Ch 92: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Li Aiguo jerked his hand back as if burned, his wide eyes screaming the words he didn’t dare say aloud: Are you crazy?!

Zhang Sujuan pressed her lips together and met his gaze with unwavering determination. Before, she would have never dared to entertain such thoughts, but lately, she felt as though the heavens had sent her a sign—an opportunity she couldn’t ignore.

It all started over a month ago.

When Wang Zheng sabotaged their car’s tires, causing it to flip, they were immediately swallowed by a sea of zombies. Fortunately, the car was well-sealed, and they huddled inside for two whole days and nights, barely daring to breathe, until the horde finally began to disperse.

From Li Liang and Li Li’s vantage point, they had seen Wang Zheng’s treachery and likely understood his motives. But those inside the car had no clue. Li Aiguo’s older brother had cursed the world’s wickedness, oblivious to the deeper scheme at play.

With no transportation, walking all the way to Red City Base was out of the question. Their only option was to return to the service station they had passed earlier. Thankfully, they still had a decent amount of supplies in the car. If they could find a vehicle with available seats, they might be able to barter for passage.

This service station had become a small gathering point. Most people were travelers stopping to rest, trading supplies and information with the station’s residents. Some, however, had no resources, no vehicle, and nowhere else to go. They were stranded, forced to hunt zombies and exchange crystal cores for food—or, if lucky, buy a ticket to Red City Base from passing convoys.

They stayed there for three or four days.

As four middle-aged and elderly people, they were weak in combat and unwilling to split up. This made them unappealing to most traveling groups. Drivers would rather take on fewer passengers if it meant selecting strong, capable fighters—ideally, ability users—who could increase their odds of survival rather than slow them down.

Taking on four elderly people was nothing but a burden.

Finally, on the fourth day, a convoy of four or five well-equipped vehicles arrived. They had five or six ability users among them and more than enough space for extra passengers. Reluctantly, they agreed to squeeze in four more people—but their price was steep. Not only would the travelers have to provide their own food for the journey, but the convoy also demanded nearly all of their remaining supplies.

The convoy planned to rest at the service station overnight and depart the next morning.

But that night, disaster struck.

A group of over twenty high-level ability users descended upon the station under the cover of darkness. They massacred every ability user within and abducted the remaining survivors, hauling them up into the mountains. Only a few ability users managed to escape.

It wasn’t until they arrived at the mountain hideout that Zhang Sujuan realized she had stepped into hell itself.

The attackers had brought the corpses of the fallen ability users with them. Once they arrived at their base, they cracked open their skulls and extracted the crystal cores from their brains.

Then, just like consuming zombie cores, they absorbed them.

Zhang Sujuan had overheard two of them speaking, their voices filled with satisfaction.

“We’ve been staking this place out for so long, and finally, we hit the jackpot. These ability users were strong—absorbing just one of their cores is worth dozens of zombie cores. If it matches your own ability, the benefits are even greater. Ever since we started hunting these fat sheep, my powers have been growing like crazy.”

“Same here,” the other replied with a hint of regret. “A while ago, another convoy passed through. There was even a metal-type ability user in the group, which would’ve been perfect for me. But they were too cautious and refused to stay the night, so they got away.”

Zhang Sujuan had shivered in horror.

They were talking about her convoy.

These people had been watching the service station from the mountains, waiting like hunters for their prey to walk into their trap.

And because the location of the service station was so ideal, there was never a shortage of travelers stumbling right into their hands.

These monsters weren’t just ruthless—they were meticulous. Even if a captured ability user was a stunning young woman, they never spared them. Every ability user was killed, their crystal cores harvested.

The only ones they kept alive were ordinary young women, held captive for their depraved pleasure.

As for the rest?

Before being put to work, they were subjected to brutal beatings. Zhang Sujuan had lost her leg’s strength, and Li Aiguo had lost half of his ear during this initial torment.

Anyone who resisted, anyone who so much as thought of rebelling—was killed.

And eaten.

That’s right.

These people weren’t just consuming ability users’ cores. They were eating the bodies too.

Zhang Sujuan had seen Li Aiguo’s older brother among the dead and, for the first time, felt a sliver of twisted relief—if they hadn’t been so physically unremarkable, they would’ve ended up the same way.

Since then, they had been forced into servitude, treated like livestock within the factory.

Zhang Sujuan had been assigned to care for the captive women, while Li Aiguo was forced to work in the kitchen.

But they were never truly safe.

Human flesh would eventually run out. And when that happened—if no new prey arrived at the service station—it would be their turn.

It was like an invisible blade hanging over their necks, ready to fall at any moment. Who wouldn’t want to escape?

Li Aiguo wasn’t against the idea because he wanted to stay. He was terrified—because among those monsters was a psychic ability user.

The man was a thin, frail-looking middle-aged figure, seemingly weak enough that he couldn’t even lift a weapon. He never needed to leave the mountain to hunt for “fat sheep.” He simply lay there, yet it felt as if an invisible web of eyes constantly scanned every inch of the factory.

