Chapter 57: The Duel

Yue Zhong glanced at Zhang Xiang and said indifferently, "Chi Yang, go easy on him. Don't take his life."

Chi Yang nodded and stepped forward, extending his hand toward Zhang Xiang. "After you. Don't worry, I won't kill you."

The way Yue Zhong and Chi Yang spoke in unison only further infuriated Zhang Xiang. A flash of malice crossed his eyes as he smirked and walked up to Chi Yang.

Once in front of Chi Yang, Zhang Xiang immediately raised his arms to guard his chest, bent his body slightly forward, and took small, quick steps, staring at Chi Yang like a leopard stalking its prey.

In the world before the apocalypse, Zhang Xiang had been a skilled underground fighter. Seven people had died by his fists. Though he was arrogant, he had the skills to back it up.

Chi Yang, on the other hand, simply stood still, calmly watching Zhang Xiang without making any moves.

Wang Guanghu observed Chi Yang carefully for a moment, then frowned and said, "Brother Yue Zhong, are you sure you want Chi Yang to fight Zhang Xiang? Zhang Xiang's fists are no joke."

Wang Guanghu had seen many people in his life, but he couldn't see anything particularly impressive about Chi Yang. He didn't want Zhang Xiang to ruin his plans to recruit Yue Zhong. He had witnessed Yue Zhong's strength firsthand, and if he could bring someone like that under his command, his ambitions would be much easier to achieve.

"Brother Hu, don't worry. You can oversee the duel," Yue Zhong said with a faint smile. Chi Yang had already reached level 10 and had undergone a job change, making him a formidable fighter. Yue Zhong had also given Chi Yang the Level 2 protective gear he no longer needed. Chi Yang's strength was second only to Yue Zhong's in their team, and ordinary people were no match for him.

Seeing Yue Zhong's confidence, Wang Guanghu turned to Zhang Xiang and said, "Alright, let the duel begin!"

"You're dead, kid!" Zhang Xiang grinned viciously and lunged forward like a hunting leopard, throwing a powerful punch aimed at Chi Yang's nose.

Watching Zhang Xiang's leopard-like movements, Chi Yang took a step to the left, dodging the punch, then surged forward and delivered a powerful blow to Zhang Xiang's abdomen. The enhanced strength behind the punch instantly erupted.

Zhang Xiang doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach and curling up on the ground like a shrimp.

Seeing Zhang Xiang so easily defeated by Chi Yang, Lei Zhen, who was sitting beside Wang Guanghu, narrowed his eyes. He was Wang Guanghu's top fighter, but even he would have struggled to take down Zhang Xiang so effortlessly.

Wang Guanghu looked at Chi Yang, a glint of interest in his eyes, and clapped his hands lightly, praising, "Impressive skills!"

"Thank you," Chi Yang replied indifferently, then returned to sit beside Yue Zhong.

Wang Guanghu clapped his hands again, and a woman in her mid-twenties, quite beautiful, walked in.

Wang Guanghu said casually to the woman, "Wang Ying, help Third Master to the back to rest."

Wang Ying hurried over to help Zhang Xiang up.

"Get off me! Don't touch me, you bitch!" Zhang Xiang's face twisted in anger as he slapped Wang Ying across the face. He stood up, shooting a venomous glare at Yue Zhong and Chi Yang, then stormed off.

Wang Ying, having been slapped, didn't dare to show any anger. Her eyes reddened, and she looked like she was about to cry.

Wang Guanghu acted as if he hadn't seen Wang Ying being hit and said coldly, "You may leave, Wang Ying."

Wang Ying whispered, "Yes, Brother Hu," and then left.

Wang Guanghu turned his gaze to the special skeleton, Bai Gu, standing beside Yue Zhong, his eyes burning with curiosity. "Yue Zhong, can you tell me how you got that skeleton by your side?"

Wang Guanghu had witnessed Yue Zhong's battle with Chen Si. Even when shot by rifle bullets, Bai Gu hadn't crumbled or shattered. Instead, it moved with agility far beyond that of a normal person. If Wang Guanghu hadn't surrounded the two Dongfeng trucks and used the women as hostages, Bai Gu alone could have killed Chen Si and his men.

Yue Zhong smiled and didn't hide the truth. "It's my ability."

This wasn't some big secret. Anyone with half a brain could figure it out.

Wang Guanghu pressed further, "How can I gain such an ability?"

Lei Zhen and Chen Yan also pricked up their ears, eager to hear the answer. In this apocalyptic world, the stronger you were, the better your chances of survival. Everyone wanted to gain such special abilities.

Yue Zhong explained, "When you fight zombies in close combat, they have a chance to drop skill books. Using those skill books grants you special abilities. That's how I gained mine."

This wasn't a secret either. Everyone in Yue Zhong's team knew about it. However, knowing was one thing; actually doing it was another. Few dared to engage in close combat with zombies. After all, even a small injury from a zombie meant certain death.

Hearing Yue Zhong's words, Wang Guanghu, Lei Zhen, and Chen Yan all frowned and exchanged glances. They had killed many zombies, but none of them had ever engaged in close combat with them. Why would anyone use a stick to fight zombies when they had guns? That would be foolish.

A slightly overweight, middle-aged man with a simple and honest appearance walked in and reported to Wang Guanghu, "Brother Hu, the meal is ready."

Wang Guanghu nodded, then turned to Yue Zhong with a smile. "Yue Zhong, you've come a long way. Let's eat first."

Wang Guanghu clapped his hands, and several beautiful women in cheongsams entered, carrying plates of food and placing them on the tables.

The dishes were divided into two types. In front of Yue Zhong, Chi Yang, Wang Shuang, Wang Guanghu, and Lei Zhen were rare post-apocalyptic delicacies: white-cut chicken, stir-fried wild vegetables, stir-fried snails, stir-fried frog, and large bowls of white rice with steamed buns.

On the table for Ji Qingwu, Lu Wen, Chen Yao, and the other women, however, there was only a lumpy porridge made of corn and wild vegetables.

Yue Zhong and the others ate inside the house, while Ji Qingwu and the women were seated outside in the courtyard.

The somewhat spoiled Zhang Xin took a sip of the corn porridge with wild vegetables, only to be hit with a sour, spoiled taste. She gagged and spat it out. "Ugh! How can anyone eat this? Is this even food for humans?"

Since being rescued by Yue Zhong, Zhang Xin had never gone hungry. Though the food wasn't as good as before the apocalypse, they had never lacked rice or instant noodles.

The other women also took small sips and immediately spat it out. It was inedible.

Watching the women spit out the porridge, a few children who had been peeking from outside sneaked in. They picked up the wild vegetables the women had spat onto the ground, wiped them on their clothes, and stuffed them into their mouths.