Apocalypse King: Recruiting S-Tier Beauties With My Ruler System
Chapter 187: To the West, Through Blood and Dust

Chapter 187: To the West, Through Blood and Dust

March 24th, 6:47 AM

Former Gu Compound Courtyard

John Wang POV

——

The morning was sharp with cold spring air brushing across my face as I opened my eyes. The weight across my chest was warm, soft, and breathing was slow. Yifei.

Her petite frame curled tighter, a soft whimper slipping from her lips as if she sensed I was trying to move.

To my left, Mu Qinglan had tangled herself in the thin blanket we’d shared, her leg hooked around mine like she was keeping me prisoner. Her cheek was bruised. There was blood in her hair. She looked serene. It didn’t match the woman who’d slaughtered a dozen men two nights ago with laughter in her throat.

To my right, Jiang Roulan lay on her side, arms folded under her head, back turned toward me... but close enough that I could feel her quiet breathing.

I didn’t even bother complaining.

My back ached, my shoulder throbbed, and yet... I didn’t hate waking up like this.

But right now? This wasn’t hell, it was great. Their warmth, pain, and the slow ache of something human.

I raised a hand, brushing Yifei’s messy hair back from her face.

Her lashes fluttered.

"...Mmgh. John." Her voice was still half-sleep, but the edge was there. Sharp and sweet. Her eyes cracked open. "You’re not allowed to die."

"I didn’t," I said. "So quit drooling."

"I wasn’t—!" she snapped, pushing off my chest with a blush so sharp it hurt to look at. "Stupid pervert...!"

Qinglan didn’t move.

"Crazy girl’s still pretending to sleep," I muttered.

"I heard that," Qinglan replied flatly, cracking one crimson eye. "Say it again and I’ll stab you with my love."

"Not sure if that’s a threat or a proposition."

She grinned, eyes gleaming with madness. "Why not both?"

"Where’s Roulan?" I asked.

"She left before you woke. Said she needed to check on Tang Wei," Yifei replied, stretching with a yawn. "You’re really getting spoiled with three warm bodies, huh?"

"I’m sleeping in a den full of wolves."

"Awoo?"

My joints popped, and a dull ache spread through my torso, but I pushed through.

I couldn’t afford to rest anymore. Too many people were waiting, and there was far too much to be finished today... It was time to get up.

By the time I limped out into the courtyard, the sky was already pale and cloud-streaked, the air still heavy with yesterday’s ash and gunpowder.

Tang Wei stood at the centre of the yard, directing the villagers with clipped commands. Her uniform jacket flicked in the wind, but she looked solid, composed. Unshaken.

Jiang Roulan leaned against the frame of the burned-out garage, arms crossed. She saw me and nodded once.

Most of the pain vanished, but I woke up with a muscle cramp.

"You look horrible."

"Well... I’m still alive, right?"

Roulan seemed to like teasing and making fun of me as she bumped against my shoulder.

"Idiot." Her voice was flat, but I caught the tiny twitch of her lip. "We’re ready."

The villagers—those who could stand—had gathered near the main fire. Some were wounded. Some just looked hollow. All of them watched me the moment I stepped into view with expectant eyes.

I was about to announce whether they’d live or die.

I didn’t sugarcoat it.

"You’re free now," I said, loud enough to carry. "You can stay here, or go wherever you want."

The crowd shifted, murmurs passing through them like ripples.

"But," I continued, "if you want to survive what’s coming, and if you want a future that’s more than just running or hiding... you can follow me."

That got their attention.

"I won’t lie. It won’t be safe. I’m not a saint, and I’m not building a utopia. What I’m offering is a hard road. Long days. Blood. Maybe worse. But if you follow me, I’ll give you a place. A role. A chance to fight back and carve something of your own."

I paused, letting it settle.

"I’ll ask once."

The villagers didn’t look strong, most of them were D-Tier, but honestly, with the amount of ZKP that many troops could bring, it would probably be worth taking them, especially since I reached Rank Six.

But thanks to reaching Stage Four, it seemed the difference between my power and leadership was levelling out.

Ten people stepped forward at first, nobody amazing... then a few more.

One by one. No fanfare.

