Chapter 70 - Role Playing the Dark Horse Character

**Chapter 70: Warm and Welcoming** Dyed-eye City during the day resembles an Eden, a paradise filled with order and rules. But for every bit of beauty it holds in daylight, it harbors equal filth with the onset of night. The stifling night wind brushed past Liu Cheng’s cheeks, yet she was drenched in cold sweat. Just moments before, she was in the Central Library, engrossed in a travelogue. The book, written from the perspective of a traveler, introduced readers to the protagonist’s experiences, journeys through various cities, the gradual gathering of friends, the irreplaceable bonds between geography, humanity, and friendship, painting for Liu Cheng a vivid picture of the empire’s beauty from that era. However, travel always comes with goodbyes. Moving from one city to another, parting ways with friends, sometimes through death, wrapped the joyous travel in a layer of bittersweetness. She’d gotten lost in its pages, and only when she closed the book and savored the poignant ending did she realize night had already fallen. Most public facilities in Dyed-eye City were managed automatically; at most, an android might be stationed nearby. The Central Library was unmanned, allowing Liu Cheng to stay until night. In the daylight, no one would dare break the rules in Dyed-eye City, but it is night now. The library, a public facility, remained open 24/7 without any protective measures. However, Liu Cheng’s rented apartment had fully sealed doors and windows purchased with a year’s salary from the Ability Guild, even equipped with electrified defenses. Weighing her options, Liu Cheng gritted her teeth and decided to head home. The wide-open library offered her no sense of safety. She hid her face under the hood of her denim jacket, clenching its edges tightly as she hurried down the streets, hoping to safely reach her rented apartment. In the distance, the sounds of explosions echoed, sudden flashes of fire briefly lighting up the sky, the hot wind carrying the smell of gunpowder far away. She knew it was the group of abilities users. Those with power wouldn't settle for ordinary life. Under the extreme repression of the day, the night in Dyed-eye City was perilous and chaotic. Serial killers, explosive enthusiasts, violent gangs, and human trafficking rings all continuously emerged beneath the seemingly peaceful night sky. Dyed-eye City had an Ability Guild, but it was more for show. During the day, the guild wasn't needed to maintain order, and by night, they turned a blind eye to the chaos. Because even the guild’s sub-president reveled in it. And tonight, Liu Cheng encountered the human trafficking ring. Her hair was yanked upward. The leader, clad in a sleeveless shirt and jacket, appraised her before gesturing for his men to lock her up with others. There were newcomers to the city unaware of the rules, those like Liu Cheng who lost track of time, and others who were outright kidnapped from their homes. Inside the cramped carriage, Liu Cheng took in the desperate and indignant eyes surrounding her, realizing she might have to say goodbye to her mundane life and the travelogue she wished to read again. She had come to Dyed-eye City for the peace and order of its days, only to face death because of its nights. "Will someone save us?" whispered someone. No one answered, because no one would. Their only salvation was sunrise, when the city lord awoke from his dreams. "Mommy, will a killer come and save us by taking them out?" a child tightly held by his mother asked. Liu Cheng suddenly felt like crying, knowing the child's naive hope would not come true. Even if a killer came, they would still face death. It was, as usual, a night belonging to the abilities users—a blend of desire and destruction. And for people like them, without powers or with lesser abilities, they were the muddy bottom of society, unable to save themselves. In this cramped, crowded space, all she felt was deep-seated despair. "This is a big catch tonight, the doctor will be pleased," the leader said, counting their captives like little chicks. The vehicle started up, and the abilities users used their powers to fully arm the vehicle, whisking them away to their base amidst firelight and chaos. They were herded out of the vehicle like animals without dignity, directed one by one into a larger compartment. "We have to get them out before dawn," the squad leader checked the time; it was already 2 AM. "The seventh squad hasn’t returned," someone else said. "Give them ten more minutes," the squad leader replied. The carriage door remained open, allowing Liu Cheng to glimpse the night sky outside. It was anything but quiet—piercingly noisy. "Where are they taking us?" "I bought the most advanced security doors and windows from the Ability Guild, why was I still caught? How can I survive?" "I regret it. I should have stayed at home. After all, the Qu nobility only wiped out cities recently, maybe they'll leave us alone for the next few years..." "I miss mom." Yet all Liu Cheng could think about was the travelogue, remembering how the protagonist met her young apprentice in a scene like this. But unlike the protagonist, Liu Cheng wasn’t strong. She couldn't roam the empire freely, nor save everyone here, making those outside pay. All she could do was huddle into herself, seeking any semblance of warmth against the cold seeping into her bones. "So cold," she murmured softly. In the distance, headlights approached—the last squad had returned. Was her life on the verge of ending? "Seventh squad, hurry it up!" the leader amplified his