Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

”Hey kid, care to explain what’s going on?”

Zhang Su looked inexplicably at Su Xiaoya, took off his gloves, pulled out a cigarette from the packet, lit it, and leisurely waited for her to speak.

Su Xiaoya frowned and pouted, saying, ”There’s really nothing going on. I didn’t say anything. They somehow found out about my sister and you, and then... well, that’s it. It’s really got nothing to do with me.”

Seeing Su Xiaoya flustered and waving her hands around, with her face turning red despite usually being pale, Zhang Su thought the situation might not be as he imagined. So he said, ”Alright, let’s say they were just gossiping. Just do what you need to do. Where’s Old Huo?”

He couldn’t be bothered with trivial matters. He knew well that others aware of his relationship with Su Xiaoya would somewhat take care of her, which was fine as long as she didn’t abuse it. His main reason for coming was to discuss the village planning with Yang Liehuo.

Su Xiaoya pointed to a small courtyard a few houses away, ”Grandpa Huo lives there by himself, but he should be busy over at the warehouse now.”

”Alright, you go on, I’m leaving. Be good, and if you need something, you can talk to Pang Dakun.”

”Wait, wait...”

Seeing Zhang Su about to drive away on the electric bike with a cigarette in his mouth, Su Xiaoya quickly called out to him.

”What else?”

”Um, I... you, that Pang Dakun, haha, could you transfer him elsewhere?”

Su Xiaoya asked with a bashful smile, somewhat embarrassed.

”Why? Are you unhappy that the main force team from Celestial Horse Island came to help you?”

Zhang Su raised an eyebrow and silently felt sorry for Pang Dakun, thinking that things might not be going well.

”No, no! Absolutely not!”

Su Xiaoya waved her hands in knitted gloves, urgently explaining, ”I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just... I feel he looks at me strangely. I, I feel uncomfortable!”

Young girls are sensitive about matters of the heart. Pang Dakun’s little crush couldn’t really be hidden, but for various reasons, she had no feelings for him.

Zhang Su silently mourned for Pang Dakun, busy in the courtyard, for a second, then said, ”Why, is dating a member of our Celestial Horse Island’s Elite Corps not good enough?”

”Of course not.”

Su Xiaoya looked anxious, stamping her feet.

”Alright, don’t talk to me about your boys’ and girls’ love messes. I’ve got too much time on my hands, am I your class teacher? Hurry up and get to work, or people will gossip again. I’m off!”

With that, Zhang Su turned the throttle and rode towards the storage area of Village No.2, already picturing Pang Dakun returning deflated to Celestial Horse Island.

It’s not something he could help with anyway. Love is something you have to fight for yourself to make it meaningful.

Village No.2 originally only had people from Kuanzhuang, but to avoid too much uniformity, Zhang Su went through the trouble of bringing over Xin Qi and a few others from the Cyan Dragon Corps. After specially requesting Pang Dakun to help, he kindly arranged for Zhao Xue and Liu Tianji to keep an eye.

”Our village’s sentry post position is a bit close...”

Arriving outside the courtyard used as a warehouse, Zhang Su heard Yang Liehuo giving instructions to someone, discussing the construction of the outpost methodically.

After parking, he walked inside, running into a man just coming out.

”Hello, Brother Zhang.”

Seeing Zhang Su, the man hurriedly greeted him.

”Hello.”

Zhang Su recognized the young man in front of him. He was one of the few male members who had come from Kuanzhuang, who happened to share the same surname as him, remembering he was quite young, around twenty or so. After greeting each other, Zhang Su continued inside.

”Hey, Brother Zhang, you’re here. Just find somewhere to sit in that room, there’s no place to settle here.”

”Hello, Brother Zhang.”

Inside the house, Yang Liehuo, accompanied by two women, was sorting out the mess of supplies piled around, though one side room had already been tidied up, likely the work from yesterday.

”No worries, you all carry on. I’m just having a look...”

Originally, Zhang Su intended to walk around the village with Yang Liehuo to discuss the defense planning, but seeing him preoccupied, he let it go. Given the cold winter, many projects couldn’t commence just yet, so there was no rush.

After a round of inspection, the development of the two satellite villages had already taken off as expected, aligning perfectly with what Zhang Su and Yuwen had envisioned. As long as they proceeded step by step, this model had sustainable development potential, promising a brighter future.

Returning to the camp, Zhang Su wandered through various zones, ensuring he didn’t lose sight of Celestial Horse Island while focusing on the satellite villages’ development. Fortunately, the core members managed everything efficiently without needing his constant attention.

True dedication to the camp as home meant not slacking off in labor, balancing personal benefits with contributing extra effort, resulting in mutual flourishing, and bringing better returns for everyone.

At lunch, Zhang Su had already brainstormed how to console the emotionally returned Pang Dakun, though he found it surprising that he didn’t spot him back at the camp.

”Haha, turns out Dakun isn’t as useless as you said!”

Having taken a morning nap after her night shift, Zheng Xinyu was up for lunch and had heard from Zhang Su about Pang Dakun’s love endeavors.

”The brat’s thick-skinned persistence isn’t bad, or maybe he’s too embarrassed to come back for a meal and is hiding somewhere...”

Zhang Su muttered when noticing the dining hall door opening, and Yi Xiaoling with Ju Mumio walking in.

”The Japanese girl is here for you!”

Zheng Xinyu noticed Ju Mumio scanning the room before pulling Yi Xiaoling over toward them.

”I guess it’s good news.”

Zhang Su slightly smirked, feeling that Yi Xiaoling’s efficiency was impressive.

”So confident, huh? Sounds good, I’m done eating, you guys chat, see ya!”

Zheng Xinyu stood up with her tray, playfully smiling at Yi Xiaoling and Ju Mumio, ”All done, you guys eat!”

”Hello, sister-in-law...”

Yi Xiaoling hurriedly greeted Zheng Xinyu, with Ju Mumio nodding politely.

”What’s the matter?”

While continuing his meal, Zhang Su slightly lifted an eyebrow.

”Brother Zhang, Xiaojuzi has something she’d like to discuss privately with you.”

Yi Xiaoling said softly to Zhang Su.

Zhang Su gave Ju Mumio a sidelong glance before motioning toward the serving area with his chin, saying, ”Eat first, then come with me afterward.”

In tough times, everyone ate quickly, and in less than ten minutes, the three of them finished up and left the dining hall.

Zhang Su leisurely led the pair towards the mountain gate before jumping atop a tank, lounging atop the hatch, looking down at them, ”What’s up?”

”So... shall I express it for you?”

Yi Xiaoling glanced at Xiaojuzi. Seeing her nod, she proceeded, ”Brother Zhang, Xiaojuzi means that Ju’s Martial Arts passed down isn’t something everyone can master. If one’s physical condition isn’t adequate, reckless practice may cause harm. So she plans to teach Ju’s Martial Arts only to you... and if you do master it, you can decide whether to teach others or not.”

Zhang Su listened in silence, several thoughts crossing his mind. Initially, he wondered if Ju Mumio’s actions might strain his relationships with others, but then he reconsidered, believing there might be other underlying reasons.

”Only teaching me, that’s your final compromise, right?”

Zhang Su gave Ju Mumio a faint, playful smile.

Ju Mumio nodded and said something.

Yi Xiaoling smiled, adding, ”Brother Zhang, Xiaojuzi said she will teach you everything she knows unreservedly.”

Zhang Su noticed that after Yi Xiaoling finished speaking, Ju Mumio gave her a strange look, implying that her translation may have omitted part of the message. Judging by the sentence’s length, it likely followed with: and how much you learn is up to you...