Apocalypse: The Primordial Pearl Recognizes Its Master, Starting with Infinite Space

Lin Chen nodded slightly to Li Ya, said nothing more, and turned to leave with his men.

The footsteps quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Inside the dance hall, only Li Ya and four others remained, along with thousands of survivors who were nearly crushed.

Almost the instant Lin Chen's figure disappeared—

"thump……"

Some people collapsed to the ground.

"Ha...ha..." Heavy breathing rose and fell, like a broken bellows.

A suppressed, soft sob suddenly came from the corner.

"...Waaah..."

Immediately afterwards, as if the crying had punctured something, low sobs began to rise from all directions.

"Mom...Mom..."

"Ah Jie... Ah Jie is right in front of me..."

The cries blended together.

Someone hugged their knees, burying their face in them, their shoulders shaking violently: "...How could this happen...They were fine the day before yesterday..."

A boy next to him stared blankly at his blood-stained hands, muttering, "I closed the door... I locked Xiao Qing out... She was banging on the door, she kept banging..."

"Rain...you can't touch that rain..." another girl huddled up, repeating over and over, "Teacher Zhang only got a little bit wet...just a little bit...and then...then it changed..."

"It's all those things outside... all of them..." someone said nervously, clutching their hair. "We're trapped... trapped..."

"It's been two days..." a weak voice said, "...two days without eating anything..."

These words were like a needle, piercing through the pervasive sorrow. The crying gradually subsided, replaced by a deathly silence.

Then, someone's stomach made a loud "gurgle" sound.

Then came the second sound, the third sound...

The sounds of hunger grew clear in the empty hall, like a snake awakening, gnawing at everyone's nerves.

Just then, a woman in her thirties, dressed in a black dance leotard, slowly walked toward the twin sisters who were on guard.

Even though she looked haggard, her elegant figure was still undeniable.

"You... are you Jiang Yingxue and Jiang Yingyue?" she asked softly, her tone cautious, her eyes holding a faint expectation for food and hope.

Jiang Yingxue looked up and recognized her: "You are... Ms. Su Qingyue from the dance department?"

"It's me." Teacher Su nodded hurriedly, licking her chapped lips, her voice almost pleading, "Do you... have any food on you? I haven't eaten anything or drunk a drop of clean water for two whole days."

Her gaze was fixed on the twins' bulging tactical backpacks.

Jiang Yingxue and Jiang Yingyue exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with hesitation and reluctance. They had been incredibly lucky to have met Lin Chen after the apocalypse broke out, and had never truly experienced hunger, with supplies always plentiful.

More importantly, they still retain a pure and kind heart that has not been tainted by darkness.

However, this act of kindness was quickly shattered by reality.

The students and teachers nearby, upon seeing the individually packaged packets of compressed biscuits and small breads the twins had pulled out, immediately had their eyes light up like hungry wolves! They struggled to gather around, extending their dirty, trembling hands.

Please, give us some! We're begging you!

"We haven't eaten for two days either!"

"We're all classmates, we should share the burden!"

The twins were instantly overwhelmed by a cacophony of pleas, demands, and even words that subtly carried a hint of moral blackmail.

In the blink of an eye, the few bags of food that were available were snatched up in the chaotic scramble. Some people even pushed and shoved each other and cursed under their breath as they fought over the food.

The brief struggle did not alleviate their hunger; instead, it intensified their anxiety. Some people began to stare intently at the helpless twin sisters with dissatisfaction, disappointment, and even a hint of malice.

"We...we really have nothing left." Jiang Yingxue looked at her empty hands and explained softly, feeling a strange sense of grievance and fear.

"No more? Then go ask your teammates!" A middle-aged female teacher with high cheekbones and gold-rimmed glasses suddenly interrupted in a shrill voice, her tone full of self-righteous accusation. "Aren't you all with that leader and those guys with guns? Why are you so stubborn? We're your teachers! How have we taught you? Don't you understand respect for teachers? What time is it now? If you have connections, you should help everyone find a solution!"

Several other men and women who appeared to be teachers immediately chimed in:

"Exactly! Teacher Zeng is right! What era are we in now? Why are we still distinguishing between 'us' and 'them'?"

"You're familiar with those people, so you put in a good word for them and ask for some food and drinks. What's wrong with that? Isn't it the least you can do?"

"What have you teachers been doing, teaching you all for nothing? You have no gratitude at all!"

They themselves dared not face Lin Chen or Li Ya directly, but wanted to use the name of "teacher-student relationship" and "moral obligation" to transfer the pressure to two seemingly soft-hearted girls who had once been "their students".

This sense of entitlement and condescension appears particularly cold and ironic in the context of the apocalypse.

Bai Xin took it all in. She recognized that teacher Zeng—an associate professor in the vocal music department. She had met him a few times before at school events; he always had an air of authority and liked to lecture.

Seeing the other person's face, Bai Xin felt a strong sense of nausea and anger.

As a teacher herself, she knows the weight of professional ethics and that it is absolutely not a tool to manipulate students or seek personal gain in times of crisis!

Li Ya stood guard not far away and saw the whole scene clearly.

Anger surged within her, and with a cold laugh, she strode forward, her gaze sweeping over Teacher Zeng and the others like a blade, and she said with utter sarcasm:

"You're hungry and thirsty, but you don't dare ask those who actually have food. Instead, you hide here, using 'respect for teachers' and 'teacher-student relationships' to morally blackmail two young girls? What do you think this place is? A classroom or a charity canteen? Open your eyes and see clearly! This is the apocalypse! The law is gone, order has collapsed. Who owes you a meal? Who says they have to share their food with you? Their supplies were earned by risking their lives to kill zombies with us! They didn't fall from the sky!"

These words were like hot oil poured on water. Several teachers, led by Teacher Zeng, immediately turned ashen-faced, pointing at Li Ya, their voices rising with shame and anger:

"You! You have no respect for your elders!"

"Ungrateful! Cold-blooded and selfish!"

The scene became chaotic and tense.