Chapter 107: Execution by Firing Squad

What Chen Ling feared most had come to pass.

Although these calamities appeared terrifying, there was a high chance of survival by simply hiding behind a door and remaining silent. The real fear was that everyone, terrified, would rush out of their houses without thinking, just like Zhao Yi, and unwittingly become possessed through their shadows.

If that happened, the more people, the harder it would be to control. Once these calamities hidden in shadows attacked simultaneously, it would be a bloody massacre.

"Next, whoever I point to, walk behind me."

Chen Ling raised his hand, pointing successively at the people at the front of the crowd. They visibly relaxed and hurried behind him; it seemed only his black windbreaker could make them feel safe.

More and more people gathered behind Chen Ling. As screams and crawling sounds continued to emanate from the thick fog behind them, those still standing in place began to grow restless.

"Chen Ling! As an enforcer, why are you wasting time with us here instead of dealing with those calamities?!" Guo Nan asked through gritted teeth.

Perhaps due to the large crowd, Chen Ling hadn't noticed him before he spoke. Now, following the sound of his voice, Chen Ling's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You're an enforcer. Why are you running with them instead of maintaining order and protecting residents?"

"I..." Guo Nan was speechless.

"Not only did he run, he also knocked over my father!" Zhao Yi clutched his stomach with one hand, fresh blood seeping through his fingers—a knife wound Guo Hai had inflicted during their earlier struggle.

Chen Ling's gaze grew colder as he saw Zhao Yi's condition and the bloodstained dagger in Guo Nan's hand. Expressionlessly, he pointed to a few more residents, directing them to hide behind him. Now, only five people remained in front, and Guo Nan was among them.

Chen Ling replaced his magazine. To everyone's astonishment, he suddenly raised his gun, aimed it at the shadows of the remaining individuals, and pulled the trigger!

Bang bang bang—!

The deafening gunshots made the residents cover their ears and cry out in alarm. Four massive, black centipede-like shadows suddenly sprang out, lunging at Chen Ling, who had fired the shots!

This scene utterly terrified the surrounding residents. Before they could even react, Chen Ling accurately stabbed his knife into the head of the nearest centipede, slicing forcefully and splitting it completely down the middle!

A pungent, bloody smell filled their nostrils as one centipede collapsed to the ground. Simultaneously, the other three swarmed him, engaging in a fierce battle with the blood-soaked figure in black.

"Chen Ling suffered such severe injuries earlier... can he still fight?" The onlookers from Frost Street couldn't help but worry about his condition.

"Yeah, his body looks like it's been ripped apart... he's covered in blood."

"He's already killed almost ten consecutively. I feel like he's reached his limit."

"...Is that so? But from what I'm seeing, he seems to be getting more and more excited..."

Chen Ling gripped his dagger, attacking relentlessly and not defending, letting the three creatures' attacks land on him. He retaliated with insane strength and speed, slaying all three of them on the spot within half a minute, even more fluidly than before!

Witnessing the battle at such close range, the residents of Snow Street turned deathly pale with fear. Even Guo Nan's legs were trembling... He looked at Chen Ling, riddled with holes and seemingly on the verge of collapsing dead on the spot, with an unprecedented terror in his eyes.

Seeing Chen Ling finish off the shadow centipedes and slowly walk towards him, Guo Nan, as if realizing something, nervously spoke:

"Do I... do I also have a monster in my shadow?!"

No calamities had appeared in the shadows of the Snow Street residents whom Chen Ling had just pointed to and who were now hiding behind him. Only these six individuals remained in front of Chen Ling, and something was in the shadows of the other five. Guo Nan immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

"No."

Chen Ling calmly shook his head. "You're standing here simply because you deserve to die."

In Guo Nan's bewildered and stunned gaze, Chen Ling raised his gun, pressed it against Guo Nan's forehead, and pulled the trigger before the latter could react!

Bang—!

The bullet pierced Guo Nan's skull. His eyes wide with disbelief, he fell straight backward!

A deathly silence fell over the surroundings.

Neither the residents of Frost Street nor Snow Street had expected Chen Ling to kill an enforcer in broad daylight... In that moment, some were shocked, some confused, but not a single person felt regret over Guo Nan's death. Instead, they all felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

"Enforcer Guo Nan, for oppressing civilians, extorting money, dereliction of duty, and intentional assault..." Chen Ling holstered his gun without even glancing at Guo Nan's corpse.

"Executed."

Chen Ling turned and walked into the thick fog.

As an enforcer, Chen Ling had the authority to oversee all other enforcers and possessed absolute enforcement power. As long as there was a valid reason, killing Guo Nan on the spot would have no repercussions. While Guo Hai had indeed offended him before, Chen Ling hadn't harbored thoughts of revenge. However, Guo Nan's actions today had fueled Chen Ling's intent to kill.

The survivors from both streets watched Chen Ling's retreating figure, lost in thought.

Their minds were still replaying the scene: Chen Ling picking out the hidden shadows, single-handedly killing four calamities, and then shooting Guo Nan dead with a single shot...

A moment later, someone quietly mumbled:

"Why do I suddenly feel... he's not so scary after all?"

"Several streets are completely out of control now." Xi Renjie's voice on the walkie-talkie was filled with exhaustion. "The residents are terrified and running aimlessly, letting the calamities blend in. I just saw Gale Street almost completely wiped out... corpses are everywhere."

"You don't sound too good."

"I can still hold on, but I've been continuously clearing three or four streets, constantly fighting, so I'm a bit tired..." Xi Renjie gave a wry laugh. "Now I understand how the casualty numbers in Districts Five and Six came about... Given this situation, District Three won't fare much better."

Chen Ling climbed to the top of a small building, looking around. The thick, dark fog obscured much, but he could vaguely discern a few flickers of firelight dancing on distant streets, along with an incessant chorus of shouts and screams.

"Still no word from Han Meng?"

"...No, I can't reach him."

Chen Ling shook his head helplessly. With Han Meng gone, only he and Xi Renjie remained as enforcers in the entire District Three. Clearing all the streets would be incredibly difficult... The casualties in Districts Five and Six occurred even with a sufficient number of enforcers. District Three's situation was now far more severe.

"I'm heading north next." Chen Ling glanced towards the direction where the firelight was most chaotic. "If I can find a weakness for these calamities... perhaps things will become simpler."

"Chen Ling, you're still a first-tier. Don't push yourself too hard if you're tired," Xi Renjie reminded him. "I heard from Brother Meng that your talent is exceptional, and you have a chance to enter Aurora City... It would be a great waste to die here."

Chen Ling's eyebrow rose slightly, and he hummed in affirmation.

Although he hadn't interacted much with Xi Renjie, he seemed like a decent person so far... On second thought, it made sense; someone highly regarded by Han Meng likely wouldn't have any malicious intent.

Except for himself, of course.