Chapter 42: A Worthy Death

Seventy to eighty tender-faced teenagers rushed out of the hotel building. Each of them was carrying a bulging bag filled with sharp debris, such as picture frames, shattered mirrors, broken teacups...

"Damn it, do they really take us for pushover? Let's get them together!"
"There are only a few dozen Awakened ones. Are we afraid of them with so many of us?"
"Those with good aim, smash them right at the Awakened ones' heads! If your aim is off, hit their bodies!"
"We will all survive if we make it through this crisis; otherwise, it's death. None of us has a way out left!"

The few running at the very front shouted loudly to those behind them. For a moment, the somewhat demoralized group all lifted their heads, and the fear in their eyes faded by a fraction.

Hearing this, Wu Shan shrank his head behind the car window, turned around, and looked back: "Are you all out of your minds? Go back and hide!"

Faced with Wu Shan's scolding, the teenagers did not back down. One after another, they rushed into the bus, squeezing toward the shattered windows.

Soon, the empty carriage was packed with people. All sorts of sundries were hurled out of the windows, pelting the Awakened ones at the main gate.

"This!" Wu Shan was left speechless, looking at a middle-aged woman wearing round-rimmed glasses who was squatting beside him. "What on earth are you doing? As a teacher, instead of protecting your students, you're leading the charge? Do you think you're commanding an army in battle?"

The middle-aged woman rolled her eyes at Wu Shan, grabbed a handful of glass shards from the bag, threw them out the window, and retorted, "If you people could clear out these Awakened ones, would I need to bring my students out?"

Hearing this, Wu Shan's face turned beet red. He said nothing, silently tightening his grip on his pistol and continuing to fire.

With the addition of these students, the situation finally eased somewhat.

"Damn it, you few, go deal with the people inside the bus!" shouted the leading Awakened one to the others around him.

Upon hearing the order, those four Awakened ones broke through Qi Mingyue's defense line under the cover of the others, sprinting swiftly toward the bus.

"Get back here!"

Seeing this, Qi Mingyue's face turned pale. Like an enraged bull, he crashed directly into one of the Awakened ones, driving both knees into the opponent's chest and slamming him to the ground with a loud thud.

Just as he prepared to get up and rush toward the other Awakened ones, a foot kicked in from the side. Too late to dodge, Qi Mingyue was sent flying ten meters away, crashing heavily into the streetlamp by the roadside.

With a crisp snap, the streetlamp broke instantly, plunging from above. Amidst flickering sparks, it smashed Qi Mingyue back to the ground just as he was trying to prop himself up.

"Qi Mingyue!!" Zhu Cheng's face turned pale. He pulled out the dagger at his waist and leaped out of the bus window like a fish, landing heavily and clumsily on the ground.

Taking a deep breath, he glared fiercely at the Awakened ones rapidly approaching the bus.

"Zhu Cheng, have you lost your mind?"

Wu Shan slammed his fist fiercely against a seat, then followed Zhu Cheng's lead and leaped out of the window. "Everyone with an empty pistol, get out of the vehicle!"

The few security officers on the bus exchanged glances. A flicker of resolute determination flashed through their terrified eyes as they drew their daggers, jumped out of the windows, and followed Wu Shan toward the four Awakened ones.

"Get lost!"

When he was still a few meters away from the foremost Awakened one, Zhu Cheng lunged forward with a stride, holding his dagger in a reverse grip and thrusting it diagonally toward the opponent's glabella.

Yet, compared to a First-Ban Awakened one, his speed was still far too slow. The Awakened one simply sidestepped to easily evade Zhu Cheng's attack.

Before Zhu Cheng could react and raise his arm for a downward slash, his wrist had already been firmly caught in the Awakened one's grip.

"Fool, you think you're a match for me?"

The Awakened one wore a look of disdain, using his five fingers to bend Zhu Cheng's hand backward with brute force. With a sharp snap, Zhu Cheng's palm flattened out parallel to his forearm, and crimson blood spurted from the mangled, broken flesh.

"Uncle Zhu Cheng!"

Qi Mingyue shouted loudly from beneath the fallen streetlamp.

He tried to use his willpower to manipulate the two Awakened ones to come to the rescue, but a sudden surge of heat rushed up his throat. Qi Mingyue's face flushed crimson, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, losing his control over those two Awakened ones entirely.

"Stop fighting, it's me!" shouted the besieged Awakened one harshly. Hearing this, the other Awakened ones immediately stopped their hands and turned their gaze back toward the bus.

"Damn it, cripple them all, just leave them breathing!" At the command of the leading Awakened one, a dozen Awakened ones darted forward like lightning.

Wu Shan and the others were like tofu; their formation crumbled instantly, and they were beaten and knocked to the ground.

For a moment, wails echoed endlessly inside the bus, and the sound of breaking bones rang out continuously.

The two Awakened ones previously controlled by Qi Mingyue did not charge at the bus. Instead, they walked slowly over to Qi Mingyue, looking down at him from above.

"Cough, cough..." Qi Mingyue coughed up several mouthfuls of blood and raised his eyes to look at them.

"You little bastard, did you have a lot of fun just now? Did you really enjoy manipulating us?" One of them smiled hideously, grabbing Qi Mingyue by the neck and dragging him mercilessly out from beneath the streetlamp pole.

"If you want to kill me, just do it. Why all the nonsense?" Qi Mingyue's voice was weak and frail, a trace of imperceptible anticipation flashing through his eyes.

He had cared about many people in his life, but one by one, they had all left him.

His best friend had died, perishing on a bridge.

His father had died, dying on the road while seeking justice for Aunt Xu Yue.

His grandfather had died too, dying because they could no longer afford the medical bills.

This desperate defense today wasn't because Qi Mingyue possessed any noble virtues; it was simply because he was tired.

"Since you don't want to live a little longer, I'll grant your wish."

The Awakened one looked at Qi Mingyue indifferently, raising his foot to stamp down on Qi Mingyue's head.

"I suppose this counts as dying a worthy death, just like Grandpa said before he passed away!" Qi Mingyue smiled faintly and slowly closed his eyes.

A gentle breeze swept by, and in a daze, Qi Mingyue smelled the old, familiar, and warm scent of the tenement building.

Bang!

Blood-colored fireworks blossomed at that very moment, and tiny droplets of moisture splashed onto Qi Mingyue's face.

Tremblingly, Qi Mingyue reached out to touch his face, bringing his wet fingers to the tip of his nose. A pungent, foul smell struck his senses directly.

"Huh?" Qi Mingyue murmured lightly, opening the eyes he had already intended to keep shut.

He saw it. Even though his vision was obscured by the blood on his eyelashes, Qi Mingyue clearly saw the headless corpse standing right in front of him.

The lifeless Awakened one slowly tilted to the side and collapsed, while a young man with half his face half-hidden in shadow appeared behind that corpse.

The dim streetlamp illuminated the young man's eyes brightly, his profound gaze seeming capable of concealing all emotions.

The person was none other than Li Chenqiu, who was also Chen Xiu from two years ago.

"Chen Xiu?" Qi Mingyue's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, his pupils expanding uncontrollably.