This opera robe indeed belonged to Chen Yan.
Eight years ago, a small and shabby opera troupe came to District Three and set up a makeshift stage in the wilderness to perform a couple of plays. Seven-year-old Chen Yan became instantly captivated by it.
In this world, opera culture wasn't popular. Back then, the troupe had worked hard for two days to set up the stage, but only five people showed up... Chen Ling and Chen Yan, who had been playing in the wilderness and were drawn in by chance; a passing porter who was roped in to fill the audience; a beggar who came to ask the troupe for food...
And one person who genuinely loved opera culture—a teacher from District Two who had come after hearing about the performance.
Of the five, only Chen Yan and the teacher listened to the entire performance attentively. Chen Ling fell asleep halfway through, the porter left in a hurry at the start, and the beggar rushed onto the stage during the intermission to beg for food, only to be kicked off by an actor playing a martial role. The beggar left, cursing.
But Chen Ling saw the light in his brother's eyes as he gazed at the stage.
After that day, Chen Yan began teaching himself opera. He somehow got his hands on two books and started practicing singing every morning, copying scripts, and even learning to sew to make his own costumes.
The robe Chen Ling was wearing had been sewn by Chen Yan himself. In the corner of the robe was a tiny blue flower he had stitched while making it.
"Here, take it back."
The two cautiously made their way to the edge of Frost Street and looked toward their home.
The area around the house, with its shattered door, was now cordoned off with caution tape. Several enforcers in black-and-red uniforms moved about inside.
Two stretchers lay at the entrance, each bearing a body covered with a white cloth.
"How's the situation?"
"No hope." An enforcer glanced regretfully at the white cloth. "These two were ordered by Brother Meng to tail the couple living here. They must have noticed something wrong and forced their way inside, sacrificing themselves in the fight against the Calamity."
"What about the couple? Are they dead too?"
"...No."
The enforcer's gaze shifted to the entrance, where a man and a woman were being helped out of the house by other enforcers. Their eyes were vacant, their faces pale, and their entire bodies trembled uncontrollably, as if they had lost their souls.
"They survived."
"Weren't they the first to be attacked by the Calamity? How did they survive?"
"We suspect that although they were attacked first, they didn't resist. The two enforcers drew their guns and angered the Calamity, which is why they were killed..."
"Are you saying the Calamity was toying with them?"
"That's the idea."
"Any other clues?"
"Almost none... The Calamity's abilities were extremely bizarre. It tore apart most of the house, leaving behind no valuable information. We can't even determine which direction it came from."
"Frost Street is so big, yet it just happened to break into this house. Is it a coincidence?"
"Hard to say. Frost Street is on the outermost edge of District Three. Behind it is the mountain, and beyond that is the mass grave where the Gray Realm convergence occurred, followed by District Two... Logically, if the Calamity emerged from the Gray Realm, went on a rampage in District Two, fled into the mountains, and then rushed to this part of Frost Street, it would make sense."
"The crime scene in District Two is also near the mountain?"
"Yes, these locations are close to each other and lie along the same line." The enforcer nodded slightly.
Before the two could say more, a sharp scream came from nearby.
"Calamity!! Calamity!!!"
Li Xiuchun suddenly broke free from the enforcers beside her, as if she had seen something utterly terrifying. She stared at them with wide eyes, scrambling backward on all fours. "You won't harm me!! You won't harm me!!!"
As she retreated, she bumped into the group supporting Chen Tan. The impact caused Chen Tan's pupils to contract sharply.
He immediately curled into a ball, clutching his head, muttering meaningless words under his breath, his eyes filled with fear.
The enforcers exchanged glances, a hint of helplessness flashing across their faces... They weren't too surprised by this and skillfully tied the couple up, stuffing white cloth into their mouths to prevent them from causing a disturbance. Then, they headed straight for District Three's headquarters.
Seeing this, Chen Ling breathed a sigh of relief.
Dr. Lin had said that among survivors of Gray Realm convergences or Calamity attacks, 80% would suffer from mental disorders, most of which were incurable. It seemed this condition had also affected Li Xiuchun and Chen Tan.
For Chen Ling, this was fortunate. Only four people had witnessed him turning into a Calamity. Two enforcers had been killed by the "audience," and if Li Xiuchun and Chen Tan revealed everything, he would immediately be wanted.
Fortunately, Li Xiuchun and Chen Tan had both gone mad, so his identity wouldn't be exposed. He could still walk the streets openly as Chen Ling.
Of course, this was under the assumption that the enforcers wouldn't investigate him further.
"It's still not safe... I need to find a way to completely block their investigation..." Chen Ling disliked taking risks and hated having his fate in someone else's hands. His mind raced, trying to find the safest solution.
Just then, a figure rushed past him!
"Dad! Mom!"
Chen Yan cried out, sprinting toward the two figures being taken away, his weary face filled with anxiety.
Chen Yan didn't know what had happened. He was just a fifteen-year-old boy, and seeing his parents being brought out of the ruins felt like the sky had fallen.
Chen Ling's gaze sharpened. He instinctively wanted to stop Chen Yan but hesitated for a moment before quickly following behind, also calling out for his parents.
Hearing their cries, the enforcers turned around. Seeing the two boys running toward them, they immediately began flipping through their records.
"This couple has two children, one eighteen and the other fifteen."
"We didn't find their bodies in the house earlier. I was about to send someone to look for them, but they showed up on their own..."
"Poor kids."
"..."
The enforcers whispered among themselves.
Chen Yan rushed to Li Xiuchun, about to say something, when her pupils suddenly contracted. She somehow spat out the white cloth and screamed at him:
"Calamity!! You're a Calamity too!! You want to kill me too?!"
Chen Yan froze in place.