Before long, Manager Yun sent a new message.

[Manager Yun: Since everyone is unwilling, why not listen to my suggestion? Let's start collecting food and water house by house, beginning with Li Xuan's apartment at Unit 3, 18th Floor, Number 1! Many people saw Li Xuan buying a cartload of food and water this morning! Those who agree can receive an extra portion of supplies!]

[306: Agree! When do we start? My family has nothing left to eat, you must give me more!]

[520: Agree!]

[805: Agree!]

[Manager Yun: I've called the property developer. He's staying with workers at a downtown hotel—they have steel bars and axes. They'll come rescue us when they get the chance. We just need to hold out until the developer arrives, then we won't lack food or water.]

After these words, most people in the group agreed.

Auntie Yun looked at her phone, spat in disgust, and cursed the group for being heartless and inhuman.

Previously when she begged everyone to help find her grandson, they all claimed to fear zombies, didn't dare go out, made various excuses, and some even mocked her for wishful thinking.

Now when it came to robbing Li Xuan of his food and water, they agreed quite readily—suddenly not so afraid of zombies anymore.

"Hmph! Once we seize Li Xuan's supplies, I'll make you help me find my grandson!"

She didn't understand what the broken windows theory was—this series of actions were all taught by her developer cousin-in-law, who said this would make Li Xuan pay the price while greatly boosting her prestige among the complex's survivors, enabling her to order people to help search for her grandson.

Additionally, she hadn't lied to the group—that cousin-in-law really did say he'd bring people to the complex.

Huh?

Auntie Yun noticed two people hadn't replied to her and hadn't spoken since joining the group.

"These two seem to be Li Xuan's neighbors. Why aren't they speaking? Could they be colluding with Li Xuan?"

Before she could ponder further, the two sent messages.

The yellow-haired youth sent the character for 'stupid,' while the buzz-cut youth sent the character for 'lacking.'

Auntie Yun immediately flushed red with anger, sending several 60-second voice messages in rage.

On the other side, Li Xuan had long put down both phones, not bothering to listen to Auntie Yun's voice messages.

Soon after, he watched as Auntie Yun began inciting survivors in the main group that included all homeowners, gathering people to make a move against him.

Some kind-hearted individuals opposed Auntie Yun, speaking out to stop her, while others, filled with greed, supported Auntie Yun.

Survivors living in the same building as Auntie Yun gathered at her home first—six people including Auntie Yun herself.

Meanwhile, survivors from other buildings also gathered together, waiting only for Auntie Yun's command before everyone would charge toward the building where Li Xuan lived.

In a certain apartment

Old Li sat on a sofa wrapped in a sofa cover, smoking a cigarette. White smoke flowed from his mouth only to be inhaled back through his nose.

His rough face showed hesitation, his heart struggling as survival and morality clashed within him, making him extremely agitated.

He too had been invited into the small group by Manager Yun. He initially agreed, but when he saw they were only targeting Li Xuan's supplies, his forty-plus years of life experience instantly revealed Manager Yun's true purpose was to deal with Li Xuan.

In this apocalypse, food and water were incredibly precious. If they stole Li Xuan's supplies, how would he survive?

The outcome was obvious—Li Xuan would either risk going out to search for food or starve to death at home.

The simple, honest Old Li didn't want to indirectly cause a young man's death.

Even though he'd only met Li Xuan a few times and they weren't even contacts in their phones.

But his family's food supplies were running low.

Old Li's family wasn't well-off. He was a laborer, and his wife had injured her leg when young, preventing strenuous activity, so she'd always managed household affairs at home.

They had two children—twin boys. As the saying goes, half-grown boys eat their fathers poor. Both children were in high school, right at the age where they were growing rapidly, eating even more than Old Li himself. The family could barely save any money throughout the year, so naturally they hadn't stored much food—enough to last four or five days at most.

Beside the sofa, a middle-aged woman with sallow skin pushed Old Li. "They're gathering. You should go down now, don't be last. Otherwise we won't get anything. Remember to grab more, preferably some meat."

Old Li frowned deeply, exhaling a cloud of white smoke. "You agreed? Who said you could agree?"

The middle-aged woman sprang up, her voice sharp. "What's wrong with me agreeing! We're running out of food! Are you going to just watch me and your two sons starve to death!"

Old Li silently looked at the middle-aged woman, feeling she seemed somewhat unfamiliar. He could understand her perspective, but people shouldn't act that way—it wasn't right.

He spoke in a hoarse voice: "If we take Li Xuan's food, he'll starve to death."

The middle-aged woman's voice grew even shriller: "I don't care about that! I just want you to live! I want our sons to live! Whether Li Xuan lives or dies has nothing to do with me! I don't even know him!"

Their children hid in a corner, remaining silent.

Old Li opened his mouth, then closed it again, lowering his head as he pondered something. The cigarette between his fingers had burned down, the long ash telling of Old Li's inner struggle.

"Wife, you weren't like this before."

The middle-aged woman covered her face, tears seeping through her fingers. "Do you think I want this? I'm doing it for this family!"

Old Li stood up, throwing away the cigarette that was now just a filter. He didn't head for the door but walked toward the window.

"I'll bring back food, but not by stealing from Li Xuan! I'll go out and find food for you all! This is a husband's promise, a father's promise."

