Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 503: Strategic Retreat

The sapphire-blue jeep turned into another street.

The Bangle of Blindness on Shang Jianyao’s left wrist kept emitting flames as it remained activated. Ever since he got into the car, he had been sensing the changes in human consciousnesses within a 100-meter radius.

Having been ‘frozen,’ they were in a relatively low activity state. Once someone showed signs of recovery—their thoughts becoming active—they would stand out.

They would be like fireflies in the night—bright and outstanding.

This could help the Old Task Force find the Mind Corridor-level Awakened in the Dawn domain. Of course, Jiang Baimian and the others couldn’t lock onto the target if the other party could interfere with matter from 100 meters away.

Suddenly, Shang Jianyao discovered a tremble in the large number of human consciousnesses that resembled stars as if it were shaking off frost.

“Found it!” Shang Jianyao excitedly turned his body and pointed at the third floor of an apartment building dozens of meters away.

Jiang Baimian—who was beside him—looked over and saw a row of glass windows. With her understanding of Shang Jianyao, the suspected target he found should be behind one of those panes.

“The one closest,” Shang Jianyao added.

Uh… Jiang Baimian’s hand that was attempting to take the Orange rifle from Bai Chen froze.

From their current position and angle, they couldn’t see the situation behind the corresponding glass window. In other words, she couldn’t directly snipe the Mind Corridor-level Awakened.

Jiang Baimian subconsciously cast her gaze at the Death rocket launcher on her knees, wanting to use it to curve and bombard the room behind the glass window. However, her retracted left hand hesitated.

This was because according to normal logic, it was impossible for the Mind Corridor-level Awakened to be coincidentally living nearby. He had either rented a room in advance for the ambush or temporarily ‘appropriated’ a certain apartment.

Given the abilities displayed by the other party, Jiang Baimian was more inclined to the latter.

This wasn’t only because Forced Sleep could help a Mind Corridor-level Awakened enter and use whatever room they wanted. This method also provided better concealment—they wouldn’t encounter any accidents or expose their plans when renting an apartment.

From this inference, apart from the target, there was a high chance that the apartment’s original owner was also sleeping in the room.

Firing such a rocket might not kill a Mind Corridor-level Awakened who could interfere with matter without a lock, but it would definitely implicate the original owner. As long as he or they were unlucky enough, it was foreseeable that they would die on the spot.

In the face of such a situation, Jiang Baimian—who usually tried her best not to affect the innocent—was naturally rather hesitant.

Bai Chen also came to the same conclusion, and she calmly evaluated, “You’re too soft-hearted.”

“I think Big White did the right thing,” Shang Jianyao retorted.

Jiang Baimian said to Bai Chen in exasperation and amusement, “Why don’t you do it?”

Bai Chen fell silent and didn’t answer. It was unknown if it was a silent admission of being a little soft-hearted as well or if she felt that it might build a barrier between her and her Old Task Force companions if she really did that.

“We’ll circle back a distance, adjust the angle, and attempt to snipe.” Jiang Baimian had long thought of a backup plan.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao said regretfully, “The target has left the window in a strange way.”

As for how strange it was, he didn’t say.

There’s no way to carry out a long-range snipe… We have to rush to that apartment to face the target? It will take a lot of time to do that. The target will definitely have recovered significantly…

He should already know that Shang Jianyao has an ability similar to Inference Clowning and won’t talk to us about anything…

Hands Immobility will hardly affect him unless his abilities require his hands…

It’s still unknown how useful Corny Person is against a Mind Corridor-level Awakened. It’s very unwise to place our chips on this…

There’s no point in using the Bangle of Blindness to blind him. With the surrounding crowd gradually recovering from their ‘frozen’ states, our human consciousnesses will appear too special and eye-catching…

If we really go over, we can only bet that he hasn’t fully recovered. With the help of the military exoskeleton, we can make him panic and fail to put up an effective resistance…

This is too big a gamble, and the risk factor is too high… What a pity. He has been hiding in the distance, so we can’t observe his every move and can’t figure out the price he paid… As Jiang Baimian’s thoughts raced, she forced herself to retract her gaze.

She said to Bai Chen, “There’s no need to circle around. Continue on to the Green Olive Zone and distance ourselves from that apartment as soon as possible.”

