She had Yang Lianyi take the people away.
This town, neither large nor small, had expanded several times after the tourism industry took off. Coupled with the fact that it was peak tourist season before the apocalypse, there were many people here.
Many had turned into zombies, and many were still alive.
By late morning, thousands of people had gathered in the square outside.
The earliest arrivals had already waited for two to three hours. If it weren't for the free water and the temptation of one jin of grain, some would have left long ago.
Of course, this was not entirely the Yang family's domain; there were other small organizations. They disdained one jin of grain and wouldn't have come.
Zhou Shanshan returned with the last group of people and reported to her: "I've notified everyone. Some were unwilling to come, but most did."
When the apocalypse descended, one-tenth of the population turned into zombies. Approximately three-tenths were bitten or scratched by zombies and mutated before they could react. In the period since then, another three-tenths had died. Of the remaining thirty percent, some had already left.
By calculation, the remaining population in this area was no more than twenty thousand.
Besides the hundreds gathered by the Yang family and the over ten thousand who had arrived, not many were absent.
Some small groups didn't come for the one jin of grain but had heard about what happened here and came to watch the spectacle.
With so many people attending, Zhu Ran naturally wanted to give them a full show.
"Are you ready?"
The fire ability user, automatically assuming the role of a subordinate, replied respectfully, "Everything is ready, Miss Xiao."
"Then let's begin. Let everyone hear what they've done, and then we'll kill them to show those who are stirring up trouble."
She had locked those people up last night precisely for this purpose.
Humanity was perishing in this world; belief and civilization were collapsing. If people couldn't hold onto their bottom line, like Xue Jingjing, the ultimate outcome would be self-destruction!
In this era of declining magic, if certain things weren't enough to shock people's hearts, she would show them the punishment for their wrongdoings!
"Yes!"
The man turned and strode out of the room to the square outside. He ordered people to bring Yu Xiulian and those who had aided and abetted her sons for trial.
They were made to accuse each other, exposing the wicked deeds they and their masters had committed. These people, thinking it would save their lives, began to spill each other's secrets.
Their crimes included, but were not limited to, rape and plunder, helping Yu Xiulian's family snatch children with "good fortunes," killing and eating them, finding children for Yu Xiulian's eldest son, and disposing of bodies…
Even many of them had participated in the cannibalistic banquets hosted by Yu Xiulian.
In short, the crimes they committed would have been enough to kill them several times over, even as accomplices, if this were a legal era.
Zhu Ran herself had selected these people. As long as they weren't exceedingly wicked, she wouldn't have resorted to such methods.
After they had exposed each other, Song Qi and Zhou Shanshan together described their heinous acts. Their words were sharp and impassioned, and the microphones broadcast their voices to everyone. Many on the ground cursed their family. Sudansnovel.com
After speaking, Zhou Shanshan then played the footage of Yu Xiulian's eldest son being tortured to death the previous night.
Instead of fear, they cheered loudly, especially those who had suffered at the hands of the Yang family, wishing they could drag the person out and whip his corpse.
When the video ended, she picked up the microphone and spoke in a tone similar to a school announcement: "Today, Miss Xiao invited everyone here to show you what Yu Xiulian and the Yang family have done, and what punishment they will receive. We hope everyone will take heed. This is an era of declining magic, but it should not be an era where humanity perishes. Miss Xiao will bring peace to this place, and you can all live in peace. But if anyone follows in the Yang family's footsteps, their today will be your tomorrow. Fire!"
Bullets from nearby rained down on the group in the center. They struggled to escape, crying out for mercy, just like those they had killed, they too had become ants under others' feet.
When those people died, some would mourn them, and others would avenge them. But when these people died, they received only condemnation.
The onlookers watched as dozens of the Yang family's high-ranking servants were executed. Some applauded, while others, thinking of their own past actions, felt uneasy.
After the killings, people below began to clear the scene.
Bags of grain were brought out from the back. Most of this had been seized by Yu Xiulian's people.
"The event is now over. Everyone line up to collect your grain. Don't rush, don't cut in line. Everyone will get some. Those who cut in line will be sent to the back of the queue. If caught twice, you will not receive any grain."
With this threat, most people behaved themselves.
Moreover, seeing so many people queuing orderly and watching others happily walk past with their grain, they felt as if they had returned to a civilized era.
Some people just watched silently, their eyes reddening.
In less than a month, they had witnessed enough of the wickedness of human nature.