Vol. 5 Chapter 13: Listen to Me, Alright?

Chapter 13: Listen to Me, Alright?

The sky gradually filled with dark clouds, the light dimming. A sense of oppression fell upon the residents of Leping City, as if something ominous was about to occur. Some people could clearly see the black mist rising again from beneath Wujiang Bridge.

The sensation of something lurking in the darkness grew more palpable until a figure shrouded in black mist leaped out of the shadows, dragging a person into the darkness.

Panic spread quickly. Although Fear King Dark River had made an announcement before, nothing terrible had happened afterward. That incident occurred late at night, and few people witnessed it directly. Despite the videos and the rising fear, many consoled themselves with excuses like the video being fake or fabricated.

This time, however, it was evening. Despite the clouds and dim light, the black mist gathering on the bridge was clearly visible. Coupled with the dark mist creature that had just attacked, people's fear exploded, leading to screams and chaotic fleeing.

The black mist on Wujiang Bridge once again formed a vague human shape. However, this time, the mist was not entirely controlled by Lu Li. The legendary power in Lu Li's heart was about to manifest, revealing some special abilities.

Previously, in the "Eradicate the Three Pests" scenario, Lu Li had absorbed some legendary elements, all related to ghosts hiding in the darkness. Now, under the guise of Fear King Dark River, he had absorbed a large amount of legendary elements, which combined to form a new ability.

In the black mist, unseen monsters lurked, spreading fear with their undying, misty bodies. These combined elements of black mist and hidden ghosts appeared as a new ability in Lu Li's attribute panel, initially unclear but gradually becoming more defined as he absorbed more legendary elements.

The ability, still forming, had a description: "As long as the river does not dry up, the black mist body will receive continuous replenishment." This tied the ability to the river, providing a powerful energy source and survival capability, but also limiting it to the riverside.

"Indeed, Fear King Dark River has appeared again. Detecting a rapid increase in fear factors in the air, growing more terrifying with the crowd's panic," Xiaomi hurriedly said, fiddling with his instrument.

"A rare ability to grow stronger by absorbing people's fear," Old Hu nodded, watching as riot police cautiously took to the streets to disperse the crowd. In the face of fear, police officers were human too, but their duty demanded they not succumb to it.

"Fortunately, we prepared in advance. Immediate crowd dispersal avoided a potentially disastrous stampede," Bing Bing extended her hand, sensing something before gripping tightly, causing black mist around them to freeze and fall to the ground.

"The fear factors in the air rely on these black mist particles, absorbing the widespread fear from panicking people," Xiaomi quickly analyzed the black mist ice chips in an instrument, reporting his findings.

"Can you locate Li Yuanfeng or any other mask hosts nearby?" Old Hu asked, receiving a negative reply. He nodded, saying, "It seems Fear King Dark River is someone else, not Li Yuanfeng."

"Let's go to the bridge. Are the other mask hosts heading there?" Old Hu got into a specially modified car, asking Xiaomi as he started the engine.

"Yes, they are visible in the surveillance network I set up, moving towards the bridge in two groups," Xiaomi displayed the footage, showing six people in total approaching the bridge.

"Still no sign of Li Yuanfeng?" Old Hu asked, a trace of unease flashing in his mind, feeling that Li Yuanfeng was a crucial point, one that could potentially ruin their plans.

"No, Captain, could it be a misjudgment? Maybe Li Yuanfeng really is Fear King Dark River?" Bing Bing suggested hesitantly.

Old Hu's expression turned cold, then he angrily said, "No more questions. Before we set out, didn't you swear to trust my judgment? I've thoroughly investigated Li Yuanfeng's background and analyzed his behavior. Even if he gained the mask and increased intelligence, personal traits would still dictate his actions. I'm 80% sure Li Yuanfeng isn't Fear King Dark River."

Bing Bing, seeing Old Hu's rare display of anger, quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Captain. It was my mistake." She didn't understand why Old Hu was so upset.

"Don't take this lightly," Old Hu's tone softened slightly, "Even though it seems like just a mask struggle, remember, this is Leping City. It's related to the evil god. There's no room for luck. We're walking on a tightrope, and any misstep means death."

Seeing the two nodding, Old Hu turned back to driving, a mix of regret and guilt in his eyes. He glanced at the chaotic street scene, recalling a similar situation a year ago.

Back then, leveraging his unique investigative skills, he joined a team on a special mission. Similar scenes, similar places, and he made a similar decision, acting on his own judgment.

The consequences were dire. Their team, much larger and more experienced than now, faced a catastrophe because he ignored the leader's judgment. If not for the leader throwing him out at the last moment, he would have died there too.

Touching his still aching stomach, he remembered how that mission left his once robust body riddled with injuries. Even with the Countermeasure Bureau's treatment, he was never the same.

Driving, Old Hu spoke with a barely noticeable plea, "So... please follow my orders, alright? I want to get you out of Leping City safely."