Chapter 639: Is This Even a Human?

“Cough cough, no unauthorized personnel causing trouble!”

Zhang Su took control of the scene, then spoke loudly to everyone: “Just now, Zhao Dezhu’s movements were extremely standard—did everyone see clearly? I timed him during his demonstration: he flipped it seven times within ten seconds. The standard for men is five flips in ten seconds; for women, three.”

“Ah, this is way too hard! We’re just big brothers of the Yama Corps—how can we compete?”

“Oh my god, three? I think one is already impossible. What do we do?”

“Don’t make it sound so bad!” Wu Daqiang shouted, seeing many of his comrades complaining: “This tire is thinner than the ones we used in basic training—those weighed over four hundred jin, and I could flip three in ten seconds. This one’s at most three hundred and fifty jin—five is definitely doable. Don’t lose heart!”

Wu Baokang added: “Old Wu’s right—standards are standards. If you can’t meet them, go train hard in the reserve corps. Why force your way into the elite corps just to be dead weight?”

“Don’t talk like that—we want to improve too.”

“Yeah, yeah, give us a chance—we’ll work hard!”

Clearly, Wu Daqiang and Wu Baokang’s words didn’t win approval; everyone just thought they were talking from a position of comfort.

Clap. Clap.

“Be quiet!”

Zhang Su clapped his hands and said: “Have you already forgotten what we’re doing here? This is a selection test, not a company team-building exercise! Line up, move fast—don’t drag out the final test. I’m warning you: if you can’t flip one in three seconds, get the hell out. Don’t waste everyone’s time!”

At these words, everyone dropped their distractions—yes, this was a selection test, not a joke.

The lineup formed quickly. As Zhang Su instructed, those familiar with tire-flipping stood at the front. Almost no one was holding back now. Wu Daqiang volunteered to go first—he genuinely hoped more people would pass.

In the army, tire-flipping was routine training. He stepped up and immediately showed strong ability—within a few breaths, he completed six flips! Next came soldiers from the barracks detachment. Da Zhuang stepped forward. Naturally strong, tire-flipping was easy for him—he completed six and a half in ten seconds, even better than Wu Daqiang. This performance put pressure on the Yama Corps members.

Wu Baokang, Luo Yongzhan, Liu Yao, and other elite fighters with solid combat skills took their turns one after another. Everyone expected smooth sailing—but things didn’t go as planned…

Liu Yao failed. When time ran out, he was just barely short of standing up the final tire—he couldn’t finish it. Though he’d already passed the first two tests and was guaranteed entry into the elite corps, as a former leader of a regional faction, he felt his face burn with shame.

Furious, Liu Yao kicked the tire hard—only to instantly turn red with pain. The tire was rock-solid. He gritted his teeth, pretending nothing happened, and returned to the crowd…

Then came another surprise: Guangming Knight Fan Dahai. He’d performed excellently in the first two tests, nearly leading the pack—but he failed the tire-flipping. After ten seconds, he’d flipped only three. When attempting the fourth, his face turned crimson—he couldn’t get it upright. Upper-body strength was his absolute weakness.

Several others after him also failed and stepped aside. Then came Zhang Xin, the fruit vendor. Even before the disaster, he’d spent years hauling fruit—his arms were strong. Combined with months of recent training, he passed the test smoothly.

One after another, the pace was fast—but after the first forty-plus confident candidates, the pass rate was shockingly low!

In the end, only thirty-two of the one hundred thirty male members passed. Even Zhang Su paused when he saw the numbers in his notebook, unable to help exclaiming aloud…

Hearing the results, Wu Daqiang—who’d just been cheering everyone on—felt a hollow deflation.

Unlike peacetime sports, where even with a “friendship first” attitude, winners still secretly mocked losers, now, seeing so many fail, even those who passed felt pressure and helplessness.

They were comrades—they’d face zombies together. Every person weaker meant more burden on the rest. At this moment, everyone wished everyone around them had the power of the Yama King! The women fared worse: only three passed. Even Ma Xueyan, who’d breezed through the first two tests, failed. Instead, three women who’d once worked the fields passed.

