(1) A Group of Armed Survivors Directly Called This Person the Leader (1)

Dusk.

Duong Quang Apartments.

Room 603.

Everyone was gathered in the old gentlemen's room, considered a formal meeting.

This meeting, as long as one was a part of Duong Quang Apartments, everyone was striving to participate.

Phi Phi and Dinh Dinh, along with the orphanage children, carried small stools and sat there, little heads raised, watching the adults converse. Don't just look at their words having no weight; they still had the right to participate.

The rise and fall of the residential area, children also share responsibility.

"A group of well-equipped armed survivors has arrived in Hoang city."

Han Suong told everyone the news she learned in the afternoon. If they were ordinary survivors, it wouldn't matter. But armed survivors represented they had extremely strong combat power. Firearms are currently the most dangerous weapons. If targeted, very few survivors could resist them.

Lam Pham asked, "What are they doing in Hoang city?"

Han Suong shook her head, "Don't know for now. Regardless of what they are doing, it doesn't matter much to us. Just that they are armed. If they really are that kind of malicious survivor, still relatively dangerous."

Co Hang said, "Firearms are strictly managed; it's very difficult for ordinary people to obtain weapons. Looks like they want to go to the military barracks. We cannot ignore this. If they are for self-defense, this aspect I can understand. But afraid they might rely on possessing weapons to act recklessly. That, for living survivors, would be a disaster."

Lam Pham looked at Old man Vuong, "Old Sir, do you have any opinions?"

Old man Vuong smiled, "Before seeing with my own eyes, I have no thoughts. Good or bad cannot be judged casually. I hope they are survivors who fight against zombies. But often, things and thoughts will form huge differences. Currently, we can only hope they are good people."

Han Suong was silent. She only knew armed members entered Hoang city; other specific situations completely unknown. Thinking Hoang city is so large, who knows which corner they are in.

Phi Phi, sitting on a small stool, said, "Uncle Lam is especially formidable! Let Uncle Lam go check them out! If they are bad people, let Uncle Lam send them all to the police station! Dinh Dinh sister, what sister said makes sense, right?"

"Mm! Phi Phi sister is very right! Doing bad things should be sent to the police uncles' side!" Dinh Dinh followed Phi Phi like a thunderbolt strikes where pointed. She always regarded Phi Phi as the idol sister in her heart, an especially outstanding sister, always urging, hoping Phi Phi sister could become more and more outstanding.

Lam Pham smiled, "Phi Phi is right. I think I can go find them, see if they are good survivors or not, right?"

"Right! Too right!" Phi Phi nodded.

Han Suong and the others looked at Lam Pham. That's right! Their Duong Quang Apartments has such a formidable strong person; indeed nothing to fear.

Chopping zombies technique truly domineering.

Now the discussion atmosphere was very good. Such feeling made everyone feel very comfortable. Encountering matters, discuss, think of solutions. And Lam Pham very much liked listening from the side. As Duong Quang Apartments' security guard, he liked listening to everyone's appeals.

No matter what, must live up to the five thousand yuan salary.

The appearance of armed survivors wasn't the main discussion topic, just letting everyone know such a survivor team existed in Hoang city.

Co Hang looked at Old Mao, "Old Mao, have time tomorrow?"

Old Mao asked, "What's the matter?"

Co Hang voiced his thoughts, "I want to prepare for the worst-case scenario. If zombies besiege our Duong Quang Apartments, when the number stacks to a certain degree, zombies can pile up into a zombie mountain, thereby crossing over to high places. The perimeter wall and iron gate are just ordinary defense measures, fundamentally unable to resist. So I want to change the windows to iron bars, the kind that can be sealed, like in "I Am Legend"."

"No problem! Tomorrow we'll do it together! Current materials are sufficient; making iron bars isn't a difficult task!" Old Mao strongly agreed with Co Hang's idea. Indeed a safety guarantee. Even if zombies really rushed into the community area, or stacked Arhats climbing the outer wall, iron bars could effectively block them outside.

Lam Pham liked this kind of atmosphere.

