Chapter 562: Chaos in Heichao City

Walking down the streets of Heichao City, one could feel that the city had undergone a dramatic change overnight.

Where bustling, almost hyperactive crowds once thrived, the streets were now nearly deserted. Scores of shops and restaurants had shuttered, and the damages inflicted by the previous frenzy, like gaping wounds on the city, lay exposed under the sun, yet no one bothered to clean them up.

In many of the quiet buildings lining both sides of the road, a faint stench of decay permeated the air.

Lu Xin could already guess what it was.

Over twenty days of insomnia had left a vast number of dead bodies hidden among families in Heichao City. Even though the temperature was still low, the prolonged decay had begun in earnest. The once-concealed chaos, masked by the city’s ostentatious aura, could no longer be hidden as silence finally fell.

This unsettled Lu Xin somewhat; if he were in Qinggang, the cleanup team would have arrived long ago.

Yet in Heichao City, no signs of any cleanup had emerged even now…

Perhaps it was because many people in this city had yet to wake up and resume work.

Long-term insomnia had driven them into a vengeful sleep.

…

“Why are we heading to the Administration Hall of Second Satellite City?”

Seated on his rattling tricycle, Lu Xin casually surveyed the scenery on both sides as he asked curiously.

“Don’t you know?”

Yin Mao replied in a low voice, “Right now, Group Leader is negotiating big matters with those officials. Originally, such a meeting should have been held at the Main City Administration Hall, but our Heichao City’s Administrative Main Hall was reportedly bombed by an outsider knight faction. So, we had to move to the Second Administration Hall…”

“?”

Lu Xin suddenly realized he shouldn’t have asked that question.

Yin Mao continued, rambling, “I really don’t know which knight faction has the guts to do this—they’re just asking for trouble…”

“Do they think Heichao City is a pushover? If they catch sight of us, I’ll whack them with my stick…”

…

Turning towards Lu Xin, he added, “Don’t you agree?”

Suppressing the urge to toss him out of the tricycle, Lu Xin nodded, “Yeah.”

The current Heichao City was theoretically in its most disordered state, yet in reality, it felt eerily quiet.

The streets were clear and nearly empty, and even the passageways linking the Satellite Cities to the Main City and each other remained open, allowing the tricycle to move freely. Thus, Lu Xin and Yin Mao smoothly traveled from Satellite City Three to Second Satellite City.

They strolled along the street until they reached the Administration Hall.

Approaching the hall, they were immediately struck by a livelier scene than even the Steel Drawbridge.

Countless police officers and military personnel had sealed off the once insignificant Administration Hall in Heichao City. The main roads at both ends were blocked by military vehicles, and checkpoints were set up everywhere. The tricycle was halted at a distance.

“A meeting is in progress inside. Unrelated individuals aren’t allowed; take a detour!”

From afar, two armed soldiers raised their hands and called out to Lu Xin and Yin Mao in the vehicle.

Just as Lu Xin was about to step forward to explain that he wasn’t a random onlooker, Yin Mao shouted, “Who said we’re outsiders?”

Pointing at Lu Xin, he declared, “Don’t you know that this is the son-in-law of our Group Leader’s eldest daughter?”

“?”

Lu Xin’s face contorted in confusion, thinking that this identity was tricky to explain. Besides, even though Group Leader was a bit of a rogue, his name might not be enough to force these guards to make way in Heichao City’s upper echelon.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the soldier’s expression softened as he glanced at Lu Xin from head to toe.

Just then, as Lu Xin was marveling that they really knew Group Leader, a man’s face suddenly darkened and he shouted, “Nonsense!”

“Wasn’t Group Leader’s eldest daughter’s husband already let in a moment ago?”

…

Lu Xin instantly thought of Gecko, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Yin Mao, not willing to back down, retorted, “He’s the boyfriend—the type who cheats on you, you know?”

“Isn’t he just a pretty boy?”

The guarding soldier sneered, “What’s so impressive about that status?”

“Why shouldn’t it be impressive?”

Yin Mao argued back stubbornly, “A lover implies deep feelings. How can someone not deeply involved be called a lover?”

Lu Xin helplessly reached for his black bag, preparing to use his phone to call Han Bing and ask her to come pick them up.

Just then, as Yin Mao and the guard were arguing, a white sedan slowly pulled up not far away.

Upon getting closer, it became clear that the sedan had to stop because of a tricycle parked nearby.

A group of men dressed in black suits stepped out from both the front and rear of the car and lifted the tricycle, moving it to the side of the road.

The driver kept shouting, “Hey, you haven’t paid the fare yet…”

The car door opened and a young, graceful woman in a white cheongsam and red high heels stepped out. With her hair neatly tied up and a small, geometric-patterned purse in hand, she walked slowly to the checkpoint, escorted by two umbrella-bearers.

“Miss Sun.”

