Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

Chapter 175 128: Subduing Others with Virtue (Part 2)

After speaking, Zhang Su tilted his head toward the ground and said, "Bozai, take their weapons and follow me."

Moments later, Zhang Su and Lu Yubo appeared inside the fertilizer store. The nine survivors from Shuwa Village sat against the wall, some with malicious and hateful looks in their eyes, quickly concealing them. Others pleaded continuously for mercy, hoping for a chance to live.

Zhang Su ignored the villagers' emotions, looking at the ceiling of the fertilizer store, and asked, "Do you want to survive?"

"Yes, yes, of course."

"Of course we do, big brother, please let us go. My wife is still waiting for me to return in Beiliang Village."

"Big brother, we were tricked by Da Tie. We shouldn't have caused you trouble. We were wrong."

Hearing Zhang Su's words and seeing the weapons in Lu Yubo's arms, the villagers began to speculate, as if they saw a glimmer of hope.

"Tricked?" Zhang Su shook his head and said, "The way you looked before didn't seem like you were tricked. Your real goal wasn't the food; you wanted to kill us and take all our stuff, right?"

Silence.

The villagers' faces changed awkwardly. After about four or five seconds, someone finally spoke, "No way, big brother, we really just came to ask for food."

Zhang Su wouldn't know, but all the villagers knew that the guy who spoke was the one who suggested robbing Zhang Su's group's supplies...

"None of this matters anymore." Zhang Su said, gesturing to Lu Yubo.

With a clatter.

The confiscated weapons were thrown in front of the villagers.

"Only one person will walk out of the fertilizer store alive. Fight for it yourselves; you have fifteen minutes!"

After he spoke, Zhang Su left the fertilizer store.

Lu Yubo saw the bewildered villagers and grinned, saying, "Weren't you all tough? Aren't you good at fighting each other? Here's your chance, start clawing at each other. Only one person can walk out of the fertilizer store alive, and look, you have the weapons now. Hurry up, you only have fifteen minutes!"

After speaking, Lu Yubo also left the fertilizer store, not forgetting to add as he exited, "Don't try any tricks, or we'll come in and finish the job!"

After hearing Zhang Su and Lu Yubo's words, the villagers' minds raced. Their hands and feet were still tied, but there was no time to waste.

"Damn it, let's fight them, grab the weapons quickly!"

"You're the worst of them all."

"Get lost, don't fight with me!"

As everyone stood up and pounced toward the weapons, it was inevitable that a fierce, primitive, violent, and bloody battle would erupt inside the fertilizer store!

Watching through the window, Zhang Su's group stood at a distance, observing the fertilizer store.

"Brother Su, with that kind of determination, why don't they dare to fight zombies?"

Zheng Xinyu asked curiously.

Zhang Su curled his lips and said, "In the past, some people would tremble if threatened by a dog but dared to fight if they had an argument with others. Getting punched by someone is easy to treat, but rabies is a sure death, right?"

Yuwen sighed, adjusted his glasses, and said, "This involves deep psychological issues. There are discrepancies in cognition, culture, interests, and willingness that lead them to fear zombies and be more willing to confront humans."

"Aren't you a language teacher? Do you also teach psychology? Is this psychology?" Zhang Su asked, somewhat unsure, and added, "Philosophy?"

Yuwen shrugged and said, "It touches on various aspects. It's content I taught myself, very rudimentary. Mr. Zhang, don't laugh at it."

"Oh..." Zhang Su gave Yuwen a thumbs-up, then said, "What do you all think? If we were in their situation, what would we do? I'm not talking about all of us, but as one of those in the death match, what would you do? Have you thought about it?"

"This..."

"Well, then you'd die..."

"What would you do?"

Clearly, no one had thought about Zhang Su's question, and everyone immediately fell into contemplation, thinking about what they would do if they ever faced such a danger.

"I'd kill the nearest person first, no need for weapons. Even if my hands and feet are tied, I'd bite them to death!"

