Chapter 50: The Price of Power

Having dispatched the zombies at my doorstep, I glanced up at the three figures perched in the tree, an unconscious smile gracing my lips.

The trio seemed utterly stunned by my smile. Even as I led my sister downstairs and out the door, they remained plastered to their branches, unmoving.

Their frozen, motionless state was a stark contrast to their earlier arrogance and bluster.

Especially the terrified expressions etched upon their faces, for they had clearly just realized the true extent of my abilities.

“Big Brother! You are our Big Brother! Please, have mercy on us small fries!”

“I was wrong, I won’t dare to do it again.”

“Wuwu, I don’t even have a girlfriend yet. I don’t want to die now.”

The three men’s attitudes were now completely different from before, their faces streaked with snot and tears. I averted my gaze in disgust, unwilling to look at these pathetic wretches any longer.

Beside me, my sister giggled, clearly finding their current predicament amusing.

“I never said I’d kill you now, so there’s no need to be afraid. Besides… I’m just a high school student, how could I possibly kill people like you, who roam the streets?”

“Don’t say that, sir! Just that trick of throwing coins to kill zombies proves you’re an absolute powerhouse! You’re hundreds of times stronger than Brother Li!”

The leader among the three quickly interjected, his demeanor as respectful as a student facing their dean. He spoke cautiously, daring not to raise his voice.

I watched them, a wry smile playing on my lips, utterly unprepared for how quickly these people could adapt and flatter.

Just moments ago, they had been boasting about Brother Li’s prowess. Now, they were shamelessly buttering me up.

Though a bit surprised, I wasn’t truly shocked.

It wasn’t just the fawning expressions on the faces of the three men in the tree; even in the apocalypse, the strong were revered.

If you possessed ability, others would respect you. Without it, you would face oppression.

My life before rebirth, during the early stages of the apocalypse, was far from smooth sailing!

With only spatial abilities, I couldn’t compare to more powerful individuals or small groups. Thus, I could only endure and grow stronger in secret.

Once my level increased and my abilities strengthened—especially my spatial storage, which brought me considerable benefits—I naturally formed a small group, continuously recruiting other strong individuals.

Our small group’s nomadic survival, constantly moving after each skirmish, quickly became unbearable. The daily threat of powerful high-tier zombies and zombie hordes pushed all my team members to their limits.

The longer one lived in the apocalypse, the more one yearned for a stable life.

And so, I established a base.

However, after finally rising to become the leader of a medium-sized base, I didn’t even get to enjoy it before meeting my end by jumping from a building. It seemed my ten years before rebirth had truly been miserable.

“Brother, let them come down! They look like monkeys, it’s really ugly.”

Just as I was lost in my past memories, my sister’s voice suddenly chimed beside me, pulling me back to the present.

I turned my head to see her disgusted expression, and a faint smile bloomed on my previously expressionless face.

This life was destined to be different. I, Bai Han, would become even stronger, an invincible powerhouse, so that I would never again be bullied.

Simultaneously, I would protect my family and friends!

“Alright, you can come down. I won’t kill you now.”

“Not now? Does that mean you’ll kill us later?”

“If you’re not down from that tree in one minute, I’ll certainly consider it.”

Facing the three men in the tree, I let my smile vanish, my expressionless demeanor startling them thoroughly. They tumbled down from the tree in a frantic rush.

“Big Brother, we’re down now. Do you have any instructions?”

“Let’s go.”

“?”

“I’ve already left my home; do you still not understand what I mean? Now, immediately, take me to find Brother Li. I want to see him.”

Still expressionless, I watched the three men’s legs tremble uncontrollably, a silent sigh escaping me.

Perhaps it was the decade of brutal fighting in the apocalypse, coupled with years as a base leader, that had forged such a powerful deterrent. When I became serious, it filled these three with overwhelming fear.

Unbeknownst to me, my deterrent force had grown so immense.