was dark, only a faint moonlight falling on the windowsill. As he stared into the distance, two arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu’s soft voice said: “We finally found a stable place to settle. Both me and Xiao Shan have washed and scented ourselves. Let’s get some rest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su didn’t move, letting Zheng Xinyu’s restless hands roam over him, his gaze fixed on the distance, his voice low: “Rest? Not a chance…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Why not…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu paused, turning her head, moonlight illuminating her puzzled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going out. You two stay here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Zhang Su turned, picked up Zheng Xinyu, and set her aside. He grabbed his rifle from the bedside table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you notice something? I’m coming with you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiaoshan sat up from the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were just a simple matter, he wouldn’t need a rifle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on? I’m coming too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu hurriedly pulled on her shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I noticed something, but it’s none of your business. Listen to me—stay right here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su put on his clothes, checked his weapons, gave a serious warning, and headed for the door—only to find the two women hadn’t stopped moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the door, Zhang Su turned back: “I’m not joking. Don’t wander off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-yes, we know!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did they believe he wasn’t kidding—but that made them even more worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Zhang Su stepped out, Zheng Xinyu immediately grabbed the walkie-talkie: “Hey, Zhu Zhu, Bo Zi, Boss Su is going out on a mission—he’s already left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can hear you… are you two idiots?” Zhang Su’s exasperated voice crackled from the walkie-talkie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1765,"2026-06-20T15:15:14.526Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5e9a1e69a1372f5c26084064c2b0bd2530cc4b21380482ca8a993b06587049e7","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-169","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-167",694,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-cover.jpg"]