Everyone was striving to make Duong Quang Apartments better and better.

...

...

Desert, Research Base.

Quy Thu Nguyet, wearing glasses, had worked continuously for over thirty hours, sleep time very little. In the apocalypse, zombies were like a huge mountain, heavily pressing down on her.

Long Cung Base and Yin He Base were both accelerating research progress. (Long Cung = Dragon Palace, Yin He = Milky Way/Galaxy)

Recently, an accident occurred on their side. When capturing zombies and transporting them to the base, a researcher got too close to the cage, finger bitten by a zombie, protective suit even bitten through. Under the researcher's despairing expression, was shot dead. This also caused the base to lose another one of its few researchers.

Now.

Everyone stood behind large glass, watching machinery prepare to open a crystal only the size of a fingernail. This crystal was discovered in the head of an ordinary zombie.

But this ordinary zombie wasn't ordinary, somewhat different from other zombies. Regardless of strength or speed, both received huge enhancements. After killing it, actually found a fingernail-sized crystal in this zombie's head.

This was their latest discovery.

Quy Thu Nguyet believed evolved-form zombies might really evolve from these ordinary zombies. When evolution occurs, crystals will form in their heads.

"Professor Quy, what exactly is the formation principle of this kind of crystal?" a young researcher asked curiously.

Since the apocalypse until now.

Still unable to thoroughly research. This was an extremely terrifying matter. Even any virus terrifying to the extreme, as long as research begins, can slowly understand the virus situation, thereby finding symptomatic treatment methods.

But now clearly left people somewhat at a loss.

Quy Thu Nguyet said, "Have you read Taoist cultivation theories? Among them, 'Jie Dan' (Forming the Core/Elixir) is very interesting. Ordinary zombies don't have crystals in their heads, but zombies developing towards evolved forms will. This crystal now was found in the head of a zombie already evolving. Can't help but shock people."

The researcher said, "But these are all mythological legends, cannot be taken seriously."

Quy Thu Nguyet said gravely, "I also didn't take this seriously. The difficult problem before us now is, what exactly do zombies rely on to evolve? And what do they rely on to condense crystals? The theory of gnawing humans to replenish energy isn't reliable, but this possibility also exists."

Apocalyptic origin: large-scale human sudden transformation into zombies, without any signs. Even their underground base occasionally had zombies appear.

From this, can rule out the possibility of virus transmission.

"Alright, don't think. Watch the experiment."

In the laboratory, a robotic arm embedded with a high-speed rotating tiny drill bit, precisely to break open the crystal. Ordinary external force very difficult to damage the crystal.

Upon contact.

The crystal's outer shell received pressure; various data were being monitored.

As the crystal broke open, Quy Thu Nguyet nervously and expectantly looked at the data report. But not even a second passed, the data actually showed no change whatsoever, and that crystal crack! instantly shattered.

Quy Thu Nguyet stared blankly. An experiment waited for so long, just like this?

Watched for nothing?

Experimented for nothing?

But just then.

A research staff member excitedly said, "Wait a minute! There's a change! Data at 0.1 seconds showed quite a large flow, but quickly returned to normal!"

Hearing this, Quy Thu Nguyet hurriedly went to the equipment, checked the situation just now.

What made her very puzzled was... where did this appearing energy go?

...

...

Early morning, another beautiful day. Life won't change because you're in a mess, but always urges you, welcoming the arrival of a new life.

On the street.

Two cargo trucks drove one after another. The back of one cargo truck sat survivors each holding weapons. The other cargo truck's back only had a few two people, with many supplies displayed behind: food and ammunition, etc.

In the driver's cabin of the front cargo truck, a middle-aged man with short hair, dark skin, eyes extremely resolute, looked at the surrounding situation, also a bit strange.

"Didn't expect Hoang city's zombies to be fewer than we imagined."

"Yeah, somewhat unrealistic. We fled from Hecheng city; that was being forced, no choice. Dog bastards! That place is simply hell!"

The man speaking thought of Hecheng city's scene, truly shivered without being cold.

