[{"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-554":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},2319792,4536,"Chapter 554: Just Want to Keep You All Alive","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-554",554,"\u003Cp>\"Fuck, they think I don’t have a drone? If I did, I’d lure them right back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Lue heard the other side using drones to lure zombies, and he jumped up in rage—this was his specialty, but he hadn’t expected such brutal conditions on this trip; the high-end drones were left at camp, with several battery packs still charging…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Need drones? We’ve got two functional reconnaissance drones in the barracks. Want them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai, standing nearby, heard the mention of drones and quickly spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Holy shit, holy shit… Boss Zhang, new situation! There’s a mutated zombie in the horde—our drone got attacked and went down!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if the other side had heard their conversation, right after they mentioned the drone, one suddenly dropped—plop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Qi Xiaoshuai’s report, Li Zongkai shook his hand, as if to say: look what’s happened now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone grimaced—this mutated zombie that could remotely knock down drones was too damn powerful. No one noticed Chen Hanzhou making a face in the crowd; if anyone hoped to encounter a mutated zombie, he was one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If there really are a hundred thousand zombies, having mutated ones is totally normal—maybe even more than one or two!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su scoffed, then turned to Li Zongkai and pointed northeast: \"Old Li, have you cleared out that wholesale market to the northeast?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Northeast of the barracks stood a newly built wholesale market, about two kilometers away. When it first opened five years ago, business was decent, but the boom didn’t last—just a year or two of glory, then it steadily declined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, they stopped even charging rent—just pay property fees and you could use the storefronts. Even so, only the first floor of the four-story building still had a few struggling shops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su loved shopping there because the rent was cheap and the goods were inexpensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We cleared it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zongkai pointed northeast: \"The wholesale market was one of our key search targets. It should be clean—we didn’t lock any zombies inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good!\" Zhang Su nodded in satisfaction. Talking to smart people was easy—you didn’t have to explain much; they already knew what you wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up the radio: \"Xiaoshuai, listen up—pull back immediately. Head to the wholesale market you passed earlier and keep watch. Report the moment the horde approaches!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Zhang Su’s estimate, from the wholesale market they could see five kilometers out—if they spotted the horde, it meant the zombies were less than ten kilometers from the barracks, entering a critical zone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After instructing Qi Xiaoshuai and Pang Dakun, Zhang Su turned to the group, took a deep breath, and said: \"We’re not fighting this one. Eliminating zombies is every human’s duty—we’re not here to clean up after others. Everyone’s involved!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were crude but true. At his command, over twenty men snapped to attention. Behind them, Ding Yong shoved Zheng Ziwen’s arm with his elbow, knocking him a meter forward. Zheng Ziwen rubbed his arm, looking aggrieved as he stood straight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get to work packing up—prepare to evacuate the barracks!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su waved his hand, and everyone moved instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What… no chance at all to engage?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the Civil Guard’s combat force had assembled, Wu Daqiang received the retreat order. His face was stunned; his fighters also looked disappointed, though most secretly rejoiced—combat meant risk; avoiding conflict was the best choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Engage? Engage what? A hundred thousand zombies, with hundreds of big ones among them, plus a mutated one that can knock drones out of the sky—what are you gonna fight with? Even those light tanks over there would get crushed underfoot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao De’s face was grim, like he’d swallowed a fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t as rational as Zhang Su or Yu Wen—he always felt this horde was an unjust disaster, deliberately lured from the Shanhai District to trap them, and they should retaliate—right now, immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This… I heard from Sergeant Wu that your Tianma Island Yama Army is strong—you’ve wiped out tens of thousands before. Can’t you just drop another bomb? Why retreat?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gangzi, one of the two surviving soldiers from the barracks, grew agitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell are you talking about? Are you implying we’re deliberately abandoning this place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao De stopped what he was doing, his temper already boiling—now someone had walked right into his line of fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Calm down, everyone, calm down!