Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

Just as they stepped out of the village, with an open terrain and clear sight, Skinny was the first to notice some vehicles darting out from beside a building blocking the southern view.

The group immediately halted, each with a different expression on their face.

The members of the Flying Wolf Gang exchanged glances, silently wondering if they were out of luck, having just made up a lie about Zhang Su kicking the bucket, when Zhang Su suddenly returned.

The people from Bridge Town wore wary looks, not only guarding against the Flying Wolf Gang but also the convoy coming from afar.

What started as over a dozen vehicles gradually grew to over twenty, then over thirty, the number kept increasing, seeming endless...

”In the middle of nowhere, this kind of setup except for maybe Celestial Horse Island, who else could it be? Qi Dabin, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

Meng Changwei took a step back and glanced at Qi Dabin beside him, holding a mini submachine gun and having already unlocked the safety, or perhaps he had never locked it since leaving the village.

Seeing even the boss had drawn a gun, the tension immediately spread, both sides moving apart with nervous expressions, only a middle-aged man with a disability slowly walked, then simply stood between the two groups.

”This... Old Meng, please, please don’t misunderstand!”

Cold sweat broke out on Qi Dabin’s back; the Flying Wolf Gang had only two guns, a hunting rifle that belonged to Xie Guangfa and a firearm, both without bullets, while half of the opposing fighters were armed and, as he knew, had ample ammunition.

If a conflict arose, they’d be the severely injured or dead.

”Then tell me what I’m misunderstanding, isn’t that Master Zhang’s convoy?”

Meng Changwei pointed towards the provincial road in the distance, but even he became uncertain midway through his sentence.

Seeing Meng Changwei’s changed expression, Skinny quickly understood the reason as he followed his gaze.

Explaining thirty or forty vehicles was reasonable, but as time went by, it was like watching trains from the roadside as a child, seeing no end in sight. In that short moment, the convoy stretched several hundred meters with over a hundred vehicles, and they still hadn’t seen the convoy’s end!

”Ah, this really is a misunderstanding, Boss Meng, look at this, possibly over a hundred vehicles, with tanks no less! How could this possibly be Master Zhang’s convoy!”

As Skinny spoke, the several hundred meters long convoy on the provincial road finally emerged from behind the obstructive buildings, grandly moving northward, featuring a variety of styles and types of vehicles, the less impressive lead cargo truck countered by the imposing tank at the rear.

Meng Changwei wasn’t surprised to see tanks: he knew Celestial Horse Island had one, initially acquired from the Cyan Dragon Corps. But the Cyan Dragon Corps had a heavy tank, while this was clearly a light tank from afar. Though not a military enthusiast, Meng Changwei could distinguish the nearly twenty-ton discrepancy from their sizes, even with just one eye.

Even if Celestial Horse Island somehow acquired a light tank, the sheer number of vehicles needed for driving each required hundreds of drivers; plus, zombies strapped on every rooftop indicated this was a large survivor camp migrating!

”In my view, this is absolutely not Celestial Horse Island’s convoy.”

Upon seeing the imposing convoy, Qi Dabin let out a breath of relief, thinking similarly to Meng Changwei, believing it was likely a big group relocating.

”Judging by the convoy’s direction, it seems to be coming from Qin City. Surely not the Righteous Dao Association from Tang City, that’s hundreds of kilometers away! Could it be... something happened in Qin City?”

A voice emerged from among those from Bridge Town, echoing the thought most shared initially.

Meng Changwei furrowed his brow, slowly reholstering his gun, shaking his head to signify he wasn’t sure.

”Rather than fighting over territory with those few groups on Celestial Horse Island, why not find a way to join this larger force? What do you say, Old Meng?”

Qi Dabin caught a glimpse of Meng Changwei putting away his gun, the tight atmosphere instantly easing; so did his thoughts.

This suggestion quickly garnered many approvals, not just from the Flying Wolf Gang, but secretly from some in Bridge Town too.

The inadequacy of Satellite Village’s defenses was evident; if a better option surfaces, it shouldn’t be ignored.

