Chapter 317: Transformation in Adversity

Silence fell after Zhang Su finished speaking; the room held nothing but the sound of breathing…

After a moment, Su Xiaoya murmured, "Then… what happened after that?"

"Have you ever gone on a mission with Lei Youliang?"

Zhang Su did not answer, but threw back a question.

Su Xiaoya shook her head, then nodded. "Does this trip to Tianma Yu count? He brought me here."

"Does your Kuangzhuang combat team have any female members?"

Zhang Su asked again.

Su Xiaoya shook her head.

Zhang Su's suspicion was confirmed. He did not press further, but shifted topic: "When someone attacks us, our only option is to strike back. Firefight erupted instantly—inside the Qinglong Battalion's camp. The other group did not join. Only our side and Lei Youliang's men fought. In the end, we won."

"You won…"

Su Xiaoya repeated Zhang Su's words, lips puckered: "Then… what about Uncle Lei and the others?"

"Isn't your biggest concern Su Lei?"

Zhang Su looked at Su Xiaoya in confusion.

"My sister!"

Su Xiaoya suddenly widened her eyes, shot up from the bed, and gasped in disbelief: "How could my sister have gone? This… shouldn't have happened!"

Zhang Su's last unanswered question was resolved. From Su Xiaoya's reaction, it was clear Lei Youliang never took women on missions—yet this time he took Su Lei. And the odds of her crossing paths with him were high. Was this no accident?

It had to be.

The only logical explanation: Lei Youliang had somehow learned of Su Lei's connection to him, and planned to use her as leverage. But fate betrayed him.

"Our victory means their defeat. In this world, defeat means death."

As Zhang Su spoke, Su Xiaoya collapsed onto the bed like a deflated doll, mouth slightly open, staring blankly at him—as if her soul had left her body. Tears slipped from her eyes, tracing paths down her cheeks.

In that moment, the air in the room froze solid.

Su Xiaoya stared at Zhang Su, utterly speechless. Had her only remaining family just vanished?

She did not scream or lash out at Zhang Su. She knew it would be meaningless. But her heart ached beyond words.

Zhang Su understood her pain—but this was a truth all Kuangzhuang people must accept. Refusal meant only one path: extremity.

He had only thought Su Xiaoya looked familiar. Learning she was Su Lei's sister, he did not wish for her to take that path—so he came himself to tell her.

After a long silence, Su Xiaoya whispered: "You're joking, right?"

"I would never joke about something like this!" Zhang Su shook his head solemnly.

"Then… why tell me all this?" Su Xiaoya sniffled, eyes dull, murmuring: "Are you here to lead me to my death… to join my sister?"

At that moment, she felt death drawing near. In the apocalypse, under her sister's care, she had survived three months—well-treated, perhaps enough.

"No." Zhang Su's tone remained calm and serious. "Before I returned, we went to Kuangzhuang."

"You…!" Su Xiaoya sprang up, frantic: "Did you kill everyone in the village?"

Zhang Su understood a child's attachment to home. Her reaction was natural. He shook his head. "Do you know Yang Liehuo?"

"Yes! Grandpa Fire!"

"Yang Liehuo knew Lei Youliang planned to steal the weapons depot and turn against us. He disagreed with Lei's plan, so he stayed behind in the village. When we arrived, we spoke with those left behind—and reached an agreement."

Zhang Su told Su Xiaoya the truth.

"An agreement?" Su Xiaoya's expression twisted with disbelief and shock. She lowered her voice: "You killed my sister. You killed Uncle Lei. You killed so many. Why would Grandpa Fire make peace with you?"

Su Xiaoya did not doubt Zhang Su. She voiced her confusion. At fifteen or sixteen, a girl was no longer a child. Through novels and TV dramas, her mind was sharp. To her, Zhang Su could have killed her in an instant—there was no reason to fabricate a story for a little girl!

"Because everyone could see right from wrong—and so we reached an agreement."

