Dust

On the red carpet, a barrage of camera flashes flared up in endless succession. It felt just like a press conference, except even more bustling. The quadrennial Desert Sea Rally was inherently a massive waterfall of web traffic, and countless people clamored to siphon off a sliver of that exposure. Unlike the internet celebrities who spent half an hour inching down a single meter of the red carpet, however, Ji Jue merely strolled past at an easy pace. At most, he offered a brief wave toward the press gallery, not bothering to heed their frantic shouts. "At least pretend to play along," Ye Chun sighed beside him. "Offending journalists is a massive headache. You'll have to pay PR money to scrub articles later. Those bloodsuckers are unbelievably good at seizing any opening." "Doesn't matter. Once I'm done with all this, I'm quitting anyway." Ji Jue gave a nonchalant smile. What kind of clout did they think they had, trying to pick a fight right on his doorstep? Did they really assume he was some defenseless novice? Behind their camera flashes, the reporters who had been busily drafting sensational headlines suddenly felt a chill run through their bodies. They caught that seemingly casual glance from his eyes—curved with a faint, mocking smile. It carried an unmistakable air of condescension and disdain. Yet unexpectedly, instead of flaring up in anger, they felt... a bone-chilling dread. "Delete it," an old reporter smoking nearby said, glancing at a rookie's camera. "That story will never see the light of day." "With this much heat, wouldn't it be a shame not to stir up some drama?" the rookie asked in bewilderment. "If we hype it up, think of all the traffic we could get." "Sure, go ahead and publish it yourself." The veteran journalist chuckled with a look as benevolent as an adult watching a toddler stick a finger into an electric socket. "That way, you won't even have to split the bonus with me. Isn't that great?" Hesitating, the rookie finally came to his senses, as if catching a whiff of something deeply ominous. After wavering for a long moment, he obediently deleted the photos. The topic was dropped for good. By the time he raised his lens again to search for that figure, the pair had already vanished at the end of the red carpet. Amidst the cheers and shrieks of fans and spectators, another internet celebrity stepped out of a car, instantly monopolizing everyone's attention. "Snap more of this one," the older reporter instructed cheerfully. "First shoot inside the car. See if that boy toy she's been keeping lately is in there—milking that kind of traffic is where the real meat is!" *** While the commotion outside continued, the moment Ji Jue stepped into the banquet hall, he was engulfed by the crowd. Familiar and unfamiliar faces, people he had met and those he hadn't—countless beaming smiles rushed in like a tidal wave, practically drowning him. "Congratulations!" "Mr. Ji, you've truly soared to fame in a single leap!" "Young and promising, truly young and promising!" "We'll be counting on your support for distribution channels here in Huangzhou in the days ahead." Ji Jue was thrown into a flurry, while Ye Chun had already slipped away to the side, gleefully watching him scramble to keep up. She folded her arms, completely idle, without the slightest intention of lending a hand. *Finally getting a taste of what I had to suffer!* *Serves you right after all the trouble I went through dressing you up!* The chaotic reception lasted until Tong Shengnian, who had been waiting for a while, walked over, grasped Ji Jue's hand, and led him into an inner circle unreachable by the ordinary suppliers and attendees. "You've worked hard. Well done." Tong Shengnian beamed like an old peony in full bloom, patting Ji Jue's shoulder without any reserve. After offering his praise, he gestured straight toward a guest who had been waiting nearby. "Let me introduce you. This is the workhorse of the Lou clan's current generation, Lou Guan. Just call him Uncle Guan." "Fuck your—" The refined, gentlemanly middle-aged man cursed Tong Shengnian without the slightest hesitation. But as soon as he turned around, his expression shifted to a warm smile. The overt helmsman and public figurehead of the contemporary Lou clan proactively extended his hand. "Thank you for taking care of that boy A-Feng." Ji Jue smiled. "We're friends, don't mention it. If anything, he was the one looking out for me." "It's just that Yanyue is a bit unhappy. She came looking for you several times, but you were never home. The girl was spoiled growing up and has a bit of a fiery temper. If anything