The fire blazed up into the sky, with Zhou Qian standing with his back to the direction of the flames. After glancing around, he climbed up the tree he had used earlier for cover. Fortunately, it was night, which greatly facilitated the players’ stealthy movements.
Zhou Qian had also purchased a high-magnification binocular in the game. Now he took it out again, aiming it at the high-rise building on the second main road.
He knew the sniper was inside the building but didn’t know his exact location.
The little dragon had been killed about two hundred meters away from the main entrance. It was a fairly smooth street with street lights. The sniper rifle should have a wide range, but from his previous observations, Zhou Qian realized that the little dragon was only spotted by the sniper when it entered the area illuminated by the light and was subsequently killed.
Before moving in the dark, the little dragon hadn’t attracted the sniper’s attention.
From this, Zhou Qian deduced one thing: as long as they stay out of the light, players should be safe for now.
At this moment, Zhou Qian wasn’t using the binoculars to find the exact location of the sniper but rather to observe the environment around the building. He was looking for something specific.
After a while, Zhou Qian found what he was looking for.
Illuminated by the streetlights, he could clearly see many yellow talismans scattered along the street. In many places, the street was stained a dark color, as if splashed with paint or perhaps… dog blood.
In this game scenario, the story involving dog blood and talismans indeed had a deeper meaning.
All the city’s inhabitants had perished under the gunfire of the S Army. All the ghosts harbored deep resentment towards the S Army.
That was why the S Army had hesitated to enter the city: they feared these vengeful spirits. They left behind two children from Cypress City, Da Shou and Xiao Pang, who were unlikely to raise suspicions. On one hand, they hoped the children would lure out the hidden Falcon Squadron and instigate internal strife. On the other hand, they needed these children, who weren’t targeted by the ghosts, to seal the spirits using talismans and dog blood. Only when all the ghosts were sealed would they dare enter the city boldly.
Zhou Qian had previously speculated that there were probably no S Army soldiers in the city. He was wrong, but not entirely off the mark. After witnessing the little dragon’s death and the talismans, he made a more accurate assumption: The bulk of the S Army was still on the city’s outskirts. The number of S Army soldiers in the city center must be very limited. Furthermore, their hideouts would be surrounded by dense talismans and dog blood to ensure their safety from vengeful spirits.
From this, it could be inferred that areas with talismans and dog blood might be ambush spots. If a building was almost entirely surrounded by these items, especially if it was a high-rise ideal for ambushing, it was highly likely that one or two snipers were inside. Conversely, if there were no such signs around a building, it was safe.
After observing the high-rise on the second main road, Zhou Qian started scanning the nearby buildings with his binoculars. Moments later, a series of explosions echoed. Zhou Qian recognized the sound as the detonation of the outermost “safe zone”.
Looking back, at first glance, Zhou Qian could see smoke enveloping the entire main road. But upon closer inspection, the S Army hadn’t destroyed all the buildings. If the entire street was on fire, they would have difficulty passing through in a short time.
They targeted large structures. After the bomb blasts, there were numerous gunshots, as they methodically searched each house to ensure no one escaped.
It would take some time for the S Army to clear the entire street and surrounding shops and houses. This gave the players ample time to head towards the second main road.
Zhou Qian turned his attention to the nearest building. It was a typical Chinese architectural compound with courtyards and pavilions, resembling a theater.
After confirming there were no talismans at the entrance, he descended from the tree, avoiding illuminated areas, and approached in the dark. He didn’t enter immediately but circled the theater for a thorough check.
After a while, sure of its safety, Zhou Qian entered. Once inside the courtyard, he hid in the shadows and listened intently. Hearing nothing and seeing no lights, he sent a message to his three teammates with his location and advised them to avoid talismans, dog blood, and light on their way.
After standing quietly in the darkness for a while, Zhou Qian summoned the third little dragon.
Throwing a scale on the ground, the third little dragon appeared. He bent down to embrace it and whispered instructions to it.
Once he finished instructing, Zhou Qian emphasized again, “Did you understand? First, find your older brother. Although I’ve told him to avoid the light, I’ve now found places with talisman papers and dog’s blood, which may not be safe. Both of you should follow my instructions but avoid the lights and high buildings. Only act in other places as I’ve directed. If there’s danger, relocate immediately. Later, meet up with me in the city center. Can you sense my presence and find me?”
The scales on the third little dragon seemed lighter, but other than that, it looked no different from the first dragon. It obediently nodded at Zhou Qian, then opened the door and peeked out both ways. After waving goodbye to Zhou Qian, it hopped away, searching for the presence of the first dragon to meet up.
……
About five minutes later, Situ Qing, Yun Xiangrong, and He Xiaowei all arrived at the theater and met with Zhou Qian. After Zhou Qian briefed them on the situation he deduced, they began the second phase of their plan.
“Our task now is to deal with the sniper in the second safety zone,” Zhou Qian began. “From here to the second main road, there are two main routes, north and south. First, we’ll split into two groups, one going south and the other north, with the aim of checking which high-rises along the way have talisman papers and dog’s blood. Remember to stay in the shadows and never expose yourself to light. In fifteen minutes, we’ll regroup here and then discuss the safest route to approach the buildings that might have snipers. After that, I’ll inform you of the next step.”
With that, Zhou Qian quickly took action with the group. He went north with He Xiaowei, while Situ Qing and Yun Xiangrong headed south.
Throughout their journey, there were very few places not illuminated by streetlights, so both teams used methods like climbing trees and looking from balconies to scout. They essentially sketched a 3D map in their minds.
Fifteen minutes later, both teams reconvened at the theater, sharing their observations. After extensive discussion, they found a relatively safe route.
Five minutes later, the four of them were slowly approaching a tall building via this route.
From their observations, there were three tall buildings surrounded by obvious talisman papers and dog’s blood. The tallest one, where the sniper shot the dragon, was labeled by Zhou Qian as Point A.
To its east and north, roughly a kilometer away, there were two other tall buildings, labeled as Points B and C. Expectedly, snipers were hiding in all three buildings. These points roughly formed an equilateral triangle, covering three directions.
For the S Army, this layout protected against enemies from the east, west, and north. The only direction they missed was the south.
Zhou Qian decided to approach the three buildings from the south and defeat them one by one. The four stealthily moved to the city’s southern part, deciding to head north and first deal with the sniper in Building A.
However, before proceeding, Zhou Qian stopped them. “Unlike other directions that are filled with buildings and alleys, the southern area is all barren. Aside from a not-so-tall fruit orchard, it appears to be a cemetery with hardly any buildings, making it hard to hide. The snipers from the S Army must have assumed that the Falcon Squadron would never walk this route openly, as it’d be too easy to expose. That’s why they didn’t set up an ambush in the building facing this direction.”
“However, we still need to be cautious. If there are landmines here, the consequences would be dire. So—”
“I’ve bought three ‘Flying Ropes’ for you guys. We can swing across using the nearby fruit trees. These things have gotten expensive lately—200 gold coins each. I’ll sell them to you for 150—a discount.”
Everyone: “…”
Without even looking at the expressions of the other three, Zhou Qian took out a rope and said, “For the S army, the undead should corrupt them. So, we will stop 200 meters away from Building A, in a place not illuminated by the lights. The first thing we need to do is to destroy the talisman paper on the ground and wash away the dog blood on the surrounding streets.”
“For this, I think the skills of He Xiaowei and Situ Qing should be combined.”
“Buildings A, B, and C are quite far from each other, making it easier for us to defeat them one by one.”
“So, we start from Point A—let’s move now!”
In about five minutes, in a desolate area resembling a graveyard in the south, the four of them quietly approached Building A using flying ropes and stopped 200 meters away from it.
The little dragon from before was instantly killed as soon as it stepped into the light-covered area.
The four found a small grove to conceal themselves and simultaneously looked at Building A.
The first to act was Situ Qing.
Gazing at the building, following Zhou Qian’s instructions, she first gently shook her bell. Ensuring she hadn’t attracted the attention of the gunmen, she continued to use her skills. Soon, countless droplets of water formed out of thin air, solidifying into a layer of frost that quietly landed on the ground.
He Xiaowei played a few chords on his guqin. The soft sound waves, though small, had a significant force. The invisible waves rapidly surged forward towards the street in front of the building, instantly sweeping over the frost and accelerating its melting. He Xiaowei plucked once more, and another wave directed the melted water to wash over that part of the street.
