I'll Chop You All Right Now

The roar of fireworks sounded jarringly loud in the silent city.

The surrounding survivors were initially on edge, unsure of what was happening, but upon listening closely, they realized it was just the sound of fireworks.

They were deeply puzzled; who on earth was so bold as to set off fireworks at a time like this? Didn't they know the zombies would go completely insane upon hearing the noise?

Sure enough.

Just as they were observing, the roars of zombies erupted from all around. They saw the undead pouring out from every direction, sprinting toward the source of the sound. The sheer scale of the zombie tide was enough to make anyone tremble with fear.

If one were to be engulfed by such a swarm, would there even be a chance of survival?

Many survivors suddenly felt that this might be the perfect time to act. They had been suffering through the apocalypse, and supplies were their most desperate need. There were shops right downstairs, but out of fear of the zombies, they had been huddled in their homes, too terrified to step out.

Now that the surrounding zombies had been lured away by those thunderous bangs, hadn't the opportunity finally arrived?

What a good person.

They had already branded the person setting off the fireworks as the greatest saint in the world.

If they weren't a good person, would they do something like this?

Even a dog wouldn't do something so reckless.

On the rooftop of that building.

"F*ck, f*ck, f*ck..."

A middle-aged man stood on the roof, raising his arms in fury and roaring at the sky with all his might.

Behind him, fireworks bloomed and detonated in the sky, but the massive explosions could not drown out the man's screams.

His eyes were bloodshot. He gripped the edge of the rooftop, staring at the crowded, clawing zombies below, and bellowed in rage.

"Why? Why did it have to be this way?"

"F*ck..."

He roared the profanity over and over again. In a moment of such intense fury, perhaps only those words could truly vent the rage in his heart.

His name was Jiang Hai. He had a happy, fulfilling family. He had come to Huang City at eighteen to make his way in the world. Though he had taken many hard knocks, he had never given up on his efforts. He married at twenty, and at twenty-five, he had a lovely daughter. Now, thirty years had passed.

His life had improved significantly; he had his own business and a blissful family.

Even when the apocalypse descended, he hadn't been afraid, as long as he could stay with the ones he loved.

But today.

It was all gone.

Everything was gone. Not only had his happiness been taken away, but so had his hope for survival.

He suffered from severe diabetes and needed daily injections. During these days of the apocalypse, his medicine had run out. While he was exhausted and asleep, his wife and daughter had gone out to find more for him.

When he woke up, he found a note.

[My dear husband, the baby and I are going to find your medicine. Wait for us at home when you wake up. Love, your little treasure.]

Upon reading it, he had gone mad searching for them, only to eventually find a shredded corpse downstairs. He recognized the pink dress—it was his wife's.

Then there was his daughter, whose legs had been gnawed off, turned into a zombie. He had rushed over, and looking at her state, he couldn't bear to see her suffer like that. With tears streaming down his face, wanting to scream and cry, he had strangled his daughter to death.

At this moment, Jiang Hai climbed up, looking at the group of zombies below. He was filled with hatred for them.

He spread his arms, intending to end his own life.

"Wait..."

A voice drifted over.

Lin Fan had climbed up the exterior wall to reach the rooftop. The door downstairs was locked, and since he didn't know the code and couldn't bring himself to destroy public property, he had no choice but to climb the wall.

As soon as he reached the top, he saw someone about to jump.

He had to stop this kind of behavior. He couldn't just watch someone jump; he wasn't the type of person who enjoyed spectating or urging others to hurry up and leap.

Jiang Hai heard the voice and turned around to look at Lin Fan. His eyes held a hint of surprise—perhaps he couldn't fathom how the other man had gotten up there—but to him, that no longer mattered.

There was nothing left that could stir his heart. Even if the world were to end, he wouldn't feel a flicker of hesitation.

"Jumping won't solve anything. You can tell me what's wrong; I think I can help you," Lin Fan said, trying to soothe him.

He noticed the man's mental state was very poor.

Something was deeply wrong.

He felt like a bomb ready to detonate at any second.

Jiang Hai smiled calmly. When a person reaches the depths of sorrow, they lose all other expressions.

"Help? You can't help. I just want to know why this wretched apocalypse has to exist, why these wretched zombies have to exist, and why I had to have this wretched disease. My wife and my daughter... they died because of me."

