490: Chapter 483: Investigation 490: Chapter 483: Investigation Above the sky, the golden giant bird spread its wings.
Soaring straight up to ninety thousand miles, it had disappeared from everyone’s sight in the blink of an eye, completely vanishing without a trace.
There wasn’t just one or two people who had witnessed this scene with their own eyes.
After all, the recent shout that announced the appearance of two suns in the sky had already captivated most people’s attention.
At this time, at least eight out of ten people were looking up at the sky.
The scene of the sun transforming into a golden giant bird and flying away had thrown many people’s worldview into chaos, and they began to feel disoriented.
“How can the sun turn into a bird and fly away?
Illusion, this must be an illusion…”
“In the legends, the sun is transformed by the Golden Crow.
Back in the day when ten suns hung in the sky, nine were shot down by Hou Yi.
Now that two suns have suddenly appeared, one of which turned into a giant bird and flew away, could it be that this is the legendary Golden Crow?”
“Oh my God, what on earth is happening to this world?
Has mythology descended upon us?”
…
After a good while of being extremely shocked and dumbfounded, people finally snapped back to reality.
Some shouted in panic and despair.
Some turned to prayer, kneeling and praying to the gods.
Others mumbled to themselves, their bodies collapsing weakly to the ground from sheer terror.
There were even people who, without a second word, turned and ran, quickly retreating back into their homes after having just stepped out.
“Chen Hai, what do we do?”
“Was that scene just now real?
Has mythology truly descended, and has the whole world already changed?”
Ye Qingqing looked equally panic-stricken.
She turned to Chen Hai at her side and tentatively spoke, seeking answers.
As an ordinary person, her reaction was perfectly normal.
Perhaps it was Chen Hai’s presence that brought her a sense of security; although she was panicked, at least she wasn’t overreacting.
“Since ancient times, there’s always been a way out, and since we are still alive, we can only take one step at a time and see where it leads us.”
“No matter what our world ends up becoming, as long as I’m here, I will absolutely not let you suffer any harm.”
“If the myths have indeed come to pass, perhaps it’s not such a bad thing after all…”
Chen Hai’s eyes flickered with an unknown thought as he leaned closer to Ye Qingqing’s ear, explaining in a low voice.
Hearing what Chen Hai had said, Ye Qingqing calmed down noticeably.
During the previous darkness that lasted over ten days, the entire city had been thrown into chaos.
Especially in the last few days, even staying at home and keeping the doors shut did not guarantee absolute safety.
There were frequent occurrences of delinquents breaking in and committing unspeakable crimes.
As an ordinary person, the fact that Ye Qingqing could eat well and sleep soundly under such conditions was, without a doubt, thanks to Chen Hai’s efforts.
Just the day before the light returned, a group of people had tried to break into their home.
Chen Hai had later left the house for a while and managed, through reason, to persuade those people away, settling the matter for good.
Of course, this truth was what Chen Hai told Ye Qingqing.
Whether reason for him meant rationale or physical law, only he himself knew.
In any case, Ye Qingqing only knew that after Chen Hai had reasoned with them, those who thoughtlessly targeted their home never reappeared.
“Chen Hai, should we go back home now?”
Ye Qingqing looked around and asked.
Just a few minutes ago, the square of the Eastern Pearl Community they were in had been bustling with people.
Since the sun had reappeared, almost all the residents had come out of their homes to celebrate.
But now, the scene of the sun suddenly turning into a giant bird and flying away had completely terrified many.
In just this short span of time, at least half of the people who had gathered in the community square had disappeared.
The unknown always brings fear.
Most people felt that, until the situation became clear, staying at home was somewhat safer.
“To stay at home and quietly await fate’s arrangement?
That is merely the approach of the mediocre.”
“I never liked to leave my fate in someone else’s hands.”
“We are still unaware of the current situation outside the city.”
“The closest city to Liuyuan County is Wuling City.
If possible, I plan to leave the city and take a look in there…”
After hesitating for a moment, Chen Hai added, “You can either come with me or wait at home for me, Qingqing.
It’s up to you.”
For the moment, the city was still safe.
When the darkness passed and the sun reappeared, the once chaotic city seemed to have barely returned to order on the surface.
Staying at home, as long as Ye Qingqing kept her doors closed, should be safe enough.
Of course, if she felt that it was safer to accompany Chen Hai out of the city, he would not refuse.
