C123 They Took a Break During Lunchtime and They Killed the Zombies Alone!(1)

"Bing, we can't fit anything more in the car! Plus, all that cement is really heavy; it seems like it's going to slow us down. Should we head back home first?" Zhao Dagang patted his stomach. "I'm starving!"

Indeed, they had all been working hard since the morning, and now it was noon—prime time for lunch.

Tang Bing felt a bit peckish too, but Qin Mengli and Sun Meng didn't look like they were in the mood to eat. Clearly, the day's events had taken a toll on their appetites.

"Bing, do we head home to eat, or grab a bite before we go?" Zhao Dagang inquired. "Maybe we could swing by the supermarket for some tasty snacks?"

"No need," Tang Bing replied, removing his scrap iron glove and pulling out a few loaves of bread from his virtual backpack. "We'll eat right here! Besides, there's no rush to leave."

"Why's that?" Zhao Dagang looked puzzled, and both Qin Mengli and Sun Meng turned to Tang Bing, waiting for an explanation.

"Here's the thing," Tang Bing said, glancing at the expansive factory outside, "I plan to visit this cement factory regularly from now on, to haul cement for building houses. There's enough stockpiled here to last us quite a while! And with half the day still ahead, we can't just squander it, can we? We've got to make the most of our trip and maximize our gains."

"So, what's the plan?" Zhao Dagang asked, his curiosity piqued.

"This afternoon, I'm going to root out and eliminate every zombie in this cement factory," Tang Bing declared, addressing the trio. "After that, we'll block all the entry and exit points to secure the property. We need to keep other zombies from getting in."

"Ah?!" Zhao Dagang, Qin Mengli, and Sun Meng all gaped at Tang Bing, stunned by his bold strategy.

"Bing, do you have any idea how many zombies are in the other workshops and floors?" Zhao Dagang asked cautiously.

"I reckon this town's cement factory had a workforce of around five or six hundred," Tang Bing estimated. "Considering some would have been off duty when the apocalypse hit, we're probably looking at three to four hundred zombies. Based on the number we encountered in that workshop earlier, and the ones we've seen coming from other areas, I'd say our estimate is pretty accurate. We've already taken out around sixty, so there can't be more than three hundred or so left to deal with."

"Bing, are you kidding me?" Zhao Dagang's face soured, "There's only four of us, and Miss Qin and Ms. Meng can't pitch in. So it's just you and me against three hundred zombies, with each of us needing to take down a hundred or more? Even if I'm game, I can't handle that! We're human, not machines, and even machines need a break!"

It wasn't just Zhao Dagang; Qin Mengli and Sun Meng shared the same skeptical look, convinced Tang Bing was spouting nonsense.

Seeing their disbelief, Tang Bing divided up the bread, speaking in a hushed tone, "If I've said it, then I have a plan! I can handle it alone. You three just need to stay put in the car, lock the doors, and don't get eaten by zombies!"

"Bing, that's just too far-fetched!" Sun Meng edged closer to him, anxiety in her voice, "Let's not, okay?"

"Exactly!" Qin Mengli echoed, her concern for Tang Bing palpable, "Tang Bing, I may not know what makes you different from the rest of us, but your safety is crucial to our group's survival! We need to weigh our decisions carefully!"

"Bing, I'm with Ms. Meng and Miss Qin on this," Zhao Dagang chimed in, in agreement.

"What's this? A mutiny against me?" Tang Bing chuckled.

"Not at all!" Sun Meng quickly shook her head, "We're just worried about you!"

"Remember, everyone agreed my orders are final," Tang Bing reminded them, "Is that no longer the case?"

"We all respect your command, but that doesn't mean we can let you risk your life!" Qin Mengli expressed her concern.

Sun Meng, despite her cold war with Qin Mengli, found herself in agreement and gave a small nod.

"Listen, all you need to do is trust me," Tang Bing insisted, taking a bite of his bread, "Stay safely in the car. I'll take care of the zombies quickly and make this place our cement warehouse."

