Chapter Thirty-Four: A Toast to New Hope!

As dawn gradually broke, the base was littered with corpses. Some clung to life by a thread, while others were so grievously wounded it was clear their days were numbered.

A few hours later, Chen Yi arrived at the Madmen’s Base with his team. Their steps were swift but cautious, always attentive to the sounds around them.

“Boss, look over here!”

One of his men pointed to a man with relatively minor injuries. The man lay weakly half-slumped on the ground, his eyes full of despair.

“What happened here?” Chen Yi knelt down, his voice carrying an innate authority.

The man gave a dry cough and struggled to lift his head, “Infighting… We fought amongst ourselves… The Madmen didn’t return… and we… we just fell apart.”

Hearing this, Chen Yi couldn’t help but sneer. He had anticipated this outcome. This was, after all, the Madmen’s base; even amid chaos, they managed to reveal their nature.

“Search the base. Check all weapons and food supplies,” Chen Yi commanded decisively. His men sprang into action.

Gunshots and the sound of blades still echoed in his mind. Chen Yi smiled inwardly; as a leader, these people were nothing more than a joke in this apocalypse.

Soon, the search party reported, “Boss, we’ve found plenty of weapons and ammunition, and a large stockpile of food. Enough to keep everyone at New City Base alive for at least three months.”

Chen Yi’s expression remained blank; he simply nodded. “Pack up the supplies. Take everything back to the base.”

“Yes!”

His men began hauling the goods. When the people at New City Base saw the massive haul being brought in, they were stunned. More than anything, their admiration for Chen Yi as a leader grew.

In that moment, many surrendered themselves more wholeheartedly, convinced Chen Yi was the one they would follow to the end.

“Chen Yi is awesome!”

“Chen Yi is incredible!!”

Cheers echoed throughout the base.

Chen Yi ordered his men to give those who fought outside an extra portion of food today, and an extra share of daily necessities for the month.

The people were overjoyed. Some were so moved they almost knelt down, eager to express their reverence for Chen Yi.

But Chen Yi himself remained largely unmoved by these voices.

Having lived through his previous life, he was already wise to the ways of the world. He simply waved his hand, sending everyone off to rest. Then he walked toward his own quarters in the base.

Chu Yunxi followed close behind, while Lu Kai went to help distribute the rewards.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Hu Sanhan’s men had received word of Chen Yi’s fruitful gains at the Madmen’s Base.

One of his subordinates couldn’t help but ask, “Boss, shouldn’t we take a share? We put in a lot of effort this time.”

Hu Sanhan shook his head with a smile. “We’ve already gotten plenty.”

“All those weapons and supplies from yesterday’s battlefield—Chen Yi didn’t touch a single bit. Isn’t that enough?”

“Don’t be greedy. There’ll be plenty more opportunities like this in the future.”

His subordinate nodded quickly, indicating he understood.

……

Seven days passed, and everything settled into calm.

The main roads in the eastern district had been cleared; the zombies were gone, save for a few stragglers wandering in corners, but no one bothered to clean them out.

The area was now divided into two halves, with Chen Yi and Hu Sanhan each managing one part.

With the reduction in zombies, the threat of a horde had significantly lessened. The people at New City Base and Hu Sanhan’s base finally felt secure, planning a celebration in this new safe zone.

Chen Yi stood at the gates of the base, gazing at the quiet street in the distance.

This newfound peace felt almost unsettling to him, but it gave him a rare chance to contemplate future plans.

“Brother Chen, everyone is ready.”

“They’re waiting for you to announce the start.”

Lu Kai approached, his face alight with excitement.

Chen Yi nodded and walked toward the gathering.

A long table was piled with food, filling the air with tempting aromas.

Hu Sanhan and his men were already assembled, laughter ringing out.

As Chen Yi drew near, Hu Sanhan looked up and offered a friendly smile.

“Brother Chen, we owe today’s peace to you! You led us in clearing out the east district. You should host this feast.”

Hu Sanhan clapped Chen Yi on the shoulder, his voice full of strength.

“Indeed, Boss Chen, we can hardly wait!” a subordinate chimed in excitedly.

Chen Yi smiled faintly and signaled for everyone to quiet down.

All eyes focused on him, waiting for his words.

“Everyone…”

“These past days, our efforts have made the east district much safer, but I have an idea.”

“In my view, this cannot be our final base for survival,” Chen Yi declared loudly.

“Why not?” someone asked, puzzled.

“Because the east district is too vast. Building a solid defense here is not easy.”

“Moreover, there are no natural barriers. The next zombie horde will be fiercer than ever.”

“And there’s another thing: even stranger threats await us in the future.”

“If we stay here, we might not be able to defend ourselves.”

Chen Yi explained in detail.

Hearing this, Hu Sanhan nodded in agreement. “Brother Chen is right. We need somewhere safer.”

“Looks like you already have a plan, Brother Chen. Why not share it with us now?”

“The island’s area is large enough for over a thousand of us to build a new base. More importantly, it’s naturally fortified, offering better protection against future threats.”

“Wonderful!”

The crowd, hearing this, stood up in excitement, embracing one another.

“When do we set out?” someone asked eagerly.

“As soon as possible, I hope.”

“But before that, we need to make thorough preparations.”

“So tonight, let’s enjoy this feast to the fullest!”

With that, Chen Yi cracked open a can of beer, tilted his head back, and drank deeply, savoring the moment.

His uninhibited relaxation infected everyone present. The team raised their cups, and toasts rang out in succession.

“Come on! Cheers! We’re brothers through life and death!”

“Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

……