Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Power to Lead

Evening.

After six hours of observation, the man had passed the test. Fortunately, though his clothes were torn in places, he had not been scratched and thus avoided infection.

The child had woken a few hours earlier, immediately demanding her parents, clearly having worn Yang Shuo out. This tattooed, boisterous man, accustomed to barking orders, found himself at a loss for the first time. In the end, he managed to stop her cries with oatmeal mixed with honey.

The little one was ravenous and exhausted; not long after eating, she fell back into a deep sleep.

Hu Yaohua finished the food set before him and finally looked up. He glanced around and was momentarily surprised to see the room stocked with provisions, but quickly regained his composure.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” Hu Yaohua said after swallowing the last bite and setting down his chopsticks, turning to Fan Li.

Fan Li signaled with his eyes to the side, prompting Yang Shuo to clear the dishes and pour two cups of hot tea. He knew Fan Li valued this newcomer; otherwise, he wouldn’t have risked venturing outside for the rescue. Still, increasing their numbers meant their supplies would dwindle faster, so Yang Shuo felt some resentment toward Hu Yaohua, his gaze scrutinizing rather than friendly.

“You’re the one who saved me.” Hu Yaohua took a sip of the hot water—his first in days.

“You played a part yourself. If you hadn’t persisted, you wouldn’t have lasted until I could pull you out,” Fan Li replied calmly.

This was no empty courtesy. Fan Li had seen other survivors outside before, but their weakness was apparent; a single encounter and they were overrun by zombies. From the moment he spotted them to their demise, not even a minute had passed before the man became food for the undead. In such circumstances, venturing out would have been futile.

Fan Li studied the man. When he’d removed his shirt, his muscular physique was revealed; now, lacking suitable clothes, he appeared tense, poised like a tiger ready to spring, exuding an aura of suppressed strength.

“Tell me about the outside. Everything you know,” Fan Li said. This survivor from outside might bring news.

Hu Yaohua hesitated, then nodded lightly. “I run a gym. That day, the power went out, and my family was inside packing. Suddenly, screams erupted outside—people went mad, attacking each other. Luckily, I’d lowered the shutters ahead of time, so we escaped the chaos. My daughter and I hid inside, barely venturing out.”

“A family of three?” Fan Li pondered his words; after all, only two were present.

Noticing Fan Li’s doubt, Hu Yaohua’s expression grew forlorn, his voice rough. “My wife suddenly became violent. I tried to bring her back, but she seemed beyond reason, even attacking our daughter. I realized she’d mutated like those outside. I… broke her neck.”

Fan Li fell silent, unsure what to say. To kill one’s own kin was agony, but what choice was there? Once someone mutated into a zombie, she ceased to be wife and mother, becoming a ravenous predator. Between human and zombie, coexistence was impossible; only one could survive.

The man brought no useful tidings; he’d survived ten days on the gym’s supplies, venturing out only when they ran low, gambling everything to escape with his child. After some wandering, he’d arrived here. The rest Fan Li already knew—after obtaining food, he’d been spotted by zombies and besieged.

“What are your plans now?” Fan Li took a sip of tea, finally broaching the real subject.

Hu Yaohua hesitated, his eyes clouded with uncertainty, and shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

The apocalypse had left many adrift, faced with a shattered world and crumbling civilization. Those who’d spent their lives in peace now found themselves in chaos, questioning their path forward—whether career elites, glamorous stars, or ordinary people struggling for survival.

“Do you want to stay with me?” Fan Li glanced at Hu Yaohua, speaking quietly. “You’ve seen the dangers outside. Survival demands cooperation. Alone, especially with a little girl, it’s nearly impossible.”

The dangers outside were undeniable. Hu Yaohua knew it well: without Fan Li’s intervention, he and his daughter would have become prey to those hunters. Even before being devoured, his conscience would have been tormented, for he’d already prepared to free his daughter from suffering in that hopeless situation.

In peacetime, had a young man around twenty invited him to join, Hu Yaohua would have merely laughed—and if the other insisted, he might have invited him to spar in the ring. But now, things were different.

Fan Li had saved him—a fact he couldn’t ignore. The youth was skilled; wielding a katana, he dispatched zombies with mechanical precision, every strike deadly, every blow decapitating. That cold, efficient slaughter left a lasting impression.

But what unsettled Hu Yaohua most was not the youth’s prowess, but his companion—a creature with a face full of teeth, a frail body displaying terrifying strength. Compared to zombies, it was a true monster, one glance chilling him to the core.

The youth was strong, the room well-stocked with food, and he commanded a being more terrifying than any zombie. Following him was nothing to be ashamed of.

The man wanted to live—not for himself, for he felt his sins unforgivable—but for his daughter. She was still young, had not yet enjoyed life, and should not have her future stolen by the apocalypse.

“Alright. You saved me. From now on, I’ll follow your lead,” Hu Yaohua said, looking at Fan Li, finally settling his resolve.

A clear chime sounded.

[Number of subordinates increased by one]
[Prestige +5]

Blood-red letters appeared before Fan Li’s eyes. Compared to the kill points gained from slaying zombies or mutants, the loyalty of subordinates seemed to grant different bonuses depending on their strength. If he remembered correctly, recruiting Yang Shuo had only increased prestige by one.

Fan Li did not display any exuberance. He believed it best to remain composed in such moments. He said to Hu Yaohua, “I dislike forcing others, and I despise deceit. If anyone harms the group’s interests in the future, don’t blame me.”

Fan Li’s tone was calm, but both Hu Yaohua and Yang Shuo felt a chill. They heard the underlying threat.

This was the real world, without any mythical aura that could command thousands to submit. The most basic—and effective—method was intimidation.

Fan Li knew that order had vanished from this land; with no laws to restrain them, evil would spread unchecked across the wasteland.

To survive, he must snuff out instability at its root.

This warning was not only for Hu Yaohua, but also a reminder to Yang Shuo behind him.

Intimidation.

With each display of it, Fan Li’s presence grew colder, instilling awe and fear.

His composure and the monstrous Ally at his side cemented his dominance, securing his place among the three.

“And one more thing…” Fan Li glanced at the sleeping child. “Food is a collective resource. You have two mouths to feed. For fairness, you must collect twice as much.”

Hu Yaohua nodded, bending slightly. “I understand.”

Fan Li thought to himself that he preferred dealing with clever people.

“Let’s work well together.” Fan Li extended his hand.

Hu Yaohua hesitated for a second, then stood and reached out his broad palm. “Agreed. Let’s work well together!”

PS: Begging for recommendation votes! Like little Ally, a new book needs nourishment from you big shots to grow strong!

I’ve revised the display of subordinate loyalty. Human hearts are unpredictable—too much data undermines realism. I’ll update previous chapters soon (monsters excluded).