Chapter 159

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍7:54 p.m., Xie Chang’an finally arrived in Spring City.

When ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Xie Chang’an finally stepped out of the train carriage, he let out a long breath in his heart. While the train had been moving, Xie Chang’an had worried several times that the Railway Bureau would urgently stop the train, but fortunately, he had ultimately succeeded in returning to Spring City.

Although ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his strength was meager, he still wanted to do everything he could.

Just ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as Xie Chang’an dragged his suitcase toward the exit, two or three agile Black-Clad People happened to pass by him while talking.

“Hey, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍where are we supposed to report later?”

“No ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍idea.”

“This is my first time coming to Spring City. It’s a bit of a pity that I can’t look around.”

“That depends on what the higher-ups want. Right now, I just hope everything is a false alarm. Making a wasted trip is better than anything else. Besides, Spring City… definitely isn’t as prosperous as Central City.”

“You’re that direct? What if someone from Spring City hears you?”

“You’re right… Then let me cover my badge first, hahaha…”

Xie Chang’an silently pushed his suitcase forward.

Because of multiple ticket changes and the long wait, many ordinary passengers had canceled their trips while waiting, or temporarily postponed them. Only people like Xie Chang’an, who had stubbornly waited from morning until afternoon with a single-minded obsession, or smart people who had received the news in advance, had successfully boarded this train.

Xie Chang’an was wearing a black jacket and a pair of black sweatpants today.

Because of that, his figure successfully blended into the black-clad flow of people. Xie Chang’an dragged his luggage to the elevator in the station and quickly pressed the elevator button. At that moment, he inexplicably turned back and glanced behind him—

Passengers were continuously getting off the train.

Most of them wore black tactical uniforms, and only a few scattered passengers wore brightly colored clothes. A heavy killing intent permeated the air of the station, and only the sound of passengers’ footsteps and suitcase wheels kept ringing out.

Looking at the scene before him, Xie Chang’an sighed inwardly: The difference between ordinary people and soldiers really was enormous.

Most soldiers traveled light. The majority carried only a Camouflage Bag or Military Supplies, while a small number were transporting heavy Military Equipment. But no matter how heavy the Military Equipment was, they would not choose to take the elevator or escalator. Instead, they walked downstairs on foot.

Most ordinary people carried bags and bundles of luggage with them. Because they had no time limit or reporting requirements, most of them walked slowly. Bright-colored outerwear, large and small bags of luggage, intermittent footsteps, relatively weak stamina… these were all the most obvious characteristics used to distinguish ordinary people.

Although Xie Chang’an himself was also wearing black clothes, and although he already had a great deal of experience facing Aberrants, Xie Chang’an felt that in this moment, he was no different from those ordinary passengers who had never directly faced Aberrants and were protected by the Federation.

So that was the reason… Xie Chang’an recalled the Station Attendant’s words.

Perhaps this train had not been meant to carry passengers to Spring City from the very beginning, but to transport the soldiers who had responded first to this emergency warning to the city that needed them. That was why the train had been severely delayed. It had not been prepared for ordinary passengers like them in the first place.

Just as Xie Chang’an was thinking, a whistle sounded.

The train that had just arrived in Spring City swiftly left the Spring City platform with its remaining passengers. Xie Chang’an stood dazedly in place, watching the train’s figure gradually disappear into the night.

“Huh? Wasn’t Spring City the terminal station?” Xie Chang’an said in astonishment after seeing this.

He could not help looking again at the Terminal on his wrist. The time displayed on the Terminal had already reached night. Generally speaking, trains in the Federation did not travel at night. The danger level at night was far more serious than during the day.

It was also because of that that Xie Chang’an had thought Spring City was the terminal station.

“Young man, you don’t understand this, do you?” An uncle who had just run to the elevator entrance said while panting. “The Railway Bureau obeys government orders. If the government tells them to arrive within a specified time, they wouldn’t dare disobey.”

An auntie dragging a suitcase while waiting for the elevator frowned and retorted, “The army itself can take night routes. It still isn’t certain whether this is an order from the Federation government, so don’t make it sound so frightening. You’ll scare the child.”

