Chapter 19 The Lone City (19)

Chapter 19: The Lonely City (Part Nineteen)

Chen Xian wearily pinched the bridge of his nose. It was highly likely he was sharing a room with two madmen—one armed with a gun, the other with a knife; one stubbornly unreasonable, the other utterly deranged.

He glanced at the heavy metal cabinet by the door and said with a resigned air, “Alright, I’ll count to three. Then we all rush out together, head home to rest, and tomorrow we’ll stick to the original plan: continue locking the doors of each building and clearing out the madmen wandering outside.”

“I have no intention of continuing this reckless mission with you tomorrow,” Lin Yanqing said, his delicate brows knitted tightly. “We’ve already seen it today. With your capabilities, there’s no way to fight off a horde of madmen. Continuing like this is a death sentence. Besides, you’re out of bullets.”

“Since you’ve seen it, you should know how dangerous these people are when they gather. The madmen locked inside their homes still have a chance to wait for the serum. But the ones wandering outside will eventually kill someone. Lin Yanqing, you have the ability and the willingness—so why can’t you sacrifice yourself?” Chen Xian argued.

“You’re too reckless! What else can you do besides charging headlong into danger?” Lin Yanqing raised his voice. “Sacrifice myself? If you want to die, don’t drag me into it!”

Chen Xian gritted his teeth until they ached, suppressing the burning fury in his chest. A faint redness tinged the rims of his eyes. After a long moment, he sat down, tore off a piece of his already tattered sleeve, dampened it with a few drops of water, and began slowly wiping the blood from his arm.

Lin Yanqing roared at Xue Xiaofeng, “And you! What are you trying to do by rushing out now? Lili is about to take his nap. Don’t disturb him!”

As if waking from a dream, Xue Xiaofeng suddenly stopped his violent agitation. He shrank furtively into a corner, made a shushing gesture, and whispered, “Turn off your walkie-talkie. Don’t disturb Little Yali.”

Lin Yanqing glared at the two of them, moved a chair to sit behind the door, and said calmly after composing himself, “We’ll act after sunset. It won’t be as hot then, and the madmen should have dispersed. As for tomorrow—we’ll discuss it after we get back.”

Chen Xian hunched over, covering his face with his hands.

*

The sun was stubbornly slow to set. Even by seven in the evening, it still blazed brightly in the sky. He Yunchuan stood on the balcony, using binoculars to survey the surroundings.

Xia Li fiddled with the hem of He Yunchuan’s clothes, muttering, “We shouldn’t have let my brother go out this morning. You didn’t even wake me. Now he’s trapped in the monitoring room, probably hungry, and who knows if he’s hurt.”

“Strange—the color doesn’t look right,” He Yunchuan said, handing the binoculars to Xia Li and pointing at the distant sun. “Look around the sun. Is there a purple ring?”

Xia Li mumbled as he lifted the binoculars, then put them down after a moment. “No, I don’t see it.”

Puzzled, He Yunchuan called He Yuanshan over to look. After checking, He Yuanshan also shook his head.

Xia Li shivered and let go of his clothes, hiding behind He Yuanshan. He stammered, “Are you infected?!”

He Yunchuan was startled. He thought back for a long time but couldn’t recall using any of Aimeile’s products or getting injured. At most, he might have touched some blood from a madman.

He Yuanshan hesitated, “Could it be your glasses?”

“My glasses?” He Yunchuan tried taking off his glasses and looked through the binoculars again. The color on the horizon returned to normal.

“There are plain glasses at home!” Xia Li had a sudden idea. He found the plain glasses at home, put them on, and looked toward the horizon through the binoculars again. Sure enough, as He Yunchuan had said, the area around the sun turned purple, as if emitting a poisonous, sinister aura.

He Yuanshan said, “Before the world descends into great chaos, unusual celestial phenomena often appear. Perhaps these are all omens.”

“Isn’t it chaotic enough already?” He Yunchuan retorted irritably.

He Yuanshan gave an awkward smile and closed his mouth.

Xia Li pinched He Yunchuan’s waist hard. He Yunchuan frowned and swatted his hand away.

Lin Yanqing’s voice, breathless, came through the walkie-talkie. They were about to return and told He Yunchuan to be ready to open the door at any moment.

He Yunchuan focused intently, using the binoculars to observe every movement within the residential complex.

Half an hour later, he spotted the figures of Lin Yanqing and the others through the binoculars. The three of them were rushing ahead, pursued closely by seven or eight madmen. Gunshots rang out intermittently, making it seem like watching a heroic blockbuster.

