"You little bastard... murderer... What did I ever do to you? Why slaughter us like this!"

"Just asking for a few supplies! Just cursed you a bit in the group chat! Such a petty grudge!—Brat! Fine! If I can’t have peace, neither will anyone else! I’ll hoard every last item in my home. None for you!"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the residential compound.

Inside a second-floor apartment housing the neighborhood committee, a sharp-faced elderly woman muttered curses under her breath. Her expression twisted with venom.

Slight burns marred her skin; her leg dragged as she limped. Her spiteful face was grotesque—yet a closer look revealed this was none other than Auntie Li, head of the neighborhood committee!

Her passive skill seemed tied to hiding her presence. Even Duan Heng’s Danger Awareness failed to detect her, letting her escape by sheer luck.

But Auntie Li, having narrowly cheated death, showed no remorse. Instead, she raged harder against Duan Heng. She frantically shuttled supplies from the committee’s storage to her apartment, ignoring every @mention in the group chat.

*Where’s Sister Li? Where’s the committee’s Auntie Li?!*

*Damn it—they took my supplies and vanished. At least tell us if you’re alive!*

*Can’t take this anymore! I’ll off myself at this rate! I’m scared—I don’t want to turn into a Zombie!*

*Then die already. No one needs you.* —By Queen Guo.

Survivors huddled in fearful discussion. Hunger gnawed at them; despair bled into their words.

Auntie Li remained unmoved, focused only on looting goods. She’d always been this way: scammed her way into marriage to steal her husband’s assets, driving his parents to fatal despair; charmed her way into the committee chairmanship, embezzling funds for luxuries.

She weaponized morality. As a top-tier survivor in this Apocalypse, she’d faced no consequences—until Duan Heng.

*That brat... I’ll make you pay!*

*Once my wounds heal, I’ll burn your home to the ground! You and that little bitch will die screaming! Hahaha!*

Her grin deepened, dripping malice.

But—

As she returned to the committee office for another crate of supplies...

Three burly men strode into the living room. Towering, thuggish, their eyes locked onto Auntie Li the moment they spotted her.

"W-who are you?!" she snapped, retreating to a corner.

They ignored her, casually inspecting the supplies like owners. One ripped open a crate, unwrapped a chocolate bar, and bit in with a sneer. "You run this committee? Log into the computer. We need someone found."

"Find someone?" Auntie Li scowled at his tone.

Before she could protest further, the men began grabbing food—laughing as they stuffed their faces. Snacks tumbled to the floor, crushed under boots.

"Hey! Those are mine! Who said you could take them?!" she shrieked.

"Yours? Hahahaha—this auntie’s hilarious!" Their laughter turned vicious. One kicked a crate over.

CRASH—

Instant noodles and snacks scattered like trash—hard-won supplies from supermarket raids.

"No! What are you doing?!" Auntie Li dropped to her knees, scrambling to salvage them.

A boot lashed out.

THUD—

"AHHHH!" Her frail body crumpled. Clutching her bleeding face, she howled curses: "You dare rob the committee?! I’ll call the police! I’ll rally every resident to kill you! Immoral scum!"

Her shrieks pierced the air, blood streaming down her chin. But her moral blackmail fell flat.

The men grinned wider with every curse. Their leader hefted a metal pipe, stepping closer. "Rally the others? Oh, please do."

"Don’t come near me!" Terror drained her face. She cowered, arms shielding her head—no trace of the committee chair remained. Just a trembling old woman.

The pipe rose.

THUD—

"STOP! PLEASE!" Her squeal echoed like a slaughtered pig. Each blow fueled his frenzy.

THUD—THUD—THUD—

Blood slicked the floor.

"Take it! Just take everything!"

"It hurts! Stop! Mercy!"

"Ahh... no more..."

THUD—THUD—THUD—THUD—

Her pleas faded. Her body lay still in a crimson pool.

The men watched, licking their lips with glee. Only when students shuffled in—bruised, trembling—did the beating stop.

The leader spat, eyeing the youths. "Dump this trash outside. This compound’s decent. Few Zombies. Plenty of food. Good base." He leered at the students. "You—find Duan Heng by sunset. Fail... or try to run..."

"Your female classmates will suffer."

"Hahahaha—"