"Your expression isn't bad; it seems you've rested very well recently."
Lam Pham greeted Quan Hao with a smile. He could see the other party's pursuit and change.
"Thanks to Big Brother's blessing, I've rested very well. I never thought I could have such a life." Quan Hao was very satisfied with his current life. He then looked towards the group of survivors who had gotten out of the vehicles and said enviously, "It's truly their good fortune to have met Big Brother. From now on, they can stay within Duong Quang Complex and avoid the harm of zombies."
Lam Pham said, "You too will soon be able to enter Duong Quang Complex."
He thought about how the other party, during this recent period, had been constantly watching 'films,' as if doing something. He could understand this kind of situation, feeling that the other party was venting negative emotions in his heart.
It could be felt.
Hearing Lam Pham's words, Quan Hao's eyes widened, his mood suddenly excited, then he seemed to be pondering something.
"Big Brother, I suddenly realize I can understand your ideals. I... I feel it's very good to stay outside. Many survivors with no path to follow pass by here. When I see them, I can tell them about the situation here, thereby contributing to harmony."
When it was dark and quiet, Quan Hao looked at the night and thought about some things.
Perhaps he hadn't thought of it before, but suddenly, as if his Ren and Du meridians had been cleared, a stream of spiritual energy shot straight into his mind, making his thoughts instantly clear.
Living in Duong Quang Complex in the future would definitely be comfortable and leisurely.
But he felt that being outside Duong Quang Complex seemed not bad either. He could be a guide, not just telling others where to go, but telling those pitiful people who came here, lost and confused, thinking they needed to change their self-perception to survive in the apocalypse.
Lam Pham looked at Quan Hao with a smile on his face, gently patted Quan Hao's shoulder, then turned to look at the survivors who had followed him.
The survivors who arrived here looked at the surrounding environment.
The first thing they saw was the tall iron railing.
From their departure until now, they hadn't encountered a single living zombie, yet they had seen many zombie corpses. That scene shocked their hearts, instantly making them understand: it wasn't that the zombies had vanished, but that the zombies had been hunted and killed by him.
Lam Pham looked at them; they similarly looked at Lam Pham with expectant expressions. In their hearts, Lam Pham was the only existence that could lead them to continue living.
Quan Hao looked at Lam Pham, then stepped forward and said, "Hello everyone, my name is Quan Hao, one of the first group to reside outside Duong Quang Complex. During this period, everyone has suffered enough from the ravages of the apocalypse, evading the harm of zombies, and also having to guard against the darkness of human nature. You must have endured enough torment.
But now that everyone has arrived here, I can say that it is already safe. See the surrounding shops? You can choose one to stay in. There is absolutely no problem here. At least during the period I've stayed here, I can guarantee to everyone, I haven't seen a single zombie, not even one.
Here, everyone can live just like before."
He could understand that this group of people Big Brother brought back might be like him, somewhat lost in the apocalypse. Entering Duong Quang Complex was definitely not possible yet; they needed to recover slowly. After a period of madness, they needed to calm their emotions and gradually return to their former habits.
He looked at Lam Pham, as if asking.
"Big Brother, look, what I said also makes sense, right?"
Lam Pham said, "He is right. A very large area nearby has already been cleared by me. You can stay here with peace of mind. I hope you can gradually find yourselves again."
"I sincerely hope that you can find the true selves you were in peacetime. Here, you will not encounter zombies, will not be bullied by others. I hope you can always be full of hope for the future."
He knew this group of people was pursuing survival, and now, he was giving them the hope of survival.
At the same time, he was also pointing out the path to the future for them.
The people who followed Lam Pham back looked at each other. Someone wanted to say, "Can we not enter Duong Quang Complex?" but in the end, still buried the words they wanted to say in their hearts.
In their minds, they thought about what Lam Pham had just said.
That's right.
The true self.
A future full of hope.
Isn't this what everyone is searching for?
