There were far more caught by the river than Han Yu intended to save.
But that was part of the plan.
Confusion.
Misdirection.
Even if some survived, even if some were recovered, the scale of the event would obscure the truth.
Within the underground network, the currents surged.
Bodies were carried swiftly through the channels, pushed and pulled by the force of the water. Some struck walls. Others were dragged beneath narrow passages. The journey was brutal.
But not unmonitored.
Hidden within the currents, Han Yu's puppets activated.
They moved with precision, intercepting specific targets along the flow. Only those selected by Han Yu were prioritized. The others were left to the mercy of the river.
Time passed.
Slow.
Heavy.
Han Yu stood within the chamber, his gaze fixed on the water's edge.
Waiting.
Every second stretched.
Every moment carried weight.
Then…
The first arrival.
A puppet emerged, carrying an unconscious figure.
Then another.
And another.
