Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

Liao Youzhi still wore his signature outfit, a black mask covering his face, revealing only his penetrating eyes.

He had keen ears, and had heard Li Zongkai’s speech in the stairwell. As he approached, he said with a half-smile, ”Old Li, you’re the slowest today. Why so reluctant?”

Under the dim light, more than twenty well-equipped combatants spread out in a fan shape; some were from Liao Youzhi’s Guard Team, while others were members of the Vanguard Corps Team One. These people were said to represent the strongest fighting power of the Survivor Alliance.

To Liu Yao and several others, this formation did not carry much special meaning, but Li Zongkai was a bit apprehensive because he already felt uneasy due to a series of events.

”How could I be reluctant? I’m feeling a bit unwell; it’s too cold outside, and I’m afraid I couldn’t handle it all at once. Took a moment to collect myself after getting up, haha, but didn’t delay anything serious. Should we head out?”

Li Zongkai pointed to the mall entrance.

”No rush!”

Liao Youzhi waved his hand.

Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi were even ready to step forward, but seeing Liao Youzhi standing still, eyes curious in the dim lighting.

”Old Liao, what are you playing at, calling us here early in the morning and now not rushing out? Why not let us sleep a bit longer in bed?”

Yang Xinqi, with a peculiar expression, pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and lit up. He had gone to Beihai District in the morning, rushed back by evening for a banquet, and then messed around with a few women into the midnight, sleeping only about five hours and feeling truly drowsy.

Yet, Liao Youzhi’s next sentence startled Yang Xinqi from his sleep.

”There’s a reason I said no rush. You might not know yet, betrayal lurks among us.”

Liao Youzhi put both hands behind his back, eyelids drooping, his gaze shooting through the slits, sweeping across the faces of several people.

”What do you mean? Leader Liao, don’t speak in riddles; I’m not clever enough to guess. Who’s the traitor and what have they betrayed?”

Liu Yao took a deep breath, instinctively touching the assault rifle at his chest.

Yang Xinqi illuminated his cheeks with the lighter, revealing a confused expression. He didn’t have time to light the cigarette, letting it hang between fingers, extinguishing the lighter, and asked, ”Leader Liao, stop keeping us in suspense, what’s really happening?”

Standing behind Liao Youzhi, Gong Chengming was shocked. If not for his strong resolve, he almost stepped back involuntarily, maintained a composed look, turned slightly and exchanged a glance with Xiao Xuejian, Captain of the Vanguard Corps Team One, conveying much information.

Talking about who was the most nervous, it definitely wasn’t Gong Chengming; in an unseen spot, Li Zongkai already had sweat breaking out on his temples.

Thump-thump-thump, Li Zongkai felt he could hear his own heartbeat at this moment; the entire environment eerily quiet, combatants standing armed felt oppressive. He regretted entering the mall alone, but thinking again, since he already gathered people here, whether he entered might not matter much.

”Traitor? Did Leader Liao receive some news?”

Feigning calm, Li Zongkai asked with a doubtful look.

”First, I have an unfortunate piece of news to tell you all!”

Liao Youzhi did not directly answer any question, turning his body and began to pace, the thick soles of his shoes making solid sounds on the mall tiles. In a heavy tone, he said, ”Last night, the eighteen brothers we sent out were all captured by Celestial Horse Island!”

”What?!”

Liu Yao shouted, his eyes wide open.

”Your Little Eagle Association only sent three trash, what are you screaming about?” Yang Xinqi was startled by Liu Yao’s commotion and immediately scolded him.

”My three elite fighters are a hundred times stronger than the five weaklings you sent, idiot!”

”Damn you! If you dare say it again...”

”Stop it!”

Liao Youzhi’s booming voice stopped Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi’s quarrel, his gaze shifting amongst the few, finally focusing on Li Zongkai, probing, ”Chairman Li, you don’t seem anxious about your men being captured?”

No fools were present, with Liao Youzhi asking this, all eyes turned to Li Zongkai.

Li Zongkai, known to have experienced significant scenes before the disaster broke out, unimpressive identity back then, yet he was finally displaying his worth, frowning, with a low voice stating, ”I’m very worried about my men being captured, but what good is being anxious? Anxiety only reduces my thinking ability!”

This statement was sensible wherever placed, albeit with an undertone of accusing Liu Yao of just shouting, but was the stark truth.

Liao Youzhi nodded slowly, stopped pacing, and spoke, ”Chairman Li is Chairman Li, his calm demeanor is indeed worth learning from. Now, if I told you that amongst our captured brothers, one group wasn’t harassed but treated as guests, how would you interpret that?”

Liu Yao did not shout this time because he sensed something unusual; first, how Liao Youzhi knew so much and with detailed information, felt too bizarre; it was time to speak less and observe more.

Always shrewd, Yang Xinqi’s eyes darted, running through many thoughts, all shrouded in dense fog, preventing from seeing the truth, hence opting for silence.

Li Zongkai’s back was already soaked in cold sweat by now, sure that Liao Youzhi either planted spies on Celestial Horse Island or had a spy nearby; such details wouldn’t otherwise be known, whichever case very unfavorable to him!

Things were heading in a bad direction...

”The North City Four Tigers may not talk of utmost loyalty, but not resorting to backstabbing, confessing is better than everyone turning heads!”

Liao Youzhi turned away not looking at Li Zongkai and the others.

”What do you mean, Liao Youzhi, do you have specific information, don’t play mysterious!”

Liu Yao felt uncomfortable about the current situation.

Yang Xinqi was similarly confused, glancing between Liu Yao and Li Zongkai, lighting the cigarette with a snap, attempting to calm nerves with chemicals.

Li Zongkai also remained silent, mind racing, how to break the deadlock, yet before he could proceed further, the least wanted scenario unfolded.

”Since there’s no compliance, don’t blame me!”

Liao Youzhi turned, pointing at Li Zongkai with two fingers, solemnly but quietly said, ”Li Zongkai colluded with Celestial Horse Island, ill-intentions brewing, seize him!”

The unexpected order shocked everyone present, Gong Chengming’s eyes filled with disbelief, but once he regained composure, guards were seen rushing forward, quickly signaling Vanguard Corps Team One members.

A rush of about seventeen or eighteen individuals, frightened Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi into dodge, rapidly pinned Li Zongkai to the ground, immobilizing him.

Considering departure soon, each leader entered the mall without bringing subordinates, leaving Li Zongkai without resistance.

”Liao Youzhi, you baselessly accuse with malicious intent, what’s your motive, treating an allied partner this way? How do you expect Director Liu and Director Yang to react?”

Pinned on the ground, Li Zongkai struggled to raise his head, mind frantic yet clear, the priority now being life preservation.

When Li Zongkai was pinned down, Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi already carried weapons in hand, watching Liao Youzhi vigilantly, caring less whether Li Zongkai truly betrayed, but whether they themselves were in danger!

None previously considered this the headquarters of the Survivor Alliance, fully within the other’s control range.

”Old Liao, Old Li’s right, you’d better produce substantial evidence, else let’s break up now!”

Liu Yao continually backed towards the door.

Yang Xinqi’s reaction mirrored Liu Yao’s, retreating side by side, nervously watching the fully armed combatants.