Although those with ulterior motives wanted to target Tang Yun, they were deterred by the gun in Lu Chuan’s hand. After a few more glances and some calculations, they reluctantly averted their gaze for the time being.
“Don’t come any closer,” Wang Zhan’s voice rang out, forcedly steady. He wanted to protect Chuchu, but his confidence was lacking.
Several burly individuals closed in on him and Chuchu. Wang Zhan initially intended to shield Chuchu, but upon seeing the hostile approach and realizing he was no match, he retreated step by step, exposing Chuchu behind him.
Chuchu tried to hide behind him, but there was simply no escape.
Her eyes reddened, on the verge of tears, she frantically shook her head and pleaded tearfully, “Please don’t come any closer.”
Those around witnessed the scene. Some felt fortunate the trouble wasn’t directed at them, while others even showed expectant gazes. As long as enough people eliminated the Red Light of the Ring, they could leave this wretched place.
In the Apocalypse, with order and laws destroyed, as long as it wasn’t their own lives at stake, nothing else mattered.
Just as everyone assumed Chuchu was about to be killed, she suddenly lifted her tear-streaked face and shouted, “I know who has a large amount of food. Please spare me.”
A large amount of food!
The moment these words were uttered, the hungry gazes of the crowd locked tightly onto her.
Lu Chuan stepped forward with his gun, shielding Tang Yun behind him. Hearing Chuchu’s words, Tang Yun sensed trouble—this person’s actions were far too abnormal.
Sure enough, under the so-called threats from those people, Chuchu revealed the person hiding the food.
“The food is all in Sister Tang’s hands. I saw her moving a large batch of supplies in the residential complex.”
Instantly, those gazes shifted from Chuchu to Tang Yun.
Blocked by the tall, cool Lu Chuan, they couldn’t see Tang Yun.
Tang Yun knew she couldn’t hide, nor did she intend to. Her only fear was someone taking advantage of the chaos to strike.
She patted Lu Chuan’s shoulder and stepped out from behind him, sweeping a cold glance over the crowd.
A few timid ones were indeed frightened and immediately shrank back—her gaze was too icy and intimidating.
Tang Yun narrowed her eyes slightly at Chuchu. “Did you really see me with a large batch of supplies?”
Chuchu immediately lowered her head, her face paling for a moment before reverting to a pitiful expression.
“I remember… I remember you took supplies in the residential complex.”
Ignoring Chuchu, Tang Yun shifted her gaze to Wang Zhan. “Wang Zhan.”
Wang Zhan’s heart sank, for he suddenly realized he had no memory of the residential complex and couldn’t recall ever seeing Tang Yun there.
Everything was too bizarre.
He could only shake his head and mutter to himself, “I don’t know…”
“Stop trying to confuse everyone here. Hand over the supplies quickly. We’re all starving—how can you be so selfish as to hoard them?” Many began verbally attacking Tang Yun.
Tang Yun sneered. Hoarding supplies? As if the supplies belonged to everyone. It seemed hunger had addled their minds.
Leaning calmly against the car with her trekking pole, she spoke lightly, “Earlier, you all know this Chuchu had a conflict with me. Her claim that I have a large amount of supplies is clearly targeting and framing me, isn’t it?”
The crowd wasn’t foolish. Though they secretly hoped Tang Yun truly had a large batch of supplies, even if she didn’t, she couldn’t escape now. They wanted to get out.
To get out, someone must be sacrificed. Since the conflict points to these two women, they wouldn’t let go of this rare opportunity.
Weapons have been drawn; this matter cannot simply be brushed aside.
“We don’t care about your grudges. Since we’re all trapped in the Ring, you must share your supplies to save more people. Step aside and let us inspect your vehicle.”
Tang Yun coldly glanced at the speaker. “And if I refuse?”
She and Lu Chuan stood guard in front of the off-road vehicle, unmoving.
The car could be opened for inspection, but that wouldn’t be the end of it.
Chuchu had schemed against her, and this matter was far from over.
Chuchu seemed to sense Tang Yun’s murderous intent and quickly hid behind Wang Zhan.
“If you refuse to cooperate, we’ll have to resort to more forceful measures.”
Tang Yun raised an eyebrow slightly, lifted her chin, and raised her voice. “It’s not impossible for you to inspect my vehicle. How about this—let’s inspect that girl’s car as well.”
This was exactly what they wanted. Everyone agreed in unison.
Chuchu hid behind Wang Zhan, but her eyes darted around, filled with resistance—something even Wang Zhan failed to notice.
Tang Yun decided to cooperate. The leaders of the three factions, under the pretense of upholding justice, personally came to inspect.
The door of the off-road vehicle was opened, revealing its contents at a glance.
A climbing rope, a tent, a blanket, a medical kit, and a backpack containing only a few compressed biscuits and a few bottles of water. There was no extra food—likely not even enough for themselves.
The surrounding crowd stood awkwardly around the off-road vehicle for a moment before slowly dispersing.
“Well, seen enough?” Tang Yun swept her gaze over the crowd, her smile tinged with mockery. “I advise everyone not to be easily swayed by provocation. After all, this is the Apocalypse—it’s always wise to be cautious.”
Their earlier embarrassment now turned into hostility as they moved to inspect Chuchu’s vehicle.
Chuchu was shoved aside and fell to the ground.
Tang Yun leaned on her hiking pole and followed to search Chuchu’s car. She casually rummaged through the trunk, lifting the cardboard covering it.
“Oh my~” she exclaimed in feigned surprise. “She’s truly insatiable. Hiding so much food for herself while asking me for supplies—clearly trying to cut off my survival.”
“Good heavens, she hid an entire case of bottled water!!” The crowd surged forward. Tang Yun seized the opportunity to step back as chaos erupted.
Someone grabbed Chuchu by the neck and demanded, “Tell us now—do you have any other food hidden?”
“Help… me…”
Wang Zhan seemed to suddenly awaken to the truth. He hadn’t known Chuchu had hidden so much water.
He hadn’t had a drink all day—how could she be so selfish?
“You bitch!” Wang Zhan slapped Chuchu, drawing blood from her mouth.
The person choking Chuchu went berserk. Gasping for air, Chuchu found no one coming to her rescue.
Even if she died, they would welcome it—it meant the Ring’s light would weaken further, increasing their chances of escape.
“Ah!!”
Suddenly, the person choking Chuchu turned into an Ice Person.
Like an Ice Sculpture.
It was utterly bizarre.
Tang Yun noticed Chuchu’s appearance had changed again. Previously resembling a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old high school student, she now looked like a ten-year-old elementary school child.
The others noticed it too.
“Bang!” Someone in the crowd fired a shot, killing the monster that was Chuchu.
The Ring’s Red Light weakened a little more.
Tang Yun and Lu Chuan returned to the off-road vehicle. Lu Chuan retracted the hidden glass and pointed in a direction outside.
“It was the man in the blue windbreaker who fired the shot. Be careful—I saw him looking at you several times.”