“Who knows what the world outside the city is like?”
“I’m just an ordinary person, with no real strength to speak of.
Following you, Chen Hai, out of the city, if anything unexpected happens, I’ll just be a burden and slow you down.”
“Forget it, I’ll just stay at home instead.
Go and return quickly, and be careful on the road.”
After some thought, Ye Qingqing sighed and responded.
How powerful her man truly was—having lived together for so many years, she knew it very well.
Originally, a person like Chen Hai should have been destined for the stars and the sea.
But because of her, for all these years, Chen Hai had spent most of his time in the small eighteenth-tier Liuyuan County.
Even when he occasionally went out, it was only to explore the unknown lands of Blue Star, seeking the secret to eternal life.
She had always seen everything he did.
She felt happy, that was for sure, but often, she really felt that she owed Chen Hai too much, far too much.
“Between you and me, there’s no need to talk about being a burden.
But it’s better for you to wait for me at home.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t be gone for too long.
I’ll be back soon!” Chen Hai said with a smile.
He took Ye Qingqing’s hand and walked back home together.
After sending her home, Chen Hai then turned around and went back down the stairs.
In his garage, he found a bicycle, hopped on, and rode at a leisurely pace towards the city exit.
Of course, there were also cars in his garage.
But the streets were still in chaos, recently having emerged into daylight, and many areas were completely blocked off, making it impossible for cars to pass through normally.
Riding a bicycle out of the city was naturally much easier for Chen Hai.
If he encountered streets that were blocked, he simply lifted the bicycle over them.
With his strength, if he really pedaled with all his might, the speed at which he could ride the bicycle would not be much slower than that of a car.
However, for safety’s sake, the speed at which he rode his bike was only a little faster than that of an ordinary person riding a bicycle.
After all, he still knew nothing about the world outside.
In the past on Blue Star, he was unmatched among men.
But now…
The golden bird that could transform into the sun—he knew without thinking that he definitely couldn’t defeat it.
And who knew how many such terrifying beings existed outside?
So, when it was time to keep a low profile, he felt that he should stay as inconspicuous as possible.
When a group of ordinary ants passes in front of someone, that person may not even bother to give them a second glance.
But if among those ants, there’s one that’s particularly large and might pose a threat, with just a thought, someone might decide to crush it effortlessly.
Keeping as low a profile as possible, acting the same as any other common person, Chen Hai simply didn’t want to become that conspicuously large ant.
After leaving the city, he had already seen several gas stations established on the outskirts.
These gas stations had been taken over by the government.
Although he didn’t need gas for his bicycle, he still asked around.
Yanhuang currency now could no longer buy fuel, according to the station staff, and to fill up, one needed a permit from the government.
Seeing that Chen Hai was on a bicycle and without a permit, the staff treated him rather badly, telling him to stay wherever he was comfortable and out of their way!
Chen Hai was deeply perturbed by this.
Arguing with such sycophants was a bit beneath him.
He had only asked casually and had no actual intention of refueling.
So naturally, he wouldn’t force anyone to do anything!
During the years he had lived in Liuyuan County, Chen Hai had kept a very low profile, simply living a quiet life.
Ever since his goddaughter, Zhao Yu, was transferred to the city a few years ago, he barely had any connections within the government.
Of course, should a real need arise, he could actually get in touch with the higher-ups through Ye Qingqing.
But he had always been law-abiding and never used those relationships.
Over a decade had passed, and apart from the national higher-ups who were fully aware of his existence, he barely had any presence left in the county.
After asking at two gas stations and finding them to be more or less the same, Chen Hai continued on his way.
The smooth concrete road he had been riding on for about twenty kilometers had already started changing completely.
Weeds were overgrowing, and huge trees were shooting up from the earth.
It would normally take several hundred to a thousand years for trees big enough to require several people to wrap their arms around to grow so large.
But now, trees of such magnitude seemed to appear out of nowhere, and the road ahead was nearly completely blocked.
There were also others who, sharing Chen Hai’s intention, wanted to leave the city to take a look.
A few hundred meters ahead of Chen Hai, two young men riding scooters had just stopped because the road was blocked.
Suddenly, a gigantic snake’s head burst out from the tree ahead.
“Pfft,” it went.
With a gaping maw, the snake head engulfed, and the two young men completely vanished from sight.