Chapter 62: The Color of Flame

With a resounding crash, Ren Jie’s fist slammed heavily against the energy barrier, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple.

"Damn it!"

Nuo Yan sighed.

"It's no use. Stop hitting it; we can't get in. Not even a Tier 6 Awakening realm expert could break through this energy barrier, otherwise it wouldn't be used to contain the expansion of the demonic disaster..."

They were a step too late after all.

"Don't worry, though. Judging by the situation, this side is relatively safe for now, and the demons haven't yet..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Nuo Yan’s expression froze. At the corner of the street, packs of ogres were wandering over, and right ahead lay the Qingting Mountain defense fortification.

These ogres were not particularly high in tier, but the lowest among them were already at Tier 2 or Tier 3.

Their numbers were vast; they possessed long limbs, lacked skin, and had their scarlet muscles completely exposed with their bones showing.

Their heads resembled bird beaks, their teeth were razor-sharp, and their tongues were exceptionally long. They walked on all fours like apes, their eyes glowing blood-red.

These ogres possessed immense physical strength and formidable regenerative capabilities, making them extremely troublesome opponents. At this moment, some of them were chewing on mutilated human corpses, with fresh blood splattering everywhere.

What made matters even worse was that it wasn't just demons.

Atop the largest and sturdiest ogre sat a man.

He was tall and slender, wearing black trousers and a white shirt with a tie. His face bore a deeply perverted expression, and he was gripping a severed arm, chewing on it with great relish.

"Hehehehe~ There are so many people here! Coming this way was definitely the right choice. I'm going to have such a satisfying meal; just thinking about it makes my mouth water. A young girl's flesh is the most tender~"

"Sister Shasha, you won't stop me, will you? Right? Right?"

Wang Feng looked excitedly toward the woman lingering behind the pack of demons.

The woman was wearing a khaki trench coat. Her complexion was ashen, her hair disheveled, and her long dark tresses extended outward, transforming into spider-leg-like tentacles that supported her entire body and propelled her forward in place of walking.

Entangled in her hair were over twenty people whose limbs had been snapped and mouths gagged, constantly emitting terrified, muffled whimpers.

Huan Sha half-closed her eyes.

"Do as you please, just don't play around too much. Don't forget our mission this time."

"District 69 has already been searched through, but unfortunately... none of them were the one. I just hope the ones over here won't disappoint me..."

"Lord Demon Monarch’s reward can only belong to me!"

At that moment, Huan Sha's eyes were filled with chilling coldness and madness.

Nuo Yan’s brows furrowed tightly.

"We've got a huge problem now. That male demon contractor is manageable, only at Tier 3 Might realm, but that woman's tier has reached Tier 5, a Body realm powerhouse."

"Tch~ What's the point of this damn matchbox standing around making trouble at a critical moment?"

Outside the matchbox, Ren Jie was frantic with anxiety.

"The demons are coming! Get inside, all of you, get inside!"

No matter how desperate he was, he could not cross this wall of separation...

Wei Pinglong wore an expression of extreme gloom as he looked at those ogres. The evacuation of the residential area was not yet complete, and he turned around, roaring at the top of his lungs:

"Defense fortification, close the gates! Everyone! No one is allowed to open the doors until dawn!"

"As for the rest of you who didn't make it inside, find the nearest cover to hide and wait for rescue!"

With that, he violently ripped the plaster cast off his arm, injected a berserk physical enhancement serum deep into his body, his face flushing crimson. He drew a fire axe and a riot shield, broke away from the crowd, and sprinted directly toward the direction from which the demons were approaching.

Ren Jie's eyes turned completely bloodshot.

"Uncle Wei! What are you doing? Uncle Wei! Don't go!"

He battered the barrier wall fiercely, hoping Wei Pinglong could hear him, but the man never glanced in his direction.

Wang Feng let out a whistle, and the swarm of ogres began charging toward the crowd.

