Since all these rules and superstitions are outdated, what's wrong with me indulging in some me

But Lu Changsheng's previous performance—calm, decisive, and precise counterattacks—and the almost insane determination in his eyes now made him somewhat unsure of what to do.

He was also wary of the power of the explosive talisman.

More importantly, he had just acquired Aokiji, this "advanced emotional entity," and he absolutely could not allow any mishaps!

Chen Jingming's eyes flickered, shifting between Lu Changsheng and Zhang Ping on his back, as he quickly weighed the options in his mind.

At this moment, the chat in Lu Changsheng's live stream exploded because of a single detail:

Wait a minute! That talisman in Lu Shen's hand... isn't something wrong with it?

Are those runes? Aren't those just bloodstains?

[Holy crap! No way! Is Lu Shen bluffing?!]

[An empty city strategy?! That's too risky! Lu Shen is awesome! That imposing aura, that aloof gaze, he deserves an Oscar!]

Lu Changsheng's muscles were tense, but his hand holding the talisman did not tremble at all, and the determination in his eyes did not waver in the slightest.

He was gambling, gambling on Chen Jingming's level of attention to Qingzhi, gambling that Chen Jingming wouldn't dare risk the core area he had dedicated his life to, and gambling that Chen Jingming still had reservations about him.

Time seemed to stand still.

The cold wind howled, making the talisman in Lu Changsheng's hand flutter.

Chen Jingming's sinister gaze swept back and forth across Lu Changsheng's face and the talisman several times, then glanced down. Finally, the strange smile on his face slowly vanished, replaced by a deep, icy coldness.

"Very good... my test subject, you are more courageous than I imagined."

He spoke in a hoarse voice, slowly raised his hand, and made a "step back" gesture.

Although the people in white coats around him looked puzzled and hesitant, they still slowly stepped back when they saw Chen Jingming's gesture, clearing the path to the fire escape.

Chen Jingming's voice was devoid of any emotion.

"But remember, there are no secrets in this city. Your departure today does not mean you are safe forever."

He paused, his eyes a mixture of greed and coldness.

"Without our medicine, you won't live much longer."

A huge weight lifted from Lu Changsheng's heart. He didn't say anything, but slowly retreated, each step as steady as a rock, until he reached the edge of the fire escape.

He glanced one last time at the darkness below, where the cocoon had long since disappeared, and without further hesitation, he flipped over, grabbed the cold fire ladder, and quickly slid down.

The figure quickly disappeared into the night and the shadows of the buildings.

On the rooftop, Chen Jingming remained standing in the same spot, gazing in the direction where Lu Changsheng had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.

A trusted researcher cautiously stepped forward: "Doctor, are we just going to let him go like this? What about Zhang Ping..."

Chen Jingming raised his hand to interrupt him, a profound and unfathomable look appearing on his aged face.

"Get ready immediately..."

He spoke slowly, his voice so low that only a few people nearby could hear him.

"yes!"

The crowd sprang into action and carried out the orders.

Chen Jingming took one last look at the empty fire escape, turned around, and surrounded by the crowd, walked away from the rooftop with faltering but determined steps.

The night wind still howled, dispersing the faint smell of blood and burnt gas in the air, as if the terrifying experience just now was merely an illusion.

Under the cover of night, the seemingly calm city of Jinghu is actually a place where undercurrents are gathering in a more turbulent way.

-

Here, Lu Changsheng gripped the handlebars of a rented shared motorcycle tightly, the vehicle violently jolting along the uneven, abandoned road.

Just now, he managed to exchange for a talisman from the system shop, but since he didn't have time to draw the talisman, he used the jade pendant to cut his finger inside his clothes, then smeared the blood on the talisman, and successfully performed the Empty City Stratagem under the cover of night.

Zhang Ping sat sideways in the back seat, her arms tightly wrapped around Lu Changsheng's waist. She was still in a semi-conscious state, her head resting limply on his back.

The "it" in my chest began to wriggle restlessly again.

Lu Changsheng dared not use navigation, much less take the main road. Relying on his vague memory of the city's layout, he sped towards the old city wall.

After an unknown amount of time, the buildings became increasingly sparse and low, with only motorcycle headlights cutting through the thick darkness ahead.

Finally, a huge, mottled metal mesh wall, covered with withered vines and rust, stretched out in front of us like the back of a lurking beast.

Arrived.

Lu Changsheng turned off the motorcycle and carefully helped Zhang Ping off the bike, letting her sit on the ground.

Zhang Ping's eyelashes trembled violently a few times before she slowly opened her eyes.

At first, her eyes were empty and unfocused. It took her a while to adjust before they focused on Lu Changsheng's face.

"Dr. Lu?" Her voice was hoarse and broken, like sandpaper scraping against the surface. "Where is this?"

She seemed to recall something unpleasant; her face turned deathly pale, her body began to tremble uncontrollably, and she hugged herself tightly.

"We're safe for now."

Lu Changsheng's voice was low and hoarse from the long journey, but he tried to keep it steady. "We are on the very edge of the city, right here by the old isolation wall."

"The edge?" Zhang Ping looked around blankly. "We escaped?"

"Ms. Zhang," he looked directly into Zhang Ping's bewildered eyes, his tone solemn, "what I'm about to say may completely overturn your understanding, but it's all true. After listening, you need to make a decision—stay, or leave."

Under Zhang Ping's stunned gaze, Lu Changsheng used the most concise language to peel back the layers of the city's terrifying truth:

Starting with the predecessor of Jinghu City, the story goes back to Chen Jingming's "emotional suppression therapy" and "the law of silence".

The story begins by stripping negative emotions into a tangible entity, then moves to the bizarre daily routine of the entire population ignoring "it," and the extremely low average lifespan and numb "happiness" behind it.

"...So, what you see 'it' is neither a hallucination nor your illness."

Lu Changsheng concluded that the sound was exceptionally clear at the edge of the desolate wilderness.

"That's your emotional energy. You're sensitive because your consciousness and perception haven't been completely tamed by this distorted set of rules, and you can still see the truths they've hidden."

Zhang Ping listened blankly, but her worldview shattered bit by bit under Lu Changsheng's calm yet cruel narration.

"But... why do they keep sending me to the inpatient ward, only to erase my memories and release me again and again?"

Lu Changsheng was startled.

Zhang Ping should be a very important character in this instance. How could Chen Jingming let Zhang Ping leave so easily?

Zhang Ping's words were like a bolt of lightning, cleaving through some of the fog in Lu Changsheng's mind.

"Did they perform the surgery on you this time?"

"They implanted a very small thing next to my heart this time."

Zhang Ping's voice trembled physically and was filled with deep-seated fear. She instinctively covered the left side of her chest.