Upper City

Long Ming walked up to the checkpoint and saw that a long line had already formed. He quickly found a queue with fewer people and got in line. Time slipped away second by second. Soon it was his turn. A woman in a blue uniform, with long black hair and a tear mole at the corner of one eye, asked with a smile. "Sir, please present your identification. Inspector Tang Ying, number 472, at your service." "Here." Long Ming pulled his ID out of his pocket and handed it over. Tang Ying took it and carefully checked Long Ming's appearance against it, then set the ID on a portable device to look up his application. "Mr. Long Ming, why are you going to the Upper City?" "To see a doctor at the First Central Hospital." "How long do you plan to stay in the Upper City?" "If all goes well, I'll head back this afternoon." "Very well. Your application is valid for 24 hours. Please keep an eye on the time so that overstaying doesn't cause unnecessary trouble." "Mm." Long Ming took the ID Tang Ying handed back and passed through the checkpoint and the high wall, arriving at the base of the Upper City. Elevators with transparent glass walls and gray lifting platforms came into view. As he looked at those elevators and platforms, a complicated expression crossed his face. But he quickly pulled himself together and stepped onto the nearest lifting platform. Since the glass elevators were reserved for upper citizens, he could only ride the lifting platforms with their protective railings. The lifting platforms were less safe, but because they were open to the air, they actually gave him a better view of the magnificent scenery. Clack! With a slight jolt, the platform began to rise slowly. Breezes drifted past. Long Ming lifted his head and gazed into the distance. The whole Lower City came into view. Spread across that vast expanse were countless buildings. They stood packed close together, with dark narrow alleys everywhere and pedestrians filling the streets, showing off a kind of prosperity all its own. Besides that, the Lower City also held square glass buildings arranged in a circle around the central district, forming a huge ring-shaped band. Those square glass buildings were cultivation chambers, built specifically to produce all kinds of grain crops. Because of the pollution, every wild plant, animal, and sea creature had pollution values far over the limit. Eating any of them would contaminate the body, so all food had to be specially cultivated in pure conditions. Of course, the Upper City had cultivation chambers of its own, and they were far more advanced than those below. Their main structure was made of metal, and inside they had both soilless cultivation and artificial synthesis. Ding~ With a crisp chime, the lifting platform reached the Upper City and stopped. Long Ming stepped off and was met at once by building after building of cream-white stone in the Gothic style. Silver-white streetlamps stood along both sides of the road, each hung with a pretty red knot. Farther off, upscale shops lined the commercial street, their transparent display windows filled with all kinds of fine clothing, accessories, and other goods. Some well-dressed ladies were out shopping with children in hand, and cheerful laughter drifted over now and then. As Long Ming looked at the familiar streets, his expression grew increasingly somber. In fact, Long Ming had once lived in the Upper City. But a genetic defect inherited through the family had killed his father long before his time, and his mother had followed him soon after, wasting away in grief, leaving only Long Ming. And to pay for his treatment, he had no choice but to sell his property and belongings and move down to the Lower City to rent. You could say fortune and misfortune had come together. He quickly steadied his emotions and hurried toward the First Central Hospital. The City Lord's residence of Shanchengshan. Heavy velvet curtains blocked out the sunlight. In the dim room, labored breathing and the hum of medical equipment sounded from time to time. On a lavish gold-threaded bed lay an old man in a black robe woven with gold thread. His face was waxy yellow, his sunken eye sockets rimmed with dark circles, a breathing mask covered his mouth, and an IV ran into his hand. A young man waited at the bedside, dressed in a white shirt, black suit, and purple tie. Black hair swept sideways over his left eye, he was handsome, gentle, and refined. The old man was the City Lord of Shanchengshan, Qianluo, and the young man beside him was his son, Qianying. Buzz~ Just then the phone in Qianying's pocket vibrated. He took it out, glanced down, and then put it away again. Just then City Lord Qianluo slowly opened his eyes and asked in a low voice. "What is it?" "Father, Deputy City Lord Xiao Ning has arrived," Qianying explained respectfully. "Help me up." City Lord Qianluo's voice was hoarse. Qianying quickly reached out, removed the breathing mask, and pulled the needle from Qianluo's hand. He helped Qianluo up and out of the bedroom to the study beyond, where they walked to the rosewood desk in the center and sat down. Knock, knock~ Just then a knock came at the door. "Come in." Qianluo slowly raised his head. His voice was not loud, but it carried authority. Creak. The door was pushed open. A middle-aged man in a blue robe stepped in. Broad of shoulder and back, with dark brown skin, a rugged face, a bit of stubble, and eyes sharp as a hawk's. "Cough, cough. Xiao Ning, you're here." Qianluo cleared his throat, glanced up at Xiao Ning, and spoke hoarsely. "Yes, my lord. Is your health any better?" "At my age, there's no better or worse. How did that task I gave you go?" "Rest assured, my lord. All the experts and elite personnel are ready. Here is the list." Xiao Ning handed Qianluo a very thick document. "Good work. This operation concerns the future of Shanchengshan. Not the slightest slip can be allowed." Qianluo took the document and lowered his head to look through it. "It's my duty." Facing City Lord Qianluo's praise, Deputy City Lord Xiao Ning's manner was very modest. Knock, knock~ Just then another knock came. "Come in," Xiao Ning said at once. A man in black armor with a brisk, capable manner hurried in, looking anxious. Seeing that City Lord Qianluo was still bent over the document, he walked to Deputy City Lord Xiao Ning's side and whispered a few words in his ear. Xiao Ning's brows knotted together at what he heard, and then he raised a hand and waved the man off. Qianluo did not look up and kept reading, but he asked hoarsely. "Xiao Ning, what happened?" "Just a small matter." Deputy City Lord Xiao Ning answered respectfully. "What small matter? Let's hear it." City Lord Qianluo raised his head, his eyes fixed intently on Xiao Ning. "It's like this. I just received word that Star Tower City and the City of Sin have made a move. According to information from our spies, they seem to be preparing to open up to ordinary civilians." Deputy City Lord Xiao Ning spoke with a grave expression.