[{"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-542":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},2319780,4536,"Chapter 542: Leave Now","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-542",542,"\u003Cp>\"We don’t have to worry too much about food and supplies—the camp…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master Li, something’s wrong!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai had just opened his mouth to reassure everyone when Wu Daqiang rushed to the shop’s entrance, breathless, clutching a communicator, his face pale with panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of eyes in the room turned toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su waved him over. \"What’s wrong? Come, take your time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Zhang, I’m sorry, but I can’t take my time…\" Wu Daqiang stepped inside, pulled out a table, and slammed the communicator onto it with a thud. His voice was heavy: \"The camp… the camp’s in trouble!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai stared wide-eyed at Wu Daqiang, waving his arms frantically. \"Quick, quick, speak!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone involuntarily swallowed hard, exchanging uneasy glances, faces grim. They’d just been discussing heading to the camp—and now the camp was in trouble? This was bad luck. Wu Daqiang took a breath, pointed at the communicator, and said: \"The camp—Da Zhuang just sent word. A group escaped from the Sea and Mountain Zone. They say a massive horde of corpses is moving along the Coastal Road toward Qincheng!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How large is the horde? How far away?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t Li Zongkai who spoke—it was Zhang Su.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Daqiang looked at Zhang Su. \"Da Zhuang didn’t say. They’re still negotiating with the people from the Sea and Mountain Zone…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\" Zhang Su’s eyes flickered. \"So the escapees from the Sea and Mountain Zone are making demands and haven’t reached an agreement yet—so they’re withholding the information?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly, exactly! Brother Su, maybe… Master Li, you should talk to Da Zhuang?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Daqiang hadn’t expected Zhang Su to see through the problem so quickly. He felt someone sharper should take charge now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai met Zhang Su’s gaze. Seeing him give a slight nod, he immediately picked up the communicator and pressed the call button.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Da Zhuang, this is Li Zongkai. Report your situation immediately!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chief Li? Finally got through! Thank goodness. Just now, over thirty people escaped from the Sea and Mountain Zone—they claim to be from Bajiazi Village. They’re in terrible shape, all armed, even with old-fashioned rifles. They say their village was overrun by corpses, and the horde is moving along the Coastal Road toward Qincheng—massive in size!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The communicator’s voice wasn’t loud, but the room was silent enough for everyone to hear. The news weighed heavily on their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over thirty armed personnel abandoned the camp? A camp couldn’t have only combatants. If thirty people fleeing were all combatants, then logically, at least a hundred support staff must be dead. In other words, the horde’s size was certainly substantial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su’s expression tightened at once—but his first concern wasn’t the horde still far from Qincheng. He gestured urgently to Li Zongkai: \"Ask them—what’s the condition of these Bajiazi villagers? Did they enter the camp for shelter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai nodded and relayed the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reply came quickly: \"Their guns are out of ammo—completely out of food and ammunition. But for safety, Old He had their weapons confiscated. They’re resting in the auditorium now. The men are gathering more details from them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai felt slightly relieved after hearing this. He looked questioningly at Zhang Su—he was now merely acting as a messenger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Li, how many combat troops are left at the camp?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su didn’t relax after hearing Da Zhuang’s report. He frowned. Li Zongkai didn’t hesitate: \"Thirteen combat personnel. If we push, we might pull another ten from support staff—but they’re weak, especially in firearm experience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su’s frown deepened. He was displeased. \"How could you let so many people in under these conditions? Thirty-plus individuals, and from what you said, each one’s combat-capable!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, this was like inviting wolves into the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This… I… I previously established the principle of prioritizing rescue and offering auxiliary aid. They probably thought these people posed no threat…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Li, this won’t do—it’s dangerous. Order Da Zhuang to immediately contain those people. Also, send people right away to verify the horde’s details. Don’t take their word for anything!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su tapped his fingers sharply on the table, his expression tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the apocalypse, judging human nature by past experience was nonsense. Prioritizing rescue and offering auxiliary aid? The story of the farmer and the snake played out every moment! Wu Daqiang stood by, listening to Zhang Su and Li Zongkai. This time, he firmly sided with Zhang Su—he believed Zhang Su’s mindset better matched the current reality, and he added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chief, I agree with Mr. Zhang. There are too many of them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the camp had full combat strength, thirty people wouldn’t be a threat. But now, the camp was dangerously undermanned—easy prey for infiltration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t rush, don’t rush—I’ll tell Da Zhuang right away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai himself felt something was off. If he’d been at the camp, he wouldn’t have acted so carelessly. His men were just rigidly following old rules without considering the bigger picture. Hearing Zhang Su’s words, sweat broke out on his forehead. He wiped it away and pressed the communicator button.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Da Zhuang, the situation of the Bajiazi villagers is unclear. Immediately contain them. Don’t alert them—avoid provoking resistance. Also, send people right away to investigate the horde’s details. Move fast!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the communications room, Da Zhuang stared blankly. Contain them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That didn’t match Chief Li’s usual principles…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to ask for clarification when a burst of noise erupted from the auditorium direction. He picked up the communicator. \"Understood, Chief Li. I’ll act immediately. I’ll contact you if anything changes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the call ended, everyone in the Sour Cabbage Fish Restaurant stared at each other, stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh no… this is just terrible luck!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No kidding…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their original plan had been to head to the camp together—but now a massive horde was heading toward Qincheng, and the camp lay directly on the path. What a trap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump! \"No more waiting—we leave now! All combat personnel from the LeGou branch, follow me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, as everyone stood paralyzed, Zhang Su slammed the table and turned to leave, resolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey hey! You… you should grab some stuff! I can’t carry it all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xinyu hurried after him, noticing two bags and scattered items still lying on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, you’re really—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Zhang, shouldn’t we wait for word back from the camp before leaving?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are we really that rushed? Alert the men!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the entire LeGou Mall erupted into frantic motion. Wu Baokang and Zhang Xin exchanged a hollow glance. No one knew what others thought—but they themselves absolutely did not want to stay behind at the mall!\u003C\u002Fp>",1102,"2026-06-20T15:15:16.642Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5f091099cb935f8da0cff5a9904361d0f6a6fd4f7ac76dccc19d2e764e08f879","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-543","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-541",694,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-cover.jpg"]