(1) I Definitely Didn't Intend to Take This Road (1)

Hung Ung and his group arrived early, also left early.

Lunch ended, and they left with fifty-seven crystals. These crystals, for them, were a large quantity.

Long Cung Base, wanting to kill evolved-form zombies, accumulating fifty-seven crystals was very difficult, or rather, required paying a very large price, not something that could be achieved just by thinking about it.

How could it be as simple as Lam Pham?

"There's a black box here." Vuong Khai pointed to that long box on the ground.

Everyone saw the box, knew Hung Ung brought it when entering the residential area. Didn't expect the person left, yet actually forgot the box.

"Did they forget to take it?"

Someone said.

"Not forgot to take. They intentionally left it." Co Hang shook his head. Hung Ung and his group were all elite soldiers; could forget to eat, but absolutely wouldn't forget important things.

Co Hang placed the box on the table.

Opened it.

Everyone curiously gathered around, all a group of curiosity-filled babies. Even Lam Pham was expectant; that was anticipation for unknown things.

Clack!

The black box opened.

The items displayed inside made ordinary people somewhat muddled. But they all knew knives. Already had some thoughts in their hearts; perhaps this was intentionally left for them by Long Cung Base.

Co Hang looked at the items inside, said in surprise, "This is powered exoskeleton equipment! Hung Ung said before they were equipped with this, only then could barely kill evolved-form zombies! Only two sets in total! He actually left one set here!"

Lam Pham didn't care much about these things, but thinking about it, also could understand. Sometimes, help you think unimportant, perhaps in some people's eyes, that is a heavenly great kindness, un-repayable, can only give what one considers the best thing to the other party.

This made him think of a news story he saw before.

Merely the kindness of a bowl of rice, yet made the other party search for several decades, precisely to repay. Seemingly just a bowl of rice. For anyone who can eat their fill, feels like making a fuss over nothing. But for the person who received help, that one meal saved his life.

"They really didn't need to be like this," Lam Pham said.

Co Hang said, "In their view, it is extremely necessary."

Lam Pham looked at the equipment before him, said softly, "Exudes a faint brilliance. This is equipment that absorbed crystal energy. Bro Hang, why don't you wear it and see, see how its capabilities are."

Since it was a gift from others, then keep it.

With his speed, wanting to return the item to the opponent, no problem whatsoever, just run a bit faster is enough.

But what next?

Hung Ung and his group would definitely be extremely aggrieved. Even the words they wanted to say, he had already thought clearly. Definitely would say: We know you are very formidable. This is the only thing we can repay you with. The item is shabby, but truly our best...

Mm, thinking of this situation, indeed truly not good.

Just like helping a poor family, they take out their best things to entertain you. Just that this best thing is just a bowl of fatty meat with a stale taste. If showing a disdainful expression, truly hurts others' hearts very much.

"So beautiful!"

A group of little children gathered around, eyes sparkling with light.

Co Tu Thanh's eyes similarly lit up. He also liked things boys liked. Just that family reasons made him bury this kind of liking in his heart.

For Phi Phi and the others, not much interest. What they liked most was still Balala the Fairies... Transform, transform, transform...

Co Hang wore the powered exoskeleton equipment, entire body exuding a mechanical sense. Even head covered, all improved.

Co Hang tested the equipment's performance before everyone.

Own running speed increased.

This kind of increase wasn't a little bit, but a large margin increase. This made Co Hang feel Long Cung Base gradually started finding new methods to deal with zombies. He always believed this kind of powered exoskeleton equipment would continuously improve its performance.

"How does it feel?" Lam Pham asked.

Co Hang said, "Very good! Speed increased, defensive ability also very strong! Also this straight saber, extremely sharp! Wearing this set of equipment, facing ordinary zombies, I think killing four or five should be no problem!"

This was a kind of confidence.

For Lam Pham, he knew hope still existed in the apocalypse.

Not just Duong Quang Apartments striving, other places similarly had people striving.

