Chapter 686
Compared to before, this residential complex had grown even more dilapidated. Many areas were riddled with cracks, some even bearing traces of impacts. This transformation wasn't due to the buildings' age; it was clear a small-scale skirmish had occurred here previously, leaving behind those impact marks on the walls.
At this moment, it wasn't just Jiang Zhenzhen's former rental apartment that was devoid of light; the entire complex was shrouded in darkness, terrifyingly silent, as if a dead land devoid of all life. However, as Yang Haoran sensed, this complex was not without living souls. On the contrary, quite a few people still resided there, but overwhelmed by fear and not wanting to attract terrifying things, no one dared to make a sound, nor did anyone dare to turn on a light.
Though Lecheng currently had no internet and mobile phones could no longer make calls, water and electricity hadn't been cut off. Lecheng itself possessed a water plant, but no power plant. Yang Haoran didn't know the specific reason for the uninterrupted power supply despite the lack of a local power station, but in his opinion, it must have been because the Lecheng Administrative Courtyard had negotiated with the power supplier. Otherwise, under the current circumstances, Lecheng's power would likely have been cut long ago.
The Administrative Courtyard would certainly try every means to deal with such matters; if they couldn't even manage these, then the current Administrative Courtyard being overthrown or annexed by other cities would definitely be a matter of time. Following the address he had memorized, Yang Haoran walked towards his destination. As he observed the traces left by the battles along the way, he couldn't help but feel a little worried.
He wasn't worried about his own safety. He was worried about whether the old master who made the Smiling Face Masks was still alive. If this old master had unfortunately died in the recent chaos, then he would have to find another master to produce the Smiling Face Masks. But in the current situation, where would he find such a master? Even if he did, the finished product might not satisfy him.
He prayed in his heart that this old master was blessed with great fortune and was still alive; otherwise, what was originally a simple matter would become complicated again.
In the empty stairwell, only Yang Haoran's 'thump-thump-thump' footsteps echoed, seeming particularly chilling. He wasn't startled by his own footsteps, but the other residents on either side of the stairwell were considerably frightened by them. Nowadays, people, except for those with exceptionally thick skins, had become startled birds; the slightest disturbance would considerably frighten them.
To avoid causing these ordinary people further fear, Yang Haoran simply made his body float, drifting like a wraith towards the old master's door.
As for whether doing this would scare the old master to death, he wasn't worried about that. With him present, as long as the old master's physical body hadn't deteriorated to its absolute limit, he wouldn't be able to die even if he wanted to.
If there was no one inside, then knocking had no meaning. Even if he hammered the door until it broke and his hands were fractured, he still wouldn't see the person he wished to meet. With a slight perception, Yang Haoran gained a certain understanding of the situation inside the room. There was absolutely no one in the room, not a single soul.
Yang Haoran had originally intended to ask the old master's neighbors about the situation, but after thinking it over, he decided against it. Because anyone even remotely normal had recently confined themselves to their rooms, staying strictly indoors. The neighbors likely wouldn't know where the old master had gone.
After a moment of hesitation, Yang Haoran directly tore open space in front of the old master's door and traveled to the second address Bai Xue had given him, which was the old master's hometown. Since the old master wasn't in the city, perhaps he had returned to the countryside to seek refuge. So Yang Haoran decided to check; in any case, he could tear space, and it wouldn't take him much time.
Yang Haoran knew the small town where the old master's hometown was located; he had been there before, so he knew the direction. When he stepped out of the spatial rift, he arrived in the small town where the old master resided. What surprised him, however, was that as soon as he stepped out of the spatial rift, he sensed a surge of Demon Qi and heard a flurry of panicked shouts.
"Help! A demon is eating people!"
"Run! There's a demon!"
In the distance, chaos reigned. By the moonlight, Yang Haoran vaguely saw some people scrambling and fleeing in panic, stumbling over themselves, shouting loudly. Though he couldn't see their expressions at that moment, it was obvious without needing to think that their faces must have been filled with terror.
Yang Haoran had originally intended to rush to the old master's residence in this small town immediately, but after a moment of hesitation, he decided to deal with this demon first. If he hadn't encountered it, that would have been fine. But since he had stumbled upon it, he certainly couldn't stand by and watch people die. Moreover, judging by the Demon Qi he sensed, this demon wasn't very strong; it should only be a slightly stronger minor demon.
If this demon was something even he couldn't handle, he wouldn't just refuse to help; he would even flee the place immediately. As for the ordinary people fleeing in all directions, he could only wish them good luck.
With a leap of his body, Yang Haoran jumped onto a nearby rooftop. With a few bounds, he vanished into the night.
In this small town, there were a few five-story residential buildings. These buildings stood in a row, the tallest and most imposing structures in the town. Almost all of the town's wealthy residents lived here.
Tonight, however, outside this row of residential buildings, corpses lay strewn haphazardly on the ground. These bodies all bore traces of being gnawed upon; some even had their entire faces devoured.
A corpulent man pinned a young woman to the ground. He wore an excited expression. He didn't tear at the woman's clothes; instead, he opened his mouth, revealing a mouthful of sharp fangs, and bit down on the face of the woman beneath him.
The woman's face twisted in terror. As she struggled with all her might, she cried out for help loudly. The others had long been scared witless and were putting all their effort into fleeing for their lives. Who could possibly spare a thought for this woman?
The woman's struggles had no effect whatsoever; instead, they only excited the fatty further. His sharp fangs easily pierced the flesh of the woman's face. With a violent tug, warm blood splattered as a piece of flesh from the woman's face was forcibly ripped off by the fatty.
The woman screamed in agony. Due to her excessive effort, her voice became hoarse, and her struggles grew even more violent. However, her struggles were too weak and had no effect whatsoever. Under her fierce struggles, the fatty's large, fang-filled mouth bit down on the woman's face once more, then vigorously began to suck the Human Spirit from the woman's flesh and blood.
In just a moment, the woman stopped struggling, completely devoid of life. Although the woman was dead, the Human Spirit within her flesh and blood had not yet been fully absorbed, so the fatty continued to absorb the Human Spirit from the woman's flesh and blood. Just then, however, he seemed to sense something. His gaze swept towards a distant direction.
There, he sensed space being torn open, and a ripple of power. Although this power ripple wasn't overly strong, the fact that the other party possessed the ability to tear space meant they were definitely no ordinary individual. The weak power ripple must have been because the other party deliberately restrained their power.
The fatty hesitated for a moment, then released the female corpse beneath him and decided to leave this place first. He was very clear about his own strength: he was merely a minor demon, and dealing with ordinary people was certainly no problem. But if he were to face an extraordinary individual capable of tearing space, he definitely wouldn't be a match. Therefore, the most rational course of action was to flee this place immediately.
This minor demon wasn't foolish, knowing he was definitely no match for the newcomer, thus deciding to leave immediately. This idea was sound. However, his speed compared to the newcomer's was simply too great. He had only just escaped a short distance from the area when a figure suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his path.
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