Lin Yanqing and the others disappeared around a corner. He Yunchuan handed the binoculars to Xia Li, grabbed his weapon, and positioned himself behind the door, ready to rush out and open it.

A few minutes later, Lin Yanqing’s voice came through the walkie-talkie—urgent and strained.

“We’re back, climbing the stairs now. Get ready to open the door,” Lin Yanqing said in a strange tone, adding instructions, “Is Lili’s dinner ready? The steak should be medium-well. Use the imported French tableware set. Dessert is bird’s nest soup—make sure it’s meticulously cleaned. There’s tiramisu in the fridge; remember to serve it on that limited-edition British dinnerware set. Ensure he enjoys his meal.”

He Yunchuan’s eyebrow twitched.

Lin Yanqing asked again, “How is his mood? The hallway smells terrible.”

Their fragile friendship, maintained for over twenty years, gave He Yunchuan a deep understanding of what Lin Yanqing was up to. He cleared his throat and said calmly, “Mr. Xia isn’t feeling well at the moment. The smell from the hallway must have drifted in. He’s resting in the bedroom. I’ll have dinner prepared.”

“Remember to take his temperature, monitor his condition closely, and report at all times,” Lin Yanqing said breathlessly. “The rolling shutter door of Building 20 is down, so it’s temporarily safe. We’ll be there in two minutes. Open the door.”

“Understood,” He Yunchuan replied, turning off the walkie-talkie with a click of his tongue.

Two minutes later, He Yunchuan went to open the door. He lifted the poster on the door and saw Lin Yanqing followed by the security guard he had seen the other day. The guard was supporting the man named Chen Xian.

He Yunchuan opened the door, saw the three of them covered in blood, and took a step back. “What happened? So much blood. Who got bitten?”

“He was cut by a piece of metal,” Lin Yanqing said, turning to lock the door behind them. Then he opened the door to unit 1901 and urged Xue Xiaofeng inside.

Xue Xiaofeng craned his neck, looking around suspiciously. “Aren’t we staying next door? Where’s Yali?”

“Don’t disturb his rest!” Without further explanation, Lin Yanqing pushed Xue Xiaofeng inside. Xue Xiaofeng stumbled and fell to the ground, sending Chen Xian tumbling as well.

As Lin Yanqing entered, He Yunchuan grabbed his wrist and whispered, “What’s going on? Why did you bring back so many strangers?”

“Xue Xiaofeng has nowhere to go, and Chen Xian is injured,” Lin Yanqing said irritably. “Anyway, let’s just get through tonight first.”

“Don’t cause any trouble,” He Yunchuan said with a frown.

Lin Yanqing nodded, swiftly entered the room, locked the door behind him, and rushed to find the first aid kit. He helped Chen Xian sit on the sofa.

Chen Xian’s arm had been scraped against an iron plate, losing a layer of skin. His entire arm was a bloody mess, leaving Lin Yanqing unsure where to start.

He first disinfected the wound with saline solution, found some gauze, and hastily wrapped it around Chen Xian’s arm.

“Bear with it. Take two pills later; you should be fine,” Lin Yanqing comforted him.

Chen Xian’s lips were pale, and sweat dripped onto the wound, making him grimace in pain. Staring at the top of Lin Yanqing’s head, he managed a bitter smile. “Do you think I’ll turn white-haired too?”

“Don’t know,” Lin Yanqing said, distracted as he glanced at Xue Xiaofeng, who was pressed against the door panel, peering through the peephole at the outside.

After finishing the bandaging, Lin Yanqing looked up and smiled. “So—still planning to go out tomorrow?”

Chen Xian’s lips twitched, his eyes slightly moist. After a moment, he whispered, “Yes.”

Lin Yanqing looked at him with an incredulous expression.

Chen Xian said, “I’ll go alone.”

“So, I was right today,” Lin Yanqing paused, closing the lid of the first aid kit. Blood from his fingertips smeared onto the plastic box. He slowly raised his eyes and continued, “You don’t want to live. You’re seeking death.”

Chen Xian opened his mouth, then tightly pressed his lips together.

“Why?” Lin Yanqing asked curiously.

Chen Xian hunched over, absentmindedly fiddling with the gauze on his arm, his voice hoarse. “My comrades… they all died. In that mission, I was the only one who survived.”

