Chapter 69: I Feel Like You

“Demons are running wild all over hell; you’re not needed there, dog!”

Zhang Su spat out a mouthful of saliva, then told those around him: “Go!”

Before the zombies had finished their meal, Zhang Su charged forward with his weapon, and Zhong Xiaoshanjian and Wang Guang followed closely without hesitation.

“Give it back to me!”

Zheng Xinyu realized her hands were empty; she snatched the baseball bat from Pan Ru’s grip and rushed forward after it.

While feeding, zombies were like sedated creatures—unusually quiet, unresponsive even when someone approached nearby, greatly reducing the pressure on Zhang Su’s group, making their attack nearly a surprise ambush.

Thud, thud, bang.

In one exchange, Zhang Su and Wang Guang each killed one zombie; Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshanjian’s attacks were weaker, but they also killed two within a few strikes.

By the time the remaining two zombies launched their attack, it was already too late; within less than a minute, all six zombies were eliminated and lay lifeless beside them.

“Gurgle… gurgle…”

Ma Xuechuo, bleeding from multiple wounds, was still not quite dead; he stared with lifeless, fish-like eyes at the people before him, and a strange wave of regret surfaced in his heart.

He regretted why he had dared to oppose such formidable people…

If he had truly chosen to hunt zombies, might he have become one of them, and lived well?

But there was no chance to start over—he finally closed his eyes, unwilling and full of resentment.

“In this world now, you shouldn’t have an ounce of sympathy!”

Zhang Su coldly watched Ma Xuechuo take his last breath, then spoke to those around him.

“I never expected this. I thought he had high morale, that he truly meant to hunt zombies—but he turned on us instead. Such people are terrifying.”

Zhong Xiaoshanjian held her blood-dripping iron plate, her face filled with confusion; the twisted nature of humanity constantly battered her mind.

“He wasn’t even the worst one!”

Zhang Su cast one final glance at Ma Xuechuo’s corpse, then looked outward—the zombies on the street had been cleared, and the ones farther away were over a hundred meters off; the gas station was temporarily safe.

He turned to Pan Ru, trembling behind them: “Go. Adapt to this new world. Oh, by the way—that Q5 reeks. I don’t want it. Take it.”

Pan Ru stared blankly at the ruined, unfamiliar streets around her; she could feel Zhang Su had no interest in her, no intention of taking her into his group—begging further was pointless.

Shaking, she walked toward the Q5; as she passed Zhang Su, she stopped and looked at him.

“Thank you. You’re a good person.”

Zhang Su felt as if struck by lightning; his eyes widened as he stared at the woman so close. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d received a “good person” card.

“Zhang Su, you’re such a heartless bastard.”

“Zhang Su, you’re a scumbag!”

“Zhang Su, you’re a total asshole.”

“Brother Su, that’s way too heartless.”

These were the comments he heard most often…

Zhang Su gave a self-deprecating laugh: “I accept your thanks—but when you say I’m a good person, I feel like you’re insulting me.”

Pan Ru shook her head, offering a bitter smile as she looked at Ma Xuechuo’s corpse: “Meeting you was my luck—you exposed his true nature. Otherwise, I’d have been sold off eventually, dying in some dark, forgotten corner.”

Zhang Su did not deny Pan Ru’s speculation; given Ma Xuechuo’s actions, it was entirely plausible. He reached out and lightly patted her shoulder: “Go. I hope you have good fortune.”

“Brother, can I trade something else to get the watch back?”

Pan Ru spoke hesitantly, avoiding eye contact with Zhang Su.

Zhang Su raised an eyebrow, puzzled: “It doesn’t feed you or quench your thirst—why keep it? And what exactly do you plan to trade?”

Pan Ru pointed at the Q5: “Anything in the car—you can take anything you want… That watch was a birthday gift from my mother. I want to keep it.”

Zhang Su sighed inwardly. Whether they’d live until tomorrow was uncertain, yet she still clung to such trivial things. Still, he thought having something to hold onto was good—it was a spiritual anchor.

As he pondered, he felt something tap his arm; he turned to see Zheng Xinyu handing him a gift box.

“Trade for something useful…”

Zheng Xinyu felt taking someone’s only spiritual possession would bring bad luck.

“I’ll check the car!”

Zhang Su took the gift box and walked toward the Q5.

The stench of zombies was foul, but the reek of feces and urine was unbearable; Zhang Su had just stepped forward to climb in when he recoiled, then walked to the back, opened the trunk, rummaged through it, and returned with a toolbox in hand.

“Do you know mechanical repair?”

Zhang Su had found a Boshi tool kit inside the car—slightly larger than a briefcase, filled with precise tools: electric screwdrivers, hand saws, wrenches, hammers, and more.

Pan Ru glanced at the toolbox, confused, then shook her head: “I work at a bank. He just loafed around at his parents’ teahouse. Probably… given away with the car.”

Zhang Su nodded. Regardless of origin, it was a valuable item. He handed her the watch gift box: “One box for another. Take it. I smeared some blood on it—clean it yourself.”

“Thank you, thank you. Thank you all…”

Pan Ru snatched the box, clutching it to her chest, eyes instantly welling up; she bowed repeatedly in thanks, Buwang thanking Zheng Xinyu and the others as well.

“Take this.”

Zhang Su handed the toolbox to Zhong Xiaoshanjian, then pulled a self-heating rice meal and a bottle of water from his backpack and shoved them into Pan Ru’s arms. He said seriously: “Be ruthless. Be utterly shameless. Only then do you have a chance to survive!”

Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshanjian were stunned by his rare generosity; in their eyes, Zhang Su was notoriously stingy—yet now he was giving away precious food and water. It was extraordinary.

“Could it be because the toolbox is so valuable?”

They couldn’t help but think this.

In the past, a 108-piece Boshi tool kit cost barely over two thousand yuan; during a sale, you could get it for just over a thousand—far less valuable than a Cartier watch. But now, everything was different!

Weapons, food, water, medicine, and tools—these were critical survival supplies!

If industry recovered soon, fine. But if conditions kept worsening, tools would grow increasingly valuable.

The toolbox’s value was high, but Zhang Su’s intent was clear: take the food and water and leave immediately—the items in the convenience store have nothing to do with you…

“Thank you…”

Pan Ru had no complex thoughts; she knew she had to go. Without further hesitation, she ran back to the car. Though she longed to grab more from the convenience store, she dared not ask.

Zhang Su did not ask where Pan Ru was going—he could offer no further help, and asking would be meaningless.

Pan Ru did not tell Zhang Su where she was headed either—because she didn’t know herself. Perhaps first find warm clothing. Perhaps first find a decent shelter…

The car started. Pan Ru waved to Zhang Su and the others, then slowly drove out of the gas station, heading toward the unknown horizon.

Three days. Manuscript draft negative twenty thousand words. Cried… If you’re not in shape, don’t force writing. Rest.

(End of Chapter)