Zombies in swarms.

Also various strange, terrifying zombies, completely reducing human living space to the extreme, leaving survivors without any hope of survival.

They had seen too many zombies; that group of zombies' explosive power unimaginable.

Especially when preparing to leave Hecheng city, they witnessed a colossal zombie nearly three meters tall breach a shelter in Hecheng city. That scene truly frightening. Iron gates before this type of zombie were like paper; one crash and the gate collapsed, without even a moment's hesitation.

Watching them tremble like leaves.

The dark-skinned man took out a cigarette, lowered his head to light it. Screech! Emergency brake. Inertia almost made the dark-skinned man burn his eyebrows.

"Ton Tuong! What the hell are you doing?"

He said unhappily, then looked up wanting to see the situation.

Clack!

Lighter fell onto the car seat.

Cigarette held in mouth, slowly burning.

Stared wide-eyed, thoroughly stunned by the scene before him.

A mountain-like pile of zombie corpses. The impact created was unimaginable, that shock hard to put into words. Let alone them, even the survivors carrying firearms in the back were scared stupid by the scene before them.

Dead silent.

As if the world completely quieted down.

As the cigarette burned to his lips, startled him with a jolt. Extinguished the cigarette butt, stared, "F***! What on earth happened here?"

His companion beside, Ton Tuong, muttered to himself, "So many zombies piled up here. This clearly isn't something an ordinary survivor team can do. They probably have unimaginable super weapons."

The dark-skinned man said, "No wonder we didn't see any zombies here; turns out all died here. Hoang city is much more complicated than we imagined. A survivor team capable of dealing with so many zombies, their numbers absolutely unimaginable. But we are also not weak. Look at these fragmented corpses, should be crushed by heavy objects, maybe an earth-moving machine. We have guns in hand; even if encountered, not afraid."

Ton Tuong nodded, strongly agreeing with this statement.

Didn't think much, continued driving. They escaped from Hecheng city, also unable to face the zombie horde there. Arriving in Hoang city, found another strong survivor team. Although possibly a threat to them, but also meant Hoang city should be relatively safe. They just wanted to find a safe place in Hoang city as a shelter to rest and reorganize.

The cargo truck bypassed the piled-up mountain of corpses, crushing corpses on the ground, crunch crunch sounds, making this group of survivors watch in extreme silence.

Impact too strong, momentarily hard to react, even hard to express in words.

"Drive slower," the dark-skinned man reminded.

Ton Tuong asked doubtfully, "What's wrong?"

"I just noticed survivors around. Don't be anxious, slow down."

"Understood."

They, from starting in Hecheng city until now, along the way, encountered many survivors. The number of survivors they could take in was very few. The survivors they wanted were the kind who could be decisive and ruthless. Contribution to them here didn't need too much, just alertness and a ruthless streak was enough.

At this time.

Survivor hiding place.

"Look! That's a survivor vehicle! So many people! Seems they all have weapons! This is a military transport truck! They are soldiers! We are saved!" a survivor said excitedly.

Although already gathered some supplies, but if could leave with soldiers, that would be safest.

Another survivor, holding binoculars, looked carefully, frowning, "No, they are not soldiers. Although armed, but many among them have tattoos."

"What's wrong with tattoos?"

"Have you f***ing ever seen which soldier has tattoos?"

"This..."

Yeah, seems really never seen which soldier has tattoos on their body.

"Best not to provoke. I see this group shouldn't be easy to mess with. Most crucial problem is, there are no women among this group of theirs. This is an extremely bad signal."

"No women, so what? Isn't that very normal?"

"Listen to me. This group of survivors might not be the kind we imagine. Best not to ask them, don't let them discover. Otherwise, something might happen."

"Alright then, listen to you."

Survivors hiding around were all observing. Their supplies temporarily relatively sufficient, not as anxious as before, so thinking aspect relatively rational.

Not because seeing a large group of survivors appear, then appearing as if very much wanting to join.

Someone once said a principle, thinking about it makes a lot of sense.