comes up, just tell me and I'll scold her on your behalf," Lou Guan said, teasing, "Though in all her years, I've never seen her take such an interest in a young man. Xiao Ji, care to consider it?" "Ah, well... next time, definitely." Ji Jue was instantly embarrassed, his smile twitching. Having cracked his joke, Lou Guan brushed it aside. Together with Tong Shengnian, he showed Ji Jue around and introduced him to the room—distinguished guests from Yacheng, Chaocheng, Chuancheng, and Jiangcheng; from Huangzhou and Youzhou; and even from the eastern, western, southern, northern, and Midtown districts. Among them were plenty of faces that frequently graced the news. Like elders looking after their own nephew, they offered lavish praise and compliments in person, while quietly explaining their backgrounds and origins behind the scenes, spanning everything from industry to finance, credit banking, maritime transport, and aviation commerce. Even if such a reception offered merely a fleeting acquaintance, properly utilized, it was an undeniable chance to carve out a path forward. Every business card was an opportunity, and right now, opportunities were leaping into his pockets in droves. Anyone else in his shoes would likely have fainted from sheer excitement. When they arrived before a man not far away, before either could speak, the man was already all smiles. "Ha! Finally caught you. Have a drink!" Shi Ran, Deputy Head of R&D at Zhonghui, unceremoniously thrust a glass of champagne over and bumped Ji Jue's shoulder with his fist. "Didn't expect you to be so fierce, kid. You actually brought home first place!" Tong Shengnian was slightly surprised. "You two know each other?" "We crossed paths back at the rally's opening. He still owes me a bowl of noodles." Shi Ran treated him like an old pal, clinking glasses with Ji Jue before asking, "They're running a Young Entrepreneur selection recently. Interested in putting your name in for a nomination? Yunzhou can back you." He paused, his smile taking on a deeper meaning. "If you push a bit and put some effort in, ranking near the top won't be an issue. A golden opportunity to soar straight to the heavens." "Forget it," Ji Jue chuckled self-deprecatingly, shaking his head. "Being shoved into the factory director seat has already drained all my energy. Going any higher, I wouldn't make it to heaven—I'd only expose my lack of depth and make a fool of myself." "You kid..." Shi Ran chuckled and didn't press further. After finishing his drink, he waved his hand to tell Ji Jue to take it easy, merely adding a reminder: "Don't forget about the prosthetic limbs. Don't go tossing your responsibilities aside just yet. My project team is all set, so let's sign the licensing agreement soon." "Definitely," Ji Jue nodded, agreeing without hesitation. Amidst the warm atmosphere, a staff member from the rally's organizing committee approached with his head lowered, whispering, "Mr. Ji, the awards ceremony is about to begin. Will you need a teleprompter prepared for your upcoming speech?" "No need." Ji Jue shook his head, catching the unstated worry. Glancing at the nervous looks from the event committee members not far away, he offered a faint smile. "Don't worry, I won't put you in a tough spot." The staff member let out a sigh of relief as if granted a pardon. "Then thank you for your cooperation." "Not at all. Thank you for your hard work." With his smile unchanged, Ji Jue bade farewell to Tong Shengnian and Lou Guan before heading backstage. Unlike the relaxed and easygoing ambiance of the reception out front, backstage was a flurry of activity. The warm-up performers had already changed into their costumes. Amidst the bustling foot traffic, Ji Jue sat in a corner, propping his chin in his hand, curiously watching the scene unfold. Until a crisp chime sounded from the front stage. Following a round of energetic song-and-dance and celebrity performances, the chairman of the organizing committee delivered an impassioned speech, formally announcing the conclusion of the Desert Sea Rally, celebrating its flawless wrap-up through the joint efforts of numerous sponsors and competitors, and so forth. During the succession of speeches, Ji Jue leaned calmly back against his chair, watching the figures bustle back and forth. Until, amidst wave after wave of applause, the host enthusiastically announced, "Next, please welcome the spokesperson of Haichao Industry, the champion of this Desert Sea Rally, and the driver of Haian Auto, Mr. Ji Jue, to deliver his address—" In an instant, the clamorous backstage fell dead silent. Everyone