Chapter 133: Everyone Will Die

A breathtaking exit?

Looking at these words, Chen Ling’s eyes were filled with confusion.

The first half of the sentence was clear and straightforward, but the latter half was a bit subtle. What kind of performance could be called “breathtaking”? And what exactly counts as an “exit”?

As Chen Ling was pondering, a commotion reached his ears, and the next moment, the scene around him rapidly shattered.

Audience Expectation: 10

Chen Ling suddenly awoke from his sleep!

He sat up in bed and saw figures carrying kerosene lamps moving through the dense fog outside his window. Continuous shouts echoed in the distance, as if something had happened.

Chen Ling checked the time: 3:40 AM. He immediately got out of bed, put on his trench coat, and pushed the door open.

“What happened?”

As soon as Chen Ling stepped out, he saw the Zhao father and son rushing out of their house, looking panicked.

“Oh, Ah Ling! I was just about to knock on your door to call you!” Uncle Zhao quickly said. “Everyone in Districts Two and Four is dead… Did you know about this?”

Chen Ling frowned slightly. “...No, I didn't.”

“The people in District Two were piled into a mountain of corpses! I heard it was over a hundred meters high! Near our border with District Four, someone heard strange cries getting closer… Ah Ling, tell me honestly, is our District Three… in danger this time?”

Chen Ling didn't answer. After hearing about Districts Two and Four, his previous conjecture immediately reappeared in his mind. Han Meng hadn't returned yet, so it seemed that conjecture might very well come true.

Seeing Chen Ling remain silent, the Zhao father and son exchanged glances, their faces turning a little pale.

“Dad! Don't be afraid! With me here, no matter what calamity comes, I'll knock it down!” Zhao Yi puffed out his bandaged chest and declared confidently.

Uncle Zhao was furious. “Knock what down?! Are you tired of living?! 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, hoofbeats came from the end of the street. He saw an enforcer in a black and red uniform riding a fast horse, approaching rapidly. Just as he reached Chen Ling, he pulled the reins, bringing the horse to a steady stop.

“Officer Chen!!”

The enforcer dismounted, handed the reins to Chen Ling, and spoke gravely, “Officer Chen! Officer Xi wants you at headquarters; he's waiting for you there!”

Enforcers were generally only permitted to ride horses on the road during emergencies, and it seemed the situation was indeed severe. Chen Ling nodded, nimbly swung onto the horse's back, and after a moment of hesitation, still reminded Zhao Yi and his father:

“The situation in District Three is not optimistic. If you find things going wrong, don't cling to this breakfast shop… If necessary, leave District Three early.”

“Leave District Three?” Uncle Zhao was startled. “Leave District Three… Where can we go?”

Chen Ling was silent for a moment, then slowly uttered three words:

“Aurora City.”

As his words fell, he rode away quickly, his figure disappearing into the dense fog.

Chen Ling didn't know what awaited District Three next. If, as he suspected, Aurora City had abandoned all seven districts, then running anywhere else would be a dead end… The only sliver of hope was Aurora City.

Chen Ling galloped along the street on horseback, encountering many panicked crowds along the way. They gathered together, holding kerosene lamps, anxiously discussing something. It seemed only huddling together could offer them some psychological comfort.

Riding a horse was much faster than walking, and soon he arrived at the headquarters entrance. A large crowd had already gathered outside the door, engaging in heated discussions.

“Districts Two and Four have both fallen… I think it's only a matter of time for District Three!”

“Yeah, this dense fog still hasn't lifted, and I just have a strange feeling about it.”

“Did you hear? Monsters are already attacking from the south!”

“Ah? So what do we do?”

“Let's trust the enforcers, right? I feel like they should be able to handle it… Didn't Chief Han Meng just kill a calamity?”

“Not every district has a strong person like Chief Han Meng. I actually don't think there's a need to panic too much; everyone calm down first…”

“But I just saw quite a few people have already left with their belongings.”

“Run? Where to?”

“It seems they're heading to Aurora City along the railway?”

“Aurora City?! Are they crazy? Without entry procedures, what good would it do even if they made it there? Wouldn't they just be sent back?”

“The Seven Districts are no longer necessarily safe, but Aurora City will always be safe…. It's quite reasonable for them to flee to Aurora City.”

Seeing Chen Ling arrive on horseback, they immediately swarmed him, chattering and asking about the situation in District Three. Chen Ling dismounted, but before he could even push the door open, he was surrounded.

He frowned slightly and said coldly:

“Move aside!”

Chen Ling's reputation in District Three had always been rather poor. Disturbing rumors about him were almost common knowledge. When the crowd saw Chen Ling begin to draw his gun, they were instantly startled and obediently made way.

Chen Ling pushed the door open and entered the headquarters, locking it behind him and cutting off all the noise and clamor outside.

Faint moonlight filtered through the dense fog and the glass dome, spilling into the empty hall. In the dim shadows, a figure stood calmly behind the desk.

He had his back to Chen Ling, facing the wall. In the center of that high wall, a flag dozens of meters long was hung high. Against a pitch-black background, two overlapping cyan hexagonal stars shone, like twinkling stars in the arctic night sky.

Audience Expectation: 3

A line of characters suddenly appeared on the reflection on the floor, and Chen Ling's brows instantly furrowed…

“You're here,” Xi Renjie said, turning around. He held a wine glass in his left hand, his cheeks flushed with an unnatural redness.

Chen Ling stood by the door, a look of confusion in his eyes as he looked at Xi Renjie. He keenly sensed that something was amiss as he saw the audience expectation value increase, but he still stepped towards the desk.

“It's chaotic outside,” Chen Ling said. “Why aren't you out maintaining order? Why are you drinking here?”

Xi Renjie shook his head. “It's meaningless now.”

“Why?”

“Aurora City has abandoned us.”

Hearing this, Chen Ling's frown deepened. “How do you know? Did Aurora City send a message back?”

“No, but Districts Two and Four have both fallen, and they still haven't made a move… Even Brother Meng hasn't returned. What else could it be but abandonment?” Xi Renjie gave a bitter laugh. He bent down, picked up a bottle of liquor from the floor, and poured it into his glass again.

The fragrant liquor swirled into the glass, Xi Renjie's gaze somewhat hazy. He slammed the bottle down on the desk, picked up the glass with his other hand, and threw his head back, downing it in one gulp.

Chen Ling didn't reply. He simply watched Xi Renjie in silence, lost in thought.

Xi Renjie's Adam's apple bobbed. The strong liquor made his face turn crimson and contorted. He took a deep breath and slowly said:

“Everyone will die, including us.”

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