For three consecutive days, Shen Feng had been having people recruit personnel. During this time, he still wanted to persuade his senior sister. It wasn't that he didn't want a safe base of his own, but rather that this place was too dangerous. His group only had five thousand people. If the hundreds of thousands of zombies in the city were to pour out, his side would definitely not be able to withstand it!
Chengdu was different. The army had already stationed there. With all sorts of modern technological means, the zombies simply couldn't get close to Chengdu. As long as the army formed a dense firepower net, the zombies' human wave tactics would be no match. Even the particularly resilient tank-type zombies would be turned into sieves with a single burst of fire.
Ultimately, Shen Feng's yearning for Chengdu stemmed from absolute safety. While泸州 (Luzhou) was temporarily free from zombie threats, what about the future? If something were to go wrong later and the zombies launched a large-scale attack, and this place couldn't hold, wouldn't he have to flee with his senior sister and Chang Haojie? In the end, this place wasn't safe enough!
However, Chang Jianyi was particularly stubborn. She clearly didn't trust anyone other than Shen Feng and her brother. She disliked entrusting her safety to others, so Shen Feng couldn't persuade his senior sister.
When he had free time, Shen Feng would leave the block alone with his sword. He had evolved again and could continuously use "As Wind Follows," and cities with tall buildings became Shen Feng's jungle. He could now move freely on the rooftops. Shen Feng's primary purpose for entering the city was to investigate the zombie situation. He needed to know the zombie distribution to avoid being completely clueless when the zombies attacked the block. Additionally, Shen Feng had begun specifically hunting mutated zombies.
When the zombie incineration plan first began, Shen Feng had made a promise to grant evolution potions to those who performed well. However, he didn't have enough materials, so he could only start hunting mutated zombies.
On Yu Renshu's end, she spent all day locked in her laboratory, and no one knew what experiments she was conducting. When Shen Feng asked her to continue making evolution potions, she wouldn't refuse, but she wouldn't let anyone enter her territory.
Shen Feng also knew that Yu Renshu was researching the corpses of ability users she had killed in her laboratory. Furthermore, she had specifically found people to place a diesel generator in the house, allowing Yu Renshu to use electrical appliances. Shen Feng didn't suspect much, only thinking that Yu Renshu was conducting normal research.
Shen Feng and his senior sister's family of three lived in an office building. It was spacious and bright, but it lacked a certain liveliness. After all, this place used to be where only business elites could work. Now that the chaotic times had arrived, Shen Feng and his senior sister easily obtained this building.
On this day, Chu Yangtian brought Chu Chaoyan, who had become an evolved person, to Shen Feng's office and directly asked, "It's been three days, Shen Feng. Why haven't you started retaking泸州 (Luzhou) yet?"
Shen Feng shrugged and said indifferently, "The conditions are not ripe yet, Old Master. You should go back. This matter has nothing to do with you!"
"How does it have nothing to do with me?" Chu Yangtian directly said, "泸州 (Luzhou) is my hometown. I really can't stand the rampant zombies, so I've always hoped someone could save泸州 (Luzhou). Now that you have so many people, you can't just dismiss me with a single sentence. I just want to ask you one question: when exactly will you retake泸州 (Luzhou)?"
Shen Feng leaned back in his office chair and lazily said, "If you can't stand it, you can go retake it yourself. You don't need to worry about my business. To be honest, I'm still considering whether to actually start the plan to retake泸州 (Luzhou)!"
Chang Jianyi's office was next to Shen Feng's. She heard the noise from here and quickly came over.
Chu Yangtian directly said, "With greater ability comes greater responsibility. Now you should bear the responsibility of saving泸州 (Luzhou). How can you still say you're considering it? I don't think you're a qualified leader. Being so indecisive is truly disappointing!"
"With greater ability comes greater responsibility?" Shen Feng sneered and then said, "Old man, aren't you too naive? Having ability is my own business. Forcing responsibility onto my shoulders is too much, isn't it?"
Chang Jianyi immediately felt that something was wrong upon hearing this. An argument couldn't happen now. She quickly persuaded, "Mr. Chu, please go back first. If we need you later, we will notify you. At this time, we are still formulating plans. Please don't rush before the plans are made."
Chu Yangtian ignored Chang Jianyi's persuasion and walked in front of Shen Feng, saying earnestly, "Shen Feng, every generation has its own responsibilities. This is something you cannot escape. Please face yourself, understand the current situation, and bravely step forward when the people need you!"
Shen Feng disdainfully said, "I, for one, dislike listening to grand theories. You're talking to me about responsibility and the situation, so I have to ask, why do you think this young person like me should bear the responsibility? Why don't you people from the previous generation or the generations before go and turn the tide, but instead, you want me to?"
"You were born into this society, you enjoyed the dividends of the era, and your birth has already connected you to this era. Now society needs you, and you cannot escape!" Chu Yangtian said in a deep voice. At this moment, he really wanted to persuade the young man in front of him to understand his mission, so that he might truly understand his position.
Shen Feng's smile gradually disappeared. He then took out two office chairs and let Chu Yangtian and Chu Chaoyan sit down before saying, "Dividends of the era? I don't seem to have enjoyed any, have I? I didn't see the全民创业 (mass entrepreneurship) period, and the economic boom later had nothing to do with me. But in this current era, mortgages are crushing young people, constant overtime is draining their health, and there are various traps waiting for young people to navigate. Now you're asking me, a young person, to step forward. I have to ask you, is that fair?"
