Chapter 23: Regret for What Was Done

After the base gates closed, Second Uncle and Li Hongyuan continued their watch from the lookout tower.

Below the perimeter wall, the crowd watched the gates shut, feeling a sense of despair, yet utterly helpless.

The six-meter-high wall was two stories tall, topped with a dense network of high-voltage electric fencing. This was not like the residential grid they had seen before; this was true high-voltage electricity!

Forcing their way in was out of the question!

Hearing the sound of zombies approaching from behind, the crowd instantly panicked. Although they were many, they knew that without a core leader, even the largest group would be nothing more than a disorganized heap of sand.

The reason why Li Yu's Second Uncle Li Hongda, Lai Dongsheng, and even Xiao Lue and Li Hang could face the zombies and fight bravely was because Li Yu was at the front, fearless.

A fearless leader can inspire many to become braver. But if the leader themselves is terrified to death, those following will lose all confidence.

Why do generals in war remain calm in the face of danger, appearing composed even amidst great hardship? It is because once the leader is steady, the subordinates find the conviction to fight.

Once a group has a core, once they have conviction, they become invincible and fearless.

And Li Yu's conviction was this: in this godforsaken apocalypse, protect his family!

The great hero Li Yu admired most once said: "Work with your own hands to make yourself well-fed and well-clothed!"

In this apocalypse, Li Yu wasn't thinking that far ahead; he only wanted to earnestly and diligently protect his family and make up for his past regrets.

He asked nothing of anyone, so he saved himself!

However, this group of people was a mixed bag. The village Party Secretary had been profit-driven even before the apocalypse; what would he be like after it?

The zombies were slowly approaching. There weren't many—only about twenty—but they were enough to cause the crowd to scatter instantly.

Looking at Liu Weimin as if he were a savior, the Party Secretary shouted, "Comrade, hurry up and shoot them with your gun!"

As he ran toward the riot vehicle, the surrounding villagers saw the Secretary's actions and reacted instantly, also rushing toward the vehicle.

Seeing the behavior of the Secretary and his group, Liu Weimin felt a surge of pure frustration.

Li Yu and his five companions could hack through a pack of zombies, and while these people didn't have such good weapons, they had cleavers and hoes!

One tool per person would have solved it! They were the classic example of being fierce in internal strife but weak against external threats!

Checking the ammunition in his submachine gun, he felt there wasn't much left. As the zombies drew closer, Liu Weimin raised his gun and began to spray fire.

*Rat-tat-tat-tat...*

The zombies fell like wheat being harvested, but zombies have no consciousness and no fear. Hearing the gunfire, they seemed stimulated, surrounding him even more frantically.

Seeing his daughter holding an axe nearby, Liu Weimin shouted while firing, "Quick, get on the riot vehicle!"

But when he looked toward the vehicle, he found it was already packed to the brim!

Damn it!

Liu Weimin cursed inwardly, but the zombies before him would not wait.

Because Liu Weimin was standing further forward and Liu Huamei was right beside him, while the other villagers had retreated toward the vehicle, the two of them were left alone to face the zombies.

*Click.*

Liu Weimin's heart sank. Oh no, he was out of bullets.

Seeing only four zombies left directly in front of him, he breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, there weren't many left.

Facing a zombie charging head-on, he used the butt of his empty gun to strike it hard, causing its brain to burst.

In an instant, he pulled a combat knife from his thigh holster and stabbed at another zombie beside him.

*Puchi!* It had to be said, Liu Weimin's combat effectiveness was quite high.

But the other two zombies had already reached Liu Huamei. She swung her axe at one zombie, but another had already lunged at her from the side!

At that moment, Liu Huamei's axe had just struck its target, and her body couldn't react fast enough. Meanwhile, Liu Weimin was occupied with stabbing a zombie.

In that critical, split-second moment, the zombie was about to bite Liu Huamei.

It was inches away!

Looking back at the crowd still fighting to scramble onto the riot vehicle, a flash of despair crossed Liu Huamei's eyes!

"Huamei!" Seeing this, Liu Weimin's eyes nearly burst with rage!

The crowd around the riot vehicle was still clamoring and arguing about getting on!

*Swish!*

The sound of a flying bolt!

It was Li Hongda! He had fired a crossbow bolt at the zombie.

*Thud!*

The zombie fell to the ground, and Liu Huamei froze in place, terrified.

Liu Weimin rushed forward, checked her quickly, and found she wasn't injured, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

He then looked at the crowd with resentment, and looked up at Li Hongda on the wall with eyes full of gratitude.

He felt a sense of regret, but he also finally understood why Li Yu wouldn't let these people into the base. These people only cared about their own lives and wouldn't consider others! There was nothing wrong with that, but Li Yu's refusal was based on the same logic.

*Sigh...* Suddenly, he saw things clearly.

He felt a sense of melancholy in his heart.

*Sigh! Fine, it's better not to go in!*

Looking at the crowd, Liu Weimin sighed. How had everyone become like this?

Because of the continuous gunfire just now, the noise was loud, and it seemed more zombies were being attracted from further away.

Liu Weimin didn't hold back anymore; he grabbed his daughter and rushed toward the riot vehicle!

By now, the Party Secretary was sitting in the passenger seat of the riot vehicle, and a tattooed youth was in the driver's seat.

At the rear door, people were constantly being pulled down, and others were constantly rushing up.

The two in the front were preparing to drive away, but just as they were about to start, they were stunned—there was no key!

The key was in Liu Weimin's hand. Seeing Liu Weimin rushing toward them, the Party Secretary immediately tugged at the tattooed youth, pointed to the back, and got out of the car.

"Comrade, well done! Thank you for protecting us like this! Let's get out of here quickly!" he said, making room in the passenger seat.

Liu Weimin had clearly seen the two trying to start the car but being unable to leave without the key. If those people had the key, they probably would have left him behind long ago.

Thinking about how not a single person had come down to help him, while the Party Secretary was the fastest to run, Liu Weimin's expression instantly darkened. He was righteous and kind, but he wasn't stupid!

He unceremoniously climbed into the vehicle and had his daughter sit in the passenger seat.

As for the rear door, the tattooed youth, following the Secretary's hint, aggressively shoved the crowd aside and pulled the two people sitting by the door out.

Taking advantage of this gap, the Party Secretary climbed in as agile as a monkey. The tattooed youth followed.

A riot vehicle with an eight-person capacity was now packed with nearly twenty people. Only the front driving area was somewhat spacious; the rest was a crush of people, face to face.