Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

“Hehe, cooperation… There’s no need to enter the village for talks, it’s perfectly fine here!”

Zhang Su directly rejected Lei Youliang’s invitation, acknowledging that a mighty dragon cannot suppress a local snake. To all appearances, they seemed stronger than the people of Kuanzhuang, but caution was still the best approach.

“Mr. Zhang, you are truly cautious and careful, something we should learn from.”

Lei Youliang swept his gaze over the dozen or so people from Celestial Horse Island across the way, with a significant expression, as if to say, why are you still so timid with so many people?

Zhang Su paid no attention to what the other party wanted to express, and said indifferently, “Village Chief Lei is more impressive, not only using spies to probe reality but also playing the blame game.”

“Hoho… Didn’t you see through it with your magic eye?” Lei Youliang felt no embarrassment; in these times, any methods for survival were considered normal.

“Since your actions have been exposed, it’s time to discuss compensation!”

Zhang Su straightforwardly got to the point.

Lei Youliang didn’t hesitate either, nodding, “Of course, go ahead.”

“A living young girl for one thousand pounds of rice, one thousand pounds of flour, plus five hundred pounds of various meats, vegetables, and convenience foods.”

As Zhang Su spoke, he used his fingers to make gestures.

Su Xiaoya looked up at Zhang Su’s fingers, her little face showing distress. She never imagined she would be reduced to being exchanged for food one day.

The people of Kuanzhuang felt uneasy, but in this matter, they were in the wrong, and with their own people in the hands of the other side, if they didn’t want to break ties with Celestial Horse Island, they could only accept it reluctantly. Fortunately, food wasn’t too big a problem for them.

“Fine, we’ll follow your terms.”

Lei Youliang shook his head with a smile, and continued, “Can Xiaoya return first? Her sister has been waiting for her and has mentioned her several times.”

Zhang Su furrowed his brow slightly, secretly pondering that Su Xiaoya had an older sister; without other relatives, this kind of combination was quite difficult to manage in the apocalypse, often becoming a target for bullying. But this wasn’t his concern, so with a wave of his hand, he said.

“The food isn’t here yet, why rush? There’s another matter to discuss with you! Today’s the Cyan Dragon Corps’ grain collection day, do you not find it strange that you haven’t seen their people?”

“Um… We’ve been monitoring the road, occasionally spotting scattered vehicles. Over an hour ago, a convoy of seven or eight vehicles sped past heading south, not knowing where they went. Could it be the Cyan Dragon Corps’ convoy?”

“Who’s your lookout? They’re useless!” Zhang Su smirked and pinched Su Xiaoya’s shoulder, “You speak, tell him what’s going on!”

“Uncle Lei, um… the Cyan Dragon Corps went to Celestial Horse Island first, around 3 am today…”

“What?”

Before Su Xiaoya could elaborate, this piece of news left the people of Kuanzhuang quite shaken.

The Cyan Dragon Corps went south to Celestial Horse Island first, and now the leader of Celestial Horse Island has come to Kuanzhuang, making the situation rather intriguing!

“That’s odd. The monitoring post only saw one vehicle pass by early this morning. The Cyan Dragon Corps can’t possibly collect grain with just one vehicle, right?”

A rugged man furrowed his brow, showing excitement on his face.

“Uncle Huo, no need to hurry… Since Xiaoya said it, it must be true! I reckon it’s one vehicle with lights on as a cover, followed by others behind. Right?”

Lei Youliang asked Zhang Su.

Zhang Su didn’t explain, just tilted his head slightly at Su Xiaoya, waiting for her to speak.

Seeing Zhang Su’s gesture, Su Xiaoya quickly continued, “It wasn’t just one vehicle, there were many; I saw at least seven or eight vehicles, plenty of people, each carrying a gun. They even brought a huge monstrous creature, a particularly fat zombie that could slice a person in half with a single stroke, really terrifying!”

Throughout the battle, Su Xiaoya’s memory of 003 was the most vivid, as was the case for most others.

“Xiaoya, you can’t just make things up. Is this man forcing you to say that?”

The man called Uncle Huo furrowed his brow deeply, feeling that Su Xiaoya’s words were rather unbelievable.

Zhang Su rolled his eyes and didn’t bother to speak, instead gazing into the distance, trying to further understand Kuanzhuang’s defenses to see if there was anything worth learning.

