The Vanished Road

"Boss, have any strange things happened in your neighborhood lately?"

Yang Jian got out of the car, bought a bottle of water, and took the opportunity to ask...

The shop owner said, "Of course! The strangest thing is that it got dark today. I think the end of the world might really be coming. The news reports say that a factory's pollution leak caused a high concentration of smog, but it doesn't have much impact on people's health. Experts analyzed that this smog contains a variety of trace elements needed by the human body, and breathing it regularly is very beneficial. Men can inhale it to strengthen their kidneys and improve their health, while women can inhale it to beautify their skin."

"..." Yang Jian, "What do you mean by the end of the world? That's just alarmist talk. Besides, you believe all that nonsense from the experts?"

"Believe it or not, I'm planning to invest with a friend to build a factory that specializes in producing this kind of canned air. We'll sell it for a thousand a bottle, it's sure to be a big business, I feel like I'm going to make a fortune."

Yang Jian, "Then I won't disturb you while you're doing your business. How much is this water?"

"Ten thousand yuan," the convenience store owner said.

"What? Ten thousand? You might as well rob someone!" Yang Jian exclaimed in surprise.

The shop owner said, "Robbery is illegal. This is a legal business. You've already drunk the water. Don't even think about leaving without paying. Why would I open for business in this situation if I didn't make some money? All the daily necessities in the supermarket have been looted. You're lucky you managed to buy a bottle of water worth 10,000 yuan today. I'll raise the price in a few days."

"What kind of logic is that? Even if prices are going up, there's no need to go this far. Can't you make it cheaper?" Yang Jian.

"I'll take a loss, so I'll give you a 10% discount, nine thousand yuan," the convenience store owner said.

"Isn't this still robbery? Didn't you just say you were going to sell canned air?"

The shop owner said, "Yes, that's why we raised prices. Judging from your situation, you're not planning to pay. In that case, don't blame me for being impolite."

After saying that, he pulled a watermelon knife from under the counter.

"Boss, what you're doing is very dangerous. You could end up in jail," Yang Jian.

The convenience store owner said, "Go to jail my ass! In this situation, do you think the higher-ups can still care? Hand over the Qian Xin, or I'll chop you up."

"Your business isn't easy to run, so I'll buy this bottle of water for a hundred dollars. Please, for my sake, don't cause trouble. I don't have time for your business right now, just pretend I didn't see it."

Yang Jian put down a hundred yuan, shook his head, and prepared to leave.

It seems that chaos in the city is inevitable.

We need to resolve this incident quickly, otherwise the situation might escalate to an unmanageable level.

"Who the hell asked you for a hundred bucks and dares to leave?" The convenience store owner stormed over, brandishing a watermelon knife.

"Damn it, you still say you're not robbing me, boss, that's going too far," Yang Jian.

But the shop owner had just rushed out when he tripped on the steps at the shop entrance and almost fell. However, he lost his grip on the watermelon knife, which flew out and landed with a thud at Yang Jian's feet.

Yang Jian paused for a moment, then subconsciously picked up the knife and looked at the shop owner.

The shopkeeper wanted to go and pick it up, but he was a step too slow. When he looked up, he saw Yang Jian's strange gaze.

The scene fell silent immediately.

A moment later.

Yang Jian returned to the car.

"Why did it take you so long to buy a bottle of water?" Sun Yi asked.

"Don't even mention it. We ran into a conman who tried to extort money from us. He was selling a bottle of water for ten thousand yuan. He was really heartless," Yang Jian.

Sun Yi said, "He's really unlucky."

"That's right," Yang Jian.

Of course he's in trouble! Why extort Yang Jian? Isn't that just courting death?

"Should we continue patrolling? I don't see any incidents happening in this area, but maybe something did happen in another. It's a waste of time for us to keep wandering around like this," Zhang Han said.

Yang Jian took a sip of water and said, "Wang Xiaoming knows I have conflicts with others, so he deliberately divided the city into districts to prevent infighting among us. Forget it, let's go around a few more times and if nothing happens, let's go home and sleep. What happens in other districts is their business, it has nothing to do with us. What, you really want to catch the Ghost Infant?"

Zhang Han smiled and said, "If you're willing, this shouldn't be too difficult. I have faith in you."

"Unfortunately, I don't have much confidence in myself right now. Let's just take it one step at a time." After saying that, Yang Jian started the car again and drove around the city.

However, at this very moment...

Ye Feng, however, encountered a major problem.

He got lost in this familiar city.

The dimly lit street seemed impossible to navigate; the path they had taken had vanished.

"Trapped? Exactly the same situation as when you encountered Yang Jian last time, Zhao Kaiming, don't you want to explain this situation?" Ye Feng looked at Zhao Kaiming, who hadn't said a word since before, and asked directly.

Zhao Kaiming, leaning on a golden cane, turned around with a smile, "This has nothing to do with me. Anything can happen in this situation, so you can't blame me. However, Professor Wang's previous deduction was correct; the changes in the fourth stage of the Ghost Infant do indeed involve many uncertainties."

"He's right not to let us touch it; actually, I don't recommend you touch it either."

"What do you know?" Ye Feng asked.

"I know a little, but I don't really know either. It's just a feeling, hard to explain," Zhao Kaiming said. "But speaking of which, He Chuan?"

Ye Feng suddenly looked around.

He Chuan, who was with her before, suddenly disappeared.

"When?" Before he could finish speaking, he realized that Zhao Kaiming, who was in front of him, was also gone.

In the blink of an eye, the entire dimly lit street was left with only himself.

"Damn it, what is Zhao Kaiming trying to do? This matter is definitely related to him." Ye Feng gritted his teeth.

He was only wary of Yang Jian before, but he never expected that Zhao Kaiming was the real venomous snake.

However, at that moment, a human figure suddenly appeared behind him, and a cold, stiff, bluish-black arm draped over his shoulder. At the same time, a chill descended from above his head, spreading throughout his body along his scalp, and he seemed to lose control and freeze in place.

However, before he could react, the bluish-black arm quickly retracted.

Ye Feng resumed his movements, and he suddenly turned around to look.

But there was no one behind him.

Looking at his shoulder, he saw a dark blue handprint.

It was an adult's handprint, the mark left through the coat onto the dark, old burial shroud underneath. Lifting a corner of the garment, he could even see the handprint already on his own body, crystal clear and indelible.

"How is this possible?" Ye Feng's face was covered in cold sweat.

The burial shroud, which was supposed to ward off attacks from vengeful ghosts, was useless at this moment.

"Damn it, we have to find a way to get out of here," Ye Feng said through gritted teeth.

However, just as he was about to take action, he suddenly heard the sound of a baby crying coming from the quiet street around him.

Sharp, piercing, and chilling.

The voice of the Ghost Infant?

Ye Feng immediately recognized the voice.

He immediately sprang into action, following the sound.

Since we're already lost, this sound might be a turning point, a way to escape this place.

Because of the crying of Ghost Infant are born, people are killed, and it is possible to encounter other people.

A moment later.

Ye Feng arrived at a small alley, panting heavily.

The sound is coming from here.

"This alley wasn't there when we were on the road; it's like it just appeared out of nowhere."

He hesitated for a moment, but still walked into the alley.