Chapter 483: A Gunshot Breaks the Silence

An explosion rang out, and a few shards flew and fell onto the floors below.

The entire LeGou Mall grew tense; ordinary members chattered nervously, and the scene instantly descended into chaos. The Survivors' Alliance had always managed ordinary members loosely, and they lacked strong organizational discipline.

"Don't shout, don't cause trouble!"

"Everyone be quiet, the leader will handle this!"

"Everyone find a place with cover and sit down."

Dozens of combatants, under the command of junior leaders, stepped forward immediately to restore order and stabilized the situation.

Zhang Xin, Liu Yao, and Yang Xinqi learned from the radio that Zhang Su was unharmed, and they all exhaled deeply in relief.

The sacrifice of Liao Youzhi and Gong Chengming had bought them precious peace; if Zhang Su were to die now, that peace would shatter instantly. None of them wanted to see that happen—they sincerely wished only for Zhang Su's safety.

"Didn't your old boss have some kind of mental illness? Planting bombs in his own home? Is he brain-dead?"

Liu Yao frowned at Wu Baokang across the way.

"How the hell would I know? Fuck, Liao Youzhi could handle bombs himself—he didn't need us lifting a finger! Fuck, let's go see what's going on!"

"Let's go, hey—you guys keep watch down here, no one's allowed to cause trouble!"

"You too, keep everyone's emotions in check, don't let conflicts break out…"

Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi gave their instructions, then dashed upstairs.

Ma Huihui, who had been kicked downstairs earlier, was miserably folding her bedding when the explosion above stunned her into silence. She didn't know what had happened, only felt a faint warmth spreading across her underwear, then turning icy cold!

A wave of relief washed over her. Suddenly, she thought, maybe working in the Pleasure Den wasn't so bad—living under a tyrant's shadow really wasn't fit for human life. "Uncle, my hand's broken, I'm done! All my skills are in my hands—how am I supposed to live now? I still want to pursue Su… ugh…"

Lying on Gong Chengming's bed, blood stained the beige sheets. Pang Dakun stared at his ruined right hand, tears streaming down his face as he kept muttering. Just as he grieved, something was shoved into his mouth—he nearly choked.

"Take the pill, save your strength, don't talk!"

Zhang Su glared at Pang Dakun. He was certain the man wasn't in mortal danger—his yammering was deafening, drowning out all outside conversation.

"How is he? How's Dakun? Pan Ru brought a first-aid kit—will it help?"

Zheng Xinyu rushed in, feigning concern. She knew perfectly well Pang Dakun didn't need the kit, but the zombie thalamus secret couldn't be exposed.

"Big Brother Zhang, here—this is what we found at the hospital. Everything's inside!"

Pan Ru followed Zheng Xinyu, handing over a heavy silver case.

"Thanks, this is exactly what we needed!"

Zhang Su took the kit, thanked her, then asked: "Where are Zhu and the others? Tell them to stop putting out the fire—didn't they hear the order…?"

He could faintly hear intense efforts to extinguish the flames coming from the lab.

"Yes, everyone's fighting the fire… Don't move, don't move!"

Zheng Xinyu stepped to the bedside, opened the medical kit, and found neatly arranged professional tools—many she didn't recognize. She pulled out alcohol and cotton balls to wipe the wound on Pang Dakun's forehead.

"Xinyu… where's the explosive?"

Zhang Su was about to ask Zheng Xinyu to watch over Pang Dakun when he remembered the plastic bomb.

"It's wrapped up safe… You go ahead. That explosion was loud—everyone downstairs must've come up."

Zheng Xinyu nodded toward the door.

Zhang Su nodded, patted Zheng Xinyu's shoulder, then told Pang Dakun: "Calm down. Let your sister-in-law wrap your hand tighter—it'll be fine."

"Got it, Uncle…"

Pang Dakun's eyes overflowed with tears, his lips trembling.

"Come on, Pan Ru, let's see what help the lab needs!" Zhang Su called to Pan Ru, leaving—temporarily hiding the zombie thalamus secret from her.

As the two stepped out of Gong Chengming's room, Zhang Su heard a flurry of footsteps approaching from the stairs, then saw Zhang Xin and others hurrying toward them.

"Holy shit, Brother Su, you're covered in blood…"

"I'm fine. Let's go check the lab!"

Zhang Su waved them forward and sprinted toward the lab.

Only then did the others realize the lab had exploded. Deep down, none of them wanted to go—explosions were unpredictable, and another blast could kill them all. Plus, the lab was where the zombie powder had been developed—who knew what horrors might still be lurking?

But their leader had charged ahead, and some of their brothers were still inside fighting the fire—they couldn't retreat.

The group followed Zhang Su to the lab entrance and froze when they looked inside.

The flames had been fully extinguished, but the lab was a total wreck—white fire-retardant foam and black scorch marks covered everything.

From the doorway, the bomb's power seemed immense—but the floor remained mostly intact. Whoever planted it was skilled: their goal was to destroy the lab, nothing else.

"Fuck, big brother, we're fucked!"

Zhao Dezhu, wearing a makeshift fire mask and carrying a giant extinguisher like a bio-warrior, spoke in a muffled voice.

"Get out now, the fire's out—leave the inside alone!"

Zhang Su ordered everyone to leave the lab.

Thud.

Zhao Dezhu tossed the extinguisher aside, removed his mask, and breathed deeply, furious: "The bomb wasn't that powerful—it was meant to start a fire. Fuck, those scientists are pure bastards!"

"How could they do this? It's definitely Liao Youzhi's doing!"

Yu Wen arrived too, shook his head at the master's judgment, then said to Zhang Su: "Mr. Zhang, pause personnel work—this situation is urgent."

Zhang Su crossed one arm over his waist and nodded: "Fine. The inventory can wait. Get people to salvage everything usable from the lab and load it onto trucks for Tianmayu. Old Yu, I'm leaving this to you."

"Understood, Mr. Zhang—where are you going?" Yu Wen knew Zhang Su wouldn't linger, but wanted to know his next move.

Zhang Su and Yu Wen had long understood each other. He patted Li Zongkai's shoulder: "I'm heading to Xiao Ying Society and Tianqi Group first. Old Li, don't follow us—stay here, keep order, help Old Yu."

"Got it, leave it to me!"

Li Zongkai and Yu Wen exchanged glances and nodded. Both were seasoned and steady—handling this was effortless.

"Aren't the brothers staying for lunch? I… I already told the cooks."

Zhang Xin tried to delay them.

Zhang Su rubbed his temple, smiling helplessly: "We can eat anytime—we need to finish this first. Tell the cooks to rest."

"Heh, Brother Su, come eat at mine—you all know the kindergarten food's the best, haha! But some people better be polite—don't just mooch off others!"

Liu Yao glanced pointedly at Yang Xinqi.

Yang Xinqi shot Liu Yao a look, too tired to argue—could he not see the situation? Still joking around?

Zhang Su then named a few men to stay behind, calmed the LeGou branch survivors, and departed.

Moments before the LeGou Mall explosion, a gunshot shattered the silence in Tongrui Auto Park.

"All you bastards of the Tianqi Group—get into the Da San 4S Shop right now, or this old man is your fate!"

The man held a pistol triumphantly; beside him lay an elderly man with a bullet wound to the head, silver hair stained red, eyes wide open with unspoken longing.

(End of Chapter)