After hearing that exchange, the Jingyun Squad fell silent. They finally understood Chen Yi’s earlier strange behavior.
They had no intention of interfering in a personal grudge. Not to mention that at a critical moment, Chen Yi had shielded them—it was clear he wasn’t someone who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong.
Moreover, Zhang Qichuan was a complete scumbag. Without connections, he would’ve long been sentenced to death. If this had happened to anyone present, they would’ve made the same choice.
“What a pity… there are no zombies left inside. Then I’ll have to do it myself. Don’t worry—I won’t let you die easily,” Chen Yi said as he tightened the vines again. The slender vines constricted Zhang Qichuan so tightly he could barely breathe, his face turning bluish-purple.
Just as the vines were about to cut into his flesh, sharp thorns suddenly sprouted, piercing into Zhang Qichuan’s body one by one.
“Ahhh!” His entire body was riddled with countless tiny holes. His agonized screams echoed through the dark night, but no one felt the slightest sympathy.
At the brink of death, Zhang Qichuan seemed to have a last burst of strength. Using his remaining corrosive liquid, he burned through the weaker parts of the vines, buying himself one final chance.
Chen Yi withdrew the vines in pain. Zhang Qichuan fell to the ground and immediately began crawling toward his room, leaving a trail of bright red blood behind him.
Just as Chen Yi was about to pursue him, Gu Ming stopped him. Everyone looked over, puzzled.
What was this about? They hadn’t planned for this.
Before Chen Yi could speak, a scream came from the doorway.
Everyone turned—and was stunned by the scene.
Through the half-open door, a woman with disheveled black hair lay crawling on the ground, completely naked. Her body was covered in bruises and whip marks. Her eyes were bloodshot as she crawled toward the “fresh” Zhang Qichuan, who was about to enter—then she tore him apart piece by piece.
“Yang Ling has turned into a zombie. She was probably bitten by a rat right before she died. This ending… is truly karma,” Gu Ming said calmly, showing not the slightest pity for Zhang Qichuan’s fate.
“No wonder he looked so bad earlier. He was probably trying to dispose of the body. Tsk—what goes around comes around. You really shouldn’t do evil,” Shi Ran remarked.
In the end, a murderer who violated women died at the hands of a woman.
Finally, Xu Zimo controlled a metal blade and pierced Yang Ling’s brain while she was still “feeding.”
As for Zhang Qichuan—there was nothing left to worry about. He was already a pile of scattered remains.
“Thank you…” Chen Yi collapsed onto the ground, dejected. He buried his face in his arms, his body trembling slightly.
Seeing this, everyone felt uneasy. After all, he was just a teenager—charging alone through hordes of zombies for six kilometers, all for revenge.
Shi Ran crouched down, took out a coat from her space, and placed it beside him. “Get some rest. It’s cold at night. When you open your eyes again, the light will be there.”
Chen Yi didn’t move. The Jingyun Squad returned to their resting area. At times like this, not disturbing him was the best comfort.
They continued taking turns keeping watch, guarding against rats. With Chen Yi’s barrier, there wasn’t much to worry about.
At eight the next morning, everyone got up and began packing. Shi Ran and Ye Shuyao led Xu Zimo and Tang Yao in gathering food from the supermarket.
They really had to thank Huang Likai for previously organizing everything so thoroughly—it made things much easier now.
Shi Ran’s storage space had expanded by another 50 square meters when the apocalypse began. Now, there were still about 100 square meters of free space left, with a height of five meters, and she could control how items were arranged.
However, the supermarket’s supplies were limited—mostly basic food and daily necessities. There was almost nothing for wilderness survival or protection. They would still need to visit a large mall.
Shi Ran silently calculated her storage. She skipped unnecessary items and only took food—after all, in the apocalypse, food was practically currency.
Meanwhile, Zhou Nuocheng and Gu Ming used the encrypted key chip from Wang Zhiguo’s computer to transmit files to the capital’s government. However, the files themselves were encrypted, and even after seeing them, the two couldn’t decipher the contents for now.
During this time, Zhou Nuocheng received a call from his grandfather. In such conditions, communication was extremely difficult, so considerable effort must have been made.
“Nuocheng, you and Xiao Ming must stay safe. No need to rush back—the base in Nanqing City has already been initially established,” said his grandfather, Zhou Lanyue, now the top leader in the capital. His tone carried authority and composure, though it softened slightly when it came to his grandson.
“Don’t worry, Grandpa. We’re safe. Why do you suddenly want us to go to Nanqing?” Zhou Nuocheng immediately caught his grandfather’s intention.
His grandfather’s tone grew more serious. “The situation has changed drastically. The government is still united for now, fighting the zombies together—but unity won’t last forever. We must prepare early. The Cangsong Base in Nanqing City has already taken shape. We need our own power.”
Those who play with political power are all ambitious. Only the capable can stand firm. In politics, those without scheming minds are long buried—like Zhou Nuocheng’s father.
What surprised the old man was that despite his young age, Zhou Nuocheng was already calculating. He kept a distance from political affairs, yet engaged in irreplaceable dealings with the government. His identity was sensitive, but no one dared to mention it.
Zhou Lanyue, who had struggled his whole life, placed all his cultivation and favor on Zhou Nuocheng. Though not entirely pure, this affection surpassed even ordinary family bonds—he saw him as the continuation of his legacy.
“Understood, Grandpa,” Zhou Nuocheng replied calmly. His status meant he could never remain uninvolved. If he didn’t seek power, he would be trampled underfoot—and he wasn’t someone to be bullied.
After the call, Gu Ming casually draped an arm over Zhou Nuocheng’s shoulder. “The world has changed. It’s both danger and opportunity. Only by constantly growing stronger can you stand at the top.”
Zhou Nuocheng chuckled. The two exchanged deep glances—the pride in their bones couldn’t be erased. Their backgrounds and mindsets meant they would never live ordinary lives.
Sunlight had already streamed into the store. Chen Yi slowly opened his eyes, the coat Shi Ran had given him draped over his shoulders.
“Hey, you’re finally awake. Told you to rest well, and you really took it seriously—slept all the way till eleven,” Xu Zimo said, sitting beside him. Though his words sounded annoyed, he hadn’t woken him up.
Chen Yi pressed his lips together, his voice slightly hoarse. “I sleep if I want. What’s it to you? Aren’t you guys leaving?”
He knew this group had their own purpose for coming here. Before falling asleep last night, he had thought that once they left, Feng County would probably be left with only him, struggling to survive alone.
But now, seeing the sunlight when he woke up—and realizing they hadn’t left yet—felt… nice.
“We haven’t even eaten yet. Leave for what? If I keep eating in the car, I’m going to throw up,” Xu Zimo replied.
So it was just because they hadn’t had lunch yet. The light in Chen Yi’s eyes dimmed slightly.
What was he even expecting? Who would stay for someone like him?
After a while, Chen Yi smelled the aroma of food. When he looked up, he saw Shi Ran and Ye Shuyao opening disposable bowls and chopsticks, while the others carried dishes and rice over to him.
“Shi Ran, from today on, you’re my big sister! I’ll do anything you ask!” Xu Zimo jumped up excitedly. He hadn’t eaten fresh food in days.
“Xu Zimo, I bought the food together with Shi Ran!” Ye Shuyao joked.
“Hehe, you’re my sister too!”
Xu Zimo had personally confirmed—after eating instant noodles and compressed biscuits for days, what you miss most isn’t hotpot or barbecue…
it’s simple, home-cooked dishes.