Chapter 195: Breaking the Ice
Xu Chunlei's ability could disrupt Zhang Yi's vision, but its range was limited. He could protect himself, but not the others. On the ice, villagers from Xu Family Town fled in panic, making them easy targets for Zhang Yi. He had no qualms about killing them since they attacked first. With his military-grade sniper rifle enhanced by his abilities, Zhang Yi's shots were devastating. One shot penetrated three people, filling the air with a mist of blood.
Reloading, Zhang Yi aimed again and fired, killing two more villagers. Each sled was crowded with three or four people carrying their relatives' bodies, slowing them down. Realizing this, someone shouted, "Drop the bodies! Run!"
The villagers were torn. They were carrying their loved ones' bodies, adhering to their belief in proper burial for peace and blessings. But the relentless killing machine behind them left them no choice. Reluctantly, they abandoned the bodies on the ice, hoping it would slow Zhang Yi down. It did little to impede his progress, as a vehicle would always outrun dogs. The gunfire continued, each shot echoing with death as villagers fell.
Xu Chunlei watched in agony as his fellow villagers fell. His cousin, Xu Yongzhi, shouted desperately, "Chunlei, do something!"
The others looked to Xu Chunlei with pleading eyes. Only an ability user could stop another ability user. Xu Chunlei, under immense pressure, felt his mind breaking. In his desperation, an idea struck him. He stretched his right hand towards Zhang Yi's path, his eyes glowing blue. With a slow, deliberate motion, he clenched his hand.
"Crack!" A sharp sound echoed as a long fissure appeared on the ice, expanding rapidly. Zhang Yi's snowmobile tilted dangerously as it hit the fractured ice. He grabbed the window frame as the vehicle lost balance, the auto-pilot system quickly applying the brakes. The snowmobile tilted, forcing Zhang Yi to halt the chase.
He jumped out, assessing the situation. The ice had cracked significantly, forming a ten-meter-long fissure that ensnared one of the snowmobile's wheels. Zhang Yi realized that while Xu Chunlei couldn't break through the five or six meters thick ice completely, his potential to control ice could grow stronger.
From afar, the villagers were escaping into the trees, taking advantage of the pause in Zhang Yi’s pursuit. He raised his sniper rifle and fired twice more, killing two more villagers before they disappeared. "Looks like fighting on the ice is out of the question from now on," Zhang Yi muttered, observing the long fissure.
The southern route was in disarray, with most of the traps destroyed, leaving only the last fifty meters intact. Zhang Yi wasn’t concerned; he had killed enough invaders. He planned to clear and re-establish the traps later.
Returning home, he found Yang Siya pale and weak on the couch, having vomited all her food from the day. Despite her outward disdain, Zhou Ke'er was massaging Yang Siya's head, helping her relax. Seeing Zhang Yi return, Zhou Ke'er asked, "Did you get the ability user who attacked us last time?"
Yang Siya, weakly, looked up at Zhang Yi. He shook his head, "No. The guy is a coward, won't face me head-on. His abilities make it hard to kill him." Zhang Yi was cautious not to engage on unfavorable terms, but he was confident he could win in a direct confrontation.
Yang Siya's gaze dropped, and she softly asked, "Aren’t you afraid of being held accountable for killing so many people? Killing is illegal."
Her tone was weak, reflecting her shaken belief that the world would return to normal. Zhang Yi smiled, walked over, and pinched her soft cheek. "What do you think?"
Yang Siya remained silent, knowing deep down that her hope for a return to civilization was a dream. Zhang Yi stood up, feeling hungry after the fight. "Ke'er, I'm hungry. Make me something to eat."
Zhou Ke'er immediately stood up, "Sure, what do you want?"
"Roasted pig brain, spicy duck blood, duck gizzards with garlic, and nine-turn pig intestines," Zhang Yi replied.
Yang Siya's face turned even whiter at the names of the dishes. "Ugh—" she gagged.
Zhang Yi chuckled, "Feeling weak? You should eat something to regain your strength."
Yang Siya, flushed with anger, snapped, "Are you a devil?"
Seeing her angry expression made Zhang Yi happy. He leaned in and whispered, "How about something more nutritious later tonight?"
Yang Siya blushed but didn’t reject his advance this time.