26: Being targeted

The heavy rain that had lasted for three days visibly stopped, and the dark clouds quickly dispersed. Within fifteen minutes, the sun's rays flooded the world, dispersing the haze in people's hearts and bringing a dawn of hope.

The sunlight sparkled on the water's surface; the entire city had truly become a water city.

Perhaps the sun gave people courage, as they finally showed long-lost smiles, feeling that life was full of hope again.

Although the rain had stopped, the water level showed no signs of receding.

More people joined the ranks of those searching for supplies, but resources were limited.

Soon, it became difficult for people to find supplies outside, and anxiety and fear gradually grew in their hearts.

As time passed, more and more people came to blows to fight over the scarce food, until lives were lost and society completely fell into chaos.

Small factions sprouted like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. At first, they fought over the limited supplies, but gradually they began to fight for territory. Some small factions grew larger, while others disappeared beneath the water.

Ultimately, one faction in the city stood out and became the largest power, calling itself the Dragon-Tiger Cooperation Association.

This faction was originally composed of homeless people whose houses were flooded. A Sanda coach named Fang Zhongguan gradually emerged as their leader, leading these people to capture a residential community and incorporate its residents.

He then led them to plunder the supplies others had worked hard to find; they would rob and run, and if they couldn't run, they would beat people to death. The number of people who had died at their hands had already reached a hundred.

As a result, whenever others saw people from Fang Zhongguan's faction, they would turn and run, not wanting to lose their lives there.

Fang Zhongguan was a bold yet meticulous man. He understood that a society ruled by law was gone forever, and his audacity grew even further.

He gathered his forces and captured a poorly defended police station, obtaining three firearms.

With guns, Fang Zhongguan was no longer satisfied with what he had and set his sights on the Wealthy District.

In less than half a day, Fang Zhongguan successfully took over the entire Wealthy District. Seeing those formerly insufferably arrogant rich people now wagging their tails and begging for mercy like dogs gave him immense psychological satisfaction. Looking at those girls as fresh as flowers, evil thoughts began to sprout in his heart.

He picked up the most beautiful one and prepared to enter a house.

The girl's parents resisted fiercely, but Fang Zhongguan simply said, "I'll give you three days' worth of food."

The girl's parents looked at their four-year-old son, slumped to the ground weeping silently, and tacitly accepted the matter.

Fang Zhongguan sneered and carried the struggling girl into the room, committing acts worse than those of beasts.

No matter how the girl resisted, it was in vain.

The remaining subordinates followed suit, and the small leaders one after another picked up screaming girls and dragged them into the houses.

Some parents could not bear to see their daughters suffer such great humiliation and resisted with all their might, only to be stabbed to death by the impatient small leaders who drew their daggers.

That day, the water in the Wealthy District was red.

Having tasted the benefits, and with the encouragement of his subordinates, Fang Zhongguan set his sights on Green Water Villas.

Jin Duoyu, the owner of Villa No. 8, received the news and quickly went door-to-door to call everyone to Villa No. 8 to discuss this life-and-death matter.

Ai Yue represented Villa No. 35 and came to Villa No. 8. Just as she sat down, Ai Yue noticed that a beautiful lady she had met once before was sizing her up. Beside her sat a refined middle-aged man who gave Ai Yue a slight nod when he saw her looking at him.

Ai Yue withdrew her gaze and nonchalantly observed the others. These people still looked glowing with health despite the torture of the extreme heat and torrential rain; it was clear their lives were very comfortable.

Rich people simply lived more luxuriously than ordinary people, and it was the same even in the Apocalypse.

Jin Duoyu saw that most of the people had arrived and began to speak about what had happened in the Wealthy District. The others were shocked to hear of such inhumane events, and when they heard that Fang Zhongguan was coming to capture Green Water Villas, their expressions changed drastically and they all fell into a panic.

"What should we do? We're just a bunch of weaklings. How can we possibly fight them!"

"Yeah, yeah, maybe we should just run."

"Run? Where to? Where else is safe?"

"If we don't run, are we just going to wait here to die? They have guns; what do we have to fight them with?"

At this moment, a pot-bellied, balding middle-aged man cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, it's not like there's no way."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately stopped arguing and asked in unison, "What way?"

"They're attacking the community for nothing more than food and supplies. If each family contributes a little and gives it to them, won't that be the end of it?"

Someone immediately stood up and shouted, "Fatty, what kind of rotten idea is that? Once you start this, where does it end? They're like blood-sucking leeches; once they've bitten you, will they ever let go?"

"Hey, don't put it like that. I think he has a point. What's wrong with paying for peace? I don't believe that none of you here have stored food. If you give some up, your lives will be saved."

"Yeah, yeah, I agree."

"I agree too."

...Watching more and more people agree, the balding man glared triumphantly at the person who had just opposed him.

"Who else disagrees?"

"Me!" Ai Yue raised her hand and said expressionlessly.

The balding man jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "You disagree? On what grounds do you disagree? If they come in, you'll be the first one they harm. Little Girl, for the sake of safety, you should just give up some food."

"Yeah, if you don't give food, won't you be getting the benefits for free once we've persuaded them to leave?"

"My, the Little Girl isn't very old, but she's quite calculating."

Hearing this, the others all stared at Ai Yue with unpleasant expressions.

Ai Yue remained unmoved. "Do you really think that if you give them some food, they won't eat the meat that's right at their lips? They've all seen blood; they cannot be judged by common sense."

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Ai Yue stood up, looked at everyone present, and said in a cold tone, "There is no other way. We can only fight!"

"Pfft! That's it? Are you joking? People of our status can't go out and fight."

"Exactly, I thought there might be some good idea, but it turns out you want us to do it ourselves? How is that possible?"

The others also shook their heads, disagreeing with Ai Yue's idea.

Ai Yue continued, "Our community is easy to defend and hard to attack. As long as we hold the main gate, there will be no problem."

"What do you mean 'no problem'? Why don't you defend it then? Stop making such sarcastic remarks."

Ai Yue grit her teeth, clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and continued, "Defending gives us a chance to live; not defending leads to certain death. It doesn't matter to me. You guys discuss and decide for yourselves."

After Ai Yue finished speaking, she did not wait for them to express any opinions and walked quickly out of Villa No. 8.

She had said all she could. If they had the mind to put up a fight, Ai Yue would have helped protect the community. Since they chose to place all their hopes on others, they couldn't blame Ai Yue for not helping.

In truth, Ai Yue's villa was built like a fortress and she didn't fear their attack; her desire to help them was purely a pang of conscience.

It seemed her efforts were an unnecessary move.