Search and Rescue

An Changqing watched the cluster of buildings sinking and reached out to block Hong Yuan.

“If we go in now, no one’s getting out.”

Long Ao clenched his fists. “Chen Guan can get out.”

The area fell into dead silence.

In the distance, the main tower’s structure kept vibrating as it collapsed inward, dust shooting into the sky and pushing the edges of the rubble outward. The entire central district of the Magic City was completely swallowed by the billowing dust.

Su Yuehe started to run forward but was yanked back by An Changqing. He was now holding one person in each hand, cursing his parents for not giving him more hands.

“Don’t go.”

Su Yuehe stared ahead, a bit dazed. “I saw him fall, but he said he wouldn’t die.”

Long Ao kept his eyes fixed on the ruins, refusing to look away.

“He definitely isn’t dead. He swallowed the remnants of that demon god—something like that didn’t kill him. A collapsed tower is nothing.”

Hong Yuan slammed the handle of her axe into the ground.

“That guy’s the best at faking his own death. He carries around a coffin, and everyone thinks he’s a corpse, but he’s outlived just about everyone.”

Su Yuehe nodded as she spoke. “He promised we’d... he said he would.”

An Changqing gripped his sword tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

Yin Chen turned and asked in a low voice, “What did you see just now?”

An Changqing’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “I saw white light rising from him. His body vanished on the spot, scattered like dust in the wind.”

Long Ao strode over to An Changqing. “You definitely saw wrong.”

An Changqing opened his eyes and met Long Ao’s gaze without backing down. “I wish I had seen wrong.”

Long Ao pointed at the distant ruins and shouted.

“He’s Chen Guan. Do you know how many trump cards he has? What makes you think you can decide he’s dead just from one look?”

An Changqing stayed silent, offering no rebuttal. He didn’t want to escalate the conflict.

Hong Yuan’s loud curses broke through the argument.

“This isn’t the time for fighting. We have to find him immediately—alive or dead, we find him.”

Su Yuehe wiped the tears from her face. “I’ll contact the Council rescue team right now.”

Yin Chen had already dialed ahead. As always, the Local Snake moved faster than the out-of-town dragon.

Long Ao pulled out his phone and dialed a number after a few presses.

“This is Long Ao. The Magic City center has collapsed. Send search-and-rescue teams and detection equipment immediately—mobilize everyone you can.”

He cut off the questioning on the other end with irritation.

“Don’t ask why. I’m only after Chen Guan. I want him alive if possible, but traces if he’s dead.”

Yin Chen looked up at him. Long Ao put down his phone and said coldly, “What are you looking at me for?”

Yin Chen shook his head slightly. He just hadn’t expected Long Ao to go straight to the military.

“Nothing. I’ll have to say the same thing to my people.”

With that, he continued issuing orders.

“Yin Family’s Magic City branch: activate the highest priority search-and-rescue directive. Target: Chen Guan, male, carrying a black coffin and a scythe. Last known location at the core of the Magic City Tower collapse. Deploy all life-detection equipment, including soul-wave scanners.”

He stressed again over the channel.

“Don’t just check for human life signals. His condition is special—include any abnormal energy residuals in the search targets.”

“I know it’s dangerous. I’ll take full responsibility. I want the first rescue team on-site within half an hour.”

A clear confirmation came through from the other end.

Meanwhile, Su Yuehe had gotten through to the Council’s liaison channel.

“Mother, it’s me. Something’s happened in the Magic City. I need immediate access to the Magic City Council’s rescue authority.”

A brief silence came from the communicator. Su Yuehe took a deep breath, forcing her words to be steady.

“Don’t ask if I’m in danger. I just need the highest authority. Please help me.”

After a moment, the voice on the other end finally gave its consent.

“I’ll grant you the highest level of rescue authority. Yuehe, you must stay in the safe zone—absolutely no entering the core collapse point.”

Su Yuehe lowered her head and agreed. Hong Yuan raised her axe, volunteering.

“I’m going in to look for him.”

An Changqing turned and stopped her loudly. “You’re not going in either.”

He pointed at the edge of the ruins. “You clear the path. The rescue vehicles can’t get through. You’ve got the most strength here—go clear all the metal debris from the perimeter.”

He had to find something for Hong Yuan to do. Otherwise, An Changqing wasn’t sure he could stop her every time. Hong Yuan hefted her axe on her shoulder, sizing it up.

“Fine. I’ll clear the path. But if you try to hide any search results from me, I’ll come after all of you with this axe.”

Long Ao quickly walked over to Hong Yuan, asking to join.

“I’ll go with you.”

Hong Yuan didn’t even bother to complain about him this time. Without another word, the two turned and charged toward the main road, choked by collapsed debris.

Having dealt with those two for now, An Changqing looked at Yin Chen. “Your grandfather is badly injured.”

Yin Chen helped Yin Tianzheng sit down against a pile of rubble.

“I know.”

Yin Tianzheng raised his hand and waved it dismissively.

“Don’t treat me like a dying old man. I’m not dead yet.”

Yin Chen’s face was full of worry.

Yin Tianzheng stared quietly at the smoke and dust drifting over the Magic City center.

“That kid gave up his life today to save everyone. If he hadn’t dragged those demon god remnants down with him, everyone here would be dead.”

An Changqing quietly rejected this assumption.

“He might not really be dead.”

Yin Tianzheng turned and looked at him steadily.

“Do you even believe that in your own heart?”

An Changqing fell silent.

Yin Tianzheng let out a long sigh. He knew the young man before him was unwilling to accept it, but restrained by his upbringing, he couldn’t put it into words—just like Ah Chen.

“Then keep searching. When the search yields its final result, that’s when you decide what to believe.”

By the time the first wave of large-scale rescue teams arrived, the sky had completely darkened.

Rescue workers in heavy protective gear quickly set up an outer cordon. Rows of psychic energy detectors spread along the edges of the ruins, their screens flickering with chaotic spots of light.

The rescue team leader hurried over to Yin Chen and reported.

“Young Master Yin, the highest authority from the Council and the Association has been granted. We’ll split into three teams to enter the core ruins. Team One will search for life signals, Team Two for residual soul traces, and Team Three for abnormal items and any spatial fracture remnants.”

Yin Chen nodded gravely. “I want to see all search results in real time.”

The leader turned to An Changqing. “An, where exactly did you last see the target?”

An Changqing pointed to the deepest part of the ruins.

“Directly below the center of the tower. After he fell, intense white light appeared on his body.”

The leader paused in his note-taking and pressed further. “Does this white light indicate a high-intensity energy release?”

An Changqing looked back at the dark ruins, his expression darkening. “Or it could mean his body completely disintegrated.”

Su Yuehe stepped forward firmly, cutting off the conversation.

“Send your teams in first. Please, don’t jump to any conclusions before you have evidence.”

The leader nodded and accepted the order.

A large contingent of search-and-rescue dogs was led deep into the rubble, while dozens of detection drones with blue indicator lights slipped into the gaps between twisted steel girders. Deep underground, the piercing noise of large equipment cutting through metal began to echo without pause.