voice, addressing the rapidly approaching vehicle. But soon his tone changed, "Wait! What are you doing?!" "Slow down! Slow down! Stop!" For the vehicle charged at them without reducing speed! "C Rank! B Rank! Move! Stop them! Block it now!" At the leader's command, abilities users unleashed their powers, torrents of water surging toward the reckless vehicle, while an earthen wall emerged from the ground. "Boom!" The earthen wall shattered under the vehicle's force, debris and dust filling the air. The vehicle soared through the air, its wheels spinning furiously. In the moonlight, a shadow overshadowed the leader’s widened, astonished eyes. And then, it came crashing down. “Boss!” The abilities users scrambled to lift the vehicle, but no matter how much strength they exerted, they couldn't budge the suddenly stalled vehicle. A soft chuckle echoed in the night. Liu Cheng looked in astonishment at the vehicle merely ten meters away, surrounded by the comically struggling abilities users. She also saw, atop the vehicle, the figure of a young man emerging as the dust settled. Standing there, his clothes fluttered in the sharp wind, his mere presence seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, making it impossible for the abilities users beneath to move him an inch. The breeze carried the dust away, revealing a young man with striking features and a disdainful smirk at the corner of his mouth. The clouds parted, allowing the moon to illuminate his silhouette as if he were a deity. "Good evening," the young man lowered his eyes, black hair swaying in the wind, cascading beside his cheeks. "Your companions invited me for a visit, so here I am." The abilities users below lifted their heads, staring up with strained necks. "But you don’t seem very welcoming?" his voice carried a casual indifference as he narrowed his crimson eyes slightly, gazing down at the attacking abilities users. Spell-type users unleashed their abilities, water jets with electric currents spiraled upwards, and the earth sprouted spikes as if to cleave the vehicle in half. Mimic-type users transformed, their agile or highly destructive forms leaping towards the top of the vehicle. "Mama, will he die?" the child asked. But his mother lowered her eyes and shielded his view with her hand. In the midst of the many abilities users’ attacks, Liu Cheng saw him casually raise a hand and snap his fingers. "Snap." The water jets reversed, earthen spikes shattered, and instantly all attacks rebounded with the momentum from which they came! "Boom!" The mimic-type users fell to the ground under the impact, the spell-type users were struck by their own abilities. Smoke rose all around, while in the epicenter of it all, the young man lazily withdrew his hand, the smile on his lips unwavering. As if all the abilities users here were nothing but mere ants. During the entire exchange, the young man hadn’t even moved an inch. "How boring," he remarked. Lifting his boots, the young man seemed to gently step down upon the vehicle roof. In an instant, the vehicle caved in, sending the surrounding abilities users flying. The enormous force even caused Liu Cheng’s vehicle to slide several meters forward. "How awesome," someone couldn’t help but say. And Liu Cheng, staring dazedly at the figure amidst the smoke. Swords lined up in the air, following his leisurely strides as he descended from the vehicle top, shooting in all directions to nail every abilities user outside the vehicles to the ground. "Boom!" The vehicle exploded behind him, flames licking the edges of his black coat without touching a strand. He strode closer, boots tapping the ground. ‘Is he here to kill me?’ Liu Cheng wondered. "Don't kill me, please don't kill me!" someone cried out. The young man paused mid-step. Then, he turned around and directly headed toward the organization's base, disappearing through the door. "Are we... saved?" A shaky voice broke the sudden silence inside the carriage. "It seems like it." "Who was that person?" "Doesn't matter who he is, let's just run while he's not here!" In an instant, the once silent carriage was full of commotion, with people scrambling to jump out and dash towards their homes. "Wait, it's still dangerous like this!" Liu Cheng was pushed out, but she turned her gaze towards that door. 'Is he trying to save us?' she wondered. In a world that had already driven her to despair, could there really be someone reaching out to help those of them at the bottom? Just like the powerful and gentle protagonist in that travelogue? ... Her phone vibrated. Li Li took it out and answered, "Hello? What's up?" It was An Heyu on the other end: "Where are you?" Li Li glanced around, finding herself in an unfamiliar garage. She looked down as well; the sole of her boot was pressing down on the head of an A-Rank abilities user. "The room felt a bit stuffy, so I came out for some fresh air," Li Li replied, then asked, "Where am I?" The abilities user beneath her spoke with a trembling voice, "District 3, Street 4, Number 18." Li Li relayed this into her phone, "District 3, Street 4, Number 18." There was a moment of silence on An Heyu's end. "May I ask what exactly you were doing just now?" he inquired. Li Li thought for a moment. "Got invited to someone's house?" The abilities user under her wept uncontrollably, "Please, let me go! I’ll give you anything you want!" The background noise became a bit loud, and with a carefree expression, Li Li lifted her boot and simply kicked the abilities user aside. An Heyu fell silent once more. "...Stay right there, don't move, I'm coming over now," he finally said.