Zhang Su pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "You think we're the villains for killing? You're completely wrong. The one who pushed things to this point was your beloved Uncle Lei."

"Uncle Lei was wrong?"

Su Xiaoya felt her brain was overloaded—she wanted to smash it open and stir.

"How do I explain this…? Simply put: Lei Youliang wanted to be the boss. He wanted to rule this region around Qingxian. He'd always had ambition, but no chance—until he learned the Qinglong Battalion had fallen to the zombies. Then he acted."

"Today…"

Zhang Su recounted today's events once more, then concluded: "Lei Youliang's ambition was vast. Everyone in Kuangzhuang—including you—were merely pawns in his scheme. To achieve his goal, he'd sacrifice anyone. But he met me. He met the elites of Tianma Yu."

"Today, there were ten thousand ways to resolve the conflict. But he led Kuangzhuang's combat team down the most extreme path. I'm sorry—but I had to protect my comrades. Accept it."

Su Xiaoya listened silently for seven or eight minutes, replaying every detail in her mind. A strange feeling settled in her chest—right and wrong, loyalty and reason… too hard to judge.

"Tomorrow, Yang Liehuo will bring everyone from Kuangzhuang here."

Seeing Su Xiaoya silent, Zhang Su dropped another bombshell.

Su Xiaoya's eyes widened in shock. "You mean… the agreement means merging? Kuangzhuang will join Tianma Yu? But… no one wants revenge?"

"Yes." Zhang Su spread his hands. "An old woman had a foul mouth. I killed her on the spot."

"Ah… Granny Yun."

Su Xiaoya covered her mouth. Tears, just stopped, flowed again. She stared at Zhang Su in horror—could this man really be a demon? How could he do such a thing?

In the apocalypse, due to her age and Su Lei's protection, she had seen few horrors. Tonight's stories showed her the true cruelty of this world.

"I killed that old woman. No one objected. Do you know why?"

Zhang Su narrowed his eyes.

"W-why?"

Su Xiaoya asked instinctively.

"Because her death saved the entire village. That old woman made the same mistake as Lei Youliang. I came to rescue the remaining people of Kuangzhuang—I didn't want Lei Youliang's feud to harm the innocent. But she ignored everyone else's plight, spewing venom. Do you think I came to save people just so I could be insulted?"

"I offered Kuangzhuang shelter, safety, a chance to live—and still, she dared to spit at me? She brought her own death."

Su Xiaoya froze, stunned. After hearing Zhang Su's words, bridges formed in her mind—all the things she couldn't understand now made sense. Recalling every word Lei Youliang had ever said to her, and matching them to reality, she felt a chill of dread.

"I… I think I understand a little. Uncle Lei led the men to fight you in the camp… he never cared about my safety, did he?"

"Of course not. His goal was to wipe out everyone in the camp, then attack Tianma Yu. If his plan succeeded—after eliminating our team—he'd come to Tianma Yu. Do you think, as a hostage, you'd have any chance of survival?"

Zhang Su's expression turned strange.

"I never thought he'd be like this. And my sister actually agreed to be with him… what a waste."

Su Xiaoya hugged her knees, head bowed low, her spirit crushed.

"I told you all this because you're young. Honestly, I don't want to kill you. Think for yourself: stay at Tianma Yu, or leave alone. It's your choice."

Zhang Su stood. He felt a faint guilt toward Su Lei—so he spoke at length. He had seen Su Lei's reluctance to fight, but there was no time to talk.

At the door, he turned back. "By the way, several women from Kuangzhuang—your aunts, so to speak—want to pick up weapons, train, and join the combat team. I've formed a reserve unit. If you stay, you can consider joining. Learn to protect yourself—don't wait to die when protection vanishes."

"Reserve unit? I can join too?" Su Xiaoya could hardly believe it—this was nothing like Kuangzhuang's policy.

"Of course. Will you transform in adversity—or die passively? You choose."

"Transform in adversity… die passively…"

Su Xiaoya took a long moment to process it. When she lifted her head, the door was already closed.

(End of Chapter)