Su Xiaoya shook her head and waved her hands, “No, no, I saw all of it myself. The people on Celestial Horse Island were really impressive, initially acting weakly to let the Cyan Dragon Corps lower their guard, then suddenly ’boom’, a car exploded, three cars exploded consecutively! Then they started fighting on both sides, and in a short time, the Cyan Dragon Corps’ people were all dead.”

The thrilling course of the battle seemed a bit bland in Su Xiaoya’s recount, but it didn’t hinder the shock of the Kuanzhuang people!

Zhang Su did not stop Su Xiaoya from describing the battle. After all, Lei Youliang would find out about these things sooner or later.

“They’re all dead?”

Lei Youliang once again showed a surprised expression as he looked at Zhang Su, filled with disbelief. The Cyan Dragon Corps went to Celestial Horse Island and didn’t come to Kuanzhuang; many things could already be guessed, but to say Celestial Horse Island wiped out the Cyan Dragon Corps grain collection team seemed too unimaginable!

“Are you doubting the strength of Celestial Horse Island?”

Zhang Su looked at Lei Youliang indifferently. He found this guy somewhat displeasing; he appeared very refined on the surface, but his core carried a pretentious taste, with deep thoughts and many conspiracies—unless he could be used to his advantage, otherwise, he had to be eliminated completely!

“No, no, that’s not what I meant, Mr. Zhang, don’t misunderstand…”

Lei Youliang saw the icy eyes across from him, even the female members carrying guns weren’t just for show, so he knew this group was anything but simple.

He had seen the Cyan Dragon Corps people, and comparing them with the Celestial Horse Island people, that so-called corps seemed somewhat exaggerated.

“Enough talk, Village Chief Lei, let’s settle the payment first!”

Zhang Su extended his hand in a gesture asking for payment.

“What payment?”

Lei Youliang looked confused, then gazed at Su Xiaoya, “Didn’t we already settle the food for the ransom?”

“No, no, she’s just one aspect!”

Zhang Su shook his head, pointing to the few people beside him, “My brothers fought fiercely with the Cyan Dragon Corps, some dying, others injured, using up a lot of ammunition reserves. Doesn’t Kuanzhuang plan to compensate us? Are you going to rest easy just like that?”

“You…”

“Uncle Huo, don’t rush!” Lei Youliang stopped the person beside him and then said to Zhang Su, “Mr. Zhang’s words make sense. If it weren’t for you holding off the Cyan Dragon Corps, Kuanzhuang would have suffered certain losses no matter what. So, tell me, how should we settle this?”

As a leader of a survivor camp, Lei Youliang had his principles. If he couldn’t understand such simple matters, he couldn’t have held his position.

“I heard you found an ammo depot?”

Zhang Su asked straightforwardly.

Lei Youliang furrowed his brow, glancing at Su Xiaoya with a hint of helplessness, then said, “Since Xiaoya told you, I won’t hide it, there is indeed something like that.”

“No, no, Uncle Lei, I didn’t say…” Su Xiaoya shook her hands repeatedly to explain, “I only said you have weapons…”

“It’s all the same.”

Lei Youliang didn’t blame Su Xiaoya; having her act as a spy was already exhausting and couldn’t demand too much.

“I won’t mince words, I want twenty of your current rifles, four magazines for each, with ten thousand rounds of ammunition, and five anti-tank rocket launchers with a hundred grenades.”

Zhang Su stated the amount he had decided earlier.

Upon hearing Zhang Su’s request, the people of Kuanzhuang knitted their brows, and Lei Youliang’s face showed difficulty as he said, “Guns and bullets are easy… But a hundred grenades—we only have a stock of just over forty!”

“That few?”

Zhang Su doubted as he looked at Lei Youliang.

“Look at the type of guns we’re using, they’re like the old-school model 81. That depot’s been around for ages; it probably was meant to be destroyed, but for some unknown reason got left behind. As years have passed—although we’re in a dry, low-rainfall area—time takes its toll, with many already rendered useless.”

Lei Youliang patiently explained.

The model 81 is the predecessor of the Type 95; if well-maintained, it’s very stable, capable of firing ten thousand rounds without issues. But as Lei Youliang said, with the depot being so old, the stability is questionable.