The aunties, uncles, old folks, young men, and women exercising in the morning plaza dissolved into chaos, crowding beneath the burning building, shouting and yelling. An old man, weeping hysterically, rushed downstairs, intending to go back up, but the moment he stepped into the stairwell, a thick plume of smoke choked him back out. Good heavens, the fire was on the fourth floor, yet the smoke had reached the first; how severe must the situation be?

“Old Zhang, Boss Zhang, Master Zhang, your place is on fire! What happened? Did you leave the gas running again without turning it off?” The crowd pressed him with accusations, yet not a single person thought about what needed to be done.

I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed the fire department; any further delay and the whole building might collapse.

“Save my son, please, save my boy! He’s still sleeping inside! Who will go save him? I, Old Zhang, will kowtow to all of you!” Ignoring the accusations, the elder suddenly dropped to his knees, banging his head wildly on the ground.

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances. Going in now would be suicide. A few individuals seemed ready to try, but the sight of flames licking out of the windows made them hesitate. Someone else yelled, “What if the gas canister explodes? Everyone back away!”

So, the crowd dragged the elderly man back dozens of meters. He struggled, trying to charge back into the stairwell to save his son, but they held him fast. Only then did someone remember to call for help; phones began ringing incessantly—110, 119, 112, 120, 114… they seemed to dial every emergency number available.

I said to the old man, who was nearly fainting, “Sir, please stop crying. I’ll go save him!” What kind of dangerous situations haven’t I faced? This little fire shouldn’t scare me.

The old man immediately dropped and knelt before me. “Young man, you’re a good person! It’s all up to you, truly a good soul…”

I didn’t have time to help him up. I stripped off the items I was carrying, placed them on my tricycle, and charged straight into the stairwell. The thick smoke was indeed suffocating; one breath nearly made me pass out. I quickly held my breath in alarm.

On the first, second, and third floors, I encountered several residents covering their mouths with damp towels, carrying large bundles. It seemed they were preparing for a full evacuation, fearing the disaster might spread to them.

I was surprised by how long I could hold my breath; it felt almost unnecessary to inhale. That was fortunate; no need to fear the choking smoke. However, the world was a black mist, and the stinging smoke made my eyes burn so much I couldn't see anything. I had to feel my way up to the fourth floor.

I reached out to twist the doorknob, and a searing heat shot straight to my brain. Damn it, the door was almost red hot! Was I about to become roasted pig’s trotters? I pulled my hand back and examined it—painful, but thankfully not scorched. I guess I really am extraordinary.

I forgot to ask Old Zhang for the key. The security door was locked, but even with a key, it was questionable whether it could be turned given the extreme heat. What now?

Losing even a second now could mean someone’s death. I gritted my teeth, clenched my fist, and hammered it with all my might against the security door. With a loud boom, the already weakened security door collapsed inward. A jet of flame instantly leaped toward my face. I smelled a stench of singed hair, and when I touched my head, oh my god—I’d been burned clean bald like a monk.

Yet, apart from a burning ache, my body seemed unharmed. This proved that the body modified by the Energy Stone could withstand high temperatures. The room was an inferno, making it impossible to discern anything. Since my body had this heat resistance, saving someone would be much easier. I closed my eyes and plunged headfirst into the sea of flames.

My clothes began to melt away little by little. The pain of the fire made my eyes water and my nose run simultaneously. After what felt like an eternity, I managed to grope my way to the water pipe in the bathroom. I yanked the pipe off and sprayed a torrent of water over myself, bringing blessed relief. Before the moisture on my skin dried, I hurried to find Old Zhang’s son.

The layout of this building was common: a standard three-bedroom, one-living room setup. The washroom was near the entrance, which I had just visited—no one was inside. I was currently in the living room. Despite the raging flames, I could still make out the area; no one here either.

I kicked open the door to a bedroom opposite the bathroom. Luckily, this room wasn't yet on fire. A quick search revealed no one, but flames immediately leaped in behind me. Inside were flammable bedding materials, and the fire rapidly spread.

I retreated and crossed the blazing living room into the small bedroom on the north end. This time, I dared not act rashly or kick open doors randomly. If I brought the fire in here, anyone inside wouldn't survive, even if they were present.

The bedroom door wasn’t locked. When I pushed it, something seemed to be blocking it. I applied a little more force, cracked a gap, squeezed inside, and quickly shut the door again. Let the outside burn; the goal was just to keep the fire out of here for now.

Turning around, I saw a pile of towels and blankets blocking the doorway, which is why I had trouble pushing the door open. It seemed the resident here had some basic emergency knowledge, using towels to stuff the door seams to slow the infiltration of toxic smoke.

When I raised my foot again, I nearly stepped on someone. I looked down closely: someone was lying right there amidst the pile of towels and blankets! This must be Old Zhang's son. Apparently, upon seeing the fire, he realized he couldn't escape. Although there was a window here, it was secured with sturdy security bars. He must have tried some first aid, waiting for rescuers, but passed out before help arrived.

I reached out to lift the person, only to find the touch unexpectedly smooth and soft, like when I touched Yi Xiaorou or Zhao Fen’s... My heart muttered, This guy must have been spoiled rotten by his dad; his chest is so plump, it’s almost like a woman’s breasts.

But when I lifted him, he was too light—not the weight of a hefty man. Even though time was critically short, I couldn't help but sneak a look at the person in my arms, who hadn't managed to get dressed.

Good lord, his chest really was extraordinary! Even surpassing Zhao Fen’s. If he were playing a female role in a movie, he wouldn't even need padding. Wait, is Old Zhang’s son a pervert? Why does he have long hair?

The realization suddenly struck me: this was a woman! I casually reached down and, sure enough, felt no little thing beneath the underwear. Was she Old Zhang’s daughter-in-law? Damn it, didn't that make me a molester? Fortunately, she was unconscious; otherwise, I’d have a hard time explaining this, even if I had a thousand mouths.

No time to think about anything else; I had to save her first, then go back for her husband. I grabbed a quilt from the floor and wrapped the girl in my arms. Peeking out through the door crack, I saw