Chapter 18 Assistance

Li Yunshan's expression turned grave upon hearing Li Chenzhou's words. He was here to carry out a mission, away from his own city, and now he couldn't contact anyone. He truly had no clue what was going on.

However, he was the captain and had to remain calm so that the others wouldn't panic.

In truth, he also wanted to rush home to check on his family, but he couldn't bring himself to abandon the dozens of survivors in this hotel and leave with his team.

Since the apocalypse had begun, he could relax his principles somewhat. Otherwise, he wouldn't have compromised with Li Chenzhou after weighing the options, allowing him to kill Zhang Jinlong and the others, and even sit here with him now.

But the survivors in the hotel were dependent on them. After the apocalypse descended, they revealed their identities and cleared out the zombies here, and the survivors cooperated with them. Except for a few who lived locally and insisted on returning home, most of them obeyed their orders.

However, Li Yunshan also understood that the reason those people were cooperating was because the hotel was still relatively safe and hadn't been breached by zombies. They still needed their protection.

Once they left here and went out into the streets, it was hard to say whether these people would still be so obedient. If even one or two suddenly went crazy and screamed loudly at the sight of zombies, it might drag everyone down to their deaths.

"My suggestion is..."

Seeing Li Yunshan hesitate, Li Chenzhou took out his phone, opened the downloaded map, zoomed in on an area, pointed to two locations, and drew a line between them.

"We're here, and this is a picking garden outside the city. There shouldn't be many zombies there, and there's a river behind the garden, about 25 kilometers away from us. You can build a base there!

We'll be leaving the city in a while and taking this route, clearing out as many zombies as possible along the way, so it might be easier for you when you leave. The only problem is..."

Looking up at Li Yunshan, Li Chenzhou said seriously, "You'd better make it clear to them that everyone needs to remain quiet on the way out. If they can't do that, it's best to leave them here, or you might all be killed by one or two people!"

"Why help us?"

Li Yunshan asked, looking at Li Chenzhou.

"I told you, you saved my people, I owe you a favor!" Li Chenzhou replied. "Besides, we're going out of the city anyway, and it doesn't make much difference to us which route we take. So, we might as well take this opportunity to repay your favor!"

Saying that, Li Chenzhou stood up and went to the French window, looking at the world outside. "Before the apocalypse, I often watched the news, and I would cheer and praise those heroes who sacrificed themselves to save others and went against the tide, but I will never become one of them—just like I won't become one of you!

The reason heroes are heroes is because they have qualities that ordinary people don't have, but I don't have them. So, all I can do is provide you with some help as much as possible without affecting us too much!"

"You're not hypocritical, you say what's on your mind!" Li Yunshan shook his head and smiled wryly.

"Now is the apocalypse, no one needs to be hypocritical anymore. And because they have lost the constraints of morality and law, most people have completely released the demons in their hearts. I think you will see a lot of… things you can't stand in the future!"

Li Chenzhou turned to look at Li Yunshan. "Compared to them, I should be okay. At least I haven't become a demon, I'm still a... selfish human being with a bottom line who just wants to survive!"

"It's good to be human!" Li Yunshan looked at Li Chenzhou and nodded slowly.

"We're leaving!" Li Chenzhou walked directly towards the hotel entrance, saying, "Be careful when saving people. If it's not worth it, be ruthless. Don't risk everyone's lives for the sake of a few guys who are no longer human. Soft-heartedness is basically walking side by side with death in this world."

"Wait!" Seeing Li Chenzhou about to walk out the door, Li Yunshan suddenly stopped him, then looked at the young man guarding the door and said, "Since you're taking the road to the picking garden, then take two of my men with you. Let them follow you to familiarize themselves with the route, and let them come back after you leave the city and reach the picking garden!"

Li Chenzhou didn't expect Li Yunshan to make such a request, so he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. Then he looked at the young man, pointed at him, and asked, "The people you want me to take won't include this 'Mr. Why'?"

"My code name is Gou Xiong (Bear)!" The young man, who inexplicably got a nickname, gritted his teeth and glared at Li Chenzhou.

"That's right, he's one of them!" Li Yunshan laughed, then turned to look at the man on the second floor who had been held at knifepoint by Li Chenzhou earlier and said, "Baozi (Leopard)! You go with Gou Xiong!"

"Yes!" Baozi agreed loudly, then glanced at Li Chenzhou, jumped down into the hall, came to Li Chenzhou, and looked at him.

"Are you unconvinced, thinking I ambushed you?" Looking at Baozi, Li Chenzhou asked with a smile.

"No! Whether it was an ambush or whatever, the moment you put the dagger to my neck, I was already dead. Dead men have no right to complain or accuse!" Baozi looked at Li Chenzhou and said.

"Just let them follow you to familiarize themselves with the route and confirm the environment along the way. After all, we are not very familiar with this city." Li Yunshan walked over and said.

"Taking them is okay, but I have a request." Li Chenzhou said, "On this road, you have to listen to my command. What I say is what goes, no questioning, no disobeying. Even if I ask you to eat shit, you have to eat it first, and then come to me to express your dissatisfaction. Can you do that?"

Hearing Li Chenzhou's words, Baozi and Gou Xiong both looked at Li Yunshan, who immediately nodded. "I agree!"

Then, he looked at Baozi and Gou Xiong and asked, "Did you hear that? After you go out, his words are the same as my orders, and you must carry them out immediately and resolutely. Can you do it? If you can't, I'll change people!"

"Guarantee to eat it all!!!" Gou Xiong reacted the fastest, immediately saluted Li Yunshan, and shouted loudly.

"..." Baozi, who was also saluting Li Yunshan, stiffened, turned his head in shock to look at Gou Xiong, and Li Chenzhou and the others all turned their heads to stare at this... foodie.

"No! Captain, I meant to say... guarantee to complete the mission!" Feeling everyone's gaze, Gou Xiong immediately reacted and blushed...

"Hahahaha! It's okay, it means the same thing!" Li Chenzhou laughed. He patted Gou Xiong on the shoulder, then bent down to pull out the steel bar under the revolving door, turned around and held it up in front of Li Yunshan, took a deep breath, looked at him and said, "Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!" Li Yunshan saluted, then took the steel bar and watched Li Chenzhou and his group of five walk out of the hotel and slowly walk away...