Chapter Seven: There Are So Many Fools!

Just as the crowd chattered incessantly, Chu Yunxi couldn’t help but feel their thinking was truly pitiable. Character? Grades? Are you still concerning yourselves with such things at a time like this? It was no wonder Chen Yi had no desire to pay these people any heed—his approach was indubitably the right one. As long as I follow him, I’ll survive.

Moreover, he’s nothing like what they call him—a lovesick fool. Have you ever seen such a man leave his goddess in danger? Or one who would dare scold his beloved in public? Besides, Chen Yi’s character is a thousand times better than any of theirs.

At this moment, Chu Yunxi’s resolve was firmer than ever.

While the group couldn’t reach a consensus, a wave of crimson mist seeped in from the ceiling of the swimming hall. It thickened, curling into a dense mass and beginning to descend. Chen Yi’s heart leapt; he knew the spreading red mist had finally reached the threshold, and soon the pivotal opportunity for survivors to grow stronger would appear—the Calamity Roulette.

“Chen Yi…”

Chu Yunxi also sensed something amiss and moved closer to him, tense.

“Just stay close,” Chen Yi replied simply, yet those few words filled Chu Yunxi with a profound sense of safety.

He kept his gaze fixed on the ominous red mist. In his previous life, it was missing the chance to activate the roulette for the first time that had set him back, step by relentless step, until no matter how hard he tried, he could never catch up. If he could seize this opportunity, he would gain a decisive advantage in the apocalypse.

Meanwhile, the dean and the other students had also noticed the red mist’s change, standing bewildered as they watched.

“What on earth is that?”

“I don’t know, but it can’t be a good sign.”

“It feels dangerous…”

They whispered anxiously among themselves. The dean’s expression darkened as he realized something was wrong, but he had no idea how to deal with it. He glanced at Chen Yi, half-convinced that the boy knew something.

“Do you know what this is?” the dean finally asked, unable to contain himself.

Chen Yi ignored the question, still tracking the movement of the mist. The dean, repeatedly spurned, grew visibly more irate. Eyes shining with malice, he once again rallied the group, turning his frustration into accusations.

“See? He doesn’t care about any of us! He only thinks of himself! We can’t let someone like that hold a weapon!”

The students from the swim club, agitated by his words, grew increasingly restless.

“Yeah, why should he keep the axe?”

“There are so many of us. What’s he going to do, take us all on?”

“Hand over the axe!”

Chen Yi cast a cold glance at the students, a sneer forming in his heart. How foolish—at the brink of life and death, and still playing the same old bullying games.

“See? He won’t even speak to us! How can anyone trust someone like him?”

“We should hold him down!”

Insults kept coming, but none dared act. Then, a commotion from outside the swimming hall caught their attention.

Chen Yi realized the zombies must have caught the scent of humans, drawn by the gathering red mist and the noise, now swarming toward the building.

“Z-zombies!” A girl near the bed shrieked in terror.

The dean, sweating profusely, shouted, “Hurry! Pin him down and make him go out to kill the zombies and clear the way!”

A few braver students lunged toward Chen Yi, but stopped short when he raised the fire axe, his eyes cold and sharp as a blade.

“Anyone who comes closer, I promise you’ll regret it.”

His voice was low, each word laced with deadly intent. The students faltered, some even stepping back. They were just students—none had ever seen a look that deadly. Unless he had dozens of lives on his conscience, they wouldn’t have believed anyone could radiate such menace.

Seeing this, the dean’s anger only grew. Through gritted teeth, he urged, “What are you afraid of? There’s only one of him! All of us together, now!”

But no one dared budge. Chen Yi’s presence was overwhelming, and they all sensed the consequences of pushing him too far.

By now, the red mist had fully condensed and was rapidly descending. Chen Yi knew this was the sign—the Calamity Roulette was about to appear. He leaned closer to Chu Yunxi and whispered, “Get ready.”

Chu Yunxi nodded. She didn’t know exactly what was happening, but could only trust Chen Yi now.

Soon, the water in the pool began to flow upward, as if sucked away by some invisible black hole, until none remained. As the red mist dispersed, a massive roulette appeared before them, covered in strange symbols that gleamed with otherworldly light.

Everyone’s attention was drawn to the roulette, even those who moments before had been harassing Chen Yi.

“What is that?”

“How eerie…”

The dean, too, was stunned by the sight, left speechless.

“What’s going on?” “Maybe it’s some kind of ritual to summon a monster…”

“Or perhaps the source of some power.”

“Who knows, maybe this is the path to survival.”

The dean sneered, his tone cold. “Whatever it is, someone has to try it first, don’t they?”

His words caught everyone’s attention, and they all turned to him.

“Chen Yi, since you’re so capable, why don’t you see what the roulette does?” the dean pressed, his intent unmistakable.

With his lead, others chimed in.

“Yeah, you’re the only one with a weapon. If not you, then who?”

“You were so tough outside—don’t chicken out now.”

“If you want to play the hero, see it through to the end!”

“This time, you have no excuse. Otherwise, we won’t tolerate you any longer!”

Chu Yunxi, standing at Chen Yi’s side, retorted angrily, “How can you be like this? Why should he take the risk? Why don’t any of you go?”

Some, jealous that she could stay with Chen Yi, sneered, determined to ruin what they couldn’t have.

“Hmph, look how protective you are.”

“No wonder you like someone so cold and heartless.”

“Yeah, Chu Yunxi, weren’t you always so proud? Why are you groveling now?”

Chu Yunxi’s face turned pale with fury. Through gritted teeth, she spat, “You’re truly shameless! Even now, you’re trying to push others to their deaths!”

The dean, emboldened by her reaction, continued to incite the crowd. “Don’t listen to her. Chen Yi is the strongest here—he should go first and clear the path for us.”

“That’s right, he has the axe—we’re unarmed!”

“Exactly, the capable should do more!”

Many voices echoed their agreement.

Chen Yi laughed coldly to himself. These people were hopelessly foolish. Even at the edge of death, they thought only of using others as shields instead of finding ways to grow stronger themselves. If only they could unite, they might not be so helpless.