Chapter 61: Zhou Ke'er Cannot Take It Anymore

The next day, Zhang Yi heard the sound of gunfire echoing through the hallway.

"Bang!" "Bang!"

The two gunshots sounded like a pair of oversized firecrackers.

Without a doubt, this was Chen Zhenghao's doing.

Obviously, Zhang Yi's words from yesterday had taken effect.

Driven to the brink of desperation, people's fear of death gradually began to dissipate.

The promise Zhang Yi made—a whole week's worth of all-you-can-eat noodles—held an irresistible temptation for them.

Zhang Yi opened his security monitor and witnessed the outbreak of the conflict.

Two men lay on the floor, clutching a wrench and a kitchen cleaver, their blood staining the hallway floor crimson.

However, Chen Zhenghao was not in much better shape. He leaned against the wall, gripping a gun, wearing an expression of lingering fear.

Since they had been intercepting people coming out to fetch water, others could naturally seize the opportunity to launch a counterattack against them.

Chen Zhenghao ordered his subordinates to drag the two corpses away, then followed closely behind them as they quickly retreated into their apartment.

He clutched a pistol tightly in his hand; right now, this was his final lifeline.

Once the two corpses were dragged inside, Chen Zhenghao gave his lackey a meaningful look, and they immediately hauled the bodies toward the back of the kitchen.

With a sinister glint in his eyes, Chen Zhenghao sat on the freezing sofa, though it provided no warmth whatsoever.

Upon returning yesterday, he had checked the group chat messages and discovered that Zhang Yi had placed a bounty on him.

This realization filled him with rage.

He considered himself the hunter, while Zhang Yi was merely the prey!

How dare the prey launch a counterattack against the hunter?

Yet, he had underestimated the madness of people driven to desperation.

Early this morning, two desperate young men had come looking for his life.

This gave Chen Zhenghao a sense of crisis, but at the same time, it drove him into an even greater frenzy!

"Go to hell! I'll kill all of you! If you want me dead, you go die first!" Chen Zhenghao roared.

As the adrenaline wore off, he suddenly felt a dull ache in his back.

He called over one of his lackeys to check what was wrong.

After taking a look, the lackey immediately cried out, "Brother Hao, your back has been slashed!"

A thirty-centimeter-long gash had been cleaved through Chen Zhenghao's down jacket. The blood blended into the black fabric, making it hard to notice unless inspected closely.

Earlier, due to the bitter cold outside and the surge of adrenaline caused by his excitement, he hadn't felt any pain.

Now, hearing his lackey's words, a wave of agony washed over him, and he let out a sharp cry.

"Those two bastard dogs actually dared to ambush me!"

Beads of cold sweat oozed across his forehead, and he hastily grabbed his phone to call Zhou Ke'er.

"Doctor Zhou, I'm injured. Come over here and bandage me up right now!"

Shortly after, Zhou Ke'er arrived at Chen Zhenghao's apartment with her medical kit slung over her shoulder.

Looking at this cold-blooded murderer, disgust filled Zhou Ke'er's eyes.

Yet, in order to survive, she had no choice but to treat his wounds.

In fact, the reason Chen Zhenghao's previous arrow wound hadn't turned fatal was precisely because she had treated it for him.

Reluctant as she was, facing the muzzle of a villain's gun, she had no options left.

"I won't treat you for free," Zhou Ke'er said coldly.

Chen Zhenghao let out a chuckle, pointed toward the kitchen, and said, "I'll save you a share of whatever we're eating later!"

Zhou Ke'er sniffed heavily, finally catching the pungent smell of blood in the air.

Her expression shifted instantly. Having worked in hospitals for years, she knew all too well what that scent implied.

Fighting down the urge to vomit, Zhou Ke'er said coldly, "No need."

Chen Zhenghao chuckled maliciously. "What time do you think it is, Doctor Zhou, and you're still acting so high and mighty? Sooner or later, you'll eat it. If you don't eat, you die!"

"I'd rather die," Zhou Ke'er frowned and replied.

"Then I wouldn't bear to let that happen! In this world nowadays, having a doctor by your side is far too important," Chen Zhenghao sighed.

Had Zhou Ke'er not treated the wound on his leg back then, he wouldn't just have lost a leg—he would have lost his life!

"Rest assured, if the day ever comes when I truly have to eat you, I'll save you for the very last."

Chen Zhenghao stared at Zhou Ke'er, a burning glint flashing in his eyes.

He had coveted this great beauty for a long time.

If she hadn't still been useful, he would have already made his move.

Frowning, Zhou Ke'er stopped talking and quietly set to work treating his wound.

In no time, the injury was simply bandaged.

Picking up her medical kit, Zhou Ke'er turned to leave.

To her surprise, Chen Zhenghao signaled his lackey, and the scrawny goon immediately blocked the doorway.

A jolt of panic struck Zhou Ke'er's heart. "What do you think you're doing?"

Chen Zhenghao replied, "Nothing much. Until my wounds are healed, you aren't going anywhere."

Chen Zhenghao was terrified right now in his heart.

He had no idea how many people wanted his head, and medical supplies were extremely scarce.

Having a doctor by his side was the only way he could feel safe.

Disregarding Zhou Ke'er's resistance, he forcefully kept her there.

Not long after, his lackey brought out a pot of cooked food.

The mere thought of what that might actually be nearly made Zhou Ke'er retch with nausea.

Fortunately, her work in the hospital meant she frequently encountered the deceased, which kept her from being scared out of her wits.

Chen Zhenghao urged her to eat some as well, an invitation she flatly refused.

Chen Zhenghao merely sneered and let the matter drop.

He figured Zhou Ke'er was just putting on airs; sooner or later, when hunger drove her to the brink, she would naturally give in and eat.

"Things can't go on like this. Even these worthless peasants dare to fight back now, which is very disadvantageous for us."

"The only way we'll be safe is by killing that fellow Zhang Yi and taking over his apartment."

"Their place is like a fortress, and it's stocked with enough supplies to last us several months at least. By then, the blizzard might even be over."

"Therefore, our top priority right now is figuring out how to deal with Zhang Yi."

Chen Zhenghao said to his lackey.

The henchmen exchanged bewildered glances upon hearing this.

"Brother Hao, we've tried storming Zhang Yi's place several times already, but every single attempt failed."

"Their house is like a turtle shell; it's impossible to break in!"

Chen Zhenghao scoffed. "I refuse to believe their home has no weaknesses, and I refuse to believe he never steps outside!"

"Here's what we'll do: we'll move into the apartment right next door to his and keep watch in shifts. The moment an opportunity arises, we'll take him out directly!"

"Besides, living on the upper floors is much safer anyway."

At a loss for direction, the group nodded in agreement with whatever Chen Zhenghao suggested.

Zhou Ke'er overheard every word of their conversation.

Under the pretext of using the restroom, she went to the bathroom and sent a message to Zhang Yi, informing him of the situation.

Upon learning of this, Zhang Yi merely smiled dismissively.

Expecting him to step outside was an absolute impossibility!

"Got it. Stay there and continue observing their movements."

Since Zhou Ke'er was a doctor and Chen Zhenghao wouldn't kill her, her life was not in immediate danger.

Zhang Yi was in no rush to make a move; since he had set the bounty, sooner or later, someone desperate enough would come and kill Chen Zhenghao for him.

After packing up their supplies, Chen Zhenghao and his crew brought Zhou Ke'er along and moved to the twenty-fourth floor.

The young couple living right next door to Zhang Yi were frightened out of their wits when they saw Chen Zhenghao arrive.