Chapter 172 – Unmasked

Chapter 172 - Unmasked

Lu Yan had only been away from Devil City for a short while, yet the city, already ravaged by scars, seemed to have prematurely entered its twilight years. The buildings were more damaged than ever, and the only constant was the lifeless night, still silent and empty.

Along his journey, he had eliminated numerous wanderers, but most were of the second or third rank; there were few of the fourth rank. They appeared chaotic, yet they all seemed to be converging towards a single location. Standing high up, Lu Yan observed for a long time before finally realizing that direction led to the contaminated zone.

The blood-red moon hung on the horizon, casting a thin layer of crimson over the heavy, dark clouds. Those black mists, as if under some control or summoning, all flew towards the darkest and most desolate place.

Lu Yan focused for a moment, then chose to follow secretly. He exchanged with the system for an invisibility card and a teleportation card, ensuring that even among the crowd of wanderers, no one could detect him. He passed through the steep, scarred buildings and arrived at the deepest part of the contaminated zone, where rusted steel bars lay scattered everywhere, piled higher than mountains. From afar, it looked like a cold, heartless steel beast.

The wanderers slipped into the gaps between the steel bars and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Coincidentally, Xing Yuan also led his team to nearby at this time. He subconsciously stopped just a kilometer away from the contaminated zone. The air was filled with a faint energy fluctuation, the signal of Si Duo calling his kind.

He was the king among the wanderer clan, and none dared to defy his orders. Even Xing Yuan's mind was affected, causing a buzzing pain.

Seeing Xing Yuan's pale face and his struggle, Yan Feng asked worriedly, "What's wrong? Is there a problem with your ability?"

During their journey from Sky City to Devil City, Xing Yuan's ability had suddenly failed once for no reason, only to return to normal afterward. It was hard not to think too much about it.

Xing Yuan endured the churning pain in his head, slowly exhaled, and said solemnly, "I'll go inside to check the situation. You stay here on standby. Without my permission, you're not allowed to step into the contaminated zone!"

With those words, Xing Yuan's figure flashed, instantly disappearing from sight. He wanted to see what Si Duo was planning!

In the dark night, Lu Yan felt as if he had intruded upon something significant. When he squeezed through the gaps in the steel bars, he saw a pitch-black cave behind him. Deep within the cave was a bubbling red lava pool. The wanderers stood shoulder to shoulder, orderly together, as if performing some mysterious religious ritual.

"Si Duo—"

"Please awaken—"

"Si Duo—"

"Please do not continue to sleep—"

A cloud of black-red mist slowly drifted to the edge of the lava pool. Its deep, strange voice echoed in the cave, subtly matching the undulations on the surface of the lava. With its repeated calls, a murky red energy suddenly floated out from within, stretching like dough in all directions, eventually forming a distorted human shape. From a distance, it resembled a hunched elder.

Hiding behind a boulder, Lu Yan's pupils constricted at the sight. It turned out that these wanderers had a leader, though he didn't know their origin. They didn't seem entirely human nor purely wanderers. Frowning, he continued to listen patiently.

Si Duo's voice was particularly aged, as if he had just awakened from a long dream, carrying a sense of bewilderment: "So the Red Moon has already appeared?"

The black-red mist replied respectfully, "Yes."

"The world that belongs to us has arrived. Si Duo, please do not fall back into a long slumber. This city has been ruled by lowly humans for too long. We cannot walk under the blazing sun; we can only hide in the darkness. Please protect your pitiful subjects—"

"Please protect your pitiful subjects—"

The dense crowd of wanderers spoke in unison, their deep voices echoing in the cave, as if imbued with a peculiar magic. And as Si Duo's ethereal figure grew larger and more imposing with each request, he became a "great" ruler. His aged voice suddenly became full of passion: [My slumber was not without purpose. Soon, I will be able to leave my birthplace. Those humans have occupied the territory for too long. I will make them pay!]

"Children, do not waste the blessing of the Blood Moon. Go forth and feast. When the Blood Moon disappears, we will welcome an unprecedented feast!"

For the wanderers, the feast would be a disaster for humanity.

Hiding in the shadows, Lu Yan listened with growing alarm. What did this Blood Moon signify? Who was the monster called "Si Duo"? It seemed trapped in this place, unable to escape until after the Blood Moon ended. By then, humanity might face a massive catastrophe.

Lu Yan had no intention of staying any longer. He wanted to relay this message back to Sky City urgently. However, just as he moved, Si Duo's next words drew him back.

Si Duo seemed to care deeply about this matter. His deep voice was filled with anger: "Have you found Number One?"

The black-red mist replied, "Si Duo, Number One has become one of the humans. He is in Sky City. He betrayed his birthplace!"

Si Duo let out a long sigh. "He was blinded by the prosperity of the human world. Sooner or later, he will return here. Not just him, but also those other wanderers who fled."

Lu Yan listened intently, repeatedly pondering the meaning of this conversation. But before he could understand it, the system's notification sound rang unexpectedly in his ear: "Ding! Invisibility card will expire soon. Ten-minute countdown. Host, please prepare!"

Invisibility cards weren't always available; they dropped randomly from the system store every day. Lu Yan had saved up three in total, and he had used almost all of them when entering earlier. Hearing the system's notification, he couldn't afford to eavesdrop any longer and quickly left the cave.

However, it was a shock when he stepped outside. Looking up, he discovered that a dark red mist had somehow appeared above the sky outside the cave. Its massive size exuded an oppressive aura that made it hard to breathe, far more terrifying than any wanderer he had encountered before.

This wanderer didn't know why it hadn't gone inside. It lingered like a dormant behemoth in the sky, revealing a pair of crimson eyes that gazed down at the cave below. Through the natural cave opening above the rocks, it took in everything happening inside.

