Chapter 90

In the Cloud Inn, Nan Gengchen was dragged into a room on the second floor, crying and shouting.

Outside the window, the light from the bonfire flickered, but it seemed as if he had fallen into hell.

Nan Gengchen cried out, "Big brother, please don't touch me, really! Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen look much better than me, go for them!"

While crying and shouting, he secretly strained his abdomen.

He had read online that in such critical moments, if one could manage to soil their pants, it might ruin the other person's appetite and ensure safety.

He never thought he would have to use this trick one day.

However, the expected sound of the other person unfastening his belt did not happen.

The criminal was wearing a black leather jacket, with a clean-shaven head.

A black dragon tattoo ran from his neck to his chin, making him look extremely fierce.

The criminal slowly took off his gloves, revealing rough mechanical limbs. He moved his fingers, and due to aging, the sound of his fingers clenching and unclenching was creaky.

It was quite unsettling.

The criminal stood opposite Nan Gengchen, looking at him coldly. When his cries gradually subsided, he asked calmly, "Kid, I'm not interested in men. Now, I'll ask you some questions, and you answer. If you cooperate, you might live. Got it?"

"Got it, got it!" Nan Gengchen nodded hurriedly.

"What is your identity in the Inner World?" the criminal asked.

Nan Gengchen was stunned. He thought he would be violated in this room, but he never expected the other person to suddenly ask about his identity in the Inner World.

This was completely different from what he had imagined. It seemed that the other person's actions earlier were just for show.

However, he couldn't figure out why there was a sudden change, and how the other person knew he was a time traveler.

He had hidden it so well that no one knew!

The criminal pressed the gun to his forehead, "Answer me!"

Nan Gengchen, with tears in his eyes, said, "I'm a hacker..."

"Hacker?" The criminal muttered, feeling unlucky.

After all, knowledge is not inherited when traveling to the Inner World, so technical time travelers were the least valuable in their eyes. They were just empty titles without any skills.

Moreover, this identity could become a burden.

The criminal continued, "Which city do you live in?"

"City 18," Nan Gengchen answered.

"Which district?"

"First District," Nan Gengchen quickly added, "I just moved there."

The criminal whistled, "So you're a rich person from the First District. Why did you just move there?"

Nan Gengchen, with a pitiful look, said, "I was just recently kept."

The criminal was stunned, not understanding the connection. He continued, "What holographic projection is currently being shown at the Chishui Square in the First District?"

Nan Gengchen said, "It's a projection of a three-headed tiger whale jumping out of the water."

The criminal thought for a moment and pressed the intercom on his chest, "Boss, confirmed, it's a time traveler from the First District of City 18. Clear the scene."

After that, he released the intercom and was about to take Nan Gengchen out.

Just as the criminal bent down to grab him, a masked teenager appeared behind the criminal, unnoticed by both of them.

The teenager's face was covered with a scarf, but Nan Gengchen could still see the fiery red patterns extending from under the scarf to the sides of his eyes.

He didn't know when the teenager appeared, and neither of them had noticed his approach.

No footsteps, no breathing.

Nothing.

The criminal seemed to sense something from Nan Gengchen's expression, but his body was already immobilized.

The spleen is the body's blood bank. Once it is ruptured by external force, the victim will quickly bleed to death.

It is second only to being cut in the neck's major artery.

The criminal felt his body rapidly cooling, and he could even hear the sound of his blood dripping to the ground.

Blood foam slowly oozed from his mouth as he tried to reach for the intercom.

But someone gently reached out from behind and took the intercom from his chest.

"Who... are you?" Nan Gengchen asked, dazed.

Qing Chen looked at him calmly, "Don't pretend you don't know me. Follow me, we don't have time to chat."

"Okay, Brother Chen..." Nan Gengchen said excitedly.

Qing Chen wasn't surprised that Nan Gengchen recognized him.

They had been classmates since high school, and after the science and arts split, they were not only classmates but also desk partners.

The two struggling teenagers had always been the best of friends. Even though Qing Chen covered his face and deliberately messed up his hair, Nan Gengchen could identify him with just a glance at his eyes and facial contours.

Nan Gengchen followed Qing Chen, excitedly muttering, "I never thought you would come to save me. If you hadn't appeared, I might have been taken away by them..."

Just as Qing Chen was about to take Nan Gengchen out the back door, a series of muffled gunshots rang out from outside the window.

Someone shouted, "Run, they're trying to silence us!"

Qing Chen turned to look out the window.

It was the unique sound of silenced firearms.

The bonfire outside seemed like a sea of fire, and the students' screams were like boiling water.

He drew his gun from his waist and walked to the window. The inn's owner and staff were lying in pools of blood, and the students were fleeing in panic.

Two members of the Kunlun team had been shot and were lying on the ground. The inn's door had been forced open, and the students were taking advantage of the chaos to escape.

One Kunlun member had a bloody chest and was lying face up on the cold cement, eyes open.

Another Kunlun member was kneeling by the door, eyes closed.

He held a gun, and next to him was a dead criminal. Further away was another dead criminal.

The two criminals had been hit by four bullets, and the Kunlun members were covered in blood, making it impossible to tell how many bullets they had taken.

It seemed they had fought hard to open the door, giving the students a chance to escape.

At that moment, the students were struggling to their feet and fleeing without hesitation.

Qing Chen didn't know what had just happened; even the sharpest mind seemed to be overwhelmed.

By the time he reached the window, everything had already happened.

In just a few breaths, so many people had died.

Qing Chen silently looked at the two blood-soaked bodies. Since he hadn't witnessed it firsthand, his emotions were slow to react.

There was no sadness, no emotion.

Just a sudden lump in his chest, though he didn't know what it was.

In the chaos, the remaining criminals did not chase the students but instead bound the hands of Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen, planning to leave with the time travelers.

Yes, the criminals' target was the time travelers. With the plan going awry, it was no longer possible to silence all the students.

Their best option was to cut their losses.

The intercom crackled, "Old Five is missing, he might have run into trouble. Old Three, you and Old Four take the two upstairs and meet us at the parking lot."

Old Four and Old Five were already dead.

Qing Chen silently observed everything, suddenly remembering what Ye Wan had said: "If courage could be controlled, it wouldn't be called courage. Sometimes, you only understand your choice when you face it."

"Wait here. Remember, I didn't appear tonight. If I don't come back... don't tell my parents," Qing Chen whispered and walked out.

Actually, he didn't want to take any more risks. Since Nan Gengchen was already saved, it was the perfect time to leave.

But Qing Chen wondered if he had really done his best.

If he turned back now, would he always remember his hesitation in future battles?

At one moment, he felt that what Ye Mama said was right. Once a soldier crosses the river, he can't turn back, no matter the rules, orders, or consequences.

It was about courage.