With Zhang Haike's assistance, Song Shuning's evacuation efforts proceeded more smoothly than anticipated.
Although he endured numerous scoldings from unaware individuals in the process, the majority of the populace was highly cooperative.
There were even elderly people, supported by their relatives, who tremblingly handed a ripe pear to the soldiers maintaining stability.
She slowly turned back for a final glance at the old house, tears welling in her clouded eyes, and murmured repeatedly, "...If you can't hold it, then don't. Being alive is good, being alive is good..."
Under the news of the impending Forbidden Land, the surrounding atmosphere was extremely oppressive, even vaguely evoking a sense of impending doom.
Wu Tianzhen was not accustomed to such an atmosphere; he closed the door of Wushan Residence.
"At the latest by tomorrow night, the personnel in this central area should be evacuated," Song Shuning's anxiety was palpable. To gain authorization, he had not slept all night after receiving the news. "We can only do our best."
This made Wu Tianzhen feel a strange sense of guilt. He glanced at Mao Tuan, who was unusually quiet and nestled to the side. Perhaps as a strange creature, Mao Tuan had a deeper premonition of the Bronze Door's arrival; it was currently curled up by Zhang Qiling's legs, clutching its ears and trembling.
"...Although this might sound strange," Wu Tianzhen hesitated before speaking, "this is not a simple matter. We trust Xiao Ge... why did you believe it so readily?"
"What if the Bronze Door doesn't appear in the end..."
...If the Bronze Door did not appear in two days, Song Shuning, who had made a military pledge, would likely not have a good outcome.
The topic was too sensitive, and Song Shuning fell silent for a moment. Fatty looked around, uncharacteristically unsure of how to smooth things over, so he simply got up and refilled everyone's cups with water.
"...How to put it, I did struggle, it's impossible not to struggle," Song Shuning's usually straight back suddenly slumped, but he quickly sat up straight again, as if that moment of lapse was merely Wu Tianzhen's illusion. "From a personal perspective, for some reason, I am willing to believe Mr. Zhang's judgment."
"And from a work perspective..."
"Once the safety of the people is involved, even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance, I must respond with all my might. That is my belief."
"To be honest, even in the current situation," Song Shuning smiled. He always had a professional demeanor, but now he showed a hint of the vitality of a young man in his early twenties. "...I still hope the Bronze Door does not descend."
Wushan Residence fell into silence.
Frankly, until this moment, Wu Tianzhen and Fatty felt as if they were truly meeting Song Shuning for the first time.
"Nothing else to say, Fatty, I'll toast you!" Fatty was silent for a moment, then drank a cup of tea as a substitute for wine. "You're a man. If we get through this safely, Fatty won't rob your equipment anymore!"
Song Shuning: ...? Did you just say something impolite?
...
The evacuation work was busy and arduous. Wu Tianzhen and Fatty also joined Song Shuning's team to help.
Sweat accumulated on their bodies, and they were so grimy they barely had time to eat.
Two days, what they thought would be precious time spent together, vanished like sand slipping through their fingers.
Then, on the morning of the third day, a thunderous roar descended like the chaotic toll of a bell announcing the end!
"...It's here."
Zhang Qiling quietly put the Ghost Seal into his waist pouch and stood up, holding the Black Gold Ancient Sword.
Time was too tight for Zhang Haike to deliver the dark scabbard; the Black Gold Ancient Sword was now exposed, a wisp of cold light slowly sliding down its blade, like a tear about to fall.
Almost in the next second, the massive door, as if a texture that appeared out of nowhere, directly refreshed in the distance!
The sound of collapsing buildings, accompanied by rolling dust waves, swept towards them, making it almost impossible to stand. The Bronze Door was like an uncontrollable, unavoidable natural disaster, easily crushing the land where countless people had poured their emotions.
With a "clang" of metal friction, the two heavy doors slowly opened, revealing the swirling, distorted colored light within. It resembled countless twisted tentacles, exhibiting a strange, slippery texture that made one dizzy and disoriented with just a glance.
The moment the door opened, Wu Tianzhen and Fatty tensed their bodies, fearing the same paralysis they had experienced at Changbai Mountain.
But for some reason, the mysterious binding force did not appear this time.
"...What's going on? Has the Bronze Door entered its twilight years, losing all its strength?" Fatty was still suspicious, murmuring in surprise. He felt as if the Bronze Door would cause some other major incident.
"Song Shuning said he's continuing to evacuate people outside and asked us not to act rashly for now." Wu Tianzhen had just seen the message. His smart device had already reverted to a mess of garbled code, clearly indicating that the Bronze Door had once again blocked the signal.
"Impressive, works every time!" Fatty didn't want the atmosphere to be too heavy and tried to joke. "I think this Bronze Door can directly retire and find a new job, applying to be an invigilator for an exam. With this skill, it would guarantee 100% fairness and impartiality!"
"Get lost!" Wu Tianzhen pushed Fatty's face away, but he had to admit that the inexplicably peaceful scene at the moment made him unable to help but harbor some pleasant fantasies—
...Perhaps this time the Bronze Door would just appear and cause no harm. Maybe it would even disappear before Xiao Ge could walk over?
"Xiao Ge, since Song Shuning said so, why don't we wait a bit?" With this hope, Wu Tianzhen tentatively looked at Zhang Qiling and spoke.
Under his intense gaze, Zhang Qiling slowly turned his head. His pale face was indistinct under the shadow of his hood.
He said nothing.
A sense of foreboding arose. Wu Tianzhen took a step forward, and at that moment, a strange humming vibrated from beneath his feet!
The colored light shone through, like a mouth greedily opening. And the moment the colored light entered his vision, this familiar street instantly became bizarre!
Shops with a strong sense of technology were abruptly covered by creeping moss, and a decaying scent surged upwards, like the bones hidden in the dark earth for a long time extending their claws in the light.
"What's happening?!" Wu Tianzhen was about to slap himself to see if he was dreaming when Zhang Qiling suddenly pulled him away!
At his feet, a vine as thick as an adult's waist abruptly broke through layers of concrete ground and shot upwards, instantly growing to five or six meters high.
The plaque hit by the vine shattered with a crisp cracking sound, falling to the ground. The words "Wushan Residence" that were split apart seemed to hint at a bleak future.
"The power of the Bronze Door has erupted," Zhang Qiling said softly after putting Wu Tianzhen down.
He quietly looked up at the plants and withered vines that were surging out, instantly transforming Hangzhou into a rainforest. His expression remained vacant, with only a spark of unextinguished fire in his eyes.
Then, holding the Black Gold Ancient Sword, he took a step forward.