C23 Peach Plucked

At 12:50 p.m., Lin Chen, with his backpack fully replenished, led his team to a spot near the left entrance of Building 48. His teammates urged him to set down the heavy pack for a while, but Lin Chen just offered a knowing smile without a word. The backpack was his ace in the hole, his cheat code—filled with items he'd need to feign pulling out at a moment's notice. Who could predict when he'd need something from its depths? Plus, the seventy to eighty kilograms it weighed served as a decent workout.

Spurred on by the example of the rapidly advancing combat team, twenty logistics members requested to switch to combat roles and were granted training support. Lin Chen approved their transition without hesitation.

Now, with over two hundred zombies looming before the left entrance of Building 48, the team members showed no fear, itching to get into the fray. They commenced the training of the new combat recruits, following the established regimen.

Just twenty minutes later, the training wrapped up—likely the quickest warrior training course the world had ever seen.

The residents of Building 48 were ecstatic at the sight of the rescue team. When they realized that Lin Chen, the man they had cursed that morning, was leading the charge, reactions were mixed. Some feigned indifference, while others felt a pang of guilt, realizing he had been organizing this rescue effort all along, and they had misjudged him.

But none of that mattered to Lin Chen.

In a mere five to six minutes, the one hundred and fifty combat team members dispatched the horde of zombies, averaging less than two kills per person. The survivors in Building 48 were astounded by the feat.

Yet, who would guess that these formidable fighters had been trembling in their dorms just that morning?

On the seventh floor of Building 48, a group of onlookers stood by a window, having witnessed the entire spectacle of Lin Chen's team mowing down zombies with ease. The group was led by Bai Zhengfeng, a young nobleman of average height, dressed in fine attire and exuding arrogance. Flanking him were his four attendants—part bodyguards, part lackeys, part study companions. There had been five, but one had met his end at the hands of the undead.

Bai Zhengfeng, the nephew of Janville's Deputy Mayor Bai Xiangdong, was a finance student in the Engineering Department.

This dormitory had been assigned to him and his five study assistants.

Typically, he spent his time at an off-campus villa, entertaining various women.

Just yesterday, his latest conquest, Qiao Yilan, had come back to school to move her belongings to his villa. He took this as a chance to spend the night in the dorm, bonding with his study assistants amidst the chaos.

When the apocalypse hit, he found himself trapped.

But he wasn't overly concerned. His four study assistants were robust young men with a decent set of skills. They had knives and clubs stashed away in the dormitory, and even a handgun—enough to ensure his safety.

He was also confident that the massive government infrastructure wouldn't just collapse. Once things settled down, his uncle, Bai Xiangdong, would surely send someone to rescue him. After all, he was the only male heir in his uncle's branch of the Bai family. Bai Xiangdong wouldn't abandon him unless absolutely necessary.

Bai Zhengfeng's brow furrowed as he recognized Lin Chen.

He had never paid much attention to Lin Chen. If Lin Chen had a woman he wanted, he'd simply use money to win her over. If Lin Chen ever challenged him, he'd beat him mercilessly and then dismiss him from his thoughts.

A lowly commoner wasn't worth remembering for someone like him.

But now, the tables had turned.

Bai Zhengfeng wasn't concerned about immediate retaliation from Lin Chen. Judging by Lin Chen's actions, he was an ambitious and intelligent man, unlikely to openly confront the government while the situation remained uncertain.

Still, it irked Master Bai. Why hadn't he thought to organize the students for a self-rescue?

If he had been the one to establish Lin Chen's team and save more people, imagine the credit he'd receive when the government rescue arrived!

His eyes blazed as he watched Lin Chen's combat team, calculating his next move.

In Building 48, over 300 survivors had gathered.

Twenty minutes later, on the rooftop terrace, these 300 individuals stood loosely before Lin Chen. Behind him, 150 combat team members stood in sharp, disciplined contrast.

Lin Chen succinctly laid out the situation before offering the survivors a choice: wait there for rescue or risk following him to the Fourteenth Cafeteria.

This time around, it seemed the survivors recognized the formidable combat strength of Lin Chen's team as strong and reliable, prompting the majority to opt for relocation.

Consequently, Lin Chen began to call forth the willing warriors.

From the sidelines, Bai Zhengfeng and his four cronies observed Lin Chen's maneuvers with a detached air. When the moment arrived, he signaled to his henchman, Zhong Wenbing, with a glance.

Zhong Wenbing stepped forward and challenged loudly, "Lin Chen, what exactly are you up to? Are you exploiting this chaos to rally a team? Have you considered the implications of your actions? What about the future of these students?"

What was a straightforward self-rescue effort had been twisted by Zhong Wenbing's rhetoric, casting Lin Chen in a light of suspicion for inciting rebellion.

Lin Chen had long been aware of Bai Zhengfeng and his entourage but deemed them unworthy of his attention, choosing to ignore them for the time being.

The image of Qiao Yilan had become nearly unrecallable. Why would he be upset over her?

After a decade in the post-apocalyptic world, he'd shared beds with countless women and had grown desensitized to such matters. Only when a woman who truly mattered to him was in trouble would he exact a fierce retribution. Other women barely made a ripple in his heart; they weren't worth stirring up a storm over.

