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墨書 Inktalez
But this time, the crowd was genuinely angry. Weeks of pent-up frustration erupted all at once. Previously, when they were about to set off, Li Dewei and Old Lei had played their respective roles—one as the good cop and the other as the bad cop—to coax everyone into joining them. However, just a few days into their journey, they encountered a massive wave of Mourning Lions, resulting in heavy losses. Countless people had lost friends and loved ones.
Now, just a few days away from reaching Yucheng, they were informed that the road ahead was blocked by Zombies, forcing them to take a detour through the mountains. It was like a starving person being told they had to walk around the table before they could eat a feast laid out before them. No matter how persuasive Li Dewei could be, he could no longer fool these people. Consequently, a military order was issued: "Everyone should collect their rations and choose whether to stay or leave."
This order was like a stone thrown into calm waters, creating ripples among the crowd.
The question of whether to go or stay quickly became the most critical issue in everyone's minds. If they chose to go, they would have to climb over the mountain, which was particularly daunting in winter. But returning was no easy task either; unless one had a vehicle—those who had gone up the mountain certainly couldn't drive back down. The cars left behind were theirs after all. With this thought in mind, the majority leaned towards retreating.
"What’s going on with this order?" Old Lei glared at Huangfu Ling, who was smoking nearby. "You know very well that most people want to turn back. You also know that for those returning now, it’s tantamount to signing their death warrants. We must take everyone with us!" Huangfu Ling snorted coldly and replied, "It’s already been three days of arguing over whether to go up the mountain! In three days' time, we could have climbed it; the Zombies are already closing in. If we can’t make a decision now, we’re just waiting for death!"
It had been three full days since Wang Chao and Shen Zhitao returned; the Zombies were getting closer.
"It’s time to make a decision," Huangfu Ling said as he patted Old Lei on the shoulder. "Better to lose some than to lose everything."
"It’s time to talk about the Nuclear Power Plant," Old Lei said. "We’ve come this far."
Huangfu Ling nodded and replied, "That is indeed the best option, but there are two issues: first, you’re only bringing this up now; people may not believe you. Second, even if they do believe you, why mention it now? The public is furious; at this critical moment, saying something like that could lead to dire consequences for you—at least you won’t be wearing that outfit anymore."
Old Lei chuckled self-deprecatingly; this plan was the result of discussions between him and Huangfu Ling. However, as Huangfu Ling smiled while saying this, he effectively distanced himself from any blame. An angry crowd is terrifying, and as the saying goes, the law does not punish the masses. Even though Old Lei acted for everyone's sake, at such a critical juncture, who would want to step forward and take the heat?
But Huangfu Ling was someone who hid daggers behind his smile; even if it meant sacrificing everyone else, he wouldn’t take responsibility for such an outcome.
"I’ll take responsibility for this matter; it’s not anyone else's concern," Old Lei declared.
Huangfu Ling nodded.
When Old Lei turned to look at Huangfu Ling, he still wore a smile, as if he were indifferent to the world, as if the wind was gentle and the water clear. It was no wonder he came from one of the Seven Great Families; such a mindset was something Old Lei felt he could never attain. It was as if Huangfu Ling could issue commands with just a few words. Old Lei naturally understood Huangfu Ling's tactics.
Now, the majority opinion leaned towards retreating. By issuing this command, Huangfu Ling could lure many people back. After all, those who had gone up the mountain couldn't carry large amounts of food or drive vehicles up there, leaving behind substantial supplies. Moreover, the situation on the mountain was unpredictable; the beasts that had escaped from the zoo might be lurking in the depths of the mountains, and fewer people would make it easier to maneuver. Most importantly, even if Huangfu Ling intended for those people to return to their doom, aside from himself, no one else would know—truly a threefold advantage.
When Wang Chao heard that command, he was taken aback but soon realized Huangfu Ling's intentions. Upon further reflection, it was undoubtedly terrifying.
“Everyone, please be quiet!” Old Lei had stepped out of the makeshift command center and shouted over the chaos, “Please be quiet; there is something I should have told you all earlier.” The surrounding noise gradually subsided as everyone looked at the usually serious Old Lei, unsure of what he was about to say. “Actually, it's not that we don't want to go back; it's that the Nuclear Power Plant there could explode at any moment. This evacuation is also to avoid Nuclear Radiation.”
As soon as Old Lei finished speaking, chaos erupted below. Someone exclaimed, “What? A nuclear explosion? Why are you only telling us this now?” Others shouted, “You're lying; it must be a lie.” There were also plenty of curses thrown around.
“This is true,” Old Lei said. “Captain Huangfu and Mayor Li are unaware. I was afraid of causing panic among the crowd, so…”
Before Old Lei could finish his sentence, someone shouted out, “Liar! If that's the case, why didn't you tell us sooner? Don't you know we could die at any moment?”
“Such a person doesn't deserve to be our leader!” another voice chimed in.
“I can't believe this!” many others echoed.
Then someone threw a stone up first, followed by a second and a third—countless stones began raining down. Under normal circumstances, people might not have acted so violently; however, after enduring immense pressure and witnessing gruesome scenes for weeks, their pent-up anger finally erupted at this critical moment. Humans are easily influenced creatures; in an instant, even those who had no idea what was happening began picking up stones.
Huangfu Ling watched this scene from inside the vehicle and shook his head. His expression suggested he had anticipated this outcome long ago.
Countless stones rained down, yet Old Lei stood firm, as if a war god in the center of the crowd. Captain Lei, wanting to intervene, was met with Old Lei's thunderous command: "Step back." Despite being Old Lei's son, Captain Lei immediately obeyed his father's order. From the moment he entered the military camp, he was first and foremost a soldier, and only secondarily someone's son.
Wang Chao was the only one among them who knew the truth of the situation and understood why Old Lei chose to conceal it. It was purely for the sake of those attacking him, to prevent panic and to ensure their safe passage to the imperial capital. Yet now, the very people he sought to protect unleashed their fury upon Old Lei—how tragic, how lamentable.
Before long, Old Lei was battered and bleeding, but he never took a step back.
"I'm sorry," Old Lei said.
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