A middle-aged man with burns across his chest. A quiet woman holding her teenage son’s hand. An older hunter with one eye. They weren’t strong. But they were willing to join me, so I instantly recruited them...

All of them.

[You have gained Farming Lv.1]

[You have gained Cooking Lv.1]

[You have gained Sneak Lv.1]

[Your Charisma Skill has increased Lv.1 --> Lv.3]

[Your Shooting Skill has increased: Lv.4 --> Lv.6]

[Your Archery Skill has increased: Lv.1 --> Lv.4]

[Your Leadership Skill has increased: Lv.5 --> Lv.8]

[You have gained 10,000 ZKP]

Once the twenty people were added, I noticed that a few skills were added, and many of my skills improved quite a lot.

That was enough.

"Alright," I muttered, turning to Tang Wei. "Gear up the Jeeps. We’re heading west."

"How far?" she asked.

I looked at Jiang Roulan.

"Your family’s estate. That’s our next stop. After that... we circle back."

"Back to the base?" she asked quietly.

I nodded.

"I’m done running. It’s time we take it back, but your request for me comes first."

[Jiang Roulan’s Affection Increased]

"John... thank you."

"You don’t need to thank me... aren’t we lovers?"

"Heh, I wonder~ I’ll think about it."

[Jiang Roulan’s Affection Increased]

This was more than enough for me now. I looked back at the damaged mansion and wondered if somewhere like this would be better in the future.

The apartment was decent, but sadly, it wasn’t perfect, and the amount of natural land to farm or grow food and collect water was limited.

’Forget It...’

***

The Jeep rolled slowly down the damaged streets, engine humming quietly beneath Mu Qinglan’s steady hands.

Her eyes remained locked on Jiang Roulan’s Jeep ahead, her posture sharp and calm as always. Behind us, Shen Yifei slouched deep into the seat, her blonde twintails curled around her fingers, her gaze flicking anxiously toward the ruined buildings passing by.

"Even the South District looks like this now?" Yifei murmured. Her blue eyes narrowed as they passed a burned-out storefront, glass shattered, shelves looted bare. "I remember shopping here. It was always so lively..."

Liang Mei leaned forward, peering over the back of my seat. "I visited a friend here once. This district was one of the nicest in the city."

"Not anymore," Liang Qiu muttered softly, her voice distant as she stared through the window, lost in thought. "It’s all gone now."

Mu Qinglan’s grip tightened slightly on the wheel, her gaze still ahead. "We need to adapt fast. Nothing’s coming back to normal."

Yifei sighed, closing her eyes and sinking further into the seat. "I just wish we could have one day without danger."

"Those days are gone..." I leaned my head back against the headrest. "But we’ll build something better. Eventually."

I opened the system interface, quietly considering what needed to come next. I checked my ZKP balance first, scanning through the menus as Qinglan smoothly navigated around debris and abandoned vehicles.

The mini-map was clear for now, thanks to Gu Tianhao and his men clearing out the bulk of the zombies.

I put my hands together in a prayer for them who were now dead.

"Well let’s keep our eyes out for Stage Two or Three zombies... and Ghouls."

My fingers tapped lightly on the system window, browsing available items:

[Simple Meals]Cost: 10 ZKP each.[Purchase quantity: 30]

[Water Bottles]Cost: 5 ZKP each.[Purchase quantity: 30]

I confirmed the purchases with a single tap, feeling the familiar tug of resources as my ZKP dropped accordingly.

’Better safe than sorry,’ I thought, quietly glancing back at the recruits trailing in the Jeeps behind us.

Most had only ever fired guns in self-defence.

Five of them looked more suitable for farming, cooking, or handling supplies. I would assign them properly when we returned to our base; I had made the other recruits into Soldiers, Militia and scouts.

After all, rebuilding meant more than just killing zombies. It meant living again, creating something sustainable.

I stared at the locked feature on the corner of my vision:

[Base Relocation] — Unlocked at Rank Six.

This cool ability could be used once a week, and once I found somewhere with suitable land... then I would switch our base.

Although the apartment was great, it didn’t have the potential that a place with fresh, fertile land did, and it was too far into the city centre.

Now I am Stage Four...

I could probably fight Zao and kill him one-on-one.

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