Huang Tianfang thought he'd outplayed everyone—kill a few in Building 25 and force Zhang Yi out into the open. In movies, the noble hero might step forward to bargain. Zhang Yi, however, felt only satisfaction. His aim was simpler: terrify the neighbors until they begged for help.
Two days later the message board flooded. The blooded threats on the stairwell had broken people's nerves. Voices turned to accusation: "This is your fault—fix it!" "How can you sit there while we die for your mistakes?"
Zhang Yi laughed and answered bluntly. "I didn't invite them. They attacked me and I fought back. Why is that my fault? You couldn't resist them, so don't make it mine. And spare me your righteous act — when you came to break my door, did any of you hold back? I didn't shoot you out of kindness. Don't lecture me on conscience." He even reminded them of Chen Zhenghao's fate — frozen, smashed — and the complaints quieted.
Then he messaged Uncle You: "Time to act." Uncle You stepped in and told the building the truth: "Tianhe has about twenty men. I'm no match by myself — no supplies, not enough strength. We need Zhang Yi. He's armed and he has food; he can lead us."
Faced with reality, the neighbors swallowed their pride. Half the unit had already been killed or crippled in the raids. Now the same people who'd insulted and scorned Zhang Yi were forced to beg Uncle You to persuade him to lead them. Survival, it turned out, outweighed dignity — and Zhang Yi's leverage had finally done its work.