"Aren't you afraid of zombies?"

"Of course I am, but I'm more afraid of watching my family starve before my eyes."

Old Li took his phone, opened the group chat, and sent Li Xuan a private message.

[They're coming to your place. One of them knows how to pick locks.]

After a while, Li Xuan replied.

[Congratulations, you'll survive.]

Old Li looked at his phone, filled with confusion.

What did Li Xuan mean by that?

Could it be that Li Xuan was some hidden expert who knew Buddhist Palm techniques, confident he could handle Auntie Yun's group?

His son from the corner approached him. "Maybe he awakened some special ability?"

Old Li froze, suddenly remembering that after the apocalypse began, ability users had appeared in the world. Though they all had transformation abilities, maybe Li Xuan could turn into a pigeon and fly away to escape danger.

......

Unit 1801

Li Xuan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a wine glass containing black, bubbly liquid—commonly known as happy home beverage.

He looked down at the scene below where Auntie Yun emerged from the lobby with five others. Survivors from several other buildings came out almost simultaneously, each holding weapons—some with clubs, others with kitchen knives—gradually gathering together.

Li Xuan took a sip of his happy beverage and said calmly, "The timing is perfect. How many will survive the zombie horde? Three? One? Or maybe none at all?"

The pigeon in the cage at his feet heard Li Xuan's voice and turned its head in shock. Through the glass, it vaguely saw shifting heads outside the complex.

Zombie horde!

Had Li Xuan predicted the zombie horde would erupt?

Or was his awakened ability prophecy-related?

Yun Xiuzhi felt deeply troubled. Either possibility meant her chance of escape was extremely slim.

'If it comes to it, I'll reveal my identity! Li Xuan surely wouldn't throw me out to feed the zombies! He captured me because he must want to use me—I have value!!'

On the ground

A crowd gathered behind Auntie Yun.

"Manager Yun! Let's hurry! The zombies in the complex are getting closer!" someone urged anxiously.

Following her cousin-in-law's instructions, Auntie Yun began assigning tasks. "Don't be afraid! There aren't many zombies wandering the complex! We outnumber them! Be careful, coordinate well, and there won't be any danger!"

"Look! Zombies are slow and have no intelligence—their minds are only on eating! Any adult man can handle them!"

"Next! Those with clubs—half of you hold off the zombies! The other half attack their legs! Those with axes aim for the heads! Everyone work together!"

Someone complained, speaking up: "What about those with kitchen knives?"

"Those with axes and kitchen knives will alternate weapons to conserve energy!" Auntie Yun said.

Perhaps people's acceptance capacity improved under crisis, as everyone actually managed to coordinate, killing several approaching zombies. This skyrocketed their confidence and increased their trust in Auntie Yun.

As the group advanced steadily, Auntie Yun felt everyone's trust and felt quite satisfied, thinking that once they obtained the food, she'd immediately have the team search for her grandson.

She was extremely worried about her grandson's safety.

"These brainless zombies are no match for us!"

Suddenly, a body fell from the sky, crashing to the ground, followed by another. Blood stained the pavement.

Everyone was startled. Someone immediately recognized the bodies as Li Xuan's two neighbors. Before they could speak, they heard multiple roaring sounds.

Groan~

Zombie sounds!

Many, many voices!

Auntie Yun whirled around toward the sound source, her eyes meeting an endless sea of zombies charging toward them with roaring cries, like ocean waves. Zombies in the back pushed those in front forward. Front-row zombies stumbled, those behind pressed forward, the fallen zombies trampled by countless others into mush, adding another layer of decay to the apocalyptic city.

"Ahhhhhh!"

"Zombie horde! Damn it! Run!"

"Why are you pushing me! I..."

"Give me back my kitchen knife!"

Auntie Yun's legs trembled. She still wanted to organize resistance against the horde, but the others weren't fools—anyone could see that thirty-plus people stood no chance against the zombie tide.

Staying to resist meant certain death!

"Run! I need to run too! I want to live! I want to live!"

Auntie Yun broke into a run, dashing into the nearest building lobby, frantically pressing the elevator button. But the elevator was on the 18th floor—it would take time to descend.

And the zombies were right outside!

Watching the zombie horde draw nearer, Auntie Yun nervously watched the elevator indicator lights. Never before had she wished so desperately for the elevator to move faster—even being trapped inside would be better than this!

But the elevator indicator remained stuck on the 18th floor, showing no sign of descending.

"Why won't it come down! Why!"

"It's Li Xuan! He must be interfering from above!"

"Damn it! Damn it!"

Auntie Yun's eyes widened with rage, vicious resentment growing in her heart as she cursed while rushing toward the stairs.

Climbing upward, she completely despaired, her body slumping onto the steps, her eyes losing their light.

The second-floor stairwell was blocked by sofas and wardrobes—undoubtedly the work of second-floor residents preventing zombies from going upstairs.

"You psychos! Why block the stairs!! This is against regulations! I'll deduct your property fees! Fine you!" Auntie Yun screamed furiously.

Zombies climbed the stairs, trapping Auntie Yun.

Screams, roars, and blood blossomed everywhere.

In her final moments, Auntie Yun seemed to see a familiar figure, then her consciousness faded amid the terrible screams.