[{"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-24":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},2319262,4536,"Chapter 24: The Second Day (Merry Christmas to Readers Who Celebrated Christmas)","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>\"I don't understand—why can't even such a powerful weapon eliminate the zombies...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu crouched on the ground, weeping softly, grieving for the fallen heroes, sorrowful that she could not wait for rescue, and desolate at the bleakness of the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I used to think, what are carbon-based lifeforms against artillery fire? But now I don't think that anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su shook his head and continued: \"My assumption was based on the police and military systems being fully intact—using heavy firepower to easily wipe out the zombies. But... if the zombie virus infects indiscriminately, then...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human firearms are indeed powerful, but no matter how powerful a weapon is, it still requires a person to operate it—a living person, an uninfected living person—that's the key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that's true, then isn't rescue completely hopeless?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu, tears streaking her face, looked at Zhang Su, her eyes filled with despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even powerful firearms can't stand against them, how are we—ordinary civilians who've never held a gun—supposed to fight back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can there be no hope?\" Zhang Su placed his hand on Zheng Xinyu's cold spine, his voice firm: \"As long as you're alive, there's hope. Fight with all your strength to survive—only when you're backed into the absolute corner will you decide what to do next!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lying back on the bed, they were exhausted yet couldn't sleep, tossing and turning until they finally drifted into a dazed doze, waking again only around nine in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm going to check on Brother Li upstairs.\" After breakfast, Zhang Su said to Zheng Xinyu, who was cleaning the dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waking up, neither mentioned the cigarette from last night, as if everything were perfectly normal, natural, and inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one owed the other anything, no one was cheated—only souls and bodies comforting each other in the face of crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu wiped the bowl clean with a tissue and nodded: \"Should I come with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, she would have wondered why Zhang Su was in such a hurry to search other apartments for supplies. But after last night's scene, she understood this would be a long, drawn-out battle—requiring long-term planning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Sheng Qin Jiayuan remains untouched, our ability to venture out and scavenge is extremely limited—so starting with the nearest locations is certainly the right move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I'll go alone. Lock the door after I leave, keep training—don't just work your upper body, strengthen your lower body too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su walked to the window, slightly pulling back the curtain. The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight—were it not for the black smoke drifting everywhere, it would have been a beautiful day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it! Let me help you put on your arm guards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu carefully slipped the arm guards onto Zhang Su, concerned: \"If anything happens, don't take unnecessary risks!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry, I know my limits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su pinched Zheng Xinyu's soft cheek, picked up the axe from the floor, and walked toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the peephole, Zhang Su suddenly noticed the zombie corpse they had smashed yesterday was gone—only dark stains remained, stretching from Apartment 802's entrance to the emergency exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had planned to observe the hallway conditions before deciding whether to move the corpse—but someone had already dragged it away...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The zombie corpse outside is gone!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su's scalp tightened, turning to Zheng Xinyu nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This... someone came to our place? There are still living people in the building!\" Zheng Xinyu said, her expression strange: \"But even if there are, why would they want the zombie corpse?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su shook his head: \"I don't know. Ask Zhong Xiaoshan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gently opening the door a crack, Zhang Su didn't step out immediately—he intended to observe the stairwell first—but just then, the door across the hall opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiaoshan stepped out. Unlike yesterday's nightgown, today she wore jeans and a fitted knit top, her face showing signs of exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's me, it's me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiaoshan walked up to Apartment 801's door, saw Zhang Su's wary, suspicious expression, pointed to the emergency exit, and said: \"I moved the corpse. Don't be tense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su and Zheng Xinyu spoke simultaneously, their voices filled with disbelief. He studied the frail woman before him, utterly astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither had ever imagined Zhong Xiaoshan could have done it—but this was better, at least it eliminated suspicion of unknown intruders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The corpse was blocking the door, not just an obstruction—the weather isn't cold yet, and it'll rot and breed bacteria, which is bad for all of us...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiaoshan spoke softly; though she looked weary, her condition was clearly better than yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've got guts—and strength too...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su opened the door wider and let Zhong Xiaoshan inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiaoshan smoothed her greasy hair and smiled shyly: \"You're too kind. Working as a nurse in the hospital leaves no room for slacking—it's been good training.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impressive. So... you came over for food?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su asked. He had promised to cook instant noodles and snail rice noodles for her—he wouldn't go back on his word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiaoshan shook her head: \"No. I came to tell you this—we might not get rescued anytime soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mean the gunfire on that street last night?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su frowned, pointing toward the direction of last night's firefight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly. Even that intense gunfire couldn't stop the zombies. I... I don't want to wait to die. I want to join you. Is that possible?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiaoshan stated her purpose bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had barely slept last night. After witnessing that tragic scene, a heavy stone seemed to press on her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until now, Zhong Xiaoshan had placed even greater hope in the military than Zheng Xinyu had. When she saw even heavy weapons fail to halt the zombie tide, she nearly lost all hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu had escaped despair thanks to Zhang Su's encouragement; Zhong Xiaoshan, through a night of suffering under darkness and fear, had kindled a spark of will to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew well that as a woman alone, she couldn't even survive within Sheng Qin Jiayuan, let alone break out. Joining Zhang Su and Zheng Xinyu would be an excellent choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, whether she could join was not up to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su carefully studied Zhong Xiaoshan from head to toe—he immediately understood: clearing the zombie corpse was her way of demonstrating her capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't need a woman who screams at the sight of zombies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Zhong Xiaoshan's pale cheeks flushed slightly. She bit her lip: \"I won't do it again. Yesterday was my first time—but I adapt quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she straightened her posture, as if pledging loyalty to a superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Words mean nothing. If you want to prove you're useful, here's a perfect chance right now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su had witnessed Zhong Xiaoshan's transformation. Setting aside her past as a mistress, she had redeemable qualities—she had emerged from despair and ignited a fierce will to survive. That was excellent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will to survive was vital now. If one's heart was dead, filled with pessimism, every action would be passive—and death would be near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wrote forty thousand words in one chapter—many readers will surely say I'm dragging it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I only wanted to highlight the protagonist's superior initiative compared to other survivors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the very first day of the disaster, he didn't sit around in daze waiting to die—he actively faced the crisis. That's the key factor that puts him ahead of the vast majority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1242,"2026-06-20T15:15:14.526Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9c69df138fc8d43204c476771f4be7d783a93e4dabbbafc261eb68fb1a20ed96","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-25","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-23",694,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-cover.jpg"]