[edited]

Thinking of Zhang Chao’s difficulty, Zheng Weili was furious. “Beat them up and kick them out!” 

Although Zhang Chao had been foolish, he had helped Jiang Ning stock up on the medicine she needed, which saves her money and trouble. 

As a friend, Jiang Ning couldn’t just stand by, especially since Zhang Chao had taken the blame for her during childhood fights, even getting hit by bricks for her. 

They quickly agreed, and Zheng Weili kicked the door, shouting, “Listen up, you’ve got one minute to come out, or I won’t be polite!” 

However, there was no response. 

Jiang Ning handed a crowbar from her bag to Zheng Weili. 

With her strength, Zheng Weili made the crowbar clang against the door. 

“Who are you?” a voice suddenly came from behind them. 

A couple in their fifties or sixties, holding hands with their eight or nine year old daughter, walked up the stairs. They were carrying a heavy rubber boat bag. 

Seeing the bag, Jiang Ning immediately recognized it as the one she anonymously bought for Zhang Chao. 

It was a professional grade brand, not something ordinary people would choose. 

In other words, this family not only drained Zhang Chao but also seized the supplies she had bought. 

Jiang Ning walked over, grabbed the girl’s collar, and dragged her to the door. “If you don’t open the door now, don’t blame me for killing your parents and your daughter.” 

As she spoke, she took out a knife, frightening the girl into loud sobs. “Mommy, mommy…” 

The couple rushed forward, stomping their feet and shouting, “Murderer! Murderer!” 

“Scream louder! Let everyone in the building know how you’ve unfairly taken advantage of others,” Jiang Ning retorted. 

Relying solely on a woman wouldn’t have been enough to force Zhang Chao out; this family was cunning! 

Don’t be fooled by the girl’s young age; she was fully aware of what was happening. 

Children in the apocalypse could smile at you while stabbing you in the heart. 

Their smiles might be pure, but their hearts were filthy. 

Perhaps they didn’t want to, but they were too hungry, and hunger would made them choose. 

Don’t ask why Jiang Ning knew; she had been stabbed before! 

The door finally opened, revealing the middle aged woman’s sallow face. She fiercely shouted at the three of them, “What are you doing? I don’t know anyone named Zhang Chao! If you cause any more trouble, I’ll call the police!” 

Zheng Weili threw a punch, “Get lost.” 

The woman was knocked to the ground, blood streaming from her face with several teeth knocked out. The boy in the house screamed and grabbed a water glass from the table, smashing it towards them. 

All the furnishings in the house, the clothes in the wardrobe, were all Zhang Chao’s. 

The boy rushed over menacingly. Jiang Ning slapped him and then slammed him against the wall. 

No matter how the adults behaved, the two children were raised well. But their survival depended entirely on Zhang Chao’s provisions. Instead of being grateful, they even drove the master of the house out just to save themselves some food. 

As he approached, his face was full of hostility, without a trace of remorse. 

What did this mean? It meant he knew and even participated but he had no shame. 

The woman screamed at the top of her lungs, and the couple put on a show, but it was all in vain. Everyone was starving; who had the time to care about others? 

Zheng Weili was an experienced boxer; she knew where to hit to inflict pain without risking life. Several punches left the woman unable to scream, and she was thrown out like a dead dog. 

Zheng Weili stared coldly at the couple. “I won’t beat the old man, but if anything happens to Zhang Chao, I’ll make sure your whole family pays the price!” 

The room was in a mess. Jiang Ning’s supplies were reduced to a few kilograms of rice and two packs of salt; the oil had hardly been used. 

Lu Yu packed everything into the bag and also took some of Zhang Chao’s clothes. Anything urgent was taken away. 

The old lady, thinking she was fearless as a woman, tried to fight like what she did to Zhang Chao. Jiang Ning kicked her away, saying, “He won’t hit the elderly, but I will.” 

After searching them and taking their keys, Lu Yu locked the door and also took the rubber boat. 

Without the rubber boat, there was no way out. The old man refused to let go until when Jiang Ning took out the blood stained butcher knife. 

Only then did the family feel frightened, their faces turned pale and bloodless, and they were forced to tremble in a corner. 

Jiang Ning stared at the middle aged woman. “You’re quite poisonous, black widow.” 

With that, she grabbed the woman by the collar and threw her out the window. 

“Ah!!!” 

Lu Yu, “…” 

Zheng Weili, “…” 

The two elderly people hugged their children, crying out in despair as Jiang Ning left the building without even blinking. 

They departed in the rubber boat, while the black widow struggled to swim not far away. 

Unfortunately, she knew how to swim. 

As for how to deal with her, it was up to Zhang Chao to decide. 

If he continues to act stupidly, there is no need to save him even if he’s a friend. After all, in the apocalypse, nobody’s life was more important than their own. 

Lu Yu and Zheng Weili discussed going to Fengcheng Hotel. 

Jiang Ning’s mood was complicated, but thinking of the bricks Zhang Chao took for her, she agreed. 

Arriving at the Fengcheng Hotel. It was overcrowded, with staff surrounded by stranded citizens. 

The municipal system was paralyzed, and the water was filled with garbage. Starving survivors were everywhere, with the stench in the air overwhelming. 

Lu Yu struggled to make his way out, panting heavily after half an hour. “Accommodations are divided by zones. Zhang Chao should be on the 14th floor.” 

They couldn’t get more specific information. After all, with thousands of people crammed into one hotel, the network and power systems were completely paralyzed. 

Jiang Ning’s ears were ringing from the noise. “Let’s find a way to locate him.” 

The hotel was huge, with dozens of rooms on each floor. Without lighting, the corridors were particularly dark. 

Even in the darkness, each floor’s hallway was filled with people, making it easy to bump into or step on someone accidentally. 

Climbing up to the 14th floor, Jiang Ning took out a flashlight. 

She thought that having five or six people in one room was already overcrowded, but there were actually more than a dozen people squeezed in. The bedding and towels were dirty, and the air was filled with a dirty, pungent smell. 

It was so dirty that Zheng Weili almost vomited. “Isn’t this environment too poor?” 

But there was nothing they could do. With so many low rise buildings and large factories with thousands of workers, the relevant departments had done their best. 

They thought they would have to knock on each door, but to their surprise, with so many people inside, they found that many of the room doors were open because the crowded conditions made the air stagnant. Some people even stood in the corridor to catch their breath. 

As soon as the three of them arrived, countless pairs of eyes were on them. 

Even in the darkness, Jiang Ning could sense a lot of malice. 

If it weren’t for the military presence downstairs maintaining order with their guns and the fact that troublemakers had been dealt with harshly, they wouldn’t have dared to come in. 

Even so, they dare not slack off at all. 

They went from room to room, seeing many lifeless, numb faces. 

Zheng Weili felt heavy hearted, but apart from sighing inwardly, there was nothing she could do. 

After searching more than twenty rooms, they finally found Zhang Chao. 

He stood by the window, staring blankly at the rain outside. 

Already slim, he looked even thinner now, with his clothes dirty to the point where their original colors couldn’t be discerned. 

Having grown up together and worn the same underwear, Lu Yu recognized him immediately. “Zhang Chao.” 

He called out several times before the person by the window turned around, staring blankly at the people at the door. 

It took Zhang Chao a while to summon a stiff smile, which looked more pathetic than crying. 

His condition was quite bad, with a dirty face and greasy hair.