Zhen Yang kept his head down. Instead of fighting Wen, he chose to beg for his friend's life. He was not as ignorant as Guo Jun. The beastmen was clearly far stronger than them while they were struggling even against the stage-3 zombies.
Wen glanced at the man for a moment and released Guo Jun from his grasp.
Guo Jun coughed violently. Huang Gang and Jia Shun pulled their friend as Guo Jun was looking at Wen in horror. He was for sure at the death door just now. If not for Zhen Yang, his life was forfeit for sure.
Liao Zhenya glanced at Guo Jun, 'Serve you right! Can't even see the situation yet still dare to be haughty!'
"Thank you for your mercy, Sir Wen," after that, Zhen Yang looked back at Liao Zhenya. He motioned to her to come over.
"I am sorry for my friend's manners, Sir Wen," Liao Zhenya bowed her head too toward the Jade Eagle.
"It's fine, for now. Lord Shaoyang everyone deserves a second chance as long as they don't make a fatal mistake. Your friend will be forgiven for this time, but there will be no next time. Because if he disrespects My Lord once again…" Wen did not finish his words, but everyone could fill the rest of it.
Liao Zhenya gulped mouthful saliva. The aura was totally different than before. Wen was not as friendly as before.
"Then can I continue my questions? There are a few things we need to consider to join the Empire," Guo Jun disturbed her conversation, now she had to be more careful with her choice of words since Wen became less friendly.
"Three questions. I don't have much time to speak with you guys. Three questions, then decide!" Wen nodded as he responded emotionlessly.
"You said that the Empire will provide us with equipment to fight against the zombies. Shouldn't the Empire protect its people instead of asking its people to fight?" This was the most concerning thing. Liao Zhenya was afraid that they would be forced to fight if they joined the Empire.
"Fortunately our people don't have the same thoughts as yours. The Empire needs the army to protect the territory and the people who can't fight such as kids and elders. If young and strong people like you asked to be protected and don't want to contribute to the Empire, we don't need people like you. You can leave the Empire and protect yourself!" Wen replied coldly.
Liao Zhenya did not mean that, but it was all the same. She got the information she wanted. The Empire did not force the people to fight for them, only young and strong ones. That was the information she got from the exchange.
"What if we contribute to the Empire in another way instead of joining the army? We can, right?" Liao Zhenya was trying to find this out. She wanted to know what kind of group she would join. That was what she tried to achieve.
"You can! But the Empire now needs more people to join the army. We are in a war against the zombies to secure Zhejiang from the zombies!" Wen nodded as he looked the girl in the eye. The Jade Eagle realized the girl's concern from the two questions.
"If you can make the fabric to make clothes, then The Empire is willing to provide you. If you can forge weapons and armors, The Empire gladly accepts you. As long as you can be useful to the Empire, we will accept you, giving you shelter from the zombie and also food to satisfy your hunger. As long as you contribute to the empire positively in any way!"
Hearing those words, Liao Zhenya was relieved. The name of Empire really scared her. It reminded her about life in the ancient time where a slave was legal.
"This is the last question. The Leader of the Empire is a human, right?" The last question was just to confirm her thoughts. If the empire was under a beast's rule, she would no longer consider anything. She would not join the empire.
There was a momentary silence before Wen replied, "Yes, Lord Shaoyang is a human just like you, he does not discriminate against any race who wants to join the Empire."
Liao Zhenya glanced toward Zhen Yang. The opposite party nodded his head. It was unknown what they exchanged through the glances.
"Alright, I am willing to join The Tang Empire. But I am not the only one, many people will follow us. Will you escort us to the shelter you are talking about?" She was quick with the decision.
"Me as well!" Zhen Yang also nodded.
"Didn't I say that we are in a war against the zombies? I can't escort you back to Shanghai, I have to join the battle soon! You too, you can fight, you should join the battle!" Wen shook his head.
The reason Lord Shaoyang wanted to look for the survivors was to increase their numbers. Not dividing the force to escort the survivors back to the base.
"If you are afraid of your family getting involved in the war, we have secured a city. Jiaxing city is under our control now, the people who can't fight can stay there!"
Guo Jun had calmed down. He immediately pulled Liao Zhenya back, "What are you doing? You can't make a decision for us, for all of us!"
Besides the group of nine, they had a few hundred survivors with them. He was angry that Liao Zhenya made the decision without discussing it with him and the others.
"This is for our good, but if you don't want to join, you don't have to. I am not going to force anyone to follow me! First, you can choose to stay and starve to death! Second, leave the city, face the unknown outside there with no food! Surely, you are not going to fight Sir Wen and his Empire, right?" Liao Zhenya sneered at the Guo Jun.
This man was trying to take over the leadership of their big survivors group. But people agreed to not choose a leader. She knew that if they joined the Empire, Guo Jun would lose the authority over the survivor's group. The guy did not want that to happen, that was why he did not want to join the empire.
However, the food shortage was not possible for them to stay longer in the city. They tried to find food, but zombies almost killed them just now. Their chance to survive without help was almost zero.
They had been waiting for the authorities to rescue them. But the military never came to save them, as if they did not exist in the first place.
"Also, this is not for you to decide. They will make the decision by themselves! You don't need to teach me what I have to do!" After saying that, she and Zhen Yang led Wen to their base.
The other six looked back and forth between Guo Jun and Wen. After a while, the six people decided to follow Zhen Yang and Liao Zhenya.
"Damn! I should have killed that B*tch!" Guo Jun spat on the ground before he chased after them.