instinctively looked over toward Ji Jue in the corner. The young man, who had been waiting for quite some time, slowly rose. He waved off the approaching staff member, yet made no move to straighten his attire. After stretching his body, he instead unbuttoned his suit jacket. As if shedding a lock. With utter nonchalance, he walked out from behind the curtain into the blinding glare of the flashes. Striding across the radiance spilled by the spotlights and through the roaring applause, he stepped onto the stage. The host froze for a second, caught off guard, and instinctively took a step back, yielding the center position. "Thank you." Ji Jue smiled, looking out at the audience below. "Thank you to the organizers for the invitation, and thank you to the Desert Sea Rally for providing this opportunity, allowing a small factory like ours to step onto this stage and, by a stroke of luck, achieve some modest results. "Here, please allow me to thank my colleagues and friends beside me, to thank the consumers for their support, and above all, to thank the many kind souls who provided me with aid along the way—without you, there would be no Haian of today, and there would be no me of today." He paused, nodding solemnly, and spoke with grave sincerity: "Please allow me to express my deepest gratitude to you all—" At that moment, thunderous applause erupted from below the stage once more. Rising and falling in waves, it echoed like rolling thunder. *** *Boom!* Beyond layers of soundproofing, out on the bustling streets, an ear-splitting crash suddenly rang out. "Faster! Drive faster!" On the main thoroughfare of Chaocheng, inside a luxury car speeding along the road, the middle-aged man in the back seat stared frantically out the window. Drenched in sweat, he repeatedly tried dialing numbers, but every call was either met with a busy tone or severed immediately. In the end, his pale face drained of all color, he gathered the courage to dial one final number: "Mr... Mr. Lou, I—" "That isn't what I want to hear," Lou Guan's cold voice came from the other end of the line. The man was on the verge of tears. "I was forced into it! I was—" Until a sigh of regret came through: "It hasn't been easy for you all these years. You've worked hard." As if granted clemency, the man was overwhelmed with joy, just about to speak—but the last sound he heard was the piercing shriek of a horn from the oncoming lane! Next came a pitch-black truck cab, crashing straight into his face! Amidst a deafening roar, billowing smoke rose into the air. The crushed vehicle tumbled over the elevated highway and plunged into the river below, lost forever. Back in the hall, Lou Guan hung up the phone, smiling as he joined the crowd in offering applause. *** *Thud!* In Midtown's Jinshui District, across a crowded square bustling with foot traffic, piercing screams shattered the air. Atop the headquarters building of Xinyuan Power, an emaciated figure standing on the rooftop swallowed hard, closed his eyes, and took that final step. Like a rotten tomato stomped underfoot, the unrecognizable corpse that struck the square splattered red pulp in every direction. The passersby scattered in terror, gazing in shock and horror at the body that had plummeted from the rooftop. Gout after gout of crimson spread from beneath the twisted fallen figure, staining the very face that had so frequently appeared on the news. Ten minutes later, Midtown's media outlets broadcast an urgent bulletin: *Gao Yue, Executive Director of Xinyuan Power Group, has committed suicide to escape punishment while facing arrest.* *Died from a fall.* *** Amidst the howling wind and snow of the Northern Realm, across a vast expanse of pure white, the voice of a news anchor drifted through a lavish office as a field reporter broadcast the gory scene live on screen. The permeating crimson stung the silence. The onlooker closed his eyes. "The time has come, A-Hao. Drink up." The middle-aged woman opposite him let out a soft sigh, gently pushing a glass of wine across the table toward him. "Don't blame the family. The family had no choice. If there's anyone to blame, blame fate for being beyond our control." Lyu Tianhao remained silent. Lowering his head, he stared at the faint glow in the glass, his pupils seemingly illuminated by it. Several times, he appeared on the verge of speaking, his expression shifting through anger, then pleading. Yet from start to finish, the middle-aged woman's expression remained completely unchanged, simply watching him. Until he finally mustered the courage to lift the glass. "I knew it," he murmured softly. "There