A breathtaking exit?
Looking at this line of text, Chen Ling's eyes were filled with confusion...
The first half of the sentence was clear and straightforward, but the latter half was somewhat ambiguous. What kind of performance could be called "breathtaking"? And what constituted an "exit"?
Just as Chen Ling was pondering this, a commotion reached his ears, and the next moment, the scene around him rapidly shattered.
[Audience Expectation +10]
Chen Ling abruptly woke from his sleep!
Sitting up from the bed, he saw figures carrying kerosene lamps passing by outside his foggy window. In the distance, continuous shouts echoed, as if something had happened.
Chen Ling glanced at the time—3:40 AM. Without hesitation, he got out of bed, threw on his trench coat, and pushed the door open.
"What's going on?"
"Ah! A-Ling! I was just about to knock on your door!" Uncle Zhao quickly spoke. "Everyone in Districts Two and Four is dead... Did you know?"
Chen Ling frowned slightly. "...No."
"The people in District Two were piled into a mountain of corpses! They say it's over a hundred meters tall! And near the border with District Four, people heard strange noises approaching... A-Ling, tell me the truth—is District Three in... danger?"
Chen Ling didn't answer. Upon hearing about Districts Two and Four, the first thing that flashed through his mind was his earlier speculation... Now that Han Meng still hadn't returned, it seemed that speculation might very well be true.
Seeing Chen Ling remain silent, Zhao Yi and his father exchanged glances, their faces turning pale.
"Dad! Don’t be scared! As long as I'm here, no matter what calamity comes, I'll take it down!" Zhao Yi puffed out his bandaged chest, speaking with conviction.
Uncle Zhao flew into a rage. "Take it down, my ass! Are you trying to get yourself killed?! What did you promise me tonight?"
Zhao Yi pursed his lips and silently lowered his head.
Just as Chen Ling was about to say something, the sound of galloping hooves came from the end of the street. A law enforcer in a black-and-red uniform rode swiftly toward them, pulling sharply on the reins as he stopped right in front of Chen Ling.
"Officer Chen!!"
The enforcer dismounted and handed the reins to Chen Ling, speaking gravely, "Officer Chen!! Chief Xi wants you at headquarters, he’s waiting for you there!"
Normally, law enforcers were only permitted to ride horses during emergencies. Given the current situation, things were clearly dire... Chen Ling nodded, nimbly mounting the horse. After a moment’s hesitation, he turned to Zhao Yi and his father with a warning, "The situation in District Three isn’t optimistic. If things take a bad turn, don’t cling to this breakfast shop... If necessary, leave District Three early."
"Leave District Three?" Uncle Zhao was stunned. "Where... where would we go?"
After a brief silence, Chen Ling slowly uttered three words, "Aurora City."
With that, he spurred the horse and swiftly rode off, disappearing into the thick fog.
Chen Ling didn’t know what awaited District Three. If his suspicions were correct, if Aurora City had truly abandoned all seven districts then no matter where they fled, it would be a dead end... Their only sliver of hope lay in Aurora City.
Chen Ling galloped through the streets, passing countless panicked crowds along the way. Clutching kerosene lamps, they huddled together, speaking anxiously, as if only by sticking together could they find some semblance of comfort.
Riding was far faster than walking, and soon he arrived at the headquarters’ entrance. A large crowd had already gathered outside, engaged in heated discussions.
"Districts Two and Four have fallen... I think District Three is next!"
"Yeah, this fog still hasn’t lifted, it feels really off."
"Did you hear? Monsters are already attacking from the south!"
"Huh? What do we do then?"
"Trust the enforcers, right? I think they can handle it... Didn’t Chief Han Meng just kill a Calamity?"
"Not every district has a powerhouse like Chief Han Meng. Honestly, I don’t think we need to panic yet. Everyone, just stay calm—"
"But I just saw a bunch of people packing up and running."
"Running? Where to?"
"I think they’re following the train tracks... toward Aurora City?"
"Aurora City?! Are they insane? Without entry permits, what can they do even if they get there? They’ll just be turned away!"
"The seven districts might not be safe anymore, but Aurora City will always be secure... It makes sense they’d flee there."
"..."
When they saw Chen Ling arriving on horseback, they immediately swarmed around him, chattering nonstop with questions about District Three’s current state. Chen Ling dismounted, but before he could even push the door open, he was blocked.
Frowning, he coldly uttered one word, "Move."
Chen Ling’s reputation in District Three had never been great, horrifying rumors about him were practically common knowledge. When the crowd saw him reaching for his gun, they were instantly frightened, obediently parting to make way.
Chen Ling pushed through the doors and locked them behind him, shutting out all the noise and chaos.
Pale moonlight filtered through the fog and the glass dome above, spilling across the empty hall. In the dim shadows, a figure stood calmly behind the desk.
His back was turned to Chen Ling, facing the wall. At the center of that high wall hung a massive flag over ten meters long. Against a black background, two overlapping cyan hexagrams shimmered like stars in the Arctic night sky.
[Audience Expectation +3]
A line of text abruptly appeared in the reflection on the floor. Chen Ling’s frown deepened...
"You’re here." Xi Renjie turned around. In his left hand, he held a wine glass, his cheeks flushed unnaturally red.
Chen Ling stood at the doorway, his gaze toward Xi Renjie filled with puzzlement. The increase in Audience Expectation made him keenly sense something amiss, but he still stepped forward toward the desk.
"It’s chaos outside," Chen Ling said. "Why aren’t you maintaining order? Instead, you’re drinking here?"
Xi Renjie shook his head. "There’s no point anymore."
"Why?"
"Aurora City has abandoned us."
Hearing this, Chen Ling’s frown deepened. "How do you know? Did Aurora City send a message?"
"No. But Districts Two and Four have already fallen, and there’s still no response... Not even Brother Meng has returned. If this isn’t abandonment, what is?" Xi Renjie gave a bitter smile, bending down to pick up a bottle of liquor from the floor and pouring another glass.
The fragrant alcohol swirled into the glass as Xi Renjie’s eyes grew hazy. He slammed the bottle onto the table, raised the glass, and downed it in one gulp.
Chen Ling didn’t respond. He simply watched Xi Renjie in silence, his thoughts unreadable.
Xi Renjie’s Adam’s apple bobbed as the burning liquor turned his face red and contorted. He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Everyone will die. Including us."