Chapter 296: Falling from Grace

Wen Shilin's expression shifted slightly at the sight.

Even though he was an experienced reporter who had seen his share of storms, watching a head explode before his eyes was still unsettling. The visual impact made him uncomfortable. His Adam's apple bobbed as he tried his best to look away.

"Lin Yan..." Wen Shilin paused, seeing the young man beside him, and his expression became complicated.

"Long time no see, Mr. Wen." Chen Ling put away his gun and smiled faintly.

When Chen Ling arrived and saw Wen Shilin, he had already reverted to Lin Yan's appearance. Although his identity being exposed no longer mattered, he knew Wen Shilin was a good reporter and didn't want to startle him unnecessarily. Maintaining their previous relationship was the best option.

"Why are you here? Did you get a ticket too?"

"A ticket?" Chen Ling shook his head. "I don't have anything like that... I was just pursuing him here."

At that moment, Chen Ling was prepared for Wen Shilin's questions: Why was he pursuing Yan Shang? Why was Yan Shang tortured to such an extent? Why did the gun just now turn into coal?

To his surprise, Wen Shilin didn't question him. Instead, he blinked and stared at Chen Ling for a long time... as if waiting for something.

"What's wrong?" Chen Ling asked, sensing the oddness in Wen Shilin's gaze.

"This time, aren't you taking away my doubts?"

Chen Ling froze.

"You..."

"Surprised?" Wen Shilin's lips curved upward slightly.

"No matter what, I've been a reporter for so many years. Although I occasionally make mistakes in judging people, I'm not a fool... You still have a lot to learn in this regard, rookie."

Chen Ling had never imagined that Wen Shilin could see through his Mind Python; until now, he hadn't thought there was anything wrong with his disguise.

He couldn't help but ask, puzzled, "How did you find out?"

Wen Shilin waved the notebook in his hand.

"I have a habit of keeping a diary every day. As soon as I get home and review what happened, I notice discrepancies. The first time, I was just a little confused and thought I was too tired... but the second time, I realized what was happening. This loophole is quite crucial; remember to be more careful next time you use it on someone else."

Only then did Chen Ling realize where the problem lay.

His Mind Python could only temporarily steal certain emotions. Even if he could steal Wen Shilin's doubt at the moment, preventing him from feeling that something was amiss, the moment Wen Shilin went home and thought about it, he would recall his original doubts. He couldn't use this ability to make someone permanently trust him unless he stayed with them constantly.

This was a flaw Chen Ling had never anticipated. Most importantly... in Chen Ling's era, hardly anyone kept a diary, right?

"If that's the case, why didn't you expose me?"

"Initially, I was indeed a bit afraid, wondering what you intended by going to such lengths to approach me... But then I thought about it carefully: you never did anything to harm me, and everything you did was genuinely righteous. Most importantly, your eyes..." Wen Shilin pointed at Chen Ling.

"In all my years as a reporter, I've seen too many victims. The sorrow and anger in your eyes when you mourned your brother—that couldn't be faked."

Chen Ling looked at Wen Shilin with complicated eyes, then, after a long moment, smiled helplessly.

"So, you know who I am?"

Wen Shilin shook his head. "I don't want to know."

Given Wen Shilin's investigative abilities, it wouldn't have been difficult to uncover Chen Ling's true identity if he had wanted to. But he had no intention of investigating. In his eyes, Chen Ling was simply a junior trying to avenge his brother—it was that simple.

"...Thank you," Chen Ling said sincerely.

"By the way," Wen Shilin turned to him. "You said just now that you don't have a ticket?"

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a ticket, and handed it to Chen Ling.

"Take this."

"Is this... a ticket for the trans-domain train?"

"Yes, it's the last train, the last hope of escape. Most ordinary people don't even know it exists... Board it, and you'll safely reach the South." Wen Shilin's gaze swept over the frozen, desolate city as he spoke bitterly.

"It won't be this cold there."

Chen Ling looked at the ticket before him, feeling a little puzzled. Logically, every seat on such a trans-domain train would be prepared in advance, reserved for high-ranking officials and nobles. Wen Shilin was just a reporter, and one who offended the most people at that. Where did he get this ticket?

"This ticket was given to me by Tan Xin," Wen Shilin explained, seemingly having read Chen Ling's thoughts. "He asked me to deliver some items, and in exchange, he told me all his plans."

"You've met Tan Xin?"

"Yes."

Wen Shilin nodded. "To be honest, I admit I had some prejudices against him before... but now, it seems he truly deserves the position of Deputy Chief Enforcer."

"I won't need the ticket. I still have unfinished business in this city." Chen Ling paused, then pointed to the notebook in Wen Shilin's hand. "But... may I see that?"

The rest of the Twilight Society was still in Aurora City, so Chen Ling naturally couldn't just take the train and leave by himself. Relatively speaking, he was more interested in what would happen next in Aurora City.

"...Are you sure?" Wen Shilin frowned. "If you don't leave soon, it will be too late."

"Yes."

Seeing this, Wen Shilin stopped trying to persuade him. With a long sigh, he handed the notebook to Chen Ling.

Chen Ling opened the notebook. The vast majority of the pages were Wen Shilin's diary entries. He quickly flipped to the last few pages...

"This is..." Chen Ling murmured to himself.

Centennial Avenue.

A cold wind swept across the empty road, carrying a strong scent of blood amidst the chill.

Centennial Avenue was now mostly deserted. The coal from the trucks had been taken by residents, leaving behind only crimson corpses and blood-stained banknotes on the ground.

Two figures stood silently in the middle of the solemn, desolate road, their black trench coat and grey cotton coat fluttering in the wind.

Zhao Yi crushed the squinting man's head with his foot. His eyes, flickering with runes, seemed to sense something and looked towards the other end of the road.

"Someone's coming," his overlapping voice rang out. "Is it an enemy?"

Han Meng looked at the approaching car, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"...No, they're here for me."