would always be a day like this." No one answered. Lyu Tianhao gave a self-deprecating smile, tilted his head back, and drained it in a single gulp. Swallowing the bitter fruit of defeat in its entirety. "Leave. Let me be alone for a while," he said. The visitor rose, cast him one final glance, and pushed open the door to leave. In the silence, Lyu Tianhao closed his eyes. Gradually, his breathing ceased. Ten minutes later, when the arresting officers broke into the office, all they found was a lifeless corpse stripped of all warmth, caressed by the wind and snow drifting through the window. *** "All right, bringing you here is far enough." Under the scorching sun of Haizhou, the hood over the passenger's head was yanked off, revealing a pale face that hadn't seen sunlight in who knew how long. Shivering in terror, he twitched, waiting for the inevitable end. Yet no gun was pointed at him. There was only an empty road, and not far away, a car prepared well in advance—just as agreed upon before. Freedom had arrived. "All right, off you go, Mr. Yin. We're all done here." In the driver's seat, Lu Feng puffed on a cigarette while lazily picking at his foot with his other hand, giving a casual wave. "Once you get off the plane and reach your destination, don't forget to call. Your old brothers miss you dearly." "Y-You... you..." Yin Zhaoyang turned his head in a daze, practically forgetting the old injuries and torment racking his body, unable to believe his ears. But looking at that half-smiling face, he still couldn't fathom it. "What? Reluctant to leave?" Lu Feng grinned. "You're welcome to stay a few more days. We've got plenty of games left to play." *Clack!* The car door was shoved open. Yin Zhaoyang tumbled to the ground, then scrambled to his feet on all fours. Eyes that hadn't seen the sun in so long watered painfully beneath the blazing light, blurring his vision completely. Yet he didn't dare hesitate. Stumbling forward, he kept looking back over his shoulder at Lu Feng inside the car. From beginning to end, no firearm was raised; only a spent cigarette butt was flicked out the window. It wasn't until Yin Zhaoyang pulled open the car door, sat in the driver's seat, and took in the familiar layout that he realized this was his own car. On the passenger seat lay his scattered identification and personal belongings. He could no longer hold back his tears. Having been starved down to skin and bones under endless interrogation and torture, Yin Zhaoyang scrambled frantically to start the engine, stomped on the gas, and tore away without looking back. Vanishing into the distance. Only after glancing in the rearview mirror and seeing no sign of Lu Feng did he finally snap out of it. He rolled down the window, feeling the sea breeze rush against his face. He couldn't stop pounding the steering wheel, screaming and howling at the top of his lungs. He was free! He was finally free—he— *Tick-tock—* At that instant, a crisp sound seemed to emanate from the glove compartment. He froze in place, bewildered. Lifting his hand, he popped open the glove compartment, only to see a strange bundle of items—and on top of it, a countdown timer ticking down to zero. In that final fraction of a second, past the edge of shock and sudden realization, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Fuck your—" *BOOM!!!* Crimson flames and dense smoke erupted violently, tearing straight into the sky from the desolate highway! A burning, mangled car frame plummeted from the air, rolling over and over as it was gradually consumed by fire. "Whoa, at least thirty meters high. That's a new record." Donning a pair of sunglasses, Lu Feng raised his phone to capture the spectacular sight. "Homemade rockets sure fly high!" *** On the other end of Yacheng, at an isolated harbor, a man lugging bags and bundles was intercepted right in front of a speedboat loaded with fuel. "Uncle Wang, in such a rush, where are you headed?" Chewing gum while perched on a wooden mooring post, Brother Blondie wore a mocking smirk. "Don't be in such a hurry to leave. The Dragon Head wants a word with you." *Thud!