“Actually… I think Spring City should still be fine.” A young woman holding two suitcases and carrying another shoulder bag whispered, “At first, I also thought they would all get off at Spring City. I didn’t expect there to be another terminal station. In that case, Spring City’s crisis probably isn’t very serious…”

The uncle sighed. “That isn’t certain.”

“All the rumors I heard outside were talking about the Ground Collapse near Spring City,” the auntie said with worry on her face. “At the time, I was really frightened to death. I even specially called my daughter and son-in-law to confirm the news, but now I don’t know what to say anymore…”

The uncle sighed again. “All we can say is that it’s fortunate we managed to get tickets back.”

Once these words were spoken, the people waiting for the elevator all expressed agreement in unison.

Xie Chang’an listened in a daze.

Only when the people around him stopped talking did Xie Chang’an suddenly realize something: the uncles and aunties were the same as him. Although they all knew that returning to Spring City right now was an extremely unsafe thing to do, even so—

They still had to come back.

Although for many people, Spring City was only a city that temporarily could not be visited, for people like them who lived in Spring City, this place had their families, their friends, and everything their ancestors had accumulated.

They could not leave alone.

The auntie suddenly said mournfully, “When I get home, my daughter is going to nag me.”

The uncle chimed in, “Sigh… my wife too.”

The young woman, who had not spoken for a long while just now, sighed faintly as well. “I’m the miserable one… My husband was urgently dragged away to attend a meeting tonight, and my father even said he wanted to sever ties with me… In such a dark night, they actually plan to make me walk home alone…”

After hearing this, Xie Chang’an instantly became timid and obedient.

Although no one was picking him up right now either, at the very least, the people who would pick him up would not scold him too harshly. But then again… Xie Chang’an belatedly thought: it was time for him to think about where he should sleep tonight.

8:27 p.m., a High-End Apartment District in Spring City.

After Gu Lingxue finished spending the day in Spring City with her classmates, she swiftly ran home. While sitting on the low stool by the entrance and changing her shoes, she shouted, “Mom, are you there? Do you know whether Dad is home right now?”

But she changed her shoes far faster than Mrs. Gu replied.

Thus, Gu Lingxue stepped into her slippers and rushed toward the area where her parents usually stayed. Because her shout just now had received no response, Gu Lingxue almost thought her parents were not home at the moment, but the light shining from her father’s study quickly dispelled her worries.

Gu Lingxue quickly softened her footsteps and once again restored her ladylike demeanor.

Inside the lit study, Mr. Gu looked at the Projected Screen before him with a serious expression. The Bluetooth Earbud in his right ear was continuously flashing blue light, and his brows were furrowed more and more tightly. Although Mrs. Gu, who stood at the side, did not speak, her face was already full of worry.

Seeing this, Gu Lingxue softened her breathing.

“All right, I understand.” Mr. Gu suddenly spoke to the other end of the earbud. “I’ll return to the scene tomorrow. Please take care of me during the next period, Engineer Zheng… Eh, no, this is only right. Spring City is my home. It’s very normal for me to help.”

With a series of beeps, the call ended.

Mr. Gu turned to his wife and said in a serious tone, “Tomorrow, I’ll ask someone to book tickets out of Spring City. When the time comes, you and Xiaoxue should go outside first and avoid the storm for a while. Our company’s venue will probably be requisitioned by the government, but with this connection, the tickets should be easy to get.”

Mrs. Gu asked anxiously, “What happened?”

“This matter is a long story, sigh…” After hearing this, Mr. Gu suddenly leaned back against his chair and rubbed his head somewhat irritably. “The situation shouldn’t be as serious as imagined, but it may delay things for a very long period…”

The more Gu Lingxue listened, the more wrong it sounded.

She quickly walked out from the darkness and asked worriedly, “So, Dad, what happened?”

Gu Lingxue had previously always thought that this was only a crisis with little impact. Although she had personally experienced the train stopping in the wilderness and had also seen the scene of the Ground Collapse, she truly had not expected the impact of this matter to be so great that her father wanted her and her mother to go out and avoid it.

