Chapter 167: City-wide Manhunt

Chapter 167: City-wide Manhunt

When Lu Yan came out of the storeroom, he saw Xing Yuan sitting alone in his seat, exuding an aura that warned others to keep their distance. It was clear that he was still fuming. Lu Yan wisely chose not to sit next to Xing Yuan but instead took a seat opposite him, pulling out his phone to send a message.

"Ring!"

Xing Yuan's phone rang unexpectedly, a sound that could easily be overlooked amidst the noise of the cabin. He subconsciously checked the screen and found it was a sticker from Lu Yan—a pitiful little dog with a swollen face after being stung by a bee:

"(Pitiful) I'm sorry, can you forgive me?"

Daydreaming!

Xing Yuan pressed the mute button hard, determined not to listen to any more of Lu Yan's nonsense. The other party's words were three parts truth and seven parts lies; anyone who believed them was a fool.

Lu Yan sent a few more messages, but Xing Yuan simply closed his eyes to rest, ignoring them completely. The phone screen remained lit for about a few minutes before going dark again.

Seeing this, Lu Yan had no choice but to give up, putting his phone back in his pocket. Xing Yuan, a proud man, had been deceived for so long; it was unlikely he would calm down easily.

Xu Pin Yan had been observing from the side for quite some time. Seeing that Lu Yan had finally stopped playing with his phone, she mustered up the courage to approach him. "Um...aren't you Demon Hunter Xiao Lu? The super popular streamer online?"

Hearing her voice, Lu Yan looked over instinctively and recognized the pesky reporter. "You are...?"

Seeing that he was willing to talk, Xu Pin Yan's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. She eagerly approached, tightly grasping his hand. "Master, my name is Xu Pin Yan, 'Pin' as in virtue, 'Yan' as in speech. I currently work at Sky City's official television station as an outdoor reporter. I...I...I really enjoy watching your live streams! Maybe we can collaborate someday!"

In Xu Pin Yan's eyes, Lu Yan wasn't just a person but a living, breathing hot IP. With a reliable team for marketing and promotion, he could easily amass nearly ten million followers. She was struggling to boost her show's ratings, and here was someone offering a pillow when she was dozing off.

Lu Yan had to use some force to pull his hand away. His mind was preoccupied with how to reconcile with Xing Yuan; he didn't have time to think about collaborations. He politely declined, "Thank you, let's talk about it later."

Sitting across from him, Xing Yuan lifted his eyelids slightly. He saw Xu Pin Yan speaking to Lu Yan with a fawning expression. Xing Yuan didn't watch live streams or follow internet celebrities, but if Lu Yan was indeed a big streamer, he should not be short on money.

So the question was, why would someone with both power and wealth choose to be a lover by his side? Was it really as Lu Yan said, that he fell in love at first sight?

Don't joke around.

Xing Yuan sneered inwardly. What first love at sight? He didn't believe in such things. At most, it was lust at first sight.

The aircraft traveled through the night sky and soon arrived at Sky City's landing field. When the cabin door opened, Xing Yuan was the first to step out. Because of his bad mood, he didn't even bother to greet his teammates.

Seeing this, Lu Yan wanted to chase after him but was unable to break free from Xu Pin Yan's persistent attention. By the time he managed to shake her off, Xing Yuan had vanished from sight. The vast landing field stretched endlessly into the night, making it impossible to determine directions.

Lu Yan awkwardly touched the tip of his nose, knowing that he was at fault in this matter. Moreover, since Xing Yuan was already upset with him, it would be shameless to go and crash at his place. He decided to head back to the hotel and spend the night with Xiao Zhao, figuring out a plan later.

Staring at the distant darkness for a moment longer, Lu Yan finally turned to leave. However, he was surprised to find Luo Yang and Chong Yuan staring at him. He paused, a sense of caution rising within him—were these people planning to kill him?

Little did Lu Yan know, he had also frightened them. Chong Yuan instinctively hid behind someone, whispering nervously, "He...he wouldn't want to kill us, would he?"

Luo Yang glanced at him, finding the idea ridiculous. "If anyone gets killed, it'll be you. I never said anything about getting rid of him during dinner."

