[{"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-540":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},2319778,4536,"Chapter 540: Imperial Blacksmith","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-540",540,"\u003Cp>“Fruit guy, you’d better tell the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu had a poor impression of Zhang Xin and didn’t trust him; she crossed her arms and demanded sharply—subordinates doing outrageous things could ultimately damage the leader’s reputation, and she was defending Zhang Su’s image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t steal it! I’m a minor leader myself, I’ve got some supplies in my pockets… I saw this knife looked just like the one Brother Su uses, so I just talked to the guy and swapped it—this is all true, plenty of people saw it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xin explained hastily, but it only made him sound guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He didn’t forcibly take it—I can vouch for that. Hmm… it was more like a forced swap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Huajun appeared in the corridor and spoke up for Zhang Xin; she had witnessed the entire event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forced swap… meaning the other guy didn’t want to, huh? You’re something else!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su glared at Zhang Xin and said sternly: “As a leader, you must set an example. Don’t ever do anything so embarrassing again! Pay attention to basic conduct—don’t let this kind of Fengqi  spread.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it, got it, remembered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xin smiled nervously, as if released from a death sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su didn’t press further—he understood that water too clear has no fish, and under current conditions, it was close enough; he extended his hand: “Hand me the knife, let me see—it really does look similar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, here…” Zhang Xin quickly offered it with both hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su took the military knife from Zhang Xin, examined it, let out a hiss, frowned, then reached for his waist—only to find it bare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why’re you patting your waist if you’re not wearing your belt? Wait, I’ll get it for you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu took the scabbard off her tactical belt from beside the bed and handed it to Zhang Su.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Placed side by side, the two knives were nearly identical twins—only the degree of wear differed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Dezhu stepped forward—he also owned a cleaver-style military knife; he drew it and compared it nearby: triplets! The details were nearly identical; the knife Zhang Xin had swapped was the most worn, and it lacked Zhang Su’s unique “Z”-shaped lightning engraving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Su, you said this military knife was forged by a master craftsman, but this… isn’t this mass-produced? Did you order it online and just get a steel stamp added?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yubo gave a strange look and teased: “He really wanted one back then, but lost the draw to Zhao Dezhu and missed out—he’s been bitter ever since, and now he wants one again—even if it’s mass-produced, it’s still high-end mass production!” “Bullshit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su glanced at Lu Yubo, then turned to Zhang Xin: “Is this knife really from that man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.” Zhang Xin nodded, then shook his head: “But I’m not sure how he got it—maybe he picked it up on the road. That old guy didn’t look like someone who dealt in high-end blades.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This thing isn’t easy to just pick up… Was that guy surnamed Ding?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su turned the knife over in his hands—he was certain this blade and his own came from the same craftsman, but the problem was: he’d never sold any of his knives! “Oh…” Zhang Xin blinked, then awkwardly smiled: “Yeah… I think so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You bastard… so you just bully people and take advantage, huh? How the hell did you handle screening?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su was deeply dissatisfied—stealing or forcing swaps was one thing, but screening strangers could never be taken lightly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That old man was surnamed Ding, I remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu raised her hand like a student answering a teacher’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding Ding Ding, right! I remember now—Ding Guoyong, yeah, Ding Guoyong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat broke out on Zhang Xin’s forehead—then an even more embarrassing voice came from behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the one who’s Ding Guoyong? Fuck, I remember his name is Ding Yongguo—you idiot!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Baokang had somehow slipped up beside them; he gave Zhang Xin a weary glance, thinking: Even if you’re buddies with the King of Hell, don’t go wrecking him like this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, it really is Old Ding, haha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su had already guessed the answer the moment Zhang Xin mispronounced “Ding Guoyong”; a smile appeared on his face as memories surfaced: “Come on, take me to find Old Ding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No no, I’ll just call him up—how can the leader go all the way to meet a regular member…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s ‘qu zūn yū guì’—the ‘yū’ is the silk radical plus ‘shi,’ not ‘jiang gui’—what’s ‘jiang gui’ even mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su grumbled as he fastened his tactical belt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh come on, now you’re learning culture? Too late for that at this point, haha.” Zhang Xin chuckled awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not necessarily—human civilization’s survival depends on us. You gonna keep selling fruit forever? Maybe you’ll end up teaching kids to read and write.