Just past noon, the sound of keys jingling came from outside the door. Xu Nanshan and Liu Shuxian returned home, carrying large bags filled with New Year's supplies.
Xu Mo, who had been lying on his bed listening to music, quickly got up and ran to the door, taking the goods from their hands. As he carried them to the kitchen, he curiously asked, "Dad, how did you both get back so soon? Didn't Mom say she wanted to check out some coats?"
"Don't even mention it. I don't know what the city government is up to, but they suddenly put the entire city under lockdown right before the New Year. They're telling everyone to stay home for the next few days, supposedly for some kind of investigation…" Xu Nanshan complained with a helpless expression as he changed into his slippers. "Luckily, your mother and I bought all the New Year's goods early; otherwise, we wouldn't even have a peaceful holiday."
"Something big might have happened. I overheard people on the street saying that a large area near Liangyuan Theater has been cordoned off. Apparently, thousands of people suddenly disappeared last night—someone even saw it with their own eyes…" Liu Shuxian added.
"Uh… Maybe it's a sign of an alien invasion?" Xu Mo, knowing the truth behind the incident, could only play dumb. After all, the Apocalyptic Mirage was far too shocking to explain.
"Your only job is to focus on your studies and get into a good university. Stop thinking about all this nonsense." Xu Nanshan scolded him, eyes glaring like a tiger's.
Liu Shuxian, displeased, slapped Xu Nanshan on the arm and defended Xu Mo. "He's just joking around! Look at you, pulling that long face like it's the end of the world. It's almost New Year—can't you let the child relax for a few days?"
With his mother shielding him, Xu Mo grinned mischievously and made a face at Xu Nanshan. Just as he was about to ask for more details about the lockdown, HeShang suddenly called.
"Xu Mo, do you know that Shang Shan City is now completely cut off from the outside world? The internet is down, and phone calls can't go through to anywhere outside the city. And now, the whole place is under lockdown—something big is about to happen…" HeShang's panicked tone made Xu Mo feel like he was ready to flee the planet at any moment.
"Calm down, it's not like we're being invaded by aliens…" Xu Mo tried to reassure him.
"I know that! But all this—the lockdown, the communications blackout—clearly has nothing to do with aliens… I think it might be a biological virus outbreak! We should escape before the government shuts down the transportation hubs! If we wait any longer, it'll be too late!"
"Uh…" Xu Mo was speechless at HeShang's wild imagination, both amused and exasperated. "Trust me, it's not that serious. Just stay home, and things will go back to normal in a few days."
It was clear that the sudden activation of the Apocalyptic Mirage at Liangyuan Theater had alarmed the relevant authorities. With thousands of people vanishing overnight, even in times of war, such an event would be a major crisis. Mishandling it could have unimaginable consequences. It was no surprise that the government had deployed the military to enforce a citywide lockdown. Until the situation was fully contained, it seemed unlikely that the people of Shang Shan City would have a peaceful New Year.
That said, while the government often dragged its feet when handling civilian complaints, its efficiency in executing direct orders from higher-ups was arguably world-class. By the afternoon of the same day, local police officers, accompanied by community staff, were conducting door-to-door inquiries in Xu Mo's neighborhood.
Officially, it was a population census, but Xu Mo noticed that while one officer recorded details, another casually asked his mother questions like "Where did you go yesterday?" When they heard Xu Mo had spent the night at a friend's house, the officer gave him a few extra glances.
It seemed the government was looking for survivors who had emerged from the Apocalyptic Mirage. However, Xu Mo wasn't too concerned about them. Those people weren't Apocalyptic shard wielders—at most, they would be made to sign a confidentiality agreement and might even receive some hush money in return.
Although the lockdown was making waves, the people of Shang Shan City were used to the government's frequent crackdowns. Other than a few neighbors grumbling when they met, daily life carried on as usual.
That evening, Xu Mo used the excuse of playing games with HeShang and then set out on foot, walking over an hour to reach the Second People's Hospital of Shang Shan City.
Finding a dark corner, he put on a hooded jacket he had prepared in advance, concealing his face in the shadows. Once he was fully ready, he walked straight through the hospital entrance.
Despite the lockdown outside, the hospital remained as busy as ever. Even late at night, the lobby was crowded with patients and their families, hurrying between departments and payment counters with various medical documents in hand. This chaotic environment provided the perfect cover for Xu Mo.
Though he was confident in his revenge plan, he had spent the entire afternoon meticulously preparing. Instead of asking for Minister Wang's room directly, he first memorized the hospital's floor plan and then blended in with the crowd, taking the elevator straight to the intensive care unit (ICU) on the top floor.
His reasoning wasn't baseless—given Minister Wang's status and the level of emergency care needed for survivors of the Apocalyptic Mirage, it was unlikely he would be placed in a regular ward. The ICU was the most logical location.
Of course, if he wasn't there, then Xu Mo wouldn't bother searching further—his grudge against Minister Wang wasn't strong enough to make him go digging around in the morgue.
The ICU on the top floor of the Second People's Hospital was often referred to by the locals as the "VIP Ward." Most of the patients here weren't actually critically ill; they were high-ranking officials from various city departments. Even minor ailments gave them an excuse to check in, receive "get-well gifts" from subordinates, and collect expensive medicinal supplements like ginseng and deer antler. Some even kept their hospital beds reserved year-round, abusing public healthcare funds, while truly ill patients struggled to find space in the general wards.
Perhaps because the New Year was approaching, the ward was unusually quiet. The clean, brightly lit hallway was almost empty. The two nurses at the front desk were engrossed in a movie on their computer and didn't notice Xu Mo slipping past them. That saved him a lot of trouble.
He silently pulled a silver night-vision mask over his face and crept through the corridor toward the ICU.
Finding his target turned out to be easier than expected—only one room in the entire hallway still had its lights on.
Peering through the observation window, he saw a figure lying on the hospital bed. Though the angle made it hard to see the person's face, the distinctive "Local Support for Central Leadership" slogan on the bedside table was unmistakable. There was no doubt—it was Minister Wang.
Just as he was about to push the door open, an intense sense of danger suddenly struck him. He instinctively leaned back just as a glinting dagger shot through the crack of the door, whizzing past his chest!
Someone was inside!
Xu Mo's heart tightened as he swiftly retreated.
At that moment, a man in a crisp green military uniform kicked the door open and rushed out. A fine silver wire attached to his fingers flicked the dagger back into his hand. Then, in a flash of yellow light, he raised a silver Desert Eagle and aimed it directly at Xu Mo's forehead.
"Who are you? What are you doing here? If you can't give me a reasonable answer, under the Military Protection Act for High-Ranking Officials, I have the authority to classify you as a threat and execute you on the spot."
It was only then that Xu Mo realized he knew this aggressive military officer—he was the same Huang-surnamed officer he had encountered at the dinosaur amusement park.
Even military Apocalyptic shard wielders were involved? Just how high was Minister Wang's protection level…?
Xu Mo slowly raised his hands and suddenly smirked. "If I said I was just here to visit a patient, would you believe me?"