Maybe she really should not have urged Chang’an to come back just now… This thought flashed through Gu Lingxue’s mind.

Seeing that both his wife and daughter looked worried, Mr. Gu finally gave up and rubbed his brow. “They’re not sure whether it’s Spring City yet, and their discussion of the disaster is extremely restrained… But I’ve already roughly judged the disaster’s level.”

“It should be the Black Tide… or a disaster on the same level as the Black Tide.”

“The Black Tide?!” Mrs. Gu cried out subconsciously.

“…!” Gu Lingxue’s pupils constricted even more after hearing this.

Although she had wondered whether it might be an Earthquake Drill, Infected Hiding in the City, or an Aberrant attack, she had never imagined that it would be such a serious crisis. Gu Lingxue’s heart was in chaos as she thought back: the last Black Tide… the last Black Tide seemed to have been more than a year ago…

Why had a second Black Tide broken out so soon?

“That isn’t scientific, is it, honey?” Mrs. Gu forced herself to remain calm as she said, “The timing is too close, and the Black Tide… doesn’t the Black Tide usually break out in remote areas? Spring City is located in the Federation’s central region. How could a Black Tide possibly appear here…”

Seeing his wife’s words become more and more chaotic, Mr. Gu quickly stood up to comfort her. “It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

As he patted his wife’s back, he gently reassured her, “The Federation will not abandon Spring City, so there’s no need to think about the city being destroyed. Besides, the previous two times happened because the response measures were imperfect. Aren’t the army and the Hunters all coming over now? This is only a relatively difficult battle. Once we endure this period, everything will be fine. You two should go outside and avoid it first. As for here…”

“No, no, no—you don’t understand what I’m thinking at all.” Mrs. Gu seriously refuted him. “Since this is such a critical moment, how could I possibly leave? I am your wife, and also your partner. I will definitely stay and advance or retreat together with you and the company!”

Mr. Gu froze after hearing this.

He subconsciously pointed at Gu Lingxue, who was standing at the study door, and asked straightforwardly, “Then what about Xiaoxue? Wouldn’t Xiaoxue be very lonely outside alone?”

Gu Lingxue immediately picked up the conversation. “I’m definitely staying too!”

Clearly, the strongest fighter in their family was her! Her damned dad and mom actually both wanted to send her out! No! Absolutely not!

The more Gu Lingxue listened, the more flustered she became, and at the same time, the firmer her heart grew—

She had to fight for her own rights.

10:17 p.m., the sixth floor of a high-end hotel in Spring City.

Ji Qing sat upright beside the Floor-to-Ceiling Window, looking at the bright moon in the night sky as he leisurely swirled the wineglass in his hand. Although he had originally wanted to leave Spring City, he could not deny that he had spent a very happy day. He truly had not expected that having a local guide would be such an enjoyable thing.

As he admired the moon, the signal light on the Terminal in front of Ji Qing kept flashing.

Ji Qing lowered his eyes indifferently and checked it. A faint hint of helplessness immediately appeared on the corner of his lips. The message on the Terminal came from White Night. White Night had informed him of Spring City’s current situation, as well as Red Heart’s whereabouts.

White Night: 【Because you emphasized a few days ago that no work should be arranged for you, Senior, I directly had Red Heart handle this Black Tide. Uh… if you’re in Spring City right now, Senior, just treat it as admiring Red Heart’s battle style. (Giving up.jpg)】

Raven: 【Has it already been confirmed to be Spring City? (Smile)】

White Night: 【Uh… the Federation side still hasn’t confirmed it, so I specially asked Senior Emerald. Senior Emerald said we can go directly to Spring City. (Anxiously folding hands.jpg)】

In the high-end hotel, Ji Qing held his cheek and said, “Wow, I didn’t expect Emerald to have that function.”

But in the next second, his face returned to its usual indifference. Ji Qing put down the wineglass with one hand and sighed in a tired tone. “Sigh… fine. After all, the development of some matters isn’t something an individual can predict. For now, I should be glad that my intelligence channels are broad.”

Finally, Ji Qing complained expressionlessly, “Tonight is definitely going to be a sleepless night for many people.”

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