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su smiled wryly, then the group headed downstairs, where they met Liu Yao and Yang Xin, who were coming to announce the meeting; soon, the whole crowd descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping out of the safety corridor, Zhang Su looked up and saw two weary figures—a young man and an old man—leaning against the awning of a shop, dozing off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they first arrived, there was nowhere to stay; waiting for allocation took time, so finding a safe spot to nap was already a blessing—especially since it was warm here; they’d soon fallen asleep against the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People walking by suddenly noticed Zhang Su’s group and hurried to greet them respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good morning, Commander Zhang, haven’t eaten yet? Food’s already being prepared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good morning, Brother Zhang, you’re up so early!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander Zhang, you’re busy with countless affairs—thank you for your hard work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compliments poured endlessly—Zhang Su was their savior, and their reverence was genuine, unlike their hollow respect for Liao Youzhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yongguo, dozing with arms crossed, stirred at the rising noise, turned toward the commotion, saw a crowd gathering; still half-asleep, someone yanked him upright and said solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get up quick! The commander’s here—you’re new, right? At least go say hello. If the Yanluo Army hadn’t returned yesterday, we’d all be dead—where would you get a comfy place like this? Hurry up, wake that kid—he’s still sleeping!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Commander… oh oh, got it, got it. Ziwén, wake up, Ziwén…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the commander had arrived, Ding Yongguo snapped awake, shook the teenager beside him named Ziwén—but Zheng Ziwen was too exhausted; he woke up, but remained dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh, Uncle, we finally found a place to sleep, don’t bother me—what’s so important?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ziwen, forcibly dragged from sleep, was annoyed; he twisted his arm, frowning deeply—big morning grumpiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, Old Ding!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a delighted voice rang out—Zhang Su had arrived close by; seeing the familiar yet altered face, his heart swelled with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time he’d seen Ding Yongguo was in August—he clearly remembered how Ding looked then: rosy-cheeked, energetic, swinging his hammer with thunderous force, clang-clanging nonstop. Now…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d lost at least twenty pounds; his once plump, ruddy face was now wrinkled, dusty, unkempt, clad in tattered clothes—“wretched” barely described him; his shoes were ruined—even Hong Qi Gong would’ve given him his dog-beating staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the familiar voice, Ding Yongguo froze, eyes narrowing in confusion as he stared at the newcomer; then his eyes widened, then narrowed again: “Zhang… little Zhang… Boss Zhang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How dare you speak like that? This is our commander—call him Commander Zhang, or Brother Zhang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those nearby were outraged—the ragged middle-aged man dared call their savior “Little Zhang” and “Boss Zhang”? Unthinkable! They corrected him immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You, you… I, Commander Zhang… oh my, I didn’t know you were the leader here? My god, haha… impressive, so impressive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yongguo paused, then quickly shifted his tone; warmth surged in his chest—he never expected to meet someone he knew here, especially someone so powerful, and even more so that the man had come to greet him first—surprise, pure joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood frozen, unsure whether to approach casually or bow respectfully—he’d heard the Survivors’ Alliance was gone, that this place now belonged to Tianma Yu, including the Four Beasts of Beicheng—all under Tianma Yu’s control; this man was Tianma Yu’s leader, the supreme commander of all northern Qincheng forces—a true big shot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old friends meeting don’t need formality, Old Ding. Come, meet my men.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su stepped forward, squeezed Ding’s sturdy shoulder, then turned to his companions: “Let me introduce you properly—this thin old man is my former master smith. All the weapons I sold—swords, spears, staffs—mostly came from Old Ding’s forge. We’ve been dealing for… nearly eight years!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did the group’s confusion lift; faces lit up with realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yubo pointed shakily at Ding Yongguo: “You—you—you’re the one who made those iron-sheet knives?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a consumer—and victim—of the iron-sheet knives, Lu Yubo felt furious seeing the crooked merchant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yongguo scratched his messy hair with his calloused hand and chuckled: “Those… no, those iron-sheet knives weren’t mine. They’re mass-produced. Sorry, young man—my forged weapons are always top quality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, Old Ding, ignore him. These kids brawl—they can only use those dull toys, or everyone’d end up in jail. Maybe even me and you’d get dragged in. Forget about those… just glad you’re still alive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su was delighted to see Ding Yongguo; among the survivors, those who shared memories from before the disaster were rare—Zheng Xinyu had been less than a year, Wu Lue and Zhao Xue about two years—but this old smith had known him for nearly eight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over