Chapter 91 – Gathering in the Plaza to Await the Meat

Under Lu Hai's guidance, Di Ping and his group made their way toward the central plaza of the underground mall. It was at this point that Di Ping finally realized where all the people had gone—he had previously been puzzled about the empty rooms that should have been filled with people, but now he understood that everyone had gathered here.

The central area of the underground mall was a plaza of approximately 400 to 500 square meters. In the center stood a circular stage, typically used for promotional events by businesses. Currently, five large iron barrels were placed atop the stage, each supported by a fire beneath it. Steam was rising from the barrels, indicating that something was being cooked inside.

Around the stage, a dense crowd had gathered, all holding various utensils, their eyes fixed intently on the five iron barrels. Their gazes were filled with longing and a palpable hunger, clearly eager to feast.

On the stage, a group of ten or so armed personnel stood, maintaining order. Their guns were pointed at the crowd, preventing the hungry masses from rushing forward to seize the meat inside the barrels.

The crowd surged forward, pressing tightly against the stage. Elderly individuals and children were among the most vulnerable, some elderly people were pushed out of the line, and children cried out for their mothers.

"Send more people to organize the crowd! We need everyone to line up!" Di Ping observed the situation with a furrowed brow. The crowd was far too large, and if the situation escalated, it could lead to chaos. He turned to Lu Hai and gave his instructions.

"Understood, Mr. Di. I'll take care of it right away!" Lu Hai responded promptly and moved to arrange additional manpower.

"Little Di, let me go up and organize them! This is getting out of hand—if it continues like this, something will go wrong!" Han Zhongguo, also looking concerned, spoke urgently to Di Ping.

"Alright! You handle the organization. Have all the team members, except for those guarding the gates, come over to help. And gather the temporary personnel who participated in the earlier battle to maintain order. Let them know that there will be enough food for everyone, and ask them to wait a bit longer," Di Ping said after considering Han Zhongguo's suggestion.

"Great idea! I'll handle it right away!" Han Zhongguo clapped his hands in approval and immediately called for several people to assist. After he left, Lu Guoliang and Ge Zhongping also requested to participate in the task, and Di Ping agreed. With that, all of Di Ping's companions left to carry out their duties, leaving only Gina by his side.

Indeed, the people Di Ping had assigned this task to were quite capable. Han Zhongguo quickly climbed onto the stage and began shouting for the crowd to stop pushing and follow the new arrangements. Soon, many team members arrived from outside and began organizing the people into lines. Several young people who had likely participated in earlier battles also emerged from the crowd to help maintain order.

In less than half an hour, the crowd was divided into seven or eight lines, stretching out toward various exits. More than thirty team members and temporary staff surrounded the stage, preparing to distribute food.

At this point, Han Zhongguo and Ge Zhongping approached Di Ping and invited him to speak on stage. Di Ping felt it was necessary to say a few words, so he accepted the invitation without hesitation and made his way up.

Standing on the stage, Di Ping surveyed the crowd. Below him, there was a sea of people, all gazing up at him with curiosity, uncertain of who he was. Some looked at him with admiration—these were mostly the soldiers and team members who had fought alongside him earlier. They looked at him with near-reverence, having witnessed his strength firsthand. Humanity, regardless of time or circumstance, has always respected power.

"Brothers and sisters, you have suffered!" Di Ping's voice rang out across the plaza. He bowed deeply to the crowd, then straightened up. His eyes were slightly red, and his words came from the heart. As soon as he spoke, some in the crowd could no longer hold back their tears, while others looked on with red eyes.

Indeed, they had suffered. They had lived in constant fear, their lives uncertain, and with little to eat. Many had already become weak and disoriented from hunger. How could they not feel despair?

Di Ping's words had struck a chord with them, and many in the crowd were moved by the sincerity in his voice.

"This world has changed. No longer are humans the dominant force. Mutated beasts run rampant, and our survival is not easy. I'm sure everyone has felt this firsthand, so I need not say more. When I learned that you were trapped underground, I rushed here as fast as I could, hoping to save as many people as possible. But when I saw the dire situation, my heart was heavy. I cannot imagine the hardships you've endured!" Di Ping's voice grew softer as he spoke, his eyes scanning the crowd. Then, suddenly, his tone became more forceful.

"I believe you've all witnessed the power of the mutated beasts, but do not lose hope. Humans have also been bestowed with mysterious strength. We, too, will grow stronger—stronger than these mutated creatures. Many of you have already seen that we can kill these beasts, feast on their flesh, and gnaw on their bones, just like in the past. These mutated beasts will once again become our food!"

At this point, Di Ping suddenly moved. With a swift motion, he raised his leg and delivered a powerful kick to a stone pillar beside the stage. The pillar, about the width of a bowl, shattered into pieces with a deafening crash.

"Boom!"

The pillar disintegrated under Di Ping's kick, with debris flying in all directions. People nearby quickly jumped back in shock.

"Ah…" The crowd gasped in astonishment. No one had expected Di Ping to demonstrate such power, and they were even more amazed by the sheer force behind the kick. The stone pillar, which had been solid and sturdy, had been pulverized by a single strike—this was a demonstration of truly formidable strength.