Improper Individualism Is Unacceptable!

"I refuse, say no more." Li Wei flatly rejected David's invitation, his expression showing clear impatience as he said, "There is food and shelter here, yet you insist on taking others to their deaths. I really don't understand what you're thinking..."

He couldn't fathom why David wanted to lead others into danger. For a few ordinary people to run into the mist filled with monsters, hoping to successfully escape its perimeter, was nothing short of delusional.

To put it nicely, it was brave and decisive; to put it bluntly, it was arrogant.

Instead of driving off blindly into the white fog, it would be better to stay here, wait until the food ran out, and only then take a risk. It was better to survive one day at a time.

Having no real strength yet insisting on taking risks—that was truly in the tradition of American individualism.

Firmly believing one's own judgment is absolutely correct, being incredibly stubborn, and distrusting authority—these were the common failings of the general American populace.

Not everyone is a superhero, and not every risky decision leads to a beautiful, happy ending. The artistic license of movies cannot mask how foolish it is to gamble with the lives of countless people without considering the bigger picture.

Even after being rejected, David did not give up on his persuasion. He changed his reasoning, gesturing vaguely in a certain direction, "Look over there. Yesterday, Mrs. Carmody didn't have a single follower, and now she has so many people following her! If we don't leave, she will become the Jim Jones of this place!... Perhaps you haven't heard that name; he was the founder of the Peoples Temple cult. I want to leave before people are bewitched by her!"

After the attack by the giant mosquitoes, Mrs. Carmody had not only preached her doctrine more fanatically but had also gained a batch of followers. If she were allowed to continue preaching, a cult might truly spring up right there.

But Li Wei still thought this proposal was incredibly stupid!

He scoffed, noncommittal toward David's words, "You have guns, don't you? Aim at her head and pull the trigger; all your problems will be solved. Violence is bad, but it really is the simplest way to solve problems. I'm quite fond of it right now."

David finally realized that Li Wei could not be persuaded. He pursed his lips, nodded, and stood up to leave without another word.

Watching the man's retreating back, Li Wei shook his head, unconcerned. If they wanted to court death, why should he bother stopping them?

Was he bored? He certainly was!

But they weren't cute, harmless girls; what benefit was there in helping them?

Two hours later, the sky outside finally brightened, the light piercing the white mist and illuminating the interior of the supermarket.

Before people could even begin their breakfast, they were disturbed by David and his group, who were preparing to head to the pharmacy for medicine. Everyone crowded toward the entrance.

"Where are you going, Mr. David Drayton?" Mrs. Carmody, who had vaguely become one of the few at the top of the supermarket's social hierarchy, blocked David's path, her expression one of confusion: "Are you in such a hurry to turn your son into an orphan?"

Mentioned again, his son, David remained unmoved. He didn't even look at her, heading straight for the door, "My son doesn't need you to worry about him!"

Upon reaching the checkout counter, David turned to the crowd gathering around and announced loudly: "We are going to the pharmacy to get some medicine! Of course, it's also possible that someone is trapped there and needs help!"

A roar of voices erupted as everyone heard David's bold idea; some advised him not to go, while others were skeptical.

Ollie, who was already prepared, also stepped forward and said: "We aren't going to throw our lives away! If there is any trouble, we will return to the supermarket immediately!"

But this explanation clearly couldn't convince Mrs. Carmody. Her breathing became slightly rapid as she scoffed, "And then lead the devils from hell right to our doorsteps? We'd really have to thank you for that!"

"She's right! You'll make them notice us! You'll lead them right to us! Why can't you just stay here and be fine?" The few followers she had converted the previous night chimed in, several of them standing behind Mrs. Carmody and closing in on David.

Dan, who was sharpening a wooden stick to use as a weapon, rolled his eyes at this. He turned to the religious fanatics, pointed at the white mist outside the window, and retorted: "Ma'am, you call this 'being fine'?"

"Are you trying to stop us?" David raised his fire axe and said understandingly: "Then you'd better explain to Bobby why we aren't getting pain medication for his brother!"

Bobby, standing thin and frail to the side, also said: "I'm definitely going, even if I'm the only one!"

Glancing at the fire axe slung over David's shoulder, Mrs. Carmody tugged at her shawl, stepped back calmly, and looked at Bobby, "Young man, you will die there. The moment you step out that door, you will be torn to shreds!"

Then, Mrs. Carmody pointed her index finger at David's face, cursing with a mix of anger and terror: "And your damn arrogance will lead them to the rest of us!"

"That's right! They will come back for all of us, just like this lady said!" Mrs. Carmody looked at the woman who had just spoken up for her, using her words to add credibility to her own, and then asked those already terrified of the monsters: "Do you want that to happen?!"

Stunned by this alarmist stance, the crowd instinctively replied: "No!"

Most of these "no's" were because they didn't want their own lives to end, not because they didn't want David and his group to leave.

Li Wei crossed his arms, watching the interesting farce, smiling without a word.

Having gained the support of the majority, Mrs. Carmody continued in an emotional tone: "It is this kind of arrogance that has brought down the Lord's wrath! This arrogance and defiance... splitting atoms, stem cells, abortion, wanting to explore the secrets of life—a right that belongs only to the Lord. It is because of your defiance that we are being punished right now!"

Where there were those who agreed with Mrs. Carmody, there were those who did not.

Grandma Repla picked up a can of beans and hurled it at the eloquent Mrs. Carmody. The can hit her forehead with precision. "Shut up! You pathetic wretch!"

Physically slapped in the face, and by an old woman at that, the fire in Mrs. Carmody's heart was instantly ignited. She rushed forward, ready to fight Repla to the death. Even though she was blocked by David, she still grabbed nearby objects and threw them at Repla in a rage.

"Ah!... You old bitch!"

Li Wei reached out and blocked a projectile for Repla.

Repla was no pushover either. After Mrs. Carmody became hysterical, she continued to mock her, "You're best at throwing stones at those who don't stand with you, aren't you? That's what they did in the Bible, isn't it? As for me, I have plenty more bean cans!"

The farce over, it was time for David and his group to set off. Before leaving, he asked the three soldiers who had kept a low profile: "Three soldiers, are you coming? Do you want to help?"

"I'm going." Wayne, having lost his girlfriend, harbored deep hatred for the monsters and chose to follow without hesitation. Even though the other two tried to stop him, he insisted on going.

After David and his group left, Li Wei also pushed through the crowd and exited the supermarket. Under the confused gazes of everyone, he walked in the opposite direction of David's group.

"Goodbye everyone, the barbecue was decent, and the cola wasn't bad either~!"

Seeing Li Wei walking in the other direction, they were all stunned, their gazes those of people looking at the dead.