All around the building, everything was refreshed. The dog blood and talisman papers were thoroughly destroyed.
Packing up their respective weapons and drawing their guns, Situ Qing and He Xiaowei both turned their gazes to Zhou Qian. In the darkness, Zhou Qian squinted at the tall building and signaled them to wait. The two did nothing for the moment.
Zhou Qian continued to gaze at the building, his profile looking especially stern and cold. A while later, he noticed the light of an apartment on the third floor turn on, revealing a little girl in a red dress on the balcony. She looked pale, clearly a ghost.
As if contagious, several other apartments also lit up, eventually illuminating half the building. The building then resounded with lively voices, as if many people had suddenly come alive.
Without the dog blood and talisman paper, the ghosts that had been sealed inside the building have indeed reappeared!
At that moment, a voice tinged with evident fear echoed from the building.
“You… you, don’t come here!”
This was followed by the sound of gunshots. It seemed that the gunman was trying to fend off the ghost with bullets. However, it was clearly in vain, as he soon let out even more terrified screams.
Indeed, the ghosts posed a significant threat to the S Army.
Only now did Zhou Qian turn to Situ Qing and He Xiaowei, nodding to them to prepare. The two almost simultaneously raised their guns, aiming at the exit of Building A.
About three minutes later, thanks to the lights illuminating the front of the building, the four players clearly saw two S Army snipers being forced out by the ghosts. As they ran, they spread talisman papers on the ground.
“Those kids used these talisman papers before, right?”
“Yes! I just used one, and the ghosts in my room disappeared immediately! They work!”
“Alright, let’s put the talisman papers around the building again. Once the ghosts disappear, we’ll go back to our sniping positions!”
But they never had a chance to return.
As the first man bent down to place a talisman, “Bang!” Situ Qing fired first, blowing his head off.
The second man, in terror, tried to run back into the building for cover, but another “Bang!”, this time from He Xiaowei, hit his thigh.
It was He Xiaowei’s first time shooting someone, especially the nefarious S Army. Thrilled, he shot again, hitting the man’s heart from the back, immobilizing him instantly.
After catching his breath, an exhilarated He Xiaowei walked up to Zhou Qian, seemingly seeking affirmation. Zhou Qian patted him on the shoulder. “Well done. Keep it up. Next—”
Squinting, Zhou Qian’s cold gaze shifted to another direction—their next target, Building B.
“Destroy the snipers in these three buildings, ABC, and this second safe zone is basically ours.”
“The thing we need to do next is first, claim the bullets and guns from the sniper corpses.”
“Second, set up an ambush in this second safe zone to deal with the S Army that will come later. The more we kill, the better.”
“Third, investigate the third zone in the same manner, which means the core area buildings of this city. After we annihilate all the snipers inside, we can look around to see if we can find any other useful weapons. Meanwhile, we should choose a strategic location to occupy as our sniper spot.
“Finally, we can hide in the sniper spot and wait for the S Army to bring Jiang Yuqing right to us.”
Zhou Qian’s words fired up He Xiaowei’s passion. “Damn, Qian’er, you’re so awesome. I’m so pumped right now! I feel like what we’re doing is so exhilarating!”
Turning to He Xiaowei, Zhou Qian smiled and said, “Don’t get ahead of yourself. When Jiang Yuqing shows up… that’s when my real plan is just beginning.”
The prison guard watched as the person who had just been brought in was taken out again. Kindheartedly, he shouted to their retreating figures, “Happy newlyweds!”
However, the expected “thank you” didn’t come, and neither of the two looked back. He couldn’t understand. Wasn’t forming a bond supposed to be a happy occasion?
On the aircraft returning to the academy, the principal looked worriedly at Ying Feng and Ling Xiao, sitting on opposite sides by the window, their gazes fixed on the distant horizon. Like mirror images of each other, their expressions, postures, and gestures were identical.
Since leaving the detention center, they hadn’t spoken, touched, or made eye contact. Although the other was right beside them, it felt as if there was only an invisible person sitting there. Forget the close bond between a Qizhu and a Qizi; even the camaraderie between classmates seemed nonexistent.
Outside the window, the evening lights were just beginning to shine, and the stars were few. The aircraft silently traversed the night sky. Everything was quiet; even the engine’s mechanical sounds were minimized.
For Ling Xiao, this had been the longest day of his life. So much had happened that every second could write a lengthy story. On the surface, he appeared calm—too calm for someone who had just undergone a coming-of-age ceremony—and this made the principal even more worried.
The more composed one appears, the more likely they are restraining their true feelings, which might collapse when pushed to a limit. This strong and stubborn young man, who had tearfully recited his vows during the farewell ceremony, who could have imagined that in less than half a month, those solemn promises would be ruthlessly shattered?
The aircraft quietly landed at the academy’s airfield. Though they had only been away for three days, it felt like three years. What changed wasn’t just the color of their eyes, but the weight of their emotions.
As the three of them disembarked, the principal stopped the two about to leave. “I know you’ve already been thoroughly checked at the military medical station, but it’s still necessary to report to the school doctor. It’s a tradition.”
The two complied, with Ying Feng leading and Ling Xiao following. The principal watched their retreating figures, lost in thought. A tragedy had already occurred at the academy this year; could another one be looming?
Yao Tai was about to leave when she almost collided with Ying Feng at the door. Seeing his face, the experienced doctor took a sharp breath.
“Oh, my God,” she whispered. Although she had heard rumors, seeing it first hand was still shocking. Instinctively, she looked past him, and Ling Xiao’s presence once again confirmed the truth, making her emotions incredibly mixed for a moment.
Ying Feng ignored her shock and stepped forward. The person behind him wanted to follow, but he was stopped with a command.
“Stay here,” Ying Feng’s tone was almost an order.
Ling Xiao hesitated for a moment and eventually remained outside the door.
Ying Feng once again lay shirtless on the examination table. Yao Tai conducted a full examination, and compared to the military medical report, his body showed significant recovery. There was no trace of injury, which, even among the Tianxiu known for their healing, was rare.
Holding the report, Yao Tai seemed troubled.
“Is there a problem?” Ying Feng asked, sitting up.
Wanting clarity amidst the rumors, Yao Tai listened as Ying Feng recounted the events.
“…When the alarm sounded, I rushed back to join the main force but got lost because I wasn’t familiar with the area. Ling Xiao was with me the entire time.”
“We accidentally discovered that lab. The door had a sign reading ‘Research Restricted Area, No Unauthorized Entry’, but we were curious and went in.”
“We didn’t stay long before you and the doctor arrived. Afraid, we hid and overheard your conversation, learning about the contents of the bottle.”
“Ling Xiao’s taking it was out of curiosity. My failure to stop him was my fault. This matter has implicated both you and the doctor. The military might soon question you and even blame you for negligence. I apologize for this and am ready to face any punishment.”
As Yao Tai listened, her anger grew. The audacious actions of these two fledglings were beyond description. They actually dared to steal from the base, and what they stole was incredibly important. What infuriated her more was that, as the chief administrator of the base, Zhi Shang hadn’t even noticed afterward.
“You two really are…” she trailed off, not finding the right words to describe her feelings, leaving the sentence hanging.
Ying Feng’s tone remained cold, as if describing someone else’s business. “During our field practice, we had an accident and encountered a Kui in the mine. In a moment of desperation, Ling Xiao injected the Embers, saving both our lives.”
“But because of the cave-in, we were trapped inside. Ling Xiao, due to side effects, went berserk. What followed was just as you saw.”
Yao Tai’s emotions shifted from anger to ambivalence upon hearing this. On one hand, she was outraged at their audacious theft. On the other, she felt a lingering fear for their predicament. Had they not had the Embers, perhaps the only news would have been the eternal demise of two fledgling souls during their field practice.
With this in mind, she wasn’t sure if what they did was right or wrong.
“Later, the military arrived in time to rescue us. That’s basically how it all happened,” Ying Feng finished explaining.
Yao Tai was so stunned that she couldn’t speak for a while. After a moment, she opened her mouth.
“The reason why the Tianxiu people become stronger during the coming-of-age ceremony is because of a special substance secreted within their bodies. Not only does this substance enhance a person’s fighting abilities, but it also stimulates physiological desires and overpowers one’s rationality, which is why lovers during the coming-of-age ceremony fight each other to the death.”