Left with little choice, Zhao Dagang bowed his head and bit into his bread with gusto. Qin Mengli and Sun Meng, lacking appetite, reluctantly began to nibble on their bread at Tang Bing's insistence, tearing off small pieces and slowly eating.

After finishing lunch, Tang Bing explained to the three passengers how to operate the bus doors. "Stay hidden inside and keep quiet! I'll do my best to draw all the zombies away, but some might slip through the cracks. I'm not worried about you, Dagang, but Qin Mengli and Sun Meng, you two aren't in great shape. I can't rest easy without being here to watch over you! Just stay put and wait for my return, got it?"

"Bing, let me come with you," Zhao Dagang offered eagerly.

"And leave the girls here alone?" Tang Bing raised an eyebrow. "If anything goes wrong, having you here would give me some peace of mind."

"Oh!" Zhao Dagang, though clearly reluctant, nodded in agreement.

"How about you two?" Tang Bing looked at the women. "Any objections?"

Qin Mengli shook her head gently. "We'll follow your lead. Just make sure you come back to us safely."

"Okay," Tang Bing replied, feeling a touch of warmth in his heart as he glanced at Sun Meng.

"I'll be waiting for your return," Sun Meng said earnestly.

Satisfied that everyone was on board, Tang Bing felt a bit more at ease. He stepped off the bus and gestured to close the door. He then hurried to the guardhouse to shut the electric gate and locked the small iron gate beside it, securing the area against any stray or wandering zombies.

Next, Tang Bing dashed to an open area of the factory grounds. Once he found the right spot, he pulled out a barbed fence from his virtual backpack and began to place it neatly in a row.

"What's Bing up to?" the trio peered curiously from their hiding spot in the bus, watching Tang Bing's distant figure. Zhao Dagang's face was a picture of bewilderment.

"Ah, I remember now," Sun Meng said quietly, "Back in the city center, there were lots of these around the factory! Zombies would get impaled if they stepped on them. They're deadly effective!"

"That's right, now I get it!" Zhao Dagang had an epiphany. "Bing's planning to use this as a trap for the zombies, not just brute force."

"Exactly!" Sun Meng gave him a sidelong glance. "Did you really think Bing was as averse to thinking things through as you are?"

"Ms. Meng, there's no need to be so harsh, is there?" Zhao Dagang frowned at her with a mix of irritation and bemusement.

"I'm only speaking the truth!" Sun Meng replied with a slight smile.

The trio watched in silence as Tang Bing transformed the barren ground into a field of sharp, barbed fences. The sight was nothing short of surreal!

"But how does Bing always seem to pull out so many things as if by magic?" Zhao Dagang wondered aloud, his face a picture of confusion. "All those seeds before... where did they all go? What kind of superpower is that?"

"And have you guys noticed how incredibly fast Bing is?" Sun Meng added in a hushed tone, "His speed could probably win him a gold medal in a world-class track event!"

"The doors and windows, they just seem to install themselves with a wave of his hand! Plus, he appears to have this ability to sense zombies within a certain range, allowing us to avoid danger before it's too late." Qin Mengli chimed in quietly, "He seems to have so many abilities..."

"How do you think Bing awakened his superpowers?" Zhao Dagang asked curiously. "Do you think he found something inside a zombie's head, ate it, and that's how he got them?"

"Ugh!" At the thought, Qin Mengli and Sun Meng couldn't suppress their imaginations, and the graphic image prompted them to turn away and retch in unison.

"Zhao, could you please refrain from making such revolting comments?" Sun Meng said, her voice tinged with annoyance as she finally composed herself.

"Seriously, isn't it gross?" Qin Mengli seconded with a glare.

The two women exchanged looks, each surprised to find agreement with the other, and then simultaneously huffed and turned their backs in a silent standoff.

"I was just curious, that's all!" Zhao Dagang mumbled sheepishly, scratching his head before pondering further, "I've never actually seen Brother Bing do anything like that. But he always searches the zombies after he kills them. Maybe the key to his powers is something on the corpses?"

"He's not likely to tell us either way," Qin Mengli said with a shake of her head, "Best not to dwell on it too much."