"You all stormed in here with such ferocity and aggression, intent on stealing my food, didn't you?"
"Now you put on this insincere act. Do you really think I'll take pity on you?"
The crowd remained indecisive, with a few individuals even flashing menacing looks and signaling to each other.
Chen Wei shook his head inwardly. True to his expectations, there was no place for kindness in the apocalypse.
Clearly, they were prepared to do whatever it took to survive.
Sadly, Chen Wei's patience had been completely eroded.
He would not tolerate anyone threatening the sanctuary he had in the apocalypse. Any such threat would be met with death.
It might seem selfish, but Chen Wei wasn't yet strong enough to fend off the covetous or the powerful.
After striking several times, bodies lay strewn across the ground, leaving Chen Wei in a somber solitude.
Only Li Depiao remained.
"Brother Wei!"
"I was desperate, truly. I've run out of food; it's all been taken."
Li Depiao pleaded, to which Chen Wei responded with a smile,
"Don't worry, I understand."
Li Depiao's face lit up with relief, but in the next instant, his look of wild joy was forever etched onto his face.
His eyes captured the reflection of Chen Wei's chilling smile.
"Regrettably, this is my haven, my home. I won't let anyone—even the hint of a threat—compromise it."
"You have to die."
Chen Wei's voice was like that from the depths of hell, unleashing the fury he had long harbored against Li Depiao.
Chen Wei reflected on their past; he owed Li Depiao nothing. Not only was there no gratitude, but he had also brought trouble right to his doorstep.
This time it was villagers, but what if next time it was someone Chen Wei couldn't handle?
He knew he was no match for the might of the state.
Discovery would mean being dissected for research at best.
Thus, Li Depiao's fate was sealed.
With Li Depiao's last breath, Chen Wei finally exhaled in relief.
In this world, only the dead can keep secrets forever.
Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by the roar of a wild beast emanating from the forest to the left.
The ground trembled in response.
Behind them, trees in the forest snapped as a wild boar, the size of two oxen, burst forth.
This massive creature was covered in pitch-black bristles, sharp as steel needles.
A mutated wild boar!
Its curved tusks, as thick as a grown man's arm, were bared in a bloodthirsty roar directed at Chen Wei.
Its hooves furiously pawed at the earth, and its crimson eyes gleamed with a hunger for blood.
"Damn it!"
Chen Wei swore as he locked eyes with the beast. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the gate, swift as the wind.
The mutated boar bellowed in response, its four stout legs propelling it in hot pursuit of Chen Wei.
The ground quaked violently as the beast charged, its massive frame easily weighing over two thousand kilograms.
Chen Wei knew better than to confront it directly.
This was his first encounter with a mutated beast of such size, and frankly, he was terrified, lacking any real confidence.
Escape was his only option.
In a flash, Chen Wei darted into the safety of the iron gate.
No sooner had he crossed the threshold than the gate slammed shut with a resounding boom.
Panting heavily, Chen Wei's eyes were wide with alarm as he stared at the formidable gate.
"System, can this iron barrier hold?"
Doubt gnawed at him; the strength of the mutated wild boar was unknown. Upon reaching safety, he immediately sought reassurance.
The system responded, "Host, rest assured. The farm's reinforcement materials are forged from rare metals, capable of withstanding a level 1 mutated fierce beast."
"Was that beast a level 1 mutated fierce beast?" Chen Wei inquired.
"Yes," confirmed the system.
Relieved, Chen Wei exhaled, "That's a relief."
But his relief was short-lived. The very next moment, the gate shuddered violently under the impact of the mutated wild boar's assault.
____
Your support means a lot. If you can, consider supporting here:
https://ko-fi.com/utdn