Chapter 153: Spreading Despair

"What do you mean?" Zhao Yi asked, confused.

"Just over ten hours ago, the points where the Grey Realm intersected were only a few meters wide and quite obvious... now, these intersection points are almost everywhere." Chen Ling pointed to the ice plain they had just crossed. "Do you remember the seaweed we encountered in Winterfell Port?"

"I remember."

"Where did they come from?"

"...A puddle's reflection?"

"Exactly," Chen Ling said slowly. "For some unknown reason, everything around here that can cast a reflection seems to connect to the Grey Realm... In other words, the two worlds have begun to link through reflections. Those residents just now also entered the Grey Realm by stepping onto the ice and passing through their reflections. We unknowingly fell victim to it too... If this continues, our frequency of entering the Grey Realm will only increase until..."

"Until the two worlds completely merge?" Zhao Yi understood Chen Ling's meaning.

Chen Ling nodded. "We must enter Aurora City as soon as possible; only there will we be safe."

"We'll be there soon! With this train, we'll reach Aurora City in half an hour at most!" Zhao Yi said confidently, skillfully operating the train.

Chen Ling turned and returned to the carriage. The previously empty carriage now held over forty people. Several of them lay on the floor with extensive burns, their moans and wails continuous. While others hadn't been wounded by the eels, their condition was hardly better. Prolonged exposure to the ice and snow had left them with frostbite, and combined with their exhaustion from narrowly escaping death, their faces were as pale as paper. They huddled on the carriage floor, looking as if they would soon faint.

Seeing Chen Ling, a flicker of light appeared in their dim eyes. Mr. Xu released the sleeping child from his embrace, then shakily rose from the floor before dropping to his knees before Chen Ling with a thud.

"Thank you, Officer Chen, for saving our lives... Your immense kindness, I, Xu Chongguo, will never forget!"

This was already the second time Chen Ling had saved his family. Xu Chongguo was at a loss for words, so he simply kowtowed repeatedly.

Seeing this, others also knelt on the ground. Without Chen Ling, they would have either died in the Grey Realm or perished on the way to Aurora City. Chen Ling's appearance not only rescued them but also provided them with a refuge on this extremely cold journey. Moreover, from their perspective, Chen Ling, who had initially driven away in the locomotive, returned with a brand new train. This act was seen as compassion for everyone, as if he would rather sacrifice his own chance to reach Aurora City quickly than leave them behind. Such righteousness and mercy, compared to the law enforcement officers who had massacred people at the station, made him seem like an angel.

The wind and snow howled outside the carriage. Chen Ling's gaze swept over the kneeling people inside the carriage. He thoughtfully stroked his chin. "Not enough people..."

"What did you say?" Xu Chongguo, who was kneeling at the very front, paused, puzzled.

"Nothing," Chen Ling shook his head. He spoke unhurriedly, "Where are you going... by walking like this?"

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. 'Isn't it obvious?' they thought. 'Aren't you going to Aurora City yourself?'

"Officer Chen, we're going to Aurora City," Xu Chongguo replied immediately.

"To do what?"

"To seek refuge. All seven districts have fallen now; only Aurora City can keep us alive..."

Chen Ling chuckled softly. "And do you know who abandoned the seven districts?"

The crowd froze, then after a moment, they cautiously replied, "It was... Aurora City?"

"You know perfectly well that Aurora City abandoned the seven districts and the hundreds of thousands of civilians living there, yet you still want to go to Aurora City and seek its protection?" Chen Ling's voice was calm, devoid of any emotion. "Do you honestly think that's possible?"

At this question, everyone fell silent. It was a problem everyone was aware of but no one wanted to confront... But where else could they go besides Aurora City? It was their last hope.

"But what if... what if?" Xu Chongguo rasped. "Officer Chen, right now, Aurora City is the only safe place in the entire domain... We only have a glimmer of hope for survival if we go there."

"It's useless," Chen Ling said flatly. "Aurora City will not take you in."

Chen Ling's indifferent tone directly shattered the last hope of those in the carriage. They stared blankly at him, their eyes filled with despair and confusion.

"Why???"

"What could you bring to Aurora City by entering it? Destitute refugees? Panic from outside the walls? Or a potential source of unrest? It has already abandoned hundreds of thousands of lives; tell me, why would it care about a few dozen of you?"

Whoosh—

The cold wind howled mournfully outside the carriage. Chen Ling watched as the light and hope drained from the eyes of these people... They knelt there like statues, an air of despair filling the entire carriage.

Chen Ling was right. These people couldn't bring anything to Aurora City; instead, they would only cause panic among its residents, who had lived securely. Furthermore, it was Aurora City that had ordered the abandonment of the seven districts. What if some of these people harbored resentment towards Aurora City and caused unrest later?

After a brief, deathly silence, Chen Ling's indifferent voice rang out again. "The train will take you to Aurora City's outskirts, but that will only extend your lives for a short while... What happens to you after that is none of my concern."

Having said this, Chen Ling turned and walked into the control room. In the silent carriage, only faces filled with despair and bewilderment remained...

"Chen Ling, why did you scare them?" As soon as Chen Ling entered the control room, he heard Zhao Yi's confused voice.

"I merely stated a fact."

"But you didn't have to say it... They're already miserable; why would you strip them of their last hope?"

Chen Ling walked to the open door, gazing at the rapidly receding snowstorm and landscape outside. He replied calmly, "The more desperate they are, the more desperately they will cling to any glimmer of life they see."

"...What do you mean?"

"I have my reasons." Chen Ling glanced back at the silent carriage and said slowly, "Since I saved them and brought them onto this train, they ought to be useful to me when the time comes..."