“The developer of Embers, my teacher, extracted this substance from the body. With it, he created Embers, allowing one to temporarily gain strength equivalent to that during the coming-of-age ceremony while eliminating its negative impacts. It was considered the greatest achievement of that era.”
“But my teacher didn’t stop there. Soon after, he refined the substance to twenty times its potency and created Embers II. However, he never had the chance to perfect it.”
“This means that while Embers II can temporarily elevate one’s fighting capabilities to unreachable heights, it fully retains its drawbacks. The negative effects of this substance are magnified for its users.”
“In other words, after injection, desire overwhelms reason. Fledglings who haven’t awakened will directly enter awakening, even losing control, triggering what we call the automatic coming-of-age ceremony.”
“But if someone were to inject the second generation without an antidote, even adults wouldn’t be able to resist its side effects.” Yao Tai pondered. “According to what you said, even if the military arrived on time, they wouldn’t have this special antidote. Why is Ling Xiao alright then?”
Ying Feng shook his head, indicating he didn’t know. It seemed Yao Tai would have to find the reason from Ling Xiao himself.
She gestured to the papers in her hand. “Your medical report is fine, but there’s a lot I need to explain to you. Before that, I need to examine Ling Xiao.”
She opened the door to the infirmary. Ling Xiao was sitting alone on a bench outside.
“Ling Xiao,” she began, thinking of his ordeal, her tone softened. “Come in, it’s your turn.”
As Ling Xiao entered, Ying Feng was halfway through dressing. Ling Xiao’s gaze briefly fell on Ying Feng’s chest, and he quickly turned away.
Ying Feng buttoned up his shirt calmly, walking past Ling Xiao, but Yao Tai reminded him again to stay. “Don’t go. I have more to say.”
Ling Xiao and Ying Feng switched places. The instruments that were just on Ying Feng were connected to Ling Xiao, but they had lost their previous warmth.
“How do you feel?” Yao Tai asked, her tone uncharacteristically gentle toward Ling Xiao.
“I don’t feel much,” Ling Xiao replied honestly. If he had to describe it in words, it’d be numbness. He wasn’t devastated, nor was he furious. This overly calm demeanor, after failing the coming-of-age ceremony, was an ominous sign. Having seen various fledglings after their ceremonies, Yao Tai found it hard to look at him. She turned away. “Get up.”
Ling Xiao quietly dressed. During this time, his examination results were printed. Yao Tai silently studied the displayed data, her face serious.
“Dr. Yao, tell me. I can handle it.”
Yao Tai weighed her words. “Your psychological state isn’t very optimistic.”
“Do I need to be handcuffed like Lan Sheng?”
Yao Tai’s eyes flickered. “Not necessary. It hasn’t reached that level.”
She placed both hands on his shoulders, trying to convey strength to him in this manner. “Ling Xiao, I know you’re feeling down and sad right now, but this is due to hormonal imbalances. You mustn’t think that these are your true feelings deep down.”
“Do you remember Lan Sheng? He didn’t truly want to jump either. At that moment, he was not in control of his senses; he was trapped within his own world, not listening to anyone. But that was not his true intention.”
Without saying a word, Ling Xiao gently removed Yao Tai’s hand. “I can distinguish.”
Those simple words could carry a lot of meaning. Because he could distinguish, he clearly understood that his feelings at this moment stemmed from psychology, not physiology. Such a thought was even more troubling.
“I know you’re proud, and you don’t easily bow down to others. But you’re with Ying Feng now, and only he can help you through this. I believe you understand his character better than I do. If you don’t reach out, your relationship will remain at an impasse.”
“I’m not asking you to show weakness. I just hope you can soften, even if it’s just a little bit. I believe Ying Feng will never reject you.”
This time, Ling Xiao didn’t even speak, simply shaking his head lightly to indicate that it was impossible. Yao Tai, feeling helpless, covered her face with her hand.
“Listen, Ying Feng is still here. He’s right outside the door. He hasn’t left. If he didn’t want to face you, he could’ve just walked away.”
“But he stayed, which means he’s willing to take responsibility. For that reason alone, you shouldn’t give up on yourself. Although he does have a side that never changes, always acting cold to everyone—it’s a personality flaw. Approaching him proactively not only helps him but helps you too.”
“The bond between you two was completely accidental. It’s hard for anyone to accept such an outcome at first, so it’s natural to act distant. But regardless of Ying Feng’s current attitude, as long as he’s willing to stay, there’s a chance for both of you to truly bridge the gap and come together.”
Ling Xiao shook his head. “There won’t be such a chance. Ying Feng has someone he likes from his past life. I ruined his opportunity. He must hate me to the bone now.”
“The person he likes?” Yao Tai was puzzled. “Not long ago, he mentioned that he hasn’t found a suitable partner.”
“He hasn’t, but the person he likes is his lover from his previous life. I know he has been searching.”
Yao Tai struggled to suppress her rising anger.
“A lover from his previous life?” she said with agitation. “Do you know how many have dreamt of being with their past life’s lover? Such a beautiful fantasy—almost everyone has had it. Being with the same person life after life—how romantic? Even I’ve had such unrealistic dreams.”
“But what about now? Even if I found out that Zhi Shang was my enemy in my past life, I’d still want to be with him in this life. This life is different from the past. There’s no connection.”
“I can’t imagine someone like Ying Feng harboring such thoughts, but trust me, no one dreams about this forever. Everyone eventually finds the love of their current life. Lovers from past lives are just naive wishes, and sooner or later they’re replaced by true love.”
Ling Xiao knew Ying Feng’s attachment to his past was not as fragile as Yao Tai described. Even buying unverified information at a high price, cherishing the peach pit kept in his pocket, and his determination to forsake the coming-of-age ceremony and fight the Kui to the death—between life and freedom, he had made his choice. But he couldn’t tell Yao Tai all of this.
Yet Yao Tai persisted. “You must have faith in the future. Even revealing such an embarrassing matter as having a lover from a past life to you shows you hold some place in his heart. There’s endless possibilities between you, especially since you like him…”
A hand reached out, covering her mouth and stopping her words.
“No, there’s no such thing.” Ling Xiao pulled his hand back. “I haven’t fallen for him.”
“You have. The report says so. When Ying Feng was mentioned, your psychological graph showed a clear fluctuation.”
“I admit I care about him a lot,” Ling Xiao interrupted her, “but it’s not because I like him. It could be admiration, disgust, jealousy, or something else, but it’s definitely not due to affection.”
Yao Tai sighed. “The waveforms shown by like and hate are different, and they are distinct from any other emotion. You can deceive yourself, but you can’t deceive the instrument.”
“Your instrument is broken,” he said calmly.
“My instrument has never been broken,” Yao Tai said helplessly. “Perhaps even you haven’t realized it. The way you care about him and how you exaggerate things to get his attention—all these behaviors have only one explanation. You like him, Ling Xiao. This is undeniable.”
There was a long silence in the medical room.
“Will Ying Feng see my physical examination report?” he asked, lowering his head.
“Yes, he is your Qizhu. He has the right to know.”
“Can you please not tell him about this?”
Yao Tai was caught in a dilemma. “It’s his right. No one can…”
“Please.”
It seemed like Yao Tai heard such a voice, and she paused, ensuring it wasn’t her imagination.
“What?”
“Please.” Ling Xiao raised his head with a faint hint of a teary shimmer in his eyes. Yao Tai was stunned. Anyone who saw such a proud young man utter these words with tears would undoubtedly be moved.
“I’ve already been humiliated enough. Please let me retain the last bit of my dignity.”
Shadow Wolf Ben happily ran through the Black Forest. It was a place void of perennial ice and snow, with only soft grass and fallen leaves underfoot. The branches were laden with sweet fruits, and the antelopes and three-horned sheep were as plump as balls, full of rich fats.
After leaving the ice land, it no longer had to fall into a periodic sleep and didn’t need to target specific prey. Now it was full of strength, eating whatever it wanted and rolling wherever it liked.
Within just a few days, Ben realized it had grown plumper.
‘This isn’t good,’ it thought solemnly.
It was a mighty shadow wolf and should pursue a higher quality of life instead of mimicking the lifestyle of pigs. Maybe it could catch some prey for that white-haired human. He could make them even more delicious.
