Suddenly, a gaunt man dragged his wife in front of Dong Fei, forcing a fawning smile. "Brother Dong, this is my wife. I'd like to trade her for two bottles of water."
The moment he said that, the men around burst into laughter. One of them pointed at the woman and jeered, "You seriously think your plain-looking wife is worth two bottles of mineral water? Keep dreaming!"
"One bottle—just one bottle will do," the man stammered, his dry lips trembling as he pulled his wife closer. His wife's hair was tangled and matted, unwashed for over ten days, and emitted an unpleasant odor. "She's untouched, no one's laid a hand on her!"
Dong Fei barked coldly, "Get out of here! If you want food and water, go fight for it yourself!"
This frail man wouldn't last long if he stepped outside—he'd likely end up dead.
"It's all your fault! Why didn't you join the others to raid supplies?" the wife muttered under her breath.
Her words ignited the man's fury. He grabbed her by the hair and snarled, "What good are you to me? You can't even fetch a single bottle of water!"
"You're not a real man! Heartless bastard—I'll bite you to death!" The woman sank her teeth into her husband's arm. In pain, he kicked her violently, then chased after her, stomping repeatedly on her head.
"At a time like this, you still care about washing your face? Fine, I'll wash it for you!" he screamed, kicking her until blood soaked her face. Her body convulsed briefly before going still, lifeless from the brutal assault.
The man stared at his wife's pale face, as if snapping back to reality. He collapsed beside her corpse, sobbing, "Wife, wife… I didn't mean to… I'm sorry…"
But none of the onlookers showed any sympathy. After days of witnessing countless deaths, they had grown numb.
Over in Building Four, Ding Feng stood surrounded by over twenty sturdy young men, most of them property owners. Each held a cigarette between their lips, waiting for the opportune moment. Bolt cutters lay ready nearby; at Ding Feng's command, they would storm Building Three, take down Dong Fei's group, and seize their supplies.
But doing so would shatter the fragile order within the community. The other buildings would become wary, and they might lose even the chance to drive out for resources.
"Forget it—I'll say something," Dong Fei announced when he noticed Ning Gu and Tang Ze were absent. He jumped off the car hood and addressed the crowd.
No sooner had he finished speaking than the elevator dinged, its doors slowly sliding open.
Tang Ze emerged, dressed casually. Dong Fei had never closely observed Tang Ze before, but now, scrutinizing him, he found him to be just an ordinary young man—the kind who wouldn't dare harm a fly.
Then Dong Fei noticed Tang Ze wasn't alone.
What happened next left everyone speechless. Some rubbed their eyes, convinced they were hallucinating.
Two stunning women stepped out, their high heels clicking softly against the floor. Their faces glowed with vitality, free of any signs of fatigue. Their flawless skin and well-groomed appearances made them look as though they bathed daily, exuding an aura akin to freshly ripened peaches.
The men swallowed hard, mesmerized by the women's outfits.
Both wore cat-ear headbands paired with seductive ensembles designed to highlight every curve. Their slender waists swayed hypnotically, captivating every gaze. White stockings accentuated their long, elegant legs, leaving little to the imagination.
In a world ravaged by chaos, the sudden appearance of such ethereal beauties stunned the crowd into silence. The other women present paled in comparison, reduced to insignificance beside these goddess-like figures.
Yet these celestial beings trailed behind a mere deliveryman—a stark contrast that felt almost surreal.
"Isn't that the livestreamer? She's with the delivery guy?"
"This guy must have stockpiled supplies. We should've thought of that!"
"The flight attendant! That's her! Damn, her rich boyfriend must be dead." The crowd finally understood: the only attractive women in their building had been brought out by this man.
Watching Tang Ze approach, Dong Fei couldn't suppress a chuckle. "If you'd kept them hidden, no one would've known. But flaunting them like this—have you considered the consequences?"
"Consequences? What consequences? Why don't you demonstrate for me?" Tang Ze replied mockingly, his lips curling into a smirk.
Onlookers from neighboring buildings gathered, whistling and shouting offers.
"Hey, buddy, how much for the ladies? Three bottles of water?"
"Three bottles? I'll give you a whole crate for both!"
Suddenly, a lecherous man approached Sun Ting, his grimy hand reaching for her delicate arm, a leer spreading across his filthy face.
In one fluid motion, Tang Ze unsheathed the zhanmadao from his waist and, with a chilling smile, swung it down.
The man's hand hit the ground first, followed by his upper body collapsing in two separate pieces, intestines spilling onto the floor.
The crowd froze, stunned by Tang Ze's ruthlessness. Such strength—to cleave a man in half with a single strike!
No wonder he dared to parade two beauties around like this.
With a flick of his wrist, Tang Ze shook the blood from the blade, leaving a crimson streak on the ground. He then spoke calmly yet menacingly, "Touch what belongs to me, and you're cutting off my lifeline. The penalty is death."
The men exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes eventually settling on Dong Fei.
If they could eliminate this deliveryman, perhaps they'd stand a chance with those two women. Even if it meant dying, becoming a lustful ghost was preferable to starving.
Sun Ting exhaled softly, relieved. She knew Tang Ze wasn't the type to boast—if he were, he would've paraded her around earlier. Glancing at the pile of gore beside her, she felt a wave of revulsion.