Lu Yubo revealed his yellow teeth, clicking them together with a clang.

"I think we should grab a weapon first..." Tan Huajun said, waving the calipers in his hand.

Suddenly, Zheng Xinyu's furrowed brows relaxed, and she raised her finger, saying, "From my experience with playing games like PUBG, if a group of people lands in the same place, it's best to find a quiet corner to hide. It's even better if you have a weapon. Even if you don't, you can observe, and since you don't have a weapon, you pose a smaller threat, meaning you're less likely to be targeted first!"

The others looked at each other, not expecting the usually cute girl to come up with such a logically tight plan.

Zhang Su looked at Zheng Xinyu with a strange expression and said, "Not bad. It seems gaming wasn't in vain. Xinyu's plan is pretty much what I was thinking. In a situation like theirs, with everyone rushing for weapons, I'd surely hide to the side, regardless of whether I can untie the zip tie, waiting to ambush with a sneak attack!"

Yuwen nodded and said, "I won't comment on other aspects, but Miss Zheng's point about being less of a threat and likely to go unnoticed is crucial. Feign weakness to your enemy, seize the right moment, attack unexpectedly, brilliant!"

Gaining experience doesn't necessarily require active participation in combat; observing and analyzing is also a form of growth.

Mixed battles in enclosed spaces test more than just combat strength.

Although Zhang Su said he'd give the villagers fifteen minutes, the fight lasted half an hour. During this half hour, the group didn't watch the brawl for sadistic pleasure like brutal monarchs, but rather as a rare learning opportunity, engaging in analysis and explanation.

Creak...

When the last person pushed open the battered front door of the fertilizer store, they stumbled forward, falling into a pool of blood, and their last breath was exhaled as blood slowly spread out.

In the end, no one survived.

Muted heaviness hung over everyone's hearts, but they knew this matter was irreconcilable and understood it would not be the last time.

The joy of loading food and well water was diluted. Initially planning to rest a night in Shuwa Village, Zhang Su decided to set off immediately and detour toward the west, bypassing the site of the villagers' attack.

"Xiaopang, do you know what the outside world is like now? Do you regret joining us? Do you think running around on rooftops in the village is more fun and comfortable?"

Driving out of the village, Zhang Su asked.

Pang Dakun looked at the stone tablet of "Shuwa Village" through the car window, feeling mixed emotions, and said, "Uncle, I don't regret it. My grandpa always hoped I'd go out from the countryside and explore, and this counts as leaving the countryside, right?"

"Ha, silly boy, this doesn't count as leaving the countryside," Zhao Dezhu laughed loudly, saying, "Our destination is to find a resort or farm stay in the mountains. You've just moved from one rural area to another, hahaha."

Pang Dakun shook his head, saying, "It counts as leaving the countryside as long as I leave Shuwa Village. I've fulfilled my grandpa's wish!"

"Exactly!" Zhang Su used his eyes to stop Zhao Dezhu from arguing further, saying, "Xiaopang, you're right, you've left the countryside. There's a big world outside, with room for you to shine!"

"Yeah! Uncle, I'll definitely follow you and work hard!" Pang Dakun turned around and wouldn't look at the village entrance anymore, his eyes reddening. Though he seemed simple, he knew this departure might mean a long, long time before ever returning.

Before the four vehicles even reached the provincial road, they saw a car parked by a broken bridge, with someone jumping around cursing.

The size of the Mercedes and Fukner Meifu was too conspicuous. The three men by the broken bridge quickly noticed Zhang Su's group.

"Hello, are you from the nearby village?"

Three unfamiliar men stood at the intersection of the self-built road and provincial road, waving their arms wildly, with a relieved smile on their faces.

Seeing that they were polite and not holding weapons, Zhang Su lowered the car window and said, "We came from the city. The bridge was blown up by locals, and we're planning to head back to the city."