Chapter 273: Hollow Stabilization Scroll

He didn’t know if it was because the teleportation to Qingyi’s side had left too deep an impression, but every time he recalled it, his body felt intense discomfort.

Thus, merely the strange sensation caused by the Hollow, Ye Qingfeng could largely ignore.

He looked around and found himself positioned slightly behind the alley entrance; the usually bustling street was now empty, with only a few constables running along it, searching for any remaining residents.

“What does Qingyi say next?”

Ye Qingfeng cautiously observed the outside situation and whispered to ask Qingyi for advice, but after waiting a long time without response, he looked over in confusion.

Asleep? Or did she run out of battery...

His lips twitched uncontrollably.

Come to think of it—rarely do I get to see Qingyi unguarded. I’ve been curious for ages about her bodily structure; if I don’t take full advantage of this chance, it’d be unforgivable.

Ye Qingfeng had just extended his sinful hand when his phone rang at an inopportune moment; several constables nearby all turned their gazes sharply toward him.

Ugh! Why does someone always interfere at the most critical moments—!

He quickly silenced the ringtone, reached out to touch Ies, and stored it in his spatial backpack, then placed Qingyi on the ground—just as footsteps began drawing nearer.

Activate Bullet Time to buy time, then duck around the alley corner.

“Who’s there?!”

“Is that Senior Qingyi?”

“Why is she lying here?”

“No idea. This street should be empty. The Sixth Division will be here soon—let’s take Senior Qingyi and evacuate immediately.”

“Got it!”

Once Ye Qingfeng confirmed the two constables had carried Qingyi far away, he finally answered the call.

“Qingfeng—! Are you okay? What’s the situation?”

It was Zhe’s phone, yet the voice on the other end was Ling’s.

“I’m fine, and I got Qingyi out of the Hollow safely.” Ye Qingfeng leaned casually against the wall. “What’s going on now?”

“The news has issued a warning: all nearby residents must evacuate immediately, including Liufen Street.”

“Liufen Street too?”

Ye Qingfeng scanned the surroundings, trying to find clues about the location and how far it was from Liufen Street.

The environment around him felt both unfamiliar and familiar—wait!

Isn’t this the street next to the Hare’s Den?!

That means it’ll endanger Nico and the others, plus Zhu Yuan and Ailian too.

“Yes! I don’t know the details either. This Hollow disaster is unprecedented in recent years, but it won’t be overly extreme—it can’t surpass the one twelve years ago.”

“Enough talking. While the Hollow hasn’t accelerated yet, hurry up and ####.”

Before Ling finished speaking, a burst of noise erupted on the other end; before she could ask what was happening, the call automatically ended, followed by a message: “The caller is out of signal range.”

“It might be too late already...”

In an instant, the Hollow expanded outward at a speed too fast for the naked eye to track, and Ye Qingfeng was pulled back inside.

【Ding! Aether activity within the Hollow has surged sharply—it will engulf nearly ten surrounding streets within a minute, and cover half of New Aelido within five minutes.】

“So fast?! That’s not fair—!”

Ye Qingfeng blurted out in shock.

Of course! Hollows, Aether, and Aihai—all of them are inherently unreasonable things.

Never mind the rest—five minutes isn’t enough for Nico and the others nearby to escape. As the Hollow expands, Aihai will multiply and grow more active.

But even that isn’t the crux. Anyone who steps into the Hollow has virtually zero chance of escaping without a Carrot or a Rope Jiang .

In short, if I don’t act now, the next time I see them, they might appear as Aihai...

God damn it, “not overly extreme”...

I’m so fucking annoyed—!!

『System, is there any way out?』

【Nope~ Even if there were, your stamina wouldn’t support it.】

『Qingzhi?』

【It’s me. How’s it going?】

【Do you preserve yourself—or save them and the citizens of New Aelido?】

“You make it sound like I have a way to save them...”

Ye Qingfeng sat down on the ground and forced out a bitter smile.

Protecting himself wasn’t a problem for him—but...

Ordinary people face the Hollow as an unreasonable force. Even Anbi and Ailian are merely stronger ordinary humans, incapable of escaping the Hollow—no matter how long they last, it’s pointless.

【There is~ The Hollow Stabilization Scroll. If you succeed in halting the Hollow’s expansion, you’ll become New Aelido’s greatest hero. If you fail, you’ll still save countless lives—tens of thousands.】

【But no one will ever know.】

Qingzhi’s words echoed like demonic whispers in Ye Qingfeng’s mind.

【Use it? Use it~】

Use it? Should I use it?

Ye Qingfeng frowned slightly—he knew perfectly well that using it meant certain death, while not using it would haunt him for life.

【Thirty seconds until the surrounding streets are fully engulfed.】

The voice, as always emotionless, carried a uniquely childish tone.

Ye Qingfeng said nothing, head bowed, thoughts spiraling.

He’d only been in New Aelido for half a year; his latest wish was to spend the New Year with Nico, Ling, Ailian, and Zhu Yuan.

Half a year? In a human life, how fleeting.

Yet in these six months, he’d grown to love this city—more accurately, he’d grown to love the women within it.

These six months had been more vivid than the past twenty years of his former life; the beautiful scroll could still continue.

He’d only just met a few targets—he’d meet more endlessly in the future, repeating the same process with each: gaining affection, deepening bonds, until they walked together...

Oh—right, Zhu Yuan’s a constable. Given her nature, she’d surely be on the frontlines, possibly now fighting Aihai to protect the citizens behind her.

She wouldn’t hesitate for a second...

How noble—she does what he could never do.

【Ten seconds left—9, 8, 7—】

The system’s countdown echoed in his mind like death warrants; his body tensed, yet not a word escaped his lips.

What’s the difference between using it and suicide?

Honestly, what do the lives of ordinary citizens matter to him? He cares for only a handful of people.

Come to think of it—if they faced his choice now, would any of them use the Hollow Stabilization Scroll?

He couldn’t imagine anyone besides Zhu Yuan using it—and he had no time to think further; the countdown continued.

【3, 2—!】

“Do it—! Use it!”

Ye Qingfeng clenched his teeth, the words barely forced out.

【Wahhh—your action truly surprises this system!】

“Stop your robot act. Talk normally.”

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