* The bundles dropped to the ground, and the man collapsed limply. "I'm innocent! I'm innocent! I... I didn't sell out our brothers..." "Don't panic. Whatever you have to say, tell it to the Dragon Head." Blondie politely helped him up and waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to pick up the dropped bags. "Take it easy, don't rush. I'll carry your stuff for you. Once you're done seeing the Dragon Head, you can go wherever you please." A black hood was shoved over the man's head, and he was hurled into the back of a van before the rear door slammed shut. Just like that, the van sped off in a cloud of dust. All that remained was the empty speedboat drifting on the waves, rocking silently. *** At that moment, in Yacheng, in Chaocheng, and far beyond the borders of Haizhou— In a timber mill, the whining drone of machinery abruptly cut out, replaced by a torrent of crimson spewing from the industrial shredder like a tidal wave. Upon the churning ocean, an oil drum filled with concrete mortar vanished beneath the dark waves with a dull splash. Amidst the howling blizzards and scorching desert dunes, fallen corpses blended into the stark white snow and yellow sands, disappearing without a trace. A ruthless purge unfolded in utter silence. *** Outside Tiancheng's headquarters, in an ancient courtyard estate, Li Yucheng pushed open the gate with an expressionless face. Glancing at the person who had been waiting outside for a long time, he tossed over the bag in his hand. "Get lost." "Pardon the intrusion, but duty compels me. Please forgive the offense." The waiting man remained smiling. Bending over, he picked up the bloodstained cloth bag from the ground and, right before Li Yucheng's eyes, untied it and meticulously counted: "One, two, three, four..." All ten fingers were accounted for. Tying the bag back up, the man kept his smile intact. "Splendid. I'll take my leave then. However, Warden Lyu asked me to pass along a message to you..." He paused, staring into Li Yucheng's icy countenance, before speaking slowly: "'The junior generation was ultimately too soft-hearted after all. Constrained by decorum, he swallowed his grievance for the greater good and only demanded ten fingers. But next time, if the family elders have to step in to deliver justice... it won't be settled so cheaply.'" With that, he turned and departed. Behind him, the heavy gate slowly swung shut. *** Inside the Echo Tech-Industry tower, wails and sobs filled the air. Under arrest, one high-ranking executive after another—figures who had once lorded over the industry—were handcuffed and led out through the lobby like cattle, before being shoved into prisoner transport vans. An even harsher sweep was still underway. Shouts of resistance rang out repeatedly, only to be cut short by gunshots. Only the office where Shang Tongwen sat remained wrapped in dead silence. It was precisely within this pin-drop silence that the weeping outside sounded so stark—along with the cruel comedy gradually playing out beyond the window. Amidst the towering skyscrapers, across numerous rooftops, figure after figure trembled as they climbed over safety railings. Tears streaming down their faces or expressions blank with numbness, like walking corpses, they stepped forward, stride by stride... Among the unfamiliar faces, a few looked painfully familiar. Far more were strangers he had never even met. Faces that had appeared in the footage of the chemical plant explosion, enforcers who had fled Yacheng, masterminds who had orchestrated it all from the shadows, middlemen, and even the subordinates who had plotted everything under Shang Tongwen's command... One after another. Amidst roars, shrieks, and desperate pleas, they crossed that final threshold, unfurling invisible wings to embrace the sky—and the earth. Separated by such distance, their screams and the crisp echoes of their impacts were inaudible. Yet every blossoming patch of blood caused Shang Tongwen's face and eyes to twitch involuntarily. "Constrained by a lack of time, this was all we could gather," a soft sigh sounded from the speakers, dripping with cold apathy and regret. "There could have been many more performances, but with our schedule so tight, most had to be purified and disposed of on-site. Please excuse the shortcomings." *Crash!* A wine glass shattered against the screen. Cracks spiderwebbed outward, severing the illusory silhouette that did not truly exist there. "Enough!" Shang Tongwen's eyes were bloodshot as he sneered. "Going through all this trouble to stage such a grand show—you really outdid yourself. That mad dog Lyu Yingyue, still tormenting people even now! "If you want to kill me, just kill me! What's with all this goddamn nonsense!" "You appear to be mistaken, but no matter," Isis's voice remained aloof. "This was not arranged by Warden Lyu. Strictly speaking, this was one of the mandatory conditions put forward by my master during the signing of the reconciliation accord. "No compromises accepted. No exchanges entertained. "Without this, there would be no deal! "In other words, Mr. Shang—everything you see here is merely the fireworks display before the final curtain falls on this bloodbath." Across the shattered display, the flickering points of starlight formed an arc that resembled a smile, radiating pure delight: "—Including you yourself." *Bang!