So, it killed a three-horned sheep and gently held it in its mouth, running toward the edge of the forest.
The Black Forest was filled with a variety of scents, one of which was very familiar and grabbed its attention. Shadow Wolf Ben hesitated for only a half-second, quickly succumbing to curiosity. It made a sharp turn and ran in the direction of that familiar scent—
Officer Rosen was about to bite into a chicken leg when he was almost choked by the sudden appearance of a wolf’s head.
“What?” He clutched the chicken leg bewilderingly, almost using it to target the shadow wolf.
“It’s that shadow wolf.” Dr. Zhu calmly threw wood into the fire. “I smelled it. I didn’t expect it to arrive so fast… Miss Lynn, don’t worry. This is Xu Yue’s wolf.”
Ben sat down, tilting its head in confusion, reflecting the images of six figures in its round red eyes—Elf Rosen and Wolfkin Julie, whose scents it recognized.
Next to Julie was a Puppet Witch that was squinting at it, her hands clutching a bizarre gun.
Clockwise, there was a Banshee with a giant Five-Eyed Crow on her shoulder, holding a small transparent ghost, watching Ben warily. The crow also spread its huge wings, trying to protect the person beside it.
Ah it’s over. Too many people.
In Night of the Hunt, there were at most four Players. It could also count to four. Now, there were more than five living creatures with Players’ auras! Terrible, really scary.
Ben dumbly opened its mouth, and the three-horned sheep crashed to the ground.
“Is Mr. Xu sending us food?” The Banshee asked nervously.
Rosen looked at the stiff shadow wolf. It was terrifying as an enemy, but as a companion, it seemed foolishly distressing.
“I guess not. Xu Yue asked everyone to wait in Red Mist Valley. He didn’t say he would send the shadow wolf for support,” Rosen said.
“But we’ve been waiting for days,” the Banshee said nervously. “Is that Xu Yue really reliable? Did something happen to him on the way? Should we contact him? Didn’t Sister Lynn say she has a way?”
Wolfkin Julie said gently, “Miss Qian, Xu Yue said he’d be at most two weeks late. Contacting him rashly might cause him trouble… You’re safe with us.”
It took a while for the Banshee to respond with a worried “mm”.
The Banshee, shrouded in a gray cloak, looked slim.
At first glance, the cloak seemed to be dirty linen, but upon closer inspection, it seemed to be something grown from her skin, similar to hair. The Banshee’s pale face and bloodshot red eyes peeked from the “cloak”, somewhat frightening.
“Lynn is constantly watching the surroundings,” the giant crow comforted. “Sisi, don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid. I’m worried about our child. You, as the father, should be more mindful. The baby is scared to death,” the Banshee said, holding the ghost tighter.
Her arms futilely passed through the pearly white ghost, and the little girl’s ghost made a pose of being held tightly, clinging to her mother. The appearance of the shadow wolf did scare the little girl. She almost crawled into the Banshee’s body.
The shadow wolf kept staring at them, and they didn’t know what it was thinking. Witch Lynn couldn’t sit still any longer. She changed her position to block the shadow wolf’s view.
“Since they’re letting this guy run around, Xu Yue and his group are probably in a quite troublesome dungeon.” Rosen finally bit into a chicken leg, chewing and mumbling, “This thing is stupid but powerful in a fight. They won’t easily give it up.”
“Agreed.” Lynn glanced at the giant black wolf.
After parting with Nol and the others, she had been heading towards various major cities. When she received Nol’s invitation, she was considering going around Grape Collar, so she met up with Officer Luo and the others.
During this time, Lynn had done one thing—she hid her dolls at every transport hub near several major cities.
Through the eyes of the dolls, she tried her best to observe everything.
Even if the neighbors were thrown into this messy world and turned into monsters, they would still instinctively approach and seek help from humans… But the humans here may not necessarily be friendly. She must find the “abnormally behaving” monsters before the Temple did.
Along the way, Lynn hadn’t been able to find any traces of her sister. But near Grape Collar, she discovered a family of three wandering around in the same area but never recognizing each other.
The Banshee mother, the giant Five-Eyed Crow Father, and the Ghost Daughter.
Three standard monsters, and also the family living in Unit 302, Building 8, Joy Garden.
When Witch Lynn found them, the family was severely shocked, almost on the verge of a mental breakdown. The Crow Father had been shot in the wing by a native. If it weren’t for encountering Rosen, who knew healing magic, he might have been disabled.
Fortunately, Luo and Zhu had dealings with this family. Having acquaintances around, the family’s spirits lifted quite a bit.
“Sisi, didn’t you always like the curtains at Mr. Xu’s house? You always mention them every time we pass by.”
The Crow Father tried to lighten the mood. “This time we might be able to catch them—you can ask him face-to-face where he bought them, and we will buy them when we go back, no matter the cost.”
The Banshee paused, then lowered her head, gently patting the Ghost Daughter’s head. “Mm, we’ll buy them when we go back.”
Lynn unconsciously raised the corner of her mouth, but the next second, the smile froze on her face. She cried out in pain, covering her left eye. “Investigation Knights!”
Her doll placed on the edge of the Black Forest had been discovered.
In the last vision of the doll, a young knight with a smile on his face ruthlessly stabbed it down. The backlash of magic pain was like a sharp tool, causing Lynn to almost scream.
Rosen immediately threw away the chicken bone in his hand, his face elongating as he recited a concealment spell. The air around started fluctuating, and the figures of six people evaporated and disappeared on the spot.
Julie stood up. Her fur bristled, and the bitter scent of a beast emanated from her, covering other scents.
[Mirage] [Territory Declaration]
The Banshee pursed her lips, and a subtle sense of rejection filled the surrounding space. Originally, approaching beasts turned around; birds perched on branches fluttered away.
The giant Crow’s five eyes lit up in red. He stood on the Banshee’s shoulder, vigilantly watching in a certain direction.
[Heart of Hate] [Ominous Warning]
When Lynn recovered, the neighbors’ magic had already woven into an invisible protective fortress.
She whistled, and dolls made of mud and leaves crawled out, emitting an exceptionally weird and strong aura, running in all directions.
[Distraction Toys]
Finally, the Puppet Witch twitched the corners of her mouth. She took off the animal bone stuck with dragonfly wings from her belt and threw it to the shadow wolf.
“You run away too!” she said hoarsely.
The shadow wolf stopped watching and ran after the bone with its tongue out, leaving the fat three-horned sheep behind.
The sheep head was facing the direction of the six neighbors with its hollow eyes reflecting nothing.
The edge of the Black Forest.
“…Interesting.” Eugene pulled out the sword embedded in the doll’s skull. “This Puppet Witch is too smart.”
“Captain?”
“Using the fewest dolls to monitor the largest area. You all have to learn from her arrangement method… This isn’t the intelligence a normal monster should have.” Eugene kicked the damaged doll.
They heard the news that Saint Anakin had been dispatched and came to inspect and support but didn’t expect this surprise.
“It’s likely an extraplanar monster.” A young knight pondered. “Should we prioritize capturing it? I mean, before the Saints notice—”
“No, no. Its response was too perfect, and this forest is too big. We won’t be able to capture it.”
Eugene smiled. “…I am more worried about something else.”
His metal boots pressed slightly, and with a crisp sound, the ceramic doll under his feet shattered. “The monsters’ individual combat capability is stronger than humans, but they aren’t a match for humans. Do you all know why?”
“Because ‘monsters’ only fight alone. Even if they act in groups, they will only be with their own kind. The weaknesses are easy to grasp?” The young knight answered actively.
“And humans know to let different professions cooperate and act in teams,” the middle-aged knight who had been following Eugene added.
Eugene clapped his hands approvingly, the gauntlets making a crisp sound.
“Very good. Suppose a particularly intelligent leader appears among these extraplanar monsters, making these powerful monsters learn to cooperate… What would happen?”
“Impossible.”
The middle-aged knight hesitated for a moment. “Captain, even the Saints know nothing about this world. These extraplanar monsters are randomly distributed. They probably don’t even understand their own situation. How could they easily unite.”
Eugene shrugged. “Who knows?”
“The Goddess arranged these messy ‘extraplanar monsters’; it must be her intention—maybe she’s trying to use this as bait to fish out the ‘monster among monsters’.”
…….
