"Why not?"

Fan Bing looked dejected. Why could everyone else do it, but not him?

"Renault brother said no, so no means no. Why are you being so stubborn?"

Little Alice frowned, her face serious.

"Get out of here. Adults are talking—why are you butting in, kid?"

Fan Bing rolled his eyes at Little Alice before turning to Renault, who was in the driver’s seat.

Renault shook his head and said, "I was planning to let you try killing a zombie, but you lack the courage. Do you really need someone to teach you how to kill a zombie?"

"I… I guess so?"

Fan Bing replied weakly, glancing at the others in the car as he spoke.

Guo Haoyu scratched his head and laughed sheepishly. "I just followed the boss and fought my way out to survive. I didn’t overthink it."

Little Alice made a face at Fan Bing and said in a quiet voice, "Renault brother said you have to face your fears to overcome them."

Fan Bing: "..."

Soon, the car stopped in a narrow alley.

They were close to the military district now, and Renault suggested they walk to the Xishan City Base.

First, it was to ensure their vehicle wouldn’t be stolen. Second, if they encountered any zombies on the way, it would give Fan Bing a chance to prove whether he had the guts.

Fan Bing, still feeling indignant, muttered, "You’re all definitely picking on me."

Renault patted him on the shoulder, laying two weapons in front of him, saying, "Pick one: the knife or the fire axe?"

"Uh..."

Fan Bing picked up both weapons and weighed them in his hands. After a moment’s hesitation, he chose the fire axe.

He rested the axe on his shoulder, flashed a grin at Alice, and said boldly, "Just wait and see. Today, I’m going to kill two zombies for you, no problem!"

"Tch, I don’t believe you."

Watching the two bicker, Renault shook his head, smiling. Who would have thought that three years from now, the Ice Queen would still be making faces like a kid?

**Buzz buzz!**

The radar in Renault’s hand suddenly vibrated. He quickly glanced at it and said to Fan Bing, "Your chance is here. There are two zombies approaching."

"Two?"

Fan Bing’s wrist trembled, and the fire axe almost slipped from his hands.

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He could handle one at a time, but two coming at once? Who could deal with that?

"Scared, aren’t you? Hahaha, coward."

"Shut up! I’m not scared—Fan Bing is never scared!"

Gritting his teeth, Fan Bing hoisted the fire axe with both hands and walked toward the mouth of the alley.

Seeing this, the others followed behind.

Renault brought up the rear, checking the radar. The two zombies were right at the alley’s entrance.

**"Grr!"**

As soon as Fan Bing stepped out of the alley, a wide-open zombie maw lunged at him.

In a panic, he swung the fire axe wildly in front of him, his eyes squeezed shut.

"Open your eyes! Aim for the zombie’s throat!"

Renault, trailing behind, watched the scene unfold, exasperated.

Did he really think swinging with his eyes closed would magically decapitate the zombie?

"Ah!"

Fan Bing opened his eyes wide, nearly bulging out of his head. With a scream, he brought the axe down, smashing the first zombie’s skull to pieces!

Dead, beyond any doubt.

**"Grr!"**

Just as Fan Bing was catching his breath, the second zombie lunged at him without hesitation.

At that moment, fear gave way to regret in Fan Bing’s heart.

He had conquered his fear of zombies, but he forgot that there was more than one!

He shut his eyes and let go of the fire axe.

**Bang!**

"Hey, stop lying there. Time to go!"

Little Alice kicked Fan Bing, who was sprawled on the ground, looking at him with frustration.

Startled, Fan Bing quickly sprang to his feet like a fish jumping out of water, exclaiming, "P226! Semi-automatic pistol! Manufactured in Germany, 19mm caliber!"

"Not bad. You can identify it just by the sound?"

Renault was impressed. He hadn’t expected Fan Bing’s talent to be this sharp—recognizing the gun just from the sound of the shot.

"Hehe, if I couldn’t do at least this much, I’d have wasted my twenty years of life."

Fan Bing gave a cheeky grin, eyeing the gun in Renault’s hand. He asked, "Boss, can I hold it?"

"Take it. You can use this gun for now, but when we go in, make sure to hide it so they don’t confiscate it."

Without hesitation, Renault handed the gun to Fan Bing.

Fan Bing took it like a man admiring a beautiful woman, gently caressing the weapon.

"Boss, should we head over now?"

Guo Haoyu scratched his head, growing impatient to see his parents. After all, the world had become incredibly unsafe.

Renault nodded, his eyes calm as water. "Let’s go. We’ll head over now."

The group left the alley and made their way toward the military district gates.

...

Meanwhile, at Xishan City Base.

A high concrete wall had been erected at the entrance to the military district. It looked freshly built, and a long line had formed at the gates.

The people in the line were of all types—some dressed in suits, some looking wealthy, and some even still wearing school uniforms.

They were all citizens of Xishan City, seeking safety at the base.

"One at a time! Everyone must register at the front—name, age, and occupation. If you try to cut the line, there will be consequences!"

A man in camouflage stood next to the line, looking down at the crowd with disdain.

His name was Zheng Dezhu, a regular soldier who had landed this position thanks to his uncle, an official at the base.

At the end of the line, Renault and his group joined the queue.

"Renault brother, is this place really that fun?"

Little Alice blinked her big eyes, looking confused.

The place looked desolate. If it weren’t for the long line of people, she would’ve thought it was a wasteland.

Renault nodded and whispered, "Whatever you do, don’t reveal your abilities here. It’s dangerous."

Alice looked at Renault and nodded seriously.

"Damn, this line is so long! When will it be our turn?"

Fan Bing, standing behind Guo Haoyu, kept glancing ahead and sighing.

"Relax, the line’s moving. We might be up soon."

Guo Haoyu patted Fan Bing’s shoulder, trying to calm him down.

Just then, a commotion broke out at the front of the line.

"What? Just because I didn’t finish college, you’re making me do manual labor?"

A well-dressed young man confronted the man at the registration desk, disbelief in his eyes.

This was an insult to him! He was young and should have been studying in a college classroom, but now he was being forced to do hard labor?

He couldn’t accept it!

**Bang!**

A gunshot rang out, sending a chill down everyone’s spines.

"Without specialized skills, you’re here to work. If you don’t like it, get lost!"

Zheng Dezhu held the gun in his hand, shouting at the college student.