Chapter 644: Earth-Shattering

Back at Xiao Xingyun, Zhang Su stood in the courtyard listening to the room’s sounds, his expression odd—Zheng Xinyu was chatting with Program One, telling her gossip about celebrity idols: who cheated, who came out, all old, stale nonsense…

Huh.

Zhang Su pushed open the dining room door and saw Shen Linrui and several others sitting with gloomy faces; Lu Yubo and Pan Guoliang were laughing and chatting beside them, unaware of what they were discussing.

“Brother Su!”

“Brother Good Man.”

Seeing Zhang Su enter, Lu Yubo and Pan Guoliang immediately stood up.

“Go rest. Dinner’ll be ready soon.”

Zhang Su clapped their shoulders, then walked straight to Shen Linrui and the other five, placed his crumpled cigarette pack on the table, and sat down. “Do you know this man—Sun Yingui?”

?? Shen Linrui and the others looked puzzled.

“Sun Yingui is one of our camp’s defense troops. Is the Lord of Hell acquainted with him?”

Shen Linrui asked, confused, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

Zhang Su, seeing the man’s calm expression, gave a strange smile. “So you don’t even know someone from the camp ran away?”

“Huh?”

The group collectively gasped in shock.

“This morning, I took my men to the southern railway bridge…”

Zhang Su picked through the events of the morning, recounting them while watching their expressions—clearly, they knew nothing.

After hearing it, Shen Linrui and the others exchanged glances, their faces pale and hollow.

“I… I apologize to the Lord of Hell. We truly didn’t know those people from Zhanglinba had fled. It must’ve happened last night—last night, the Boss announced we’d defend the camp to the death. They must’ve realized how dangerous the undead hordes beyond the pass were, so… damn, I never thought our camp’s cohesion was this weak.”

Shen Linrui looked dejected, slamming his fist hard on the wooden table.

“These things are normal. Impossible to fully prevent. Now, tell me everything about the Boss’s camp. Don’t hold back. If I sense anything off, don’t even mention sending reinforcements.”

Zhang Su gestured for him to speak.

“Don’t worry, Lord of Hell. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Shen Linrui adjusted his posture, about to speak—when suddenly, chaos erupted!

Boom boom boom…

A distant rumbling roared like rolling thunder, as if tectonic plates were colliding. The ground shook. Tables and chairs rattled. Cups on the table trembled.

“Earthquake!”

Zhang Su, startled, leapt to his feet and bolted out the door.

The guesthouses on Tianma Yu weren’t tall, but they were built on a mountain—who knew if their earthquake resistance was adequate? Many were half-wooden. If they collapsed, you’d be crushed—dead or badly injured.

Shen Linrui and the other five were elite scouts. They sprinted out after him, faces grim.

The shaking didn’t stop. The booming continued, like a giant god drumming far away—the heavy sound struck straight to the soul.

“Ah… what’s going on…?”

“Is this really an earthquake?”

Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshan ran down the stairs, leaping into the courtyard.

“Big Brother, what the hell is going on!?”

Zhao Dezhu leapt straight out the second-floor window, rolled on impact, and landed squarely on the ground.

“Brother Su, what’s happening?”

“Is it an earthquake?”

People outside smoking and chatting rushed into the courtyard, trying to find out what was wrong—but who knew? The shaking made standing impossible. Everyone swayed, grabbing stone tables and benches, some holding each other up.

Zhang Su stood rooted like a wooden post driven into the earth, feet firmly planted. He looked east—where the sky glowed with a strange, vivid purple light!

Purple qi from the east is an omen of fortune—but under these circumstances, seeing purple light flood the sky, Zhang Su felt icy dread.

“No good… this is bad…”

Zhang Su muttered, his hands trembling slightly.

Zheng Xinyu rushed to Zhang Su’s side, gripping his hand, her face pale. She’d never seen him this afraid.

Just then, the ground’s trembling ceased—but people hadn’t regained their balance. Some still clung to things to stay upright.

“It’s coming. It’s almost here. Everyone, get inside now! Hurry!”

Zhang Su shouted to everyone in the Xiao Xingyun courtyard, then walked to Zhong Xiaoshan, who was still stunned, tapped her shoulder, and pulled out his radio.

“Everyone! Find the sturdiest spot in your building and take cover! Alert those below: hug the walls, go to the cellar!”

As he spoke, Xiao Xingyun’s people rushed inside. Zhang Su switched radio channels repeatedly, issuing warnings nonstop.

Hao Yun reacted fastest. It had been wandering near the mountain base. The shaking startled it into a frenzy—but once it stopped, its instincts kicked in. It found a safe spot on its own, no reminder needed…

The Lord of Hell’s tone had never been so urgent. No one dared delay. In an instant, everyone on Tianma Yu who’d been outside rushed for shelter.

Luckily, the guesthouses were clustered together, and everyone had been nearby—everyone reached a building in under ten seconds.

“Master Ding, go! Don’t worry about this place!”

Ju Wuying, upon receiving the alert, shouted at Ding Yong, who was pressing steel blocks.

“Can’t leave now—the temperature’s perfect, just a moment more…”

“No time! Go now—it’s going to be bad!”

Ju Wuying snatched the tool from Ding Yong’s hand and threw it aside, dragging him toward Wangshan Guesthouse! “What the hell is going on!?”

Duan Wuhu pushed Fu Weijun’s wheelchair, sprinting hard.

“Blast—oh!”

Fu Weijun was about to speak but was jolted nearly off the chair—he grabbed the handles and froze, not daring to move.

Tianma Yu’s response and execution were unmatched. Within thirty seconds, everyone had taken cover. But below the mountain, things were worse—only a few villagers had radios. There wasn’t enough time to notify everyone. Only about a quarter reached shelter.

“What’s happening?”

“No idea…”

“Crouch down. Just like Brother Su.”

Inside Xiao Xingyun’s dining room, Zhang Su and the others crouched against load-bearing walls. Those with bulletproof helmets placed them on their heads. Everyone murmured, eyes full of confusion.

Zhang Su checked the time, his hands resting on Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshan’s backs. “It’s coming.”

Then he gave Shen Linrui and the others a strange look.

Less than five seconds after he spoke, a strange sound rose from the east. Before anyone could react—BOOM! The building took a massive impact. Everyone clearly felt the wall behind them shudder.

Crash! Bang!

A howling gale carried the sound of shattering glass. Luckily, Xiao Xingyun’s dining room windows weren’t facing the wind. As people breathed a sigh of relief—

BOOM! The dining room’s closed door was violently blown open. Rocks, gravel, and dead branches surged inside, slamming against tables and chairs. The window glass held for two seconds—then CRACKED. Shards flew away with the wind, vanishing into the distance with a distant CLATTER.

Everyone watched in stunned silence as the storm tore through the dining room—then, no chance to even look further: the power went out.

In total darkness, the gale was right upon them—like an army of the dead passing, radiating chilling malice, sending cold dread through every soul.

(End of Chapter)