Infinite Ebullience
Chapter 1136 - 21 Newbie’s Death

Chapter 1136: Chapter 21 Newbie’s Death

Bang, the bullet hit the road surface, sending gravel flying and startling the couple, who immediately stood still and raised their hands. They hadn’t thought of running away, but it’s a pity that several muzzles were already aimed at them.

"Have you gone mad?" Tong Dahong suddenly shouted, raising his shotgun, his head drenched in cold sweat. After seeing that the couple had no ability to counterattack, he complained to Tang, "Americans all have guns. If they’d pulled out a handgun and returned fire, at least five of us would’ve been lying down."

Although the newbies said nothing, it was clear that some were resentful; nobody wanted to be put in danger, and naturally, they were repelled by Tang Zheng’s reckless action.

"The one who is stupid is you. Tang Zheng would definitely not make this kind of mistake." Zhao Dongtao defended Tang Zheng vigorously, trusting him unconditionally.

"And you’re a policeman to boot. This couple is dressed in light clothing without carrying any luggage, clearly, they haven’t gone home and started fleeing. Where would they get firearms from?" Tang Zheng was not impulsive; his targets were all carefully selected.

The newbies heaved a sigh of relief, feeling that Tang Zheng was thoughtful and reliable, and were ashamed of their previous complaints.

"Then why did you fire suddenly?" Huang Shan, taking a cue from Li Wenbo, made trouble for Tang Zheng once again, "This is America’s jurisdiction, do you want to become a target of public criticism?"

"Shut up, because of you guys, how much time have we wasted?" Tang Zheng cursed, tossing his Beretta handgun, hitting Huang Shan squarely on the bridge of his nose, blood flowing out.

"I’m going to slaughter you!" Enraged, Huang Shan loaded his gun, intending to kill Tang Zheng.

"You can’t do anything, so just watch quietly. If we keep dragging our feet, the zombies will arrive." Dong Zixuan expressed her displeasure with her colleagues for the first time, finding them to be a nuisance, as they had brought the scheming from the workplace right with them.

Tao Ran didn’t speak, but held her handgun quietly pointed at Huang Shan, determined to protect Tang Zheng even if she herself was hurt.

"Put your guns away," Uncle Wang scolded, then turned his attention to the old man who was unwilling to run and kept calling for help. He hated this kind of elder trying to take advantage of his age, but he had experience dealing with them, "Nobody help him, get up and run, or we’ll leave you behind."

Nie Jianhua, seeing that he couldn’t play the lazy card, cursed under his breath and stood up.

The newbies had no time to deal with him and were all concentrating on Tang Zheng, hoping he would come up with a solution. If they kept moving like this, they would eventually fall behind, especially the several women with children who were even more worried.

"Don’t be nervous, I mean no harm. You’ll run out of energy and won’t make it out of Chicago this way. I have a way to save time and energy," Tang Zheng first reassured the couple, so they would calm down; otherwise, their answers to questions would also be affected.

"What do you want to do?" Ampton stepped forward, shielding his girlfriend, which earned him some goodwill from Tang Zheng.

"Where’s the nearest bicycle store?" Tang Zheng didn’t look for a motorcycle store because that would need gasoline, which is too troublesome to resupply, and many might not know how to ride.

"I know, there’s a mountain bike shop on the street up ahead, turn left." Ampton’s eyes lit up, cursing himself for being too dumb to think of that.

"Then what are we waiting for, lead the way. And don’t worry, I’ll ensure your safety if zombies show up," Tang Zheng shook his shotgun, which was both to reassure Ampton and to threaten him, having a local citizen as a guide was far better than groping in the dark.

"Your backpack," Liu Guohao brought over Tang Zheng’s backpack, feeling its weight of over fifty pounds, and was in awe of his stamina, "You’re really strong."

"Your gun," Dong Zixuan also tossed the 92F over.

"Hurry up, there’s a mountain bike shop ahead." With one sentence, Tang Zheng boosted everyone’s spirits, filled with hope for escape, as bicycles were something most could ride.

"Damn it, such a simple solution, how did I not think of that?" Li Wenbo was about to explode with frustration, and Cao Rong Xuan was gritting his teeth; such a move made everyone even more convinced of Tang Zheng’s leadership.

In under three minutes, Tang Zheng and his group reached the mountain bike store. Although the five old men had no one to support them, a short rest and a walk of less than five hundred meters was still manageable. Besides, they were worried that the bicycles would be taken, so they put in extra effort.

"Acting all old and feeble, weren’t you tired? Why aren’t you falling behind?" Cao Rong Xuan saw Nie Jianhua closely following behind, recalling how he had just sat down intentionally and pretended to need help, and immediately vented his frustration, caused by Tang Zheng, on him.

Nie Jianhua smartly didn’t retort but sat down on the ground as if exhausted, panting heavily.

"Still acting?" Cao Rong Xuan was furious, kicking Nie Jianhua on the shoulder. Nie Jianhua took the opportunity to fall to the ground, screaming loudly.

"Stop hitting him," Uncle Wang shouted, "Do you want to create even more chaos?"

There are plenty of clever people in the world. A young man passing by the bike shop had an idea and broke the glass door, grabbing a bike. Unfortunately, as soon as he stepped outside, a fist smashed into his cheek.

"Grab the bikes." Tang Zheng knocked out the young man with a punch and dove towards the northeast corner where the mountain bikes were displayed.

