Hearing Lilith's words, Bai Zemin's expression changed several times as he looked at the scene in front of him until finally, a flash of resolve shone in his eyes.
He began to step forward slowly and Shangguan Bing Xue as well as Chen He called out to him a few times but he ignored them both, completely focused on the sight before his eyes.
A male student suddenly grabbed the arm of a female teacher and threw her to the ground harshly. The woman in her early thirties screamed in terror but her cries for help and pleading were ignored amidst the chaos where similar scenes were constantly happening.
The male student jumped on top of the woman and began tearing at her clothes with an ominous grin. His eyes seemed to be bloodshot as he shouted and cursed, "Even that stupid dog Chen He was defeated! It's only a matter of time before we're hunted down too! At least I'll have some fun with you before I get killed by some monster hahaha!"
Earlier, when the survivors heard that Chen He was in danger of being killed and saw the look of dread on the face of the student who was standing guard near the entrance, most of them thought they were going to die. As for those who were naturally calmer, they were swept away by the fear caused by seeing the behavior and hearing the cries of others.
Only about five minutes had passed since then but there were more than twenty people who had been killed in some way or another and at a glance, Bai Zemin could see that there were at least fifty to sixty wounded.
Even with Liang Peng and the rest here it was impossible to stop more than five hundred people completely. This only got worse when the survivors who were instigating the chaos realized that even if they were caught they would just be beaten and thrown aside; considering they were going to die soon anyway, why not do whatever they wanted in the meantime?
As he slowly approached the male student who had malicious intentions towards the female teacher, Bai Zemin couldn't help but remember his first meeting with Lilith ten days ago. Back then, when she told him that she was a succubus, he immediately raised his guard against her even more than usual. After all, she was a demon.
As the days progressed, Bai Zemin's guard against her gradually eased and he no longer viewed her with such wariness after hearing her explain to him how what the bible quoted and humans knew was not exactly correct. However, that slight guard he had against her had almost been completely relieved just now.
What was the first thing that came to everyone's mind when they heard the word "demon"? Those who were arrogant, greedy, envious, lust-filled, and angry, an embodiment of pure evil that would try to lure good souls to the side of darkness with their sweet words.
But... How about the word "human," then? Those who were annoying, nasty, horrible, rude, arrogant, immoral, confusing, disdainful, violent, threatening, rule-breaking, harming, and hurting others out of greed.
Weren't humans even worse than demons from that point of view? At least that was the answer Bai Zemin had reached for when his hand touched the male student's shoulder.
"Wait for me to finish and it will be your turn then!" The male student grunted in annoyance, straining to remove his pants to begin his act.
Sensing that the hand still remained firmly on his shoulder, the student turned around angrily and began cursing, "You bastard! I told you to wait until-"
But his words caught in his throat when he finally recognized the face of the person standing in front of him.You... Bai..." The student's teeth clicked against each other and his face went pale, unable to finish a single sentence properly. His face became even worse when he saw Shangguan Bing Xue and Chen He standing unharmed a short distance away.
Before the male student had a chance to try to say anything or utter another word, Bai Zemin's right hand shot forward and with a sharp squeeze his trachea was crushed and his head fell heavily to the side.
Bai Zemin casually threw him to the ground without giving another glance, but if he looked at him again he could see the male student's eyes wide open before his death filled with horror.
Swoosh!
His body turned into a shadow and the next instant he appeared before a second student who was violently beating another fiercely.
As in the previous case, the student's neck was completely broken and he fell forward. Before the student who was being beaten could clearly see what was happening, Bai Zemin had already disappeared.
Swoosh!... Crack...
The sound of gusts of wind followed by the terrifying sounds of fragile bones being mercilessly crushed rang out several times but were suppressed by the screams of fear, cries of despair, and laughter of madness coming from the survivors.
Gradually, however, more and more survivors began to notice that something was not right as people, one after another, fell to the ground with broken necks.
"W-What's going on!" One burly student stopped in his tracks and looked around as he shouted in an attempt to shake off the fear he felt, "Come here if you're a man!"
Crack!
The burly student's neck cracked and the man died pathetically without knowing what had happened even until the last second.
Bai Zemin's Agility had currently reached 126 points in total, which made him 12 times faster than a normal person. With such speed, his movements in a closed environment were limited but at the same time explosive. Therefore, in a matter of seconds, more than thirty people were slaughtered by his hands.
