Chapter 7, Temporary Peace

Xiao Fen, disregarding his lingering fear, realized that 10 seconds had already passed, and there was still at least 100 meters to the target. He suddenly exerted himself, leaping onto the second-floor balcony. Glancing across, he quickly shrank back, almost pressing his face against the wall, as a rope was projected down from the sky with such force that it actually penetrated the balcony floor

Before Xiao Fan could think further, a sudden "kala la" sound erupted from one side of the house's main door, and in the next moment, the entire side wall along with the door collapsed with a loud crash

The dense fog enveloped everything beyond ten meters in a hazy and indistinct shell

This is a back alley that can only accommodate four people in parallel. In just about two seconds, Xiao Fan had already dashed across the street. Before him stood the back door of another house, which was faintly ajar.

Xiao Fen did not think twice, took two steps back, and then suddenly exerted himself to run. He leaped onto the balcony railing with one foot and jumped forcefully towards the building across from him. Behind him, two ropes were thrown out in succession, but Xiao Fen's movements were too swift and varied, causing both rope attacks to miss their mark.

Xiao Fen spread his body in the air, executing a scissor kick maneuver. His well-developed balance allowed him to glide through the air like a flight, suddenly landing on the pillar supporting the precarious wall opposite him. Without pausing, he exerted his strength once more and swiftly darted back into the room.

Behind him, there was almost no pause, "duo duo duo duo duo," five consecutive sounds, as five ropes projected from different angles all missed their target, causing fragments of stone to scatter across the ground

Running at high speed while exhausting one's physical strength and employing various movements is inherently a very challenging process

In those houses where people still reside, the homeowners and their loved ones huddle together, trembling all over, quietly praying to God, for tonight is destined to be their night of panic

Your supplies have been delivered, please check them

However, even so, these ropes are still unable to capture Xiao Fen, let alone kill him

As long as he desires it, he will certainly achieve it

However, it was precisely the cowardice of these individuals that prevented Xiao Fen's target from disappearing immediately. After one minute, Xiao Fen finally charged to within just a few meters of the target, and by this time, he was already panting heavily

Before the mist had engulfed the room, Xiao Fan could see that at least dozens of ropes were coiled around the pillars supporting the walls

Xiao Fen forced a smile; at this moment, he could not afford to linger. He ran with all his might, bypassing the stairs, and made his way up to the 3rd floor in one breath. In this spacious floor, in a corner of the master bedroom, several boxes were shimmering.

No one can obstruct him, and no one can slow down his pace, not even the terrifying webs in the sky.

In just one minute, Xiao Fen's body had already reached its limit. If it weren't for the supplies right in front of him, he might not have been able to rush here at all. However, even so, he had nearly exhausted all of his physical strength.

What is different now is that, previously, I could only hear strange footsteps from a distance, but now they are getting closer and even causing the boxes beside me to tremble slightly

The entire block is trembling with fear

Xiao Fen was about to exert more effort to rush forward when he suddenly felt a chill in his heart. He forcefully jumped to the right, gripping the windowsill of the first floor on the opposite side with both hands. With a strong pull, his entire body flipped over, completing a backflip in mid-air. His heel kicked through the thin wooden board nailed to the window, and his body followed suit, entering inside.

Not only from a distance, but even the people who are close at hand are shrouded in thick mist, losing their distinct outlines due to this same mist. Once they move apart, they gradually become blurred and distorted under the influence of the mist and the dim yellow light of the street lamps

Meanwhile, Xiao Fen suddenly realized that the sounds of the ropes that had been threatening him like a shadow were now completely gone. It was not the terrifying silence that precedes danger, but rather a calm that signified a return to normalcy

The distant castle appeared only with its highest battlements shrouded in mist, the flickering lights within the large eye-like windows rendered an orange hue in the yellow-brown fog. From afar, it resembled an illusory sky palace, completely losing the sense of majesty that the castle once held.

He did not dare to stop, and, following the direction indicated by the arrow on his sleeve, he charged across to the opposite side.

Moreover, in such fog, visibility is reduced to nothing even at a distance of 10 meters, requiring more attention and mental effort to handle the increasing unexpected changes.

As the side wall collapsed, these ropes suddenly lifted, resembling fierce venomous snakes, all targeting Xiao Fen.

Xiao Fen suddenly burst open the back door of the house, and before the entire structure could completely collapse in a precarious state, he had already darted outside. In that moment, he could distinctly hear the rustling sounds above his head fade away.

The ground over which Xiao Fen has run is already pockmarked with craters, and the impact of the ropes, along with the continuously collapsing dangerous walls, causes the ground to tremble

The last rope was less than one centimeter away from Xiao Fen's head as he shrank into the window; if Xiao Fen had been even a second slower, he would have been pierced to the ground by these ropes.

Shaking his head slightly, Xiao Fen disregarded the faint pain that had begun to signal from various parts of his body. Summoning the last bit of his strength, he leaped forward with all his might and dashed into the house with the door wide open in front of him. He lowered his head to glance at his sleeve, where the emblem was pointing directly upward.

All rope attacks will miss, as Xiao Fan always performs flips, rolls, jumps, changes direction, or temporarily seeks cover in an abandoned house at the most unexpected moments. Alternatively, he might suddenly rush up to a second-floor balcony, causing the unavoidable rope strike to miss once again

In a corner of this neighborhood, Xiao Fen is running swiftly. The tall walls, low wooden stakes, and various obstacles cannot hinder his pace

There is a new task, do you accept it

Behind him, an increasing number of ropes had joined the pursuit. The initially distinct sound of ropes striking the ground or walls had vanished, replaced by a dense barrage of impacts resembling the sound of rain. It sounded as if there were a machine gun recklessly firing behind Xiao Fan.

Xiao Fen rushed to the box, unable to open it immediately. He first leaned against the box, breathing heavily, while the cursor on his sleeve suddenly flickered upon contact with the boxes. Subsequently, the holographic touch screen reappeared.

In this slightly magical place, in a certain neighborhood of the city, the people there do not walk out in the evening like those in other neighborhoods; instead, they tightly shut their doors, afraid to venture outside