Rotting Land: Survive

Wen Quanxin’s rebuke once again plunged the scene into a standoff, and Tang Xiaoquan had no choice but to speak again: "Hehe, little Derek, as far as I know, Japan is very xenophobic, so I’m very curious, how did you persuade them to accept you?"

This question is undoubtedly very critical. From Derek’s previous narration, it’s clear that the Japanese students have fully occupied the storeroom, and they have no need to accept others.

Derek curiously glanced at Tang Xiaoquan because throughout the conversation, he increasingly felt that the young man before him was not simple.

Although the latter always gave off a relaxed and leisurely vibe, his questions always stayed on topic.

"This... is because I have abilities that they don’t possess!" Tang Xiaoquan noticed that as Derek said this, his body straightened slightly, and even his listless eyes flashed with a bit of pride.

"Hehe, it seems this ability gives you quite a bit of confidence. Would you care to tell us what it is?" Tang Xiaoquan asked with a hint of amusement.

"It’s actually nothing much, because I’m the only one in the whole school who can get out!"

Another unexpected answer left the survivors greatly surprised at Derek’s responses.

"Only you can get out?" Wen Quanxin scoffed twice, clearly not believing the young man’s words.

Despite this, Derek’s expression was very composed, and he reaffirmed: "Yes! Only I can get out!"

"Why?" Having guessed the answer, Tang Xiaoquan asked as if he didn’t know.

"Because the school is full of zombies. Although after the outbreak, those Japanese students forced us out to clear the way, ultimately they only cleared one floor."

"Hehe, then why can you move freely in and out of the school?" Tang Xiaoquan asked calmly.

"I have two hobbies: one is cars, and the other is extreme sports. I know these are not very popular domestically but are widespread abroad. I fortunately learned parkour, so the school’s architecture may be a death trap for others, but not for me."

Derek’s somewhat boastful remark made the Huaxia peers present somewhat displeased.

But due to their lack of skills, Wen Quanxin, who initially wanted to lash out, could only breathe heavily without saying a word.

"Ah, you’re quite impressive." Unlike Wen Quanxin’s indignation, Tang Xiaoquan didn’t show any emotional fluctuation due to Derek’s words. Instead, he found another angle for attack: "You’re so capable, aren’t they afraid of you tricking them and then escaping on your own?"

At this point, Derek suddenly darkened his demeanor, and the previously proud head hung down powerlessly.

The young man’s abrupt change made the likes of Old Zhao feel inexplicably puzzled.

After a while, Derek said dejectedly: "My girlfriend is in their hands. My joining condition was not to harm my girlfriend. Oh, and there’s another girl. She is Huaxia; my girlfriend’s college friend."

"Didn’t expect you to have quite a sense of justice!" Upon hearing Derek’s explanation, Tang Xiaoquan responded seriously for once. This somewhat surprised Derek, causing him to speak a few more words:

"It’s actually nothing; it’s what I should do. Unfortunately, I can only protect Demmi and Zhao Lina, as for the other girls... sigh!"

With a powerless sigh, it wasn’t hard to imagine from Derek’s breath what kind of fate those trapped girls encountered.

As for this, Tang Xiaoquan had basically understood the whole incident. According to Derek, he had no choice but to join the Japanese group to protect his woman and his girlfriend’s friend.

And the Japanese group was blocked by zombies from going out to gather supplies, so they made a deal not to harm Derek’s woman, allowing him to use his skills to climb out of school to find supplies.

Today was his day to gather supplies.

If tonight goes as usual without other incidents, it can basically be determined that Derek’s words are not false.

Having cleared his thoughts, Tang Xiaoquan exhaled lightly. Despite his seemingly leisure attitude earlier as he sat calmly there.

In fact, he was always intensely listening to Derek’s words, waiting to spot a loophole.

Fiddling with his slightly swollen temple, Tang Xiaoquan got ready to pour some tea to soothe his throat. But just as he was about to move, he suddenly heard the sound of urgent breaths to his side.

Tang Xiaoquan instinctively looked over and saw Old Zhao’s face contorted, his heaving chest like a blower.

What’s going on!? Tang Xiaoquan couldn’t help but be stunned, and immediately asked in confusion: "Old Zhao, Old Zhao what’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable?"

As if he didn’t hear, Old Zhao ignored Tang Xiaoquan’s question. His chest rose and fell more vigorously, and his fists were clenched tightly.

Clearly, this was the first time Tang Xiaoquan saw Old Zhao in such a violent state, like a dormant volcano that was about to erupt.

Noticing Tang Xiaoquan’s reminder, everyone also noticed Old Zhao’s abnormality.

Bi Dahu reached out to hold Old Zhao’s shoulder, pressing hard, and said with a deep voice: "Hey! Old Zhao! What’s wrong? Hey, Old Zhao, you should..."

"Speak," before Bi Dahu could finish his words, Old Zhao raised his hand to unblock Bi Dahu’s right hand holding his shoulder, then suddenly looked up, facing Derek’s eyes: "Who did you say your girlfriend’s friend is?"

Derek was startled by Old Zhao’s sudden gaze. He couldn’t understand why the middle-aged man before him became so agitated, almost like he wanted to devour him.

In his daze, Derek almost instinctively blurted out: "Zhao Lina, my girlfriend’s friend is Zhao Lina, what’s wrong?"

"Bang!" Like a leopard, before anyone could react, Old Zhao had already leapt from his seat, immediately reaching and locking Derek’s throat.

His series of movements were swift and smooth; if Xu Renjie were present, he would have been shocked by Old Zhao’s agility.

"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!" Old Zhao seemed bewitched, repeating the same words over and over.

Locked by his throat, Derek struggled desperately, but in Old Zhao’s state of rage, he was like a demon from hell, with hands clamped onto Derek’s throat as if they were iron bars, quickly making Derek’s breathing difficult.

Seeing Derek about to be choked into suffocation by Old Zhao, Tang Xiaoquan quickly shouted: "Quick! Quick! Restrain Old Zhao, restrain Old Zhao!"

Tang Xiaoquan didn’t care about the life and death of Derek, this outsider, but through Old Zhao’s earlier conversation, he had already understood the reason for Old Zhao’s rage.

And it was precisely because he understood Old Zhao’s reason for rage that Tang Xiaoquan realized, if he let Old Zhao strangle Derek now.

Once Old Zhao calms down, he will surely fall into endless remorse. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)