Of course, Bai Ye could rob the shard stolen by the Fire-Stealers, but if he did so, his identity as the Thief Saint would be useless, and the Fire-Stealers would inevitably do their utmost to hunt him down...
For him, doing so was definitely not worth the loss. But if the shard was snatched away by someone else in the Ancient Vault, that would be different.
Figuring all this out, Chen Ling finally let out a sigh of relief. He returned to the bed and sat down, the last large stone in his heart finally dropping.
He could control the 'performance' within the Ancient Vault of the Military Path, but once he left the Ancient Vault, the development of matters was beyond the scope of his abilities... Whether it was the three Enforcers or the Thief Saint Bai Ye, neither were existences he could contend with. His only hope was pinned on that mysterious receiver.
But he didn't expect the receiver and the Thief Saint Bai Ye to actually be the same person.
"Your acting just now was quite real." Bai Ye couldn't help but sigh with emotion. "I almost thought you had really been swapped out by Number 13..."
Chen Ling chuckled dryly twice, not speaking.
Bai Ye put the Dao Base Shard away properly and continued, "I've already stolen the memory of those three Enforcers regarding the mutation of the Ancient Vault of the Military Path. They won't suspect you again... Can you get away by yourself next?"
"I can." Chen Ling nodded.
"Speak."
"Help me hide these two things above the crossbeam at District Three, Frost Street No. 128."
Chen Ling handed the Bai Qi Command Tablet and the Red Ring to Bai Ye. The latter took them, looked carefully a few times, and spoke in surprise, "This thing has the aura of the Way of the Soldier God, good stuff... Brought it out from the Ancient Vault?"
"Yes."
"Alright, anything else?"
Chen Ling shook his head. Just as Bai Ye was about to leave, he suddenly stopped and pulled a piece of paper from his clothes with a strange expression.
"There's one more thing I want to ask you... What is the meaning of this message you sent me?"
Chen Ling took the note in confusion. Upon seeing the two blood-colored words on it, he suddenly froze in place.
——Go to hell!
"???" Chen Ling clearly remembered that this wasn't what he wrote in the grocery kiosk back then... Was this The Audience's doing again?
"This... uh... was an accident." Chen Ling explained vaguely.
Bai Ye gave him a strange look, but still withdrew his gaze and waved his hand casually.
"I'm off. See you in Aurora City."
The next moment, his figure vanished out of thin air.
See you in Aurora City?
A hint of doubt flashed through Chen Ling's mind... Why were this group of Dusk Society members all running towards Aurora City one by one? Chu Muyun was like this, and Bai Ye was the same.
Without the Dao Base Shard and the Bai Qi Command Tablet, Chen Ling felt entirely relaxed. He lay directly on the bed, closing his eyes to rest.
A few hours later, the ship slowly docked at Winter Harbor. An Enforcer supported the 'weak' Chen Ling back onto land.
As soon as Chen Ling disembarked, he saw dozens of Law Enforcers wearing the Black and Red Uniform having already blockaded the entire Winter Harbor.
The originally bustling harbor was now left with only a killing atmosphere and coldness. Seeing this lineup, Chen Ling knew that the Aurora City side had already received the news... Over seventy Law Enforcers on whom Aurora City had placed their expectations entered the trial of the Ancient Vault of the Military Path, and the result was only one survived. To Aurora City, this was undoubtedly earthquake-level bad news!
"Are you Chen Ling?" A Six-Stripe Enforcer stepped forward, frowning at Chen Ling.
"Yes."
That Six-Stripe Enforcer gave a look to the surrounding Law Enforcers. "Search him."
Without a word, three Law Enforcers rushed directly to Chen Ling's side and searched him entirely from top to bottom, falling just short of stripping him naked on the spot. Under a search of this level, it was simply impossible for Chen Ling to hide anything.
Of course, they were destined to find nothing.
"No other items." A Law Enforcer answered softly.
"Apologies, Chen Ling." The Six-Stripe Enforcer spoke again with an unquestionable tone. "Next, we need to verify your face to prevent a Fire-Stealer from taking your identity."
As soon as this sentence came out, Chen Ling's eyes instantly narrowed.
To be honest, he had long guessed the hurdle of face verification... Since Aurora City knew that Fire-Stealers had sneaked into the Ancient Vault of the Military Path, they naturally had to take precautions. Not to mention, he was the only survivor to walk out of it.
From the moment he stepped out of the Ancient Vault, Chen Ling was destined to undergo the most rigorous investigation of the entire Aurora Domain.
A Law Enforcer drew a Short Blade from his clothes and slowly walked towards Chen Ling;
Before he could make a move, Chen Ling broke free from the Law Enforcers on both sides and, with a backhand motion, pulled his own Dagger from his clothes...
This scene directly frightened the numerous Law Enforcers around him. They instantly went on guard, and that Six-Stripe Enforcer's gaze also sharpened.
"I'll do it myself."
Expressionlessly, Chen Ling pierced the sharp point of the Dagger into his cheek and then slowly sliced it open bit by bit... Scarlet fresh blood dripped along the blade, exposing the flesh and blood beneath the skin.
A whimpering cold wind blew through the dead silent harbor. Under the nervous gazes of everyone, this young man who was cutting his own face open with his own hands smiled.
With his sliced cheek looking bloody and terrifying, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he asked softly:
"Look at my face... is it real?"
...
District Three.
Law Enforcer Headquarters.
"Brother Meng!! Brother Meng!!!"
A figure forcefully pushed the door open and hurriedly ran into the office.
"What happened?" Han Meng, who was sitting behind the desk, frowned slightly. "Why are you panicking like this?"
"It's Aurora City! News has come from Aurora City's side!"
"Aurora City?"
Han Meng seemed to have thought of something. "Did Jiang Qin, Chen Ling, and the others come out of the Ancient Vault?"
"...Dead."
"What?" Han Meng was stunned.
"All dead!!" The Law Enforcer repeated once. "The Fire-Stealers ambushed the Ancient Vault of the Military Path. All the Law Enforcers who entered the Ancient Vault were killed! Except for..."
Han Meng's face instantly turned ghastly pale. His whole person abruptly stood up from his seat, and a terrifying Oppressive Aura instantly filled the room!
"Except for what?"
"Except for Chen Ling." He said, "Aurora City's side said Chen Ling is the only survivor..."
Han Meng froze in place.
"They found Chen Ling in a pile of corpses. When they found him, it's said he had already lost too much blood and was close to dying..."
"What about now? Has he been rescued?"
"He's been saved. But it's said he was detained at Winter Harbor, saying he has to accept Aurora City's investigation and interrogation. Among the batch of Law Enforcers who entered the Ancient Vault this time, there is a young master from the Stars Chamber of Commerce, and also the son of a Seven-Stripe Enforcer... Their two families have already sent people to Winter Harbor. I don't know if they want to..."
Hearing the last sentence, Han Meng seemed to have thought of something, his expression changing.
Before the Law Enforcer could say anything more, he pushed the door and walked out. The black windbreaker disappeared at the end of the snowfield at an astonishing speed!