Chapter 97

As for the third-grade potions... they are in short supply and must be prioritized for use by high-ranking officials and frontline officers. The pungent smell numbed the olfactory nerves. Li Daoyuan put away his handkerchief, picked up a blood-soaked zombie head that was only two-thirds intact, held it at eye level, frowned, and examined it for a few seconds before throwing it away. He walked straight toward the convoy of trucks parked not far away. These trucks had been modified beyond recognition—steel plates were added around the body, and double-layered steel wire mesh covered the front windshield and windows. Although this hindered the driver's view somewhat, it prevented zombies from breaking the glass and entering the cab. Especially at the front, a ring-shaped steel blade protruded forward by more than forty centimeters.

This thing was very sturdy, with a very sharp edge. When the truck accelerated and charged forward, it acted like a powerful giant knife, slicing zombies in half at the waist.

A total of one hundred and fifty first-stage enhanced individuals, commanded by one second-stage enhanced individual.

With modified trucks, powerful heavy weapons, and the flexible and adaptable tactics suitable for urban terrain, Li Daoyuan had no doubt that even if the number of participants was only half of the current number, they could still wipe out the entire zombie horde.

"I need to report your achievements to the Group Army Headquarters."

Li Daoyuan walked up to Su Hao and said seriously and excitedly, "You did a great job. Such astonishing achievements will surely cause a sensation in the upper echelons of the military. In comparison, our usual tactics are too rigid and lack flexibility. Perhaps this is the biggest difference between survivors and the military—you fight to stay alive, while we don't feel the imminent threat of death. It's different, really, it's fundamentally different!" As he spoke, he patted Su Hao's shoulder with great emotion and said earnestly, "I will write a detailed battle report as soon as possible and submit it. Your shoulder straps should soon have an additional star. Congratulations in advance, Lieutenant." Su Hao wiped the blood off his body with a towel, smiled, and said, "You need to add one more thing to the report: I need to replenish my weapons and ammunition, especially the subsonic rounds, which are being consumed very quickly." Li Daoyuan nodded in agreement, "No problem. I can give you a batch in advance. We have a lot of 5.8mm caliber ammunition, and we will prioritize your supply."

"Also, I have another request."

Seeing Li Daoyuan's slightly puzzled eyes, a cunning glint flashed in Su Hao's pupils.

"Based on my estimation, the material 'silver bone' should have a wider range of applications. I need a large amount of material for further detailed analysis. I will send people to collect the silver bones here for research. You know, experiments consume a lot of materials. I hope to produce results as soon as possible. This will benefit everyone." Li Daoyuan pondered for a moment, nodded, and agreed.

Lin Feihu sat in a heavy leather chair, his expression blank as he stared at the wide-mouthed glass of white wine in front of him. On a nearby table, there was a bottle of "Feitian Maotai" that was two-thirds empty and five or six empty bottles of different brands. The room was in a mess. Shredded paper was scattered everywhere, and the glass frame that had hung on the wall had fallen to the ground, with many things smashed. From the remaining fragments, it was clear that there were marble ashtrays, exquisite blue porcelain, and valuable handicrafts... They were no longer intact, lying in pieces on the ground, groaning. Occasionally, the wind blew in from the open window, sweeping up a flurry of scattered paper.

The room was in a terrible mess, as if it had just been ransacked by robbers.

Lin Feihu tilted his head back and took a large gulp of wine. The fiery liquid stimulated his blood to boil.

He looked even older than before—his face was covered with more dark spots, his wrinkles were more numerous, his eyes were cloudy, and the loose skin on his cheeks sagged. He looked lifeless, devoid of any vitality.

Like the three teams sent out before, Lin Yu had not sent back any news.

His son, nephew, subordinates, and the thousands of people who went to Kunming seemed to have vanished from the world, leaving no trace. They had simply disappeared. Lin Feihu felt unprecedented panic. He didn't know what had happened. He had thought about sending more people to investigate, and even about mobilizing all the forces of the "Shengfei" Group to check out that cursed city. However, Lin Feihu could no longer realize his plans. Lin Yu and Lin Zhou had taken three helicopters and almost all the heavy vehicles of the "Shengfei" Group. In the Northern Base, where Lin Feihu was currently staying, there were tens of thousands of slaves and hundreds of core members of the group. The remaining weapons in the warehouse were enough to equip only about a thousand people. Without vehicles and enough people to control them, even if he took all the slaves south, they wouldn't be able to travel very far. The "Shengfei" Group had some personnel and forces in other cities, but it would take a lot of time to gather them. Lin Feihu was tired, exhausted, and finally gave up. His lifeless eyes gazed at a photo. It was a picture of him and his two sons. The three people in the photo were smiling. The background was Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Lin Feihu stood in the middle, Lin Zhou playfully perched on his father's back, making a V sign. Lin Yu had a commanding presence, one hand around his father and the other holding his brother to prevent him from doing anything too outrageous. The entire photo exuded a strong sense of family affection.

