Lie Huo Jiao Chou

烈火浇愁

lie-huo-jiao-chou

Chapter 129

At this moment, all the field agents of the Bureau were either dealing with the widespread chaos caused by the Echo Sound or racing against time to distribute the Echo Shielding Devices to everyone.


 Mainstream media outlets on television and the internet had urgently halted their entertainment programs and were now broadcasting the importance of wearing the shielding devices.


 Even the most advanced spiritual-type ability users were unable to detect the existence of the Echo Sounds, let alone ordinary people. Therefore, to most people, the sudden distribution of the shielding devices by their workplaces or communities seemed extremely strange, especially when many people came forward and claimed that their memories had been tampered with.


 At first, the people who spoke out were truly those whose memories had been altered. However, as the topic gained momentum, those who were fishing in troubled waters, those who enjoyed making up stories, those with ill intentions, and those influenced by group dynamics all chimed in, each speaking as if they knew what they were talking about.


 In reality, only a very small number of people had ever been involved in paranormal events, and the probability of being involved was even lower than being in a series of car accidents or winning millions of dollars.


 But in the midst of all the commotion, it seemed as if everyone was suspicious of having lost their memories and could recall a few extremely unsettling incidents from their daily lives.


 "I don't care if anyone else wears it or not, but I definitely won't. I'm putting it out there, whoever wears this thing is brain damaged."


 As Yan Qiushan rushed to the distribution point with a car full of emergency shielding devices, he heard a sudden remark before the car even came to a stop. He wasn't good at resolving conflicts, nor did he have any interest in fighting, so he paused his hand on the door handle.


 Suddenly, Zhi Chun, who was sitting next to him, said, "Look over there."


 Zhi Chun pointed to a nearby residential area. It was already dark outside, and the streetlights had been on for a while, but the area was pitch black, indicating a power outage.


 As Yan Qiushan sent a message to Wang Ze, he quietly rolled down the car window.


 Suddenly, a voice angrily shouted, "Do they think that ordinary people are still ignorant like in the past? Who doesn't know how to use the internet? You guys secretly modify our memories with those things. Now that the truth is out, everyone remembers. You're forcing us to use brainwashing machines! If we don't comply, you'll cut off our electricity and water, and even lock up those who speak out. Are they trying to take us back to the Middle Ages, drilling holes in our heads to prevent us from speaking out?"


 "Who are these monsters with so much power? Who really rules this world?"


 "I, for one, refuse to wear it."


 "I'm not wearing one either. The weather is nice tonight and the air is fresh. I don't feel like there's anything that needs to be 'shielded.'"


 "Maybe they want to shield our brains?" replied the other person.


 Wang Ze received his message and sneaked out of the crowd like a lightning bolt.


 He came over to Yan Qiushan and said, "Captain Yan, let's go around from the back. This way is blocked."


 "What's going on?" Yan Qiushan frowned and said, "You guys are causing water and power outages just because you're full and bored, are you upset that there's no fighting?"


 "I didn't do it! Oh my god, I'm innocent!" Wang Ze grabbed his scalp, which only had a thin layer of hair by now, and said anxiously, "The water didn't even break, but the electricity did stop - because of those wild plants climbing everywhere, many places lost power today and the repairs couldn't keep up. They're all so emotional now because of the feedback, they won't listen to our explanations or accept the shield! Captain Yan, please, can you find someone to replace me and send me to fight monsters on the front line instead?"


 Before he could finish his sentence, there was a loud "bang" behind him and someone directly attacked, overturning the table where the shields were being distributed.


 Wang Ze cursed and didn't have time to talk to Yan Qiushan before turning around and rushing over. In a civilized society, most people, when angry, only raise their voices and use harsh language.


 It takes a certain level of accumulated conflict and breaking down of psychological barriers before they resort to physical violence, especially against the government.


 The reason why the conflict is so intense is because of the disturbing Echo Sound audio. The leader of the disturbance has already lost focus, with his eyes wandering and his body stiffening unnaturally, showing signs of confusion.


 The people behind him are ignorant and unaware, still shouting at the top of their lungs.


 Wang Ze rushed forward and grabbed a microphone, pointing to his own ear and saying, "Everyone, everyone! We are also wearing them. If the blocker is harmful, should we try it out ourselves first?"


 "Who knows if it's the same thing?"


 "Isn't the one you're wearing just a model?"


 Wang Ze yanked off his earplugs and forcefully shoved them into the hands of a protester, grabbing a new pair from the distribution point.