The two soldiers at the post recognized her immediately, gripping their guns tightly and standing at attention.

Without so much as a nod, the woman merely glanced at Lu Xin and Yin Mao outside the post and asked, “Who are they?”

The soldier replied, “They claim to be the lover of our Group Leader’s daughter and insist on joining the meeting.”

Lu Xin wanted to explain that he wasn’t really a lover.

But Yin Mao had already started arguing, “What lover? A truly close lover. Aren’t you going to let them in?”

“Lover?”

Miss Sun, dressed in white, seemed amused. She examined Lu Xin from head to toe and couldn’t help but smile.

Then she said, “There aren’t many who dare to impersonate a Group Leader’s daughter’s lover. Maybe it’s genuine.”

“Don’t complicate things; just let me take them in.”

…

The soldiers on duty promptly agreed and split up to handle the situation.

“That guard isn’t enforcing the rules strictly enough…”

Lu Xin had already lost hope in explaining his identity. Whatever it was, he just needed to get inside.

Still, he was somewhat astonished.

Just by resting for a day, Group Leader’s status had already risen so high?

Not only did the checkpoint soldiers know, even Miss Sun was willing to help usher people into the meeting?

Without further explanation, Miss Sun casually scrutinized Lu Xin with a silent smile full of hidden meaning, then gracefully walked forward. A group of bodyguards quickly edged Lu Xin and Yin Mao aside.

“So, is the Miss Sun family that impressive?”

Yin Mao muttered under his breath, not expected to be heard by anyone but Lu Xin, as he trailed behind.

In a low voice, Lu Xin asked, “What exactly does she do?”

Getting closer, Yin Mao whispered, “I don’t know, but I heard that in Second City there’s a large family named Sun. Rumor has it that they wield considerable influence in the Heichao City military. Judging by how cocky this woman is, she might very well be one of them… Anyway, let’s get in. After all, Group Leader has our backs, right?”

“Such a solid backing does sound impressive…”

“Impressive, so what? Do you think I can insult her behind her back and she’ll hear it?”

…

The two followed Miss Sun through two temporary checkpoints and soon arrived in front of the Administration Hall building of Second Satellite City.

Once inside, loud, chaotic shouts filled the air—as messy as a street market. One could even hear curses, forceful pounding on tables, and spitting, all contrasting sharply with the stern demeanor of the soldiers outside.

“The top priority now is to restore order in the city before chaos ensues…”

“Food and medicine are what really matter. Do you know how many dead there are in the city?”

“There’s not even a discount on medicine—it’s always been in short supply…”

“Food is the foundation of Heichao City. I’m not in favor of price drops…”

“Heh, at least we’re flush with corpse-wrapping bags. Need some?”

“Enough with the nonsense. Who exactly is short on supplies at the Main Hall? Do you think arguing will fix it?”

…

At the end of the corridor stood a slightly ajar door. Miss Sun nodded to the soldier guarding it, and her bodyguards pushed it open. Instantly, the uproar from inside almost seemed capable of ripping the roof off. The sounds of quarrels, mixed with the odor of cigars, tobacco, and an unidentifiable warm aroma, nearly knocked over anyone in their path.

However, once Miss Sun entered the meeting room, the chaos inside noticeably subsided.

Soon after, many people stood and greeted the woman in the white cheongsam, “Miss Sun.”

Leading the way into the meeting room, Miss Sun was immediately followed by bodyguards who spread out at the door to ensure her safety. Lu Xin and Yin Mao, squeezed in from the sides, managed to slip in without being stopped by the grim, silent guards.

“Pardon me, esteemed elders.”

The woman in the cheongsam smiled warmly, “I overslept—I slept so soundly, and being a woman, I had to do my makeup and choose an outfit. I hope the elders here won’t mind my tardiness.”

A chorus of responses arose, with one person laughing, “Not at all, we just arrived early…”

Another added, “When Miss Sun arrives, who would dare complain?”

Miss Sun took the seat closest to the door at the long conference table, and someone immediately stood up to offer her their seat.

She gracefully sat down and asked with a smile, “Where were we in the discussion?”

A well-mannered man at the table replied, “Miss Sun, you should know that Heichao City was recently attacked by a knight faction. They unleashed a strange virus that caused widespread insomnia, eventually sparking chaos throughout the city…”

“But now, the virus has been completely cleared by the expert team from Qinggang. No need to worry.”

“However, exploiting the chaos, the knight faction attacked our Administrative Main Hall—killing the chief and twenty-two high-ranking officials. The entire order of Heichao City has been severely challenged.”

“We are now discussing how to quickly restore order in Heichao City.”

…

Listening to his report, Lu Xin was mildly astonished.

It was rare indeed.

They had managed to come up with a plausible explanation in such a short time—a narrative that held together.

One couldn’t help but wonder if Han Bing had a hand in it.