Si Duo had just awakened from a long slumber, weak and disoriented. Coupled with the mixed auras of the high-rank wanderers in the cave, he didn't notice the massive creature lurking behind the dark clouds. It was Xing Yuan's true form.

He should have guessed that Si Duo wouldn't be content to remain in that cave. He just didn't expect the other party to act so quickly. Sky City seemed powerful, but it was essentially a paper shell. Devil City was even worse, a piece of meat on a chopping board, waiting to be devoured.

Although Xing Yuan didn't feel a close connection to humanity, if Si Duo truly occupied the city, it would bring him immense trouble.

The black mist, taking advantage of the cover of the clouds, lingered for a moment before dispersing. Lu Yan followed silently behind, estimating the other party's strength. He felt that it must be at least Rank Four, if not Five. How had he never heard of such a terrifying level among wanderers before? His invisibility card was about to expire, so he didn't dare to act rashly. He waited for the black mist to leave before exiting the contaminated zone.

By coincidence, Luo Yang and Yan Feng were outside, along with several other team members. Seeing a black figure emerge from the contaminated zone, they instinctively raised their guns. Upon recognizing Lu Yan, they jumped down from the abandoned building above.

"Luo Yan, how did you get here?!"

Luo Yang was always happy to see Lu Yan, for some unknown reason. Perhaps it was because whenever Lu Yan appeared, he could witness Xing Yuan's reactions.

Lu Yan didn't expect such a coincidence. "Why are you guys here?"

Yan Feng explained, "Wanderers escaped from Prison No. 7. We were ordered to pursue them. Xing Yuan came as well."

Lu Yan subconsciously glanced around but saw only unfamiliar ability users, not Xing Yuan's figure. "Where is he?"

Now it was Luo Yang's turn to be puzzled. "Didn't you see him when you came out of the contaminated zone? Xing Yuan was inside. He's been in there for over half an hour."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan's expression instantly became odd. "Xing Yuan was inside?!"

His first thought was concern for whether the other might be in danger. But the cave in the contaminated zone was small. Lu Yan had stayed nearly an hour without hearing any commotion. It was only when he left that he saw...

"Why are you all gathered here?"

A deep, familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind, startling everyone. Lu Yan instinctively turned around and saw Xing Yuan walking out of the abandoned iron gate of the contaminated zone. Behind him was a shadowy darkness. The moonlight fell on him, casting his cold, stern profile in a bloody hue. For some inexplicable reason, Lu Yan felt that the fleeting dark red in Xing Yuan's pupils seemed strangely familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before. His heart skipped a beat.

Luoyang approached brazenly. "We were just waiting for you. It's so dangerous inside the contaminated area, and when you didn't come out after half an hour, we feared for your safety and had to wait by the entrance. How coincidental, Lu Yan was also inside."

Xing Yuan had noticed Lu Yan upon exiting, surprised that he had been in the contaminated area as well. He paused at this revelation, looking at Lu Yan subconsciously with a probing gaze. "You were also in the contaminated area earlier?"

It felt like mere seconds or perhaps agonizing minutes, but in reality, it was only an instant. Yet, both their hearts involuntarily raced.

Lu Yan nodded. "I noticed the wanderers gathering towards the contaminated area, so I went to investigate. But there were too many of them, so I didn't dare to enter rashly. I turned back right at the entrance."

Xing Yuan frowned imperceptibly at Lu Yan's words. His subtle gaze fell on Lu Yan, wondering if he had seen his true form. Seeing Lu Yan's calm demeanor, not resembling someone lying, and recalling that he had been hovering above without seeing anyone below, Xing Yuan's heart finally settled slightly.

"There's nothing worth seeing inside. The wanderers have been mostly dealt with. Let's head back directly. I need to see the Chancellor immediately about something important."

The duration of this Blood Moon was unknown, but it was undoubtedly humanity's last remaining time. Sky City must prepare everything before Si Duo makes his move, or the consequences would be unimaginable.

Luoyang blurted out instinctively, "But the Chancellor is busy coordinating now. He probably doesn't have time to see us. Why don't we come back tomorrow afternoon..."

Before he could finish, Xing Yuan had already strode towards the aircraft. Luoyang and Yan Feng exchanged helpless glances and followed suit. Lu Yan, lagging behind, stumbled over a pebble while walking, nearly face-planting due to the sudden loss of balance.

Luoyang kindly supported him, asking curiously, "What's wrong with you?"

Lu Yan: "...Nothing."

Just a bit weak in the knees.

If he had any doubts about whether Xing Yuan was the monster hovering in the sky, they vanished when Xing Yuan hurried back to Sky City to meet the Chancellor. Lu Yan instantly confirmed it—Xing Yuan was indeed the wandering creature eavesdropping outside!!

As this thought crossed his mind, Lu Yan's vision darkened, almost causing him to faint. His hands trembled, his legs weakened, and cold sweat broke out all over his body. He couldn't believe that anyone could be as unlucky as himself. Having a useless brother who was a wanderer was one thing, but to find out that his online love interest, whom he had finally met in person, was also a wanderer?!!

And they had even shared a bed countless times...

No, no, no. This can't be real.

Lu Yan frantically denied it in his heart, trying to compose himself. However, his legs refused to cooperate, and he needed Luoyang's support to walk. When Xing Yuan turned around and saw them together, his slender brows furrowed instantly. "What happened?"

Luoyang instantly let go of Lu Yan, taking three quick steps back, distancing himself. "Lu Yan accidentally kicked a stone and almost face-planted. His foot might be injured."

Xing Yuan paused at this, then turned back, taking Lu Yan into his arms. Supporting Lu Yan's arm, though doing nothing else, his possessiveness flowed from his dark eyes, almost tangible. He whispered softly:

"I'll take care of him."