Chapter 469: Team Leader Yang Is Actually Pretty Nice

Zhang Su pulled out a cigarette, passed it around, cracked open the window a crack, lit up, and said: "Old Zhang, the Survivors' Alliance set up a trading market—you must know the situation around here well, right?"

Zhang Xin exhaled smoke and gave a dry laugh: "Honestly, I don't even have the qualification to sit here at this meeting—I'm just a squad leader on my team, how would I know all this stuff…"

"Haha, you must've spent all your energy on women's bellies—otherwise, just ask around a bit, you'd get some news!"

Zhang Su mocked him—he'd occasionally overheard Zhang Xin chatting with his men, always boasting about his slick exploits in the Alliance, like spending a wild night with some hot chick.

"This matter… I've got no ambition, unlike Gong Chengming. I don't even pay attention to what's happening above—I'll just go downstairs. You guys keep chatting."

Saying that, Zhang Xin rose to leave—he was just a lowly squad leader with extremely limited intel, nowhere near the level of the big shots here; it was too humiliating.

"Fine, no ambition's fine, but you still need drive!" Zhang Su called out to stop Zhang Xin, bluntly: "The Survivors' Alliance has no leader now—I plan to hand it over to Old Li. You, as a veteran of the Alliance, will assist Old Li!"

"Huh?"

"This… this this…"

Not only Zhang Xin was stunned—Li Zongkai was equally dumbfounded; he never expected Zhang Su would really dump such a massive responsibility on him.

Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi were surprised too, but felt no envy—they knew their own limits. If they were put in charge of hundreds of people, they couldn't command respect, and might even get themselves killed. After joining Tianma Yu, the first rule was to abandon power struggles—Gong Chengming was the living proof. As the saying goes: no diamond drill, don't take on porcelain work!

"Old Li, why're you so shocked? Didn't I tell you this yesterday?"

Zhang Su turned to Li Zongkai, who sat in the driver's seat.

"I did, but… there are still moles inside the Civilization Protectors I haven't rooted out—I'm afraid I'm not up to the task."

Li Zongkai wasn't making excuses—he genuinely feared messing it up.

"Right, speaking of moles!"

Zhang Su scanned the group: "We're all brothers now—let's speak plainly. Have any of you planted spies in other groups? As for Old Li's side, I'll speak for him—Liao Youzhi put one of his wives in his camp. I've already been in touch with Team Leader Zhang—he's passed me some intel."

After hearing Zhang Su, Liu Yao gave a strange look and tilted his head toward Yang Xinqi: "One of the cooks in Tianqi Team is mine…"

"Fuck, Liu, you sneaky bastard—you planted a spy in my place? It's that fat bastard Cao, right?"

Yang Xinqi sat in the seat where Li Zongkai had been held hostage; hearing Liu Yao's words, he exploded. The Tianqi Team had many support staff, but only one dedicated cook! "Don't yell so loud. Yeah, it's Old Cao—I own up to it, so what? You think you never did the same?"

Liu Yao didn't coddle Yang Xinqi—he wouldn't dare challenge the Survivors' Alliance, but he didn't take Tianqi Team seriously. He wouldn't openly fight, but planting a mole and stealing stuff? Easy.

"Hmph…"

Yang Xinqi sneered: "We swore we were the Four Tigers of Beicheng—united as one. I wouldn't stoop to such filth. If I do anything, it's against outsiders—I've planted a spy in that idiotic Absolute Justice faction in the Development Zone!"

"The Four Tigers of Beicheng… you still believe that bullshit? That was all Liao Youzhi's trick to fool us—fuck, just thinking about it makes me angry!"

Liu Yao recalled how he'd been used as a pawn and then discarded—it left him seething.

"Alright, enough with the past!" Zhang Su raised his hand to cut off the bickering and asked Yang Xinqi: "From your tone, things around Tianqi Team aren't peaceful?"

"Hmm… yeah. My place used to be Tongrui Auto Park. North of it are a few villages, but no survivors—just corpses everywhere, probably wiped out. West is a vast wasteland with few villages. Southeast is… Wuya Liu…"

"I warn you—don't give me stupid nicknames!"

Liu Yao's face flushed at the mention of "Wuya Liu." "Fine, fine, fine—southeast is Little Eagle Society… but mainly the south, near the Development Zone—it's bad." Yang Xinqi frowned.

Zhang Su remembered Jia Shiqin telling him several factories in the Development Zone had suitable generators—part of his plan. Hearing this, he perked up: "Absolute Justice? What a ridiculous name. What's their deal?"

"Absolute Justice? Absolute bullshit. They scream for justice but lack everything. Those bastards are utterly corrupt—no honor, no scruples. Once they locked over a hundred zombies in one of my warehouses. When I opened it, one of my men got bitten right away. There were at least four or five such incidents—three with solid proof!"

"They're all insane—either lunatics or psychopaths. They somehow got their hands on stimulants. After taking them, their combat power spikes, and they go wild like beasts!"

Speaking of Absolute Justice's "good deeds," Yang Xinqi was seething.

"Why do they do this? What's their goal? And why haven't you fought back?"

Zhang Su asked curiously.

In the apocalypse, harm always had a purpose—nobody did things that hurt others without benefiting themselves.

"I already said Tianqi Team's people are cowards…"

"Shut up!"

Liu Yao couldn't resist mocking Yang Xinqi—and got shot down.

"Tianqi Team has more people than Little Eagle Society, but most are elderly, women, and children—no combat ability. This is all his fault—he lured away all the strong survivors from the city into Little Eagle Society, then kicked out the old, weak, and helpless!"

Recalling these memories, Yang Xinqi felt deep frustration.

"I have to say this fairly—Team Leader Yang's actually pretty decent. He takes in any survivor who comes to the auto park."

Zhang Xin offered a fair assessment.

"I'm trying to keep my men alive—I pick those who help us. Are you insane, blaming me for it?"

"Who else should we blame? You're picky as hell…"

Zhang Su and Yu Wen exchanged glances. Yang Xinqi's behavior was noble, but in the apocalypse, it was unsustainable.

"Enough, you two lovebirds—shut up!"

Zhang Su waved his hand between Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi: "Old Yang, keep going—tell us about Absolute Justice."

"Alright. Absolute Justice has long coveted the city's territory. All their actions aim to weaken us so they can swallow my territory—and I bet they'll use it as a springboard to swallow other factions in the city!"

Yang Xinqi paused, glancing sideways at Liu Yao: "Little Bird Liu, don't gloat. If today hadn't happened, once Absolute Justice wiped out Tianqi Team, they'd come for Little Eagle Society next!"

Liu Yao's temple throbbed at the nickname "Little Bird," but Zhang Su cut him off.

"Alright, the situation is clear. Old Li's side has no conflict. The Survivors' Alliance is large and powerful—even if someone secretly covets it, they won't dare act rashly, or else Liao Youzhi wouldn't have the nerve to go north and stir up trouble. Liu's kindergarten is surrounded and has no contact with the outside. Only Old Yang's auto park is being harassed by the Development Zone. Correct?"

Everyone nodded, agreeing the situation was roughly as described.

Zhang Su nodded, then addressed them: "Since you've all decided to join Tianma Yu, I won't be modest—I'll lay out my short-term plan."

"Whether someone's watching the Survivors' Alliance or Absolute Justice in the Development Zone—after we return tomorrow, spread the word: the Four Tigers of Beicheng and Tianma Yu have officially formed a united defense alliance! Once this spreads, I'm certain Absolute Justice and anyone secretly eyeing your factions will rein themselves in."

(End of Chapter)