“It does make sense…”

Miss Sun listened intently and smiled, “So, where are we in the discussion now?”

The man in the suit put down his file and chuckled, “Originally, the matter was simple—no need for debate or evasion. According to Heichao City’s emergency regulations, the temporary slot held by the Second Administration Hall should have resolved everything…”

“But amidst the chaos, someone with ulterior ambitions decided to meddle…”

…

Miss Sun nodded lightly, smiling, “Oh? And who might that be?”

The man in the black suit smiled and turned to look.

Before he could speak, a man’s voice resounded—it was Group Leader: “It’s me!”

“No need for snide remarks. I don’t care about your rules.”

“Just tell me one thing—in the knight faction’s attack, where did you all hide?”

“I was the one who investigated that!”

“After the assault, amidst the city’s chaos, where did you all go?”

“I dragged people out one by one and persuaded them to go home!”

…

From the other side of the table, Group Leader stood up, waving his cane, “You all cowered like turtles at the start—even I had to bust down doors to get you out. And now you want to boot me out?”

As he raged, no one spoke.

Only after he finished did someone sneer, “Big moneylenders still want a seat at the Administration Hall…”

“What business do you think you’re in? Doesn’t anyone know?”

…

That remark drew a chorus of sneers from many.

Then with a loud “thud,” Group Leader slammed his cane onto the table, startling everyone into a brief recoil.

He continued loudly, “I don’t need you to remind me what I did in the past. I won’t recount your misdeeds in public. Let me tell you straight—when I truly become the head of Heichao City…”

“First, I’ll expose all the filthy money I made.”

“Second, I’ll wipe out the Heichao City Black Grass trade completely!”

…

“Wow…”

For a moment, the meeting room fell silent before erupting like boiling water.

Snickers, sneers, cold hums, and murmurs of doubt bubbled up all at once.

Even Lu Xin was taken aback.

Group Leader had risen through the Black Grass trade, and was one of the largest dealers in Heichao City.

He had indeed played a role in the cleanup of the special pollution and the restoration of order afterwards.

But at the root of it all, his success was due to the influence of the Red Serpent’s ability.

Now, seizing this opportunity to rise to power didn’t excite Lu Xin, but his words…

Even Lu Xin found them somewhat unbelievable.

Curiously, Lu Xin tiptoed closer and glanced at Group Leader—who now sat across the table with red, tearful eyes and his face twisted like an enraged lion, his emotions visibly spiraling.

What had just happened?

Had the Red Serpent’s influence intensified his resolve?

For a moment, Lu Xin was unsure.

…

…

“Black Grass?”

Amid a chorus of sneers, Miss Sun softly spoke as someone brought her a tea set.

In the midst of the uproar, she leisurely prepared some Kung Fu tea.

Without even looking up, she murmured, “These items have always been banned in Heichao City. Our efforts to clamp down on the Black Grass trade have always included investigating and apprehending those moneylenders…”

The surrounding clamor quieted as soon as she began to speak.

Many shot sneering glances at Group Leader.

If you’re going to uproot the Black Grass trade, then aren’t you just another big moneylender? How do you expect to do that?

“Talking covertly in front of others is the most irritating thing there is.”

Amid the ridicule, Group Leader watched the skillful Miss Sun brewing tea, lowered his voice and then suddenly leaned forward to produce a briefcase from underneath, slamming it onto the table with a heavy thud, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

“If you put it that way, I have to admit—I am a moneylender.”

Group Leader patted the briefcase and said, “This case holds the proof.”

Instantly, murmurs erupted among the onlookers, their expressions troubled and curious about his next move.

“This case is filled with ledgers that not only prove I’m a moneylender…”

Group Leader suddenly raised his tone, his eyes reddening slightly, “but it also proves that others are moneylenders too!”

“Our colleagues at the Administration Hall in Satellite City Three—if it weren’t for your nod, I wouldn’t have been able to expand my business to the point of even building factories! And the guards at the Security Hall—without your backing, my shops wouldn’t operate so smoothly!”

“Even…”

He suddenly looked toward Miss Sun, his voice venomous, “Without the Sun family’s nod, how could my shipments in Heichao City move so smoothly?”

“And you say I’m a moneylender—how much more benefit does the Sun family get at my expense?”

…

Wham, wham, wham…

All around, numerous faces twisted with anger and disgust.

Every person he pointed at seemed ready to bang a table in fury, though when others stayed silent, they held back.

Only when the last person from the Sun family was singled out did all eyes focus on her.

Miss Sun paused momentarily as she poured tea, then continued, letting the steam rise slowly.

She didn’t look up at Group Leader but whispered, “Talking in code in front of people is truly irritating. So, tell me—how many people end up despising and opposing a man who suddenly loses his mind and goes against all of Heichao City?”

…

The meeting room finally settled into a quieter silence.

