Shu You's unhappiness stemmed from the fact that he had won, yet after winning, he had ultimately decided to leave his blood vengeance to someone else.
So he said nothing and left the scene directly.
Meanwhile, almost everyone in the city was still gathered outside the walls.
Among them were scores of ordinary civilians, members of factions large and small, intelligence operatives from Azure's various fronts, agents from Snow Lotus and Pure Purgatory, and even spies planted by Alphonse.
Word of this battle had leaked and spread more than half a year ago; nearly the entire source energy world had been quietly watching and waiting.
Now, the result had finally arrived.
The crowd stared as one in that direction.
Approaching in the light of the morning sun that had finally risen, Major Qing's steps appeared somewhat unsteady.
He paused and handed something over to the iron armor.
Then he continued walking in this direction.
The cloth-wrapped column sword and twin blades were strapped across his back.
"So Shu You won."
"Major Qing didn't lose, either."
"...He probably lost, but at least he's not dead. And he wounded Shu You, too."
In the crowd's view, Han Qingyu walked with more difficulty than Shu You had, which was likely why he had arrived later. The greater amount of blood and wounds on his body also indicated he had been at a disadvantage during their duel.
Yet he had broken through to super combat power less than a year ago, and was only in his early twenties.
Meanwhile, his opponent was the king of the City of Iniquity, ranked seventh on the Dome Leaderboard, Shu You.
When people tried to contemplate the future, they unconsciously stood at solemn attention.
At the same time—"Roar!"
The Azure Dragon Gang's five-thousand-man formation raised their arms as one and let out a mighty roar.
"Their Major Qing is already capable of battling Shu You."
They were thrilled by this, visibly overwhelmed with excitement.
Judging by the current situation, barring any unforeseen circumstances, these men would follow Major Qing and depart the City of Iniquity.
Out of the Azure Dragon Gang's fighting force of nearly seven thousand, five thousand were about to leave this place of exile they had once thought they could never escape until death—this cruel, bloody city.
"Is Major Qing leaving?!"
When Han Qingyu finally drew near and passed before the crowd, a voice suddenly rang out from the silently standing onlookers.
It was a girl's voice, speaking in English.
Jenna had spoken on impulse, and felt nervous immediately after asking.
As eyes turned toward them, she tugged at Lynne to shield herself, whispering, "I asked that for your sake! Aren't you going to say something? If you don't speak up now, it'll be too late forever."
Major Qing stopped, looked over in her direction, and nodded with a smile. "Yeah. It's been two years since I arrived. It's time to go."
A calm, plain answer that confirmed everyone's conjecture.
Jenna nodded awkwardly. "Yeah."
He was about to leave. Over these two years, their paths had crossed, but sadly, no deeper story had unfolded between them...
"Still, this is already wonderful," Lynne whispered.
Having answered, Major Qing continued walking forward.
Lynne's gaze followed that silhouetted profile as memories flashed back in her mind... She said nothing more.
Just then, a young man in the crowd agitatedly parted the people around and in front of him with both hands. He dashed forward a short distance, halted just outside the crowd, and cried out with emotion, "Major Qing!"
Han Qingyu paused once more and looked at him.
"Are you returning to Azure, Major Qing?!" the young man asked.
His words, combined with his agitated demeanor, virtually exposed him as an Azure intelligence operative.
Yet he couldn't care less anymore. He thought to himself: If that's how it is, why don't I just leave with Major Qing?
Han Qingyu looked at him, furrowed his brows slightly, and said nothing.
The young man's fervent gaze remained fixed on him. The crowd watched him, the Azure Dragon Gang's five-thousand-strong formation watched him, and from the other side, Wen Jifei, Wu Xu, Rusty Sister, and the various leaders of the Azure Dragon Gang were gradually walking over.
"By what right?! He was someone you exiled, and now you come asking about a return?!"
Lynne, who had held back from even saying goodbye, suddenly stepped out from the crowd at this very moment.
