The moon hung high in the sky, with only a few scattered stars visible.The bell signaling the end of evening study sessions rang out, and small groups of students trickled out of the classrooms, chatting and laughing under the night sky. After a long day of struggle, this was perhaps their most relaxing time.No homework, no teachers. With a few friends by your side, a warm shower waiting at home, and a cozy bed to crawl into afterward, what could be better?Amidst the scattered groups, a large procession of over ten people suddenly emerged, walking in perfect formation, heading toward the school exit.At the center of the group, a boy wrapped in black satin like a dumpling filling was surrounded and closely followed.This large group immediately drew the attention of the surrounding students."Actually... I can walk home on my own, really." Lin Qiye's lips twitched slightly, a bit helpless. "I can see, just... not very well in the light.""No need to argue, Lin Qiye!" Jiang Qian interrupted him, speaking with determination. "We promised your aunt we would take good care of you, and we're going to do just that!""Yeah, Seven Night, our homes are on the same way, it's no trouble.""I'm on the way too."Lin Qiye: ...To be honest, at this moment, he would rather be the isolated one. After being in the dark for so long, he wasn't used to being cared for by so many people, and it made him feel awkward.Of course, his aunt and Yang Jin didn't count, since they were his family.But they were doing this out of kindness, and he couldn't say anything, so he could only helplessly follow the crowd."I need to turn right at the next intersection, but I can walk with you for a little longer.""I need to turn soon too, see you tomorrow.""See you tomorrow.""..."As they moved further from the school, the students surrounding Lin Qiye gradually parted ways, leaving only five people beside him a few minutes later.The previously lively atmosphere grew quieter, and the space felt much more spacious. Lin Qiye let out a long breath of relief."Do you think... the mist will really rise again and swallow the Great Xia?" Li Yifei, carrying his bag, asked with curiosity, turning toward the group."Didn't you hear what the experts said? The chance of the mist reviving is very low, and maybe it won't change in the next hundred years. As for what happens after a hundred years... we won't be around to worry about it, so why bother?" Jiang Qian rolled her eyes."Ha, you know those so-called experts' words aren't worth much. What if we finally get into university and get to enjoy life, but then the mist swallows the whole Great Xia? That'd be such a waste.""So that's why you're slacking off and not focusing on your studies?" Jiang Qian stopped in front of Li Yifei and said seriously. "Just to remind you, Teacher Wang already said that if you come last in the next exam, you'll have to move your desk to the front!""I know, I know," Li Yifei chuckled awkwardly."Though, I don't really think the mist will revive," said Wang Shao, walking at the front."After all, the mist is just a natural phenomenon. Once it reaches a certain threshold, it will slowly fade, just like the Ice Age. When glaciers covered the earth, as temperatures rose, they slowly receded, and a new era followed.""I've heard of that, it's called the Natural Disaster Theory, right? It's gaining more acceptance these days," Jiang Qian nodded."But what if... the mist isn't a natural phenomenon?" Lin Qiye, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.Wang Shao paused for a moment and then smiled. "Seven Night, you don't actually believe those so-called theologians, do you? Do you think the mist is related to supernatural powers?""It's the 21st century. We should trust science. There's no such thing as ghosts or gods," said Liu Yuan, another classmate, adding in.Lin Qiye didn't respond. He knew better than anyone whether there was something beyond science in this world, but he didn't feel the need to tell others.Li Yifei mumbled quietly, "If those things were real, the world would be way more interesting.""Why are we wasting time on this nonsense? These things aren't our concern. Instead of worrying about whether the mist will revive, we should focus on sleeping in during the upcoming three-day holiday," Jiang Qian laughed."Right, holidays are the most practical!" they all agreed....At this moment, in the old district of Cangnan City.A man was casually walking down a quiet, dimly lit street, carrying a signboard over his shoulder. The old streetlights cast a faint glow, elongating his shadow...He glanced at his phone and stopped at a narrow street corner."This is the spot..." he muttered, placing the signboard down and adjusting it.Under the flickering streetlamp, the shadow of the signboard danced, and on its black background, a few glaring red characters stood out.— No Entry Ahead!The man leaned against the streetlamp, lit a cigarette, took a long drag, then opened his earpiece."Captain, the third signboard is in place.""Got it, proceed.""Mm."The man bit down on the cigarette, took a step forward, and placed his thumb on the sharp edge of the signboard, biting it down hard!A drop of blood dripped from the wound, and the man crouched down, using his bloodstained thumb to draw a long horizontal line through the red characters: "No Entry Ahead."His gaze sharpened, and an inexplicable force erupted from him like a shockwave!He looked up at the dark sky, whispering something only he could hear."Forbidden Zone, [Unfenced Void]."In the next moment, the bloodstain on the signboard quickly faded, as if it had been absorbed. Then, the red characters "No Entry Ahead" flashed with a brilliant light and gradually returned to their original state.The man dropped to the ground, letting out a long sigh of relief and grumbling."Damn, it's drained me again…"At this moment, if someone were to look down from the sky over Cangnan City, they would see three points of light flashing near the old district, rapidly forming an equilateral triangle in dark red!As the triangle fully formed, half of the old district seemed to vanish as though it had been wiped from the map...However, from the ground, the old district still looked the same.Meanwhile, at the center of this triangle, six figures in black-red cloaks streaked across the sky like lightning!The man at the forefront looked up at the dark red sky, gripping the hilt of his blade, narrowing his eyes slightly."The Ghost-Faced Man Purge Operation, commence."