Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Night’s Lingering Echo

After descending the stairs, Liang Zhi and Qiu Shilu, who had been pressed tightly together to facilitate their escape, sprang apart as if a spring had been released between them. Liang Zhi glanced upstairs and saw their pursuers already coming down. "We shouldn't run together, or we'll both get caught," he said.

"I don't care to be with you anyway," Qiu Shilu retorted with a cold snort. The two then fled in opposite directions, quickly vanishing into the night.

Liang Zhi ran some distance before suddenly stopping. He sensed a gaze watching him. As a Forger, his powers allowed him to influence matter within three meters, and his awareness within that range exceeded ordinary people's. Now, he distinctly felt something nearby was observing him. Yet, scanning his surroundings, he found nothing amiss.

"Come out. I know you're there," Liang Zhi bluffed.

Under the moonlight, his shadow began to writhe, and a figure emerged from within it.

"Withered Branch!"

The instant the figure revealed itself, Liang Zhi struck without hesitation. Several sharp spikes shot toward the intruder, shredding the shadow.

"That was close… Why did you attack without listening first?"

The shadow had shifted elsewhere, and the newcomer, his shirt torn at the chest, looked at Liang Zhi in exasperation. Had he moved slower, he would have been struck. He was Wen Zhongxiang, a member of the Eradication Bureau who had previously accompanied Pan Tu.

"I haven't come to arrest you. I only wanted to ask you something," Wen Zhongxiang said.

Liang Zhi frowned. "What is it?"

"Shh, not so loud." Wen Zhongxiang furtively approached, whispering, "Since you appeared, you've done things ordinary people wouldn't. Have you ever heard of the 'Dawn Alliance'?"

"The Dawn Alliance… What's that supposed to be?" Liang Zhi was utterly perplexed.

Wen Zhongxiang sighed in disappointment. "As expected, you don't know. Never mind…"

His figure melted back into the shadows like ink, vanishing without a trace.

"What's with this guy, asking such a random question… Is he crazy?"

Scratching his head, Liang Zhi found a deserted spot, dismantled the battle flag to take the essential materials, removed his disguise, and quietly returned home.

…

Wen Zhongxiang moved through the shadows. Though he was an Eradication Bureau member, he had long since lost the desire to continue. Years spent in the Bureau had exposed him to countless dark corners of Da Dong, and he had grown weary, convinced he would spend his life muddling along.

But one day, he received a mission to strike at the Dawn Alliance and unexpectedly learned about the organization’s ideals and beliefs.

He defected—or so he believed. Yet, since he hadn’t found a way to join the Dawn Alliance, his betrayal was not yet real. He considered his recent work as being an undercover agent among the enemy and took care not to reveal his true intentions to his four teammates.

…

Thunderous rumbling shook the ground, deafening roars echoing. One after another, terrifying mechanical beasts burst forth from underground, gazing greedily at the thriving world above.

These monsters, with bodies unlike any normal creature, had cold machinery hidden within rotting flesh. They had slept for far too long; now was their time to feast.

Men, women, elders, children—the succulent flesh of humanity crawled across the earth like ants. Was there any better banquet?

A creature resembling a giant rat, Ju Ru, darted out like lightning, leaping from the courtyard to bite a curious old man who had come to see the commotion.

Bang!

A three-meter-long bolt, as thick as a grown man's wrist, descended from the sky and impaled Ju Ru, pinning it to the ground.

Sensing danger, the mechanical beasts looked up at the sky. Above the Fan family’s wooden house hovered an airship painted with a dragon boat motif. Massive crossbows aimed at the mechanical beasts below.

Feng Yushang raised his hand, issuing a cold command, "Fire!"

Dozens of bolts rained down like a hail of steel nails, precisely covering the area where the mechanical beasts stood. Not all the bolts were enormous, but even ordinary bolts falling from such a height could injure the mechanical monsters.

After several volleys, only a hook-snake remained.

A rope was lowered from the airship, and a cavalryman in deep blue armor slid down swiftly, wielding a long blade. He was the captain of the cavalry on the dragon boat, Feng Yushang.

The hook-snake stared skyward, mouth agape, waiting for its prey to drop into its jaws.

…

When Feng Yushang was still more than ten meters from the ground, he let go of the rope and leapt down. The hook-snake lashed its tail, two venomous spikes stabbing from different angles toward Feng Yushang. But just as they were about to strike, he grabbed the rope again, swinging violently to dodge the spikes.

He swung back, landing atop the hook-snake, running along its body toward its head, slashing as he went. Each blow struck precisely at the seams in its mechanical body, severing the energy conduits beneath the metal shell. By the time Feng Yushang landed, the hook-snake was immobilized.

Everyone witnessing the scene was astounded by Feng Yushang’s skill.

But Feng Yushang was not pleased. "Why did the voice trail off at the end? What is the true reason Peach Blossom Spring has never been discovered?"

…

Night deepened. Hu Zhiying sat at the entrance of the Judicial Bureau, his eyes empty.

He had lived through too much this night.

He had killed the superior who had promoted him, and his conscience tormented him ceaselessly. Worst of all, the mysterious Eradication Bureau had uncovered his crime.

What should he do now—run?

His heart overflowed with conflicting emotions, his future shrouded in uncertainty.

Suddenly, a pair of shoes appeared before him. Looking up, he saw a man standing with the moon behind him, making his features hard to discern.

The man spoke, "Of all the bailiffs I've met at the Judicial Bureau, you're among the most competent. Not everyone has the courage to strike their superior for the sake of unrelated people."

His voice was steadfast and resolute, like an immovable mountain.

Hu Zhiying managed a bitter smile. He had killed Fan Nang in a moment of passion and was already regretting it.

The man continued, "I can see you’re lost. That’s because you’re too weak—so weak that even trying to uphold your principles feels like treading on thin ice."

"But I… can help you become strong!"

"Help me become strong? How?" Hu Zhiying waved him off, thinking the man was mocking him.

Two hands, hardened with calluses, gripped Hu Zhiying's shoulders. In that instant, it was as if the night turned bright, and a radiant deity stood before him.

"Defend human dignity, uphold human principles, carry forth your will, never retreat… If you do so, you will become strong!"