The survivors did not complain about the increased workload brought by the sudden arrival of Squad 2 soldiers; instead, they felt invigorated. After experiencing days filled with fear and anxiety, they were eager for more soldiers to join them.
This meal left Gu Chengyuan and the others very satisfied. Hotpot is versatile and can be delicious without requiring much skill. With an abundance of ingredients, the soldiers ate heartily, and after finishing, they went up to the fourth floor to search again.
Gu Chengyuan encouraged this because, in a few days, the meat and vegetables would likely rot and go to waste if not consumed.
After the two squads had eaten their fill, they rested briefly to digest. At 2:30, Gu Chengyuan issued the combat orders again.
This time, the two squads were divided into six combat teams. Elite Squad 1's three teams were responsible for clearing Unit 2 of Building 3, while Squad 2's three teams were tasked with cleaning Unit 1 of Building 4.
Thanks to their morning combat experience and the "Master Key" shotgun, the three teams from 1st Squad advanced quickly in the afternoon. In contrast, Squad 2's teams moved much slower, prompting Gu Chengyuan to personally lead them to prevent any issues.
In terms of military training, aside from Squad Leader Lu Chong, who was very seasoned, the other soldiers in Squad 2 seemed somewhat inexperienced. They were akin to soldiers who had just been promoted from private to sergeant.
Thus, both in military training and zombie-fighting experience, there was a significant gap between Squad 2 and 1st Squad. Gu Chengyuan had to oversee them to avoid casualties.
Although in the system, each soldier was just a cold number with a clear price tag, to Gu Chengyuan, they were living people, his soldiers, and he felt responsible for their safety.
"Yes! Spread out the formation! Don't rush!"
"After breaking the door, you need to move faster with the hammer! And don't fire at zombies immediately; ensure your teammates have retreated to a safe position before shooting!"
"Zombies may be fast, but they're not faster than your bullets. Stay calm!"
...
"Are you a damn fool? Even after killing a zombie, wait 10 seconds before entering the room."
"The room is so narrow; if you rush in and encounter something up close, can you react in time?"
"Zombies don't have brains and won't ambush you. Just make some noise and wait for them!"
During the afternoon's zombie-clearing operation, the corridors echoed with Gu Chengyuan's instructions. Sometimes, seeing dangerous maneuvers, he couldn't help but curse. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
He now truly understood why, during his service, superiors had such low tolerance for mistakes and punished errors so severely. In this profession, mistakes could mean losing lives, and every error was heart-wrenching and intolerable.
However, the settlement area was not just Gu Chengyuan's domain; his was not the only voice. Their arrival brought not only the roars of zombies but also the cries of survivors in nearby residential buildings.
The survivors, who had been cowering indoors in fear, were ecstatic to see the army. Standing on balconies or leaning out of windows, they shouted loudly:
"Help!"
"Please save me! I'm trapped at home!"
"I'm here, look at me!"
Various cries rang out, with some even waving bed sheets and duvets frantically to attract attention.
But these cries did not bring Gu Chengyuan's troops to their rescue; instead, they attracted zombies inside the buildings. The zombies' howls, combined with the sharp scratching at doors, made these people even more terrified, like drowning individuals grasping at straws, becoming increasingly frantic in their pleas for help.
Faced with Jia Sanniu and Lu Chong's inquiries over the Walkie-Talkie, Gu Chengyuan coldly ordered them to continue their mission.
It was only the second day of the apocalypse. In terms of food reserves at home and the sturdiness of security doors, these people were relatively safe. The survivors were scattered across the eight residential buildings, and rescuing them now would not only affect efficiency but also be less safe than proceeding steadily.
Moreover, letting them experience some despair was beneficial. They needed to stop living in the pre-apocalypse world and understand who could truly save them.
Gu Chengyuan's cold indifference was seen by the anxious survivors inside the buildings, causing many to panic. Their fear turned into inexplicable anger, and their cries for help became venomous barbs.
"You damn soldiers, why aren't you saving us! I know, you're here to save the officials, right?"
"Yeah, I often expose these things online, and idiots online call me a spy!"
Some even opened their phones to record:
"Look, these are the soldiers of our Zhou Nation! They don't care if we live or die. They talk big, but when danger comes, they only protect the officials!"
Some even entered a destructive mode, throwing pots and pans towards Gu Chengyuan:
"Motherfucker, if I can't live, none of you should! Everyone, throw things over there, lure the zombies over!"
"If we're going to die, let's all die together!" This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Faced with this chaotic scene, Gu Chengyuan's already stern face became even more severe. Although he had anticipated this, even deliberately provoked it, he still felt anger rising.
Earlier, some rescued survivors had tried to calm the others, but they wouldn't listen. They even threw ceramic bowls at the survivor, and although the distance meant they weren't hit, they still bled from the flying shards.
These rescued survivors were also filled with anger, with some extreme ones suggesting they should just leave them to die there.
These people were impervious, seeing any delay in rescue as a conspiracy, and anyone rescued as someone with wealth and power.
Their anger made them forget they lived in a settlement area, not a place for the rich and powerful. Perhaps what they sought wasn't the truth but a way to vent their fear and anger.
As night fell, Gu Chengyuan and Squad 2 reached the 18th floor of Unit 1, Building 4. According to Jia Sanniu's report over the Walkie-Talkie, they had finished clearing Building 3 and were now on the 4th floor of Unit 2, Building 4.
As the clearing continued, survivors were gradually rescued. But even in the face of their profuse gratitude, Gu Chengyuan's expression remained stern.
"Li Kun! Li Kun! Respond if you hear me!"
"Received!"
"Ask the survivors if any of the cars parked downstairs belong to them. We need to requisition them for personnel transport!"
"We expect to wrap up in half an hour!"
"Understood, Commander!"
Li Kun was the sniper Gu Chengyuan had specifically left to temporarily oversee the survivors. With the apocalypse causing unrest, a deterrent was necessary to prevent chaos.
Putting down the Walkie-Talkie, Gu Chengyuan addressed the Squad 2 soldiers who had just cleared the 18th floor and were awaiting his next instructions:
"Two floors left. Once cleared, we'll prepare to return! Stay vigilant! Ensure a safe conclusion!"
"Understood!"