The Weakness of Human Nature

However, the situation was critical. Zhao Tianlei didn't want to waste any more time here. He immediately opened the classroom door and led the more than ten people, starting to move slowly along one side. The group spread out in a single line, moving forward like a slithering snake.

As they neared the doors of two classrooms, Zhao Tianlei couldn't help but slow his pace and raise his hand, halting everyone's advance. Under Zhao Tianlei's warning, the group dared not move rashly, standing still and awaiting his next instructions.

Zhao Tianlei, holding a fire axe, stood before the classroom teeming with zombies. After confirming there were no immediate issues, he beckoned to the group, signaling them to leave. Zhao Tianlei believed that as long as they remained quiet and moved lightly, they wouldn't attract the zombies' attention. Under his direction, the teacher at the front was also incredibly cautious, moving step by step like a cat.

Thus, with Zhao Tianlei keeping watch, over half of the group successfully passed through. Just as the plan was about to succeed, a student, passing by Zhao Tianlei, suddenly shouted, "Ah, I can't take it anymore!"

This shout exploded like a bombshell in the quiet teaching building. In an instant, all the zombies in the classroom Zhao Tianlei was watching began to stir. Zhao Tianlei felt an urge to split the student in two with his axe, but escaping was the priority.

To hold back the zombies, Zhao Tianlei grabbed the classroom doorknob and yelled at the remaining people, "Run! What are you waiting for, to get eaten?"

With Zhao Tianlei's roar, the rest of the group bolted. Before they could get far, several zombies suddenly rushed down the stairs. Clearly drawn by the sound of potential prey, they scrambled down, some even tumbling to the ground with a thud due to their instability.

But as mindless husks, they felt no pain. They slowly got up and pursued Zhao Tianlei and the others.

"Die!" Seeing several zombies blocking their path, Zhao Tianlei kicked out, swung his fire axe, and chopped at the nearest ones.

Everyone was desperately fleeing, no one noticing Zhao Tianlei's outburst. With that swing, at least three zombies were felled. Two were decapitated, and the third had its left arm severed, its body sent sprawling by the residual force.

"Ugh..."

As Zhao Tianlei fought to buy time for the others and hold back the zombies, more zombies began to pour out of classrooms on either side of the corridor, shuffling towards him.

"Damn it!" Faced with so many zombies, Zhao Tianlei cursed in frustration and quickly retreated to the building's entrance. He grabbed the glass door handle, secured it with the chain, and then fled.

By now, the group had reached the parking lot. Two teachers got into their cars, and the remaining students squeezed in. However, there were over ten people. The teachers' cars were compact models, normally seating five including the driver. If squeezed, the front passenger seat could hold two, and the back seat, designed for three, could accommodate five. This meant each car could hold eight people, sixteen in total for both.

Coincidentally, with Zhao Tianlei and Cheng Yao, there were exactly eighteen people. This meant two would be left behind. Cheng Yao, waiting for Zhao Tianlei, hadn't gotten into a car and stood aside. The two teachers who had been rescued felt awkward and guilty. After all, Zhao Tianlei had risked his life to save them, and they were reluctant to drive off immediately, hoping for another solution.

Zhao Tianlei, fire axe in hand, roared at a male student in one of the cars, "Damn it, you were the one shouting inside and attracting those zombies! Get out! You're coming with me. If you don't get out, I'll kill you right now!"

Faced with Zhao Tianlei's anger, the young man clung to his seat, refusing to get out, crying, "No, don't make me get out! I was just too scared. Those zombies are too terrifying."

Hearing his explanation, Zhao Tianlei's anger surged. He raised his axe again and yelled at the student, "Scared? You're not even as brave as the girls! Do you know how many zombies your shouting attracted? You almost got everyone behind us killed! Get out, or I'll drag you out of the car myself!"

Seeing Zhao Tianlei's murderous intent, the young man screamed, "Help! Murder! Someone help me! He's going to hit me with that axe!"

"What the hell, you..."

Zhao Tianlei was truly furious. The others, however, didn't react to his actions. Instead, they all glared at the young man with accusation and disdain. After all, Zhao Tianlei's rescue efforts had deeply moved everyone. And as Zhao Tianlei had said, the student's shouting had nearly doomed them.

Suddenly, Cheng Yao stepped forward, pulling Zhao Tianlei aside and comforting him, "Tianlei, it's okay. Let them go. If you're not going in the car, I'm not going either. I'll stay with you."

Hearing Cheng Yao's words, Zhao Tianlei was deeply touched and quickly refused, "No, it's too dangerous for you to walk with me. If you go with them, you'll reach the military quickly, and you'll be safe under their protection."

But Cheng Yao was stubborn, holding Zhao Tianlei's arm. "No, if you don't go, I won't go. In my opinion, being with them is definitely not as safe as being with you. You risked your life to save them, yet no one is willing to give you their seat. If any danger arises, they'll abandon me without a second thought. But with you, no matter how dangerous it gets, you won't leave me behind. So I want to stay with you."

"You..." Cheng Yao's words were a blatant slap in the face to those in the cars.

"Crash..." Just then, the glass doors of the teaching building were smashed by the zombies, and a horde of them poured out. Seeing this, the people in one car immediately started the engine and sped away recklessly. Zhao Tianlei couldn't help but curse.

"Students... the zombies are here, we have to go too."

"Get lost! Hurry up and get out of my sight, you ungrateful wretches!"