After much contemplation, Zhou Ke'er ultimately acquiesced. Her moral compass would not allow her to be base, yet she found her neighbors' envy-driven decision to rob Zhang Ye repugnant. Consequently, she chose to aid Zhang Ye. "Very well, I must first receive valuable intelligence from you before providing what you seek. Your subsequent performance will determine the outcome," Zhang Ye declared. "Understood," Zhou Ke'er responded. She was a kind-hearted woman, not foolish, and would not naively demand unconditional assistance from Zhang Ye.
The conversation between them concluded at this juncture. Zhang Ye glanced at the massive group chat with 99+ messages, inundated with mentions attempting to morally coerce and intimidate him. "Zhang Ye, where are you? Provide us with an answer! Will you or will you not hand over the supplies?" Some were growing impatient. Zhang Ye's lips curled into a cold smile, realizing they were gearing up for an assault on his home. "Go to hell!" he retorted, sparking a torrent of vulgar insults in the group chat. Zhang Ye paid no heed; if they dared, they could come over. Having experienced taking a life firsthand, he felt no guilt and was willing to do it again.
"Alright, Zhang Ye, you brought this upon yourself!"
"Don't claim we didn't give you a chance. You selfish and despicable scoundrel!"
"From now on, you bear the consequences of everything that happens!"
The tirade gradually subsided. It was apparent they had likely followed the strategy employed against Chen Zhenghao, forming a separate group to discuss how to attack Zhang Ye's home. Zhang Ye took a deep breath, a mixture of nervousness and excitement flickering in his eyes. Although his home was an impregnable steel fortress, facing an onslaught from over a hundred people was undeniably nerve-wracking. Yet, the exhilaration kindled the fiery spirit within Zhang Ye. Eager to teach those bastards who had once betrayed him a lesson, he swiftly summoned his weapons.
Five high-grade steel crossbows, three professional-grade advanced compound bows, over two hundred and ninety crossbow bolts, three hundred bows and arrows. Additionally, two large iron boxes containing machetes, a 1.2-meter long pry bar, a baseball bat, and a hunting knife. All weapons were neatly arranged on the table, ready for lethal use. Besides physical armaments, Zhang Ye had wolf repellent spray, stun guns, gasoline, numerous chemical reagents, and dozens of Molotov cocktails made from bottles, cloth strips, and gasoline. Zhang Ye's eyes gleamed with a chilling determination. "Let as many come as they dare!"
As expected, the neighbors, realizing Zhang Ye wouldn't surrender his supplies, grew infuriated. Sun Zhichao created a new group chat, adding all surviving homeowners except Zhang Ye. Even Chen Zhenghao was included. Seeing Chen Zhenghao sent shivers down their spines. However, Chen Zhenghao assured them, "Everyone, our top priority now is dealing with Zhang Ye. The supplies in his house likely surpass the total of all our possessions! Once we bring him down, we can claim a massive bounty. So, don't worry, I won't act against anyone else for now. But in return for my cooperation, I want half of what we gain from this operation!"
Having suffered at Zhang Ye's hands before, Chen Zhenghao knew of Zhang Ye's well-defended home and hand crossbows. Not daring to attack alone, he planned to lead the cannon fodder in the building together. Believing that over a hundred people could overpower Zhang Ye, he insisted on claiming half of the spoils. Surprisingly, no one found this unfair; instead, they regarded Chen Zhenghao as a benevolent figure. "He has a gun, yet he's willing to share half with us. What a good person!" Sun Zhichao declared, "Yes, for now, let's put aside our past grievances. Our primary goal is to raid Zhang Ye's home and reclaim the communal supplies!"
These two took the lead in rallying the group. Observing Zhang Ye's lavish lifestyle, envy turned their eyes red, fueling their desire to eliminate Zhang Ye and enjoy his current life. "With knives in hand, follow me! Kill Zhang Ye and seize the supplies!"
"Beat that shameless, selfish ghost to death!"
The group roared with ferocity. Only a few refrained from speaking, like Uncle You and Zhou Ke'er. Even those who had previously maintained good relations with Zhang Ye and benefited from his generosity disregarded their past interactions. Survival outweighed all ethical considerations for them.
Zhang Ye, at home, wiped his gun. It was a familiar tool from his frequent visits to the shooting club. Moreover, a month before the apocalypse, he had intensified his training. He felt no pressure shooting at close range. At this moment, Zhou Ke'er sent a message, "They plan to go to your home." Zhang Ye, upon reading it, responded with a simple "Oh, understood." Zhou Ke'er, sitting on her sofa, frowned upon seeing Zhang Ye's calm reply. She tightened the two layers of blankets around her and tucked her snow-white feet inside. "Every household must have gone over there. They've seen your video and gone insane. Don't you want to find a solution?" Zhou Ke'er thought that, at such times, the most rational approach was to surrender some supplies, appeasing their anger. Otherwise, even a formidable individual like Zhang Ye could not withstand an onslaught from so many people. Over a hundred people could easily tear down a house! Zhang Ye smiled, offering no elaborate explanations. He only said, "Remember, don't come over this time. I'll remind you once." "Then, just wait and watch the show!" Zhou Ke'er furrowed her brow, brimming with curiosity. She couldn't comprehend where Zhang Ye's confidence came from, believing that facing over a hundred people alone was not a matter to be taken lightly. Was he a madman? she wondered. However, it was Zhang Ye's choice, and she had no way to intervene. Nevertheless, she did heed Zhang Ye's words and refrained from joining the group attacking Zhang Ye's home. She possessed moral principles and would not feast on the blood-stained bread, whether it was Zhang Ye's or that of the other neighbors.