 "Don't believe me? Let's switch, okay?" Wang was known for his booming voice, a true dragon among men.


 He held a microphone in his hand, making his voice even more powerful. He shouted so loudly that it could be heard for twenty miles, nearly deafening those around him.


 Perhaps it was the shock of the noise or the inability to hear the Echo Sound audio thanks to it, but the protesting crowd inexplicably calmed down a bit.


 Wang Ze sat cross-legged on the distribution table and took a deep breath.


 "Yes, we are different. I have a special ability - I can spray water. During festivals, people always ask me to turn into a koi fish. But my aunt, uncle, stepmother, and stepfather are all ordinary people. Even my unit leader, who comes from a long line of ancestors, is the only one with a special ability. Who said we persecute ordinary people? What benefit would we gain from persecuting them? Do we need to persecute our own family and friends? You may dislike and discriminate against us now, but who knows, tomorrow you may give birth to a child with a special ability. Do you believe it? Do you? Even in 8102, why are you still discriminating against things?"


 As he spoke, the noisy crowd gradually quieted down, reduced to whispers and murmurs.


 Yan Qiushan slipped into the crowd unnoticed, his expression unreadable.


 His injured bones and flesh were nearly healed, and in order to speed up the healing process, Yan Qiushan had removed the metal plate inside.


 However, his footsteps were now a bit unsteady. Someone kindly helped him sit down, and Yan Qiushan took the opportunity to say to the people around him, "Why don't we try it out? It's not that easy to brainwash someone. I'll teach you a method. Nowadays, don't we all have memo apps on our phones? We can record our thoughts in real-time while wearing the device. If something doesn't feel right, we can compare it to our notes and figure it out. We can always take off the device later, right?"


 The person who helped him was taken aback, "This... "


 It seemed like a good idea.


 Then, someone else chimed in, "What if there really is a harmful substance in the air like they say?"


 As Yan Qiushan looked up at the person speaking, he recognized him as a Wind God undercover agent.


 The Wind God seemed to be familiar with the people around him, blending in seamlessly with the crowd. It appeared that he lived in this area and when their eyes met, they both instinctively pretended not to know each other.


 Yan Qiushan understood that the Bureau wasn't completely helpless. Many of the special agents were ordinary people who could blend in with the community and help resolve conflicts without revealing their identities.


 Zhi Chun, hidden in Yan Qiushan's embrace, patted his chest.


 "The Emperor is right. After all, the various races have been living together for three thousand years."


 The Wind God undercover agent, who had been mingling with the protesting crowd, noticed that his neighbor was hesitating after his persuasion.


 He smiled slightly, prepared his speech, and was ready to continue his efforts.


 Just then, a silver light suddenly flashed and in the blink of an eye, it pierced through the back of his neck.


 No one expected this sudden turn of events, and the blood of the undercover Wind God agent splattered onto Yan Qiushan's front shirt.


 His pupils shrank - it was a mithril bullet!


 The undercover Wind God agent was immediately engulfed in a white light, and the crowd erupted into hysterical screams.


 The mithril gun was Yan Qiushan's closest comrade-in-arms, aside from Zhi Chun, who shared half of his blanket with him, the mithril gun occupied half of his pillow.


 When the mithril bullet hits an abnormal ability user, it explodes into a white light, forming a thin layer of mercury-like film that envelops the entire target's body, before disappearing along with the target.


 In that instant, the person hit by the mithril bullet leaves behind a silhouette captured like a snapshot behind the mercury film, etching their final expression of life.


 Yan Qiushan saw confusion in the eyes of the plainclothes Wind God.


 After a brief moment of confusion, the frozen expression on the man's face shattered along with his body, which was hit and turned into a pile of debris, collapsing to the ground.


 It's one thing to be anxious, but witnessing a murder on the street is another thing entirely. Those who were just able to explain their lack of trust suddenly became frightened birds, causing chaos and making it impossible to maintain order at the scene.


 The Wind God, who had died, had lived in this community and was probably well-liked. Some of his friends and family were stunned, while others stood in place and wept.


 Yan Qiushan was first pushed and stumbled by the panicked crowd, not knowing who he had bumped into, and then someone helped him up.


 In the chaos, he was pushed and shoved like a sandbag.


 "Quick, let's go! We might get trampled!"


 "Someone's dead! Someone's been killed!"


 "Mom--"


 "Don't push!"


 Yan Qiushan's ears were filled with noise, and his mind was buzzing. The winter in Yong'an was too cold, and the hard northwest wind felt like ice cones piercing through layer after layer of clothing. His limbs were numb, and his chest was icy cold.


