[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times":3,"chapter-the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-539":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Fiercest Man in the End Times",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2319777,4536,"Chapter 539: Where Did You Get That Knife?","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-539",539,"\u003Cp>Fuck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wu Lue heard Pang Dakun say he’d report to Zhang Su, his smug expression froze; he rolled his eyes. “You two are both ascetic monks—I give up. Fine, fine, fine, I’m not going. Hmph, after we get back, don’t even think about asking me for any slices—I’m not giving you any!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a foul mood, Wu Lue dove under the covers, burying his head and slumping sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast to the carefree young people, the atmosphere around Li Zongkai was tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chairman, the current situation really does call for consolidation—I fully support joining Tianma Yu. But… isn’t our request to return early reasonable? What if something happens at the camp?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Daqiang was deeply worried. They couldn’t contact the military base and could only wait passively for news—but no word had come, only increasing their unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to lead his men back early, but Li Zongkai shut it down. The reason was simple: collective action requires discipline. The Yanluo Legion had already decided to head to the base tomorrow—so they’d wait and go together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did Li Zongkai oppose him; many teammates also disagreed. No other reason—just that the zombies had grown stronger, creating a sense of urgency. Some felt they were mud Buddhas themselves—how could they cross the river to protect people at the camp?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand your concern, but please empathize with my position—and trust the brothers holding the camp. If anything stirs, they’ll contact us immediately. Since there’s no news, that’s the best news. Stay calm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai had his own worries, but he was far calmer than Wu Daqiang—because their positions differed, so did their perspectives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was loyal to Zhang Su, and now that Civilian Guardians had decided to join Tianma Yu, his priorities had shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong, Chairman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, Li Zongkai suddenly had a flash of insight—a vague image surfaced in his mind, startling him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just now… I just remembered something—about our camp spy. But it vanished as soon as it came…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai frowned, slapping his forehead, trying to knock something loose from his skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Daqiang’s face turned grave. “I’ve been thinking about this too. I truly don’t know who Liao Youzhi planted as a spy. Now that Liao Youzhi is dead, if he’d just kept quiet, we’d never find him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a skilled serial killer, one or two crimes leave no enough clues. Though they hated it, they could only hope he’d strike again—then they might catch a flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve got an idea. That night…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai frowned, recalling. A figure appeared in his mind. He raised a finger, suddenly enlightened: “Guan Senmiao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Daqiang seemed shocked by the name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I remember. The night before last, I first got your message, then went straight to the comms room to talk to you. At the time… Guan Senmiao was on duty. He even brought me a hot water bag. It’s him—he eavesdropped on our conversation and passed it to Liao Youzhi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Guan Senmiao… how could he…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Civilian Guardians had over a hundred members; Wu Daqiang didn’t remember everyone well. But Guan Senmiao stood out—he was overly eager to join the combat unit, always hanging around Wu Daqiang, asking combat questions, training obsessively, and eventually got special approval as a reserve! “If it’s Guan Senmiao, it actually makes sense. He’s always so eager, so interested in everything. This must’ve been planned…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Daqiang sighed and took off his cap. Li Zongkai hadn’t pointed it out before, but now that he had, every past behavior of Guan Senmiao seemed suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh, let’s leave it for now. At least Liao Youzhi’s dead. After we return, investigate and deal with it. Shouldn’t be hard. Rest—everyone’s exhausted today!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the LeGou Mall, many people chatted. As time passed, murmurs turned to snores. The heart-pounding day ended in sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qincheng was utterly silent at midnight. The sky held no stars or moon. From above, the city showed almost no light—but in this darkness, some roads still glowed with headlights, and flashes of light occasionally slid across the sides of tall buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just one place—several. Caravans raced south to north, others moved east to west, and a large truck trundled slowly southward, unhurried, leisurely…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The car’s air conditioning hummed warmly. Ding Wei’s eyes gleamed. On the passenger seat lay two guns and a finely crafted short Tang dao. He chewed a cigarette, his face showing not a trace of negativity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his mind, he plotted how to use a shipping container’s supplies to rise again. Beyond the moving vehicles, shadows darted between buildings. Some survivors, forced out by circumstance, now had to face new changes…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night passed slowly. When dawn came, the sky lightened—but no sunlight touched the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahhhh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su stretched luxuriously, then twisted his stiff, aching body. He checked the time: 6:30.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed bitterly: “No luck enjoying this soft bed—I’m more tired than ever!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu was tidying up nearby, mouth full of mouthwash. Hearing Zhang Su, she patted her chest and nodded—meaning: I can handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything happen after midnight last night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su rubbed his face. He’d been the only combatant not on watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu had volunteered for the second half of the night. She spat out the mouthwash. “First half, nothing. Second half started quiet too. Around five, over a dozen regular zombies appeared from the west. Fruit Guy led the team and handled them easily. Then… two survivors came seeking help—an older man and a young guy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su pulled out a wet wipe to wipe his face. Hearing about survivors, he tensed: “Survivors? Where from? Any red flags?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wu Baokang recognized the old man. They were a small group holed up in an old, run-down place southeast of here. Survivor Alliance tried recruiting them a few times, but they refused. Later, they wandered into Alliance territory looking for supplies—and since they had some skills, we just left them alone…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, you said only two came. How’d it become five?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su scratched his head, thinking he hadn’t woken up properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There were five originally. Three died yesterday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, they just collapsed! Wu Baokang said they had skills—what skills? Their combat ability looks terrible…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skills weren’t always combat-related—but in this world, lacking combat power made you vulnerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know the details, but the old man seemed capable—his weapon’s pretty good. Funny thing, it looks a bit like your military knife. But the guy with him? Meh. Anyway, they’re temporarily assigned to logistics. Go check on them yourself when you have time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I’ll find time. How’s the weather?