[Sometimes I think you’re even more abnormal than a ‘monster’ like me.]
When Teest said this, they were walking in circles in the Dream Forest. The fallen leaves were soft, but Nol was stepping on them very forcefully, as if they were his enemies from a previous life.
Teest was eating honey soft cakes from his waist bag while his thoughts were coming in like rapid fire. [Why are you so concerned about those succubi? Their queen deceives the group at will, and they are willing to deceive themselves. It’s not your concern.]
This was sincere.
Teest originally thought that otherworldly people were somewhat naïve and liked to meddle in others’ affairs. But through interactions along the way, he found that only Nol’s “helping syndrome” was especially severe—most otherworldly people tend to avoid trouble to save their own lives.
Even for the sake of quest rewards, Nol was too serious.
[Honey, you might as well pay more attention to those two Players. I suspect they have received related quests.] Seeing Nol not responding, Teest continued to mumble.
Nol still didn’t respond; he was obviously lost in thought, his feet still stepping hard on the leaves. Even Anakin and Solo noticed his abnormality and deliberately kept their distance.
[Alright, then pay more attention to me.]
Teest ate the last bit of the soft honey cake and wrapped his tail around Nol’s wrist, rubbing gently. [Help your pitiful husband analyze the current situation, all-knowing Mr. Lich.]
Nol finally lightened his steps, shook his head, and finally came back to his senses.
“The succubi made it very clear. Find the bewilderment grass, and you can find the queen.” He looked at Teest and repeated dryly, “So far, this is a game of hide-and-seek with hints, simpler than that Margret’s quest.”
The “heir selection” wasn’t their actual quest. The difficulty of the quest was how to save the succubi tribe. Nol didn’t think that “the Mad Monk becoming the heir” had any positive impact on this tribe.
All he was thinking about now was finding the culprit causing all this and grinding them into pieces.
The reason Nol was still looking for the runaway succubus queen was just to get information from her—
As a queen, even if she didn’t know the reason for the succubi’s disappearance, she should know why Queen Hyacinth committed suicide years ago. Nol intuitively felt that this matter was related to the current situation of the succubi, and he cared a lot about it.
Nol changed his mind. Even if he didn’t make a big appearance in front of the Players, he must figure out what was going on in this ghost of a place.
“Can I, um, say something?” Solo, who was walking behind them, raised his hand. “About that mad queen, the succubi are hiding part of the truth, which I overheard outside the palace.”
“Please tell me.” Nol slowed down.
“Together with the queen who disappeared, there was also her female knight Malvina…” Solo took a breath and spoke slowly.
Nol listened attentively, his lips almost forming a line.
According to Succubus Doni, Queen Wilimina always had a tendency to be addicted to bewilderment grass.
Bewilderment grass was a special herb that grew near the succubi tribe, and they liked to use it to brew wine. The “Bewilderment Dew” in the quest reward was a very famous succubus specialty wine.
The bewilderment grass itself wasn’t addictive, but if consumed directly, it could create almost real illusions, reflecting the deepest desires of the consumer. And after the effect wore off, it would cause extremely intense pain. Usually, succubi wouldn’t choose to eat it directly.
Doni said Wilimina had been looking for bewilderment grass to consume to escape reality.
The bewilderment grass nearby was decreasing, which meant the queen was running further and further away—initially, she just slipped out for a few hours every few days. In the past two months, this queen began to stay out all night.
The magical protection of the succubus territory was still there, so the succubi were sure the queen was still alive.
But she indeed hadn’t come back for two months, so they also believed the queen was completely mad. For this tribe, this didn’t seem to be a rare occurrence.
They didn’t mention the female knight Malvina at all.
“Perhaps the succubi aren’t hiding it maliciously.” At the end, Solo carefully observed Nol’s face. “The queen and Malvina have been friends since childhood. Every time the queen disappeared before, it was Malvina who brought her back. This time… This time the queen has been missing for so long, they suspect Malvina is dead.”
“Well, so we might have to bring back two people,” Teest concluded. “Bewilderment grass is just their blind guess, and now the situation is even more uncertain.”
“We’re just scouting today. We’ll go back later, and everyone will inquire more,” Nol said.
Teest silently looked behind Nol. The fallen leaves were stepped on by Nol, leaving rows of small pits. They were truly “treading spots”.
Recently, his Lich husband’s temper had been unpredictable, becoming more and more like a real monster. Maybe tonight he should sacrifice his scalp again and let this guy touch it a bit?
…Actually, even though Nol was disorderly, his technique was quite good. He secretly enjoyed it and could also pretend to be doing him a favor.
The Mad Monk was planning cheerfully in his heart when suddenly a slight sound entered his ears.
That sound was very faint, like a gold wheel gently rolling over the fallen leaves.
Teest turned his head, and in the purple mist of the forest rolling in, he saw a glint of gold. A dirty gold wheel stood on a leaf that wasn’t far from where Teest stood silently, as if it were quietly watching him.
“Honey.” Teest’s voice strained, and the tail wrapped around Nol’s wrist tightened. “…Look over there.”
Nol looked in the direction Teest was pointing, but he only saw the gently swaying mist.
“There is nothing.” He asked vigilantly, “Did you see something?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
In Teest’s eyes, the gold wheel gently bounced and rolled away. Seeing that Teest didn’t immediately follow, it even stopped, as if waiting for him. Teest drew out his “Betrayer”, and all the relaxation on his face disappeared.
“Don’t act rashly.” Nol immediately grabbed the tail on his wrist.
“Don’t worry. I know.” Teest turned around and smiled at Nol.
In these short seconds, the mist suddenly became extremely dense. Nol couldn’t see Teest’s face, even though they were only a step apart. Everything was becoming blurred. Teest’s figure was quickly engulfed by the mist. Distance and direction distorted, and something was stirring behind his remaining silhouette—
Nol stepped forward without hesitation. He followed the succubus’s tail and tightly hugged Teest’s waist.
It was a foolish decision, he knew.
…But he didn’t want to lose anything else while he could only watch.
The mist rolled endlessly and dissipated as quickly as it came. When that thick mist disappeared, only Anakin and Solo were left in the original position.
Teest and Nol had disappeared.
The author has something to say:
Nol: Try taking someone from me again! (Anger is about to be full again)
Teest: Actually, it feels quite comfortable when Nol touches my hair, but I won’t say it. ^-^
…This time the succubus’s tail has made a great contribution!
Opponents: Huh, how come these two people are linked together? What’s their relationship?
————————————
Shadow Wolf: So many people! (Stunned)
Poor wolf. Without five fingers, it can’t even properly count…
Anakin almost immediately refused. They did indeed feel pity for the succubi, just as they felt compassion for international friends trapped in war and famine when they were on Earth.
But they were just ordinary people with ordinary mindsets. Everyone was currently too busy taking care of themselves, so it was impossible to risk their lives for a foreign race.
Players couldn’t die, but most of them on Earth would complain even when drawing blood. The pain of death wasn’t a joke.
But as she was cautiously forming her words, a system prompt suddenly appeared.
The animation of its appearance was a bit odd, not flowing smoothly and accompanied by glitch-like flickers.
[You have triggered a hidden quest: One Question.]
[Normal Achievement: Leave the Dream Edge without any deaths.]
[Perfect Achievement: Leave the Dream Edge without any deaths; assist in saving the dying Succubus tribe.]
[Quest Reward: Massive experience [Normal]; Permanent increase of luck attribute by 20% [Perfect]; The goodwill of a certain existence [Perfect].]
[Rejection/Failure Penalty: None]
[Do you accept the quest?]
Such a weird quest. Anakin’s gaze stayed on the prompt.
Until now, the quests in “Tahe” seemed logical. Most of them were triggered by specific locations, items, or events. Some NPCs also issued quests, but their roles were clear—like shopkeepers asking for errands or Temple personnel commissioning monster kills. The logic was easy to understand.
However, this quest… was informal. It wasn’t an event they experienced firsthand, nor was the situation very serious. After just a mention of the current situation by Nol, it eagerly popped up.
Especially the part about “the goodwill of a certain existence”. It was really intriguing.
But Anakin hesitated only for a few seconds—a quest was still a quest. They should strive to leave alive, and there was experience to gain. Why not accept?
“Yes, yes, yes, those succubi are so pitiable.” Rogue Solo spoke first, his tone exceptionally righteous. “Unity is strength. I will definitely help with all my might!”