The wild movements of the crazed survivors began to cease quickly as the more intelligent ones noticed that only those who caused chaos were dying. However, even after they stopped, the scythe of death came down harshly and firmly on their necks and claimed their lives without mercy.
A minute later, all the survivors who were trying to assault female students or female teachers, all those who were physically attacking others or committing some kind of act considered vandalism had been slaughtered. Among them, forty-two were male and six were female.
The now less than five hundred survivors looked apprehensively at the person standing amidst a pile of corpses whose expression was as nonchalant as if he had not killed nearly half a hundred people but as if he were ordering takeout at a restaurant before the apocalypse.
Bai Zemin looked at both of his hands and was a little startled to realize that he felt nothing; he felt no sympathy or fear or pity for the people who lost their lives under his hands.
This was the first time he had killed directly and it wasn't just one person... It was dozens at the same time.
The right thing to do would be to at least, at the very least, feel a touch of sorrow... Bai Zemin felt nothing but calm and even thought that what he did was the right thing to do. As to whether it was the right thing to do or not, everyone could have different opinions about it.
What did make Bai Zemin feel just, very slightly uncomfortable, was that even if he did not know these people before this and even had no idea that they were among the survivors, when he killed them he did not have the right to choose whether he wished to know them or not.
The reason? It was because every time Bai Zemin broke a survivor's neck, the following messages appeared in green letters flashing in his retina:
[You have acquired the Soul Power of Chen Luochen level 0].
[You have acquired the Soul Power of Mei Xiao level 0].
[You have acquired the Soul Power of...].
[You have acquired...].
Again and again, a small part of each person's Soul Power was absorbed by him and Bai Zemin was able to learn their names and some simple things like how old each one was. As for getting some kind of power from them... Considering they were just normal survivors, Bai Zemin naturally didn't expect something like that.
People often said that the eyes were the window to the soul and that a look said more than a thousand words, he confirmed it at this moment. Raising his head, Bai Zemin saw that everyone was looking at him with different expressions; some were looking at him with fear, others with gratitude, shock, disbelief, and many other emotions or thoughts that were difficult to decipher.
"Who was the first person to cause all this mess?"
Amidst so much silence and uneasiness, his voice was the only thing that could be heard inside the subway with the occasional roar of some distant creature.
Every time his gaze met that of a survivor many of them did not dare to look directly at him and unconsciously looked at the corpses on the ground as if they wanted to remember that this person with an indifferent expression had just killed them.
Bai Zemin also did not press the matter too much and nodded: "I see. Since none of you want to talk, then I guess you don't need to eat anymore."
His words seemed to have some effect as many people's faces changed slightly; this was especially so for the female students who had suffered almost a week locked up in the female dormitory.
"I don't think that among so many people present not even one of you can remember anything." Bai Zemin shook his head and waited patiently while looking towards no particular point.
The place was silent for a few seconds and Chen He looked like he wanted to step forward to say something but Shangguan Bing Xue stopped him. He also looked at Wu Yijun for help but she just shook her head. With no other option, he had no choice but to remain silent.
After almost a full minute of silence, a female student stepped forward, attracting everyone's attention.
"What is your name?" Bai Zemin looked at her and smiled slightly, a smile that was somehow calm but also contrasting sharply with the current situation.
Hesitantly, the female student spoke softly, "I... My name is Nie Yue."Nie Yue? I see." Bai Zemin nodded and asked once more, "Nie Yue, did you see something? You don't need to worry about any kind of consequences or much less. I assure you that if anyone dares to verbally assault you, give you unkind looks, or even try to touch a hair on your head after this, I will personally make sure that person or persons regret not letting themselves be eaten by zombies."
Some people's expressions changed for the worse while the expression on Nie Yue's face eased noticeably. After a deep breath, she turned away from the crowd of people and began to point at some survivors while saying in a serious voice:
"I remember when big brother Bai and big sister Shangguan went to help big brother Chen, these people started pushing and shouting. Some of them even beat up some people before mingling with the crowd!"
"It's a lie!"
"Big brother Bai, that girl is a liar! You can't believe her!"
"How could I beat up someone? Can't you see that I'm injured too?!"
...
Among the more than six survivors who were pointed out by Nie Yue, some of them immediately turned pale and started shouting words of injustice.
