Chapter 54: Mission

The sky remained gloomy, and the humid, heavy air seemed to remind every passerby on the road that it was time to head home.

As for Shen Ji, he was still aimlessly wandering the streets.

His gaze eventually locked onto a convenience store, and after pacing back and forth outside for a long time, he finally stepped inside.

“Hello, what can I get for you?”

“Give me a pack of cigarettes.”

The female clerk was clearly taken aback; regular smokers usually asked for a specific brand by its nickname the moment they walked in.

However, the young man before her had a green, somewhat gloomy face.

She couldn’t help but start to doubt his real age.

“Hey handsome, are you of age?”

“Do you need to see my ID card?”

After saying that, Shen Ji pretended to rummage through the pockets of his clothes.

The female clerk let out a dry laugh, having already found her answer, and spoke up: “Never mind, take a look and tell me which one you want.”

Shen Ji’s gaze swept slowly across the shelves until he locked onto a pack with a red and white color scheme.

“Just that one.”

“Alright.”

Once that was settled, Shen Ji clumsily tore open the packaging.

He pulled one out slowly without haste.

At the same time, he walked over to a dark corner.

Whoosh

King Flame flickered.

Thin wisps of smoke began to drift upward.

Shen Ji took a sharp drag, the choking smoke invading his throat.

“Cough, cough.”

Since it was his first time smoking, Shen Ji felt a wave of dizziness after just a moment.

Just then, an abrupt ringtone echoed.

“Hello?”

“She… Shen Ji, are you busy today? It’s okay, we, we can make an appointment again next time.”

The young girl’s voice began to choke up, and to keep Shen Ji from noticing, she quietly sniffled.

Shen Ji rubbed his temples: “Little Stutterer, if I say that I am not who I am, would you… still like me?”

Jiang Jianyue, on the other end of the line, visibly stiffened and muttered: “Shen Ji, what are you talking about?”

“What I mean is, cough, cough, cough.”

The choking smoke surged into his nasal cavity, and Shen Ji’s eyes inevitably turned red.

“She, Shen Ji, where are you? I’ll come find you.”

“Forget it, let’s see each other at midnight.”

“Mid, midnight?”

Jiang Jianyue was stunned at first, but then she thought about how she would be able to see Shen Ji.

The grievance she had felt was pushed to the back of her mind.

“Re, really?”

“Really, remember to open your window at night.”

“Do, don’t worry, I will wait for you at the door; there’s no need to climb through the window.”

The corners of Jiang Jianyue’s mouth curled up, and she muttered to herself: “Great!”

“What did you say?”

“No, nothing.”

“Alright, let’s leave it at that for now.”

“Wait!”

“What is it?”

“Th, this time you are not allowed to break your promise! Otherwise, otherwise.”

“Otherwise what?”

“I won’t pay attention to you ever again, humph.”

Shen Ji chuckled softly.

This was the first time the Little Stutterer had made a demand of him, so he naturally wouldn’t break his word.

“Alright, it’s a deal.”

“It’s a deal.”

After hanging up the phone, Shen Ji crushed the unburned cigarette.

He turned back toward the cafe and happened to run into Ye Xi, who was coming out to look for him.

“Shen Ji, are you alright?”

Shen Ji shook his head and naturally took Ye Xi’s hand.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine, but our future may have a very, very long road ahead of us.”

Although she didn’t understand what Shen Ji was talking about, Ye Xi subconsciously leaned her body against him.

At the same time, she asked: “How is Xiao Wan? Did you sense her?”

“I’ve made contact with her; she is safe, and Ye Hai has no intention of making a move against her.”

Ye Xi let out a sigh of relief and then asked: “Then what should we do next?”

Shen Ji revealed a mysterious smile.

“Naturally, we cooperate with Ye Hai’s plan.”

—

Nanjiang Square.

The surroundings were terrifyingly silent.

There was only a mass of black-clad Inspection Team members wearing uniforms.

“Everyone! Tell me, what is the mission of our Twilight Inspection Team!?”

Liu Yao stood on a high platform, raising her arms to shout.

“Maintain peace and fight for a glimmer of life!”

Xiao Jiu shouted first.

Then came the chorus of more voices until everyone was calling out in unison, at which point Liu Yao nodded with satisfaction.

“Everyone, the final battle is today. If you survive, you are heroes; if you die, no one will remember you!”

“For the sake of living!”

Amidst the roaring crowd, a clap of thunder suddenly rang out.

On the rooftop of an office building in the distance, Shen Ji looked toward the square from afar.

“Shen Ji, why don’t you tell Liu Yao and the others?”

Shen Ji shook his head and explained: “It’s useless. Liu Yao’s sense of responsibility is too heavy; she won’t give up until she sees the outcome.”

Ye Xi nodded thoughtfully.

Then she asked: “What happens after it’s done? Are you really going to be the King they prop up?”

“What else? Only if my status is important enough can I bargain for more benefits.”

“But, doesn’t that mean you’ll be roasted on a fire?”

Shen Ji gave a bitter laugh and muttered: “The fire has always been there; now it’s just a matter of dying early to reach transcendence early.”

Ye Xi reached out to cover Shen Ji’s lips, glared at him fiercely, and then said: “You are not allowed to say such depressing things!”

Shen Ji replied calmly: “Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Ye Xi lowered her eyes, a faint sorrow appearing between her brows.

“Shen Ji, let’s leave this place in the future, okay? I don’t want to go on like this anymore.”

A glimmer of hope appeared in Shen Ji’s eyes; his eyes turned slightly red as he whispered: “The future, you say?”

Only he knew what he had truly discovered in that space.

His thoughts began to well up like a tide.

Just as his consciousness was about to dissipate, a soul-stirring voice gave a soft exclamation.

Then, it spoke: “You do not belong here. Once you complete your mission, it will be time for you to leave.”

Shen Ji was stunned at first, then asked: “Why should I?!”

“In this place, everyone’s future can be traced, except for yours. Your future cannot be glimpsed at a glance, and you are the only variable.”

“But what does any of this have to do with me?! Do you expect me to forget them?”

“I will help you forget them.”

The soul-stirring voice remained indifferent.

As soon as these words were spoken, Shen Ji fell into deep self-doubt.

It felt as if everything he had experienced in this world—the emotions he had invested, the people he had met, the events he had been involved in—would all be nothing more than a dream.

He wouldn’t even keep the memories of the dream in the end.

After a long silence.

It was as if Shen Ji had accepted the fact, and he asked instead: “Tell me, what exactly is my mission?”

“Change the status quo of the Blood Race and pursue ultimate peace.”

“What do I get out of it?”

“A final sense of accomplishment? The gaze of thousands of people in admiration?”

Shen Ji sneered and continued: “What if I say I won’t cooperate?”

“Then keep wasting time here, but your little girlfriend can’t last that long.”

“Ye Xi? What have you done to Ye Xi!”

“She is not in my hands, but I can take you to find her and send you both back.”

Shen Ji gave a cold laugh, mocking: “The condition is that I resign myself to my fate, right? You really have a talent for schemes.”