The fire at Building 21 had been raging for over half an hour, and the flames began to gradually subside, but the thick smoke showed no signs of stopping.
Under normal circumstances, by now, it was impossible for there to be any survivors inside the building.
They had no ventilation, and there was no way to stop the toxic gases from infiltrating their bodies.
So, the only outcome waiting for them was death in agony.
Even if there were a few lucky ones who hadn't died yet, staying in the building would only delay the inevitable. Death was just a matter of time because the smoke would not dissipate anytime soon.
Zhang Yi turned around and began walking toward Building 26.
"Let's go, we'll hit the next one!"
The neighbors from Building 25 were already bloodthirsty.
It was their first time experiencing such a gratifying form of killing, and the feeling of having the power to control another's life thrilled them, bringing out a long-suppressed excitement.
A group of them yelled and followed Zhang Yi toward the territory of the Tianhe Gang in Building 26.
The people in Building 26 were all watching from the windows.
When they saw Zhang Yi and his group approaching, they were terrified, their souls nearly leaving their bodies.
One person shouted from inside, "Zhang Yi, Huang Tianfang is already dead. This has nothing to do with us!"
"Grievances have their source, debts have their master! You can't kill innocent people!"
Hearing this, Zhang Yi burst into laughter.
"Killing innocent people?"
"Do you think you're the good guys?"
Zhang Yi squinted, his gaze full of sharp sarcasm.
"Who among you in this building has blood on their hands? Who hasn't killed at least five people?"
"Even if you were good people, how does that affect whether I kill you or not?"
Zhang Yi wasn't concerned with how many people were involved in the attack on him. If anyone had any suspicion, even the smallest fraction, he would wipe them out without mercy!
In this apocalypse, there could be no mercy, or it would bring disaster in the future.
"Let's continue!"
Following the same method, Zhang Yi had people block off Building 26 and began setting fires from the ground floor.
Screams and curses echoed from the building.
A few people, screaming wildly, rushed down the stairs, but as soon as they showed themselves, Zhang Yi shot them in the head with a precise headshot.
Moments later, thick smoke enveloped Building 26.
Zhang Yi wasn't in a hurry. One building at a time, he killed them off, making sure no one slipped away.
Soon, the people in Building 26 were nearly finished off.
He didn't stop and continued toward the other buildings, targeting those that were confirmed to have been involved in the attack on him.
Five buildings, flames shooting into the sky, thick smoke rolling out!
It lit up the entire neighborhood.
In fact, the heat from the fires raised the surrounding temperature, causing the ice and snow to melt and lowering the horizon.
The residents of the other buildings suddenly felt a chill down their spines, with many so frightened that they wet themselves.
Zhang Yi calculated the time. At this rate, he wouldn't be able to finish in one night.
He was tired and needed to rest, and also check on Uncle You's recovery.
To avoid these people causing trouble and complicating things, he decided to pacify them first.
So, he pulled out a loudspeaker from his dimensional space and shouted in the neighborhood: "Don't worry, I, Zhang Yi, never harm innocent people."
"This time, grievances have their source, debts have their master. I'm only targeting the units of those who attacked me."
"And for those friendly to me, I won't harm you. Don't be afraid!"
The other building owners, who had been on edge, felt as if they had grabbed onto the last straw of hope after hearing this.
Although they knew deep down that Zhang Yi's words could very well be a lie.
But people often deceive themselves, hoping for the best in any situation.
"Zhang Yi isn't planning to kill us anymore? That's great, that's really great!"
"Yeah, we didn't attack Zhang Yi. What does it have to do with us? He shouldn't be retaliating against us."
"He... he's killed so many people, he must be tired, right? I don't believe he can really kill everyone in the neighborhood."
People only act desperately when they are in a truly hopeless situation. As long as Zhang Yi gave them hope, they could comfortably bury their heads in the sand and pretend there was no danger around them.
After Zhang Yi finished speaking, he told the neighbors, "Alright, today's activity ends here. Go back and rest!"
The neighbors, though reluctant, said, "We'll stay here and keep the fire going!"
The flames were so warm!
Back in their apartments, they would freeze again, so it was much more comfortable staying by the fire.
Zhang Yi said indifferently, "Do as you wish."
With that, he turned and returned to Building 25.
The other neighbors were unwilling to leave, staying around the fire, basking in its warmth.
However, the flames were slowly dying down because the fuel Zhang Yi provided was running out.
"The fire's dying down, what should we do?"
One person said anxiously.
Another looked around and suddenly had an idea.
He whispered to the two nearby, and the three of them walked over with perfect coordination. They carried a body and threw it into the fire.
"Pop, pop!"
The crisp sound of cracking came, as if the oil in high heat was bursting.
"Whoosh!"
The flames shot up high again.
Everyone cheered in excitement.
"This method is great! Haha, how did I forget that animal fat is excellent fuel!"
There were plenty of bodies around, enough to keep the fire going for a while.
If they got hungry, they could even have a bite.
What a feast, a barbecue extravaganza!
...
On his way back, Zhang Yi passed by the bodies of Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei.
His footsteps paused slightly, and a sense of curiosity suddenly struck him.
These two had been quite useful to him before, obedient and motivated. As long as they followed Zhang Yi, at least they got fed.
But why did they suddenly betray him?
Zhang Yi wasn't surprised, just a bit curious.
So, he rummaged through their pockets, found their phones, and unlocked them with their faces under the firelight.
He opened the phones and scrolled through their chat history, his expression gradually turning playful.
"So, that's how it is…"
Zhang Yi smiled and tossed their phones into the snow.
When he got home, Zhang Yi opened the door to the makeshift medical room.
At this time, Zhou Ke'er was leaning against the wall, her legs crossed. Even though she was wearing a blue surgical gown, she couldn't hide her long, beautiful legs.
Zhang Yi glanced at the bed. Uncle You was wearing an oxygen mask, and the heart monitor showed stable waves.
Zhang Yi let out a sigh of relief. It seemed like Uncle You's life was saved.
That meant he hadn't killed his own partner, and there was no need to feel too guilty.