Chapter 21: Scratched

Jiang Yao surmised that Duan Yiren and her group were likely also heading out to scavenge for supplies.

It wasn't just her; Chi Xing and his team soon noticed the stealthy movements of the other group. Chi Xing, who led the pack, narrowed his eyes and let out a cold snort. He stepped directly into their path, his tone dripping with ambiguity: "Didn't you claim to have such strong principles, Student Duan? What is it you're doing, skulking around like this?"

Duan Yiren looked uneasy. She cleared her throat and replied, "Chi Xing, this road doesn't belong to you. Just because you can walk here doesn't mean others can't."

It was true that she had intended to search the supermarket for supplies; it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, but one she had planned for some time. However, within her group were a number of troublemakers who didn't take well to her leadership and cared only for comfort and ease. When Duan Yiren proposed going out to find food, they had been reluctant. Consequently, out of over a hundred people, only a dozen or so had been cobbled together, and they only found the courage to venture out once they saw Chi Xing’s team on the move.

Chi Xing let out a mocking laugh. "Spare me that. We’re in the front clearing the path and taking the risks, while you follow behind to pick up the leftovers. Do I look like a fool to you?"

Duan Yiren’s face flushed red. Lacking confidence, she mumbled, "We can take the lead then."

The people behind her immediately became disgruntled. Why take risks when they could just follow along and reap the rewards?

"What are you saying, Senior Sister Duan? And you, why not just humble yourself before Brother Chi?" one man said, looking at Chi Xing with a fawning expression. "Brother Chi, don't mind her. You’re a magnanimous man, so why not just bring us along? At worst, you take the lion's share, and we’ll just pick up whatever is left behind you!"

Duan Yiren frowned, pressing her lips together in displeasure; she was clearly disappointed by their sycophantic behavior.

Jiang Yao and the others exchanged looks of utter disbelief.

"These people—how can they sponge off others with such unearned confidence?" Ji Yuanyuan remarked, finding the whole situation bizarre.

It was clear that Duan Yiren was the strongest among them, which was evident from her willingness to stand up to Chi Xing. Yet, it was equally obvious that her methods lacked his assertiveness. She couldn't control the people under her and was left to be bled dry by those clinging to her for survival.

Xiang Yu shook her head. "A house divided against itself cannot stand. They’ll fall apart sooner or later."

Jiang Yao glanced at Duan Yiren, who stood in silence with her fists clenched. A flash of sympathy crossed Jiang Yao’s eyes. Her mistake was being too soft-hearted; she couldn't bring herself to decisively abandon these people. Because her moral compass was set too high, she found herself trapped, unable to move forward or backward.

Jiang Yao had a premonition that this faction wouldn't last long. People were easily held hostage by morality precisely because they possessed it. She, however, had none, so no one could hold her hostage.

"Did anyone ask for your input?" To everyone's surprise, Chi Xing did not offer the fawning man a kind look. He glanced at the man’s instantly stiffened face, his sarcasm sharp. "Who do you think you are?"

***

Duan Yiren was taken aback. She saw Chi Xing’s gaze return to her, appearing to suppress a sense of annoyance: "You can follow, but you’ll have to pull your weight if we run into trouble. Don't even think about just picking up the scraps. Understood?"

Duan Yiren paused, then nodded quickly. "Understood."

A strange, complex emotion stirred within her. Although Chi Xing’s methods were ruthless and his attitude was insufferably pretentious, he didn't seem as unreasonable as she had imagined.

Ji Yuanyuan whispered, "Did you see that? Now *that* is a real man!"

As soon as she finished, she noticed the others looking at her with expressions that suggested they had much to say but held their tongues.

Jiang Yao was more direct: "Have you forgotten how he was being passive-aggressive toward you earlier?"

Ji Yuanyuan realized it in a flash and gave a silly grin. "One thing at a time."

There were quite a few people hurrying along the road—some alone, others choosing to group up just like them. However, their party of several dozen was quite a spectacle.

After bypassing the tennis courts and passing the Science Building, they encountered a large swarm of zombies, numbering about twenty. The horde had been milling about the entrance of the building, howling, but upon seeing the group pass by, they immediately gave chase with great excitement, drooling as they ran.

In Zhao Xiaoting's words, they looked exactly like they had spotted a walking buffet.

However, since the road to the supermarket required passing through this area, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and engage. They had to clear out the zombies now, or it would be a problem on their way back.

Chi Xing’s team seemed accustomed to such situations; they showed little panic. Everyone performed their roles—those with control abilities held the line, while the melee fighters waited for an opening to strike a fatal blow.

Along the way, no one had found the time to ask about Zhao Xiaoting’s ability, and whenever the topic came up, she would mumble and brush it off.

Suddenly, a zombie lunged at Zhao Xiaoting. Jiang Yao noticed it first and was about to move when she saw Zhao Xiaoting turn bright red. Enduring the embarrassment, she shouted at the top of her lungs: "Little mouths stay quiet! Little hands behind your backs! Little eyes on the teacher!"

The moment she finished this long string of lines, drawing strength from her core, the zombie—with its jaws wide open—suddenly snapped its mouth shut. Its raised claws were forced behind its back, twisting into an incredibly awkward posture. Then, due to its lack of motor coordination, it crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

"..."

The group watched in utter awe.

You really couldn't be a teacher without having a bit of a social-butterfly personality!

***

Zhao Xiaoting quickly drove the sharp end of a crowbar into the zombie's head, ensuring it was thoroughly dead, before letting out a sigh of relief.

When she looked up, she was met with the teasing gazes of her friends.

Zhao Xiaoting: "..."

*Wuu wuu wuu*, I don't want to live anymore.

This wave of zombies was soon dealt with, but trouble brewed on Duan Yiren’s side.

It turned out that in the chaos, one of their girls had been accidentally scratched by a zombie!

The girl stared at the bruised, blackened scratch on her arm, her face deathly pale, weeping uncontrollably. Everyone knew that a zombie scratch meant infection.

The atmosphere turned somber instantly. A boy began pointing fingers at Duan Yiren on the spot: "It’s all your fault! Didn't you say you would protect us? How could Xiaohan get hurt!"

Duan Yiren felt physically and mentally exhausted. She hung her head in silence. Once a lively, spirited girl, the light in her eyes had been extinguished by the constant torment. She had killed most of the zombies on their side herself; how could she have the energy to look after everyone else while fighting?

Seeing her silence, the boy became even more aggressive. "Why aren't you saying anything? Look at Chi Xing’s side—why is no one injured there? What right do you have to be our leader?"

Jiang Yao was not one to meddle, but her tolerance for idiots was always low, especially when a girl as sweet as this was being blamed.

"Is she your mother or your father? What obligation does she have to protect a bunch of morons like you?"

The boy looked over, startled, and met the girl’s cold, sharp gaze. He turned bright red from his face down to his neck, whether from anger or embarrassment, he didn't know. "Who are you cursing?"

"I'm cursing whoever fits the description!" Jiang Yao glanced at the dejected Duan Yiren and curled her lips coldly. "She just killed five zombies all by herself. What did you do? Hide in the back and watch the show?"

"I don't expect a bunch of cowards like you to contribute, but you can't even protect yourselves. Instead of blaming her, why don't you reflect on why you’re such a pathetic waste that you couldn't even protect your own girlfriend!"