Big White could occasionally be willful, but the Old Task Force’s team leader—Jiang Baimian—couldn’t.

Phew, Team Leader is wise! Long Yuehong praised Jiang Baimian inwardly. Without Xiaochong following them, he had no intention of facing a Mind Corridor-level Awakened head-on.

Bai Chen also had no intention of taking the risk. She sank her foot, speeding up the car a little.

“What a pity…” Shang Jianyao maintained the Bangle of Blindness’s operation and constantly monitored the target until the straight-line distance between the jeep and the apartment building increased to 100 meters.

…

On the third floor of the apartment, the plump and middle-aged Khal tried to save himself when his thoughts recovered slightly.

He regretted underestimating the child named Xiaochong. He never expected the other party’s level and strength to reach such a terrifying level.

In their organization, such terrifying figures didn’t exceed five. Furthermore, they were in a predicament where they could only move about occasionally.

Khal’s body suddenly became ‘light.’ He seemed to be pushed by an invisible hand as he floated back and landed beside the long sofa.

After he was alleviated from the ‘Cut it Out’ status, he hurriedly walked to the apartment exit.

As for the sleeping person on the long sofa, he didn’t care. After all, the other party had never seen him.

Khal wasn’t a soft-hearted person. He only felt that he would smell something unbearable when the two parties were so close—be it him using a gun, a hand, or Real Dreamscape to kill the other party.

Once he distanced himself, wasting time on a passerby that didn’t need to be dealt with wasn’t in line with his sense of beauty.

Raising a hand to his nose, Khal pulled open the door, entered the stairwell, and disappeared in the dim light. He temporarily had no intention of continuing to track October Xue, Zhang Qubing, and the others. He only wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

On the one hand, the commotion would definitely attract First City’s powerhouses. On the other hand, Xiaochong’s strength had scared him.

After leaving the apartment building, Khal took out a pure-black mask and wore it. He then quickly walked to the spot where his vehicle was parked.

Suddenly, he saw a figure pass by the intersection ahead.

The figure wore a black robe and had long hair. His bearing exuded confidence, and he had an outstanding bearing.

He… Khal’s pupils rapidly dilated.

The next second, this Mind Corridor-level Awakened retracted his body as if he were avoiding a ferocious beast.

…

After distancing themselves from the street Xiaochong lived in and turning into the Green Olive Zone, Bai Chen drove the sapphire-blue jeep into an empty, quiet, and dark back alley with her familiarity with the terrain.

Jiang Baimian looked around and confirmed that there were no cameras nearby and that there were many shields above. She then pushed open the door, alighted, and said, “Get to work!”

Shang Jianyao excitedly took out the tools and materials he had previously used to spray paint the jeep from the trunk and asked, “What color do you want this time?”

“Military green.” Jiang Baimian chose the most common jeep color.

If they didn’t immediately modify it, the Hand of Order might come looking for them at any moment.

At this moment, Long Yuehong tucked his legs and said, “Can I relieve myself first?”

He could barely hold it in.

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged his words. “Go. Everyone, take turns. Hey—you, Little Red, and Garibaldi will go first.”

Shang Jianyao put down his tools and materials. As he walked deeper into the alley, he mocked Long Yuehong. “Your bladder is quite lacking.”

“Don’t pee forever if you have what it takes.” Long Yuehong was physiologically irritable from holding his pee in.

Shang Jianyao gave a thumbs up. “You’re very brave today.”

They didn’t argue any further. They each found a mossy, humid spot and unzipped their pants.

Long Yuehong shivered and felt refreshed. After it was over, he recalled the scene and said in a strange tone, “Why did we end up in such a situation where we have to pee in public… The messiahs in the Old World’s entertainment were never like this…”

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said, “Just because it’s not shown doesn’t mean it’s not done.”

As Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen were still waiting, they didn’t delay any further. They quickly returned to the jeep and got busy, either spraying the jeep or doing some simple fixing of the indentations on the jeep.

After Jiang Baimian returned, she looked at ‘Garibaldi’ Giuseppe and smiled kindly. “Do you remember who we just visited?”

How can I not remember? How long has it been? ‘Garibaldi’ Giuseppe wanted to give this reply, but he inexplicably shivered.

Shang Jianyao leaned over.