Chapter Ten: Burning All Bridges

The head security guard's face darkened, looking grim. The commotion caused by Gu Sha’s entrance had made him wary, uncertain of Gu Sha’s true fighting prowess. He had served in the military before and had seen real fighters, so he held a deep respect for those with skill. Though his men outnumbered Gu Sha and they all carried weapons, he was reluctant to confront Gu Sha directly.

“Young man,” the head guard said, “this woman is no saint. Don’t trust her. She’s just repaid our kindness with betrayal. Fighting us for someone like her is unwise. Look at the world now—it’s like a movie apocalypse. You seem capable; why not join us? You’d have a much better chance surviving together than staking your hopes on her. I bet the whole world is overwhelmed by zombies right now; whatever forces stand behind her are probably too busy to help, let alone save you. Besides, she has a history of betrayal. Even if her people show up, what if she changes her mind and leaves you behind?”

Lin Xingyan hurriedly protested, “I won’t! I promise, never. Please believe me!”

She was truly desperate now. Ordinarily, she wouldn’t give someone like Gu Sha a second glance, nor would she pin her hopes on him. But now, with nowhere left to turn, even though she doubted Gu Sha could really defeat so many security guards, she saw him as her last straw.

Gu Sha looked at the head guard. Had he not returned with foreknowledge that the Lin family would come to rescue Lin Xingyan, or lacked the power of a third-level warrior, he would have preferred to cooperate with these guards. After all, in times like these, survival was best sought with tough, capable allies.

But he was different.

He knew for certain the Lin family would come, and he had no fear of Lin Xingyan betraying him.

He turned to the head guard and said, “Enough. No need to say more. I’ve already agreed to work with Miss Lin. I won’t make things hard for you. As long as you leave her alone, do whatever you want—I don’t care. I only want her.”

Though these security guards were behaving reprehensibly—anyone with a shred of justice would never tolerate their actions—Gu Sha was unconcerned. He himself was hardly a paragon of virtue; he didn’t care what they did, so long as they didn’t touch Lin Xingyan. If his interests weren’t threatened, whether they committed murder or acted with monstrous cruelty, he would turn a blind eye.

However, it was clear the head guard, though wary of Gu Sha’s strength, hadn’t realized Gu Sha could utterly crush them. When he saw Gu Sha’s unwavering stance, he began to signal his men behind him, pretending to agree, forcing a smile. “Since you insist, young man, let’s be friends. The woman’s yours—I won’t touch her.”

At that moment, two guards behind Gu Sha suddenly attacked—one swung an axe, the other a metal rod, launching a surprise assault. The axe aimed for Gu Sha’s head, the rod for his leg.

But in that instant, Gu Sha snorted coldly, spun around, and leaped. In midair, he lashed out with a whip kick—both guards were struck and sent flying like kites with broken strings.

Gu Sha’s strength was measured in tons. Struck by him, survival was impossible. One crashed into a pillar, bones snapping audibly, dying instantly. The other smashed into the second-floor wall, his skull bursting, brain matter splattering.

At the same time, Gu Sha snatched an axe from his backpack and hurled it. It embedded itself in another guard’s skull, the force sending him flying, the axe splitting his head and pinning him to the wall.

In that instant, the remaining guards were paralyzed with fear, terror flooding their faces.

The head guard stammered, “It’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding, brother, please—it’s all a misunderstanding!” Gu Sha’s display of power was so overwhelming that he abandoned the familiar “young man,” switching to “brother” in a desperate bid for peace.

Gu Sha shook his head. He had never intended to play the hero or root out evil, but when he acted, he did so completely, leaving no future threats. Since he had started, he would not leave any enemies alive.

Without hesitation, he lunged at another guard. Before the man could react, Gu Sha smashed his fist into the man’s head, bursting it like a ripe watermelon. Then he lashed out with a kick, shattering another guard’s jaw, the fracture extending up through his forehead. With a swift spin, Gu Sha rotated three hundred sixty degrees midair, his whip kick smashing into another guard’s shoulder.

The sound of cracking bones echoed. The guard’s shoulder broke, and the immense force drove him to his knees, shattering the floor and his kneecaps. Gu Sha followed with a kick to the neck, snapping it and sending the body flying, splattering against the wall, dead beyond question.

“Don’t come any closer—or I’ll kill her!” The head guard, now utterly terrified, pressed his blade against Lin Xingyan’s throat, shouting threats.

Gu Sha paid no heed, charging forward in a blur. He reached them in an instant, grabbed the blade, and, as the head guard panicked, punched him squarely in the face. The blow crushed the man’s features; he crashed into a pillar and moved no more.

Lin Xingyan trembled, still in shock, staring blankly ahead. It was a long moment before she finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Gu Sha picked up the head guard’s blade and weighed it in his hand. It was about four pounds—heavy for most, but in his grasp, far too light. Still, obtaining a sharpened blade was a welcome addition to his arsenal.

Outside, zombies continued to roar and howl. Inside, the survivors felt as though they had escaped death, breathing sighs of relief at the demise of the crazed guards.

Yet, just then, the woman who had nearly been assaulted after her husband was killed suddenly shouted, “Why didn’t you act sooner, you bastard!”

Gu Sha: "??"