Chapter 5: The Zone of No Fear

Under the faint light of the sparse stars and bright moon.

The bell signaling the end of evening self-study rang, and students began streaming out of classrooms in groups, chatting and laughing as they walked through the night. After a day of classes, this was likely the most relaxing time for them.

No homework, no teachers, just a few friends by their side, and the thought of going home to take a warm shower before sinking into bed—it was perfect.

Amid the scattered groups, however, a large contingent of over a dozen students strode out, steady and coordinated as they headed toward the school gates.

In the center of the group was a boy with a black satin cloth covering his eyes, like a dumpling filling wrapped snugly within the dough.

Such a sizable group instantly caught the attention of every student nearby.

"Really… I can walk back by myself," Lin Qi Ye muttered, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly. "I can see fine, it's just that my eyes can't handle bright light…"

"No need to explain, Lin Qi Ye!" Jiang Qian cut him off, her voice resolute. "We promised your aunt that we'd take good care of you, and that's exactly what we're going to do!"

"Yeah, Qi Ye, besides, our homes are all in the same direction. It's convenient for us too."

"I'm on the way as well."

Lin Qi Ye: …

To be honest, he almost wished he were the isolated one in the class. After so long in the dark, he wasn't used to this level of concern and care; it made him feel a bit awkward.

But, of course, Auntie and Yang Jin didn't count—they were family.

Even so, these classmates meant well, so he didn't want to say much more. He could only sigh and follow along with the group as they walked.

"I need to turn right up at the next intersection, but I can keep going a little longer with you."

"This is my turn, so I'll head off now. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

"..."

As they moved farther from the school, Lin Qi Ye's classmates gradually peeled away, one by one saying their goodbyes. A few minutes later, only five people remained around him.

The lively chatter had subsided, and with the extra space, Lin Qi Ye took a long, relieved breath.

"Do you guys think… that mist will really come back and swallow up Da Xia one day?" Li Yi Fei asked curiously, glancing back with his bag slung over his shoulder.

"Didn't you hear what the experts said?" Jiang Qian rolled her eyes. "The chances of the mist coming back are tiny. It might not happen for another hundred years, if ever. And by then, we won't even be around, so why worry about it?"

"Aw, come on. You know how unreliable those so-called experts can be! What if we work hard to get into college, finally start enjoying life, and then—bam—the mist rolls in and devours all of Da Xia? That would be the worst, wouldn't it?"

"So, is that why you're just coasting through every day and not focusing on your studies?" Jiang Qian stepped in front of Li Yifei, her expression serious. "Let me remind you: Teacher Wang said if you get the last place on this test again, you'll have to move your desk up to the platform."

"Got it, got it," Li Yifei replied with an awkward smile.

"But honestly, I really don't think the fog will reappear," Wang Shao, who was walking ahead, suddenly spoke up. "In the end, the fog is just a natural phenomenon. Once it reaches a certain threshold, it will gradually fade, just like the Ice Age. When glaciers covered the land, they eventually receded as temperatures rose, ushering in a new era."

"I know what you're talking about. It's called the Natural Disaster Theory, right? It's pretty widely accepted now," Jiang Qian nodded.

"But what if… this fog isn't a natural phenomenon?" Lin Qiye, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

Wang Shao paused, then laughed, "Qiye, you don't actually believe in those so-called theologians, do you? The ones who say the fog is related to supernatural forces?"

"It's the 21st century; we should believe in science. There aren't really ghosts and gods around every corner," said Liu Yuan, another classmate.

Lin Qiye didn't respond. He knew better than anyone whether there were things beyond science in this world, but he saw no need to mention it.

Li Yifei mumbled quietly, "I think if those things actually existed, the world would be a bit more interesting."

"Why worry about pointless stuff? Whether the fog returns or not isn't our concern. Instead of stressing about it, why not use the three-day break during Survival Day to sleep in?" Jiang Qian laughed.

"Yeah, holidays are what really matter!"

…

At that moment, in the old district of Cangnan City.

A man was walking slowly down a desolate, dimly lit street, carrying a signboard over his shoulder. The dim streetlights cast long shadows behind him.

He glanced at his phone, then stopped at a narrow intersection.

"This is it..."

Muttering to himself, he lowered the signboard and set it in place. Under the flickering light, the shadow of the sign flashed on and off, while bold red letters stood out starkly against the black background:

"ROAD CLOSED AHEAD!"

Leaning against the streetlight, he lit a cigarette, took a long drag, and then activated his earpiece.

"Captain, the third signboard is in place."

"Received. Begin."

"Mhm."

The man held the cigarette in his mouth, walked over to the sign, and bit his thumb. A drop of blood emerged, and he squatted down, tracing a long line across the red "ROAD CLOSED AHEAD" letters with his blood-stained thumb.

His eyes sharpened, and a strange aura pulsed outward from him.

He raised his head and looked up at the black night sky, murmuring in a voice only he could hear…

"Forbidden Ruins, [Domain of Unbound]."

In the next instant, the bloodstain on the sign began to fade as if absorbed, while the red letters briefly glowed and then returned to normal.

The man slumped to the ground with a sigh, grumbling.

"Damn it, drained me dry again..."

At that moment, if anyone were watching from the sky above Cangnan City, they would see three glowing points marking the boundaries of the old district, connecting to form a dark red equilateral triangle. As the triangle solidified, the enclosed area of the old district began to blur, as though it were being erased from the map.

Yet from the ground, the old district appeared unchanged.

Meanwhile, in the triangle's center, six figures in black and red cloaks sliced through the sky like lightning.

The leader looked up at the dark red sky, his hand resting on the hilt of a blade strapped to his back, his eyes narrowing.

"The Ghostface Purge operation begins."