So obvious. Anakin rubbed her temples hard.
“I will also help. Do you need anything from us?” she added with a straight face.
“Not for now. Rest well. If there’s any update, we’ll consult you two.” Nol looked at the two Players suspiciously.
Both acted rationally, unlike passionate youths who disregarded life and death. Nol originally hoped the Players would believe him and not act recklessly. He never imagined they would volunteer to help.
And they even saw the two of them share a kiss, yet the Players never inquired about their relationship. Did he and Teest really look like “rare NPCs” to them?
Nol was baffled and decided to put this aside for now—he already had enough problems to deal with.
……
They got a very nice bedroom—or rather, Teest did.
Anakin and Solo had to settle for a deserted stone house in a remote location. Nol suspected that his proximity to the Succubus Palace was entirely due to the “succubus” Teest.
The room was equally magnificent.
It was spacious and clean, with a fluffy double bed in the center. Candles emitting sweet, fruity scents were lit by the bed. No matter how long they burned, the candle size didn’t diminish.
A row of large white-framed domed windows opened on the bedroom wall, overlooking a mesmerizing forest and sky. The gauzy curtains swayed gently in the breeze.
Teest sat on the bed, bouncing a bit on the soft bedding.
“No wonder these creatures that thrive on dreams have such high standards for their ‘dining plates’.” Teest pressed the cloud-like mattress, happily lying down.
Nol, however, stood by the window, looking out into the boundless dream world.
The more beautiful it seemed here, the colder his heart felt. In this dreamy scene, there should have been a pair of lovers—at least, that was their woven fate, or so it should have been.
Nol pressed his palm against the crystal-like glass, silently gazing at this world. Except for the impending destruction, everything was perfect.
Suddenly, a pair of hands reached out, covering his eyes from behind. The despairing world vanished instantly, and all he saw was darkness.
“Stop looking. It’s time for you to rest, my queen,” Teest whispered. “Or would you prefer the title ‘my beloved husband’? Act natural. Those succubi are definitely spying on us. I think you know.”
Nol could indeed guess. He was just… a bit weary, too tired to fuss over it.
“I need a real hug now,” Nol said, feeling the hands covering his eyes.
Teest chuckled. “How about a bonus tail wrap? I’m quite generous.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. But I sincerely ask you, don’t touch the tail too much—the tip of a succubus’s tail is very sensitive.”
In bed, Nol hugged Teest tightly from behind, burying his face in his back. Teest’s tail brushed against his arm, its tip softly resting on Nol’s waist, like a hug.
The bedding of the succubi was truly top-notch. Despite his worries, Nol fell asleep quickly.
When he opened his eyes, the bedroom was slightly dimmer than before. At some point, Teest had turned to face him. Teest was in deep sleep, lips slightly parted. His long silver hair was spread across the pillow, tickling Nol’s cheek.
In the dim light, Teest’s presence seemed even more pronounced.
The Mad Monk, while deep in sleep, looked completely “harmless”. Even from such close proximity, Nol couldn’t find a single flaw in his appearance.
For a rare moment, Nol let his mind wander, staring at the face so close to him, as if glued to Teest. The other’s skin was warm and soft, and Nol’s hands, which were wrapped around Teest’s waist, involuntarily tightened. Despite Teest’s eyes being closed, Nol felt a strange sense of… enchantment.
The moment he realized it, a chill ran down Nol’s spine.
Something’s wrong.
Everything was too relaxed. The atmosphere was too intimate, as if someone was deliberately manipulating it. Nol glanced out of the window and then looked down at his own bare body with a wry smile.
This was a dream.
The details of the forest outside the window were slightly different from what he remembered before going to sleep. Also, before they went to bed, both he and Teest had undoubtedly been fully dressed. He was so dazed that he didn’t even notice this.
Luckily, as a Lich with a higher mental resistance and a Player with even stronger mental defenses, Nol was only confused for less than thirty seconds.
“Don’t you like me?”
A familiar voice whispered in his ear.
“The real world is too heavy. You need comfort, stronger than just ‘a kiss’.” The illusion spoke in Teest’s voice. “Why don’t you look at me?”
“I don’t like men.” Nol released the illusion.
“You’re lying, Mr. Mage.” The illusion wearing Teest’s face smiled mischievously, just like the real Teest. The succubus tail playfully circled around Nol’s lower back.
Nol buried half of his face in the pillow, laying almost calmly.
He knew what was going on. To retain the characteristics of the succubi while passing the game’s regulations, their magic had been thoroughly revised, and Nol remembered all the details.
The succubi manipulated dreams, making the target dream of the person they were most interested in. They then guided the target to complete the illusion, making them lost in a vivid dream…
Once this passionate dream ended, the succubi could harvest the corresponding life force.
However, out of consideration for privacy and courtesy, the succubus casting the spell didn’t watch the whole process.
“I regret that I don’t have the energy to indulge in those kind of fantasies,” Nol whispered, even though he knew the succubi couldn’t hear him. He looked beyond the illusion.
Of course, Nol also knew why his subconscious accused him of “lying”.
The entity speaking to him wasn’t the “illusion of Teest”, but a projection of his own subconscious. One couldn’t lie to oneself.
“I admit that the succubi might not have chosen the wrong person… At this moment, in this world, I do need him the most.”
Nol finally reached out and touched the top of Teest’s head. He had never done this to the real Teest, suspecting the Mad Monk wouldn’t like it. Just as he imagined, Teest’s hair was soft and warm under his touch.
The illusion smiled, lying silently, allowing Nol to caress it.
The room was quiet, with only the faint sounds of their breathing. Nol stroked Teest’s hair repeatedly, the hair sliding through his fingers like warm water. The sound of the hair rubbing against his skin was soft, like the rustling of silk.
Thinking that the real Teest was beside him, Nol surprisingly felt a bit calmer.
Reality was indeed heavy, and Teest might not sincerely help. But… having someone “by your side” and being “all alone” indeed were different.
When the scent of hair clung to his hands, Nol closed his eyes and hugged the illusion once more.
He was thankful for the little tricks of the succubi. Judging by the outcome, he indeed felt much more relaxed.
The poor succubi. They were destined not to extract life force from him—how could one possibly extract life force from a purely undead being?
Perhaps the heavens sensed the grudge of the succubi. When Nol really opened his eyes, he realized something was amiss.
Teest lay opposite him; his usually smooth hair was now a mess. The look he gave Nol was complex, with a hint of accusation in his eyes.
Nol subconsciously raised his hand and sniffed it. As expected, he smelled the faint scent of Teest’s hair on his palm.
Nol: “……”
Nol: “…Last night… I…”
“You woke me up by pulling my hair last night,” Teest said with a hint of melancholy. “Did you have a strange dream? Were you shearing sheep?”
Nol averted his gaze.
Teest sized him up and hummed meaningfully. “Alright, no jokes. It’s easy to guess. Those starving succubi must have wanted to get something out of you, the ‘human’. I won’t ask whom you dreamt of, but… you have a thing for hair? It’s quite a unique fetish. Fortunately, it wasn’t too noticeable.”
Suppressing a myriad of thoughts, Nol pondered for a few seconds and then just nodded heavily.
The succubi had no food, so naturally, there was no breakfast. Only a morning court assembly.
Both Teest and Nol were given chairs. The two Players were still not allowed into the court and had to wait in the hall outside.
The boundary between day and night was unclear here. Even the definition of “morning” was determined by the state of the hourglass beside the throne.
The beautiful throne remained empty, with no sign of the queen named “Wilimina”. Nol looked at the vacant throne, resisting the urge to sigh.
“Last night, I felt violated.”
Teest was the first to speak among all the succubi, his tone solemn and sad. “I know you all are hungry, but how could you not even greet before preying on my lover?”
The room went silent.
“… Allow me to explain, Mr. Teest.”
The male succubus named Adonis—or Doni for short*—stood up. He wandered up to Teest and Nol and bowed with difficulty.
*Adonis (阿多尼斯). Doni (多尼). Generally, nicknames are given when the names of the characters (especially westernized) are too long.
Teest looked at him with a hurt expression, while Nol tried to mimic an offended look.
“We all know it was rude… Just like other groups, we wouldn’t touch a comrade’s lover. We are truly sorry, but the children are too hungry.”
