# 272
**Chapter 272: His World**
The dark clouds looming over Cangnan City gradually dispersed, and mottled sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting down on the empty land.
A day ago, there had been a city here.
Now, aside from a few lonely high-rises and scattered roads, there was nothing but endless desolation.
Sitting casually atop a three-story building, one could take in the entire scope of Cangnan City at a glance. Helpless children and displaced residents huddled in corners of the city, leaning on each other for comfort.
Even though they had been strangers just a day ago, they now shared a single name—survivors.
The once-bustling Peace Bridgehead was now reduced to a few old storefronts. The Peace Office stood alone at the bridge’s end, and atop it sat a lone figure.
Wu Xiangnan sat by himself on the rooftop, gazing into the distance. On the horizon, a convoy of military vehicles kicked up clouds of dust as they sped forward.
Those were the Night Watch logistics teams tasked with receiving survivors and rebuilding the city.
Wu Xiangnan took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and began walking downstairs.
Inside the office, the members of Team Phoenix sat around a table. Hongying and Wen Qimo sat on the sofa, distracted, their eyes occasionally drifting toward a room, as if waiting for something.
Before long, a figure in a white coat emerged from the room.
“Doctor, how is he?” Hongying stood up anxiously.
The rest of Team Phoenix also rose. Xia Simeng glanced into the room and saw a faint golden glow still emanating from within, worry flickering in her eyes.
“Not good,” the doctor shook his head. “When his soul suffered immense damage, his emotions were too… extreme. Under that kind of pain, his consciousness automatically rejected the reality that had unfolded and constructed another world in his mind, hiding inside it.
“Though the physical and spiritual pain has subsided, his mind hasn’t emerged from it yet…”
The doctor looked into the room and sighed. “From a physiological standpoint, he’s already awakened. But his consciousness hasn’t returned—it’s trapped in the mental world he created. And his body is subconsciously activating the Mortal Divine Realm, reshaping the surroundings to match that world.”
Wen Qimo’s expression shifted. “So… you’re saying…”
“It’s basically confirmed—his mind has snapped. And the Mortal Divine Realm is teetering on the edge of going berserk. If his emotions fluctuate again, he could lose control entirely.”
The doctor spoke with grave seriousness. “According to Night Watch protocol, Lin Qiye is now an extremely unstable threat. Until his mind recovers, he must be transferred to the Purification Chamber for containment.”
“The Purification Chamber?” Wu Xiangnan frowned. “Isn’t that a prison for guilty superhumans? Lin Qiye hasn’t committed any crime—why send him there?!”
“Vice-Captain Wu, you’re not fully informed,” Kong Shang of Team Phoenix interjected. “The Purification Chamber isn’t just a prison—or rather, not entirely. It’s a facility designed to suppress Forbidden Ruins. It’s mainly used to contain those whose abilities could cause large-scale harm. Criminals are just the majority.
“Beyond the prison, there’s a specialized hospital deeper inside for treating mentally unstable Forbidden Ruins users. It’s codenamed Sunshine.”
“That’s right,” the doctor added. “Lin Qiye is the Seraph’s proxy. His Mortal Divine Realm is too powerful. If it goes berserk, the consequences would be catastrophic. Only the Purification Chamber can suppress his God’s Ruins and allow for treatment. And Doctor Li is there—he’s the top psychiatrist in all of Great Xia. He’s the best hope for treating Lin Qiye.”
Wu Xiangnan’s expression finally softened. He glanced at Lin Qiye’s room and closed his eyes in resignation.
“I’ve already reported Lin Qiye’s condition to the higher-ups. A transfer order will be issued soon,” the doctor added.
Just then, Hongying, eyes red, spoke timidly, “C-can I go in and see him?”
The doctor frowned. “He’s unconscious and mentally unstable. It’s dangerous to go near him.”
“I—I’ll just take a look… from afar,” Hongying pleaded.
The doctor hesitated, then sighed. “Alright… but don’t do anything that might trigger him. If the Mortal Divine Realm goes berserk, it’ll be dangerous.”
Hongying nodded repeatedly. She tiptoed to Lin Qiye’s door and gently pushed it open.
The once spacious, bright underground room was gone. In its place stood a small, old bedroom.
As she stepped in, a faint scent of wood greeted her. Her feet creaked on the aged wooden floor.
A hard plank bed. A moldy desk. Crisp, neatly folded sheets. A black-haired boy sat on the bed, gazing out a small window, the yellowed curtains swaying gently in the breeze.
This room had never had a window before.
This wasn’t the office… this was Lin Qiye’s home.
Hongying walked softly to his side, looked into those calm yet clouded eyes, and sat down on the other side of the bed.
“Qiye, Qiye…” she whispered.
Lin Qiye stared out the window, unresponsive.
“Old Zhao is dead. The captain’s gone. Xiaonan left. Leng Xuan too… and now you’re leaving me as well…”
Tears misted her eyes. She lowered her head, her body trembling.
“When will we see each other again…?”
“If this city, all of this, is just a dream… then when we wake up, will everyone come back?”
“We promised, didn’t we? Next New Year’s, we’d all get drunk together again… You wouldn’t lie to me, right?”
She turned to Lin Qiye, tears streaming down her face, falling onto the sheets and vanishing.
Lin Qiye sat like a statue, silent.
Suddenly, a breeze stirred. A green flower drifted in from nowhere, brushed his cheek, and landed before Hongying.
She stared at it, then reached out and picked it up.
It was a green *otherworldly* flower—*Bianhua*, the flower of the underworld.
In a daze, Hongying seemed to remember something. She looked up at Lin Qiye, a smile breaking through her tear-streaked face.
“No matter what the future holds… I’ll wait for you all…”