Even if he were to confront Bai Zhengfeng in the future, Qiao Yilan would not be the primary factor.

Besides, with the apocalypse just beginning, it wasn't the time to display his ferocity towards the living. His companions needed time to adjust.

In this life, as all was replaying, Lin Chen focused all his energy on fortifying himself and safeguarding his loved ones and friends. Matters conflicting with this purpose could wait.

He was well aware that the likes of Bai Zhengfeng and other young nobles would inevitably seek to assert their presence, and he was ready for it.

Sure enough, Zhong Wenbing, the sycophant, had made his move. His deceptive words left the newly rescued survivors indecisive, and unease began to spread among Lin Chen's combat team.

Internally commending Zhong Wenbing's cunning tongue, Lin Chen responded coolly, "Zhong Wenbing, by your logic, I should abandon everyone and flee to safety alone, shouldn't I?"

Expressions shifted again among the crowd. Indeed, was Lin Chen to be blamed for saving lives?

Zhong Wenjie had been smug, thinking his verbal tactics had thrown Lin Chen off balance. But he was suddenly left speechless by Lin Chen's blunt retort.

Lin Chen hadn't fallen for the verbal trap at all. He didn't bother debating the nature of the issue; instead, he posed a direct question: should saving lives be questioned?

Another henchman, Dai Cheng, quickly stepped in to deflect. "Lin Chen, Wenjie didn't mean it like that."

"Then what did he mean?"

"What he's trying to say is... he's saying that you can't expect everyone to follow your lead. That's just not acceptable, absolutely not. Ask anyone here, how many would actually agree with you?"

Nearly everyone present was a so-called chosen one, brimming with self-confidence and a deep reverence for free will.

"Exactly, exactly. How can one person make decisions about something so crucial? It concerns everyone's safety; we need to make these decisions together."

"Two heads are better than one, after all."

...

The survivors began to discuss animatedly, and even the combat team members behind Lin Chen joined in the chatter.

There were those who understood that only clear orders could effectively manage a crisis. Yet, such individuals were in the minority, their voices barely audible amidst the din.

Lin Chen's lips curled into a slight smile. "Dai Cheng, what's your suggestion then?"

"I think... I think we should form a Student Self-Rescue Committee from the Engineering Department. We can elect a few executive members to guide us through this crisis."

The recently rescued survivors all nodded in agreement, and over half of the combat team members did the same.

The twenty-plus members of Lin Chen's original team remained silent. They had witnessed Lin Chen's composure, intelligence, and strength from the start and felt secure only under his leadership. They were skeptical of the disorganized crowd.

Dai Cheng was visibly pleased with himself.

Watching Lin Chen's cold, amused silence, Dai Cheng seized the moment: "Let's not waste time then. We should quickly elect our executive members and establish the committee to lead our Self-Saving Committee."

Members of the combat team glanced at Lin Chen, torn between their desire to join and fear of crossing him. Lin Chen's influence had already become a powerful deterrent.

Lin Chen turned and addressed the group, "If you want to join in, go ahead. I won't hold it against you."

A majority of the combat team members moved on.

All three of the Acquired Evolvers joined them, but Xiong Ping, an Innate Evolver, remained. Standing at about 175 centimeters, Xiong Ping was a young man of delicate features and had awakened to earth-type extrasensory abilities.

Lin Chen was familiar with Xiong Ping thanks to memories from his past life. Known for his cold demeanor yet possessing a strong moral compass, Xiong Ping had weathered many storms to eventually lead a formidable mercenary group.

Back when Lin Chen had finished his own journey, Xiong Ping was still a prominent figure at the Gold Capital Base.

Xiong Ping's decision to stay lifted Lin Chen's spirits considerably.

Kong Yifan approached Lin Chen hesitantly, "Boss, could I... is it alright if I try my luck over there?"

A flicker of complex emotion passed through Lin Chen's eyes as he responded calmly, "Yifan, a soldier who doesn't aspire to be a general isn't a true soldier. Any of you who wish to seize the opportunity, feel free to do so."

The underlying implications of 'trying one's luck' were clear to all.

Ultimately, Kong Yifan, along with Tian Dagang and Du Hai, chose to leave.

Unexpectedly, the entire seven-member team chose to stay.

Yu Yang watched Du Hai's retreating figure with contempt. He resented the ungrateful man, thinking of the valuable gift the boss had given him in secret, wasted as if fed to a dog.

His gaze softened when he looked at Xu Peng, and Yu Yang mused, 'The boss has a keen eye for people. Third Brother is solid.'

Lin Chen's feelings were mixed: Old Second, Old Fourth, it's better for you to leave my world sooner rather than later, to spare me the daily heartache. And Du Hai, you better watch yourself. I hope none of you cross paths with me again.

Bai Zhengfeng gazed at Lin Chen with smug satisfaction, "Kid, you think you can compete with me? I've effortlessly harvested the peaches from the tree you toiled over."

Little did he know, Lin Chen considered the peaches Bai had taken to be nothing more than worm-infested or spoiled. The ones that remained were the prized peaches Lin Chen truly valued.

He had inadvertently assisted Lin Chen by pre-screening the candidates, effectively lightening Lin Chen's workload.