NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 50
Chapter 50: More Survivors
The journey back was a stark contrast to their arrival. The cart creaked under the weight of supplies, and the only sound was the rhythmic crunch of gravel beneath the wheels. Li Zitong, pedaling with a newfound determination, couldn't help but steal glances at the silent giant beside him.
Wang Xiong's raw power, displayed so effortlessly in the earlier confrontation, sent shivers down Li Zitong's spine. He was grateful for Wang Xiong's intervention, but a chilling thought nagged at him. If they had met just a few days later if he had succumbed to Cheng Shen's temptations, would he have met a similar fate?
Wang Xiong sensed Li Zitong's unease. He offered words of reassurance, explaining that Cheng Shen and his men deserved their fate, but the words only seemed to deepen Li Zitong's apprehension. Wang Xiong understood. The sense of security with a group, the allure of belonging, could easily sway even the most well-intentioned individual. He could only hope that Li Zitong had not been irrevocably corrupted.
Wang Xiong also grappled with the complex nature of violence. For the strong, it was a swift and decisive solution. Yet, the fear it instilled could linger long after the act itself. He saw it in Li Zitong’s eyes, the seed of terror sown by his display of power.
Cheng Shen’s gathering place, an office building near Good Hope Village, came into view. The first part of the journey was uneventful, the village eerily devoid of the undead. The second half was more treacherous, but Cheng Shen’s group had blazed a trail, and Li Zitong’s knowledge ensured a safe passage.
An hour later, they reached their destination. The first-floor lobby was a desolate wasteland of overturned furniture and debris. Barricades blocked the stairwells and escalators, marking the true entrance to the gathering place.
Li Zitong cleared a path, and Wang Xiong followed him to the second floor. A group of men sprawled listlessly on the floor, their eyes vacant and lifeless. They barely registered Wang Xiong and Li Zitong’s presence.
A sense of unease settled over Wang Xiong. This place was not just a haven; it was a prison of despair.
Li Zitong’s voice whispered, “They’re bait. Cheng Shen and his men used live people to lure zombies away before going for supplies.”
The concept of using fellow humans as bait was repulsive, but the reality of their situation was clear. Sacrificing a few lives to divert the undead ensured the survival of the rest. It was a cruel calculus born of desperation.
“Where are the others?” Wang Xiong inquired, his voice heavy. He knew Li Zitong wasn’t referring to the men sprawled on the floor. These men were 'reserve bait,' spared the worst of Cheng Shen’s cruelty. The women, however, were a different story.
Li Zitong pointed toward a large, closed door. Wang Xiong approached it cautiously, but the sight that greeted him when he opened it made him recoil in horror.
Turning back to Li Zitong, Wang Xiong’s eyes burned with barely suppressed rage. “Get them clothes. Now!”
Half an hour later, the women emerged from the room, dressed and huddled together like frightened animals. The men on the floor stirred, their eyes flickering with a glimmer of awareness as they watched the procession.
Wang Xiong, his anger somewhat abated, addressed the fifty or so survivors gathered before him. “Cheng Shen and his men are dead. I killed them.”
Silence met his declaration. Li Zitong spoke up hesitantly, “Brother Wang speaks the truth.”
Still, the room remained silent. Wang Xiong understood their reaction. These were ordinary people, broken and traumatized by Cheng Shen’s reign of terror. They had lost faith in humanity, and the change in leadership was just another uncertainty in their bleak existence.
The numbness in their eyes troubled Wang Xiong deeply. He tried to offer them hope. “Our gathering place is different. It’s on Guangping Street in Good Hope Village. We have plenty of food, strong Awakened individuals, and most importantly, our leader, Brother Lu, is a reasonable and kind man.”
Wang Xiong drew on his own experiences, painting a vivid picture of Lu Ming’s character. “Brother Lu is the most remarkable person I’ve ever met,” he declared, his voice ringing with sincerity. “He’s not only incredibly strong, but he’s also thoughtful and considerate. He doesn’t bully the weak or exploit the strong.”
He recounted his first encounter with Lu Ming, how he had protected them from the undead and offered them food when they were starving. “I know the apocalypse has brought out the worst in people,” he admitted, “and I understand the horrors you’ve endured. But even in this darkness, there is still good in the world. I believe Brother Lu is a beacon of hope for all of us.”
His words were heartfelt, but he knew they weren’t enough. Trust, once shattered, was not easily rebuilt. He sighed, acknowledging that the journey back to normalcy would be a long one.
“I intend to take you all to Guangping Street,” he announced. “But this is not a forced march. You are free to come with me, or you can choose to stay here.”
It was the best he could offer.
“We’ll go with you,” a voice piped up.
Wang Xiong turned to see Yu Fei and Bai Lu, their eyes filled with fear but also a glimmer of hope. After what they had endured, the prospect of a safe haven was too tempting to resist.
Li Zitong was the next to speak up, followed by a growing chorus of voices. They were ordinary people, acutely aware of the dangers lurking in the world. Whether Wang Xiong’s words were true or not, the alternative was too bleak to contemplate.
Soon, a total of fifty-two survivors had agreed to accompany Wang Xiong back to Guangping Street. Two women, however, hesitated.
“Brother Wang...” one of them began, her voice trembling.
“Call me Wang Xiong,” he encouraged.
“Wang Xiong, we came from the Red Thunder Martial Arts School,” the woman explained. “We were captured by Cheng Shen’s group. Now that they’re gone, my cousin and I want to go back there... if possible.”
Wang Xiong understood their desire to reunite with their loved ones, but the request was a logistical challenge. After a moment of contemplation, he offered a compromise. “Come back to Guangping Street with me first. Once we’ve settled in, I’ll see if I can make contact with the Red Thunder Martial Arts School.”
The women exchanged a glance, then nodded gratefully. They knew it was the best they could hope for.
End of Chapter 50