The worst-case scenario Chen Yifei had feared had come to pass.
While the disasters might seem terrifying, there was a good chance of survival as long as one remained hidden and silent behind closed doors. The real danger lay in the panicked masses blindly fleeing their homes, much like Zhao Yi had done earlier, only to get possessed by the shadows unknowingly.
With more people, the situation became harder to control, and if those disasters lurking within shadows attacked simultaneously, it would result in a bloody massacre.
"Next, whoever I point to, follow me."
Chen Yifei raised his hand and pointed to the people at the front of the crowd. They breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly moved behind him, seemingly finding solace in the presence of his black trench coat.
As more and more people gathered behind Chen Yifei, the screams and crawling sounds from the fog grew louder, making those still standing in place grow restless.
"Chen Yifei! As a law enforcer, why aren't you dealing with those disasters instead of wasting time here with us?!" Guo Nan gritted his teeth and asked.
Perhaps due to the large crowd, Chen Yifei hadn't noticed Guo Nan until he spoke up. Following the sound, Chen Yifei narrowed his eyes.
"As a law enforcer, why aren't you maintaining order and protecting the residents instead of running with them?"
"I..." Guo Nan was at a loss for words.
"Not only did he run, but he also knocked down my dad!" Zhao Yi held his stomach, where blood seeped through his fingers from the knife wound Guo Nan had inflicted during their struggle.
Upon seeing Zhao Yi's condition and Guo Nan's bloodstained knife, Chen Yifei's gaze turned icier. Expressionless, he gestured for a few more residents to take shelter behind him. Now, only five people remained in front, including Guo Nan.
Chen Yifei reloaded his magazine and, to everyone's surprise, suddenly raised his gun and fired at the shadows of those in front of him.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The deafening gunshots made the residents cover their ears and scream. Four giant black centipede shadows darted out, charging towards Chen Yifei.
The surrounding residents were stunned, and before they could react, Chen Yifei precisely stabbed the nearest centipede's head, slicing it open down the middle with one swift motion.
The pungent smell of blood filled the air as the centipede collapsed to the ground. Meanwhile, the other three attacked the bloodied figure in black, engaging in a fierce battle.
"Can Chen Yifei still fight after such severe injuries?" The onlookers from Cold Frost Street couldn't help but worry about his condition.
"Yes, he looks like he's been stabbed all over... covered in blood."
"He's already killed almost ten. I think he's reached his limit."
"Really? But he looks more and more excited to me..."
Wielding a dagger, Chen Yifei attacked relentlessly, allowing the attacks of the three "meat chickens" to land on him while he countered with even greater force and speed. Within half a minute, he had slain all three with ease, even smoother than before.
Witnessing the battle up close, the residents of Cold Snow Street turned pale with fear, even Guo Nan's legs trembled. Looking at Chen Yifei, who seemed riddled with holes and on the verge of collapse, Guo Nan's eyes were filled with unprecedented terror.
As Chen Yifei finished off the shadow centipedes and slowly approached him, Guo Nan panicked, thinking, "Does my shadow also contain a monster?!"
After Chen Yifei pointed to the residents from Cold Snow Street, none of their shadows revealed disasters when they hid behind him. Only these six people remained in front of him, and all but one of their shadows contained something. Guo Nan felt a chill run down his spine.
"No."
Chen Yifei shook his head calmly. "You're standing here because you deserve to die."
With a bewildered expression, Guo Nan watched as Chen Yifei raised his gun to Guo Nan's forehead and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang!
The bullet pierced Guo Nan's skull, and he collapsed backward with disbelieving eyes.
A deathly silence descended.
Neither the residents of Cold Frost Street nor Cold Snow Street expected Chen Yifei to kill a law enforcer in broad daylight. Some were shocked, some confused, but none felt sorry for Guo Nan's death; instead, they felt a strange sense of relief.
"Law Enforcer Guo Nan, for oppressing civilians, extorting money, abandoning his duties, and intentionally injuring others..." Chen Yifei holstered his gun without glancing at Guo Nan's body.
"Executed by firing squad."
Chen Yifei turned and walked into the fog.
As a law enforcer, Chen Yifei had jurisdiction over all law enforcers and absolute authority to enforce the law. With justification, killing Guo Nan on the spot would have no consequences. While Guo Nan had indeed offended him before, Chen Yifei had no intention of seeking revenge. However, Guo Nan's actions that day had aroused Chen Yifei's murderous intent.
The survivors from both streets stared blankly at Chen Yifei's receding figure, recalling the scene where he had exposed the hidden shadows, single-handedly killed four disasters, and then shot Guo Nan.
After a moment, someone whispered, "Why do I suddenly feel like he's not that scary?"
...
"Several streets have completely lost control." Xi Renjie's voice was filled with exhaustion over the walkie-talkie. "The residents are panicked and running blindly, allowing the disasters to mingle among them. I just saw Cold Wind Street almost wiped out... corpses everywhere."
"You don't sound well."
"I'm holding on. I've just cleared three or four streets in a row and been fighting non-stop... I'm a bit tired..." Xi Renjie chuckled bitterly. "I now understand how the casualties in the Fifth and Sixth Districts occurred... At this rate, our Third District won't fare much better."
Chen Yifei climbed onto the rooftop of a small building and surveyed the area. The thick fog obscured much, but he could vaguely see flickering flames in the distant streets and the continuous shouts and screams.
"Has there been any news from Han Meng?"
"... No, I can't reach him."
Chen Yifei shook his head helplessly. Without Han Meng, there were only him and Xi Renjie left as law enforcers in the Third District, making it incredibly difficult to clear all the streets... The casualties in the Fifth and Sixth Districts were already high despite having sufficient law enforcers. The situation in the Third District was far more severe.
"I'm heading north next." Chen Yifei gazed at the direction of the loudest commotion. "If we can find the weaknesses of these disasters... maybe things will be easier."
"Chen Yifei, you're still at the first tier. Don't push yourself too hard if you're tired," Xi Renjie reminded him. "I heard from Brother Meng that you have great potential and have a chance to enter Aurora City... Dying here would be a waste."
Chen Yifei's eyebrows rose slightly, and he nodded.
While he hadn't interacted much with Xi Renjie, he seemed decent enough... Thinking about it, someone who had earned Han Meng's respect probably wasn't malicious either... Except for himself, of course.