Having wept earlier out of worry, the girl's eyes were still a bit red. Standing there looking utterly aggrieved, she said, "Who inflicted all those past grievances? After enduring through days so difficult, is everything supposed to be forgotten just like that?"
As an ardent fan, she knew far too much.
"You..." Lynne trailed off, seeming unwilling to reproach Han Qingyu—even if that reproach was born of heartache. Instead, she redirected her fury toward the Azure intelligence operative, glaring at him and snapping, "Does Azure have no shame at all?!"
The young man froze.
At the same time, the entire field fell silent.
Some watched Han Qingyu, while others looked with concern toward Lynne, worried that the young girl might bring trouble upon herself by speaking out of turn.
Tick, tock. Perhaps five or six seconds passed.
"That makes a lot of sense, Lynne. Thank you." Major Qing's brow smoothed over, and he chuckled.
Had she just been praised? In such a familiar tone... Lynne was stunned. "Mm."
She forced a smile as well.
Han Qingyu turned to face the crowd. "Indeed. I will not return to Azure... Even if, one day, we fight toward the heavens alongside everyone else, that will be our own choice. It will be for ourselves, for our kin, our friends, and everyone we hold dear."
The moment his words landed, another spirited roar erupted from the Azure Dragon Gang's five-thousand-man formation.
They loved this answer.
Then, with a collective buzz, the crowd burst into discussion.
"Major Qing is leaving with five thousand men and not returning to Azure. What does that mean?"
"A new faction!"
"No wonder the Azure Dragon Gang expanded its power and gathered supplies so urgently over the past year or so."
"Yeah! With the Azure Dragon Gang's current combat strength... Wait, who among them is actually going to leave?..."
As the whispers reached this point, someone suddenly noticed that the group of Azure Dragon Gang leaders had split. Some remained where they were, while others strode toward the five-thousand-strong formation.
Boss Dao and the Huaxia super didn't move.
Among those walking toward the formation were Commander Storm, Black Tooth, Slog, Corpse Man Weize...
"Heavens! If you add their original crew to the count... that's a lineup of at least two supers and eight top-tiers, plus an endless gun!"
"More than that! Look who that is?!"
"Ah, is that Theodore?! Wasn't he dead?!"
"Don't forget they have a miraculous doctor among them."
So, that was a lineup of at least three supers and eight top-tiers. And among them, Major Qing was already a peak super.
His future was boundless.
"With a lineup like this, if they maintain good relations with the Huaxia Front... even without returning to Azure, it'll be more than enough for them to stand their ground. Besides, don't forget the widespread popularity Major Qing holds within Azure. I don't believe the Azure Alliance would dare launch a full-scale campaign to crush him."
"Mm, but they probably still need a base rich in resources. Otherwise, no matter how many supplies they take with them, it might be hard to sustain over the long term..."
"I bet they will have one."
"Where?"
"Have you forgotten the common enemy shared by Major Qing and Mr. Shu You? Azure's Third Fixed Exploration Site!"
Once the discussions sorted out the entire logic, unrest and yearning began to stir within the crowd.
Just as Han Qingyu had told Shu You before, many people in this city longed to leave. That desire to depart might stem from mere survival instincts, but even more so from dignity, freedom, interest, identity, or even simply a sanctuary and a ray of hope in anticipation of an impending apocalypse.
Such a mindset was probably akin to those in chaotic eras, or lands of sin, who ultimately chose to follow an insurgent army.
Now, an opportunity that was perhaps the only one in their entire lives lay right before them.
The onlookers grew anxious.
Envious gazes fell upon the Azure Dragon Gang's five-thousand-strong formation.
"How many people can Major Qing's fleet carry?!" Finally, an Eastern face was the first to step out from the crowd.
He had been trapped here for nearly twenty years.
"My combat power is at least above the average of those five thousand over there," he added urgently, brimming with earnestness.
Silence fell. Everyone present was waiting for the answer.
"Ten thousand," Han Qingyu said.
Chapter 529