Chapter 35

In the eyes of many survivors, Ding Qiang’s words were a sharp blade that had cut right at the shelter’s weakness.

Some survivors firmly stood on the shelter’s side, believing that it shouldn’t compromise. But more people were uncertain, and in the shadows, some of Ding Qiang’s subordinates fanned the flames.

A heavy weight pressed down on everyone’s hearts.

Chen Haiping scowled. He had not expected these people to be so prepared. He wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what to say.

At this time…

Next to the gate…

Tang Yu looked around at these Awakened.

Without speaking, he slowly stepped forward.

His shoes didn’t make much sound as they struck the stone slabs, but the sound rang out clearly in everyone’s ears.

The square instantly fell silent.

The only sounds were Tang Yu’s footsteps and the soft breathing of the survivors.

Finally, Tang Yu stopped, several meters from the Awakened.

There were seven Awakened in all, making up half of the Awakened that had come from outside the shelter.

Those groups that were able to eke out a living in the wilderness and get to the shelter through their own power had one or two Awakened, resulting in this shelter having a higher ratio of Awakened to survivors than others.

Even so, seven Awakened would be a considerable force in any small shelter.

…At least for ordinary shelters.

Alas…

Tang Yu’s eyes were cold and indifferent. “Who gave you the confidence?

“Who gave you the confidence that made you think that the shelter wouldn’t be able to fend off demonized beasts without you?

“And who gave you the courage that allowed you to dare to stand in front of me and try to negotiate?”

Ding Qiang was flabbergasted.

He had never predicted a situation like this.

Particularly…

This voice was indifferent, but it had a suffocating pressure that seemed to clench around their throats.

And then he grew angry.

This was just an ordinary person, not even an Awakened…

Ding Qiang looked out of the corner of his eyes at the Awakened at his side, and then he glanced at the nearby Peng Bo, and his confidence was restored. Since they couldn’t negotiate, he would have everyone in the shelter see that they didn’t merely have the right to negotiate, but the power that was on par with, perhaps even surpassed, this shelter!

It just so happened that Peng Bo was walking this way. Ding Qiang smiled. “Chief Tang, you want to know where my confidence came from? I’ll tell you…”

Barely as he had spoken…

Peng Bo walked up to Ding Qiang, and then… stepped past him and up to Tang Yu.

Was he going straight for a fight?

Glancing at the savage look on Peng Bo’s face, Ding Qiang wanted nothing more than for Peng Bo to get to work.

But when Peng Bo began to speak, his voice, when compared to his face, seemed rather honest and frank?

As Ding Qiang wondered if he was hearing things, he heard Peng Bo say, “Chief, I want to apply for the patrol team. I hear that the patrol team gets the best food. Is that true? I also heard that the missions come with additional rewards! Ah, forget it. Anyway, I’m the first to apply.

“Right, is there a reward for being the first to apply?”

Peng Bo rubbed his hands, appearing a little… cute?

Ding Qiang was dumbfounded, his mind completely blank.

This script wasn’t right.

This ability user, Peng Bo, was his trump card, but what did he hear just now? Peng Bo wanted to join the shelter?!

The strongest member of his side had flipped sides in the blink of an eye. Ding Qiang felt so wronged that he felt like vomiting blood.

He angrily glared at Peng Bo.

In his plan, if his side was just as strong as the shelter, then he would negotiate properly with the shelter, hopefully finding out where the shelter was storing its food so that he could begin making other plans. And if the shelter was weaker, then he would strike and take the shelter for his own.

These were Plans A and B.

He had been sure of success, but to his surprise, Peng Bo had turned traitor. He couldn’t imagine why Peng Bo would give up such a good deal to stand on the shelter’s side. Wasn’t Peng Bo unhappy with the shelter?

But Ding Qiang could already see that his side was on the back foot.

It was fine. He still had Plan C.

He took in a deep breath and looked at Tang Yu. “Chief Tang, I admit that you outplayed me, secretly recruiting Peng Bo to your side. I can drop my demands a little, but still, we’re Awakened, and we have our dignity. If you simply want us to sacrifice our lives for you, then I, my Awakened brothers, and many other people who cannot acknowledge the shelter will leave this place and find somewhere else!”

