Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

“Trade? This term… is quite fresh! How should I understand it?” Scarface looked at Yuwen with a hint of confusion, waiting for his explanation.

“Of course it’s a trade. You come with modern weapons, proving considerable strength. We’re just trading food for this security guarantee, isn’t my understanding correct?”

“Hahaha! Old man, I like this concept of trade! If the folks before had this kind of awareness, our work would be much easier! To be honest, on this trip, we’ve killed three people because they were stubborn, like dumb asses! Hold on…”

With that, Scarface turned towards the pickup truck, exchanging words with his companions, before returning to Yuwen and pointing to the foot of the mountain: “Old man, you live up on the mountain?”

“Yes, the top has some tourist attractions, with a few guesthouses and farm stays. We settled there after leaving Qin City.”

Yuwen spoke half-truthfully.

“Oh, a tourist spot.” Scarface squinted towards the direction of Celestial Horse Island, but due to the angle, couldn’t see much, only a winding mountain road barely visible.

After some consideration, Scarface turned to his companions: “I’ll follow the old man to check it out. You wait here. If I’m not back in ten minutes, you know what to do.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Sang!”

“Got it, got it!”

The members of the Cyan Dragon Corps lifted their necks with arrogance, the guns on their chests filling them with endless courage.

“Let’s go, old man!”

Scarface tilted his head towards the foot of the mountain.

“Aren’t those gentlemen coming? You’ve traveled a long way; how about coming up the mountain for some tea?”

Yuwen extended a sincere invitation to them.

“No need, I’ll just check out the route. Don’t chatter, let’s go!” Scarface decisively rejected the invitation.

“I’m worried that this fire… forget it, it should be fine. Let’s go!”

Yuwen sighed internally; if he could deceive them into the camp, the problem would be simpler, but things rarely go as planned…

He led the way down the mountain, his head shaking as though he had Parkinson’s.

“Old man, why are you shaking your head like that?”

Scarface noticed Yuwen’s strange behavior.

Yuwen stopped and his head stopped shaking too, showing a wry smile: “I got injured while escaping earlier, now whenever I walk, my head shakes. I can’t control it.”

“Heh, that’s really something…”

Scarface spat and followed cautiously, watching the surroundings closely.

In the monitoring room on Celestial Horse Island, Zheng Xinyu was talking with Zhang Su on the intercom.

“Brother Su, Teacher Yu is bringing that man up the mountain, but Teacher Yu keeps shaking his head. What’s that about?”

Soon, Zhang Su responded, “It means don’t make a move. Those with guns, hide quickly, get to work as if nothing’s happening!”

“Oh, oh!”

Zheng Xinyu quickly picked up another walkie-talkie to relay Zhang Su’s instructions to people on the mountain.

Driving or riding a scooter up till now, one hardly felt the distance from the road to Celestial Horse Island, but walking made it seem a bit farther.

“Sir, on your way south, did you encounter anyone else?”

On the way, Yuwen casually asked.

“Don’t ask so much!”

Scarface was unwilling to discuss the topic, possibly worried that the protection fee organization might gang up on him.

“Alright, alright, I won’t ask. Then… does the Cyan Dragon Corps accept more survivors? If one wanted to join, what are the conditions?”

Yuwen changed the subject.

“There’s a specialized evaluation unit. As long as you’re capable, our camp will take you, but where you end up depends on one’s skills! Old man, why are you so talkative, do you have ample food at your camp?”

Yuwen’s mouth twitched, giving an awkward smile: “Just making small talk out of boredom, won’t talk anymore.”

It took nearly fifteen minutes for Yuwen to lead Scarface to the safety camp’s perimeter.

“Everyone’s busy, haha, sir, care to come in for a sit? We have tea.”

Yuwen courteously gestured with his hand.

Inside the gate, four to five people were pretending to be busy with something unknown. Though they weren’t armed, they had weapons hidden nearby, ready to be drawn in an instant…

Scarface glanced at the three-to-four-meter-high concrete and brick wall, looked at the uncleaned ground, and thought of the inferno down the mountain. His face turned stern: “Did you encounter a zombie horde attack here?”

Yuwen wore a ‘I told you so’ expression: “Yeah, those corpses below were from the horde days ago. Haha, but the disaster is over. Inside, there wasn’t an assault. Come in and have a seat, the tea is from town.”

Scarface’s expression turned exceptionally serious, abandoning previous light-hearted airs, with caution seemingly written on his forehead.

“No thanks!” He declined Yuwen’s offer, adding: “I can give you a suggestion, our corps considers incorporating tobacco, alcohol, and tea into food units. So conserve any tea you have.”

“Oh, oh, sure, sure!”

Scarface showed no intention of entering the camp, nor leaving. He looked around and asked: “How many zombies attacked here, and how did you deal with them? Don’t you have guns?”

“We have, two handguns actually!”

Yuwen pointed to the watchtower: “Usually they are used by the sentry guys.”

“Handguns?” Scarface questioned with disdain: “No submachine guns or rifles? How do you kill zombies?”

“How could we possibly have those guns…”

Yuwen made a ‘you must be joking’ face, then pointed at the pile of uncleaned caltrops, and waved the steel rod in his hand: “Thanks to those caltrops blocking the zombies, we stabbed them all with steel rods. Not many, only about a hundred plus. Your three-hundred count standard is rather useful.”

Luckily, Corgi Good Fortune helped to collect spent shells, and all shooters were careful, hitting every shot on a zombie, leaving no signs of gunfire. Otherwise, Yuwen wouldn’t have managed to cover it up.

The piled bodies had burned for an hour, leaving little trace. Scarface didn’t doubt the numbers, nodding: “The rules aren’t randomly set. We also have some rules; if you report another Survivor Forces’ gathering spot, we’ll waive ten percent of next time’s food submission. Any news?”

“Yo.” Yuwen furrowed his brows, slapping his thigh in frustration: “I know there are others nearby, but I don’t know where. Even if encountered, we’re cautious, avoiding exposing their exact location.”

“Alright, seems you won’t be getting this reward!” Scarface patted Yuwen’s shoulder: “Remember to have eight hundred units of food ready in seven days, I’m leaving!”

“Ah? Leaving already? Sir, why not come inside and meet the folks, maybe count if there’re eighteen of us. Oh, I can’t guarantee we won’t accept new survivors in the future…”

Yuwen tried to persuade him again and again.

“No need, I see you’re a sensible person, won’t fuss about this! Even if you accept new survivors, it’ll count during the next food collection!”

Having said that, Scarface turned and headed downhill, completely not planning to come inside. Hidden unease lingered in his heart, feeling the place concealed inexplicable danger, making it unworthy of risking himself for the mission!