Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

Pang Dakun, who was trying to get inside, had no mind to listen to the discussions outside. He was fully focused, using strength from his toes, fingers, elbows, and knees. The four to five-meter distance was actually quite narrow, especially in the first two meters. But once through, it became easier, and he passed through smoothly without much effort.

“Whew!”

Upon reaching the ruins of what seemed like an experimental laboratory, Pang Dakun changed his posture. Due to limited height, he had to crouch. He took out a lipstick-sized flashlight from his belt, and at the sight, he jumped back, relying on the wall, bumping his head slightly.

He saw someone lying in a corner, with an ergonomic chair collapsed over them. Fortunately, the chair absorbed much of the debris impact, although the situation was still dire.

The person’s head was a bloody mess, mixed with dust on the face. Although there were no apparent external wounds, judging from the earlier explosion, internal injuries could be severe.

At this moment, the person was squinting at Pang Dakun, dirt covering their cracked lips, speaking was a challenge.

Seeing the other person’s mouth moving, Pang Dakun smacked his lips and said, “Amitabha, still alive, still alive…”

While mumbling, regardless of what they were trying to express, he squat-crawled to Xie Yanshan and without a word, shoved the zombie thalamus into his mouth. To ensure it went down, he poked his fingers down his throat.

“Ugh, guuuh…”

In his dying moments, Xie Yanshan rolled his eyes and his limbs convulsed, but he managed to grab Pang Dakun’s arm, as if he was using his last bit of strength to express his unwillingness to die.

“I’m saving you, stop messing around!”

Pang Dakun, like a young adult, imitated the tone his grandfather would use when scolding him.

No matter how much he struggled, Xie Yanshan’s arm had no effect and caused no harm to Pang Dakun. When he no longer felt any trace of the zombie thalamus, Pang Dakun let out a long breath.

“Alright, take a good rest!”

He placed Xie Yanshan’s arm aside and turned to leave with determination, without a trace of reluctance.

Zhang Su, squatting at the tunnel entrance, saw Pang Dakun’s feet sticking out. He gave him a pull to help him out and asked as soon as they met, “How was it, did he eat it?”

“He ate it, he ate it.”

Pang Dakun stood up, dusting himself off, took a down jacket from Qi Xiaoshuai, and put it on hastily, assuring, “Don’t worry, uncle, my grandpa used to have a dog. Once the vet prescribed medicine for it, he taught me to feed it by stuffing it down its throat; it works like a charm!”

As he spoke, Pang Dakun gave a thumbs up to praise himself.

Those around him, including those listening atop the pit, had peculiar expressions…

“Good, very good, doing things like Dakun is what’s needed, steady, really steady.”

Though Zhang Su found it strange, he didn’t hesitate to praise him, knowing well that Pang Dakun craved recognition more than material rewards.

As expected, upon being praised, Pang Dakun stood joyfully to the side, striking a cool pose as he lit a cigarette.

“Don’t just stand there looking cool, Dakun, how badly injured is Xie Yanshan?”

Zhang Su asked.

Pang Dakun gestured as he explained, “Lying in the rubble, holding onto life by a thread, pressed by a chair, with heavy stones on top, face all bloody like a burst waterfall. His body must have injuries. I didn’t move him at all; if he dies, it can’t be blamed on me.”

“Alright, let’s wait then.”

After listening to Pang Dakun’s description, Zhang Su wasn’t sure. Currently, their understanding of treating with the thalamus’s capabilities was limited, hoping for a miracle.

In the meantime, they worked together to carry the blood-red body out of the pit. Just as Zhang Su was pondering if he could discover any valuable items, a commotion erupted from across the tunnel.

Thud, rumble…

After the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground and rolling, it became quiet.

Almost a quarter of an hour later, Xie Yanshan, amidst his astonishment, felt his injuries healed, his shock palpable. He hesitated to cry for help, then decided to free himself, kicking up dust, not caring much, he arrived at the tunnel and called out, “Cough… Thank you, friends outside, I… I’m actually healed?”

