He Mingxuan also greeted everyone.
He could feel the affection they had for him.
He had never thought he would be so popular; now thinking about it, he felt really good. After enduring the apocalypse, He Mingxuan’s sleazy qualities had gradually dissipated, replaced by a sense of stability and calm.
Plus, the recent harsh training with Feng Jie had made him much thinner.
Of course, his physique still looked overweight to outsiders, but for He Mingxuan, he was already quite satisfied.
"Mingxuan, my sister is looking for you,"
said Miao Yi as he ran over.
He Mingxuan acted very normal; he couldn’t show too much happiness just because he heard Miao Yan was looking for him.
Sun Neng was indeed petty-minded.
And unpredictable. Dealing with him, even He Mingxuan felt a terrifying dread.
Under Miao Yi’s leadership,
he met with Miao Yan, and there were other survivors nearby. Looking at He Mingxuan, there was no disdain, only respect.
Miao Yan said, "Sun Neng has decided that they will go out to search for supplies this time."
He Mingxuan looked at the group Miao Yan pointed out and couldn’t help but widen his eyes— they were all elderly men and women, well into their sixties.
Anyone looking would have the same thought: Sun Neng was sending these old folks to their deaths. Asking them to search for supplies was basically a death sentence against the zombies.
An old man came to He Mingxuan and kneeling, said, "Brother He, it’s okay if I go, but can you please not let my wife go?"
He Mingxuan helped him up.
He had already guessed Sun Neng’s intentions, which was clearly to consider the prison not a place to support "useless" people, thus looking for an excuse to send these old folks to their deaths.
"Isn’t there a way to change people?"
Miao Yan shook her head and said, "No, it can’t be helped. He specifically ordered it, so I came to tell you about this."
The other survivors watched the situation unfold with wide eyes. They had much to say, but in their hearts, Sun Neng was genuinely a terrifying presence.
The only one who could talk to Sun Neng
If it had been the old He Mingxuan, he would have washed his hands clean, proclaimed it had nothing to do with him, after all, it wasn’t him going out there. But now, he had undergone a complete transformation without even realizing it.
"I’ll go and talk to him," said He Mingxuan.
The survivors watched He Mingxuan’s retreating figure, and for some reason, that slightly desolate figure now looked so tall and formidable.
"Miao Yan, thank you," the elder said with much gratitude. It was indeed hard to find anyone willing to speak up for the old, weak, sick, and disabled under the current conditions.
Miao Yan shook her head, "Don’t thank me, thank him. Maybe with just a few words, he will have to sacrifice a great deal."
Sun Neng sat leisurely on a sofa chair, eyeing He Mingxuan who stood there, not daring to even breathe too heavily.
There was no conversation.
The silence in the air made He Mingxuan indescribably nervous.
It was as if a heavy pressure bore down on him.
"He Mingxuan, I’ve noticed you’re quite arrogant lately. Do you think you’ve become a savior?" Sun Neng spoke slowly.
Looking at Sun Neng’s seemingly calm but somewhat mocking eyes, He Mingxuan nervously swallowed and said bravely,
"I’m not, I’ve never considered myself a savior. It’s just that sending them out is sending them to their deaths. They are old and living here doesn’t consume much in the way of supplies. I’m willing to lead people in their stead to find supplies."
That was all He Mingxuan could do.
He really wanted to slam the table, glare at Sun Neng, point at him, and declare that he would protect them and if Sun Neng dared to talk nonsense again, he would deal with him.
Unfortunately, these were all just thoughts. The reality was that he could only stand there obediently, scared, waiting for Sun Neng’s next words.
Sun Neng laughed, his expression somewhat grim, making He Mingxuan feel a storm was approaching.
Sun Neng pulled out a handgun from a drawer and aimed it at He Mingxuan.
"Since when did you start talking to me ? Have I given you too much freedom?"
Seeing the situation unfold, He Mingxuan became very nervous. Although he had a certain relationship with Sun Neng, he considered Sun Neng to be very capricious. One second he could be all smiles, and the next, incredibly irascible.
Just as He Mingxuan was about to speak, the sound of the gunshot shocked him into almost jumping. He looked down to see smoke rising from the ground at his feet, where a bullet had embedded itself.
Sun Neng stood up, took the dagger from the table, and strolled over to He Mingxuan, waving the shining dagger lightly, pressing its sharp blade against his cheek.
"Do you think that because I like you, you can challenge my authority?"
Sun Neng went behind He Mingxuan, wrapping his arm around his neck, and whispering into his ear. The panting breath tickled He Mingxuan uncomfortably, but the somber tone left him cold to the bone.
He Mingxuan wanted to say no.
But for some reason, when facing Sun Neng, he felt nervous and afraid—as if he were being suppressed by some innate force.
He had thought about resisting, the idea always swirling in his mind, but whenever he saw Sun Neng, the thought dissipated. Perhaps Sun Neng was like a devil, having become a shadow in his heart.