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Wen hurried over, soothing: \"I remember you—you were one of the survivors here, and you had a friend named… Xiao Liu, right? He even challenged our sharpshooter to a shooting contest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gangzi was still emotional, but seeing Yu Wen’s calm, smiling demeanor, he couldn’t lash out—he clenched his cheeks and muttered: \"Liu… he died on a mission two months ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s truly unfortunate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Wen shook his head sorrowfully, then spoke earnestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand your deep attachment to this place, but don’t misunderstand us. Mr. Zhang didn’t want to leave—our original plan was to relocate everyone from the car park, kindergarten, and LeGou Mall here, using the barracks as a defensive stronghold. But…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Wen paused, his expression pained: \"But the current situation is too dire—we can’t follow the original plan. In this environment, even the King of Hell can’t gamble with people’s lives.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he finished, everyone shook their heads. The idea of “the city stands as long as we stand” sounded heroic, but after the rush faded, it turned cold—how many truly had the courage to die for it? Survival was always the best choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gangzi!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Daqiang placed a hand on Gangzi’s shoulder and shook his head—what had been said was clear: this wasn’t about two people. This decision meant the lives of hundreds!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, hundreds meant nothing—but now, that number was staggering. No one could joke with hundreds of lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Yu’s right!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su had just been outside instructing people on packing supplies. Hearing the argument, he walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The horde’s scale is beyond imagination, and the mutated zombies are an unpredictable variable. If we fight head-on, we’ll suffer massive casualties. There’s a safe retreat—we have no reason to risk it! As for that bomb you mentioned—I didn’t bring any. They’re still on Tianma Island!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he really not bring any? Of course not—he just didn’t need to use them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So… we just give up? This horde was lured here by Shanhai District! I can’t accept it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gangzi finally voiced his real anger—retreat wasn’t shameful, it could be tactical—but being forced out left him feeling humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao De’s face twisted at Gangzi’s words—he felt a pang of guilt for snapping at him just now; the guy thought exactly as he did…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su sensed Gangzi’s fury, nodded, and deliberately released calm energy, speaking quietly: \"Whether Shanhai District lured this horde by accident or design doesn’t matter. Drawing zombies away from your base is standard procedure—I’ve done it many times. I’m sure you have too. Survival always comes first. Less emotion, more reason!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My wish is simple: I just want all of you to live safely—not to turn you all into zombie killers!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he avoiding blame? He couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time for it now. Since there was no chance, he had to make everyone drop the thought. As a leader, in moments like this, you must lead—whether through trust or blind obedience—focus on the present, don’t cling to hatred that may never get avenged!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vengeance kills. Retreat survives…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I get it, Boss Zhang. I was just venting—hard to accept all at once. We’re packing now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Daqiang squeezed Gangzi’s shoulder firmly—he was noticeably calmer now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gangzi’s anger and resentment slowly faded after Zhang Su’s words—not just him, but many around them, their helplessness, resentment, and reluctance were all turning to calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone felt it: Zhang Su’s words made sense. Listening to him made you feel at ease. Simply put—they wanted to listen to him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yao stood among the crowd, nodding repeatedly. Suddenly he hissed, walked over to Yang Xin, and mused: \"Old Yang, if we don’t kill zombies, they’re always a threat. What if we dodge this horde but face an even bigger one next time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think I won’t report you for talking nonsense? Fuck!\" Yang Xin, holding pen and paper, was recording something—he shot up with veins bulging on his temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoa, whoa, I was just muttering, nonsense—ignore me. You’re busy, I’m off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yao suddenly remembered Zhang Su had “legislated” against any future predictions—he bolted away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su had already left and didn’t hear Liu Yao—he had no time to spare. He needed to go everywhere, repeating the same task: calming emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the process, he slowly tested and eventually measured the range of his influence—centered on himself, it extended about a hundred meters, depending on emotional intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When weak, it affected only two or three meters ahead—useful for one-on-one talks. When strong, it spread widely—ideal for rallies and speeches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t tested whether his energy level affected it. His current energy was at 87%. The situation was complex—he didn’t want to waste a new energy slot just to verify this ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming the emotional range, he’d grown uneasy. Normally, no problem—he was getting better at control, and even occasional slips were quickly corrected. But at night… when it was dark and quiet…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, a pitch-black night, in the small lucky residence on Tianma Island, having a deep conversation—wouldn’t that set the whole island on fire?