Xie Yanshan’s Mandarin wasn’t clear, thickly skeptical, uncertain even himself, but the vigorous tone of his speech contrasted sharply with his earlier near-death state.

“I’m Zhang Su from Celestial Horse Island. Pan Guoliang told me you are Xie Yanshan, deputy leader of the Edge Squad. Are you feeling discomfort anywhere else now?”

Zhang Su asked towards the tunnel entrance.

“Hello, Mr. Zhang, yes, I am Xie Yanshan. Thank you for saving me. I feel okay now, should be healed. But this healing speed… was it zombie organ extract given by that young brother earlier?”

When Xie Yanshan spoke, Zhang Su was moved.

Indeed, as they say, an expert recognizes the essence with a single glance, having experienced the miraculous thalamus effect, he immediately guessed it close to the truth.

Standing above the pit, Pan Guoliang turned pale hearing Xie Yanshan, but after a second thought, as long as life is saved, who cares what was eaten!

“I found it in a secret laboratory, a kind of genetic drug. If you can move, come out quickly, as this place might collapse at any moment.”

Zhang Su urged briefly, knowing that as long as the thalamus worked, it would certainly restore Xie Yanshan to health; as for the thalamus’s origins, a white lie would suffice; some things can be speculated, but must not be confirmed!

“I… alright, I’m coming now. If I have any trouble, please lend a hand.”

Xie Yanshan hesitated to ask for help, then started making his way through the tunnel.

This part, Pang Dakun was most experienced, assisting and guiding all the way until they brought Xie Yanshan out of the narrow ruins.

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Zhang, thank you for the life-saving help, I am eternally grateful.”

As Xie Yanshan crawled out of the tunnel, he squinted, shaking Qi Xiaoshuai’s hand vigorously.

Zhang Su stood to the side, observing Xie Yanshan, who clearly had severe myopia. He had imagined him to look like the mad scientists seen in movies, but found a scholarly middle-aged man instead, similar to Yuwen in demeanor.

However, the current appearance was quite frightening, with sixty percent of his face covered in blood, mixed with dust, giving an impression of Ma Ning’Er having mastered the Hundred Poison Skill.

“I… I’m not Brother Su, over there, over there…”

Qi Xiaoshuai was embarrassed, quickly directing Xie Yanshan’s gaze towards Zhang Su.

“Oh, oh.” Xie Yanshan’s eyes nearly squinted to a slit, the high myopia making him virtually blind, recognizing someone standing ahead, extending his hand again: “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Zhang, thank you for the rescue.”

Zhang Su shook hands with Xie Yanshan, saying, “It’s not just me, you should also thank this young fellow. If it weren’t for him, we couldn’t have gotten the medicine into your mouth!”

“Yes, indeed.” Without hesitation, Xie Yanshan sincerely thanked Pang Dakun once more, not minding the rough manner of administering the medicine at all.

Living is the greatest blessing!

“Brother Su, catch this.”

Hearing Zheng Xinyu speaking above, Zhang Su looked up as she tossed down a pack of wet wipes.

“Captain Xie, wipe your face.”

Zhang Su took out a few cold alcohol wipes to hand to Xie Yanshan. Regular wipes in the freezing environment would be a block of ice, only alcohol wipes remained usable.

“Ah, ah. Thank you, Mr. Zhang.”

Xie Yanshan gratefully accepted the wipes, aware of his facial condition, sight notwithstanding, the feeling of being caked in grime uncomfortable.

“No need for more words of gratitude, Captain Xie. What are your plans ahead?” Zhang Su asked.

“Plans…”

While wiping the blood and dirt off his face, Xie Yanshan glanced at the secret laboratory now bombed into ruins, smiling self-deprecatingly, “The Cyan Dragon Corps have become scorched earth. If Mr. Zhang doesn’t mind, I’d like to join Celestial Horse Island.”

This decision didn’t surprise Zhang Su, viewing the display in his mind showing [31/31], feeling both satisfied and melancholic. Had he known it would turn out this way, choosing option A could have elevated the rewards to another level.