"My wife was so timid, and my daughter was so afraid of pain. Yet, one was torn to shreds, and the other lost her legs. I can imagine how much pain and despair they felt before they died, thinking, 'Husband, Daddy, come save us quickly. I'm scared, it hurts so much.'"

Jiang Hai spoke to Lin Fan, though it was as if he were muttering to himself, simulating the situation from that moment.

Lin Fan listened quietly, like a faithful listener hearing the stories the other man was recounting.

He knew the apocalypse had driven many to despair.

There were reasons involving zombies, and reasons involving people.

Lin Fan said, "My condolences. The dead cannot return, but I believe they would want you to live on well. Carrying their hopes, you should live on no matter what; hope always exists. By setting off fireworks to attract so many zombies, aren't you providing others with a chance to survive? Why not keep striving like this? Huang City will return to its former state in our hands."

Jiang Hai seemed to ignore Lin Fan's comfort, continuing to let out chuckles as he spoke to himself.

"I'm not that noble. Today is my thirtieth wedding anniversary with my wife. I'd been preparing for a long time; I just wanted to bring her to the rooftop today to watch the fireworks I had carefully prepared. Back when we first met, I was so poor and still struggling, but she never looked down on me. She kept encouraging me. Even though she didn't work and couldn't cook, she always tried hard to learn. You know, my wife was so wonderful, but sometimes she'd make me so angry I'd want to laugh. When I was still working myself to the bone, she spent ten days' worth of my wages on a dress and asked me if she looked pretty. I was furious, telling her she was wasting money and neglecting the family. She immediately acted all sweet and clingy, hugging me and saying she wanted to look beautiful for me, and that it would give me motivation to work harder. I was so damn angry I laughed right then and there."

"But don't think she wasn't sensible; she was actually very understanding. When we had children, she always worked hard, raising them by herself. When the baby cried at night, she never disturbed me; she would always take the child outside alone, coaxing and rocking them, sometimes for an hour or two at a time. I understood that she knew I was exhausted from earning a living and needed rest, so she never bothered me. Later, things got better and better. I had my own business and earned money, but she stayed the same—she loved to shop. I told her she was getting old and still dressing like a young girl. Whenever she heard me say that, she would snuggle in my arms and tell me that no matter how old she got, she would always be my little baby. I was so damn angry I laughed again."

Jiang Hai, still talking to himself, was like a host speaking to an audience of thousands, sharing the heartwarming stories of him and his wife.

When he mentioned something funny, he would even show a smile.

Immediately after, Jiang Hai's emotions surged; his face twisted, and he roared hysterically.

"But why did there have to be an apocalypse? It took everything from me, took away all the most precious things I had, took away my hope for living. I wish so much that this was a dream, but it isn't. It is a living hell on earth. Damn this motherfucking apocalypse. I hate this motherfucking apocalypse."

He took a deep breath.

Jiang Hai saved his final smile for Lin Fan.

"I'm sorry for making you listen to all this and for venting my anger and resentment on you. Look, my arm was bitten. I'm going to turn into a zombie. You don't need to blame yourself for not being able to talk me out of it; no matter what, the end result is the same. Don't be in a hurry to leave. Once the fireworks end, the zombies will disperse. Goodbye. I hope this apocalypse ends soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Hai spread his arms and leaned backward, looking at the sky as if he saw his wife and daughter, a look of relief on his face.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The fireworks continued to bloom, as if celebrating Jiang Hai's reunion with his family.

And celebrating his thirtieth wedding anniversary with his wife.

Lin Fan stood there, looking at the spot where the man had vanished.

He listened to the roar of the fireworks.

He tilted his head and looked up at the sky.

He muttered to himself.

"I hope the apocalypse ends soon, too."

"I wish you a safe journey, and may you be reunited with them in the heavens."

He sighed deeply.

The apocalypse was truly annoying.

He really hoped Huang City could return to the way it used to be.

Bang!

The rooftop door was smashed open.

Zombies surged in, and upon seeing Lin Fan, they opened their mouths and let out hisses.

"What the hell are you still roaring for? You know you've destroyed people's homes and lives, yet you still have the nerve to roar? You really are a bunch of beasts."

"I really want to hack you all to pieces."

"No... I'll hack you right now."

Lin Fan drew his sword and cursed, his voice mingling with the fireworks, though he didn't know if those bastards could hear him at all.