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, things weren’t that bad. Zhang Su discovered physical barriers reduced his emotional influence—a wall, a window, even a closed room blocked it completely. Even if someone pressed against the door, they felt nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kind of a soft switch… If so, which organ is releasing this emotion?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su exhaled softly, still pondering—he didn’t believe every pore of his body emitted emotion. There had to be a transmitter organ. But he had no time to test it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss Zhang! They’re coming! Zombies heading this way—not as many as before, probably scattered by the drone!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Packing was in full swing. Zhang Su was reviewing weapons inventory when his radio buzzed. He checked the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he ordered Qi Xiaoshuai and Pang Dakun to retreat, thirty-eight minutes had passed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He calculated quickly—if the zombies moved at a steady pace, they’d reach the barracks within twenty minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. Pull back. Hurry!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the order, Zhang Su tucked the radio into his bag, clapped his hands, and called out to the busy crowd: \"Watch the clock! Only ten minutes left—hurry, hurry!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, won’t this horde lock onto us—or onto the LeGou Mall guys? If so, even if we retreat there, won’t we still have to fight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao De, after Zhang Su’s announcement, walked over anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who told you we’re retreating to LeGou Mall?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su looked at Zhao De, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who heard him turned to stare—Civil Guard members, as well as Zheng Xinyu, Chen Hanzhou, and other Yama Army members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had the same question: wasn’t that the plan? Zhang Su read their thoughts and slowly shook his head: \"If zombies love cities, let them have Qincheng. We’re going back to Tianma Island. Ten minutes ago, I already contacted Fruit Old Man—they’re packing faster than we are!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 150–160 people from the kindergarten had just arrived at LeGou Mall and hadn’t even unrolled their bedding when they got the new order to move again. Only Zhang Su’s direct command carried weight—if anyone else gave it, over half of LeGou Mall would revolt. No one doubted Zhang Xin would fake an order—unless he wanted to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su’s choices weren’t always right, but they were always safe—never wrong. As Sun Tzu said: when victory isn’t guaranteed, first ensure you don’t lose. Victory through battle is not losing; victory without battle is also not losing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one in the mall hesitated. Upon receiving the order, they began packing immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over four hundred people worked together. With little to carry and plenty of hands, they swept through like locusts—everything useful was packed. Only useless furniture remained behind, ready to depart…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao De was stunned. His brain spun for three or four seconds, then he blurted: \"So many people going to Tianma Island? Even if they fit, won’t the zombies just flood northward?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attracting zombies was unavoidable. Population growth must match defensive strength to resist them effectively—otherwise, you risk annihilation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The region north of Tianma Island wasn’t a major concern—the Qinglong Army had already wiped out a large wave of zombies. Even if more remained to the north, other survivor bases would block them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the attraction rule, no survivor base could escape fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So many people…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu, hearing Zhang Su’s decision, also looked disgusted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianma Island was currently very comfortable—defensively strong, low population density, high living standards. A sudden population surge—even if they didn’t live on the island, they’d settle in nearby villages. Just thinking of it made things messy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he said nothing—he knew his role and limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Su knew everyone had their own thoughts, but before the tide of events, no one’s feelings mattered—not even his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2176,"2026-06-20T15:15:16.642Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5384d7ec1c4d57ee2aa402afa4c051bba061df5385c5b8dae11b0315a7dfe064","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-555","the-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-chapter-553",694,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-fiercest-man-in-the-end-times-cover.jpg"]