Chapter 448: Heart and Mouth Convinced!

Everyone, even members of Tianma Yu, were stunned by the power of Zhang Su's kick.

"Holy shit, that kick must've taken twenty years of practice…"

"Yeah, there's no way to block it!"

"If that kick landed on a pig, at least four or five ribs would snap!"

There were no physicists on site to calculate the exact newtons needed to launch Liu Yao three meters and dent a car door, but the practical effect had already given an astonishing answer—no one wanted to experience it firsthand.

The last two surviving members of the Survivors Alliance Guard, Wu Baokang and Luo Yong, exchanged a glance, both their lips trembling slightly.

In terms of combat strength, they were unquestionably among the most exceptional present—one a former armed police officer, the other a former mercenary who lived by the blade. In their eyes, the value of Zhang Su's kick was extremely high, far exceeding the height of three or four stories. Many in the Tianqi Group wore expressions of admiration; their faction's creed was to follow the strong. The weapons Tianma Yu had already displayed were powerful enough, and now with a leader who acted decisively and moved with extraordinary skill, even Yang Xinqi had begun to consider it—not just ordinary members, but Yang Xinqi himself. The taste of power was sweet, but if one wasn't strong enough, it would turn to poison.

"Everyone says you lost, you lost—so admit it, it's not shameful. Why make it this way? Come on, let me see how you're doing."

Zhang Xin felt Zhang Su's kick had been too harsh and might provoke resentment among the Little Eagle Society, so he hurried forward to comfort Liu Yao.

"Commander Liu, what do you say now?"

Zhang Su did not act haughty after subduing his opponent; he remained calm and detached, as if to say, this is what happens when you act recklessly. At this moment, showing humility would earn more goodwill.

"No… cough, I'm fine!"

Liu Yao was surprisingly straightforward. Supported by several men, he stood up, wiped the mixture of blood and saliva from his lips with his left arm, and said firmly: "Yanluowang, I submit!"

"Really submit?"

Zhang Su stepped forward with his men, ostensibly asking Liu Yao, but actually addressing Jiang Wuying behind him.

"Truly submit! From now on, there is no Little Eagle Society! Listen up, brothers—the Little Eagle Society is fully merged into Tianma Yu. I am no longer your commander. From now on, you follow Yanluowang. Understood?"

"Understood! Yanluowang!"

"Yanluowang…"

"Yanluowang!"

The Little Eagle Society had brought twenty men. Upon hearing Liu Yao's words, they hesitated not at all and immediately pledged allegiance to Zhang Su—but they did not abandon their former leader, still clustering around the badly injured Liu Yao.

Clearly, these men understood the times and valued loyalty.

The Tianqi Group members stood aside, deflated—especially Yang Xinqi, who had long been called a coward by Liu Yao, yet today the one who surrendered first was the very man with the loud mouth…

"Commander Liu takes defeat with grace—I respect you as a man! Welcome, brothers of the Little Eagle Society! But formal integration will be handled later!"

Zhang Su was never one to back down. He was no longer the timid little leader who once guarded just ten or twenty people. More people joining his faction was a good thing—whether they were loyal or treacherous, good or bad, he'd sort it out later. "Yanluowang, strictly speaking, I'm also part of Tianma Yu now…" Liu Yao pointed to his fractured right arm, pain twisting his face as he growled: "You're responsible for healing me!"

"Hah!"

Zhang Su laughed loudly. Jiang Wuying had not warned him that Liu Yao harbored murderous intent—meaning the man wasn't just pretending to surrender. In other words, this guy had truly been broken.

"Since we're all family now, that's easily settled. Come on, everyone—head to Tianma Yu for a visit! Today's on me. Eat well, drink well!"

Zhang Su waved his hand.

"Mr. Zhang, they…"

Li Zongkai stepped beside Zhang Su and pointed to the eight people at the rear of the convoy, still bound though no longer under Civilian Guardianship.

"Bring them along. We'll deal with it after we return."

Zhang Su had no intention of resolving these issues now. "Let's go! A day trip to Yanluowang's territory!"

"Move out, brothers! Follow me to Tianma Yu!"

Suddenly, the scene erupted in activity. Over a hundred people climbed back into their vehicles. The road ahead, burned through the middle, blocked passage—but narrow paths beside the shops were still passable, though inconvenient.