Nol’s “offended look” almost faltered. “What?”
“You might not know,” Doni said, looking down. “The longer the lifespan of an immortal species, the harder it is to reproduce and the more precious the offspring. Since… Since we’ve been trapped here, no children have been born for many years. Children need a lot of life force to grow… We forcibly put the few remaining children to sleep, but they still need life force to sustain basic consumption.”
Speaking of this, he lowered his head even more. “If we told you outright, it would be like kidnapping the two of you to help. We thought just once—just once—and they could last a few more months. Maybe you wouldn’t notice, and we’d find another way by then…”
Dumbstruck, Nol gripped Teest’s hand and feigned ignorance. “I heard that succubi occasionally go out to hunt, and there are humans in your dungeons. Why not choose more prey?”
Doni seemed uneasy. He glanced at Teest, then quickly looked away. The other succubi remained silent, with only a few sighs echoing in the large space.
“I’m curious too.” Teest took the opportunity to question, clear and loud.
“…Because we can’t,” Doni answered bitterly after a moment. “When the Great Queen Hyacinth was alive, we could hunt normally. But afterward… many of our kin who ventured to the Dream Edge realm never returned. At first, two or three out of ten would disappear. Then that number rose to five or six. In the past twenty years, not one who went out ‘hunting’ has returned.”
“Hyacinth died over 150 years ago,” Nol said, trying to remain calm. “After 150 years, you should know the reason. Who is your enemy? Where are they?”
Perhaps sensing a hint of malice in his tone, Doni finally looked at Nol.
He let out a raspy, unpleasant laugh, then slowly shook his head.
“We only know the enemy is the Eternal Church,” he said slowly. “As for what methods they used… we don’t know. Really, we don’t. Every succubus who encountered them disappeared. Not one has returned with any clues in over 150 years.”
Nol silently gripped the armrest of his chair.
“The humans in the dungeons are invaders from the Eternal Church. If it wasn’t for them, we would have starved to death decades ago,” Doni continued. “You might think we’re incompetent, but apart from the tribes in the Shiva Realm, succubi from other countries were nearly wiped out. Even living this pitifully, we’ve lasted the longest…”
[Perhaps the invaders from the Eternal Church are being used as “food”,] Teest thought. [If the extermination continues, the species will become extinct, so why not just domesticate them and weaken their spirit—that’s probably what the people from the Eternal Church are thinking.]
[Then they dream more than the succubi,] Nol responded coldly.
[Haha!] Teest laughed unreservedly in his mind. [I’m growing fonder of your sense of humor, Mr. Lich.]
“I won’t provide life force for those children.” Nol hissed at the succubus Doni. “If you want to save them, go find your own food.”
Doni looked at Nol with an expected “sure enough” expression, his dim eyes showing no anger. “We were at fault first. We understand…”
“But I don’t.” Nol’s voice softened. He stood up and walked to Doni. “If it were my children I wanted to save, I would do anything for them. Dignity, honor, I’d throw them all away—if your manners prevent you from questioning me or rebuking me, then why don’t you plead with me?”
The queen was nowhere to be found, the children were dying, and their race was on the verge of extinction. The succubi lived methodically while slowly starving to death, calmly choosing the next heir, as if the world were still normal.
Was he crazy, or were they?
Doni lifted his dry eyes, looking at Nol with a gaze as lifeless as a true corpse. He said nothing.
Instead, Teest raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking at Nol’s straight back.
“Say it.” Nol stared deep into his eyes. “Say you want to survive.”
Doni stretched his mouth into an indecipherable smile on his mummified face.
“As I said before, I’m in charge of Lord Teest in the heir selection.” He politely changed the topic, took a few steps back, and bowed respectfully to Teest. “The contents of the heir selection have been decided.”
“Whoever successfully brings back the maddened queen will be the next heir.”
The author has something to say:
Teest: (Sound asleep, suddenly grabbed in the middle of the night, and had his hair wildly tousled)
Teest: (Deep in thought)
Teest: …Buddy, you have a weird way of XP interaction.
Xiao Pang was killed, implying that the hidden S Army was about to launch a roundup plan on the few remaining members of the Falcon Squadron.
On the eastern side of the long street, there was a bank. It was the tallest building on this block. After Zhou Qian received a message from the system, he quickly assessed the situation of the entire street and then swiftly directed the other players to take cover inside the bank.
At that moment, Situ Qing was still struggling emotionally, but after Zhou Qian tapped her on the shoulder and asked, “Do you really want to die here?”, she finally wiped away her tears and quickly entered the bank.
Meanwhile, everyone received another message from the system.
Except for Situ Qing, who was slightly behind, the other three players were at the same rate. Zhou Qian estimated that by the end of this task, the three of them would directly reach 100%.
As for the subtask he triggered by gifting the mooncake, he probably had to find Jiang Yuqing to complete it.
Among the four, Zhou Qian was the last to enter the bank. As he was quickly figuring out the next move in the game, he took out an item from his bag.
[Item: Snail Transmitter]
[Function: Made up of snail brothers. Only the size of a real snail, but it’s great at picking up sounds! Stick the younger snail somewhere discreet and place the older snail in your ear. Whatever the younger hears, the elder will relay to you!]
After sticking the younger snail on the lamppost behind Xiao Pang’s body, Zhou Qian didn’t immediately enter the bank. He scanned the surroundings, then sent out the small dragon he always carried with him.
After giving it an item and whispering a few words to it, Zhou Qian felt that he was adequately prepared. Only after completing these two tasks did he finally enter the bank.
Upon entering, Zhou Qian immediately closed the door and went straight up to the top floor, the seventh floor, via the stairs. Looking out of the window, he was vigilant for any signs of the S Army.
At this moment, He Xiaowei approached him, crouching. “Hey… Could the S Army possibly plant bombs, seeing us hide here, encircle us with them, and blow us up?”
Narrowing his eyes and looking around, Zhou Qian accessed the system’s map to check something, then said, “It’s certainly possible.”
He Xiaowei: “What?!”
Zhou Qian continued, “But remember, this isn’t a real war setting; it’s a heavily scripted game. The shot that hit Xiao Pang indicates the onset of the S Army’s rampage, yet the hidden sniper hasn’t acted against us right away.”
He Xiaowei realized. “Right. So, the game gives us some prep time to find cover.”
Zhou Qian responded, “Exactly. Knowing this, I sent my dragon out covertly to accomplish a task during this brief window.”
He Xiaowei curiously asked, “What task?”
“Let’s wait until it succeeds before I tell you.”
Zhou Qian added, “However, what you mentioned earlier could indeed happen, so we definitely can’t stay here for long.”
As they spoke, Yun Xiangrong and Situ Qing approached, each holding a large box. Inside were two guns and three grenades.
Yun Xiangrong said, “While you were coming up, we searched the ground floor and found a basement. It seems to be an intelligence agency’s hideout. Look, these guns have a ‘7’ symbol on them.”
“Good find.” Zhou Qian looked at them and asked, “But among you, who knows how to shoot?”
After a moment of silence, Situ Qing took the initiative to pick up a rifle. She skillfully changed the magazine and then just as expertly attached the silencer. Her movements were clearly professional.
“Damn, how do you know how to use a gun?” He Xiaowei looked at her in surprise.
Situ Qing walked to the window and looked out, saying indifferently, “I worked at a shooting range and often played with the guests. They liked to challenge people. I usually let them win.”
A little later, He Xiaowei and Yun Xiangrong went into the building to look for more usable weapons.
Situ Qing stood by the window with her rifle, acting as a temporary sniper.
Zhou Qian continued to study the city map. The city was well planned, with several main roads crisscrossing, leading everywhere. Buildings neatly lined both sides of the roads, connected by countless small alleys…
In such a big city, where could Jiang Yuqing be hiding?
With the limited information they had, it was hard for the players to decide. Searching inch by inch was clearly impossible, especially with countless S Army troops possibly about to flood the city.
After a while, Yun Xiangrong and He Xiaowei returned. As expected, He Xiaowei brought back a can of oil from the kitchen. However, they didn’t find much else.
While Zhou Qian was deep in thought, studying the map, Situ Qing whispered, “Two people are coming!”
Zhou Qian looked out the window and saw two armed figures in the streetlight, looking similar to the gunmen from the 12 rooms.