Chong Yuan felt dizzy and almost passed out.

Only Yan Feng acted normally, stepping forward to shake hands and greet Lu Yan. "Lu Yan, thank you for today. Otherwise, we would have suffered heavy losses. Are you looking for Xing Yuan? Is there anything we can help you with?"

One doesn't hit a smiling face. Seeing Yan Feng's polite demeanor, Lu Yan didn't intentionally stir up trouble. "Thank you, there's nothing you need to help with. Even without me, you could have handled it."

Yan Feng spoke with a complex tone. "To be honest, I didn't expect you to be a Lightning-type."

Lu Yan countered, "Because Devil City rarely sees psychics?"

Yan Feng was vague in his response. "Yes, and no."

There used to be an unwritten rule in Sky City that only one Lightning-type psychic could exist. If two appeared, it would lead to a battle to the death.

This situation could be seen in their battles. Whenever Xing Yuan made a move, the lightning elements in the air would be drained, leaving Lu Yan powerless. Conversely, whenever Lu Yan attacked, Xing Yuan would be suppressed. If they encountered each other on the battlefield, and one of them struck first, the other would be in grave danger. This was why Xing Yuan had harbored murderous intentions when he heard about another Lightning-type appearing in Sky City.

Great power required balance. Due to the scarcity of cases, the Research Institute had yet to reach a detailed and reliable conclusion. They could only preliminarily classify it as the Lightning-type being too domineering, differing from other psychics.

Yan Feng didn't elaborate, and naturally, Lu Yan didn't know. But even if he did, he wouldn't have cared much. At worst, it would cost him some points to exchange for a teleportation card.

Meanwhile, Xing Yuan was at the parking lot in the South District, leaning against his car door while smoking a cigarette. His cold features were immersed in the night, concealing his agitation. He couldn't pinpoint whether it was because Lu Yan had deceived him or because he was that Lightning-type psychic. Now, he couldn't kill him nor let him go, making him a troublesome existence.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached from a distance—it was Luo Yang and the others.

Xing Yuan instinctively looked up but didn't see the familiar figure. He frowned imperceptibly.

Yan Feng said meaningfully, "Stop looking, he's gone."

"Gone is gone, what does it have to do with me?"

Xing Yuan felt a hint of panic at having his thoughts exposed. He didn't want to admit that he was waiting for someone. After saying this, he extinguished his cigarette and got into the car directly. He started the engine, skillfully reversing out of the parking space, and accelerated into the darkness, leaving behind a trail of dust.

Luo Yang clicked his tongue. "Is he on the wrong medication?"

Yan Feng shook his head. "He's never been on the right medication."

On the other side, Lu Yan had already hailed a taxi to the hotel to find Xiao Zhao. Fortunately, Xing Yuan had booked a double bed room initially, allowing the two of them to squeeze in for the night.

"Brother, did your sugar daddy dump you?"

Seeing that Lu Yan had been silent since arriving today, Xiao Zhao noticed that he had been lying in bed playing with his phone after taking a shower, clearly distracted. In a moment of impulsiveness, he asked a question akin to dancing on a grave.

Hearing this, Lu Yan paused in his actions, looking at him with an unfriendly gaze. "Who told you that?"

Xiao Zhao mumbled, "No one told me, I guessed. In the world of online dating scams, secrets eventually come to light over time. The deeper you get involved, the more likely problems arise. I warned you before not to meet in person, but you wouldn't listen."

Lu Yan said, "Shut up, I don't want to hear hindsight."

Xiao Zhao retorted, "How can this be called hindsight? I reminded you before you met. But if you've been dumped, then so be it. You can earn money now, you don't have to rely on others anymore."

Lu Yan knew that was the truth, but it wasn't about the money; it was about his conscience. Although he had resorted to deceiving Xing Yuan out of hardship, the latter had always treated him well. Despite Xing Yuan's intimidating demeanor, he had a heart of gold and could be as innocent as a child at times. Whenever Lu Yan recalled Xing Yuan's fury, he couldn't help but feel like a scoundrel.

Trapped in a quandary, Lu Yan turned to his dimwitted brother for help: "Then what do you suggest?"

