Chapter Twenty-Three: Ordinary Folk

Liu Chang was about to turn away, holding the little girl’s hand, when his clothes were seized again.
“Where do you think you’re going?” This time, it was Xiao Yong’s father who grabbed him, his stance aggressive as he said, “You think you can leave before things are made clear?”
“We’ve already clarified everything. It has nothing to do with me.” Liu Chang tugged at his clothes once more and raised his voice so most people could hear. “I’ve explained it thoroughly. We went to the restroom together. During the process, a tentacled monster crawled out of the drain and attacked him. I’ve made this clear. I hope you won’t make things difficult for me.”
“Why did the monster attack him alone and not you?” Xiao Yong’s father pressed further.
“How should I know? Is that even a question?” Liu Chang’s anger grew. “I can’t control who the monster attacks! I’m not its father!”
Though Liu Chang hadn’t intentionally emphasized the word ‘father,’ to the ears of a man who had just lost his son, those words sounded especially harsh.
And so, the dispute escalated.
Having lost a loved one and with nowhere to vent their rage, the family poured all their dissatisfaction onto Liu Chang. Seeing that reconciliation was impossible, Liu Chang abandoned caution and joined the quarrel. In no time, their shouting mingled with the murmurs of the crowd, engulfing everyone in a wave of blind conflict.
Until the military arrived.
Two soldiers, led by a sergeant, dispersed the crowd and took Liu Chang and Xiao Yong’s father into an office.
“Speak—what happened?” A man with the rank of captain sat at the desk, looking at the two sides of the conflict and tapping his fingers.
“He killed my son.” Xiao Yong’s father, grief-stricken, pleaded his case to the captain, his demeanor reminiscent of a wronged citizen begging for justice.
Seeing this, Liu Chang’s irritation grew. Even before the apocalypse, he’d despised those petty types who made trouble out of nothing. Now, their destructive power was even greater; in just a short time, they’d already sparked his anger multiple times.
Still, he was a rational man. Though his fury was simmering, he forced himself to speak calmly. “Sir, it’s a simple matter. I went to the restroom this morning with his son. His son was killed by a monster, while I was unharmed. Unable to vent his grief, this man insists I killed his son.”
“If you don’t believe me, you can investigate the restroom. The blood and body fragments clearly show his son was attacked by a monst