In desperate times, people's rationality often is negative. As long as seeing a sliver of hope, regardless of whether the appearing hope is full of flaws, all act as if not seeing.

When full, temporarily no worries for the future, then have a kind of full and idle with nothing to do feeling, thoughts extremely active, can rationally analyze the current situation.

Two military transport trucks drove slowly.

Ton Tuong said, "Bro, did we see wrong? Don't feel anyone observing us."

"See that reflection over there? Someone is using binoculars to observe us. This group of survivors is quite astute," the dark-skinned man said.

Ton Tuong looked towards the distance; indeed someone was observing.

For the dark-skinned man, clearly Hoang city survivors were relatively numerous. Temporarily they weren't in a hurry. Sometimes, often some things need to be taken slowly.

Finding a good protection point in Hoang city, they definitely wanted to build a temporary base here, treat this place as a main base. What attracted them more was that on Chao River around Hoang city, there were many small islands.

These islands were one of their targets.

River water isolation, even more sense of security.

Second floor of a shop, a man and a woman, two survivors, looked at the slowly driving truck downstairs.

The man was called Chu Dinh.

The woman's name was Yao Tuyet.

They were boyfriend and girlfriend. Started dating in high school. Later admitted to different universities in the same city, always sweetly in love. Later, the two stayed in Hoang city together to work hard, thinking of striving for a beautiful future.

Chu Dinh was an orphan raised by his grandfather, collecting scraps, moving bricks at construction sites to support his studies. Later in his third year of high school, grandfather fell ill and passed away. He thought about dropping out, but when a charity organization learned of his situation, kind-hearted people funded his studies.

In school, he was extremely lonely, self-abasing. Three meals a day very simple: steamed bun and boiled water. But in his third year of high school, Yao Tuyet appeared beside him, eating with him, always saying ate too much, some food left over, asking Chu Dinh to finish it for her. He knew this was Yao Tuyet deliberately saying so to let him eat his fill.

Just like that, the two's relationship got better and better. Until now, eight springs and autumns passed.

"Dinh! Survivors below! Are we saved?" Yao Tuyet, seeing the survivor vehicle downstairs, hope appeared in her eyes.

Chu Dinh saw the two military transport trucks, similarly revealed hope, "Yes! Maybe so! This is military; definitely soldiers passing by!"

They were people who hadn't received Lam Pham's benefits, also didn't know about Lam Pham slaying zombies. Seeing the zombie horde running madly, they were long scared stiff, just afraid zombies would notice them.

So didn't seize the opportunity to go out looking for supplies.

Surviving until now was already the limit.

Zombies at the shop entrance, seeing the transport trucks speeding by, were directly crushed under the wheels. Survivors on the transport trucks, expressionless, already accustomed. When zombie numbers extremely few, very hard for them to feel nervous, even looking forward to, when crushing down later, how many crisp sounds there would be.

Firing guns isn't casual.

Only when encountering dangerous times choose to open fire.

They opened the window, waved towards the transport trucks.

Ton Tuong saw those two figures, "Bro! Survivors!"

The dark-skinned man, seeing it was a man and a woman, a gleam in his eyes, "Damn! Really met by us! This girl isn't bad! Haggard, yes, a bit haggard, but somewhat beautiful."

Ton Tuong chuckled, "Our team seems to have no fate with women. Since the apocalypse until now, haven't even met one. Bro, do you still remember when we were at the military barracks, encountered another group of survivor teams? Their luck was good! Actually had a third-tier celebrity! I even watched her TV dramas before! Although a supporting role, but those breasts, snow white, snow white! Made my blood boil a bit!"

The dark-skinned man said, "Wanted to trade with them, but they wouldn't. What can be done?"

The transport truck stopped.

"Hello, you two! We are a survivor team! You meeting us means you are saved! Besides you two, are there others?" Ton Tuong, face full of smiles, smile sincere, friendly. Don't just look at him seeming somewhat fierce, but under this smile, actually appeared somewhat friendly.

Chu Dinh said, "Just the two of us."