Chapter 56: A Lesson to the World

The unpredictability of human nature in the apocalypse is perhaps the most inscrutable thing of all. Brothers who once called each other by that name could, in a single instant, betray you—offering your back to the oncoming horde of zombies. It could be said that, in the end times, trust is the most valuable commodity—yet also the most worthless. No one can guarantee that, when faced with mortal danger, your closest friend won’t shove you toward the ravening undead just to save himself.

This ugliness in human nature was precisely why, the moment these people surrounded him, Xu Qiang immediately brought out his rotary submachine gun and shouted in a low voice, “A Mu…” Instantly, A Mu and the others understood and drew their own weapons, making it clear that no one would be allowed to approach.

The atmosphere turned tense in a flash. Those who dared to come out hunting were far from saints—each one was someone who fought and grabbed for survival. Anyone carrying a gun now had it drawn and aimed at the others.

Xie Han hadn’t expected such a standoff to break out, but he reacted swiftly—within a few steps he was at Xu Qiang’s side, yanked open the heavy truck’s side door, and in a blink had vaulted onto the roof. The whole move took only a second, and many only caught a blur before Xie Han was standing above, with no idea how he’d gotten up there.

“Brothers, let’s all calm down…” Xie Han’s voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to every ear in the square. “I know all of us risk our lives out here hunting—just to survive in this world. I was lucky today and made a small haul; I’m not a stingy man. Every brother here in the square gets two cans of meat, and a pack of cigarettes.”

The would-be looters, already uneasy, were quick to back down. If a real fight broke out and word spread, they’d find it impossible to survive in the base. Besides, some among them owed their lives to Xie Han holding off the r3 and buying time for their escape. Now that Xie Han had thrown them a generous olive branch, they were more than happy to take it, tucking their guns away with awkward laughs.

As for the other four heavy trucks, Xie Han didn’t let Xu Qiang open them. He’d suddenly realized how foolish it was to flaunt wealth without sufficient strength to protect it. Luckily, he’d managed to defuse the situation before any real robbery could occur, ensuring that their hard-won gains didn’t go to waste.

A single heavy truck could carry about ten thousand cans of meat, and there were fewer than two hundred people present. Handing out two cans per person didn’t cost much. As for the cigarettes, Xie Han had no way of estimating the total stock, but even after giving out two hundred cartons, the truck’s load barely seemed to shrink. It was strange—back in the modern era, tobacco was always transported under strict security, yet here in the apocalypse, it could be moved at will. This change was something Xie Han still hadn’t gotten used to.

Storage technology in the apocalypse was remarkably advanced. In the past, canned goods could only be stored for two or three years; now, they lasted a decade. So even though these cans had sat in the truck for three and a half years, they were still perfectly edible. As soon as people got their share, most tore the cans open right there in the square and devoured the contents like starved beasts.

Xie Han had never before witnessed almost two hundred people eating canned meat all at once. The sight was like a feast for the dead, and it made him truly appreciate the value of a simple can of meat. Perhaps that was why so many had initially surrounded them with the intent to rob.

Many people ate just one of their two cans, carefully saving the other. From their actions, Xie Han could tell that most had family in the base—the uneaten can was likely for loved ones. Those who finished both at once were probably alone, with no one to care for, their hearts the hardest to read. Xie Han made a point of remembering their faces, wary of future betrayals.

Amid a haze of smoke in the square, Xie Han called over several friends of Chen Liu and gave each a box of canned meat and five cartons of cigarettes. Their decision to side with him, even after brief hesitation, had prevented the situation from spiraling out of control.

“Let’s get out of here and head back to the base…” Xie Han sighed, giving Xu Qiang a wry smile. “I really don’t know if today’s luck was good or bad.” Xu Qiang, face grim, swept his gaze over the people in the square. “Men die for wealth, birds for food. How true. Damn it, the easy life in the base has dulled our vigilance. We’ve forgotten the laws of survival in this world.”

A Mu’s earlier smile at the sight of canned meat was long gone, replaced by his usual blank expression. He said nothing, but Xie Han could feel the murderous intent radiating from him. In truth, all nine of them spat on the ground. If not for the wish to avoid trouble, they would have cursed aloud.

With Xiao Ba leading the way, Xie Han’s group drove straight out of the square. Once they hit the elevated highway, they sped up, the convoy relying on speed to outpace the zombies swarming from both sides—since they had no heavy weapons. Any zombies too persistent to shake off had to be gunned down by Xu Qiang’s team from their minivan. With six people driving, there was little time to help.

Perhaps the highway had recently been cleared, for the number of zombies was not as great as expected, and the convoy suffered only minimal impact.

In just half an hour, they could already see the five defensive heavy machine gun towers at the highway junction leading to the base.

There weren’t many people seeking refuge at the base at this hour—it was only about nine in the morning. Besides the staff, the entrance was deserted. The guards were surprised to see the hunting party return so quickly. The recent hunts had brought tangible benefits, and the staff knew better than anyone that they always got a little extra each time. So, unlike the cold stares of the past, the returning convoy was now greeted with broad smiles and hearty welcomes.

Xie Han found the custom tiresome, but living in this world meant he had to play along. The bribes—canned meat—had already been set aside for them. After leaving a few boxes for the staff to divide among themselves, the convoy passed through the checkpoint without difficulty and headed for the base.

This was the first hunting expedition Xie Han had led himself—the previous ones had all been handled by others, including the base’s share of the spoils. Fortunately, the base had its own staff for inventory and accounting. As soon as the trucks neared the gates, someone came out to meet them and escort them inside.

The six-hour quarantine rule inside the base hadn’t changed. Once Xie Han’s group was in the isolation room, a staff member greeted them with a respectful smile—a courtesy to the hunters. “Your goods will all be recorded and accounted for,” he said, handing over a handheld computer. “You can check the actual quantities and see the breakdown of shares. According to the current policy, the base will take thirty percent of your haul.”

Xie Han hadn’t expected the base to have such a well-organized system in place. Relieved, he accepted the device and smiled. “Thank you for your trouble.”