After Lam Pham left.
Quan Hao knew what this group of people was thinking. "Don't let your thoughts run wild. Don't think that Big Brother brought you here just to abandon you. We need to think about things from our own perspective. Needless to say, on the way here, for a very long distance, you didn't see any zombies, right?"
He looked at everyone's expressions, knowing they had just arrived here and were still somewhat bewildered.
This kind of bewilderment was exactly like when he first arrived here.
However, he believed that as long as living people were not wild beasts and carried hope in their hearts, they would surely be able to walk out of bewilderment and welcome a beautiful future.
"Is everything you said true?"
A survivor looked at Quan Hao.
Quan Hao smiled and said, "Of course. I have never, ever lied. Here, we want to return to our true selves. I occupy the small supermarket. If you have any needs, you can come find me. Food is available at will. If any male wants to watch some 'films,' you can also come find me. I have them all here."
Everyone was dumbfounded.
At such a serious moment.
You suddenly come up with a line... about watching films.
This... actually seems like it might not be a bad idea.
...
Research Institute.
Boom!
Hung Ung tackled a soldier to one side, quickly getting up, "Be careful! This thing is extremely fierce! Can't just stand still and shoot!"
The current situation was somewhat terrible.
The zombie that appeared was indeed exactly as Hang Dat had described.
The zombie's physique was similar to a strength-type zombie. Not only did it have sharp claws, but it also had armless appendages on its back that resembled wings. Its agility was very high, its destructive power even stronger. If one's flesh and blood body was touched by it like that, one would absolutely die horribly.
Hang Dat hid trembling in the storage room. As a scientific researcher, he didn't have the courage to fight against such a terrifying zombie. Just seeing that ferocious body had already scared him senseless.
He hid behind the wall, cautiously watching the situation outside.
"Good luck!"
All he could do was cheer them on; anything else was really a bit beyond him.
"Diep Hong, I'll restrain it! You all find an opportunity!"
Hung Ung and the unknown zombie were entangled in a fierce fight. The straight dao in his hand constantly clashed with the opponent. What he hadn't expected was that the arms growing from the opponent's back were not at all sturdy. When they collided, he actually couldn't sever them with one blow, only able to leave wounds that were neither deep nor shallow.
If it were any other zombie, it would have long been minced.
"Understood!"
Diep Hong responded, knowing they had encountered a very terrifying zombie, not comparable to a strength-type zombie.
"Tieu Long, Dai Phao, normal bullets have limited effect on it! Aim for its eyes!"
Hung Ung knew the terrifying points of this type of evolved zombie. Even if bullets hit its body, they would be cushioned by the zombie's special musculature, making it very difficult to injure it fundamentally.
The head of an evolved zombie contained a crystal, and the crystal was protected by the skull. Ordinary firearms found it difficult to cause damage; only sniper rifles could inflict injury.
According to research, although zombies' pale white eyes looked as if they had no vision, they actually did have vision. They relied not only on their ears but also on their eyes.
"Received."
"Received."
They were all outstanding individuals from the military, rich in practical combat experience.
Boom!
Boom!
The soldiers not wearing battle armor or exoskeleton equipment constantly moved, aiming and shooting. Instantly, viscous blood splattered everywhere.
The unknown zombie was extremely annoyed by this group of shooting ants and wanted to eliminate this swarm of ants. However, Hung Ung, wearing the Cang Long battle armor, was extremely fierce, not dodging in the slightest.
"Thinking of harming my teammates in front of me? I think you're dreaming!"
Hung Ung was enraged, waving the straight dao in his hand, continuously leaving wounds on the unknown zombie's body. Fortunately, the battle armor and weapon had been enhanced; otherwise, given the situation when dealing with strength-type zombies before, he would absolutely have been insta-killed.
Just as he was thinking these things.
The unknown zombie, enraged, its back wing-like arms fiercely slammed into Hung Ung's chest, directly sending Hung Ung flying. Such terrifying force could smash even a car into pieces.