He sniffled, not shedding tears, but his voice grew increasingly raspy. “Surviving alone is a difficult thing. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Of course I don’t understand, and I don’t want to,” Lin Yanqing said, a faint smile touching his lips. “But I think your comrades would want you to live.”

Chen Xian closed his eyes and bowed his head low, letting his tears fall where no one could see.

Xue Xiaofeng, hearing their conversation, turned around and said furtively, "I think we should go. Let's search the building floor by floor, knock on every door, and make sure there are no other madmen in Building 20. That way, we can ensure Yali's safety."

"You can eat something and then rest," Lin Yanqing said.

"You're an incompetent agent! Selfish and harsh! Only thinking about yourself!" Xue Xiaofeng snapped.

"I need to regain my strength before I can be a competent agent," Lin Yanqing said, picking up a bottle of water and a pack of biscuits from the table. He walked straight into the bedroom, gently closed the door, and locked it from the inside.

Chen Xian walked to the door and knocked. "Please, I'm injured. Let me sleep in the room!"

Lin Yanqing's voice came from the bedroom, "You should go back to your own home."

Chen Xian glanced around the living room, filled with supplies and a sense of security, and fell silent.

He tried sending a few messages to Jiang Songnian, but they still went unanswered.

The walkie-talkie beeped, emitting a faint, eerie meow.

"Lili?" Lin Yanqing put down his phone and picked up the walkie-talkie.

"Brother, is it convenient to talk?"

"Go ahead, I'm alone."

"Why did you go outside? Who are those people? Maybe you should come over here." Xia Li's voice was soft and low, tinged with a hint of tears. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine. Stay home and listen to Uncle He and Yun Chuan."

"How could you not be hurt? You ran so far, and it's so dangerous outside," Xia Li sobbed.

Lin Yanqing turned sideways, curling up on the sofa, and said gloomily, "It's okay, Lili. Things will get better. They definitely will."

The two whispered to each other until Lin Yanqing grew too tired to keep his eyes open. He buried his face in the soft sofa, his eyelids trembling slightly before finally closing, his breathing becoming long and steady.

In his dream, he returned to the snowy ridges of that winter land. Hua Sheng sat on a swing, waving to him.

"A Qing—A Qing—over here!"

Lin Yanqing strolled toward him. Hua Sheng jumped off the swing, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "You sit. I'll push you."

Lin Yanqing sat on the swing, his white figure swaying in the air. He heard Hua Sheng ask, "Where have you been? Why did it take you so long to come back?"

Lin Yanqing gradually lost track of reality and dreams, as if this were the real world, and that bizarre human society was the dream.

"Don't leave anymore. Stay here forever and tell me stories," Hua Sheng said.

"My brother is still waiting for me," Lin Yanqing paused, "and Uncle Niangao."

"I know. Your brother is Xia Li, and Uncle Niangao is Jiang Songnian. You've told me many times."

Lin Yanqing nodded gloomily. He pressed his toes against the ground, feeling the soil beneath the snow. The swing slowly came to a stop. Hua Sheng walked around to his side, his small body sitting close to him.

"Actually, Uncle Niangao isn't an uncle. He's only two years older than me. Don't you think he's strange? Always teasing me," Lin Yanqing muttered, lowering his head. The long hair behind his ears fell forward, covering his pale face.

"Just ignore someone like that. Why not stay here and keep me company?" Hua Sheng said.

"No, I still have Lili. I can't always be with you," Lin Yanqing said.

"But you only come once in a long while," Hua Sheng said sadly. "You didn't come to my hundredth birthday."

Lin Yanqing suddenly laughed, his moist eyes curving into crescent moons. He smiled and said, "Uncle Niangao is a big liar, and you're a little liar."

Hua Sheng looked confused, his delicate, almost unreal face showing bewilderment.

*Thump, thump, thump—*

Lin Yanqing heard a loud rumbling from upstairs, as if someone was dragging furniture. He frowned, burying his face deeper into the sofa. It was that Zhao Yong again, never quiet at night.

The noise went on and on. Suddenly, Lin Yanqing's eyes snapped open, pulling him out of the dream and back to reality.

He had forgotten—he wasn't at home now, and the people upstairs weren't Zhao Yong's family but two young men.

The knocking grew louder, startling everyone downstairs. The secondary bedroom had no bed but had air conditioning. Chen Xian, with his injured hand, wanted to move the sofa into the secondary bedroom, but Xue Xiaofeng refused to help, sticking to the peephole like a doorpost all night. Chen Xian had no choice but to sleep on the floor. He had just lain down when he heard a series of crashing noises from upstairs. He walked back to the living room, looking up to trace the source of the sound.

