Chapter 287: Coward

At this moment, Jian Changsheng felt indescribably exhilarated!

Yes, that's it, that's it. He had waited so long, and finally, this day had come! The astonished gazes of the crowd, their fearful expressions, and the playing cards he had prepared for so long... Standing amidst the fluttering cards, he suddenly felt that his hardships had come to an end, making all the suffering he had endured worth it!

Jian Changsheng's satisfaction lasted only a moment before he suppressed it... He still had more important things to do.

Just as the squinting man was filled with suspicion, Jian Changsheng on the truck vanished again. A chill surged into the squinting man's heart, and he drew his blade and slashed backward without hesitation!

Clang—!!

A crisp ringing sound echoed as Jian Changsheng's short blade collided with the squinting man's, sparks flying.

"I thought you were strong, but you're just a Tier 4." Jian Changsheng sneered. "Didn't your mother teach you to bow when you see the Twilight Society? Trash."

Hearing this, the squinting man paused, and then a fire of rage burned in his chest!

He forced Jian Changsheng back with a slash. Jian Changsheng followed the momentum, landing lightly backward, and after casting a look of disdain at him, his figure vanished from the spot.

The squinting man felt the force transmitted through his blade, and a look of astonishment flashed in his eyes...

Something's not right...

This [Spade 6]... why does it feel like his cultivation level isn't even as high as mine?

Was he hallucinating?

By now, the squinting man had been provoked by Jian Changsheng, and coupled with the fact that the opponent felt weak, like a fake, completely unlike the [Spade 6] who had stirred up such chaos in rumors... The squinting man didn't hesitate much and chased after Jian Changsheng!

"Leng Yu is actually chasing that Twilight Society member? Is he crazy?" In the hotel suite across the way, Yuzi looked through the glass at the situation below, her brows furrowed tightly.

Yan Shang's expression was equally ugly. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke, "Yuzi, go help him."

"What about you?"

"With Lifu here, nothing will happen."

Yuzi nodded decisively. "Alright."

She pushed open the window and leaped out, chasing in the direction the two had left...

……

"Two of them?"

Jian Changsheng, who was fleeing for his life, felt the aura rolling in from behind and was shocked!

In his original plan, he only needed to lure away the squinting man, but he hadn't expected an extra woman to show up, and judging by her aura, she was also a Tier 4!

How is he supposed to fight this??!

Jian Changsheng had a clear understanding of his current strength. Under the siege of two Tier 4s, he was almost certainly doomed, and could only rely on [Blood-Dripping Top] to keep fleeing and buy time.

"Damn it... I've really messed up this time!"

"No, if this keeps up, I'll be worn down by them... But those two seniors from the Twilight Society aren't here, who can save me?"

Jian Changsheng thought desperately. Just then, his gaze fell on an empty stall by the street. The stall was covered in frost, the owner nowhere to be found, leaving only unsold kites hanging on a metal rack, their colorful ribbons dancing silently in the cold wind.

Seeing these kites, Jian Changsheng suddenly froze, as if remembering something. He grabbed a red kite and turned to rush toward the Century Tower not far away!

He couldn't reach Chu Muyun or Bai Ye, but there was one more person...

That person, he knew how to contact!

"Damn it! [Heart 6], this time it's up to you!" Jian Changsheng gritted his teeth.

"If you come, I'll wipe the slate clean regarding the Aurora Base selling me out... If you ignore me, I won't let you go even as a ghost!!"

Jian Changsheng rushed into the Century Tower. A moment later, a red kite, symbolizing hope, rose from the top of the tower, flying silently beneath the hollow, gray sky.

……

Wisteria Cafe.

"So, you also think humanity has no way out... is that it?" Chen Ling asked.

"No," Aurora Lord shook his head. "A path is made by people. Even if our path is overgrown with thorns, someone must step on them to explore. Perhaps the process is filled with despair and pain, but as long as we keep moving forward, there will always be a way out...

What's terrifying is never the thorn-filled path, but that no one dares to walk it. If everyone gives up out of fear, then humanity is truly finished."

Chen Ling was silent for a moment, then looked out the window:

"But not everyone has the courage to face such despair... right?"

"Yes, I've seen too many people fall before dawn because they couldn't bear the despair... Only a few types of people can make it to the end," Aurora Lord looked at Chen Ling. "Either they possess an absolutely firm and unshakable belief, or they have a strong psychological capacity, or they possess an absolute rationality that can ignore all living things..."

"Which one are you?"

"Me? I'm neither. I'm just a lucky person who was chosen, a sensitive and cowardly weakling."

A bitter look appeared in Aurora Lord's eyes. "I know full well that it's chaotic outside, yet I only dare to hide here and drink coffee... I don't even have the courage to face the despair head-on."

Chen Ling was stunned.

Frost covered the glass, as if completely isolating the inside from the outside. Aurora Lord sat quietly across from the coffee table, like an introverted and closed-off young scholar staring blankly at instruments in a laboratory.

"You..." Chen Ling opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

"But, people always have to grow, don't they?" Aurora Lord spoke again. He looked at Chen Ling, a smile appearing on his face. "It's been over three hundred years... I should have made some progress."

Aurora Lord stood up slowly and carefully placed the frozen coffee cup back on the counter.

The moment the bottom of the cup touched the counter, the cafe door opened automatically. A cold wind rolled into the room, blowing up his white lab coat and long, snow-white hair.

"You should go." Aurora Lord stood with his back to Chen Ling. "Someone is waiting for you."

Chen Ling was stunned. He stood up and walked outside the cafe. As soon as he stepped out, he saw a red kite at the top of the distant Century Tower, like a burning paper kite, struggling to fly in the fierce gale, as if it would snap its string at any moment and be buried in the sky.

【Do you know the Century Tower? It's the tallest building in the city. If either of us needs to find the other, let's go to the top of the tower and fly a red kite, how about that?】

Jian Changsheng's words echoed in Chen Ling's ears. That was a method they had reserved to deal with the All-Stars Chamber of Commerce after they met at the crematorium.

Aurora Lord walked out from behind him, also looking at the kite.

"This should be the last kite in Aurora City... Did your friend fly it?"

"Friend?" Chen Ling's expression was subtle. "No... just a companion... no, that's not it, we just happened to know each other, and I tricked him a few times... I guess I owe him a few favors."

"If you owe a favor, you have to repay it."

"Are you just going to let me go like this? Didn't you say you wanted to monitor the 'World-Ending' Calamity?"

"I lied. As long as you're in this city, I can monitor you... I just wanted someone to talk to." Aurora Lord turned and smiled at him. "Go do what you need to do... I have my own things to do as well."

Chen Ling was about to turn and ask what he was going to do, but Aurora Lord turned around and waved at him.

"See you next time... Chen Ling."

Zzzzt—!

Fine electric arcs flashed beside him, and his figure vanished from the spot instantly.

Chen Ling looked in the direction he had left, his eyes narrowing slightly... It was not until a long time later that he murmured those two words in a daze:

"Chen... Ling?"