Chapter 193 - 185: Thousand Refugees
Moreover, some groups are guarding large reservoirs, or stationed beside major rivers and lakes.
Because there are still some water sources that haven’t completely dried up.
Thus, they are able to grow some crops to barely maintain survival.
Among them, some kind-hearted people extended help to these Survivors, yet the massive influx of survivor population has completely overwhelmed these groups.
In the desperate mob, there are no morals to be found, no systems to adhere to. One day they thank you for the food with immense gratitude.
The next day they are back to beg for more, and the moment they don’t get food, they instantly become enemies, sparking violent conflicts.
The transformation between benefactor and enemy
Can hinge on a mere loaf of bread.
If you can’t provide continuous benefits, you are an enemy.
The habit forms, and the moment you stop helping, you become an enemy.
Human nature is so vile.
This has led these already precarious bases to eventually be breached by the surging tides of refugee Survivors.
...
Among them, by the side of Poyang Lake, there was a group of over 100 people, led by a man who used to be a soldier named Zhou Wulu.
After the apocalypse erupted, the military dispersed.
Eventually, with a few of his subordinates by his side, he came here and, through nearly a year of recuperation and growth, his population has steadily increased.
Their overall strength also increased significantly, and they even managed to build some walls. But these walls weren’t tall, only two to three meters, barely enough to delay the Zombies.
Then, one day, a stream of refugee Survivors poured in from the north.
These refugee Survivors were gaunt and haggard, exuding a stench from their emaciated bodies.
Among them, they saw a pitiable mother and child within the crowd, weak and defenseless.
Moved by his past as a soldier, a sense of compassion spurred him to extend a modest handout of food, after which these refugee Survivors left.
The next day, those same refugee Survivors returned, bringing even more Survivors with them.
Looking at the dense crowd, Zhou Wulu felt a tingle on his scalp.
This mob must number at least 1500 people.
He was shocked because, after the apocalypse and the Zombie rampage, many humans were bitten and assimilated by Zombies.
This was the first time he had seen so many people.
Actually, it was understandable considering the country’s population base was here. Even if only one in ten survived, the number of people was still very large. They all hid in every nook and cranny. With each wave of Zombie Tides, the numbers dwindled.
After continuous heavy rains, the ensuing hot weather gave humanity a breather, at least there were no Zombie attacks.
Thus, many people emerged, but what followed was a food crisis. In the heat, food that could have been stored longer spoiled and became infested, invisibly adding to the survival pressures.
They were forced to come out in search of food.
More and more people emerged, ultimately forming streams of humanity.
Without a leader, there were only Survivors.
No hope, just desperation.
...
...
At this moment.
These people clearly hoped that Zhou Wulu and others would help them.
They needed food!
The crowd grew and gathered under that wall, watching intently.
Zhou Wulu ordered his team to stand ready, to resist the assault from these people.
This was their hope for survival.
Behind them, they had planted some vegetables and crops which would be ripe in a month or two; all of which were their hope to keep living.
He did not wish to see it destroyed by these roaming Survivors.
The flood of people surged.
A group driven by hunger would not fear Zombies; if there was even a sliver of hope to survive, they would go mad.
Among them, a person shouted at Zhou Wulu: "Captain Zhou, we don’t ask for much, we just want some basic sustenance, we’re really on the brink of starvation. Please save us."
Others around him quickly chimed in:
"Exactly, save us, please. Have mercy on us."
"Help us, my son hasn’t eaten for three days, he’s nearly starving to death."
"Open the gate, let us in."
"Captain Zhou, please let us in."
....
Voices melding into a torrent.
The soundwaves vibrated, buzzing loudly.
Captain Zhou, hearing this from inside, turned ashen-faced, looking extremely troubled.
If the gate were opened, the refugee Survivors would inevitably break through and the consequences would be unimaginable.
10 seconds.
20 seconds.
One minute.
Outside the door, the crowd heard no response from Captain Zhou.
Their words began to lose their courtesy.
"How can you be so selfish? How can you stand to watch a 3-year-old child starve to death? Inhumane!!!!"
"We’re not asking for much, just a bite to eat, just to stay alive."
"Yeah, you’re going too far!"
"Hogging such a good spot and still unwilling to help others."
"Squatting over a toilet and not pooping. Break in!"
"Break in!"
"Break in!"
"Break in!"
....
Eventually, "break in" became the unison chant.
The sound was massive, the roar of over a thousand people.
Echoing through Yunxiao.
At this moment, Zhou Wulu deeply regretted, had he known, he wouldn’t have saved the first person who came; saving that one person led to a second, a third, a fourth...
Endless.
The regret was almost turning his intestines green.
Thud!
A sound, the gate vibrated with a strike.
Then, on the perimeter wall, dozens of people climbed straight over.
Seeing this, Zhou Wulu immediately shouted, "Counterattack!"
Inside the wall, over 100 people armed with spears staunchly resisted those jumping down from the wall.
Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!
The continuous sound of flesh being pierced by sharp spears.
But still, the people outside the wall were crazed.
They desperately rushed into the wall, stacking like acrobats.
Zhou Wulu had a gun initially, but after the outbreak had gone on for so long, there were no bullets left. Now, holding a long knife, he directly brought down a person who had just barged through the gate.
The wall is long, and without heavy firepower, it’s virtually impossible to resist these thousands.
They outnumbered them tenfold, and they were a group of starved people.
These people were terrifying.
Before long, as more and more people leaped into the wall, casualties began to appear among Zhou Wulu’s men.
The gate was breached!
Like a tide rushing in, people crazily squeezed through.
Once inside, they ran straight for the houses in search of food.
Some people, upon seeing corn that had just begun to tassel, began to gnaw at it raw.
Others went straight into their houses, scavenging for food.
Some of Zhou Wulu’s people tried to escape with food but were immediately tackled by the hordes.
Among these hordes,
There was a man, at the forefront of the charge; he was lucky not to have been speared.
In the first moments inside the house, he found where the food was stored; soon, many followed.
He kicked aside the woman guarding the food, then ran out clutching a small bag of millet.
The few who saw what was in his arms scrambled over to grab it from him.
He was tackled but still clutched the millet to his chest.
As a few people pummeled him with fists and feet, they still couldn’t snatch the food from his arms.
Finally, a large stone smashed heavily onto his head.
His head lolled, blood gushing out.
Dead.
He died full of unwillingness; his daughter and son waited a kilometer away for him to bring back food.
....
At this moment, Zhou Wulu’s face was covered in blood.
He couldn’t see any of his brothers nearby. Others who had previously joined him were scattered by the crowd.
Suddenly, the mob and his men intermingled.
Indistinguishable.