95: escape

Shadow One watched him charge into the chaotic battlefield.

He did not immediately follow, but instead scanned the battlefield.

The attacking members of "Dawn" were not numerous, but each was fearless in the face of death. Their goal at this moment was clear: having seen the target they needed to rescue, the next step was to rendezvous and then find a way to break through the encirclement.

Although the guards had a numerical advantage and a tight formation, these dozen or so people could still tie them up for a short time.

It was enough.

Shadow One's figure flickered, and he once again merged into the shadows near the tower.

He returned the way he came, the internal structure of the interrogation tower clearly emerging in his mind; every sentry post and every passage was known to him.

He dealt with the patrolling jailers and arrived at a new cell block.

He pushed open the first cell door, and the person inside looked at him in terror, thinking it was the jailers coming to torment them again.

Shadow One said nothing, merely opened the cell door, then turned to the next one.

"Click... click..."

A series of faint metallic snapping sounds echoed in the corridor.

Those whose locks were opened were initially bewildered.

They didn't understand what was happening. But when they saw the cell doors truly open, and no jailers appeared, an unbelievable thought surged into their minds.

Immediately following was ecstasy, the instinct for survival!

"The doors are open!"

"Run!"

The silent cell block instantly erupted into a frenzy.

Prisoners scrambled out of their cells, their eyes glinting with a wild light.

Chaos spread like a tide from within the interrogation tower outwards.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield.

Lin Ye's eyes were bloodshot, letting out a beast-like roar, swinging the snatched weapon in a impenetrable flurry.

He knew he was injured, knew that charging out like this was risky, but he couldn't stand by and watch his comrades left isolated and helpless.

He thought Shadow One had already left. Now, his only thought was to fight his way out with his brothers!

However, the effects of his injuries were real.

His movements gradually slowed, and his strength was ebbing away.

Several guards seized the opportunity, their long spears striking like venomous snakes. Lin Ye barely dodged the vital spots, but one grazed his shoulder, and blood instantly stained his sleeve.

"Lin Ye! Watch out!" a "Dawn" member shouted, trying to go to his rescue, but was entangled by more guards.

Lin Ye gritted his teeth, forcing himself to hold on. He knew he was about to collapse!

Just then, a great commotion suddenly erupted from behind.

"What's going on?!"

"Why is it so chaotic inside?!"

The guards were startled by this sudden turn of events and instinctively looked back.

The next moment, like a flood bursting its banks, a crowd surged out of the interrogation tower!

"Kill!"

"Freedom!"

"Shi Potian, may you die a terrible death!"

These long-imprisoned inmates, at this moment, transformed into the most primitive of thugs.

Without weapons in their hands, they picked up stones from the ground.

Their only goal was to escape this hell!

This sudden "reinforcement" completely disrupted the guards' formation.

Shadow One mingled within this human tide.

He moved about, striking extremely fast, silently eliminating the low-ranking Commanders who tried to reorganize their formation.

Standing behind the soldiers, the officer directing the encirclement had bloodshot eyes.

He watched his carefully laid trap utterly destroyed by this sudden turn of events, watching those damned prisoners surge out like cockroaches, mixing with the dozen or so rebels, becoming an inseparable quagmire of chaos.

"Useless! All of you are useless!" he roared, drawing the saber at his waist. "Personal guards! Follow me! Break them up! Kill the rebels first!"

He led his dozen or so elite personal guards, charging towards the densest part of the crowd.

These personal guards were well-equipped and skilled, attempting to cut through the chaotic crowd and re-establish control.

The officer charged at the forefront, his eyes gleaming with ferocity.

He saw Lin Ye struggling not far away, and a cruel arc formed at the corner of his mouth.

Just as he was about to charge into the edge of the crowd, his longsword swinging at a prisoner trying to block him, a chill suddenly came from his rear-side.

It was a cold, emotionless killing intent, like a viper's tongue, striking straight to the soul.

The officer, a veteran of many battles, instinctively sensed mortal danger.

He twisted his head sharply, trying to block or dodge.

But all he saw was a blurry figure shrouded in shadow, and a cold gleam deeper than the night.

"Pfft!"

The sound of the blade entering flesh was so faint it was almost inaudible.

The officer's roar abruptly ceased. He felt a coldness in his throat, followed by a gush of hot liquid. His eyes widened, a look of disbelief on his face, as he toppled forward.

It wasn't until he fell to the ground that his personal guards reacted. "Sir!" they exclaimed, trying to find the killer.

But Shadow One had already melted back into the shadows of the crowd.

The Commander's death was the final straw that broke the camel's back.

The already chaotic guard formation completely collapsed.

The prisoners and "Dawn" members seized the opportunity, desperately breaking through towards the exit.

Shadow One mingled in the fleeing crowd, occasionally striking to eliminate guards attempting to intercept them.

His actions were silent, like the god of death, harvesting lives amidst the chaos.

Lin Ye also witnessed the Commander's fall. Although he didn't know who did it, he keenly seized this opportunity.

He roared, "Charge with me!" and, leading his remaining companions, followed the prisoners out of the interrogation tower's main gate.

Outside, more guards were arriving, but faced with this sudden surge of chaotic humanity, they were temporarily unable to effectively block them.

"Disperse!" Lin Ye shouted, leading his companions in one direction.

The fleeing crowd scattered, like a startled flock of birds.

Shadow One silently followed Lin Ye and his group.

Passing through several dim alleys, they soon arrived at a slum area in the west of the city.

Most of the houses here were dilapidated, with peeling walls.

Lin Ye led his companions into a particularly rundown adobe house.

Shadow One observed from outside for a while, confirming that no guards were following, and the next moment, appeared at the door of the old house.

He didn't knock, just gently pushed, and the door opened silently.

The light inside the house was dim, with only faint moonlight filtering through a broken window.

Lin Ye and his remaining six companions were sitting against the wall, panting heavily, their wounds still bleeding.

Seeing Shadow One suddenly appear, they were all startled, instinctively tightening their grip on their weapons.

Lin Ye also looked at Shadow One warily.

He knew this person had saved him, but the other party's origin and purpose remained a mystery.

"I am Shadow One, from Infinite City," Shadow One's voice was a bit low.

Lin Ye relaxed his guard somewhat, but his gaze remained vigilant. He looked at his companions, then back at Shadow One.

"Are you... also someone who resists Shi Potian?" After a moment of silence, the youngest-looking youth next to him couldn't help but ask.

Shadow One neither affirmed nor denied, simply saying, "We have a common goal."

"A goal?" Lin Ye pressed.

"To destroy Panshi City," Shadow One's words were understated.

Lin Ye and his companions were all stunned. Their "Dawn" organization's goal was to overthrow Shi Potian's tyranny and liberate the residents of Panshi City.

But "destroy Panshi City"... this goal seemed...