Hung Ung, his body protected by the battle armor, endured the discomfort transmitted through his body, and wielding his straight dao, charged towards the unknown zombie. He was the meat shield blocking the unknown zombie.
If he fell, no one at the scene could survive.
"Diep Hong, you absolutely must be careful! Don't fight it head-on!"
"I know!"
Diep Hong swung her straight dao. When Hung Ung and the zombie clashed, she would inflict painless but itchy damage on the unknown zombie. It seemed as if it wasn't very effective, but she believed that as long as she persisted, it would definitely have an effect.
As the battle situation grew increasingly intense.
Hung Ung looked at his surrounding comrades; more or less all had sustained injuries. Some had bleeding foreheads, some had been hit by heavy objects and were spitting blood, but as long as they weren't unconscious, they were all fiercely attacking the unknown zombie.
One of the unknown zombie's eyes had been blinded, viscous, disgusting liquid flowing from it. With one eye blinded, it had some impact on the zombie's actions.
Pfft!
Hung Ung severed the unknown zombie's two sturdy arms. Its native arms were easy to cut off. Only the arms on its back were extremely tough. Although covered in dense wounds, the unknown zombie could still flexibly wave them at will.
"Damn, this zombie is really..."
Blood trickled from the corner of Hung Ung's mouth inside the battle armor. He didn't even know how many times he had been hit by the unknown zombie, sent flying by impacts, or had his ankle grabbed and fiercely slammed onto the ground.
If not for the protection of the Cang Long battle armor, he would have died an unknown number of times already.
But at this very moment.
Hung Ung's expression changed drastically. The unknown zombie's back arms moved as fast as afterimages. With a thud, it directly sent him flying. Immediately after, just as he was about to get up, he saw that arm, like an arrow, heading towards Diep Hong, who was swinging and slashing at the joint of the back arm.
"Careful!"
Pfft!
A figure rushed over, pushing Diep Hong to a corner of the wall. In their vision, the arm pierced through the soldier's body.
"Tieu Long!"
Everyone cried out in alarm.
Gush!
Tieu Long spat blood. His pierced abdomen similarly gushed fresh blood. The arm flexibly held Tieu Long before it. The unknown zombie stared with its single eye, roaring. Facing the terrifyingly ferocious zombie, Tieu Long took out a grenade and revealed a smile.
"You damn..."
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted.
It made everyone's ears ring, as if the entire space was shaking.
Hung Ung, wearing the Cang Long battle armor, was unaffected. His heart was filled with sorrow. Amidst the dense smoke, he saw that huge figure, and also saw the unknown zombie's appearance. Its arm-wings were mangled, its entire body flowing with blood.
He heard the unknown zombie's furious roar.
"Die!"
Hung Ung charged furiously. Before the unknown zombie could react, he leaped up, roared, and his straight dao viciously chopped down from the unknown zombie's shoulder, forming a diagonal cut. With a pfft sound, the sound of entering flesh, he directly severed the unknown zombie.
Crash!
The unknown zombie fell to the ground.
Hung Ung cut off the unknown zombie's head with one slash, then collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. As his mask opened, fresh blood flowed down from his armor.
"Are you alright?" Diep Hong said.
Hung Ung shook his head, "I'm fine, it's just Tieu Long, he... Ai."
Sorrow, grief.
However, as soldiers, they had long been prepared to sacrifice themselves at any time.
Diep Hong said in a deep voice, "He sacrificed himself to save me."
The other few soldiers walked over, looked at the shattered corpse, watched silently, feeling grief, feeling uncomfortable, but also a kind of fortitude. After a brief moment of reorganizing, they put away the sorrow in their hearts.
"Brother Ung, the danger in the research institute has been eliminated. Our mission can be considered complete."
Hung Ung stood up. Having endured countless impacts, his body injured, he came before the zombie, cut open its head with one slash. A crystal rolled out.