Fan Dahai and Ma Xueyan exchanged bitter smiles. They’d been the top performers in their respective gender groups for the first test. For the second test—vertical reach—Fan Dahai had edged out Xie Guangfa by twenty centimeters, a clear advantage, but Ma Xueyan still held the crown. Now, in the third test, both had failed—like some strange fate.

Su Xiaoya sat dejectedly among the crowd, having failed all three tests. She pouted, unhappy, until an older woman hugged her to comfort her.

There were still dazzling combatants. After the three tests, everyone’s attention turned to one person: Wang Guangjun, with only half his face left! From the start, Wang Guangjun had drawn attention—his appearance was unsettling. But in the apocalypse, who wasn’t scarred? People only pitied his misfortune, never stared oddly. Now, however, their gazes held something different…

Wang Guangjun was quiet, rarely spoke to others. The most they heard was him scolding Wang Zhetao. Unassuming, he kept to himself—until he flipped the tire for the fifth time and passed the third test. Suddenly, some realized: this thin, wiry man had passed all three? Someone bold asked Yu Wen, who confirmed it. Word spread. Faces turned strange.

In the apocalypse, whether you possessed unique skills or extraordinary strength, if you stood out, you earned respect. Those who’d resented the Wangs for using connections to live on the mountain now felt relieved.

Others were relieved—but Wang Guangjun felt a knot in his chest, because Wang Zhetao had failed all three tests! First test: second-to-last in his group—failed. Vertical reach fell short by the width of a palm. For tire-flipping, he gritted his teeth and struggled through ten seconds—his soles scuffed the ground until smoke rose, legs churning wildly—but he couldn’t flip a single one. He wanted to spit blood.

Wang Zhetao knew today was humiliating. Like Su Xiaoya, he crouched on the ground, head bowed low. Too bad there were no ants—he could’ve at least found something to do.

“Look at your level, huh!”

Zhang Su stood before the crowd, face dark as iron, holding his list of names!

The first two tests confirmed human physical strength was gradually improving—but this third test was abysmal. Technique hadn’t kept pace with physical enhancement. Basic strength was fine, but when coordination was needed, everyone failed.

No one spoke. Most hung their heads in shame. Luckily, Zhang Su wore his aviator sunglasses—otherwise, the atmosphere would’ve been even colder.

“It’s been nearly five months. What have you been doing all this time? Danger’s everywhere—so you just don’t train? What do you think about all day? Eating, drinking, playing, shitting, sleeping? Huh? And some of you—obsessed with gossip. I’m too tired to name names. Think for yourselves!”

The test was like a receding tide—everyone who was naked was now visible. Some who’d entered the elite unit through connections now burned with shame.

“Combat personnel don’t need to do anything else in camp. Your duty is to strengthen yourselves, kill zombies, and crush threats before they grow. With your level, can you crush threats—or are you waiting to be crushed?”

Zhang Su grew angrier. He walked to the tire, bent down, gripped the bottom with one hand, and roared: “How many grown men can’t even lift one tire? Are you playing with toys?”

As he spoke, everyone saw veins bulge on Zhang Su’s forehead. The tire shot upward as if defying gravity—no pause, no upright stance—spinning a full 360 degrees in midair before crashing down with a heavy thud, kicking up a cloud of dust.

If the Yama King had done this before the test, it would’ve drawn cheers. But now…

Gulp.

Many swallowed hard, instinctively stepping back—only to accidentally step on someone’s foot behind them.

The logistics personnel watching erupted in noise! One hand—hundreds of jin of tire, spinning through the air? Wu Baokang stared in confusion at Wu Daqiang nearby, as if asking: Is this even human? "Benefits aren't free—you have to pay effort, pay a price. You bunch of—"

“Brother Su! Brother Su! Something’s happening to the north!”

At that moment, the Yama Corps’ walkie-talkie crackled with Zhang Ya’s voice.

(End of Chapter)