Lam Pham thought this set of equipment should just be worn by Co Hang.

Co Hang looked at Lam Pham.

The meaning in those eyes was actually very clear, as if saying, Ah... this equipment, can it be for me?

Co Hang didn't speak. After all, this was given to Lam Pham by others. How could he have a kind of matter-of-course possession? In the residential area, not just him alone, still other people.

Perhaps everyone didn't mind.

But if he himself was so matter-of-course, definitely would leave a bad impression in everyone's hearts.

Lam Pham smiled, "Bro Hang, you wear it then. You have strong combat experience, received top professional training. This set of equipment, left in your hands, only then can exert its greatest effect."

Hearing these words.

Co Hang looked towards everyone, assured, "From now on, I will brave fire and water for Duong Quang Apartments' safety! Even if paying with my life, will not hesitate!"

Finished speaking, sincerely looked towards everyone.

The crowd nodded, expressing belief in Co Hang's words.

Lam Pham said, "I think our future is good. I've already been properly cleaning up zombies in the city. Crystals in the heads of evolved-form zombies can be used to strengthen equipment. Later when encountering evolved-form zombies, I will keep the crystals."

For Co Hang, until now, the only one who could easily obtain crystals was Lam Pham.

Bases wanting to obtain crystals all somewhat difficult, naturally let alone ordinary survivors.

...

Early morning.

Lam Pham took them to clean shops. After earning meager wages, then started going to the streets to clean zombies. During this period, his cleaning speed very fast, already cleaned out a very large safe area.

Even if zombies appear, the number appearing also very few.

Walked onto a familiar street, saw familiar figures: zombie Tung Tung and his mother.

He merely smiled and nodded, didn't disturb the mother and son's time.

That woman's expression worse and worse.

Extremely haggard, very tired.

Face without any blood color.

He knew that mother's lifespan wasn't long. But in the final moments, for this mother, she just wanted to accompany Tung Tung. Even if child turned into a zombie, she still didn't mind.

Walked further ahead.

Pfft!

Pfft!

He casually resolved several stray zombies that wandered here. Frostmourne in his hand was his divine artifact for dealing with zombies. As it absorbed crystal energy, became increasingly sharp and powerful.

He didn't intentionally seek trouble with zombies, but often acted under self-defense circumstances. At most, he would greet zombies. Then that group of zombies, as if gone mad, crazily rushed towards him. Under this situation dangerous to personal safety, could only self-defend like this.

Shopfront street before government building.

He appeared here because A Hai told him, he fled from here. A group of survivors was looking for female survivors, purpose impure.

He deliberately came to see.

Piles of zombie corpses before him; all cleaned by him during that period.

Looked around.

"Areas cleaned, even if zombies appear, number also won't be too large."

Based on situations in many places, he came to a conclusion. This is a good phenomenon. At least can ensure cleaned areas relatively clean.

He looked at surrounding buildings: dilapidated, filthy, already covered in dust. Quiet environment gave people a feeling of emptiness.

Now, things he needed to do only three.

First thing: Clean zombies. Second thing: Bring hope to hope-filled survivors. Third thing: Collect crystals.

"Anyone still alive?" Lam Pham raised his voice and shouted, sound spreading around. Too many buildings here, truly too many. Wanting to search each one clearly is a waste of time.

He shouted, just wanting living survivors to hear.

"Ugh ugh..."

Movement around. Not survivors, but zombie sounds. His shouting attracted zombies.

This group of zombies, appearance savage and terrifying. Seeing a living human standing on the street, ferocity completely erupted. Wouldn't care if this human formidable or not. For them, just wanted to have a beautiful meal.

Lam Pham calmly watched.

Sighed.

Truly unfriendly.

Can't you see, all around are corpses exactly like you? So many zombies, under my self-defense, killed by me! Yet you still don't learn!

Pfft!

Zombies rushing towards him all killed by him. Some cut in half at the waist, some heads flying in the air, spinning.