A crystal gradually developing towards black, but not yet completely black.
"This is a zombie that surpasses ordinary evolved zombies, but it hasn't reached the black crystal level."
Hung Ung put away the crystal.
"Brother Ung, if the color of zombie crystals represents their rank, then how formidable would an evolved zombie that has reached a black crystal be?"
"I don't know. Definitely very strong. But among us humans, there are people who can deal with them."
"Lam Pham from Duong Quang Complex?"
"Yes, it's him. His existence is humanity's final support. When we fail, whether humanity can continue to be passed down will only depend on him."
...
Duong Quang Complex.
"Survivors are gathering outside our residential complex. I think we should set up iron railings for them. Although the surrounding zombies have all been cleaned up, it's hard to avoid stray zombies wandering here and causing a commotion," Co Hang said.
Lam Pham said, "That's right. Staying in a safe area will let them gradually find their former habits. They've lost them for too long, so long that I can see they are wary of everyone around them, suspicious of everyone. Their coldness is not their fault; it's just a form of self-protection. Anyone in such an environment would be the same."
He could understand, and he could also comprehend. That kind of extreme saintly model doesn't exist; no one can achieve that level.
Vuong Khai thought for a moment, then looked at A Hai. Seeing A Hai had nothing to say, he proactively stood up and said, "Brother Lam, I've thought of something, and there's a way to help them recover quickly."
Everyone looked at Vuong Khai.
Facing the attentive gazes of the crowd.
Vuong Khai lifted his head, an indescribable smugness about him, as if saying, "Everyone, watch my performance."
"Tell us about it," Lam Pham asked.
Vuong Khai cleared his throat and said, "As the number of survivors near us gradually increases, there will definitely be a demand for supplies. Why don't we buy some supplies and then sell them to them, selling at cost price? The purpose is to tell them that even in the apocalypse, money is needed for purchases, which can more quickly cultivate their awareness of paying. Of course, some people definitely won't have money. We can allow them to earn money through work, such as cleaning shops, sweeping the roadside environment, and so on..."
The group listened to Vuong Khai say these things and all nodded. It was indeed a good method, not to make money from selling things, but to let them get used to the lifestyle here, just like normal: do some work, earn some money, buy some things, making the whole day fulfilling and meaningful.
Beside him, A Hai looked at Vuong Khai, thinking about what the other had said. A look of regret appeared on his face, as if he deeply regretted not having thought of these things himself, allowing Vuong Khai to seize the initiative.
Old Man Vuong smiled, "Young boss's idea is very good."
Co Hang said, "Mm, it is indeed such a method."
Lam Pham often expressed agreement with matters everyone else approved of. "I'm just a security guard; it's very good that everyone can discuss things with me."
"Alright, then let's do it that way."
Very quickly.
That group of survivors staying near Duong Quang Complex all found places to stay. Then they saw people from inside Duong Quang Complex come out. Unexpectedly, they saw Lam Pham, carrying a sword, also carrying a section of iron railing, walking out.
They came out from the shops and stood at the doorways watching.
They looked at the people living in Duong Quang Complex, and the people inside Duong Quang Complex similarly looked at them.
For them, they truly envied the survivors of Duong Quang Complex.
Although it was now the apocalypse, they always lived in a place where the sunlight could shine.
The gazes of both sides met. This feeling was as if they were people from two different worlds, clearly very close to each other, yet there was a sense of great distance.
Hard to put into words.
Lam Pham used the iron railing to block the entrance. For them, seeing the entrance blocked by the iron railing gave them a sense of security. At least in their minds, Lam Pham was really paying attention to them.
Vuong Khai walked over to the shop side, "You all just arrived, right?"
"Yes."
They nodded.
Vuong Khai looked at their expressions; they were truly very familiar. Thinking carefully, wasn't it just like his former self? Those days he spent at the water plant were truly unforgettable for him for a lifetime.