C17 The Survival Law

She never imagined her rescuer would be the man she'd only met twice before.

"We need to get out of here!" Qin Feng was unfazed by Zhong Yanan's astonishment. With the Dragon Bone in hand, he fended off the charging Devil Eye Ratmen and began to retreat, pulling Zhong Yanan along with him.

The Dragon Bone danced through the air with each of his forceful movements.

Despite having Zhong Yanan in tow, Qin Feng remained composed. In under two seconds, he had slain the second beast.

"Follow me!" he commanded, kicking aside the fallen creature's body and charging ahead.

"Okay!" Zhong Yanan agreed, her voice tinged with bewilderment. She was of no help to him and clueless about where to flee. Her only option was to trail behind Qin Feng, clutching her head and screaming.

Her mind was a void, convincing her that her surroundings were mere illusions.

But the reality of splattered blood and the anguished cries around her shattered that belief, confirming the horror was all too real.

They managed to reach an area with fewer monsters. Zhong Yanan's nerves settled slightly, yet confusion lingered. With a shaky voice, she inquired, "Why did you save me?"

Qin Feng offered a wry smile. "Would you prefer to cozy up to those monsters instead?"

"No, that's not what I mean!" Zhong Yanan blurted out, her face ashen. "I'm just wondering... why did you deliberately get close to me?"

"Don't ask questions. I have my reasons for saving you," he replied, avoiding further explanation.

They continued their frenetic escape, soon catching up to Wang Gang. Qin Feng pushed Zhong Yanan towards him, instructing, "Take her and fall back. We need to find a place to hide."

But as he spoke, a piercing scream cut through the air.

Zhong Yanan's heart raced with the realization that the scream belonged to her stepmother, Aunt Wang.

She whipped her head towards the source and saw Aunt Wang, who had just abandoned her, now encircled by monsters. A Devil Eye Ratmen was savagely biting into her arm, dragging her into the dense fog.

"Qin Feng, help me one more time. Save my stepmother, please!" Despite the recent betrayal, Zhong Yanan's plea was instinctive.

"Why won't you go and save her?" Qin Feng declined her plea.

Zhong Yanan was at a loss for words. Staring at Qin Feng with incredulity, she demanded, "How can you be so heartless? You clearly have the power to save her!"

"Heartless, you say?" Qin Feng chuckled, shaking his head before leading her away.

Zhong Yanan's cries fell on deaf ears; Qin Feng was unmoved.

Following his rebirth, Qin Feng's actions were driven by a clear sense of purpose.

He assisted Wang Gang because, in his past life, Wang Gang had been not only a close friend but also a formidable ally in battle.

He rescued Zhong Yanan because she held significant strategic value. Additionally, they had previously collaborated at the Dragon Shield Bureau, and Qin Feng was aware of her potential future contributions.

Regarding others, Qin Feng neither desired to save them nor possessed the means to do so. At present, his sole objective was to ensure his own survival.

"Please, you have the power to rescue them. You're strong enough to save many more. Why won't you lend a hand?" Zhong Yanan pleaded, her resolve unshaken.

Her stepmother Aunt Wang's agonizing screams had already reduced her to tears.

"Saving them would be futile. People like them would perish in the apocalypse regardless. My intervention would be meaningless," Qin Feng stated flatly, exchanging a significant glance with Wang Gang.

Wang Gang caught on to his intent. Despite his reluctance, he stifled Zhong Yanan's screams with his hand.

Minutes later, they ushered the still-resisting Zhong Yanan into a secluded room.

With the door shut, the chaos of the outside world was silenced. Qin Feng surveyed the second hideout's surroundings.

The room was small, with a single window, apparently designated for equipment storage, filled with various metal tools and exercise gear.

Qin Feng moved decisively to the room's corner, tossing a steel rod to Wang Gang. He then proceeded to break the room's fire safety equipment and retrieved a red fire axe, offering it to Zhong Yanan. "Hold on to this. We might have monsters on our tail soon. If they catch up, use this as your weapon."

"You expect me to fight that monster with an axe?" Zhong Yanan, grieving over Aunt Wang's tragic death, let out a piercing scream.

For a pampered young lady from a wealthy family, the very thought was terrifying.

"If you don't risk your life in battle, you'll die. The choice is yours!"

Qin Feng dropped the fire axe at her feet with an icy tone, "I know what's going through your mind. You think because you're a woman—with less strength and courage—that fighting monsters is a man's job."

"But let me make this clear: you need to abandon that ludicrous notion right now."

The Abnormal Spot has emerged, and with it, the monsters. Human civilization is on the brink of collapse.

In times of peace, a beautiful woman with a perfect figure could wield boundless privilege. A mere word from them would have men lining up to serve.

But now, the rules have changed.

The onset of the apocalypse threatens to unravel human civilization and order. In this new world, there's no distinction between men and women.

As potential monster fodder, humans don't have the luxury of choice. Survival demands that we exploit our potential and value to the fullest. If Zhong Yanan clings to her old ways of thinking, her fate will be dire.

These are the harsh truths Qin Feng has come to realize in this apocalyptic world.

Cruel as it may be, it's reality.

Yet, in this moment, Zhong Yanan clearly can't grasp the severity of the situation. Clutching her head in despair, she wails, "Why are you forcing me into this? I simply can't do it!"

Qin Feng doesn't respond to her plea. Instead, he presses on, "You need to get a grip. Emotional turmoil will only impair your ability to act and make sound decisions in the face of danger. A wise person must master their emotions."

"Besides, a woman's cries are more piercing than a man's. You're making too much noise, which will only lead the monsters straight to us. Our current location is far from safe. If you keep up this crying, your death is certain."

"Don't I even have the right to cry?" Zhong Yanan shakes, struggling to suppress her tears.

"It's cruel, isn't it?"

Qin Feng let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Such is the tragedy of the common folk. In the end times, most don't even possess the privilege to weep. If you wish to survive and escape this grim destiny, your first lesson is to obey."

He then shifted his gaze to Wang Gang, who stood loyally behind him. "The same goes for you, Gang. We've been brothers for over two decades. Regardless of the situation, I won't leave you behind. I'll do everything in my power to steer you down the right path."

"But remember, this all hinges on you following my lead!"