NOVEL SIMPLE CHAPTER 49
Chapter 49: The Line Between Reason and Power
A deafening bang echoed through the air, followed by a sickening thud. Cheng Shen, or rather, what remained of him, lay crumpled on the ground. A gaping, foot-shaped cavity in his chest left his lackeys trembling, their bravado evaporating into thin air.
Lu Ming, his chest heaving, pointed at Cheng Shen’s corpse. “He attacked me first,” he declared, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. “I acted in self-defense.”
A chorus of frantic nods met his statement. Wang Xiong and Zhang Chengcheng, unsurprised by the outcome, offered their silent assent. Even Cheng Shen’s lackeys, driven by fear, echoed the sentiment.
Seeing the confirmation of his self-defense claim, Lu Ming nodded with satisfaction. “Now,” he announced, “we can discuss the allocation of supplies.”
Reasoning was always the preferred approach, but dealing with the unreasonable first was a necessary step.
However, Wang Xiong stepped forward, a hint of concern in his eyes. “Brother Lu, considering what just happened, perhaps it’s not the best time for negotiations… I mean, reasoning. Maybe you should rest in the car for a while. I can handle the rest.”
Lu Ming glanced down at his blood-stained hands and foot, then nodded in agreement. “You’re right. I’ll go to the car.”
Killing someone, even in self-defense, wasn’t conducive to calm negotiations. He didn’t want to be seen as using threats to get his way.
Lu Ming climbed into the vehicle, followed by Zhang Chengcheng. Wang Xiong, left alone to face the remaining survivors, surveyed the scene with a thoughtful expression.
The four individuals, including Li Zitong, were shaking with fear, barely daring to breathe. Wang Xiong turned to watch as Lu Ming and Zhang Chengcheng settled into the car, then squared his shoulders and approached the trembling quartet.
“The one who died,” he began, his voice low and steady, “he was the leader of your gathering place, correct?”
The others remained silent, but Li Zitong, his gaze hardening with newfound resolve, nodded. “Yes,” he confirmed, his voice firm. “His name was Cheng Shen. We called him Brother Shen. He led our gathering place.”
“How many people are in your gathering place?” Wang Xiong inquired.
“Fifty-six,” Li Zitong replied without hesitation. “All able-bodied, no elderly or children.”
Wang Xiong nodded slowly. “I see.”
Wang Xiong, a towering figure of strength and quiet resolve, watched the scene unfold with a mix of weariness and understanding. Li Zitong, trembling with rage and fear, was a picture of desperation. Wang Xiong understood the despair, but his patience was limited.
“Enough,” Wang Xiong’s voice boomed, cutting through the escalating tension like a knife. The bickering stopped instantly, all eyes on him.
Turning back to Li Zitong, Wang Xiong laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Tell me everything,” he said, his tone softening. “Start from the beginning.”
Li Zitong, still shaken, recounted his tale of escape from Good Hope Village, his ill-fated attempt to start anew with Yu Fei and Bai Lu, and their subsequent capture by Cheng Shen’s crew. His voice grew thick with emotion as he described their cruelty, their utter disregard for human life.
“They used people as bait for zombies,” Li Zitong sobbed, his voice barely a whisper. “They’re monsters.”
The other three goons remained silent, their faces pale. Wang Xiong’s gaze swept over them, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Is this true?” he demanded.
A tense silence hung in the air. Finally, one of them spoke, his voice barely audible. “It’s… it’s not entirely untrue.”
A wave of anger washed over Wang Xiong. Desperation could drive people to dark places, but this was beyond justification.
Li Zitong, seizing the opportunity, launched into a tirade against his captors, accusing them of heinous acts. The other goons, stung by his words, tried to defend themselves. The scene erupted into a chaotic mess of blame and recrimination.
Wang Xiong watched with a heavy heart. This fractured, fear-driven world had brought out the worst in people. Yet, despite the chaos, he saw a flicker of hope in Li Zitong’s bravery.
Without a word, Wang Xiong reached out, effortlessly lifting Li Zitong out of the fray. His raw strength silenced the room instantly.
Turning to Li Zitong, Wang Xiong’s voice was grave. “Have you killed anyone over there?”
Li Zitong shook his head vehemently, a gesture mirrored by the silence of the other captives.
“Have you forced yourself on anyone?”
Again, Li Zitong shook his head, and again, the others offered no contradiction.
Wang Xiong’s gaze shifted to the remaining three men, his eyes hard. “What about you?”
Their silence was damning.
“I see…” Wang Xiong’s voice was cold as steel.
He turned toward the military vehicle, locking eyes with Zhang Chengcheng. A silent understanding passed between them, and Zhang Chengcheng nodded.
The engine roared to life, but instead of waiting for Wang Xiong, Zhang Chengcheng drove Lu Ming away, leaving the rest behind.
A wave of confusion washed over Li Zitong and the others, but before they could react, Wang Xiong turned back to face them. His fists clenched, his eyes cold as ice.
“Some people,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “are not worth reasoning with.”
Inside the departing vehicle, a tense silence lingered. Zhang Chengcheng glanced at Lu Ming through the rearview mirror. He stared out the window, his expression unreadable.
“Brother Lu,” she began, her voice tentative, “we’ve hit the jackpot this time. The supplies from the Zhang family’s gathering place are enough for us…”
“Chengcheng,” Lu Ming interrupted, his voice soft but firm. “I’m not a fool. I understand why we left early.”
Zhang Chengcheng bit her lip. “I see…”
After a moment of silence, she regained her composure. “If Brother Lu thinks what Wang Xiong did was wrong, we can go back.”
“No need.”
Lu Ming’s gaze remained fixed on the passing scenery. “The world has changed,” he said quietly. “Many people have taken the wrong path. Some are not worthy of reasoning, not worthy of being called human.”
He paused, his voice growing stronger. “I am strong. Compared to most survivors, I am strong. But just because I can judge others doesn’t mean I have the right.”
He turned to face Zhang Chengcheng, his eyes filled with conviction. “If I could decide someone’s guilt, decide whether they live or die, based on my judgment, I might enjoy it for a while. But eventually, I would lose myself.”
He continued, “I want to reason, to have calm and rational discussions, to decide together how to handle things. Not to impose my will on others.”
Zhang Chengcheng listened, a warmth spreading through her chest. This was why she admired Lu Ming. His strength wasn’t just physical—it was in his heart.
“That’s why I like you, Brother Lu,” she said, a smile gracing her lips.
“It’s better to leave this to Wang Xiong,” Lu Ming said, his voice growing serious. “Because we both know, if there comes a day when Wang Xiong loses control…”
“…then I will intervene,” Zhang Chengcheng finished, her smile unwavering.
A sense of peace settled over the vehicle. They both knew that, as long as they had a reason to protect, they could face whatever horrors the world threw their way.
End of Chapter 49