Lu Xiaozhao shook his head and climbed into bed: "I've never been in love. How would I know? But your top priority now is to stay alive. What if they seek revenge on you?"

Lu Yan was unconcerned: "I can take care of myself."

Lu Xiaozhao: "I know, but don't drag me into this."

Lu Yan: "…"

It was destined to be a sleepless night.

Lu Yan sent several messages to Xing Yuan, but there was no response. As the time approached bedtime, he shut off his phone, got up, and sat down at the table to smoke a cigarette. Normally, he would still be in bed with Xing Yuan at this hour, and going to sleep early felt strangely unfamiliar.

After staying in a luxury hotel for a few days, Lu Xiaozhao had developed some quirks. He complained: "Brother, how can you smoke at night when I'm right here?"

Lu Yan asked: "Does it smell bad?"

Lu Xiaozhao nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

Realizing it was immoral to expose his brother to secondhand smoke, Lu Yan pointed to the door: "Get out. Wait outside until I finish my cigarette."

Hearing this, Lu Xiaozhao immediately pulled the covers tighter around himself, shivering and shaking his head: "No way. It's pitch black out there. Brother, you don't know, Sky City hasn't been peaceful lately. Stragglers have been sneaking in at night, and gunshots haven't stopped."

Lu Yan's eyes narrowed at the news, and he whispered: "What are you afraid of? You're a straggler yourself. It's me who should be scared!"

Lu Xiaozhao: "…" That was true.

Lu Yan quickly finished his cigarette and got up to go to bed. His gaze inadvertently fell upon a small inn outside the floor-to-ceiling window, directly opposite one of its rooms. The glass was old and slightly blurry, but it was clear that many people were crammed inside. In a room barely twenty square meters, at least thirty people were sleeping on the floor, mostly women and children. There was hardly any space left.

From a distance, they looked like flies or mosquitoes, but not like human beings.

This was not uncommon, as life was full of unexpected situations. Poor people often lived together for safety, so if anyone's health points dropped too low, they could receive immediate assistance from their companions instead of dying silently at home.

The lingering smoke in the air tasted slightly bitter. Lu Yan was momentarily lost in thought as he silently drew the curtains. He didn't dwell on the matter, turned back the covers, and spent the night huddled together with Lu Xiaozhao.

The next morning, they were awakened by a loud knocking on the door. Lu Xiaozhao sat up groggily in bed, his hair a mess like a bird's nest, struggling to open his eyes: "Brother, who is it? This is so annoying!"

Lu Yan hadn't slept much the previous night. He got up and opened the door, only to find several armed patrolmen standing outside. He frowned: "Is there something you need?"

The patrolmen's tone was icy but polite: "We suspect that stragglers are disguising themselves as humans and hiding in Sky City. Please get dressed and come downstairs to the open area to cooperate with our inspection."

There was a thud as Lu Xiaozhao fell out of bed.

The patrolman frowned and looked inside: "What was that noise?"

Lu Yan glanced back, maintaining a calm expression: "Sorry, it was my brother. He tends to fall out of bed while sleeping. Thank you for reminding us. We'll go downstairs for the inspection right away."

The patrolman urged them: "Hurry up. There's a long line waiting below."

With that, they turned and left, continuing to knock on the next door with their registry book. Lu Yan closed the door tightly, feeling a momentary weight in his heart. Why would Sky City suddenly conduct a search for stragglers among the residents? If it was just another straggler who had infiltrated, it would be fine, but if they were targeting Lu Xiaozhao specifically, things would become complicated.

Now fully awake, Lu Xiaozhao was drenched in cold sweat: "Brother, what should we do? Are they here to check on me?!"

In a critical moment, Lu Yan remained relatively calm: "You haven't done anything earth-shattering. Why would they investigate you? Hurry up and get dressed and wash your face."

While Lu Xiaozhao was in a state of panic, Lu Yan pulled back the curtains and looked downstairs. He saw several black special vehicles parked on the street outside. At designated checkpoints, several machines similar to height-measuring devices were set up. Everyone living in hotels, inns, or ordinary residences had to come out for individual inspections, which would then be recorded in a database. From a distance, the crowd looked dense, making it impossible to escape through the windows.

Was this such a big deal?

