Chapter 330: It

"Ugh, ugh… gurgle, gurgle…"

After a final convulsion, Liu Shijie collapsed dead—sparing him much of the suffering endured by Fatty, a merciful release.

Pfft!

Lu Yu, standing nearby, delivered a final strike, perfectly in sync.

With Liu Shijie's fall, the remaining three trembled like sieves, lips quivering as they stared at the group before them, speechless.

Beg for mercy?

It seemed utterly useless.

Insult them?

It would probably get them killed faster—but maybe that was a better option?

Zhang Su briefly interacted with the group and realized none of them were decent people: their leader was cautious and ruthless, his subordinates preyed on the weak and cowered before the strong, with no moral bottom line—traits ideal for surviving the apocalypse, but deadly as enemies; keeping them alive would only bring trouble.

Even he, who had always avoided extermination, decided to leave no survivors—but first, he needed more information.

"Big Brother, please, can you just spare us? Give us a way out!"

Xiao Bo suddenly screamed, banging his head on the ground—his composure shattered at the edge of collapse.

"Where in the Shanhai Zone is your camp? How many people? What's your weapon distribution?"

Zhang Su didn't answer their plea, asking calmly—no trace of the man who had just killed.

"I'll tell you, our camp's in Sha, sha…"

"Shut the hell up if you can't speak right—it's Shaha Township, Shaha Village, Big Brother! We've fifty-four people total, eighteen adult males with combat ability, all our firearms were traded with the Qinglong Corps; besides what we've got, four more rifles are back at camp, plus a few rusty, unreliable homemade guns—please spare us!"

Seeing a companion fumble the answer, Xiao Bo quickly took over, reciting their entire situation fluently.

Zhang Su clicked his tongue, bent down, wiped his dog-leg knife on Liu Shijie's corpse, and slid it back into its sheath with a sharp *shriek*.

This sight nearly sent Xiao Bo and the other two into ecstasy—sheathed blade, saved! Yes!

But just as they thought they'd escaped death, the other side spoke.

"These three all attacked you before, right?" Zhang Su waved to Qi Xiaoshuai. "You decide whether they live or die."

As Zhang Su finished speaking, the three kneeling men immediately turned, bowing and pounding their heads toward Qi Xiaoshuai, begging endlessly—this was all they could think of. They cursed their own lack of female form, unable to offer themselves in exchange.

Qi Xiaoshuai stared coldly at them, hesitated a moment, instinctively reaching for his gun—then remembered it had been taken and tossed onto the vehicle.

"Here, little brother!"

Zhao Dezhu clearly saw Qi Xiaoshuai's intent, unslung his rifle, and threw it over.

"Fuck your mother, run!"

Seeing this, the three kneeling men lost all composure—survival instinct unleashed unprecedented strength; they leapt to their feet, spun around, and bolted.

Since they were doomed anyway, they might as well fight for a chance to live.

Tap-tap, tap-tap-tap-tap.

How fast can a human run? Especially across an open field ahead…

Qi Xiaoshuai grabbed the rifle and immediately began controlled bursts, downing two quickly—just as he aimed at the last one, someone gripped his shoulder.

He turned—it was Zhang Su. He thought Zhang Su was sparing the man, slumped his shoulders, and sighed: "Leave him a dog's life!"

Zhang Su smiled without speaking, turning to Lu Yu: "Bozi, go bring him back."

"Got it!" Lu Yu dashed off, moving faster than the man who couldn't swing his arms.

Zhang Su took the rifle from Qi Xiaoshuai, his expression odd: "Guess why I let you spare him?"

Qi Xiaoshuai thought hard, then said: "Hmm… maybe you still need to question him?"

"No."

Zhang Su shook his head, turned to the crowd, his gaze passing everyone to land squarely on Su Xiaoya.

The utterly inconspicuous spy Su Xiaoya was staring blankly as Lu Yu dragged the last man back—then suddenly realized everyone was watching her, confused.

But everyone in Tianmayu already knew what awaited Su Xiaoya; many exchanged strange glances and sighed—wanting to belong, wanting to grow, this was the inevitable trial.

Zhao Dezhu made an exaggerated grimace at Zheng Xinyu, as if saying: Brother, you really know how to be cruel…

Zheng Xinyu responded with a look of utter inevitability, helplessly shrugging—on the first day of the disaster, Zhang Su had forced her to kill zombies; she'd never forgotten it, and precisely because of that, her growth had outpaced everyone else's.

Su Xiaoya had no idea what was happening, frozen in place as Zhang Su slowly approached, her heart pounding.

"Here." Zhang Su stepped before Su Xiaoya and extended the rifle.

"W-what for?"

Su Xiaoya didn't take it immediately, instead waving her hand and stepping back slightly—accidentally kicking the bag filled with the gear they'd retrieved, making a clatter.

"Take it. I'll teach you how to shoot. Kill him."

Zhang Su spoke with absolute certainty.

"Devils! You're demons! You shark-armed bastards will burn in hell, you'll be boiled in oil—"

Bang, bang-bang!

"Ugh…"

"God damn it, annoying!"

The man Lu Yu dragged back kept screaming, face twisted, spittle flying—Lu Yu didn't let him finish, landing several sharp elbow strikes to knock him unconscious, then dragging him back to the group.

"N-no, no, no, I can't—I don't know how to use a gun!"

Su Xiaoya finally understood why everyone had looked at her so strangely—she was about to face this brutal test. She glanced at the unconscious man, then at the rifle, shaking her head frantically.

"Can't use a gun? Fine." Zhang Su drew his knife and thrust it at her: "Then use this!"

Su Xiaoya rolled her eyes, nearly fainting—the bloody scene still vivid in her mind. She took the rifle reluctantly, grimacing: "I—I'll use this one instead. D-do I really have to kill him?"

"You absolutely do. Come on, I'll teach you first…"

Zhang Su removed the magazine and explained the basics of firing to Su Xiaoya.

"It's time to prove yourself. Go."

After the brief lesson, Zhang Su handed her the magazine, slapped her shoulder hard—sending her stumbling forward.

Su Xiaoya's frostbitten face was grim. She awkwardly hugged the rifle, glanced around at the crowd, remembered Zhang Su's earlier words about forming a reserve team, gritted her teeth, and walked toward the unconscious man.

(End of Chapter)