The date in the bottom right corner of the photo read "August 15, 2012..."

Suddenly, Lin Feihu crumpled the photo with trembling hands and stuffed it into his mouth. He chewed forcefully, the paper grinding his teeth with a "squeaking" sound, his eyes filled with tears, and a deep, mournful sob came from his throat.

"Son... sob... son..."

No news meant disappearance.

This world was full of zombies. The meaning of "disappearance" was self-evident. Lin Feihu didn't know if someone was targeting him. He had always regretted setting up a camp in that city and fighting for so-called dreams. Without money, he could earn it. Without status, he could strive for it. But without his son and family... he had nothing. Wine, and more wine. Lin Feihu grabbed the "Maotai" on the table and stared at it for several minutes. He had just pulled out the cork and was about to drink it all when he slowly put the bottle down, his eyes flashing with deep pain and ferocity. He brutally swept everything off the table, and in the sound of shattering glass, he staggered to his feet. Lin Feihu approached the wardrobe, opened the door, took out an "95" assault rifle, and grabbed several full magazines to put in his pocket. After doing all this, he opened the door, used the gun to support himself, and slowly walked down the stairs with one hand on the wall.

As the chairman of the group, Lin Feihu's residence was surrounded by electric fences and protective walls, with over a dozen bodyguards. He was wearing pajamas, slippers, and holding a gun, his face flushed from the alcohol, and his eyes unfocused.

This attire attracted many people, but his status and position meant that no one dared to speak, only following Lin Feihu with strange and puzzled looks. They watched him go downstairs, open the control panel for the electric fence and protective barriers, and stagger out of the passage to the slave quarters surrounded by iron cages. This area consisted of several large, makeshift warehouses. Inside, there were two layers of cages, each over three meters high, arranged neatly. The layout was similar to a chicken farm. The cages were filled with people, old and young, male and female, all refugees gathered from various cities. They were categorized by gender and age. Some were selected to be sent to the military, some became group members, and others were sent to nearby farms.

Especially women and children, they were often given as rewards to those who had contributed to the group.

As for their original family members and spouses... they were killed, and no one cared. The world was already chaotic enough, and the weak had to rely on the strong to survive. The cages were not rooms. There were no soft beds, no dining tables, and certainly no bathrooms or washrooms. Personal issues had to be resolved in front of others. Whether male or female, standing or squatting, urinating was no longer as embarrassing as it was when they were first captured. The corners of the cages were piled with feces, and the air was foul. Seeing Lin Feihu enter, many people's eyes showed fear, hope, hatred, and ferocity. Lin Feihu held the gun, his gaze indifferent, and his expression numb. He walked into the aisle between the iron cages like the owner of a chicken farm, inspecting his private domain.

Through the cages, Lin Feihu saw a boy of about eight or nine years old. He bent down and looked at him seriously.

"My son used to be about your age. He was very beautiful and obedient. I took them to the street, to the zoo. One rode on my shoulders, the other held my hand. I bought them ice cream and toys. I, I was the happiest man in the world." With a strange smile and a hoarse voice, Lin Feihu finished speaking and raised the rifle, aiming at the boy and pulling the trigger. "Bang—" The boy fell to the ground. The sharp gunshot broke the silence in the warehouse. The atmosphere instantly became chaotic. People began to scream and cry. Many people desperately shrank into the corners of the cages, pushing and shoving each other, trying their best to get as far away from the terrifying old man outside as possible. Several bodyguards immediately rushed in. They held guns, ready to shoot Lin Feihu. Suddenly, they realized the perpetrator was their boss, and their expressions and eyes froze. Then, they made no further moves.

Lin Feihu glanced coldly at the door and continued to walk forward with the gun.

He saw a woman crouching on the ground, trembling. She was young and beautiful. If not for the feces on her body and the dirt on her face, a good bath and some makeup would make her turn heads on the street.

"At that time, she was a bit like you. I chased her in school. She was a swan, and I was a toad on the ground. She was very proud and wouldn't even look at me. I told myself I had to make a name for myself, to earn a lot of money, and use stacks of cash to crush her. Gradually, I forgot about it and met my wife. She was fat but very kind to me. I was a poor man then, and she never looked down on me, even helping me have a son. Later, I became rich and met that woman at a class reunion. She kept apologizing, saying she was naive when she was young, and asking if I still wanted her. She didn't mind that I had a wife. Hahahaha! She didn't mind that I had a wife, saying such things... Hahahaha!" Lin Feihu laughed uncontrollably, using the gun butt to press against his stomach and pulling the trigger again. Looking at the panicked and chaotic slaves, Lin Feihu felt a sense of satisfaction and unprecedented excitement. The pleasure brought by bloodshed and killing made him forget his grief. His brain produced a drug-like effect. Lin Feihu raised the gun and aimed at the cowering and desperate people in the cages, shooting wildly. The warehouse was filled with ear-piercing screams, cries, and wails—the most terrifying sounds in the world mixed together. They wanted to run, to escape, but could do nothing. They could only watch as the red-faced, excited Lin Feihu changed magazines, with a cruelty that defied description, repeatedly raising the gun and shooting fiercely. The place had become a hell. Mutilated bodies filled the remaining space in the cages. The dying were moaning, the dead's limbs were twitching. The living were fighting over the dead bodies, trying to use their companions' bodies to block the bullets. Black blood splattered the walls, and more blood flowed from the broken limbs, slowly spreading across the ground, forming a deep, shocking pool of blood.