While it was true that Nie Yue might be lying, Bai Zemin's reasoning was simple; did she gain anything by lying? She had absolutely nothing to gain and on the contrary, she would be risking being marked by the other survivors, which would lead to Bai Zemin potentially killing her or expelling her from the group, which was basically the same as ending her life.
"Fu Xuefeng, Cai Jingyi, Zhong De, Kang Lan! Take them out and bring those ungrateful dogs here!" Bai Zemin's voice thundered and his calm expression finally disappeared, being replaced by fury.
Hearing the clearly angry tone of voice from him, the four named people did not dare to delay and using their superior stats and levels easily pulled the targeted people out of the group of survivors, dragging them out by force; even the weakest of the four of them, Kang Lan, was at least two to three times stronger than a normal person so any resistance or attempt to resist was futile.
As the survivors were pulled out of the crowd, Shangguan Bing Xue narrowed her eyes and took a step forward as she looked at an old acquaintance.
"Lian Xuan?" She stood a short distance away from Bai Zemin and looked at the past vice-president of the student association with coldness.
Lian Xuan was a level 3 evolved person, so among the survivors, he was basically invincible. However, when he tried to resist, Cai Jingyi easily reduced him thanks to her overwhelmingly superior Agility.
"I- I didn't do anything! I really didn't do anything! Bing Xue, haven't you known me for several years? D- Don't you know what kind of person I am?!"
At this moment Lian Xuan had lost his past polite and glorious demeanor. He looked at Shangguan Bing Xue and began to yell and beg with a pale face, clearly knowing that death was the only thing that awaited him.
Seeing such behavior, Lilith could not help but chuckle. This Lian Xuan had sacrificed a girl's life during the first day of the apocalypse to survive and had not even thought twice about it when he threw her before the blade of the Fast Mantis, yet now he looked like a fish jumping on a chopping board awaiting his inevitable fate.
Bai Zemin looked at Shangguan Bing Xue and announced indifferently, "Even if he is your friend he is not being spared from this."
Since all these people still did not understand the cruelty of this world and the danger of the monsters running rampant outside was not enough, then he was going to show them all that if they did not behave in obedient lambs then only death awaited them!
Since they wanted to be cowardly lambs, he was going to turn them all into cowardly but obedient lambs! Obedient to the point where his word was more valuable than God's decree!
You don't need to say it. I'll take care of him myself." Shangguan Bing Xue did not even look at Bai Zemin, but her words startled him noticeably.
"You will take care of him?" Bai Zemin frowned and looked at her with a hint of mockery as he said coldly, "What? Could it be that you have the courage and determination to end his life?"
The reason for his mocking tone stemmed from the fact that he did not believe she would dare to dictate the punishment he would sentence and carry out. From Bai Zemin's point of view, Shangguan Bing Xue was just a spoiled little princess who threw tantrums by acting cold and untouchable.
She turned her face and looked at him so coldly that her cold looks in the past seemed like child's play in comparison, "You don't know anything about me."
Bai Zemin couldn't help but his eyes widened slightly more than usual and under his incredulous gaze, she took a step forward. Her delicate white hand shimmered and the temperature began to plummet as a wave of frost formed around it before turning into a dagger of ice.
"Bing Xue?" Chen He opened his eyes wide and muttered in shock.
Wu Yujin's face also changed and her expression became complicated as she looked at her friend slowly moving forward. Still, she didn't seem to have any intention of stopping her.
Unlike most people, due to her status, Wu Yujin had also seen many cruel things in the past and knew that even the previous society was just a jungle with rules; but after all, a jungle was a jungle no matter how much it was decorated.
"Hey... This must be a joke, isn't it? Bing Xue!"
Lian Xuan bellowed and tried to back away in fright. However, under Bai Zemin's intense gaze, Zhong De kept him on his knees even if he was also scared of what was about to happen.
During the past few days, Lian Xuan's mental condition was becoming more and more unstable to the point that several times wild and crazy ideas appeared in his mind but he forcibly restrained them. However, when the slightest opportunity presented itself, he did not even hesitate for a second and took it gladly.
Too bad, that was one of his biggest mistakes.
Shangguan Bing Xue stopped a step away and shook her head as she said coldly, "We risk our lives, we scavenge for food, we rack our brains trying to think of the best way to keep you all safe... But what do we get in return? Nothing. Everything would be easier if we left you behind because honestly all of you are a heavy burden... However, instead of doing that, we support and feed you while keeping you safe."