* A furious gunshot abruptly roared. Shang Tongwen pulled the trigger repeatedly, cursing violently as he emptied the magazine into the already shattered screen and speakers, until the monitor fractured completely amidst clouds of smoke, and the hollow chamber yielded only the faint click of an empty clip. Amidst the fading reverberations, only his ragged, heavy panting remained. In the distance, atop a high-rise, the final silhouette wailed as it plummeted, vanishing from sight. No, there was one more... There was still one last person! Now, time was up. From far away, a clock chimed the hour. "My master asked me to relay this to you: this has nothing to do with justice or victory. It is purely personal vendetta." From the speaker sputtering with electrical sparks came a fractured voice, ruthlessly cruel: "No matter what happens, you must die." *Only through your death can the necessity of rules be proven.* *Only by paying the price can the consequence of defying order be validated.* *Only when every unscrupulous clown among you is wiped out will all the fools finally understand—what it means to break the rules before me!* "So, please, Mr. Shang," she said. "If your death can reawaken the reverence deep within the hearts of those ignorant fools, then that will be the final contribution you can make to this world." "You fucking dream on!" Unable to control himself any longer, Shang Tongwen stomped the smoking speaker into pieces, hurled away his empty pistol, and roared, cursed, and shrieked incoherently. Yet nothing could dispel the nightmare-like flicker of light. Across the cracked monitor, Isis's eyes reappeared. Looking on with cold detachment. Leaving the beast trapped in its cage to howl in despair and curse without end. After who knew how long, distant footsteps echoed from the corridor outside. He froze in his tracks. Bending down, his hands trembling violently, he picked up the pistol from the floor. His grip slipped, and it dropped. Then, as if jolted by an electric shock, he reached out again and grabbed it tightly—as though clutching a red-hot branding iron. He raised his pale face, staring at the cruel starlight flickering across the screen. A wretched laugh tore from his throat. In his hands, he loaded a single, final bullet into the empty pistol. His trembling hand raised the muzzle, pressing it against his own head. Bloodshot eyes lifted, brimming with venomous malice: "I'll be waiting for him down below!" "Is that so?" The eyes looked down upon him with disdain, completely indifferent. "If hell truly exists, then hold your head high and look up." *Amidst eternal torment and despair, witness how the glorious radiance—unreachable by mere fireflies crawling among rotting weeds—ascends step by step into the heavens!* *Bang!* Shang Tongwen closed his eyes. A mist of blood burst forth, and the final corpse collapsed backward onto the floor. Sparks leaped from the broken screen and landed on the carpet. A silent tongue of flame flickered, spread, and billowing smoke swallowed everything. Within the infernal blaze, all noise was reduced to nothingness. Only applause sounded once more. Echoing from the screen. *** Thousands of miles away in the banquet hall, the revived applause reverberated, mingled with exuberant cheers and shouts of acclaim. "...Finally, allow me to express my gratitude once again to all the friends present, as well as those who could not be here." At the end of his brief speech, Ji Jue concluded in a measured tone: "Today, the conclusion of the Desert Sea Rally is merely a short journey in our lives. "Yet I hope that in the near future, we may cross paths once more along another road. "And I hope that when that time comes, you will still remember me." His deep voice echoed inside and outside the hall. Ji Jue raised his head, offered them a faint smile, and nodded in farewell. Just like that, amidst the tidal wave of applause, he stepped down from the stage and returned to the crowd. Rousing music swelled, and amidst the clinking of glasses and lively toasts, the awards ceremony went on. Beyond the window, bathed in the bright spring sunshine, everything in the garden flourished with vibrant brilliance, as though all things had been made anew. In the gentle breeze, a faint trace of dust danced silently in midair, gradually settling down and returning to the earth. At last, the dust had settled.