Others seeing such a scene might vomit.

But for Lam Pham, he was already accustomed to it.

Not far away, inside a building.

A group of survivors looked at the situation before them in horror.

"So strong a fellow! This guy, isn't he the one someone mentioned some time ago, just with one sword slew all zombies? Until now, that pile of zombie corpses still displayed there!"

Speaking was a middle-aged man called Hou Jin, leader of this group of survivors. Before, they, like other survivors, were desperately trapped here. (Hầu Kim -> Hou Jin)

Stored supplies less and less. Seeing them about to be exhausted, no one expected such a thing would happen. Surrounding zombies killed by someone, giving them a chance to collect supplies.

"Bro Hou! That woman ran over there!" A survivor saw someone go out, ran towards the direction of the sound, hurriedly said. The opponent's running back gave him some ideas.

Before, there were some survivors here. But all resolutely fled, as if wanting to leave Hoang city, go to the countryside for refuge.

Hou Jin looked at that back, pondered, then said, "Go! We also go!"

"Bro Hou, really?"

"Mm. That guy's situation, all seen in eyes. Absolutely a thigh. He should have his own shelter. Just us few brothers, go to his place, can also be a small team. Then express some loyalty again, isn't that stronger than us mixing on our own?" Hou Jin finished speaking.

They thought about it, felt Bro Hou made a lot of sense.

When they left, glanced at the dead woman in the corner, chuckled. New hope had arrived. Time to change places. As long as can hug the opponent's thigh, then future life will be truly comfortable and flying.

...

"No one willing to leave with me?"

Lam Pham sighed. As the apocalypse continued to develop, trust between people had dropped to the extreme. Mutual suspicion, mutual scheming.

He turned around, preparing to leave.

Suddenly.

A voice came from behind.

"Please wait a moment!"

Voice sounded panicked, helpless, scared.

Luong Vien panted slightly. The arrival of the apocalypse made her heart completely explode. That fear, greater than hundreds of horror movies she watched. She had been here for a long time, always living in deep panic. (Lương Viện -> Luong Vien)

When Lam Pham first cleaned up zombies here.

She wanted to leave. But she found several male survivors always staring at her. Separated by a passage, she saw very clearly. Such gazes, just like perverts. One look and knew opponent definitely had no good intentions.

She could imagine, as long as dared to go out, this group of perverts would definitely follow her, capture her. As for the final result, afraid could know without even thinking.

Lam Pham turned his head, looked at the girl running before him.

"Hello." He asked with a smile, observing the opponent's eyes. Eyes are windows to the soul; seeing through the opponent's inner essence is very important.

Luong Vien never thought of encountering such a formidable survivor. The first sentence the opponent spoke actually "Hello."

Such a situation left her somewhat dazed.

"You... Hello."

Lam Pham said, "Mm. My name is Lam Pham, Duong Quang Apartments' security guard, also part-time Tan Phong housing brokerage work. Are you very dissatisfied with your current living environment?"

"Huh? Mm, mm..." Luong Vien was somewhat muddled. Just felt this person before her, way of speaking a bit strange, different from what she thought.

"Seems my guess is right. I saw it from your gaze and eyes," Lam Pham smiled, then said, "Need to change place to live? Duong Quang Apartments has quite a few housing sources, price cheap, facilities complete, safety guaranteed."

He used a relatively brisk tone to speak with the opponent, hoping to make her feel at ease. After all, opponent's mood seemed somewhat tense, clearly due to apocalyptic oppression, leading to mental tension.

This kind of situation really not good.

Although didn't know how to mediate, but he knew, making people feel at ease can alleviate tense mood.

Luong Vien stared wide-eyed, somewhat dazed looking at Lam Pham.

For some reason, her foot slightly moved back a step, as if frightened by Lam Pham's words.

"Excuse me, are you normal?" Luong Vien had an impulse to cry.

Very scared.