Although Lu Yan wasn't sure how the patrol team was conducting the tests, Lu Xiaozhao had only shown unusual behavior during the Red Sun period. Otherwise, he had managed to keep a low profile. Having killed numerous stragglers, Lu Yan could confidently assert that Lu Xiaozhao appeared to be a pure human, without any abnormal aura.

Lu Xiaozhao emerged from the bathroom, having changed his clothes. He was trembling with fear: "Brother, I… I'm ready."

Lu Yan put on a black jacket and a matching baseball cap. Seeing Lu Xiaozhao's condition, he frowned: "Be more confident. Your nervousness makes you look suspicious."

Lu Xiaozhao pouted: "But I am suspicious."

Lu Yan slipped his hands into his jacket pockets and opened the door to leave: "Then walk separately from me. If you're discovered, I don't want to be implicated."

Lu Xiaozhao hurriedly followed: "Brother, don't abandon me. We're brothers. We live and die together!"

The entrance to the hotel was crowded with guests. Most of them were still half-asleep and grumbling.

"What's going on? This is so annoying in the morning."

"Exactly. I haven't even woken up yet. They say stragglers have mixed in with the crowd. Ridiculous. Stragglers aren't that powerful."

"They should send specialists to test us in our rooms. Why make us stand on the streets?"

"I heard it's because there aren't enough machines…"

Lu Yan led Lu Xiaozhao to the end of the queue. A large crowd was gathered, and those who had completed the tests received special bracelets, which allowed them to re-enter the hotel. Without the bracelet, the front desk would refuse their stay.

Seeing this, Lu Xiaozhao sighed in relief and whispered to Lu Yan: "Brother, with so many people, we probably won't be checked until nightfall. Let's sneak back to Devil City tonight."

As they spoke, a nearby patrolman suddenly walked straight toward them. He stared at Lu Yan and Lu Xiaozhao with a frown, his sharp gaze causing a chill in their hearts: "Are you locals of Sky City?"

Lu Yan thought to himself, 'Is Lu Xiaozhao already exposed?' He secretly pinched Lu Xiaozhao's leg, which was about to give out, and tried to remain calm: "No, we recently arrived in Sky City."

The patrolman continued: "Are you psychics?"

Lu Yan: "I am, but he isn't."

The patrolman unexpectedly blurted out: "Lightning element?"

Upon hearing the words, Lu Yan's pupils contracted, and he instinctively looked up: "How do you know?!"

The sentry, observing his reaction, suddenly became agitated and delighted. Pointing at himself, he asked, "Comrade, you don't remember me, do you still recall the one who forced you to take up arms and fight against the wanderers on the defense wall that day? It was me!"

Lu Yan suddenly realized that the patrolling soldier before him seemed familiar; it was none other than the irritable captain who had berated him and Feng Xiangming mercilessly on the defensive wall that day. He asked uncertainly, "Are you... Chen Yan?"

Chen Yan was pleasantly surprised that Lu Yan actually remembered her name, and she grinned widely, revealing her eight neat white teeth, which gave her an endearingly naive appearance, quite contrasting to her usual demeanor: "It's me, it's me! I didn't expect you to remember my name. That day, we really had you to thank, or we wouldn't have been able to hold the pass. My brothers and I wanted to express our gratitude, but you disappeared as soon as you turned your head. I didn't expect to run into you here today."

Lu Yan was quite delighted as well, for he had been worried about how to slip past the inspection. Unexpectedly, he encountered someone he knew: "My brother and I were originally staying in this hotel, but this morning, several patrolling soldiers knocked on our door, insisting that we go downstairs for a check-up, claiming that there were wanderers mixed in. How could we possibly be wanderers..."

Lu Yan's tone was fraught with difficulty, hinting frantically.

Chen Yan smoothly received the signal, and with a grand wave of his hand, he said, "Of course you are not wanderers. Come on, come on, don't line up here."

Lu Yan had barely had time to feel delighted by the news when he heard Chen Yan, lowering her voice, say: "There are too many people here; I'll take you through a special passage up ahead to get priority for the first screening."

Lu Yan: "What on earth?!!!"

Lu Xiaozhao: "What?!!!"