This was his final plan: advance through retreat!

Ding Qiang believed that the shelter’s weakness was its dire shortage of Awakened. What did it matter if Peng Bo joined? No matter how strong ability users were, he was just one person and couldn’t be everywhere. Moreover, he had seven Awakened on his side!

Without Awakened, what would the shelter use to fend off demonized beasts? Without survivors, what would the shelter use to move around supplies?

He had acknowledged that his side was disadvantaged and had lowered his demands, so the shelter had to agree!

After all, they had so many Awakened. If a fight started, even if the shelter had the upper hand, it couldn’t guarantee that it wouldn’t suffer any losses!

Tang Yu lightly shook his head, almost as if he was sighing.

“Is it weakness that limits your imagination? Why don’t we do this? If you can take one attack from Roger, I’ll accept your demands, but if you can’t…”

Ding Qiang was furious.

Weakness?

He looked at the silent figure of Roger next to Tang Yu.

His energy was weak, meaning that he had only recently awakened. No matter how skilled Ironface Roger’s combat arts were and how imposing his demeanor, how could he not take one attack from him? He was being looked down on too much!

No, let alone one attack, even if they actually fought, he wasn’t necessarily going to lose!

After all, he was someone who had killed three demonized beasts! He had little regard for the average Awakened!

This was his true source of confidence, his own strength!

Ding Qiang took out his weapon, a sharp machete. “I’ll do it. You’d better not regret this!”

On the other side, Roger took out his own weapon, a giant sword.

Many people found this sword absurd. Even Awakened wouldn’t be able to wield such a heavy sword, and even if they did manage to lift it, could they really use it in battle?

Peng Bo took a few steps back, his eyes widening as he observed this legendary ‘fierce man’.

Whoosh!

Roger moved, taking a light step forward, his sword swinging down with a gale.

Ding Qiang’s eyes flew open. He felt only like a light breeze had passed. It was like… nothing had happened.

Suddenly, he felt his body stiffen, his mind begin to grow cold. He looked down and saw a thin red line going from his lower right abdomen all the way to his upper left shoulder.

This…

His mind was gradually descending into darkness. Only the Awakened standing around him could see that red line expanding, and then exploding with blood.

A moment later, Ding Qiang was dead.

The remaining Awakened were scared out of their wits.

Was this someone who had just awakened? Not even the fiercest Awakened they had met was this fierce! Old Ding had killed demonized beasts before, but he had died in a single hit. Then wouldn’t they suffer the same fate?!

Blood was still gushing out from Ding Qiang’s waist, but without a second glance, the Awakened turned and fled, tossing aside their followers.

These people split up in different directions. From the square, there were many paths leading down the mountain. They knew that they were no match for Roger and would probably be caught quickly. But there were so many of them. No matter how fierce Ironface Roger was, he couldn’t clone himself. It was all up to luck to see which one Ironface Roger would pick.

These people who had schemed together and been calling each other brothers yesterday, believing that victory was in their grasp, had instantly begun to flee for their lives.

None of them cared about the lives of the others, even hoping that the others ran slower so that Ironface Roger would chase after them.

A bearded Awakened noticed that no one seemed to be chasing him, and rejoiced. Suddenly, a round figure blocked his path.

“It’s a mining automaton.”

The bearded man snorted. A simple automaton used for mining wanted to stop him?

He acknowledged that he was no match for Ironface Roger, but he wasn’t afraid of some automaton!

The bearded man attacked with all his strength so that he could get rid of the automaton and keep running. He had no desire to see that terrifying Ironface Roger again.

He grabbed his axe and made a heavy swing.

Fast and strong!

The round automaton had no time to react, and the axe struck dead center!

The bearded man smiled and prepared to step to the side and around the broken automaton, but he suddenly felt a severe backlash from the axe head that almost broke his grip.

Only now did he realize that his sure-kill attack had only left a faint scratch on the mining automaton. It didn’t even constitute damage to this automaton.