C21 Two Choices

Qin Feng's gaze was icy, his tone even more so.

If Lu Shaojie had the sense to drop to his knees and plead for mercy, there might have been a chance to turn things around.

But anger had clouded his judgment, leading him to make a foolish move.

After his scheme was revealed, Lu Shaojie not only refrained from apologizing but also grew more defiant. He attempted to seize the Dragon Bone and, in a rash act, picked up an iron shot put, aiming to hurl it at Qin Feng's head.

He bellowed, "Die, you bastard!"

"You're asking for it!" Qin Feng's eyes turned savage. Grasping the Dragon Bone in his left hand, he launched a strike with his right. His punch, charged with Source Qi, landed with brutal force on Lu Shaojie's chest.

It was a lethal blow, fueled by Qin Feng's maximum strength in his fury.

Although Lu Shaojie had gained some abilities through evolution, his innate talent was lacking. Moreover, Qin Feng had been evolving with the Dragon Bone for quite some time, while Lu Shaojie had nothing. He could only absorb Source Qi through his body's natural instincts.

There was no comparing Lu Shaojie's power to Qin Feng's.

Qin Feng's punch was ferocious. Before Lu Shaojie could even release the shot put, he let out a wretched scream. A tremendous force sent him flying five meters, crashing into a wall corner.

His body slammed against the unyielding wall, breaking several bones. Blood spurted from his mouth as he gasped.

The impact of Qin Feng's punch was so intense that it caused the wall itself to tremble.

The noise caught the attention of Zhong Yanan. She yelled out, "What are you doing?" Meanwhile, Wang Gang, startled, quickly scrambled to his feet.

Both had been resting with their eyes closed, unaware of the conflict between Lu Shaojie and Qin Feng. Upon opening their eyes, they were greeted by the sight of Lu Shaojie's airborne body, leaving them utterly bewildered.

Zhong Yanan, pointing at Qin Feng, berated him, "What in the world are you doing? Even if you dislike him, there's no need to beat him to death!"

Qin Feng didn't respond to her outburst. He simply rose, his expression stone-cold, and fixed his gaze on Lu Shaojie, who was now kneeling in the opposite corner, spewing blood. "Remember, it was us who sheltered you. Zhong Yanan may have been the one to save you, but she did so with my assistance."

Qin Feng neither sought recompense from Lu Shaojie nor expected any gratitude. His sole wish was for Lu Shaojie to quietly hide away in a corner until dawn, when they could part ways.

Yet even this modest request was beyond Lu Shaojie's compliance.

Thus, Qin Feng resolved that Lu Shaojie had to die.

As he declared his intent, Qin Feng advanced towards Lu Shaojie, his gaze brimming with lethal purpose.

Zhong Yanan was seized by panic. Scrambling to her feet, she threw her arms out in front of Qin Feng, pleading, "Why must you kill him? Just kill me instead, you heartless fiend!"

"Move!" Qin Feng bellowed, shoving her aside with his arm before turning to Wang Gang, "Gang, get her out of here!"

Wang Gang, who had never witnessed Qin Feng wear such a fearsome look, was momentarily paralyzed. Instinctively, he dragged the flailing Zhong Yanan back to the safety of the wall's corner.

Meanwhile, Lu Shaojie, coughing up blood, managed to lift his head. Blood smeared his mouth, his features contorted in terror. He cried out, "Lunatic! It's just a stick. What does it matter if I took it? Do you truly wish to end my life?"

Qin Feng remained silent. In a flash, he was upon Lu Shaojie, his fingers clamping down on the man's throat. With a forceful squeeze, Lu Shaojie was hoisted off the ground.

Observing Lu Shaojie's frantic struggle, Qin Feng's brow furrowed with icy disdain. His actions served not just as an outlet for his rage but as a stark warning to Wang Gang and Zhong Yanan.

He pronounced, "In this post-apocalyptic world, never dare to challenge those who are clearly more powerful than you, nor attempt to seize another's possessions. This is the second tenet of survival. Make sure it's etched in your memory."

Releasing his grip, Qin Feng swiftly struck Lu Shaojie's throat. A soft crack echoed as Lu Shaojie crumpled to the ground, clutching his throat in agony.

With his vocal cords damaged, Lu Shaojie was rendered mute. His agonized screams were reduced to silent roars.

Qin Feng didn't cease his actions. With a swift raise of his arm, he hurled the Dragon Bone, striking several critical joints on Lu Shaojie's body.

Instantly, Lu Shaojie's shoulders popped out of their sockets and his legs fractured. He was utterly devoid of any strength to resist.

Zhong Yanan was tightly gripped by Wang Gang, powerless to intervene. She could only shriek in desperation, "You maniac! Stop it now! Why are you doing this to him? So many have already perished. Only the four of us remain. Please, let's not turn on each other!"

Her voice was hoarse with curses for Qin Feng, but no matter how loudly she screamed, she couldn't sway his resolve.

Only after rendering Lu Shaojie completely immobile did Qin Feng turn back, his expression detached, and impart, "This is the third lesson I need you to learn. In this post-apocalyptic world, aside from monsters and severe weather, our greatest foes will be each other."

In this apocalyptic landscape, skirmishes and theft were constant. Even those who had just benefited from your kindness could turn against you.

Qin Feng had died in his past life, not just at the claws of ferocious beasts but also due to the treachery of his allies.

Determined not to relive his past life's demise, Qin Feng's priority was to remove any potential traitors.

He picked up a steel pipe and approached the dying Lu Shaojie. With a calm tone, he declared, "I gave you an opportunity to live, but you squandered it."

No sooner had he spoken than he drove the steel pipe through Lu Shaojie's abdomen. The pipe protruded from his back, lifting his body off the ground.

With a flick of his wrist, Qin Feng impaled Lu Shaojie onto the door.

"What in the world are you doing, Qin Feng?" The scene left Zhong Yanan aghast, and even Wang Gang shuddered with horror. He rebuked Qin Feng's mercilessness, "There's no need to torment him."

Afterward, Qin Feng offered a chilling clarification, "I'm not torturing him; I'm repurposing waste. The monsters haven't strayed far. The commotion we caused will draw them here shortly. Leaving Lu Shaojie, barely clinging to life, will divert their attention. Meanwhile, I'll find a new place to conceal ourselves."

Wang Gang started shivering once more. Zhong Yanan erupted in furious curses, "Lunatic! How can you treat your own kind like this?"

Qin Feng responded, "I didn't want to do this. He left me no choice."

With an air of detachment, Qin Feng slid the window open and nudged Wang Gang outside. He then fixed a cold gaze on Zhong Yanan, who was still rooted to the spot, and declared, "You have two options. Either leave with us, or stay behind to care for Lu Shaojie, whose time is running out. Then you can die alongside him. Think it over carefully before you decide."