Chapter Seventeen: Chaos Is the Source of Danger!

At this moment, the men under Wang Dong's command began to waver internally. Compared to Chen Yi, Wang Dong was nothing but a despicable villain—cowardly and shortsighted. The feast of slaughter continued until dawn began to break across the horizon. As the crimson mist dissipated, pale morning light spilled over the field of corpses. The air was thick with the stench of blood, so pungent it sickened the stomach.

When Chen Yi led the survivors who had fought by his side back to the main gate of the settlement, Wang Dong came forward to greet them. Yet his smile was already twisted, laced with complicated emotions.

"Brother Chen Yi, well done. I knew you were someone worth my trust," Wang Dong said, forcing a grin. "Looks like bringing you in was the right call. We—"

Before he could finish, a cold blade flashed; Chen Yi's knife slit his throat, and bright red blood spurted forth in an instant. Wang Dong's eyes went wide. He clutched at his throat, pointing in disbelief at Chen Yi. "You—"

"Who said I was your brother?" Chen Yi's gaze was icy as he looked down at Wang Dong, now sprawled on the ground.

Everyone was stunned. No one had expected Chen Yi to execute Wang Dong without hesitation. Especially Wang Dong's subordinates—their faces were a complex mix of emotions. They raised their guns, aiming at Chen Yi, but not a single one fired.

None of them wanted to; after all, Chen Yi had just led them to victory against the zombies. Nor did any dare—those who had fought beside Chen Yi now watched with sharp vigilance. The first to shoot would undoubtedly become the target of all.

Yet their leader had just been slain before their eyes—if they did nothing, how could they live with themselves?

"Brother Chen... Chen," someone finally mustered the courage to speak. "Why did you do it?"

"Why?" Chen Yi didn't look at the speaker, but instead turned to those who had fought alongside him. Pointing directly at Wang Dong's corpse, he declared bluntly, "Because he didn't deserve to live!"

"Only a true leader can guide you to survive the apocalypse!"

Then he turned his attention to Wang Dong's armed men, challenging them. "Who wants a cowardly, parasitic wretch exploiting the weak to remain alive?"

At his words, the dozen or so men all lowered their heads. But just then, one of them, eyes glinting, kept his gun trained on Chen Yi and sneered.

"And who can guarantee you're not the same?" he scoffed. "Maybe you're just putting on a show. If you can be the boss, why not me—ah!"

His words cut off in a scream of agony. Blood sprayed as his gun-wielding arm fell to the ground, nerves twitching in their final moments.

"Are you fit to be the boss?" Chen Yi's voice was cold as ever.

The air grew impossibly tense. Even those who still harbored thoughts of resistance dared not show a hint of it now.

Seeing no one else speak, Chen Yi ordered, "Throw Wang Dong's corpse outside!"

A few survivors, forcing down their fear, dragged Wang Dong's body out and tossed it atop the pile of zombie remains.

For a moment, everyone stared in blank astonishment at the corpse. With the end of Wang Dong's tyranny, the pent-up emotions in their hearts found sudden release; they erupted in a frenzy of celebration, wild and chaotic.

"Hahaha! We're free!"

"We'll never have to see that bastard's face again!"

"I can eat as much as I want! No one can stop me!"

Chen Yi watched the tumult with cold eyes. This sudden freedom would bring not peace, but greater danger to the settlement. He had witnessed scenes like this countless times in his past life—he knew all too well what would come next.

Those who had been suppressed for so long could become even more dangerous than the zombies themselves at any moment.

"Silence!" Chen Yi's voice rang out, stern and commanding.

But no one heeded him; instead, the chaos intensified. The so-called rebels who thought they had found their moment seized the opportunity to incite further unrest.

"We have no leader now—everyone can do as they please!"

"That's right! No one can order me around!"

"And who are you? Why should we follow you?"

"Hand over your food or you'll regret it!"

Chen Yi narrowed his eyes, his gaze icy as he swept over the crowd. In that instant, his decision was made. These madmen could not be allowed to remain.

Was it cruel? Perhaps—but this was the apocalypse.

Only those who could survive had the right to judge. Any indulgence of mercy would bring endless disaster.

To build a force that could survive and thrive in the long term, he had to be ruthless.

"Kill," Chen Yi commanded, his voice cold and imperious.

At once, screams of agony erupted all around. The entire settlement became a battlefield of chaos, the metallic tang of blood saturating the air.

Chen Yi gripped his blade tightly, dispatching a charging rebel with swift, efficient force.

"Chen Yi, look out!" Chu Yunxi cried in alarm.

Chen Yi dodged smoothly, avoiding a sneak attack from the side with a deft swing of his knife. In a single motion, he ended the attacker's life; blood splattered his face, yet his expression remained unchanged.

"These people are insane," Chu Yunxi gasped, her breath uneven.

Chen Yi glanced at her, a trace of gentleness in his eyes, but then his gaze hardened as he warned, "This is the apocalypse. Only the strong survive."

Soon, corpses littered the ground, the stench of blood so thick it was nauseating. Even the wind carried a faint metallic scent, and the place resembled a living hell.

Chen Yi wiped the blood from his blade, then looked to Chu Yunxi and Lu Kai.

"Do you think I'm cruel?" he asked.

Chu Yunxi was silent for a moment before answering softly, "No. As you said, this is the law of survival in the apocalypse. Any threat must be eliminated."

Lu Kai nodded in agreement, his tone earnest. "Chen Yi, I trust all your decisions. Whatever you ask of me in the future, I'll never question your reasons. You saved me from the torment of these past days—you are my savior, my new hope."

Chen Yi smiled faintly. "Good. From now on, we will build an orderly, enduring force. Remember—chaos is the deadliest enemy."

"Chen Yi, what should we do next?" Lu Kai asked.

"Consolidate those who remain," Chen Yi replied. "I need to meet the other leader in the Eastern District. There is something to discuss."

"Are you seeking a win-win alliance?" Chu Yunxi asked curiously.

Chen Yi shook his head. "It's an alliance, but for another purpose."

"What purpose?"

"To wipe out the other faction in the Eastern District. Their leader is known as the Madman."

As he spoke, Chen Yi clenched his fist, glancing at Lu Kai as if recalling some agonizing memory.