Chapter 69: A Life for a Life, and a New Beginning

After Brother Li deduced I was Bai Xia’s brother, I had no desire to waste any more words on him.

I drew the long blade from my waist, ready to end his life with a single strike.

“Wait, don’t kill him.”

Just as I was about to act, a faint yet resolute voice suddenly reached me from beside me.

“Why not?”

Upon hearing this, I did not immediately halt my movement. Instead, I continued to advance the blade towards Brother Li’s head, causing him to stare at me with extreme terror, momentarily forgetting the searing pain between his legs.

The speaker at this moment was none other than Li Fenghua, who had been kneeling on the ground. As I was about to kill Brother Li outright, he finally couldn’t hold back.

Li Fenghua’s face was contorted with hatred. As he gazed at Brother Li, his tightly clenched fists were cut by his own fingernails. Unaware of the blood seeping out, he was consumed by an unquenchable fire of rage.

However, despite Li Fenghua’s current state, I had no intention of giving him a chance.

My relationship with Li Fenghua was merely an acquaintance. My previous help to him was solely because I had encountered him before my rebirth.

Yet, the decisive arms dealer Li Fenghua of that time could not be compared to the cowardly Li Fenghua who now knelt, awaiting death.

If he remained in such a useless state, then my efforts to save Li Fenghua would have been in vain.

A worthless individual was not deserving of any further investment from me.

“If you let me kill this man today, my life is yours to command.”

“Your life is useless to me.”

Listening to Li Fenghua’s words, a cold smile involuntarily curved my lips. If every person who offered me their life expected my help, then my assistance would be truly cheap.

In that brief moment, the long blade in my hand had already swung before Brother Li’s face. In just another breath or two, Brother Li would undoubtedly be slain by my sword.

“Whatever you command, I will sincerely obey. Alive, I am your person; dead, I am your ghost. Should I ever harbor disloyalty, may the heavens strike me down! I swear by my deceased wife!”

Just as I was about to strike Brother Li down, Li Fenghua swiftly rushed before me. He dropped to one knee, his face etched with desperate pleading.

Observing the resolve in Li Fenghua’s eyes, I halted the blade that was poised to kill Brother Li. I then tossed the sword directly in front of him.

“I, Bai Han, have no need for useless individuals. Now, prove yourself.”

With a clang, as the blade hit the ground, a flicker of joy appeared in Li Fenghua’s eyes. Without a moment of hesitation, he snatched the sword from the ground.

Holding the hilt with both hands, Li Fenghua’s arms trembled with his surging emotions. As he looked at the immobilized Brother Li, tears suddenly streamed from his eyes, dripping continuously down his cheeks and onto the ground.

“Xiao Qing, I have avenged you. I… I finally killed this beast… Rest in peace!”

After uttering these words, Li Fenghua raised the sword high in his hands. He then aimed it at Brother Li’s neck and brought it down with a swift chop.

With a single strike, the sharp blade instantly severed Brother Li’s head, which then rolled across the ground with a clatter.

Having delivered that fatal blow, Li Fenghua seemed to lose all his strength, slowly collapsing to the ground.

Though tears still flowed, a smile graced his face.

After witnessing Li Fenghua kill Brother Li, I paid him no further mind. Instead, I turned my gaze elsewhere.

Although I had killed all of Brother Li’s subordinates earlier, the women he had rounded up were left behind. They were now huddled together in fear, their eyes fixed on me.

Despite the fear on their faces, the eagerness in their eyes was impossible to conceal.

Seeing these women’s reactions reminded me of common occurrences in the apocalypse.

As the leader of a medium-sized base, when I led my subordinates to gather supplies, I would also rescue some trapped individuals along the way.

And every single person I rescued wanted to become my s*ave.

In an apocalypse plagued by zombies, hunger, and cold, people would sell themselves into slavery to survive.

Offering their beauty, their bodies, or even their dignity and lives, as slaves, they simply wished to endure the harsh realities of the apocalypse.

I did not look down on them; everyone wanted to continue living. However, I myself would not, like others, keep slaves for amusement.

At this thought, my brows furrowed slightly. Yet, I said nothing more, simply turning my head to continue watching Li Fenghua.

In that short interval, the little boy who had been kneeling beside Li Fenghua also ran over, hiding behind him and secretly peeking at me.

Presumably, this was Li Fenghua’s son.

“You are too weak now. Strive to improve yourself! I will come to collect your promise in the future.”

“Yes, Brother Bai! I, Li Fenghua, will definitely achieve something great.”

“Good. I’ll leave all the weapons here for you, Big Gold Tooth!”

Observing Li Fenghua’s compliant attitude, I nodded with satisfaction. Then, I called out Big Gold Tooth’s name loudly.

“Huh? Yes, yes, yes! Brother Bai, I’m coming!”

Big Gold Tooth hadn’t expected me to call him at that moment. A look of surprise and delight on his face, he scurried over to me.

“The matter of you trying to abduct my sister before, due to your assistance in leading the way and other reasons, is now considered settled. However, the three of you must remain here to assist Li Fenghua and protect his safety.”

“Ah! No! Brother Bai, I’ll go wherever you go!”

“Brother Bai, please don’t abandon us!”

“Brother Bai, if you leave, I’ll definitely starve!”

As soon as I spoke, not only did Big Gold Tooth plop down, clutching my thigh tightly, but Little Seven and Curly also rushed over, their faces filled with reluctance as they looked at me.

With Big Gold Tooth clinging to my leg, I couldn’t help but twitch the corner of my mouth awkwardly.

Having only spent less than a day together, this Big Gold Tooth fellow was truly too exaggerated.

“Alright, alright, let go of me! I’m leaving you here so you can properly assist Li Fenghua. If you achieve something significant, you might even be able to help me in the future.”

“Really?”

“I’m not lying to you, but it also requires a lot of effort from you all. I hope that the next time we meet, I can see a different version of you.”

After saying this to Big Gold Tooth and the others, Big Gold Tooth finally released my pant leg.

It was just a few words, yet Big Gold Tooth and the others reacted as if they had received a royal decree, their faces alight with excitement and pride. I couldn’t help but shake my head with a smile.

While taking Big Gold Tooth and the other two with me was certainly an option, as they could help collect crystal nuclei, Li Fenghua currently needed manpower. Leaving Big Gold Tooth and the others behind could also help him expand his influence.

From my observations along the way, Big Gold Tooth, though somewhat timid, was not ill-intentioned. Moreover, he was resourceful and meticulous, so I believed he could effectively assist Li Fenghua.

“My lord, please take us with you!”

“That’s right! Please take us, even if we are to be your slaves!”

“I’m very young; you can play with me however you like.”

“I have large breasts; I can make sure you have a good time.”

****

Just as I finished instructing Big Gold Tooth, the other three, and Li Fenghua, the women on the other side suddenly couldn’t hold back.

A group of them ran to me, their faces pleading, begging me to take them along.

Perhaps it was my recent display of power, or perhaps my current commanding presence, that made these women believe I was a strong individual who could protect them and ensure their survival in the apocalypse.

“I apologize, but even slaves must be strong. You all? I have no need for you.”

What a joke. If I accepted every woman who came forward, I doubt several trucks could hold them all.

As I had said, if they were merely useless ornaments, I would not want them, even as slaves.