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the two stranded survivors, Zhang Su cared more about the weather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu made a strange face and pointed at the window: “Go look yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just tell me… damn it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su walked over and pulled back the shutter. His good mood vanished instantly. Due to the cold, most windows on the mall’s upper floors were sealed with shutters—even under bright sun, the interior stayed dim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su pulled back the shutter and looked up. He’d thought the clouds had cleared overnight—but no. The sky remained gray, unchanged from yesterday. The thick, heavy clouds clung to the heavens like a lid, showing no sign of dispersal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At first, people thought it was just ordinary snowfall. Only when the clouds lingered did they realize the severity…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu mimicked the tone of those old marketing accounts, muttering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These clouds… they’re suffocating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Wen appeared in the corridor, cigarette between fingers. He’d turned fifty-nine after the New Year, slept little, and had been awake for hours. Hearing voices from Zhang Su’s side, he came over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su clicked his tongue, lit a cigarette, and exhaled smoke toward the sky: “Looks like snow’s coming any minute. Really tense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overcast skies weren’t the issue—it was the imminent precipitation. People used to say “only heaven knows.” Now, even heaven probably didn’t know when rain would fall again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother, last night I thought of something—might sound ridiculous, don’t laugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Dezhu scratched his messy hair, holding a bottle of mouthwash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead. I only laugh at your driving—it’s like shit. Everything else? Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su teased, still staring at the heavy sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After the first rain, the next two snowfalls were light. Could it be because this precipitation is global, spreading the water evenly across the planet, so each place gets only a little?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Dezhu clumsily voiced his idea. Everyone listening froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, wait—this actually sounds kinda smart!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to speak was Wang Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife Zhang Ya followed: “If Brother Zhu’s right, maybe this: the first rain was huge because it drained all the atmospheric moisture. Then temperatures dropped sharply, slowing the atmosphere’s ability to absorb moisture from the ground—so snow became light…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So after the first snow, absorbing moisture got even harder, explaining the two-month gap before the second snow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xin instantly grasped Zhang Ya’s point and jumped in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su gave the couple a strange, half-smiling look: “You two are something else. Even your thinking syncs perfectly. Nice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, you guys got it wrong—I was the first to say it! Praise me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Dezhu looked annoyed. He’d finally come up with a brilliant theory—and now someone stole the spotlight. Not acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhu is awesome! Brain’s sharp as hell! Genius!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Dakun quickly chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though Zhu’s, Xiao Wang’s, and Xiao Ya’s guesses lack evidence, I think they’re logically plausible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su nodded, endorsing their ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu saw Zhao Dezhu getting praise and sneered: “Big Zhu’s theories are useless. Even if they’re true, what can we do? Can we stop the sky from absorbing moisture? Useless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As good friends, they had to tease each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Su shook his head seriously: “Bozi, you’re wrong. We can’t stop moisture evaporation—but if this guess is right, it proves precipitation follows a pattern—and we might be able to understand it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we understand the zombies’ strengthening pattern, we can plan ahead and prepare—won’t be caught unprepared,” Yu Wen added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai appeared at the shop entrance, sounding tense: “Are we going to fight again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, we’re discussing precipitation. Seems there’s a pattern.” Zhang Su gave a brief explanation, then asked: “How’s the team ready? When can we leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai pointed to their sleeping area: “Everyone’s up. Ready to go anytime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Bozi, go tell Old Liu and Old Yang. Get Wu Baokang and Zhang Xin here. Hold a meeting. Also, get some food. After we talk, we eat and leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su twisted open his water bottle, took a sip. His stomach was empty; the cold liquid shot straight to his gut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Fruit Guy, what’re you sneaking around for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu suddenly shouted toward the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, nothing, uh… just heard Brother Su call my name. Hehe, I’m coming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xin knew Zhang Su’s group was leaving early for Civilian Guardians, so he’d come early to check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I called you all for a meeting. Talk about… hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhang Su spoke, he turned and glanced at Zhang Xin’s waist. He pointed curiously: “Old Zhang, that knife? I’ve never seen you use it. Where’d you get it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean this one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xin proudly unsheathed the blade, grinning: “Hehe, this knife…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this the knife the old man who escaped yesterday was carrying? Did you steal it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Zhang Xin could answer, Zheng Xinyu blurted it out. The room froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you seriously robbing survivors fleeing for their lives?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su regarded Zhang Xin with a strange expression; such behavior was surely common, but seeing it happen right before his eyes was truly disgraceful—especially since the perpetrator was a junior official, and something had to be said about it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, he recognized the knife in Zhang Xin’s hand—it was familiar. He had never paid attention to what Zheng Xinyu had said before, but now it was clearly suspicious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not… I… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xin chuckled awkwardly, shaking the knife in his hand. “I traded it—I traded for it! I gave someone two packs of cigarettes for a packet of beef jerky. I didn’t rob anyone—I swear I didn’t. I’d never do something like that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2037,"2026-06-20T15:15:16.642Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5b6f1cc6b89e41b0c7f059cd92b31328bb0305c24a0ab025409be9cbee7ab673","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-540","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-538",694,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-cover.jpg"]