Meng Changwei listened intently to Qi Dabin’s words about ”contending with several groups for territory,” thoughtlessly assuming it probable not to be false, hinting that something had indeed happened on Celestial Horse Island.

He had no clue this was Qi Dabin’s forte — deceiving others requires first deceiving oneself, making lies seem truer than reality!

Wasting no time delving into matters on the mountains, the choice necessary lay directly ahead.

”It’s easy for you to say, such a large faction surely has hundreds of people. Would they readily accept survivors?”

Meng Changwei watched the convoy slowly nearing, visibly hesitating.

”Big faction or not, they’re still made of people. We’re all capable and resourceful; any survivor camp would welcome us. Come on, Old Meng, let’s approach and see for ourselves?”

Qi Dabin enthusiastically urged Meng Changwei forward, or rather hoped to rope in the people from Bridge Town too, as the Flying Wolf Gang appeared too destitute in comparison...

The Flying Wolf Gang now had twelve members capable of wielding weapons against zombies, but lacking essential resources and adequate weapons, they appeared utterly pathetic, embodying the refugee aesthetic; Bridge Town folks were distinct — better armed, resourced, well-attired!

Meng Changwei observed the massive convoy’s gradual approach, its uniform pace, orderly strapped zombie corpses, with vehicles not tinted allowed glimpses inside revealing tightly packed spaces, whether people or goods, the carriages brimmed full.

Leaving aside military prowess, merely judging from resources, numbers, and discipline, this convoy stood indisputable; even against the Cyan Dragon Corps, Celestial Horse Island, and even Mountain and Sea District’s major powers, it surpassed them!

Feeling diminished, Meng Changwei hesitated, casting a glance at his brothers, seeing unanimous nods consenting, urging a move forward.

”Let’s go, and inquire!”

Meng Changwei resolved, waving his hand, leading everyone forward.

Before fully destroying relations, the Flying Wolf Gang would refrain from disobeying Meng Changwei’s strategy as long as their interests remained intact....

...

”Oh? Has Boss Meng arrived?”

On the tank, Zhang Su was conversing with Zhong Xiaoshan.

”Indeed, we had just finished breakfast this morning when they arrived. I counted roughly forty people, mostly men, so I didn’t open the gate and arranged for them to stay at Village No.1.”

”Over forty? I remember Meng Changwei telling me they alone had that many. Have they abandoned their prior camp to come here?”

Zhang Su felt a tinge of puzzlement; given situations like Absolute Justice and Niu YaZI having been severely struck and fleeing, it made sense. But why relocate if the camp faced no threat?

Soon, Zhong Xiaoshan resolved Zhang Su’s doubts, her voice resounding inside the tank: ”Hmm... Sakura mentioned it likely wasn’t just Bridge Town folk, or perhaps other camps are involved too. It’s all rather complicated; they seem internally divided.”

”Sakura said this?”

Zhang Su frowned; if others inferred, it’s subjective, but Sakura’s words bore more weight, given her extraordinary capabilities, offering higher credibility.

”Okay, Xiaoshan, I understand...”

”Brother, a group emerged from Village No.1, not our men!”

Zhang Su hadn’t finished replying to Zhong Xiaoshan when the intercom crackled with Zhao Dezhu’s loud alarm.

”Encountered them, Xiaoshan, hang on...”

”Wrong, brother, it seems to be the Bridge Castle’s Meng family!”

In mid-farewell, interrupted again by Zhao Dezhu.

Feeling it pointless continuing with Zhong Xiaoshan, she also knew the situation from Zhao Dezhu’s shouting, Zhang Su picked up the radio to issue a command: ”All vehicles, stop!”

Pfft, hiss, screech...

Upon issuing the stop order, all vehicles braked, resulting in peculiar malfunctioning noises, coupled with the sounds of brakes rubbing and frames straining, forming an unconventional symphony along the provincial road.

Stretching almost two miles long, the convoy parked as Meng Changwei’s group cautiously trod through the fields, frozen in fear. The saga of hoods and ends made the collective caravan seem indivisible.