The shop was big, with at least five hundred bicycles of various types and colors. The newbies cheered and quickly went to grab one.

Tang Zheng picked a red mountain bike, hung his backpack on it, mounted it, and with a forceful press of his right foot on the pedal, he rode towards the door.

"It’s just for transportation; what is there to pick and choose? Hurry up, just grab any one and get moving." Uncle Wang shouted at some newbies who were still picking out the paintwork and style of their bicycles.

Some Americans on foot noticed Tang Zheng’s group’s actions and had a lightbulb moment. They also ran toward the bicycle shop.

Bang, he fired a shot, scaring them off.

"What are you planning to do with my shop?" Tang Zheng took preemptive action to buy time. Otherwise, it would be too crowded if so many people rushed in.

"What proof do you have that the shop is yours?" someone challenged, aiming their gun at Tang Zheng.

"The name of this shop happens to be the same as my cousin’s name," Tang Zheng bluffed on the spot, not needing them to believe him, just to delay them.

Uncle Wang was a big help, rushing the newbies who finally made their choices and squeezed out.

Kong Licheng, as he pushed his bike out, saw Tang Zheng facing a dozen muzzles without changing his expression and couldn’t help but praise him.

"Let’s hit the road." Tang Zheng called out, ready to bike off, "Ampton, come with us. We’ll head to the suburbs first. I’ve got money on me, so you don’t have to worry about food."

Ampton, having seen how violent Tang Zheng was, did not want to accompany him.

"Look, it’s too dangerous to go alone." Tang Zheng pointed to a couple not far away who were being beaten by a group of black youths.

Ampton’s girlfriend became very afraid and began to urge him as well.

Although the roads were still jammed with cars and people everywhere, bicycles were incredibly convenient. As long as there were paths, they could make their way through, and besides, over ninety percent of the Chinese people present certainly knew how to ride bikes, even the old men weren’t left behind.

After biking for twenty minutes, under the guidance of their guide, Tang Zheng and his companions were nearing the suburbs.

"Why can’t we take the subway entrance route? It’s closer!" Ampton’s girlfriend, Sally, who regained her composure and was quite outgoing, started to question Tang Zheng thoroughly, finding him quite interesting.

"The subway was one of the first places attacked by the biochemical threat, and zombies could come pouring out." This girl was a potential guide candidate, and after Tang Zheng answered, he probed about the current situation in America. Unfortunately, the girl in front of him was only interested in parties and fashion, not in politics and was clueless about such matters.

"Ouch, what are you doing? Help!" Suddenly, Nie Jianhua’s cries for help came from the back of the group. "We’re being robbed!"

Tang Zheng turned around just in time to see a black youth pounce on Nie Jianhua, pulling him off the mountain bike. The old man knew if he lost the bike, he’d definitely fall behind, so he held on to the tire tightly, which enraged the black youth leading to a violent kicking of his head.

Nie Jianhua’s cheek took several blows, his nose bled profusely, and his eyes swelled up. Another old man understood the situation as well and clung to his bicycle without letting go. However, the one at the back was unlucky and had his bike stolen.

Many of the pedestrians on the road coveted the bicycles of Tang Zheng’s group, but due to morality and the presence of firearms, they didn’t dare rob them. However, there were always those fearless ones. These three black youths, who chose to target three isolated old men, were such people.

"Old man." The black youth was furious and suddenly drew a handgun from his cloak, firing two shots at the old man’s chest, causing blood to spurt wildly.

The old man lay on the ground, apparently on the brink of death.

Ah, as the women witnessed the murder, they screamed, nearly falling over.

"Don’t kill me, take the bike," Nie Jianhua, seeing the old man being shot, let go of the wheel in a tremor, no longer daring to resist. Another man reacted a bit too slowly and was shot twice by the black youth next to him. This youth didn’t dare to kill, only aiming at his thigh.

The policemen, led by Uncle Wang, were at a loss for what to do, not daring to fire. Dong Zixuan pulled out her handgun, hesitating.

"Fuck!" Tang Zheng cursed loudly, pedaling hard with one foot, using the other to push off the ground, grabbing the Benelli M4 that hung in front of him, sliding the tactical handguard back with a clacking sound, loading the gun.

The first black man who had stolen a bike frantically pedaled away, but only made it twenty meters when a shotgun blast struck him in the back. He tumbled over like he’d been hit by a warhammer, leaving a pool of blood on the ground, the bicycle twisted by the shot.

The black youth who had stolen Nie Jianhua’s bike was startled by his companion’s death and turned around, raising his handgun to take down Tang Zheng. Unfortunately, he was too slow. As he turned, the shotgun blast hit him squarely in the head.

Seeing the black youth’s head explode like a rotten watermelon and his headless corpse collapse, the newbies all screamed in unison, while the policemen’s eyes twitched uncontrollably.

"Don’t kill me," the third black man, subdued by Tang Zheng’s ruthless efficiency, raised his hands in surrender, but it was useless. Tang Zheng fired a bullet, shattering his chest.

The newbies all stared dumbfounded at Tang Zheng, never expecting this young man to kill so cold-bloodedly.

"What are you gaping at? Get on your bikes and move!" Tang Zheng roared, glaring at the newbies, "What are your guns for, fire sticks? They’ve killed someone, and you all still hesitate?" (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)