Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

”Old Tan.”

Zhang Su was down to just a T-shirt, with steam rising from his body, holding a kettle with light saline solution inside.

Tan Huajun was drinking the sugar-salt water brought by his daughter Mo Qianlan. Upon hearing Zhang Su calling, he weakly turned his head and nodded.

”Hello, Uncle Zhang!”

”Brother Su, hehe, drink some water.”

Mo Qianlan sweetly greeted Zhang Su. She not only brought water for her mom but also didn’t forget Lu Yubo, being very considerate.

Lu Yubo held a kettle, seemingly smiling infatuatedly.

”Well... it’s nothing. Go ahead, Lanlan, help your mom back to rest. We’ll talk during mealtime.”

Zhang Su saw that the flesh on Tan Huajun’s body had sagged. He intended to ask about Wang Guangjun but had to give up.

Chen Hanzhou and others left one after another. He walked heavily to Zhang Su’s back and said, ”Brother Su, do you have time to talk?”

”Hmm? Is there any special reaction?”

Seeing it was Chen Hanzhou, Zhang Su thought it was some anomaly with the energy within him, so he quickly led him to a corner, meanwhile gesturing to Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshan to take a break.

”What’s the situation?”

”It’s not me; I’m fine... I just want to ask about Brother Liu and that newcomer, that Ke, their hands?”

Although extremely exhausted, Chen Hanzhou’s eyes were glowing. Others might not have noticed much, but he clearly saw Liu Tianji and Ke Zhiyu’s hands—which had previously been amputated—now in such conditions, couldn’t possibly have perfect prosthetics. They were real hands!

This discovery set off a storm in his heart.

Zhang Su rolled his tongue inside his mouth, sighed slightly, and admitted directly, ”It’s very complicated and extremely risky. It’s not replicable.”

He wasn’t sure about the effect of the Golden Thalamus. Stepping back, even if it were confirmed, apart from the one promised to Fu Weijun, there would only be one left. If it could be divided, that would be fine, but if dividing it rendered it ineffective...

From a personal standpoint, giving one to Chen Hanzhou was justifiable, but from the perspective of a camp leader, Zhang Su thought perhaps letting Qiu Hui regain mobility could create more value.

”Is it really possible?”

Chen Hanzhou just wanted to confirm if limb regeneration was possible. After getting an affirmative answer, his eyes shone brighter, and he asked excitedly, ”Brother Su, tell me how it was done. I want to give it a try.”

Only those who have lost an arm can understand the intense desire for limb regeneration.

Zhang Su rubbed his temples with some difficulty, looking at the limping figures of Liu Tianji and Ke Zhiyu leaving the scene. If there indeed were a choice, Liu Tianji needn’t be mentioned, and Ke Zhiyu certainly wouldn’t be in the lineup, but the situation had come to this.

”Limb regeneration is related to the Corpse Transformation Inhibitor previously researched by the Cyan Dragon Corps. It’s exceedingly risky; only two out of seven treated individuals survived and regenerated limbs. Four died, and one remained in a fluctuating state between zombie and human, without limb regeneration!”

”Is it that dangerous?”

Upon hearing this, the hope in Chen Hanzhou’s eyes instantly dimmed considerably. Although he longed to regain his arm, he didn’t want to pay the price of death. But immediately he thought of something and hastily said, ”Brother Su, is it possible that one doesn’t need to be bitten by a zombie? Just injecting the Corpse Transformation Inhibitor might work? Or maybe injecting several doses?”

”This... you’d better have fewer conversations with Fu Weijun from now on!”

Zhang Su felt that this guy’s thoughts were increasingly influenced by Fu.

”Right, Dr. Fu would surely have a solution. Right, right, Brother Su, thank you. I’ll go find Dr. Fu...”

”You’re looking for trouble! Dr. Fu made a big mistake and has been temporarily suspended by me, currently in a repentance period. Do not provoke him!”

Upon hearing Chen Hanzhou’s plan, Zhang Su immediately stopped him.

”Huh? Made a big mistake? This... alright then.”

”Don’t worry; they are still researching. Since a way to achieve limb regeneration has been discovered, it can be safely realized in the future. It will take time. What’s important now is to enhance yourself. Survive, and you’ll surely live to see the day when the technology matures!”

