Chapter 19: Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire

Yu City University was built magnificently, like a palace. As a renowned university within Yu City, it benefited from its location at a cross-border trade hub, boasting abundant resources and deep heritage.

Gadelia parked the car in front of the main gate of Yu City University. Beneath the massive stone-carved plaque, she turned to look at Zhou Ming, who was still stunned, and said:

“Get out. We’re here.”

“What?!”

Zhou Ming snapped back to reality and turned to look out the window. The plaque of Yu City University stood tall and solemn, with a sparse stream of people coming and going. He reached out and opened the car door.

“Zhou Ming—”

Gadelia and Jiang Jialie both called out to him at the same time, their expressions somewhat odd.

Zhou Ming froze, grumbling inwardly. ‘This atmosphere is creepier than a horror movie.’

“What’s wrong, Gadelia? What’s wrong, Jiang Jialie?”

Gadelia’s expression was calm. She pointed at his waist.

“The gun. Put it away.”

Zhou Ming looked down and was startled. He quickly pulled his clothes down to cover the exposed pistol, then felt his pocket—there was another one inside.

He remembered what Gadelia had said earlier in the alley and hesitated for a moment.

He wanted Jiang Jialie to have the ability to protect herself, but he also didn’t want to hand a gun to an ordinary girl who had never been trained and couldn’t even lift a chicken.

“The gun is already in your hands. I won’t interfere with what you do with it. But is there any other way you could protect her better?”

At this moment, Jiang Jialie could only guard her beloved in her own way.

She grabbed Zhou Ming’s sleeve, her eyes full of worry.

Zhou Ming looked at her, then at the gun in his hand. Finally, he handed it over.

Jiang Jialie took it in shock, looking down at the black metal in her hands.

The cold plastic shell, the heavy weight. The magazine could be detached, and inside were neatly arranged bullets with a metallic sheen.

A gun!

Her hand trembled slightly, her voice tight.

“Aren’t the Lantern Bearers not allowed to carry firearms outside of missions…”

“This is for us to protect ourselves, courtesy of Gadelia.” Zhou Ming explained in a low voice. “Take it for now. Remember, don’t misuse it. Don’t point it at anyone.”

Jiang Jialie nodded but couldn’t help muttering under her breath.

“Gadelia… she’s definitely not a good person…”

Gadelia opened the car door and glanced at the taxi that had already started queuing behind them. She said flatly:

“Get out. You’ve been parked too long; you’re blocking others.”

“Also—not everyone is going to save you, little girl.”

“Gadelia, goodbye.”

Zhou Ming pulled Jiang Jialie out of the car, turning back to say goodbye before leaving.

“Yeah, goodbye.”

Gadelia responded, then stepped on the accelerator and drove off toward Xia Yang’s home.

Beep—beep—beep—

The call connected.

“Sir, I’m waiting for you at 364 Jingbei Road.”

On the other end of the line came Xia Yang’s slightly nervous voice.

Xia Yang stood in front of 364 Jingbei Road, arms wrapped around herself, crouching on the dilapidated roadside, her eyes full of fear.

She didn’t know why she had dialed this number.

After getting out of the car, it was as if something drove her to pull out that old phone, input a string of numbers, and then wait there.

She knew that woman—the one who sent her back was Gadelia.

But why would she come looking for her?

Aren’t they Lantern Bearers?

Could the IDs be fake?

Could it be… she was afraid she’d leak secrets and wanted to silence her?

“I won’t tell anyone… I don’t know anything… really…”

Xia Yang murmured quietly.

Why did suffering always fall on her?

Why did her parents have to gamble?

Why did she have to bear all this?

Why did she have to be caught?

Why did she have to see those people with guns?

She wanted to escape.

Escape Yu City, escape this rotten home, escape this seemingly prosperous but cold city.

But she couldn’t move.

It was as if her body no longer belonged to her.

Like a borrowed shell that could be taken back at any time.

The streetlights were dim. Occasionally a car passed by, but they couldn’t dispel the gloom in her heart.

With every passing car, her heart grew colder.

Suddenly—

A light appeared in the distance. A car slowly pulled up and stopped beside her.

Fear consumed her reason.

She gave up on running.

Her body regained the ability to move, but she just stood up, turning her head to avoid the blinding headlights.

Despair had completely swallowed her.

The car door opened.

Gadelia stepped out in high heels, her expression calm.

Xia Yang led the way like a zombie.

She walked across the filthy ground, stepping over unidentified black stains, and entered a dilapidated building with peeling walls covered in flyers and graffiti.

She pushed open the rusty iron door.

A pungent smell hit them.

Gadelia frowned slightly. Even though she was prepared, it was still hard to accept such an environment.

The room was a mess.

The old sofa was worn out, sponge exposed, with food residue stuck to it.

The floor was piled with trash.

Even cockroaches crawled in the corners.

The bedroom was even more chaotic, as if someone had ransacked it.

Gadelia stood at the door, not going any further.

“Where are your parents now?”

Xia Yang lowered her head and didn’t answer.

Gadelia spoke calmly:

“I can give you a chance.”

“A chance to leave them.”

“It depends on whether you can seize it.”

Just then—

Footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Xia Yang looked up abruptly.

Two figures came up one after the other.

It was her parents—Xia Jianda and Li Li.

“Xia Yang?!”

Xia Jianda looked shocked. “Why are you here? Where are those people?”

He remembered that when he was being chased by debt collectors this morning, he pushed his daughter out as collateral and then ran away.

He happened to run into Xia Yang on the road and pushed her out without hesitation.

As for those people—

He didn’t care.

“Are you Xia Yang’s parents, Xia Jianda and Li Li?”

Gadelia’s voice was icy, dripping with undisguised contempt.

“I’m taking Xia Yang.”

The moment the words fell—

An invisible force silently activated.

The two of them paused, as if they had completely ignored her existence.

Gadelia stepped past them and waved at Xia Yang.

“Follow me.”

Xia Yang mechanically stepped forward and followed, asking in a low voice:

“Where… are we going?”

“Sequence Council.”

Gadelia said flatly.

“As long as you pass the assessment, you’ll become a member of the Sequence Council.”

“Sequence Council…”

This name had never been absent from all kinds of propaganda and education.