When they found Xue Qi and the others, the latter had already gotten the news at the leased land.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the rental hall was thick with foreboding, all because of the sudden condemnation of “White Violet Hero ” Yang Buchen through the evening newspapers and radio stations tonight.
Whether those affiliated with the Fogfolk or locals seeking workers, everyone was whispering about the theft of critical national documents. Some kept fiddling with their radios, switching channels in hopes of picking up the latest updates.
“Finally, a country couldn’t take it anymore and decided to strike back now. “
“But it’s unexpected that it’s our Heinansil. What does this have to do with them? “
Yang Zicang, wearing the mask issued by labor authorities and sporting a glued-on beard, pulled his cap down low. Picking up his suitcase, he motioned for the two girls to follow and led them toward the secluded backyard: “When I came here, I was trailed by many. “
“Can’t we just go straight back to the inn? That’d be faster. ” Hua Mi whispered nervously.
“No need, that’s a waste of time. “
Yang Zicang didn’t mention that he’d locked Little Bird away in the inn’s lobby.
“These people are slandering you. They’re after that glint? ” Xue Qi, donning a slanted plaid hat, quickened her step to walk alongside Yang Zicang.
“It’s obviously the case. “
“What shall we do? How about heading straight back to White Violet City and making it publicly clear you’ve never left? ” Xue Qi suggested.
“That won’t work, Qiqi. Brother Yang just gave an interview to the local press here. “
“Damn it, they absolutely planned this. That major general is really no good, hmph, ” Xue Qi suddenly scowled and said, “And that Haili Koni too. “
Just as she was about to untie her scarf and unfold the flying carpet, two consecutive Neutral Reviews and Negative Reviews from the distributors suddenly rang out in her mind.
Letting out a sigh, Yang Zicang gazed at the outskirts of the rented area shrouded in the night.
“What’s wrong? There’s nobody here, let’s just fly. “
“Here… it seems like a better place for us to look for other ways out. ” Yang Zicang said thoughtfully, not entirely sure about his speculation.
“It’s just a bit less Moonlight, but what kind of time is this to worry about that? “
Amid Xue Qi’s light complaints, Yang Zicang straightened up and looked towards the area outside the rented ground.
“If… it were someone else in this situation, how would they handle it? “
“What do you mean? ” Hua Mi turned her head to look at the president, who was actually about the same age as her.
Yang Zicang nodded thoughtfully and said, “If it were an ordinary person, faced with this situation, what would they do? “
“Of course they would… of course… ” Xue Qi’s brow furrowed.
“Let’s go, head over there, and walk out through the main gate. But even so, we still need to make the necessary preparations. “
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Yang Zicang led the two ladies back to the relatively crowded rental hall. There might be spies from Blackwen Zick here, but those who could enter had all sworn not to leak any information. The only concern was them using prearranged signals, such as the gaps and odd-even numbers of departing figures or the colors of clothing, to pass messages.
He walked down the corridor and found the regional affairs liaison emerging from a room, holding a document and closing the door.
“Mister Liaison, could you provide us with some spare clothes? “
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As he spoke, Yang Zicang slightly turned his head. In the hall, two figures wandered like idle strollers to the entrance where the passage could be clearly seen.
“Of course, sir. ” The regional affairs liaison led the three of them into a small meeting room.
After the staff brought a pile of ordinary clothes for changing, Xue Qi took a jacket and muttered:
“Is all this really necessary? Ordinary people don’t have our abilities anyway. “
“I’m… not entirely sure either. But I think… those so-called saint statues worshiped by the natives are just ordinary people themselves. “
“This… ” Xue Qi became completely hesitant.
Yang Zicang put on a woman’s jacket, and Hua Mi’s eyes went straight.
“How is it? “
“A bit… terrifying. “
“Hmm… then you choose for me. “
Hua Mi and Xue Qi, who was still a bit dazed, immediately perked up.
……
Not long after, a slender “gentleman ” in a small suit and a pencil mustache, hands shoved into the coat pockets, walked out from the direction of the bathroom, making his way towards the exit of the rental area with a composed air.
A figure immediately stood up from a chair against the wall and followed closely.
Hua Mi’s heart started pounding in a restless, almost unseemly rhythm. Her steps also became unconsciously quick and taut.
A short man approached from behind, but suddenly another figure crashed into his shoulder, sending him stumbling violently. Yang Zicang, now dressed in a rough cloth maid’s outfit, spoke coldly: “I’ve got my eyes on you. ” He glanced back, making eye contact with Xue Qi as a signal.
The man was startled, a real fright shooting through him.
An old woman, who looked to be in her fifties or sixties but was still fairly well-preserved, came over from the side and linked her arm through Yang Zicang’s—an arm that could only belong to a woman used to heavy labor, given its sturdiness and build.
Ignoring the frantic furrowed brows of the pursuers behind them, the two walked into the arched tunnel leading out of the rental zone, eventually dissolving into the sparse stream of passersby beyond.
Though the majestic stone gate carved from rock still had some distance to the main street outside, the guards were not stopping the large crowd that was pouring out of the area. People on the side were shouting inquiries about what the Fogfolk from Mist World were supposed to have done. The noisy crowd was surrounded by plenty of agitation and a throng clearly trying to stir things up.
