Chapter 115: Chaos

Chapter 115: Chaos

In the early morning, Chen Shouyi faintly heard what sounded like thunder but didn’t dwell on it, turning over to go back to sleep.

The next morning, he got up, washed, and packed his luggage.

Having stayed in Dongning City for seven days, he had fully adapted to his drastically increased strength, making it his own. Today, he planned to return to Hedong. Gently picking up the still-sleeping Shell Woman, he placed her into his briefcase before stuffing it into his suitcase.

"Leaving so soon, handsome?" the pretty receptionist asked, her tone carrying a hint of regret.

"My business here is done, so of course I’m heading back," Chen Shouyi replied with a smile.

After checking out and retrieving his deposit, he left the hotel, carrying his sword case in one hand and dragging his suitcase with the other.

He hailed a taxi on the street.

"To the high-speed rail station," Chen Shouyi said.

"Traveling or visiting family?" The driver was quite talkative, chattering away as soon as they got moving.

Chen Shouyi responded half-heartedly.

Halfway through the ride, he spotted military vehicles speeding past, packed with armed soldiers. Moments later, several armored vehicles rolled by.

Surprised, Chen Shouyi asked the driver, "What happened last night?"

"No idea. Probably just a drill?" The driver shrugged, unfazed. "Dongning was under martial law not long ago—this is nothing. A while back, the city center was like a warzone, gunfire everywhere."

Chen Shouyi chuckled but said nothing.

Half an hour later, as they passed a suburban square, Chen Shouyi noticed it was covered in tents, crowded with people. Fear was etched on every face, and many were wailing.

The driver fell silent.

Further ahead, all shops were closed, and the streets were nearly empty of pedestrians. Armed soldiers patrolled in force—something major had clearly happened.

The taxi slowed to a stop. The driver, uneasy, turned to Chen Shouyi apologetically. "Kid, I’m calling it quits. The station isn’t far—just a short walk. This ride’s on me."

Not wanting to force the issue, Chen Shouyi grabbed his luggage and stepped out.

He watched as the taxi turned around and sped off.

Turning back, he surveyed the tense atmosphere, his brow furrowed. Spotting soldiers up ahead, he quickened his pace.

"Brother, what’s going on here?"

"You don’t know?" The dark-skinned soldier looked surprised.

"I just came from the east side, heading to the high-speed rail station," Chen Shouyi explained.

"Don’t go. It’s locked down. Early yesterday, a horde of barbarians appeared nearby, slaughtering everyone in sight—wiped out several villages. Luckily, the Town Armed Forces Department in Muluo Town reacted fast and held out until our regiment arrived… Most have been wiped out, but a few are still on the loose. It’s dangerous."

Never underestimate a Town Armed Forces Department. Over the past two decades, the Great Xia Nation, in its semi-wartime state, has produced an incalculable number of weapons. Even a local Town Armed Forces Department is routinely stocked with large quantities of decommissioned artillery, machine guns, and even armored vehicles.

"I’ll go take a look," Chen Shouyi said.

With that, he picked up his luggage and continued forward.

"Hey, hey—don’t go!" the soldier called out several times, but seeing him walk faster and faster, he had no choice but to give up.

Youth truly knows no fear of death.

...

The road was eerily empty. Aside from patrolling soldiers, not a single pedestrian was in sight. In the distance, three armed helicopters circled at low altitude, their deafening roar filling the air.

It was enough to make one feel the oppressive atmosphere of war.

Chen Shouyi carried his sword case and dragged his luggage as he walked briskly.

Before long, the high-speed rail station came into view—only to find it completely shut down, devoid of any people.

He sat down on the roadside steps.

A chilly autumn wind swept past, sending red maple leaves fluttering along the road.

Autumn had arrived.

The high-speed rail station was located in the outskirts of Dongning. About five or six kilometers further lay Muluo Town. The air seemed to carry a faint scent of gunpowder, mingled with traces of blood. The area ahead was likely a battlefield of carnage.

Just then, he faintly heard a burst of gunfire, sharp and rapid like popping beans, only to cease abruptly seconds later. One of the helicopters swiftly changed course, heading toward the source of the gunfire. Soon, a fiery whip-like stream of cannon fire rained down from the sky, unleashing a barrage of shells.

A dozen seconds later, the armed helicopter flew off into the distance.

After sitting for a while, Chen Shouyi stood up. Hailing a taxi was out of the question—there wasn’t a single vehicle on the road.

He decided to keep walking forward.

The nearby residents seemed to have all been evacuated. Not a single figure could be seen in the windows of the apartment buildings lining the street.

As he walked further, the buildings grew sparser, gradually giving way to farmland.

At the same time, the scent of blood and gunpowder grew stronger.

After covering a few more kilometers, Chen Shouyi saw that the road ahead was completely barricaded, sealed off with barrier tape. Four machine guns were positioned on the highway, their long golden ammunition belts sprawled across the ground, with several crates of ammunition stacked nearby.

"Danger ahead—no entry! We’re in a state of war. Stop wandering around and leave immediately!" Before Chen Shouyi could approach, a soldier jogged over and barked the order.

"Sorry, I’ll leave right away," Chen Shouyi said.

Though he could have flashed his Martial Artist Certificate to gain entry, he thought better of it. The military was the strongest—and primary—force against the Otherworld. With both land and sky locked down, a few stray barbarians stood no chance of escape. His presence likely wouldn’t make a difference.

Just as Chen Shouyi turned to leave, the machine guns suddenly opened fire. He froze, then turned to look. About three or four hundred meters away, a barbarian was sprinting at incredible speed along a narrow path between the fields—roughly 50 to 60 meters per second.

But this clearly wasn’t his top speed. On solid, level ground, he could easily double that pace.

A sinking feeling settled in Chen Shouyi’s chest.

This barbarian was formidable. The only one who could compare was the barbarian tribe chief—no, this one was even stronger.

Now his vision had become astonishingly sharp, allowing him to clearly see the terror and despair on the barbarian's face, his body drenched in blood—though it likely wasn't his own, but from those he had killed.

Four machine guns roared wildly, their bullets spraying in a furious barrage. Unfortunately, due to the excessive distance, the effect was far from ideal. The barbarian ran farther and farther away, seemingly intent on escaping into the nearby mountain forest.

Just then, a helicopter not far off noticed the commotion and swiftly changed course, speeding toward the scene.

In moments, it unleashed six or seven rockets in rapid succession. A few seconds later, several massive fireballs engulfed the barbarian, accompanied by a thunderous explosion. When the flames dissipated, the barbarian lay in scattered limbs, utterly lifeless.