章 61: Lawful Evil

Chen Feng's words were like a sharp blade, cutting through everyone's hearts. As they stared at the corpses on the ground, some people began to sob and vomit, but even then, not one of them dared to protest.

Obey or Die.

There was no need for further explanation; Chen Feng had already demonstrated the consequences of breaking the rules.

Chen Feng had no intention of coddling a group of weaklings. If these people wanted to live under his protection, they would have to show some sincerity.

The Apocalypse was merciless. These people were already at a disadvantage, and if they stayed in their current condition, they would soon become nothing more than prey for the monsters.

They needed to learn how to become real warriors.

Throughout history, those who rise to power have always done so by walking over the bones of others.

Ding Liang lay on the ground, his eyes wide open in death, a look of disbelief etched on his face. Before the apocalypse, he had been a powerful school director, fully controlling the lifeline of the institution.

Back then, he was undeniably a successful man. With his resources and connections, he never lacked female students who were willing to climb into his bed, seeking to benefit from his influence and relationships.

But now, this once-privileged man lay dead on the ground, his chest easily pierced, and his life abruptly ended.

This is the Apocalypse.

Without power, life is as fragile as a cake, collapsing at the slightest touch, with no chance to resist.

What's that? You're a famous celebrity? Your concerts used to attract tens of thousands of fans, and girls would cry and scream just to catch a glimpse of you? Well, are you a Professional? No? Then stop wasting my time and go stand guard outside. And if you don't stand up straight, you won't even get a moldy bun to eat.

Are you a real estate tycoon with an annual income of millions? You want me to protect you in exchange for money? Money? In this world, money is nothing but worthless paper. As long as your fists are strong enough, you can have anything you want.

Madness.

The world had become steeped in madness, stained by blood. Some professionals, drunk with their newfound power, deemed themselves superior to others, indulging in violence and depravity, committing every atrocity imaginable.

On the other hand, there were factions like the Judges, who detested all forms of darkness. Their sole purpose in life was to rebuild the ruins of civilization.

This polarization of extremes would inevitably breed chaos.

Monsters, demons, villains, judges, the self-righteous—every person, every creature had their own alignment, whether it be evil, good, or neutral.

Compared to the pure lunatics and the rigid judges, Chen Feng clung to his own belief.

Lawful Evil.

A path where a single blade could decide life or death.

Chen Feng's approach was simple: anyone or anything that threatened his plans or his life was an enemy, and there was no need to show mercy.

Now, he needed to build his own force.

Although he had joined the military and Feng Zhiyong had promised him a position, Chen Feng lacked a force that was truly his own, along with loyal followers.

The air-raid shelter would be the starting point. Chen Feng planned to consolidate the nearby survivors and form an armed force entirely under his control.

When faced with thousands of monsters, even an Epic Realm warrior could eventually be overwhelmed.

A powerful force was like baby formula, while an individual was like a newborn.

An exceptional force would continuously nourish the individual, and a stable, prosperous organization would naturally attract the loyalty of the strong.

Wei Xun was to be his agent.

Those in power rarely acted directly; keeping an air of mystery instilled awe. Like a deity, ordinary followers expressed their devotion through priests, never engaging directly with the true god. This aura of mystery symbolized power, and it was precisely because of this that their worshippers remained so devout, convinced that their deity held omnipotent strength.

Wei Xun was undoubtedly a mad dog. Just moments ago, this mad dog had ruthlessly killed two people, instilling fear in everyone present. To these people, Wei Xun was powerful.

And yet, Chen Feng could make Wei Xun obey with just a few casual words. This cast Chen Feng's shadow deep into everyone's hearts.

Compared to the bright light of day, people feared the pitch-black night far more.

Just by standing there, Chen Feng exuded a sense of oppression. Some of the more timid individuals didn't even dare to look him in the eye.

"Have the men who meet the criteria for searching for food step forward."

"Find some makeshift weapons, like baseball bats, chairs, or kitchen knives—anything that can be used for self-defense."

"Food will be centrally managed. All food will be distributed equally, no hoarding, no taking more than your share. Violators will die!"

Chen Feng issued a series of commands, and Wei Xun immediately began to enforce them. Due to the recent upheaval, the crowd offered no resistance. Soon, forty-seven men who were capable of searching for food stood in a line. Forced by Chen Feng's imposing presence, many of them handed over the food they had hidden on their bodies.

Selfishness.

These people had hidden food they couldn't finish. Now, the pile of food grew larger, forming a small mound.

Chen Feng paid no attention to this scene. Though it was a sign of their base nature, it was also a survival instinct. He turned his attention to the group of 'warriors' in front of him.

Their ages varied, but most of them were college students in their twenties. At this moment, they were pale and trembling, as if they were about to be led to the execution grounds.

"I don't care who you were before or what your status was. From now on, you are the guardians of this camp. Like Wei Xun, you will go out to search for food. You will be rewarded for your efforts. You might be afraid of the monsters outside, so if anyone doesn't want to go out, just let me know. I'll end your suffering right here and now."

Chen Feng didn't give them a chance to refuse. They knew all too well what 'ending their suffering' meant.

It was already a foregone conclusion.

Though terrified, they had no choice but to steel themselves and face the monsters outside.

Waving his hand, Chen Feng dismissed the crowd and then called Wei Xun over.

Wei Xun seemed hesitant, wanting to say something.

Chen Feng glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and said, "If you have something to say, just say it..."

"You still want me to search for food? No, I mean, do we really need to help this group of wastes?" Wei Xun asked in confusion. He had just killed his friend to rid himself of these people, and now Chen Feng was telling him to continue helping them. It made no sense to him.

Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. "One person alone isn't enough. The area around us is filled with danger, so I need to consolidate all the survivors nearby. Only by doing that can we stand a chance against this disaster."

"These people are under your command. I have connections with the military leadership. If you do well, I'll secure a position for you in the future."

Incentives.

Hearing this, Wei Xun's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected Chen Feng to have such connections, which only solidified his belief that Chen Feng was no ordinary man.

"And one more thing..." Chen Feng said, as if something had just occurred to him.

Wei Xun straightened up, waiting attentively.

"I promised to protect your life, but that requires you to give something in return—unconditional obedience and acceptance. I hope this is the last time you question my decisions."

Chen Feng slowly turned his head, the smile on his face vanishing in an instant.

At the same time, an overwhelming killing intent radiated from him.

"I get it... I understand..." Wei Xun stammered, struggling to speak. The cold, murderous aura emanating from Chen Feng left him tongue-tied, his words barely coherent.

Intimidation.

Chen Feng needed to establish one thing with Wei Xun: his words were law. As for everyone else, they only needed to obey.

Wei Xun could feel the sweat forming on his back. He had already experienced Chen Feng's power firsthand. The man was like a beast in human skin, and Wei Xun had no way to resist him. His heart pounded, and he swore to himself that he would never question Chen Feng's orders again.

"You've been here for a while now. You must know the area well. Tell me, are there any places nearby where monsters are holed up, or where survivors might be hiding?"

Chen Feng refocused on the task at hand. With the insect tide yet to erupt, he intended to consolidate his power as quickly as possible. There was no doubt—any attempt to obstruct his plan would be met with the most brutal of retributions!