As the Judgment Knight’s command fell.

The judgment aura bloomed.

Beneath the feet of every Great Xia People present, a sudden aura appeared.

These auras were only in black and white, as distinct as searchlights in the pitch-black night.

Watching this scene, the Judgment Knight loosened his grip on the Knight’s Greatsword, his silver-white arm armor restraining the restless warhorse.

"Begin."

The Imperial Knights, long prepared, tightened their grip on their riding spears upon receiving the order, and galloped towards the crowd!

Someone with a black aura underfoot hadn’t reacted yet, and was pierced through by an Imperial Knight’s riding spear.

He was lifted high into the air and then dropped heavily.

The sudden slaughter caused panic and chaos among the crowd, with many instinctively trying to dodge, making the scene even more chaotic.

The Imperial Knights, however, had no such concerns.

With the Knight’s Aura enhancing them, they galloped to slaughter those with black auras, and if any with white auras stood in the way, they didn’t hesitate to kill them too.

The Empire had means to discern people’s minds; once hostility towards the Empire exceeded a certain threshold, the aura turned black.

These individuals became targets for eradication.

Despite having this means, the Empire had long withheld it, only to round them up completely today!

Zeng Jiaoyang was also in the crowd, and beneath his feet was a white aura.

His reaction was swift; at the first sight of the Imperial Knight galloping with a spear, he retreated towards the streets beside the square.

More and more people with black auras underfoot were pierced by the Imperial Knights’ riding spears.

They fell into pools of blood, and those not dead yet were trampled by warhorse hooves, crushed into a bloody mess.

The forces painstakingly developed in secret, the Great Xia People trying to infiltrate the Empire, fell during this premeditated purge.

Zeng Jiaoyang’s gaze swiftly swept across the crowd.

He saw Ding Yu’s figure, along with the black aura under her feet!

A spear shadow flashed in his eyes, the figure reflected in his eyes, like a crabapple flower struck down by rain, rippling red.

The scent of blood spread across the plaza at the street entrance.

Survivors covered their mouths with their hands, unclear if to conceal fear, nausea, or anger.

"Congratulations, you survived."

"Whether now or in the future, you best remember one thing: for traitors against the Empire, there’s only death."

"Now, for those still alive willing to take this task, follow the Imperial Knights to sign a contract."

The Judgment Knight looked at the now somewhat sparse crowd and lifted the aura.

In the moment the aura was lifted, the entire scene became vivid again.

Except this vivid color now contained much crimson.

...

Zeng Jiaoyang didn’t know how he returned.

His stomach churned, and the bloody scene kept flashing through his mind.

His clenched fist slowly loosened, his facial expression returning to calm.

This is also good.

Looking at the empty doorway, the girl who liked to ask him if he wanted to have dinner together at night was no longer there.

A strange feeling spread in Zeng Jiaoyang’s heart, but he couldn’t tell what that feeling was.

He walked to the store, intending to buy two bottles of water.

The store owner was now a clearly underage tender boy.

His father had also died in today’s purge.

"Two bottles of water, one bottle is three bucks, two bottles are six bucks."

Zeng Jiaoyang threw down a hundred buck note, ignored the calls from the young boy behind, turned and quickly walked towards his residence.

The sky was gray, as if it was about to rain.

A figure on a bicycle suddenly flashed past him.

That person raised an old model Polaroid camera, aiming at Zeng Jiaoyang, clicking the shutter.

"Hey!"

Zeng Jiaoyang came to his senses, he grabbed the young man photographing him on the bicycle.

"What are you doing?"

"Why are you photographing me?"

"Come on, buddy, I’m cycling while holding a camera, it’s clearly an open shoot, how can it be a secret shoot?"

Seeing Zeng Jiaoyang still holding him without letting go, the young man seemed to submit.

"Buddy, I’m just casually taking photos, it shouldn’t make you so angry, are you in a bad mood?"

It would have been better if the young man didn’t speak; as soon as he said that, he was gripped tighter, painfully shouting.

"Buddy, I was wrong, buddy."

"I’ll give you the photo I took of you, give it back to you, let me go, okay!"

Upon hearing this, Zeng Jiaoyang released his grip without expression.

The young man didn’t dare delay, quickly took out the photo from the Polaroid camera, and stuffed it into Zeng Jiaoyang’s hand.

He then got on the bicycle as fast as he could, riding away without looking back.

"Madman!" His muttering voice reached Zeng Jiaoyang’s ears.

At that moment, Zeng Jiaoyang seemed oblivious.

He looked down at the photo in his hand, his pupils gradually enlarging, and then enlarging more.

Memory surged like water breaking an embankment.

Familiar and clear voices sounded in Zeng Jiaoyang’s ears:

"Jiaoyang, the Imperial Knights in Li Yang City have strong guard forces, are we sure we want to do this? Isn’t it too risky?"

"Helping those refugees escape the homeland, guiding them successfully to North County, this is the only modest effort we Great Xia can make for them."

...

"The Imperial side is already beginning to suspect; we must respond, otherwise it’s only a matter of time before we are discovered."

"I can use my Talent to induce hypnosis one by one; after hypnosis, unless specific conditions are met, memories will be permanently sealed. This way, the Empire won’t trace more clues."

...

"Jiaoyang, I heard North County has stabilized, Great Xia North County is strong enough, able to deter other forces, can we withdraw now? Is it still meaningful for us to stay in Li Yang City?"

"It’s meaningful. With North County powerful, we who hide in the dark, who delve in the mire as ’nails,’ have more purpose! We will become the vanguards, secret agents, shadows, safeguarding Great Xia!"

...

"Ding Yu, from tomorrow, I too will enter a deep hypnosis state, the dark line contacts in Li Yang City will be entirely your responsibility."

"Okay, then promise me, when Li Yang City is recovered, you must give me a grand wedding. Hehe!"

"Ding Yu..." Zeng Jiaoyang’s grip on the photo turned pale from force.

Earlier, that young man handed over a group photo.

A man and a woman, smiling brightly and warmly.

They embraced, a perfect match.

It turns out, we knew each other all along!

Drip, drip, small rain began to fall onto the photo in his hand, also wetting the bottom-right corner of the photo.

There lay a small line of text.

——Don’t surrender!