Lin Yanqing also pushed the door open and came out, carefully analyzing the information conveyed by the noise.

"Madmen are coming... what to do... barricade the door... fight them..." Lin Yanqing strained to hear these words.

Chen Xian rubbed his ears, finding the noise annoying but unable to make out the words clearly.

"Madmen! There are madmen in this building!" Xue Xiaofeng exclaimed nervously.

"Every building will have them. The next seven days are the peak period. If we can get through these seven days without new infections, the situation will still be manageable," Lin Yanqing said.

A series of loud bangs came from upstairs. Lin Yanqing closed his eyes, listening carefully. He faintly heard Zhao Yong's voice. Recalling the foul smell from Zhao Yong's apartment days ago and Zhao Yong's abnormal behavior, he deduced that Zhao Yong had already been infected.

A few minutes later, the commotion upstairs stopped. Lin Yanqing sighed in relief and said, "The madmen couldn't break down the door. They might have gone somewhere else. Everyone, stay inside. Don't let any smells drift out."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Xiaofeng suddenly pushed the door open and rushed out, lunging toward the fire door. He tugged frantically at the chain lock, shouting anxiously, "Someone open the door! Hurry up and open it!"

"Is he out of his mind?!" Chen Xian gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain in his arm, and used all his strength to try to pull Xue Xiaofeng back.

At the same time, Lin Yanqing dashed out to help drag Xue Xiaofeng back.

But Xue Xiaofeng turned out to be incredibly strong. With a sudden swing of his arm, he flung both of them away. His face twisted with rage as he snarled, "You useless fools! We should go kill the madmen, eliminate all the dangers in this building! Only then will Yali be safe!"

Furious, Lin Yanqing grabbed an iron rod leaning against the wall and pointed it at Xue Xiaofeng, shouting sharply, "If you don't go back inside right now, I'll beat you to death!"

Outside, Zhao Yong followed the scent and arrived, his thick, powerful hands slamming against the metal door with a deafening crash.

Xue Xiaofeng turned sideways to look at Lin Yanqing. He felt like he was about to explode, his pain and anxiety reaching a peak. Something abnormally hot flowed through his blood, threatening to melt him entirely.

The deep-seated violence and anger took over his entire body. Xue Xiaofeng gave up resisting, his burning palm gripping the lock. With a fierce roar, he tore the steel cable lock in two with his bare hands. At the same moment, Zhao Yong hammered the door with a heavy punch, crashing through the fire door with a loud bang.

Lin Yanqing froze. Before his mind could react, his right hand had already drawn his gun, firing a bullet into Zhao Yong's chest.

Zhao Yong, like the giant man they had encountered earlier, had grown taller, his internal organs shifting. The bullet hit his chest squarely but missed his heart.

Lin Yanqing fired several more shots, but Zhao Yong remained unfazed. His gaze swept around before settling on Xue Xiaofeng's face.

Zhao Yong raised his massive hand, pinning Xue Xiaofeng against the wall, and opened his bloody maw to bite down.

Chen Xian picked up the iron rod that had fallen to the ground, leaped up, and shoved it into Zhao Yong's mouth from behind, pulling him backward with all his might.

But that only bought them a second. With a slight shake of his head, Zhao Yong flung Chen Xian off his back.

Just as Xue Xiaofeng was about to be bitten, he suddenly tilted his head, closed his eyes, and punched Zhao Yong in the face.

The two-meter-tall Zhao Yong was actually knocked flying by the 1.7-meter-tall Xue Xiaofeng, his burly body hurtling several meters before crashing onto the steps.

Everyone was dumbfounded, especially Xue Xiaofeng, who stared blankly at his own fist. That punch had felt incredibly satisfying, as if all the pent-up hostility in his body had dissipated with the force of the blow.

Zhao Yong clumsily got up from the ground and began moving toward Xue Xiaofeng again.

"Be careful!" Lin Yanqing hissed, still aiming his gun at Zhao Yong and firing.

But Xue Xiaofeng seemed to have gone mad. Ignoring where the bullets were going, he charged at Zhao Yong once more.

Lin Yanqing was caught off guard; the bullet had already been fired toward Xue Xiaofeng. However, something weird happened. The bullet entered Xue Xiaofeng's back, burning through his uniform. His soft yet resilient skin enveloped the bullet and pushed it out from the inside. The blood-stained bullet clattered to the floor.

