Chapter 128: 【Trial】The Leader

Chapter 128: Trial of the Chief Judge

"Half an hour has passed."

Outside Aurora City, Han Meng checked the time, his brows furrowed tightly. "Why is there still no movement from Aurora City? Did you really send the message back to headquarters?"

"Yes, I did. Didn't you see it with your own eyes?" the law enforcer guarding the gate replied impatiently.

Han Meng's gaze was ice-cold. He had indeed seen the other party send the message, but given the severity of the situation, Aurora City should have reacted long ago. There was no reason for it to remain so quiet after all this time.

Just as Han Meng was contemplating whether to force his way through the city gates, a low, rumbling sound echoed. Accompanied by rising dust, the heavy city gates slowly opened.

Behind the gates, there was only one figure.

It was a law enforcer also wearing a black trench coat. His aged white hair was disheveled like a lion's mane, and seven silver patterns on the hem of his coat shimmered brightly in the sunlight.

The moment they saw this person, the law enforcers present all widened their eyes. Even Han Meng felt a shock in his heart, looking at the person with complete bewilderment...

There were only five Seven-Marked Law Enforcers in all of Aurora City. Each held a high position of power, an existence rarely accessible to ordinary people. Even these law enforcers, who had grown up in Aurora City since childhood, had never seen the esteemed presence of any of them.

And now, a Seven-Marked Law Enforcer had appeared right behind the city gates.

"Are you Han Meng?" The Seven-Marked Law Enforcer glanced at Han Meng and spoke indifferently.

"...Yes."

"I am Gu Yuan, an old man. I'm here to escort you into the city."

Gu Yuan?

Han Meng's eyes narrowed slightly. He was too familiar with that name. He was the only Level Seven practitioner of the Judgment Path in Aurora City, and also the Chief Judge in the world today.

Years ago, when he first embarked on the Judgment Path, he had already heard of Gu Yuan's great name. It was said that Gu Yuan presided over Aurora City's Tribunal, possessing the highest authority to judge all disputes and crimes, standing at the pinnacle of Aurora City's judicial system.

This legendary figure had actually come in person to the city gates to escort him into the city?

The other law enforcers looked at Han Meng with immense envy. They didn't understand why a law enforcer from District Three could warrant such solemn attention from an old man like Gu Yuan.

"...Into the city?" Although Han Meng was shocked, he was more perplexed at that moment.

He had only come to deliver a message for District Three, yet it had drawn out an existence like Gu Yuan. For a moment, he couldn't figure out Aurora City's true attitude towards District Three.

Gu Yuan gave him a faint glance, then turned and walked into Aurora City.

Han Meng hesitated for a moment, then followed.

The law enforcers guarding the city gates exchanged glances and quietly closed the gates. With a low thud, the city, located in the heart of the Aurora Domain, once again entered a state of lockdown.

"Senior Gu Yuan, where are we going?"

"Headquarters," Gu Yuan replied concisely.

Hearing this, Han Meng hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Although the situation in District Three is severe, it shouldn't be serious enough to alarm you, Senior?"

Gu Yuan did not reply, simply walking silently towards headquarters. Han Meng followed behind him, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter...

"We applied for communication with Aurora City so many times, but received no response. I originally thought it was due to thick fog interfering with the signals, but Aurora City doesn't seem to be shrouded in mist." Han Meng looked up at Aurora City's clear sky, where magnificent auroras flowed overhead.

"Senior, you actually received District Three's distress call, didn't you?"

Gu Yuan remained silent.

Finally, Han Meng stopped. He took a deep breath, his expression extremely serious:

"Is Aurora City... going to abandon the Seven Districts?"

Gu Yuan's body paused slightly.

"You're saying Aurora City will harm Brother Meng?" Xi Renjie immediately shook his head.

"No, that makes no sense at all. Leaving aside whether they'd abandon the Seven Districts, Brother Meng is a Level Five law enforcer, a standout even within Aurora City. Why would they attack him? Brother Meng has already proven his potential; he's no longer the helpless newcomer from back then."

Chen Ling opened his mouth, wanting to say something more.

"Chen Ling, you're overthinking it," Xi Renjie said, looking at him gravely. "The mission Brother Meng gave us before he left was to maintain order in District Three. District Three is chaotic enough as it is; there's no need to spread meaningless panic."

Chen Ling met his gaze for a moment, then shook his head helplessly.

"I hope I'm just overthinking it..."

These were indeed just Chen Ling's speculations, with no evidence, but ever since he witnessed what happened at the clinic moments ago, this conjecture had lingered in his mind... He had even started thinking about what he should do if Aurora City really did abandon the Seven Districts? How could he survive?

Chen Ling stared blankly at the steps below his feet. Seeing this, Xi Renjie patted his shoulder.

"Chen Ling, you don't need to push yourself too hard. Your talent isn't inferior to Brother Meng's; you'll enter Aurora City sooner or later... Maybe once you're in the city, you'll realize that District Three is just a dilapidated stepping stone, and you don't belong here."

Hearing the thinly veiled envy in Xi Renjie's words, Chen Ling couldn't help but ask in return:

"Is Aurora City really that good?"

"Good, of course it's good." Xi Renjie looked towards a certain direction in the thick fog and nodded firmly. "Although I haven't been there, it's definitely different from District Three... It's a paradise-like world. Perhaps only by going there can one truly live."

"Then why don't you go?"

"Me?" Xi Renjie gave a wry smile. "I'm not like you and Brother Meng. My path is ordinary, and my talent is even worse. It took me three years just to go from Level One to Level Two... What right do I have to enter Aurora City?"

Xi Renjie seemed unwilling to continue this topic, waving his hand as he said:

"Alright, I should continue my patrol... The western streets are yours."

After speaking, he walked directly towards the eastern streets, his black trench coat moving through the ravaged street, gradually disappearing into the dim mist.

Seeing this, Chen Ling didn't linger either and turned to walk towards Frost Street.

Along the way, there were shattered house doors everywhere, unwashed bloodstains, and residents crying in pain on the roadside, dragging broken legs or severed limbs. Their injuries were not fatal, so they had all been turned away from the clinic and were awkwardly and unprofessionally attempting to treat themselves.

Chen Ling's gaze swept over them as he continued forward. As he neared Frost Street, it was as if he had transitioned from an era of war to an era of peace.

There were no residents missing limbs, not many building ruins, and even the air had little smell of blood. Chen Ling took a deep breath of the relatively fresh air and slowly exhaled... Indeed, Frost Street's damage was relatively minor compared to other districts.

As Chen Ling walked onto Frost Street, rustling sounds came from the side of the street. Residents cautiously opened their doors one by one.

They hid by their doorways, their gazes filled with gratitude as they looked at Chen Ling.