Every gaze fixed on Group Leader now carried a trace of derision.

Even in that office, Lu Xin felt an oppressive pressure weighing down on him.

It was in that moment he understood something.

He finally knew why he had always disliked this city.

It wasn’t just the stinky tofu stew with meat buds and salty draft beer—it was the very aura of the city itself.

The entire city had been transformed by Black Grass.

Even if the pollution were cleaned up, the city’s inherent, dreadful contaminating aura remained.

That was why Group Leader, who dared to defy the city, made Lu Xin feel the crushing pressure of this contamination.

It was the pressure of an entire city.

At its very core, Group Leader’s chest slid like a bellows as he struggled to catch his breath.

Then, with red-rimmed eyes and tightened facial muscles, he said earnestly, “No matter the outcome, I will fight to the bitter end!”

“Wow…”

Waves of anger, hatred, and disdain surged, stirring up turmoil in the meeting room.

“Are you crazy?”

“Why are you losing it here for no reason?”

“Just because you helped the Qinggang experts doesn’t give you the right to spout nonsense here!”

…

…

As the turmoil rose, a cold smile gradually appeared on Miss Sun’s lips. Her nails, painted white, lightly tapped the teapot. Every tinkling chime sent a strange shiver through Lu Xin’s heart.

It was as if his heartstrings vibrated sharply—a bizarre impulse surged through his mind.

He wanted to kill Group Leader.

A strong, rational thought flooded in: he craved to kill Group Leader like a parched man desperate for water.

The urge was fierce—the kind of craving that was almost indescribable.

Yet reason reminded him not to act rashly, leading him to calmly devise a plan.

He would pretend nothing was amiss, approach Group Leader under the guise of familiarity,

and when Group Leader wasn’t paying attention, he’d fire a shot straight into the back of his head.

So…

Lu Xin’s pupils trembled ever so slightly as he understood what was happening.

Was this woman subtly influencing him?

Was she, in fact, an Ability User as well?

From the moment she agreed to bring him in by mentioning he was Group Leader’s, she had already set this plan in motion. In other words, she might have known about Group Leader’s affairs beforehand, preparing to facilitate his assassination?

No, perhaps she didn’t know about his plans to dismantle the Black Grass trade.

Her plan was simply because she knew he was aiming to seize power?

…

As Lu Xin mulled over these thoughts, he noticed Yin Mao’s eyes glazing over as he slowly edged through the crowd toward Group Leader. A closer look revealed Yin Mao’s pupils subtly dilated, unfocused, and his posture looked off, his grip tightening around a baseball bat.

Had he been affected too?

Lu Xin quickened his pace to catch up with Yin Mao.

In the midst of the chaos, aside from the barely perceptible smile on Miss Sun’s lips, no one seemed to notice the two of them.

Not until they were close to Group Leader did Lu Xin see a slender man seated behind him, partially hidden by a figure. He recognized him immediately—it was Gecko. Strangely, the Red Serpent was nowhere in sight.

If Group Leader was acting under the influence of the Red Serpent, shouldn’t it always be by his side?

…

…

Before he could ponder further, Lu Xin and Yin Mao advanced toward Group Leader.

Gecko had sensed something was off and suddenly looked up, his eagle-like eyes scanning them coldly…

In that fleeting moment, he caught sight of Lu Xin’s stoic expression and went dumbfounded.

Lu Xin shook his head at him and continued trailing behind Group Leader.

At that moment, a cluster of armed subordinates had gathered behind Group Leader, exuding an intimidating aura.

They appeared somewhat bewildered by Group Leader’s plans, exchanging glances among themselves over the approach of Lu Xin and Yin Mao.

They glanced briefly but detected nothing amiss.

As Yin Mao reached Group Leader, he clenched his baseball bat even tighter.

Yet, seeming to deliberate on the bat’s utility, he suddenly discarded it, swiftly drawing a handgun from a subordinate’s waist and fired at Group Leader’s back of the head.

“Hm?”

Lu Xin had been busy planning his move and didn’t stop him.

Seeing him seize the gun, Lu Xin thought it might simplify handling what came next, and only when Yin Mao pulled the trigger did he extend his hand.

He grabbed Yin Mao’s wrist and raised it.

Bang!

The bullet ricocheted off the ceiling, plunging the meeting room into utter chaos.

Countless people ducked, scrambling under tables for cover.

Soon, numerous soldiers and bodyguards, having heard the gunshot, burst through the door and stormed into the room.

“It’s alright,”

Lu Xin gripped Yin Mao’s hand firmly, slowly disarming him and tossing the gun onto the conference table.

Then, lowering his gaze to Group Leader, whose startled face had turned toward them, he whispered, “That woman across the hall wants to kill you.”

“Looks like you’ve made a lot of enemies.”

“But it’s okay—I support your decision.”