Luo Yunshi and the other person disembarked from the aircraft and joined the crowd.
"May I ask, were you two young ladies who lured away those monsters just now?" Shen Yi stepped forward and asked first.
"Yes, it was us!" Luo Yunshi nodded.
As they spoke, the group slew the stray zombies within the city.
Luo Yunshi learned from them that this group was from a镖局 (biao ju - security escort agency), all skilled in martial arts, and most had awakened supernatural abilities.
"Is there anyone in charge in the city? Is the county magistrate still alive?"
"The county magistrate turned into a monster and died long ago. The city is a mess now. Those who are alive are too busy with their own survival to care about anything else," Shen Yi sighed and shook his head.
"Are you planning to leave? I have a food shop on the main road. There's plenty of food there, and no zombie troubles. However, you'll have to buy your own food. There's no accommodation for now."
The crowd's eyes lit up at the mention of food! There was hardly any food left in the city.
"Brother, food! Let's go!" Zhao Xiaoliu exclaimed excitedly.
"Alright, we'll go! Excuse me, ladies, when do we depart?"
"In half an hour, from the East Gate."
"Understood! Then we'll go pack our things."
Some citizens who had come out to observe the situation also hurried home to pack, fearing they would be left behind.
Luo Yunshi, using the aircraft, announced the departure on every street.
Afterward, she began scavenging in every empty house and shop.
Various jewelry stores, antique shops, calligraphy and painting stores, pearl and jewelry shops, tea houses, restaurants, textile shops, banks, pawnshops, and so on. Everything in any unoccupied shop was packed into her backpack.
Even wooden beds, tables, and chairs were not spared. Within the county magistrate's mansion, she discovered two large chests of gold and a box of jewels, along with a small box of silver notes.
However, silver notes were like paper to Luo Yunshi, utterly useless. But the small box was inlaid with jewels, so she also stored it in her system backpack.
"Wow, we're rich, we're rich!" Luo Yunshi exclaimed excitedly. "Let's go! To the East City Gate."
The two of them, using the aircraft, waited at the city gate.
When half an hour passed, approximately seven to eight thousand people had gathered from the city.
Luo Yunshi glanced around. She shouted loudly, "Is there anyone else not out yet?"
"Yes!"
Upon hearing this, Luo Yunshi looked towards the speaker. "What's the situation with those who haven't come out?"
Seeing Luo Yunshi look his way, the man swallowed nervously. He said cautiously, "Some people say the monsters are gone, and things will get better, so they don't want to leave."
Luo Yunshi frowned. She quickly re-entered the city and soon found people who hadn't left.
Among them was a wealthy landowner who believed that since everyone else had left, all the possessions in the city were now his. His family was equally greedy and showed no intention of stopping him.
Luo Yunshi ignored the greedy individuals. She soon found another family where the head of the household had injured his leg and could not walk. He feared being a burden to his family and didn't want to leave.
When she arrived, the family was in the midst of an argument.
Hearing their dispute, Luo Yunshi flew into the air and said indifferently to those below, "If you want your entire family to die with you, then stay here. If you don't want to die, then hurry and leave."
The middle-aged man looked up, his eyes filled with guilt. "My leg..."
Luo Yunshi didn't want to listen to his excuses and quickly interrupted, "If I were you, I'd leave here even if I had to hop or crawl."
After Luo Yunshi's words, the others began to persuade him.
"If you don't want to die, then keep up!"
Whether it was the persuasion of his family or Luo Yunshi's sudden awakening, the man seemed to have a sudden realization.
He stood up, leaning on his crutch, his voice strong and no longer dejected. "Eldest brother, second brother, if I can't walk, you carry me." With that, he slung his bag over his shoulder and limped briskly towards the east of the city.
Luo Yunshi smiled at this. She circled around again and found that most other families were driven by insatiable greed, their thoughts similar to the wealthy landowner's. Therefore, she paid them no further mind. She quickly went to the homes of others she hadn't visited, collected their abandoned belongings, and returned to the east gate.
By this time, the family with the limping man had also arrived.
Luo Yunshi loudly addressed the crowd, "Those with special abilities, step forward!"
Hearing this, the citizens exchanged glances. Some hesitated before walking forward.
About seven to eight hundred people stepped forward.
"Divide yourselves into four groups, surrounding the civilians from the front, back, left, and right. You will be responsible for protecting the people in the middle." Before anyone could object, Luo Yunshi continued.
"Once we return to the shop, you will have priority in purchasing goods today."
The crowd's eyes lit up. Some had been worried that with only one shop, there might not be enough food. But upon hearing they could buy first, they immediately became excited.
Some individuals who possessed abilities but had not stepped forward now regretted it immensely. They felt too embarrassed to come forward now.
"Alright! We'll follow your lead, miss!"
"Yes, miss, rest assured."
Luo Yunshi nodded.
The group of over seven thousand people moved out in a grand procession towards the main road.
Along the way, many zombies appeared, but because music was constantly playing from the loudspeakers, which could control zombies within a 200-meter radius, and Luo Yunshi's aircraft was flying in the center of the group, completely encircling the seven thousand people, the zombies encountered would all stop moving mid-stride. The ability users on the outer perimeter would then quickly dispatch them using various methods.
Along the journey, their courage grew, and their abilities also improved. The ability users, sensing their own progress, looked at Luo Yunshi with even greater awe.
This young girl was not only powerful but also incredibly intelligent and righteous. She had taken the lead in many matters, and Luo Yunshi had clearly become the leader, with Mingzhu as her second-in-command.
This was something Luo Yunshi had not anticipated.
After more than two hours, the seven thousand-plus people finally arrived at the fast-food restaurant.
Luo Yunshi disembarked from the aircraft and directed the ability users to enter the shop and purchase their goods first.
The people inside the shop were astonished to see Luo Yunshi bring back such a large group. So many monsters! How had they managed to reach them safely?
Upon seeing the guests arrive, Zhaoyang quickly instructed everyone to explain the shop's rules and then queue up to exchange points.
Seeing that he was overwhelmed, Shangguan He and the others also came forward to help.
Luo Yunshi allowing the ability users to enter the shop first and buy goods was met with general acceptance. A few discontented individuals dared not speak out, while only a select few grumbled softly.
Hearing the soft murmurs, Luo Yunshi strode forward, her gaze calmly sweeping over the speakers, her tone even.
"If you believed your own strength was sufficient, you could have stepped forward to protect everyone at the time. No one owes you anything and is obligated to protect you. One must know how to be grateful. Otherwise, in these chaotic times, you won't live long..."
The final syllable of "long" was drawn out, carrying an unfathomable implication.