Xue Xiaofeng suffered only a flesh wound. He didn't even feel any pain and continued to rain fierce blows on Zhao Yong.

Zhao Yong was like a punching bag used to vent anger, beaten beyond recognition by Xue Xiaofeng. His face was caved in, blood gushed and splattered everywhere, and the entire scene was a bloody mess—even more horrifying than a madman biting someone.

Lin Yanqing and Chen Xian held their breath, exchanged a glance, and neither dared to make a move.

Xue Xiaofeng killed Zhao Yong, shattering the madman's iron-hard skull with his fists. Covered in blood, he stood up, looking at his own fists with jubilant excitement and exclaimed, "I've evolved! I must have evolved! I killed a madman!"

Chen Xian's voice was hoarse as he suggested, "Hey, security guard, maybe we should go inside first."

"What 'security guard'! I have a name! I'm Xue Xiaofeng!" Xue Xiaofeng shot Chen Xian a sinister glare, his gaze sweeping around before finally settling on Lin Yanqing's face.

He stepped closer, his blood-splattered face inches from Lin Yanqing's, baring his teeth as he said, "You're next!"

Lin Yanqing frowned slightly and took a step back.

Xue Xiaofeng smirked, turned, and walked toward unit 1902. He banged on the door and shouted, "Yali, did you see that! I killed a madman, I killed a madman for you! You're safe now, come out!"

Lin Yanqing knew that He Yunchuan was behind that door; he could hear the sound of furniture being moved.

Xue Xiaofeng heard it too. Realizing someone was trying to barricade the door, his eyes widened with rage as he pounded on it violently. "Open the door! You beasts, what are you doing to Yali! Open up!"

He kicked the door lock with a powerful flying kick.

"He's already asleep. Don't disturb him," Lin Yanqing said, quickly walking toward Xue Xiaofeng.

Xue Xiaofeng was like a balloon about to burst. He grabbed Lin Yanqing by the neck with one hand, seized his hair with the other, and slammed the back of his head against the wall.

A sharp pain shot through the back of Lin Yanqing's head as warm blood began to flow.

"What are you doing!" Chen Xian lunged forward to intervene. With one hand still gripping Lin Yanqing's neck, Xue Xiaofeng used his other hand to dig into the wound on Chen Xian's arm. His speed was incredible, and his strength immense. Chen Xian seemed like an ordinary person with no strength to resist, completely subdued by Xue Xiaofeng in a single move.

Chen Xian screamed as he fell to the ground. Lin Yanqing couldn't breathe, his face turning crimson.

Xue Xiaofeng's mind was entirely consumed by thoughts of Xia Li, paying no attention to the two men's suffering. Just then, the door to unit 1902 opened, and Xia Li rushed out, tears streaming down his face, roaring, "Let go of my brother!"

Xue Xiaofeng froze, as if all the strength had been drained from his body, leaving him feeling light and weightless. He released his grip and took slow, deliberate steps toward Xia Li. His blood-stained hands grasped Xia Li's shoulders, shaking them frantically as he said with fervor, "Yali, did you see? I killed a madman for you. Are you happy?"

Tears welled in Xia Li's eyes as he looked toward Lin Yanqing, who had already lost consciousness, and choked out, "Brother..."

The blood from the back of Lin Yanqing's head had soaked through his shoulder. His face suddenly turned deathly pale, and his breathing grew faint.

Xue Xiaofeng looked around in confusion, then lifted his hands in amazement, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he lost in his excitement. "Supernatural ability... it must be a supernatural ability. I've awakened a supernatural ability!"

Xia Li timidly slipped past him, crouched down, and helped Lin Yanqing up. He gently shook his brother's shoulder and whispered almost inaudibly, "Brother, wake up. Please be okay."

He Yunchuan shot a look at Xue Xiaofeng and helped lift Lin Yanqing, saying softly, "Let's get him into a room first."

At that moment, Xue Xiaofeng suddenly turned his head back, his sharp, sinister gaze fixed on Lin Yanqing. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "You dared to shoot me!"

He threw a punch at Lin Yanqing. But in the blink of an eye, Xia Li threw himself over Lin Yanqing, shielding him and taking the blow.

Xue Xiaofeng's expression changed instantly. He halted his attack in shock and panic, stammering, "Yali, are you okay? I didn't mean to, Yali."