"Indeed, young people bear immense pressure, but you must also know that young people enjoy the benefits of the information age. Matters from all over the world can be known online within a day. From the moment you were born, you have been enjoying the convenience of technology. These are the dividends of the era, aren't they?" Chu Yangtian explained.
"Heh, are electronic devices free? Didn't I buy them myself with my own money! Talking about dividends of the era is just trying to deceive me with grand theories. I just want to say, don't talk to me about morality. According to your logic, all young people should step forward. Go find someone else, don't come to me!" Shen Feng said indignantly.
The reason Shen Feng became a shut-in was actually very simple: he couldn't find joy in real life, so he wanted to stay in his room and immerse himself in the virtual world, where he could feel happiness. But real life was different; one had to face a fast-paced life every day and just go with the flow.
Chu Yangtian became somewhat angry at this point: "Shen Feng, your thinking is wrong. When facing the tide of the times, you can only face it head-on. Now that the zombies have attacked, you possess extraordinary strength and have gained the support of many people. This itself is a benefit you have obtained, and your responsibility is to save more people!"
"More people?" Shen Feng found it amusing. He then lifted his clothes, revealing the faded scar on his abdomen, and said, "To save more villains? The wound here was not caused by zombies, but by humans. That shot almost killed me! So, human nature is truly complex. Zombies are easy to deal with, but what if I save more ungrateful people? Won't they stab me in the back?"
"Villains are only a minority. You must believe that if you save those people, they will be grateful to you!" Chu Yangtian said.
"I think good people are the minority! What about those who opposed me a few days ago? I saved them from the zombies, why weren't they grateful? Why did they resist? Why didn't they resist the zombies? Is it because they felt I was less terrifying than the zombies, so they stood up to resist?" Shen Feng asked.
"Aren't the other people very supportive of you?" Chu Yangtian said.
"Support me? Not necessarily!" Shen Feng was not blinded by emotion. He said, "Half of the other people have chosen to live in idleness, and the other half are afraid of my strength, and some want to obtain evolution potions! Who nowadays holds benevolence and morality in their hearts? Aren't they all driven by self-interest?"
Chu Chaoyan spoke at this moment, "Shen Feng, why do you always talk about self-interest? Can't you make contributions?"
Shen Feng extended his hand and said, "Is that so? If you don't talk about self-interest, then give me back the evolution potion you drank. Didn't you also talk about self-interest when you provided clues? Why are you talking about contribution now? Or do you just like double standards?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Chaoyan's face turned red. She had initially felt good about herself, thinking that Shen Feng was just being overly biased. But now, after being retorted by Shen Feng, she realized that she didn't seem qualified to say these things.
"So, anyone can talk about grand theories, but it's too foolish to truly believe them! Please leave, both of you. You just need to wait for further notice!" Shen Feng stood up and made a gesture of dismissal.
However, Chu Yangtian did not leave. After a moment of contemplation, he said seriously, "Since you want to talk about self-interest, I will talk to you about self-interest. Is that okay?"
Shen Feng raised an eyebrow and sat back in his seat, saying, "Of course, I'd like to hear what you have to say."
Chu Yangtian said in a deep voice, "Actually, from the moment you shouted the slogan of retaking泸州 (Luzhou), you could not retreat. Because this is the foundation of your self-help association. If you abandon this slogan, the people below will immediately become a scattered mess!"
Shen Feng said indifferently, "It doesn't matter. I can take the people I'm close to to Chengdu. This way, safety can be guaranteed, and I don't have to worry about other things!"
"Is that really so?" Chu Yangtian raised a question. "You think everything will be fine once you go there, but that's because you've never truly been there! Indeed, with the protection of the army, safety is guaranteed. But think about your identity. You are an evolved person. Do you think the army will allow someone like you to roam freely? Therefore, I can guarantee that once you go there, you will either be recruited into the army or be strictly monitored. Furthermore, you will be forcibly conscripted during wartime for combat!"
Shen Feng's brow furrowed upon hearing this. If his guess was correct, it seemed that going to Chengdu wouldn't be safe either, and he would be forced into combat.
"These are all just your speculations. I won't fall for it!" Shen Feng said stubbornly.
Chu Yangtian calmly said, "Just speculation? Then think carefully about yourself. Didn't you also say that you would forcibly conscript survivors? Do you think you can think of things that others cannot?"
Shen Feng fell silent. The reason he wanted to go to Chengdu was because safety could be guaranteed. But if safety couldn't be guaranteed, it seemed that even going there wouldn't be good. However, after all, his home was there, and his relatives were all there, so this factor couldn't be ignored.
Chang Jianyi also spoke at this moment, "A Feng, safety should always be in our own hands. Otherwise, we will only advance passively. Let's work hard to build a safe base and then bring your parents and sister over, okay?"
Chu Yangtian seized the opportunity and said earnestly, "As long as泸州 (Luzhou) is retaken, you will be the lord of this city. Whether it's safety or anything else, you will have it all! How about it, this benefit seems quite good, doesn't it?"
Shen Feng also began to imagine that if he truly became the city lord, wouldn't he have everything he wanted? Power and status would be within easy reach, and he could also show his parents how capable he had become. It could be said that Shen Feng had previously only treated retaking泸州 (Luzhou) as a slogan, but at this moment, Shen Feng was truly starting to consider the issue, and it didn't seem bad!
Sometimes, human motivation is not that noble, because many motives stem from desire, rather than lofty ideals for humanity or society. Ideals cannot be eaten.
"Mr. Chu, please go back. I need to seriously consider future matters," Shen Feng said with a smile.
At this moment, Chu Yangtian also nodded, turned, and left with his granddaughter.