“There are so many people. “
“Let’s leave from the other side. If there’s danger, use the key immediately. “
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The figure of Hua Mi in disguise only drew a few glances before she was overlooked, which allowed the extremely nervous Hua Mi to finally relax a bit, and it even sparked some courage within her. This kind of thing… seemed not entirely impossible. She slipped into the crowd along the roadside.
The moment Yang Zicang and the others emerged behind them, they attracted several gazes, and a few figures immediately began walking toward them.
“We’ve been spotted. “
“Hah, it would be impossible not to be found. ” Xue Qi said with a malicious groan, reaching into her coat and gripping the perfume bottle.
“Their main forces must be deployed toward the rear. I’ll divert them for you later. “
As Yang Zicang and Xue Qi were whispering their plans while walking, Hua Mi, who had gone further into the crowd, spotted, among the people on the main street wearing clothes from all walks of life, those pushing toward the gate of the rental property. She frowned thoughtfully for a moment, then turned her head to see, at the corner of the right street, a small vendor taking advantage of the crowd to hawk his wares.
Seven or eight figures emerged one after another from the crowd up ahead. Yang Zicang was readying to walk forward to meet them.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from a street corner in the distance. A street vendor’s cart selling food had been overturned by the crowd.
Food and cups and plates shattered all over the ground, instantly grabbing the attention of many.
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The thin figure that knocked over the food cart, excited and delighted, quickly ran to the other end of the street.
“Hey, you bastard! ” The stall owner slapped his knees helplessly in a panic.
“Quick, chase him! ” Among those who had originally come to surround Yang Zicang, two immediately broke off to rush over there.
“Hua Mi, good job. Four left. Find a chance to get away. ” Yang Zicang’s pace was about to accelerate into a sprint, but Xue Qi grabbed her arm. At the same time, she pulled out a perfume bottle with her other hand, pressed it, and sprayed a hazy mist forward. Those nearby immediately felt their steps grow unsteady.
The moment the scent spread, someone among the slightly chaotic crowd forcibly pushed an opening through the space.
A figure wearing a black back armor and tea-colored glasses ignited blazing illusory shadows around herself, emanating an overwhelming aura silently into the surroundings.
“It’s a demonic blood polluter! “
“There’s demonic aura, run for it! “
The street entrance immediately descended into confusion amidst the crowd’s shock. Yang Zicang’s eyes flickered, and he lowered his voice to shout as well: “It’s a demonic blood polluter gone rogue! “
These words were like a match dropped into hot oil. The demonic blood fusionist, who had merely been worried about hurting bystanders, burst into fury: “Move aside! Stay put! “
“Everyone, run! “
Yang Zicang turned and ran a couple of steps towards the main entrance, shouting, “Everyone come this way, it’s safe in here! “
With a loud whoosh, amid the panicked crowd, even those holding freshly printed newspapers quickly followed the people already intending to rush towards Yang Zicang and sprinted in that direction. They were moving even faster than the others.
The crowd surged towards the main gate like a flood bursting through a dam.
“Screw you, the enemy’s over there! “
At this shout, some people hesitated in their steps, which only made the crowd, already terrified of the “demonic aura, ” even more chaotic.
“Watch out for a stampede! “
Dragging his suitcase, Yang Zicang pulled along Xue Qi, who was frantically spraying perfume, as he merged into the human tide. While running, he changed his voice and shouted among the crowd, “Who will help these poor souls! “
The men who wanted to catch him, battered by the turbulent and chaotic human flow, were utterly unable to distinguish targets or stop anyone. They were squeezed by the crowd and couldn’t get close. Soon, they anxiously realized they were being separated from the target, who moved through the rioting mass like a fish through water.
The burly figure, exuding a formidable aura, used his arms like two steel beams to shove aside the people surrounding him as he charged forth, quickly closing in on Yang Zicang and his companion as they ran toward the main street.
Seeing the distance between them growing larger, he relied on his superhuman strength. With one powerful step, he kicked off the wall with both feet, leaped onto the jumbled rooftops, and began a swift pursuit.
Just as he was pulling out a pair of Stellar Yuan-wrapped gloves, preparing to leap down from the rooftop, Yang Zicang suddenly turned back. The “Musing Night, ” prepared and ready all along, exploded outward toward the target area with full force.
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A flash of a broken line swept across, precisely coiling around the pursuer who had spread his Blood Shadow.
“Urgh—! “
The moment the abrupt power of Musing Night struck, the man on the rooftop felt both of his feet trip unconsciously as if they weren’t his own.
For a Pollutant whose mind was already tormented by the corruption of demon blood, this mental shock instantly detonated the suppressed madness, whispers, and agony within his mind. His movement froze stiff, and he let out a painful howl before crashing from the rooftop down to the second-floor balcony with a clatter.
Seizing this precious gap, Yang Zicang and Xue Qi suddenly accelerated. Before long, they caught up to the two who were just about to overtake Hua Mi.
Thump! Thump! Rushing up, Yang Zicang directly knocked out these two men with two punches.
The three swiftly ducked into a small alley and shed their outer coats. Hua Mi’s face was flushed from running, and she gasped for breath:
“You know… this is actually kind of thrilling. “
“Save the thrill—it was a close call. Let’s get out of here fast. “
Dressed in plain dark coats, the three disappeared into the darkness of the night streets the moment before the pursuers arrived.
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