Without looking back, Xia Li replied in a hoarse, cold voice, "Don't touch my brother."

He Yunchuan shoved Xue Xiaofeng's shoulder and said sternly, "Please leave this place immediately! You are not welcome here!"

Chen Xian lay on the ground, unable to get up, while He Yuanshan was helping him. Everyone was either crouched on the floor or standing in front of Xue Xiaofeng, all looking at him with distant, wary eyes.

Xue Xiaofeng narrowed his eyes, a raging fire burning in his chest. He suddenly threw a punch aimed at He Yunchuan's jaw. His punch was fierce but lacked technique. He Yunchuan sidestepped to avoid it, but the next moment, he was still knocked to the ground by Xue Xiaofeng.

Xue Xiaofeng's strength was overwhelming. Unless you avoided physical contact entirely, one move from him was enough to secure victory. He Yunchuan's lower back slammed into the cabinet blocking the elevator, instantly numbing his body and covering him in sweat from the pain.

"Xiao Chuan!" He Yuanshan shouted, rushing to stand in front of He Yunchuan, spreading his arms in front of him.

Elated, Xue Xiaofeng walked toward Xia Li again, looking at him with fervent eyes. "Did you see that? I only used a fraction of my strength just now. With one punch, I can kill a madman. From now on, I'll protect you!"

Xia Li's body stiffened. He still didn't turn around, instead using his hand to support the back of Lin Yanqing's head, feeling the warm blood continuously flowing out.

"Are you listening to me!" Xue Xiaofeng raised his voice, bent down, grabbed Xia Li's shoulders, and shook him violently.

Chen Xian leaned against the wall and struggled over, grabbing Xue Xiaofeng's arm. "Brother, calm down."

Xue Xiaofeng shot him a cold glare. "What do you want? Do you want to taste my fist too?"

"You just want to do something good, right? Why don't we think this through? How about we fix the door first?" Chen Xian said in a low voice.

Xue Xiaofeng jolted, as if suddenly enlightened. "You're right. We should secure the neighborhood first. But this guy can't stay!" He pointed at Lin Yanqing. "He might turn into a madman!"

Xia Li broke down, roaring, "My brother won't turn into a madman! The government has serum!"

Xue Xiaofeng was taken aback, confused. "Yali, you used to smile a lot. Why are you so fierce now? Have you been wronged? It's this Lin Yanqing—he let those anti-fans attack you and ordered you around. Have you forgotten? You don't have to be afraid anymore. I'm here now. You don't have to put up with his attitude anymore."

Seeing that reasoning with Xue Xiaofeng was futile, Chen Xian thought for a moment and said, "He's injured now and needs rest. How about this: we find an empty unit and let him stay there for now. We can figure things out later, okay?"

"Who do you think you are? All of you, get away from here! Don't touch my brother!" Xia Li roared.

Xue Xiaofeng's face suddenly turned cold. He slapped Xia Li across the face, causing one side of his cheek to swell up.

"Snap out of it. I'm doing this for your own good. Don't push your luck!" Xue Xiaofeng said icily.

He Yunchuan stumbled over, trying to pull Xia Li away. Just as he reached out, Xue Xiaofeng stomped down. Fortunately, He Yuanshan reacted quickly, dragging He Yunchuan back half a meter; otherwise, that stomp would have broken his arm.

"No one touches him. All of you, get lost!" Xue Xiaofeng grabbed Xia Li's arm and dragged him toward the room. Xia Li cried out for help as He Yunchuan scrambled up from the floor to chase after them.

Xue Xiaofeng threw Xia Li inside the unit, then forcefully pulled the door shut. Letting out a sigh of relief, he said, "Now it's safe."

Everyone stared at Xue Xiaofeng's lowered hand. In his palm, he was clutching a doorknob. He had merely pulled the door casually, yet he ripped the handle right off.

Fear filled the entire hallway. The fluorescent light overhead buzzed and flickered. Xue Xiaofeng stood there, his short stature appearing eerily terrifying. He scanned the people in the hallway and said in a sinister tone, "Starting tomorrow, everyone comes with me to kill madmen. I want this entire neighborhood safe and peaceful."

Chen Xian swallowed hard. "No problem."

"Now, you're all coming with me to sweep the building. We start from the top floor. I'm going to check every unit for madmen! They must! All! Be eliminated!" Xue Xiaofeng roared. "Do you all understand?"

Everyone breathed heavily and echoed, "Understood."