While comforting Chen Hanzhou, Zhang Su was also contemplating. Qin City already had mutated zombies. If they couldn’t be captured alive, the only option would be to kill them. Then perhaps they could obtain more Golden Thalamus, solving all problems.

Chen Hanzhou nodded firmly: ”Brother Su, you’re right. As long as we’re alive, there’s hope for everything. Rest assured, I won’t disclose this matter. I haven’t discussed any of it with anyone, not even with Lanlan.”

Zhang Su patted Chen Hanzhou’s shoulder, empathizing: ”Keeping secrets is a tough job; it’s been hard on you. How are you feeling yourself, that energy?”

Clenching his left hand into a fist, Chen Hanzhou smiled: ”The mobilization is becoming more and more refined, achieving a thorough and complete understanding. My combat power has improved significantly. If I encounter a liquefied gas zombie again, I can definitely handle it!”

Speaking of the liquefied gas zombie, Zhang Su felt a bit guilty. Though he was the one who eliminated it, Chen Hanzhou’s contributions were also indelible. Yet now he couldn’t share the Golden Thalamus extracted from the liquefied gas zombie’s skull...

From a personal perspective, Zhang Su wanted to give that last piece to Chen Hanzhou, but reason told him to give it to someone of greater value.

”Awesome, maybe it won’t be long before you surpass me!”

Zhang Su said with a smile.

Chen Hanzhou scratched his head, with a puzzled expression: ”Brother Su, I can’t tell if you’re complimenting or belittling me... Anyway, sister-in-law is still waiting, let’s head back.”

”You both work so hard, especially Xiaoshan. Don’t train to the point of exhaustion. The logistics management still needs your oversight.”

On the way back, Zhang Su supported Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshan.

Both were not in great shape, their legs trembling, and their whole bodies were sore and limp. If you threw them a pillow, they would be asleep in three minutes, without a care in the world.

”Everyone is working hard, so how can we slack off? I have to say, Juzi’s martial arts training method is much more effective than your Mad Dog Fist!”

Zheng Xinyu clung onto Zhang Su’s arm while complaining. Although the training was exhausting, she could feel her muscles and bones being strengthened, a marvelous sensation.

”Are you stupid? The Mad Dog Fist teaches you moves and combat strategies. It allows you to attack while dodging simultaneously. Ju Mumio’s method is clearly a body-strengthening technique. It’s aimed at the foundation; the body and the moves complement each other. Understand?”

”Got it, got it, the difference between Inner Family Heart Method and External Boxing. Do you really think I’m an idiot? By the way, earlier Xiaochen was looking for you...”

”I know!”

As Zheng Xinyu’s voice fell, Zhong Xiaoshan suddenly found strength and shouted, causing Zhang Ya and Wang Xin walking ahead to turn back simultaneously.

”Haha...” Zhong Xiaoshan laughed awkwardly and then whispered to Zhang Su, ”I finally remember who Zhou Haotian is!”

”Ah? He used to be a librarian at the Xinhua Bookstore. Do you know him?”

Zhang Su looked at Zhong Xiaoshan with curiosity.

”Brother Su, Xinyu, do you remember during the outbreak, we found that bankbook at that old couple’s home?”

There was a hint of heaviness in Zhong Xiaoshan’s words.

”Now that you mention it, I recall. The bankbook indeed had a signature, and if I’m not mistaken... it was Haotian?” Zheng Xinyu, somehow gathering strength, managed to lift a finger, her face serious.

Zhang Su nodded: ”I remember too... Wonder if this Haotian is that Haotian. If so, it’s quite the coincidence.”

This wasn’t something Zhang Su cared much about. With personnel merging from several divisions, many familiar people reuniting was a tiny bit of good fortune in the apocalypse.

But to girls, they particularly enjoyed the feeling of coincidence. Zhong Xiaoshan said, ”Can I ask him later?”

”Why not? Go ahead and ask.”

Talking along the way, the group returned to their accommodation. After power was restored, the living facilities on Celestial Horse Island were operational again. Taking a shower every day might be a luxury, but there’s no pressure in wiping down, which is quite a feat in such an environment.