Apocalypse truly terrifying. She wanted to return to past peaceful era. Although not much money, but so reassuring. She was truly wrong. When suffering injustice before, still complained.

Now looking, where was injustice? Simply heaven.

"Don't be afraid. You might have some misunderstanding about me. Look at this and you'll understand." Lam Pham took out a promotional flyer from his pocket, handed it before the opponent, "Truly a broker."

Luong Vien looked at the flyer, then at Lam Pham.

Blinked her large eyes.

As if understood something, yet as if understood nothing.

"Big Brother! Big Brother..."

Again, voices came.

Only saw four male survivors waving, excitedly running towards Lam Pham. Luong Vien saw them, somewhat scared, actually directly hid behind Lam Pham.

"He... They are not good people!"

She was now truly very scared. Indeed, just as she thought, as long as she came out, this group would definitely chase out.

Lam Pham looked at them.

Those pairs of eyes glinting with light, also not something he could accept.

"You've mistaken the person. I may not be your big brother," Lam Pham said.

Hou Jin, face full of ingratiation, said, "Big Brother! Begging you to take us in! We are truly miserable! Hard to survive in the apocalypse! That group of zombies just like devils! We four suffered enough torture! We are willing to follow Big Brother's footsteps! Wherever Big Brother tells us to go, we go! Absolutely no hesitation!"

Hearing this group say these words.

Felt survivors nowadays, truly terrifying. Eyes looking straight into heart, exuding ferocity, yet appearing so pitiful. These four before him not good people.

Thought of Duong Le. That one was ambitious. To achieve purpose, could decisively abandon unimportant people.

These four before him, different from Duong Le.

Lam Pham smiled, "Sorry, you are not suitable for my place."

He spoke relatively euphemistically, just said not suitable.

Hou Jin's face changed slightly, then hurriedly pleaded, "Big Brother! How could we not be suitable? Now is the apocalypse, zombies everywhere! As compatriots, we should unite! If Big Brother worries about us, then let us live around Big Brother! We are willing to watch Big Brother from afar! Just hope Big Brother can see our sincere hearts!"

Humble! Must be humble!

Apocalypse different, order collapsed. Just whoever's fist is bigger has the say. Even if justice appears before, can still be beaten black and blue.

Lam Pham shook his head, "You are not good people. I won't take you. Go back, live well. Although you might do bad things, but I have no evidence. Without evidence, I won't do anything to you."

Society is just like that. Some good people, some bad.

Very good good, from beginning to end maintaining goodwill.

Very bad bad, in special eras, can be bad until frightening.

But can he, relying solely on his own pair of eyes, then pass judgment on the opponent, eliminate them? Cannot. Otherwise, what's the difference between that and a dictator?

He was just an ordinary citizen. Could apprehend villains, but couldn't represent law to judge them.

Unless...

"Follow me," Lam Pham said to Luong Vien.

Luong Vien felt Lam Pham was strange, but these four before her were absolutely bad. Needless to think, knew how to choose.

"Mm."

Nodded heavily.

Just wanted to leave with Lam Pham.

Lam Pham ignored them, but led Luong Vien towards the distance.

"Bro Hou, what now?"

A survivor asked.

He didn't expect it would be this situation. That guy's head absolutely has a hole. Damn apocalypse, still talking about good people, bad people. Can't you just listen? Let us join your shelter, become your loyal dogs. After all, with that strength of yours, also no need to worry about other people resisting.

Hou Jin squinted, a bit of anger in his heart, "Follow him! See where they want to go! If really can't, we'll just live beside the opponent's shelter first!"

The survivor hesitated, "But Bro Hou, if by any chance we annoy the opponent, will he kill us?"

"Won't! If wanted to, would have killed us long ago! Sometimes we have to gamble a bit! He's strong unlike a human! You say, if we can discover the secret why opponent so strong, then this world isn't ours?" Hou Jin said gravely.

Hearing Bro Hou say these words.

They thought about it, felt made a lot of sense.