Forty or fifty assorted vehicles rolled slowly toward Tianma Yu, stretching over two hundred meters from front to back. A lone Type 99 Main Battle Tank followed behind, imposing and majestic. From afar, the procession looked impressively grand.

"Honey, today we fired cannons and guns all over Beidong Town—why are the zombie hordes so quiet around here?"

In the driver's seat of the FJ Cruiser, Zheng Xinyu asked curiously. Earlier, dozens of stray zombies had popped up, but compared to the tens of thousands nearby, they were negligible.

Zhang Su, seated beside her, was pondering their upcoming talk. Hearing her question, he gazed out at the wasteland and clicked his tongue: "Who knows? No one patrolled today. But the outposts are watching—if a horde does come, all the better. With so many of us, we can wipe out a batch while we're at it. Huh?"

As he spoke, the convoy hadn't yet reached the mountain base when Zhang Su spotted a crowd waiting by the roadside, eagerly watching. Closer look revealed not only Tianma Yu members, but everyone from Satellite Village—clearly they'd been waiting for some time at the entrance.

The reserve team hadn't been notified of this operation, but Satellite Village wasn't isolated. For one, Yang Liehuo would have certainly informed them that Tianma Yu was facing a powerful enemy.

The reserve members had already assembled, but dared not rush to the front line, fearing they'd disrupt Yanluo Army's operations. So they waited behind, awaiting the warriors' return.

Aside from those on special duty and Fu Wei, who couldn't come easily, and Qiu Hui, still unconscious after being bitten and having a limb amputated, everyone else had gathered at the entrance.

Over sixty people lined the road to welcome them, the scene wildly enthusiastic, like welcoming a high-ranking official on a rural inspection.

"Congratulations to the Yanluo Army on their triumphant return! Yanluowang leads, and wins every battle!"

As the convoy reached the entrance, the crowd on both sides shouted in unison, their voices thunderous.

Zhang Su rolled down his window and said: "Old Ma, Old Huo, what the hell are you doing?"

Ma Changshou and Yang Liehuo stood at the front of the crowd. Their demeanors were utterly different: Ma Changshou grinned like an old chrysanthemum, jumping up and down, leading the applause and directing the welcome ceremony.

Yang Liehuo, by contrast, clearly felt uncomfortable with such an event—likely forced into it. He mechanically followed Ma Changshou's lead, stiff and awkward.

Hearing Zhang Su's question, Yang Liehuo twitched his face and nodded toward Ma Changshou: "Old Ma's idea."

Ma Changshou laughed heartily: "Mr. Zhang, we're celebrating a victory! We welcome heroes—don't you agree, everyone?"

"Yanluowang is invincible! Yanluo Army conquers all!"

Zhang Su had been smiling, but hearing these lines, his smile froze. He didn't need to guess—this was definitely Yu Wen's work.

"Alright, alright. Shout that loud and you'll attract zombies. Get moving up the mountain! Today we're throwing a grand feast—need help preparing food. Everyone, pitch in! Cancel all duties except patrols and sentry posts!"

As Zhang Su prepared to roll up his window, he caught an unusual gaze among the crowd.

Many in the convoy had rolled down their windows, but undeniably, Zhang Su drew the most attention—nearly eighty percent of the crowd watched him. Their gazes held admiration, reverence, even a few traces of fanaticism. Yet one person's gaze was different.

Su Xiaoya. Zhang Su's eyes swept over her instantly—she stood among the crowd, waving both hands. Her eyes fixed on him, filled unmistakably with affection.

He didn't need Jiang Wuying to confirm—he knew he wasn't imagining it. There were too many people here to make a false comparison.

The discovery surprised him, but only slightly. A moment's thought explained Su Xiaoya's mindset.

Once she realized her sister's death was orchestrated by Lei Youliang, her admiration for the strong made her devotion to him inevitable.

"Damn, so the little sister takes over for the big sister? Sigh… youth is great—daring to love, daring to hate…"

He muttered under his breath, rolled up his window, and told Zheng Xinyu to drive on. The over-the-top slogans were making him uncomfortable—the more people, the more awkward, his skin crawling with goosebumps.

(End of Chapter)