"Cry! Cry your mother's cunt—"

"What right do you have to scream here? Isn't it just death? I don't give a damn! Whether you die by being killed or die of old age, what's the difference?"

"I have nothing left. No son, no family. You, you, why do you still deserve to live?" Lin Feihu roared, throwing the now scorching gun and collapsing heavily on the blood-soaked ground. He panted heavily, the abnormal redness on his face quickly fading, leaving a weak, pale complexion. Tears hung from the corners of his eyes. The living people in the nearby cages stared at him with the eyes of beasts. Lin Feihu propped himself up with his hands. The slightly cold, thick blood slowly seeped through his palms, cooling his fevered brain.

"I want revenge! I want revenge! No matter who it is, they must pay the price. Whether human or zombie, you, you, killed my son, I, I, will kill you, kill all of you—"

According to tradition, all members of the 71st Group Army Headquarters must attend a meeting every Monday. Xu Renjie sat at the head of the conference table. He smoked, looking unhappily at a document in front of him. This was the latest combat report submitted by the KD03 base commander, Li Daoyuan. It detailed the battle process in which Su Hao and Wu Guoguang jointly eliminated a large-scale zombie horde. Similar reports were received by the Group Army Headquarters every day. However, all the staff officers agreed that this report had extremely important reference value and even requested that it be submitted to the military as a model. Xu Renjie's general's uniform was unbuttoned, revealing a thick belly tightly wrapped in a shirt. He looked very tired, as if he hadn't slept the night before. To make his sore eyes feel better, Xu Renjie pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers, exhaled a long breath of smoke, and said gloomily, "Let's hear your opinions! What do you think?"

On both sides of the conference table, over a dozen officers were seated, mostly colonels and lieutenant colonels. Chen Yanlin sat next to Xu Renjie, looking calm and drinking tea slowly. Everyone had read the report. The staff had evaluated the authenticity of the report and confirmed it was accurate.

Without a doubt, as participants, Su Hao and Wu Guoguang had made significant contributions and should be rewarded. The report mentioned over 2,800 zombies, a new combat model, and an astonishingly low casualty rate... All these points attracted the readers' attention. People suddenly realized: zombies were not hard to deal with. As long as the right methods were used and there was good coordination, the biological war could be won.

The question was, what kind of reward should be given to Su Hao?

There were two opinions.

A substantial reward?

Or just a formal verbal commendation?

No one responded to his question, which made Xu Renjie, the commander of the Group Army, very dissatisfied. He pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray, tapped the table with his knuckles, and said in a prompting tone, "Let's discuss it! Speak freely, we need to be democratic!" Xu Renjie had no intention of giving Su Hao any reward. It wasn't that he had any prejudice against Su Hao, but Xiao Lin had an unusual hatred for this young man. Thinking of Xiao Lin, Xu Renjie's mind subconsciously conjured up a beautiful naked body. Her eyes were sexy and alluring, her skin smooth and white, her lips thick and soft. Being with this woman was a unique experience; she never refused any sexual position and always brought him new and exciting sensations. The variety and physical friction were far beyond what his wife at home could offer. In comparison, one was like a freshly peeled, tender-boiled egg, and the other was a rough, poorly made, rotten stinky egg. A few months ago, when Chen Yanlin was investigating the invalidation of the promotion order, the head of the Group Army Personnel Department brought Xiao Lin to Xu Renjie. The intention was clear: to have Xu Renjie intervene and suppress the matter, resulting in a happy ending for everyone. Apart from Lu Zhengxiong, only a few involved personnel received demotions. Xiao Lin naturally ended up in Xu Renjie's bed. Last week, she was promoted to colonel. Many people in the meeting room were Xu Renjie's confidants. They understood his unspoken message and knew what to do at this time.

A bespectacled major general cleared his throat and said, "Without a doubt, Comrade Su Hao's performance in the battle was outstanding. I suggest: the KD03 base issues a commendation order for him and announces it within the base." His words were brief, with no further elaboration. A lieutenant colonel raised a question, "Just a commendation, without a promotion? With a small team from the inspection station, eliminating nearly 3,000 zombies. Such achievements deserve more than just a commendation; even a direct promotion to captain or major would not be excessive."