Nothing escaped his notice.

That was why no one inside the factory dared to speak too much, afraid that a single misplaced word could be their death sentence.

Many who had planned to escape never even got the chance to act before they were caught.

Sometimes, when the psychic was feeling particularly bored, he would let them run for a while—just enough to let them think they had a chance at freedom—before dragging them back.

Like a cat toying with a mouse, never killing it immediately, savoring the moment before crushing its hope entirely.

His weak body meant he couldn’t fight physically, but this was how he satisfied his twisted desires.

And those who were recaptured met a fate far worse than death.

Li Aiguo was horrified. Even the younger, stronger captives had failed to escape. How could his wife, with her crippled leg, possibly succeed?

“Just sleep,” he whispered, holding her close and patting her gently, deliberately throwing in some flattery in case someone was listening. “We have work tomorrow. Can’t afford to be lazy when serving the bosses.”

In his heart, he had already resigned himself to his fate.

Escape was impossible. And if something was impossible, there was no point in fighting it.

Better to live a few days longer, to spend just a little more time together.

Better than being ripped apart and eaten.

Working in the kitchen, he had seen what happened to the bodies of those who tried to run. There was nothing left of them.

Death was inevitable. But there was no need to suffer before it came.

The only thing he regretted was never seeing his son in Red City Base one last time.

Zhang Sujuan absentmindedly rubbed the stump of her leg. It still throbbed in pain, never properly treated, yet she was forced to work every single day.

When it had first been broken, the shattered bone had even pierced through the skin. She had bled so much.

They had laughed as she lay there, placing bets on whether she would survive the week.

But she had.

Her fingers drifted to her chest, where a jade pendant hung. It was a family heirloom—nothing particularly valuable, even in the pre-apocalypse days. And in these times, jade and gemstones were practically worthless.

That day, when her bloody hands had touched it, something about it had felt… different.

She had a suspicion.

But with that psychic user constantly monitoring them, she had never dared to test it.

Yet just having it was like a shot of adrenaline, keeping her from falling into the same despair as her husband.

What were the odds?

How could something like this fall into her hands?

If fate had allowed her to survive, then she must not die here.

There had to be a way.

They would escape.

Her son was still waiting for her in Red City Base.

At that moment, Shen Qing and his group finally arrived at the service station.

The place was crowded, with about fifty people—some passing through, others long-term residents.

Perhaps because she was now on familiar ground, or maybe because she was feeling relieved after realizing her parents and uncle were likely still alive, Li Li’s courage grew. She even made an effort to get closer to Song Kaiji, trying to reestablish their relationship.

“We stayed here before,” she explained. “This place is actually pretty convenient. You can trade for food and water, even gasoline—but it’s expensive.” She lowered her voice. “I think someone is organizing everything behind the scenes. The people who stay here long-term follow strict rules.”

As their vehicle pulled in, the residents turned their attention toward them. A few people approached cautiously, eyeing the car.

Without hesitation, Song Kaiji waved his hand and stored the vehicle in his space.

He had learned a lesson from the conflict between Li Liang and Wang Zheng—never leave a valuable resource like a car exposed in the open.

“Whoa, a space ability user,” a man in his late twenties with a buzz cut stepped forward, eyes gleaming with interest. “That’s a decent-sized space you’ve got there. Brother, you got food to trade? I’ve got water, gasoline, and other supplies.”

Li Li immediately put on a bright smile and turned to Song Kaiji. “This is Brother Zhuang Ye. Last time we stopped here, we traded gas with him. He’s a good guy—he even gave me some snacks!”

It had only been a single, individually wrapped biscuit, but in the apocalypse, that was a rare treat. It had left a strong impression on her.

“If we need to stay overnight,” she continued, “we should talk to him. He’s like the boss here. He’ll ask for a small payment, but if I ask, maybe he’ll give us a discount.”

Then, she turned back to Zhuang Ye and greeted him with familiarity.

“Brother Zhuang, we meet again! I still remember that little biscuit you gave me!”

Zhuang Ye blinked, studying her face for a moment before recognition dawned. He chuckled. “Ah, little beauty, you’re back again? And tied up?”

Li Li’s arms were still bound behind her by Qu Weiwei’s vines, though not as tightly as before.

Li Liang, however, was still completely bound—tied up like a rice dumpling and being dragged along the ground by Tang Wenjie.

Li Li let out an awkward laugh. “It’s just a joke between us cousins,” she said, casting a pleading look at Song Kaiji. “Cousin, can you untie me now? This is really inconvenient.”

But Song Kaiji didn’t respond, his expression unreadable.

Zhuang Ye studied the vines binding her arms and smirked. “A wood-type ability user, huh? That’s rare. I’m wood-type too.”

He lifted his gaze, scanning over Song Kaiji’s group, his sharp eyes gleaming with interest.

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