Her words were not just for Lian Xuan to hear; they were for everyone present.
The survivors who had done nothing wrong nodded and looked at the people who had been dragged out with anger-filled gazes. Many of them even couldn't help but raise their voices as they cursed them and complained. However, when Shangguan Bing Xue's voice sounded again, the rest of the voices were immediately silenced.
"We ask for nothing in return except that everyone behaves themselves... That you don't add more weight on our shoulders and that you don't make things more complicated than they already are." She looked at Lian Xuan and her eyes flashed with a chill as she said, "Approximately twenty people died because of your selfish acts and you still want to live...? Go to hell, you scum."
Under the terrified look of Lian Xuan, the shocked look of many survivors, and the disbelieving look of Chen He, Shangguan Bing Xue raised her slender arm and swiftly struck downward.
The ice dagger was extremely sharp and easily penetrated the center of Lian Xuan's skull, ending his life just like that. What was most remarkable was that even as his corpse slumped to the side, not even a drop of blood came out of the wound as the ice dagger had become a natural insulating layer, sealing everything tightly inside.
The place fell into a stony silence and even Bai Zemin himself could not help but stare at Shangguan Bing Xue. After several seconds, he admittedI guess you're right and I don't know anything about you."
Daring to kill a person took some courage, but it was possible for anyone who set out to do so and even more so in this world where death was practically easier to obtain than a piece of bread... But the hard part was to keep calm after doing it.
Shangguan Bing Xue's expression was cold and indifferent as always and her hand did not even quiver as she performed the act nor did she flinch at the end. Although she had just taken the life of a human being, it was as if it was nothing otherworldly to her.
Obviously, she was also someone who had her own past and her own story to tell.
Seeing that she said nothing, Bai Zemin simply shook his head before looking at Fu Xuefeng. He asked in a deep voice, "You dare to kill a person?"
Fu Xuefeng's face changed greatly and a frightened expression shone in his eyes. He was brave, brave enough to fight and kill enemies of other races... But killing humans whose sins were not worthy of death was hard for him to do.
Bai Zemin also seemed to realize his answer without having to hear it from his mouth. He nodded and silently took out a strange looking knife from his backpack as he said, "This dagger is a rare grade treasure, on the same level as my sword but slightly inferior. If you kill him this dagger is yours then."
[Agarth Dagger (Rare Grade Treasure): A dagger focused to finish off the enemy at lightning speed. Can cut metal with ease. When equipped, it automatically increases Agility by +12 and Strength by +5].
The dagger was the item that came out of the Orange Orb he obtained when defeating the First Order Shadow Tiger. Bai Zemin already had his Xuanyuan Sword and felt more comfortable wielding it compared to the Agarth Dagger; therefore, instead of keeping it, he decided to give it to one of his direct subordinates, which in a way meant increasing his own power.
Fu Xuefeng's gaze lingered on the dagger. He knew that what Bai Zemin was doing was tempting him and it was indeed working. However, he took too long to decide and his chance was snatched away by someone else with greater determination.
"I'll do it."
A female voice rang out.
"I dare to kill people."
Bai Zemin looked at the pretty Cai Jingyi, who had a slightly pale face but whose eyes glittered with determination, and nodded with a smile as he casually pointed at a survivor, "Here. Take this dagger and kill him, it will be yours from then on."
Cai Jingyi took a deep breath and nodded, walking towards him and taking the dagger in her hands. The resolve in her eyes burned even more fervently as she saw the weapon's stats; she was determined to seize every opportunity to become stronger no matter how vicious it was.
That was precisely why she was willing to take the risk of fighting and took Bai Zemin's hand at that time. Besides, Cai Jingyi was a smart girl and knew that facing other human beings would only be a matter of time considering that within this group alone there were already so many problems.
Her thinking was simple: Since sooner or later I will have to kill if I want to survive in this world and still retain some dignity, then better sooner than later.
If it was about courage, perhaps Cai Jingyi was slightly inferior in comparison to Fu Xuefeng... But if it was about determination to accomplish goals, she definitely surpassed him by far!
Seeing the dagger in Cai Jingyi's hands, Fu Xuefeng could not help but regret and quickly exclaimed: "W-Wait! I will do it!"
Too bad, his chance had already passed.
"Too late." Bai Zemin coldly refused and remarked, "If you want to become stronger, you will have to take the chances I give you when I give them to you. Otherwise you'll have to manage on your own to get power."