Chapter 165: Disappeared?

Everyone seemed to forget to breathe.

A bone-chilling wind from outside the city gates scattered the fierce flames burning on the front of the train. The figure in the blood-red coat was utterly gone, leaving no trace. In such intense heat, a person would be reduced to nothing but ashes.

“Chen Ling... Chen Ling!!!” Zhao Yi, being dragged away by the enforcers, had eyes red with fury. He found a burst of unknown strength, furiously shoved aside the enforcers in front of him, and stumbled towards the train!

He reached out, trying to grasp the dancing embers, but only clutched at emptiness. He stood there numbly, his back conveying a sense of endless bewilderment and desolation.

“Officer Chen!!”

“Let me go!! Let me go!!”

More and more residents from District Three surged out of the crowd and ran towards the train. When they saw the scorched mark on the train’s roof, all that remained of the intense fire, their bodies involuntarily trembled.

Xu Chongguo turned around and roared at the silent enforcers: “Officer Chen could have escaped on his own! But he still turned back and led us into Aurora City! I don’t understand what you mean by ‘heretic’! But he never harmed any of us, not once!

Now you’ve forced him to his death! Are you satisfied?! Is this the justice you seek?!”

“Give us back Officer Chen!!”

“Damn you!! I’ll fight you all!” Zhao Yi roared, rolled up his sleeves, and charged at the Five-Mark Enforcer. His eyes were bloodshot, like an enraged lion.

Zhao Yi’s father had died, and Chen Ling had fulfilled his promise to Zhao Yi’s father by protecting Zhao Yi all the way into Aurora City. No matter how much Zhao Yi enjoyed sparring with Chen Ling, he was grateful to him deep down. Now, with Aurora City having forced Chen Ling’s death right before their eyes, Zhao Yi was utterly broken.

Zhao Yi didn't care if he was an enforcer or not; he swung a punch directly at the officer's face. The enforcer’s face darkened considerably. He initially intended to fight back, but after a moment’s hesitation, he dodged the blow. Then, with a swift move, he pushed Zhao Yi towards the dozens of enforcers nearby.

“Take them all into custody... no, protect them! Send them to the hospital for treatment!”

At the enforcer’s command, the other enforcers swarmed forward. Using their overwhelming numbers, they quickly subdued the rioting District Three residents and began escorting them towards headquarters.

Even so, they couldn’t silence these people. Cursing and questioning voices echoed through the streets, stirring the surrounding Aurora City residents deeply.

After Chen Ling’s death, the gazes of Aurora City residents shifted. Their eyes now held more doubt and anger when they looked at the enforcers. Flashbulbs repeatedly flickered, and countless photos clearly documented everything that was happening.

“Officer... what do we do now?” an enforcer cautiously asked the Five-Mark Enforcer, leaning closer.

The enforcer also noticed the shift in the public's mood, his brow furrowing involuntarily. He immediately spoke:

“The heretic has been eliminated. Let’s pull back the teams for now!”

“What about the train?”

“Have it towed to the warehouse and temporarily sealed as evidence.”

“Yes, sir.”

Under the enforcer’s command, the surrounding cordon was swiftly removed. The enforcers then left one by one, leaving behind a multitude of citizens still arguing amongst themselves.

On the city wall, Han Meng, secured in shackles, stared blankly at the scorched area on the front of the train. He stood motionless, like a statue.

“You saw it, he was a member of the Twilight Society. Now, do you have anything to say?” The Five-Mark Enforcer, who had stayed behind to escort Han Meng, spoke slowly.

“Chen Ling...” Han Meng murmured to himself. Then he snapped back to reality, shook his head, and said, “No... the people from District Three are right, he shouldn’t have died.”

“Han Meng, have you lost your mind?! The Twilight Society is on the highest-priority wanted list in all major domains! Are you still trying to protect him?”

“What if he was part of the Twilight Society? He didn’t do anything wrong.” Han Meng’s brows furrowed deeply. “Moreover... now, I’m considered one of the heretics myself... What right do I have to judge the Twilight Society?”

The enforcer’s eyes widened. He stared at Han Meng for a long time, then sneered:

“Fine... very well, Han Meng. You’d better be able to repeat that statement when you’re in the judgment court... Heh heh.”

With that, he escorted Han Meng directly towards the headquarters.

Meanwhile.

On the top of a nearby building.

Bai Ye and Chu Muyun watched the train being slowly towed away, both falling silent.

After an unknown period, Chu Muyun thoughtfully adjusted his glasses. Then he began to look around, as if searching for something...

“What are you looking for?” Bai Ye couldn't help but ask.

“Where did you hide him?”

“Who?”

“Chen Ling,” Chu Muyun said matter-of-factly. “You definitely stole his position before he was burned to death, didn’t you? Where is he? That fire was incredibly hot; if he doesn’t get timely treatment, it could leave lasting damage...”

“What’s with your silence?”

Bai Ye’s mouth twitched slightly.

“...You saved him... didn’t you?” Chu Muyun asked tentatively.

“Do you have some misunderstanding about the Way of the Stealing God?” Bai Ye rubbed his temples. “The Way of the Stealing God isn’t limitless. I can steal positions... but he was too far from me, and the fire spread too fast. I didn’t have time to steal him...”

“So, you didn’t save him?!”

“Uh...”

“Senior Bai Ye,” Chu Muyun looked at him seriously. “You know if Chen Ling really died, the Red King would punish you... right?”

“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Bai Ye immediately retorted. “If that kid really died, Aurora City would probably be torn into pieces by now, didn’t you say that? But here we are, perfectly fine. What does that tell you?”

Chu Muyun came back to his senses, rubbing his chin. “Are you saying... he faked his death to escape? But how did he do it?”

“I don’t know. Even I can’t see through that kid’s methods.”

Chu Muyun’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper. He watched the train being slowly towed away in the distance, constantly replaying everything that had just happened in his mind.

“Chen Ling... a calamity that can self-ignite... body consumed by fire... vanished into thin air... steam train... steam tra—”

Chu Muyun froze.

“Did you figure it out?” Bai Ye asked, surprised.

“...I’m not sure.” Chu Muyun adjusted his glasses. “But if Chen Ling truly faked his death to escape, then the most likely place he could be... is only there...”