those years, they met every one or two months—Zhang Su ordered weapons, or they fished together, or ate and drank at the farmstead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few years ago, Zhang Su had used Ding’s connections to trade a small batch of local specialties—not much, but both made thirty to forty thousand—good friends, with mutual give-and-take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the brief introduction, every member of the Yanluo Army politely shook Ding Yongguo’s hand; everyone knew: a skilled master like this would be heavily utilized, and with his deep bond to Zhang Su, his status in the camp was assured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the young man beside Ding Yongguo had been forgotten in the corner; Ding, busy with greetings, had neglected to introduce him—until Zhang Su mentioned it…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Ding, who’s this young man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su looked at the teenager, head turned away, arms crossed—clearly a rebellious type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, I forgot! Ziwén, come say hello to everyone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yongguo hurriedly called Zheng Ziwen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ziwen turned slightly, gave a half-hearted nod, then turned his head away again, offering only his back to the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SLAP! “What’s that attitude? Speak properly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yongguo thought his nephew was being a brat; he smacked him on the head, scolding sternly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd fell silent—the kid’s attitude was truly disrespectful; the elder’s reprimand was justified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ziwen pouted, grumbled under his breath, then turned to Zhang Su and bowed sharply: “Commander, hello, everyone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably embarrassed by the scolding, he stood up and twisted his body away again, muttering under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others couldn’t hear—but Zhang Su caught every word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What commander? He’s barely older than me—so full of himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yongguo chuckled awkwardly: “Commander Zhang…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call me Boss Zhang—I like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su patted Ding’s arm; that title carried memories of the past, which he cherished—but hearing it from Ma Changshou felt different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright, Boss Zhang—this is my nephew, Zheng Ziwen. Uh… just turned eighteen, doesn’t know any better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yongguo introduced him with a smile, but it was stiff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone watching Zheng Ziwen’s back had the same thought: this damn nephew is a real oddball…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Ge lu: ignorant of social norms, rude and unreasonable.) “Oh, nephew…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su sized up Zheng Ziwen: thin frame, average height—about 1.75 meters. His hair hadn’t been cut since the disaster; greasy strands hung past his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His stand-up leather jacket was torn to shreds; glimpses of tattoos showed through the exposed neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Biological nephew?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su asked thoughtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yongguo met Zhang Su’s gaze, smiled helplessly, and nodded. “Yeah, my younger sister’s son—my nephew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright then, old Ding, get Xiao Zhao ready. You two come with me later—you’ve got to tell me exactly what’s been going on with you lately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su clapped Ding Yongguo on the shoulders. He didn’t blame Ding for the young man’s poor attitude—it was a different matter entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A friend he could talk to, a master craftsman—just these two things filled him with joy. But there was one thing others didn’t know: Ding Yongguo’s combat ability. Others didn’t know, but Zhang Su had learned some of his knife techniques from Ding Yongguo. According to Ding, his ancestors had been renowned swordmasters; he considered himself half of a martial family. Though this was said in jest, his skills were solid—especially his foundational stances, which were comprehensive and perfect for building basic skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Ding Yongguo’s combat power was top-tier. Zhang Su welcomed survivors like him. The only downside was that nephew—looking like no one cared for him. If it weren’t for his reliable uncle, he’d have been dead eight times over! “Holy shit, this is awesome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ain’t that the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rising to the top like stepping on clouds—that’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone watching around them cast envious glances at Ding Yongguo. To be personally greeted and invited by the Lord of Death himself—what an extraordinary honor! He had risen from a destitute survivor to the heights of prestige. Some older women on the third floor watched with bitter stares: “It’s just a blacksmith. Why’s a blacksmith so popular? Can he polish iron rods? I bet he’d make them gleaming red and bright!” They had no idea that Ding Yongguo’s few weapons had played a crucial role for the Lord of Death’s army. The deadliest weapon, of course, was the cleaver-style saber at Zhang Su’s waist—countless zombies had been slain beneath its blade; conservatively, the number reached several hundred! (End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2314,"2026-06-20T15:15:16.642Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e6c13d8c322b80e063a2a08dd34d1603637050710fa427bf4f9c3e4f7fd26f10","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-541","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-539",694,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-cover.jpg"]