 A few hours ago, when the Heart-Piercing Grass puppets spread panic in the square, the Bureau used the "Barrier Net" - which could forcibly "fix" people in place during chaotic moments and release them in batches to prevent accidents.


 Now they were distributing shielding devices outside, and the barrier net equipment was readily available. However, the impact of the mithril gun killing his own colleague was too great, and the special abilities present were unable to react in time to use it.


 The special agents on the field received orders not to use force and to avoid any casualties at all costs. Their mission was to gain the trust of the civilians as quickly as possible, for only then would their message be heard.


 The agents were impeccable in their approach, having been trained to be cautious and restrained for years under the strict rule of the "Fifteen-People Red Line".


 But there was also a deeper reason for their success - a sense of superiority that came naturally to those with special abilities. It wasn't until the first mithril bullet was fired that their composure was tested.


 Special agents, especially those in the field, are like towering giants facing unsteady babies. The difference in strength is immense, making it almost completely safe.


 They are not afraid, so they have confidence and can be relatively tolerant in most situations. Even if they are misunderstood or verbally mistreated, they remain calm and able to solve problems with ease.


 However, everything changed with the sudden appearance of a mysterious mithril bullet. At this moment, an urgent message came in from the inside, with a striking red warning symbol and alarming words: "A batch of mithril guns has been stolen from headquarters, and their whereabouts are currently unknown. Please be extremely cautious, colleagues from all departments!"


 No one bothered to think about who fired the mithril bullet and what their motive was. All the specials simultaneously realized a terrifying fact - mithril bullets could bypass ordinary people and directly attack their bodies, specifically targeting special ability users.


 And firing the gun didn't require any special abilities, just a few fingers to pull the trigger...ordinary people didn't even have to worry about accidental discharge.


 Suddenly, special ability users were no longer "safe" and became a trembling minority.


 The malicious glances around them were like deadly knives.


 Being pointed at by thousands, the strong could only force a bitter smile, but it was enough to drive the weak, who were already afraid, insane.


 "Wang Ze!" Zhi Chun was the first to snap out of it.


 He pulled out a miniature walkie-talkie from Yan Qiushan's outer coat pocket, not caring about exposing himself, and shouted, "What are you waiting for! If they keep running around, something bad will happen!"


 Wang Ze shuddered, "Yes... activate the Barrier Net, all of you..."


 Before he could finish his sentence, another silver light swept past. The specially trained agents were immediately on edge, casting various protective spells including water, fire, and even erratic sparks of electricity.


 Wang Ze quickly crouched under the table, narrowly avoiding the second mithril bullet.


 However, the bullet nearly grazed his head and embedded itself in the pile of instruments behind him, triggering an explosion that overturned the entire facility. Shielding devices and various equipment were shattered and scattered everywhere, and even the Barrier Net was not spared.


 The people who had originally tried to help Yan Qiushan suddenly heard Zhi Chun's voice and, upon looking up, were so frightened that they pushed Yan Qiushan away.


 In folk tales, dolls never play a good role; they are either cursed tools or the protagonists of ghost stories. Yan Qiushan couldn't steady himself and fell among the rushing crowd.


 He was about to be trampled by countless feet when he hastily raised his metal crutch and gave it a hard poke to the side. The crutch transformed into a semi-circular shield in his hand, protecting him within.


 The person who had pushed him down only acted on impulse and didn't intend to harm him. Feeling a bit regretful, he was about to risk danger and pull Yan Qiushan up when he witnessed the entire process of the crutch turning into a shield.


 He was stunned and retreated, just as the third mithril bullet was shot out and was attracted by Yan Qiushan's special ability, making a turn.


 Wang Ze shouted and wanted to rush forward, but was blocked by the crowd. Yan Qiushan's vision was blocked by the metal shield and he didn't react to what had just happened.


 Wang Ze's eyes were about to burst with anxiety. "Captain Yan!"


 The mithril bullet pierced through the metal shield, and the dazzling silver light drilled in...


 At the same time, lightning flashed and thunder roared above the Chiyuan, while deep in the canyon, the weapon spirits were rolling anxiously in mid-air.


 Like a loyal sheepdog, Dao Yi drove them towards higher ground.


 Walking halfway, Dao Yi, who was guarding the rear, looked back with concern and saw the ground slowly cracking open, emitting the scent of magma.

Lie Huo Jiao Chou

Lie Huo Jiao Chou

Chapter 143 - Chapter 129

Skye