Standing atop the ogre's head, he spread his arms wide, a fanatical look in his eyes.

"Tell me~ Is there anyone here named Ren Jie? According to the intel, his home is right around here, isn't it?"

"Will you walk out yourselves, or should I come looking for you? Hehehehe~"

"How about this? If you hand over that fellow named Ren Jie, I'll show mercy and let my little darlings eat only half of you. How's that?"

"Ren Jie! Where are you? Ren Jie~"

Nuo Yan's heart sank heavily; Ren Jie was indeed on their target list.

The unevacuated crowd had been scared out of their wits. Immediately, someone pointed at Ren Jie, who was trapped outside the wall, and cried out:

"Him! He's Ren Jie! Don't eat us, we have nothing to do with him, please let us go!"

Once one person pointed him out, countless others jumped forward to finger Ren Jie. Under the threat of life and death, looking out only for one's own interests was simply human nature.

Ren Jie did not blame them. Instead, he openly and straightforwardly admitted:

"What they're saying is true, my name is Ren Jie!"

"Stop right now, and I will go with you!"

Wang Feng and Huan Sha focused their gazes entirely on Ren Jie. Seeing him trapped outside the wall, both frowned.

A cruel grin curled the corners of Wang Feng's lips.

"Good, very good. Then we'll just eat half of you people instead. Hehehehe~"

"My little darlings~ Dinner is served!"

Ren Jie: !!!

"I am already right here, is there any need for you to still do this?"

Wang Feng stared at Ren Jie with a crazed gaze.

"Why wouldn't there be? I, Wang Feng, have never needed a reason to do things. I do whatever I want!"

"The weak... have no right to bargain with me! Go on~ eat them up!"

Ren Jie bit his teeth together so hard they nearly shattered, his fists clenched tight enough to grind to dust. Never in his life had he craved power so desperately.

The ogres rushed madly toward the crowd. In an instant, the civilians who had failed to evacuate in time scattered and fled in all directions like startled birds.

Right at that moment, an orange-red figure stepped forward from the crowd. Like a meteor flying against the current, he strode straight toward the horde of demons with a resolve stronger than ever before.

It was none other than Wei Pinglong!

His body stood squarely between the crowd and the horde of demons.

Before him swarmed the legions of monsters; behind him burned the myriad lights of human homes.

That flash of crimson-orange seemed to cleave the world in two.

Wielding his riot shield, he assumed a defensive posture against the charging ogres and gripped his fire axe tightly.

Ren Jie's eyes were choked with red veins.

"Uncle Wei! Run! Get away from here! Don't be a fool! You can't hold them off, you'll die!"

"Didn't you always teach us that one's own life comes first above all else, and that those who cannot protect themselves cannot protect others? Didn't you say that the moment you encounter demons, your first priority is to run?!"

"Why on earth are you stepping out now?!"

"Did you forget everything you taught me with your own mouth?!"

Wei Pinglong simply offered a solitary, unregretful smile and replied calmly:

"Slogans, you see~ are just meant to be heard..."

"Before the dawn arrives, someone must ignite a flame to illuminate the darkness just a little..."

"The color of a Chief Protection Officer's uniform... is precisely the color of flame..."

He could not leave. The citizens had not yet fully evacuated, and the heavy blast doors of the defense fortification had not yet been sealed shut...

Someone had to stand the line, even if it could not buy much time, and even if he might perish right here.

But... so what?

In the past, Wei Pinglong could never understand why his fallen colleagues chose to perform such foolish acts when they knew it was impossible, laying down their lives in the process.

Every time, Wei Pinglong would glare with bloodshot eyes and curse them for being fools...

And now, Wei Pinglong understood. Sometimes, even when every fiber of your being wants to run, your heart compels you to step forward.

Today, he too had become the fool in his own eyes...

Yet at this moment, Wei Pinglong felt no fear in his heart. The long-dormant blood in his chest surged and boiled once more.

"Come on! Demon spawn! Come and get your grandpa!"