Chapter 43: The Divided Rooftop and a Brotherly Test

At this moment, among the students gathered on the rooftop, beyond Li Lin Guan and his subordinates, there was also a group of onlookers who had joined midway, having fortunately secured temporary safety.

However, upon hearing Li Lin Guan suggest leaving the rooftop, someone immediately stepped forward, vehemently voicing their disagreement.

Their words were sharp, their expression furious, and their body language assertive—a stark contrast to the timid demeanor they had displayed when intimidated just yesterday.

Beyond this, several of Li Lin Guan’s dozen or so subordinates also disagreed with the perilous idea of leaving the rooftop. However, out of deference to their leader, they could only suppress their dissenting opinions.

Yet, their deep-seated reluctance was evident, even though they kept quiet.

Qiao Xia observed the unfolding situation, recognizing that the students on the rooftop had now split into two factions: the “Stay-Put Faction” and the “Offensive Faction.”

The core members of the Stay-Put Faction included not only the onlookers who had joined them but also several of Li Lin Guan’s subordinates who, despite their affiliation, secretly wished to remain. They advocated for staying on the rooftop to await rescue, deeming it unwise to take risks.

In contrast, the Offensive Faction, led by Li Lin Guan and his direct subordinates, insisted on leaving the rooftop to search for food. They argued that “a living person cannot be suffocated by their own urine,” meaning one must act to survive.

With such divergent views between the two factions, finding a resolution presented a significant challenge.

“What’s all this fuss about? Do your heads contain nothing but excrement? Waiting for rescue on the rooftop? Have you even considered that if help never arrives, you’ll simply die of thirst and starvation up here?”

“Exactly! If you want to die like that, I’m certainly not joining you! I need to eat and drink; even if I die, I’ll die with a full stomach.”

“We’ll go find food for ourselves and eat it ourselves. We won’t be giving it to you, so what are you so worried about?”

Witnessing the Stay-Put Faction’s fierce reaction, Damao, the “dog-head strategist,” was quick to respond. After he took the lead with a statement, others immediately chimed in, actively opposing the Stay-Put Faction’s desire for complacency.

These defiant and aggressive students, unlike their ordinary counterparts, understood that idly waiting for death was not a viable option.

If they didn’t seize the opportunity to find food while they still had the energy, by tomorrow, they would be too weak from hunger to move, even if they wished to venture out.

At that point, they would truly be at a dead end.

“If you want to die, don’t drag us down with you! The moment that iron gate opens, those lunatics will rush in!”

“I don’t want to die, w-wah.”

“Our country is so powerful; they’ll send in the military for rescue soon! Those planes yesterday were probably just scouting the situation!”

In response to the Offensive Faction’s relentless questioning, the Stay-Put Faction immediately retaliated.

Subsequently, a lively back-and-forth ensued.

Qiao Xia, however, did not intervene. He simply observed quietly, awaiting the final outcome of the dispute.

The emergence of these two factions was an inevitable development; after all, everyone harbored different ideas. Qiao Xia mused that, had it not been for his “cheat ability,” he too would likely have been a member of the Stay-Put Faction.

The rooftop, after all, felt like a secure sanctuary.

Yet, in six days, the entire U-City might not even exist anymore.

Nowhere was truly safe.

“Enough with the bickering! You’re just worried about the red-eyed patients rushing in, aren’t you? The four of us going out to find food isn’t like “devils entering the village”—we won’t make a huge fuss, even for our own lives, so naturally, we won’t put you in danger! If you keep running your mouths at me, don’t blame me for showing no mercy. After all, killing someone now won’t be anyone’s business.”

Immediately after Li Lin Guan spoke, the conflict between the two factions promptly subsided.

This caused Qiao Xia to raise an eyebrow in surprise, never having imagined that Li Lin Guan’s words would be so effective.

Clearly, he had underestimated Li Lin Guan’s capabilities.

However, Qiao Xia didn’t pay much attention to school affairs. Aside from attending classes, he mostly stayed home or exercised in his residential complex, so he knew little about small gangs or similar rumors.

Zhou Li, on the other hand, who loved to gossip, knew quite a lot.

While Li Lin Guan took his subordinates to intimidate the Stay-Put Faction, Qiao Xia addressed the Ye Dafeng brothers. “The two of you, come with me,” he instructed. “I need to test your reaction speed and other abilities. If you pass, we’ll get ready and leave.”

Afterward, Qiao Xia didn’t waste any time. In a spacious area of the rooftop, he immediately began the test.

The test wasn’t difficult: they merely needed to withstand ten moves from him.

Qiao Xia wasn’t arrogant enough to believe himself invincible; he was only slightly stronger than an average person. His repeated deaths in previous premonitions were ample proof of his insufficient strength. However, leaving the rooftop this time was for food, not a one-on-one duel with red-eyed patients.

Thus, good enough would suffice.

As long as they could pass his test, the twin brothers would be able to join the temporary squad.

****

“What’s the verdict? Did Qiao Xia agree to let you both go?”

Once the Ye Dafeng brothers returned from Qiao Xia, Damao, the idle strategist, immediately sidled over, his face alight with curiosity, eager to know the outcome.

He had, after all, witnessed the brief sparring match between the Dafeng brothers and Qiao Xia, which had concluded swiftly.

However, a quick end didn’t necessarily signify defeat.

Recalling the faint fist marks still lingering on their boss’s abdomen, Damao harbored several suspicions about Qiao Xia’s combat prowess, sensing that this self-proclaimed ordinary student was, in fact, a formidable individual.

Perhaps he was even stronger than Li Lin Guan, who had trained in Sanda.

“Of course! Who do you think we are, anyway? *Hiss*… Damao, what do you want to eat? This time, when we go out for food, I’ll definitely bring you something back!”

Upon hearing Damao’s question, before his elder brother Ye Dafeng could even speak, the younger brother Ye Daluan immediately reached out and slapped his own chest.

However, his hand had barely connected when he suddenly gasped, sucking in a sharp breath.

Damao instantly realized something was amiss. Without waiting for Ye Daluan to utter another word, Damao quickly dragged him to a secluded corner of the rooftop.

“Oh, Damao, I misjudged you! I can’t believe you’re this kind of person!”

“Cut the nonsense, take it off.”

“But there are so many people out here, Damao! Don’t be impulsive!”

“Hurry up and take it off.”

Watching his younger brother being pulled away, Ye Dafeng was utterly bewildered, unsure of what was happening. As he hurried after them, he suddenly overheard a truly dreadful conversation between the two.

A look of utter dismay crossed Ye Dafeng’s face; he couldn’t believe Damao was “that kind of person”!

Their lives were on the line, yet Damao wanted to… play with a man?

And not just any man, but his own younger brother!

This was truly beyond endurance!

“Damao, what do you want with my brother—huh? Daluan, why is your chest black and purple? It looks like someone punched you.”

As Ye Dafeng angrily rushed over, he discovered the situation was not at all what he had imagined. Damao was merely nodding repeatedly at the bruises on Ye Daluan’s chest, a look of “I knew it” on his face, his eyes practically gleaming.