They walked over and glanced at Xiao Pang. Using the snail tool, Zhou Qian easily heard their conversation.
One asked, “Are you sure it’s here?”
The other replied, “Yes. A scout killed this kid and reported seeing members of the Falcon Squadron nearby. At the time, only the scout was here. The Falcon Squadron members are all skilled, so he only killed the kid and fled, not daring to act rashly against the others.”
“Then they’re probably hiding around here. Send people to search every house!”
“Yes.”
“And see if Jiang Yuqing is hiding on this street too!”
“Yes.”
“I’ll remind you again, Jiang Yuqing has something very important… He’s too cunning. He hasn’t left a single draft! All the formulas are in his head! We must capture him alive. Don’t harm him.”
“Understood, boss.”
Having overheard this, Zhou Qian quickly relayed their conversation to his teammates. He Xiaowei immediately frowned. “Damn, this level is hard. We’re just four, but the S Army is countless! It’s already hard to escape under their noses, let alone searching the whole place for Jiang Yuqing. It’s impossible! This mission is impossible!”
Zhou Qian said, “That’s why I think—searching for Jiang Yuqing isn’t our job. We should let others do it for us.”
He Xiaowei: “Huh?”
Zhou Qian continued, “Didn’t they say? They want to capture Jiang Yuqing alive because of the important data he has. So, it’s not wise for us to search the city for him. The real way to pass the level is to let them find him. We follow them discreetly, and once they find him, we rescue him.”
“Although the S Army outnumbers us, we have the advantage of surprise.”
In reality, He Xiaowei didn’t feel that his group had much of an advantage. The enemies had guns and cannons, and to exaggerate a bit, they might even have poison gas grenades. But his own group only had two rifles and three hand grenades.
At this moment, Zhou Qian coldly watched the two men on the street, continuing to eavesdrop.
The commander said, “Search this street quickly! If Jiang Yuqing isn’t here… I don’t care where the Falcon Squadron is hiding. Just plant explosives and blow up the entire street!”
“Yes.” One of the subordinates pulled out a walkie-talkie, said something, and quickly entered a nearby three-story building. He came out a minute later.
By this time, over ten more S Army troops had arrived, beginning their door-to-door search.
Having taken in the entire scene, Zhou Qian glanced at the time displayed on the system panel, saying, “They’ll find our building in about five minutes. So, listen closely to my deployment plan—”
“Situ Qing, you’ll take one minute to teach He Xiaowei how to use a gun. I don’t need him to be precise, just to be able to fire the bullets.”
“He Xiaowei, after you’ve learned how to shoot in one minute, leave this building first. The street runs north to south, and the S Army is searching from south to north. Therefore, exit the bank building through the back door and run north through the alley outside. After passing four buildings, find an appropriate sniping position. You must complete this within three minutes.”
“Three minutes later, Situ Qing will snipe from our current position. He Xiaowei’s task is to shoot from a building four buildings to the north, covering her.”
“He Xiaowei, just shoot freely. If you hit someone, great; if not, no worries. Our real sniper is Situ Qing. Just cover her and protect yourself.”
“Yun Xiaorong will leave with He Xiaowei. Follow him to the sniping position four buildings away, and within three minutes, set up an ignition mechanism using this barrel of oil. The fuse must be placed just right. When He Xiaowei shoots, time it right and ignite the fuse to explode the barrel.”
“If the trap works to its full potential, it’s best to trap the enemy army when they try to enter the building to shoot He Xiaowei.”
“Of course, even if it doesn’t kill the enemy, it’s okay. Its primary purpose is to help you and He Xiaowei escape. Once the building catches fire, they will be blocked and can’t directly pass through that building to the alleyway where you’re escaping.”
“So, I need to emphasize, measure the fuse correctly. It shouldn’t explode before you and He Xiaowei leave the bank. Time it perfectly. If it doesn’t kill, it’s okay; the primary goal is to ensure your escape.”
After listening, the three of them asked Zhou Qian in unison, “What about you?”
You’ve planned for us meticulously; what about yourself?
Zhou Qian said, “This city has three main roads. The street we’re on is on the outermost layer. I guess the S Army will close in layer by layer, searching every house for Jiang Yuqing and us. By the way… have you played PUBG*?”
*PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. A battle royale game in which up to one hundred players are parachuted onto an island where they scavenge for weapons and equipment to kill other players while avoiding getting killed themselves.
He Xiaowei immediately responded, “Yes! I have!”
“That’s right. In PUBG, there’s the shrinking play zone, right? 100 players drop onto a map, shooting at each other, and the safe zone keeps changing, getting smaller, forcing the remaining players into a tiny point for a final showdown…”
“It’s similar for us now. We can consider these three main roads, along with their surrounding alleys, as three safe zones.”
“Currently, we’re in the outermost zone. The S Army will probably spend less than half an hour checking this entire area. Once they confirm Jiang Yuqing isn’t here, they’ll bomb this place. By then, this initially safe zone will no longer be safe, and we have to flee to the next zone, the second main road—Changjiang Road.”
“The enemies will keep increasing. During our escape, we take down whoever we can. So, I’ve devised this plan, especially since a few of their leaders seem to have emerged. We must eliminate them first.”
“Let me reiterate the overall plan—Situ Qing will try to shoot as many S Army soldiers as possible. He Xiaowei will provide cover from the building four structures away. Once he attracts the enemy, Yun Xiaorong ignites the fuse, and they both retreat. Situ Qing, remember to withdraw in time. Don’t expose your position. If you don’t hit anyone, it doesn’t matter; first, preserve your life and run.”
“Remember, your retreat location is Changjiang Road.”
At this point, Zhou Qian pointed towards the east, where a cross faintly appeared, signaling a church.
“The church is located on the second main road, Changjiang Road. That’s our next safe zone. Do you see the tall building next to the church? That’s our rendezvous point.”
“That building is the tallest on the second main road. It’s similar to this bank and is an excellent vantage point.”
“After all, this is just a game. If all the tall buildings are filled with snipers, it becomes too hard for us. So, I assume, like this bank, that tall building hasn’t been occupied by the S Army.”
“The idea remains the same. The S Army is encircling from the outskirts of the city, layer by layer searching inwards, bombing buildings, until they locate Jiang Yuqing. Hence, there probably aren’t any enemies inside that building for the time being.”
“But this is just my initial guess. It may not be 100% accurate. There might still be snipers hidden inside. So, while you all move, I’ll act immediately.”
“You just asked me, ‘What about me?'”
“Now, I’m telling you. I’ll reach that tall building first to check if there are any ambushes from the S Army.”
“If I die, He Xiaowei—” Looking at He Xiaowei, Zhou Qian said, “Please persuade Yun Xiangrong to use the Tick Tock Clock to save me. If I’m alive, I’ll message you through the system, instructing you to regroup here.”
To save time, Zhou Qian explained everything swiftly. Given the urgency, hardly anyone had time to doubt or discuss better options. In such situations, absolute obedience was the most efficient response.
Zhou Qian was the first to descend the building. Exiting from the bank’s back door, he went through an alley and hid behind garbage bins, peeking out to observe the street’s situation. After a little over half a minute, he heard movement behind him. As expected, He Xiaowei and Yun Xiangrong followed.
Utilizing the sparse light from the street, He Xiaowei gestured to Zhou Qian, then quickly moved into another alley, heading to the northern four-story building. Yun Xiangrong, carrying an oil barrel and moving slower, tried to keep pace.
The layout of Cypress City was clear. The sea lay to the west of the city, hence the name West Pier. The first main road from West Pier to the east was the very street the S Army was sweeping. The bank where Zhou Qian and the others were located was near the main city area, on the eastern side of the street.
This meant they could avoid crossing the main road during their escape and could directly reach the tallest building on Changjiang Road through a maze of alleys.
At the moment, many S Army soldiers had gathered on the main street. They searched house by house, swiftly clearing each alley, moving from south to north. After clearing a building, they planted explosives, intending to blow everything up soon.
Witnessing all this, Zhou Qian hoped that the explosion Yun Xiangrong would cause with the oil barrel might ignite the bombs the S Army placed prematurely, inflicting heavy casualties. But that was quite an idealistic hope. If everything went according to plan, just reaching the next rendezvous point after killing some S Army soldiers would be great.
Three minutes later, a gunshot was heard. It was Situ Qing acting punctually. Without any bravado, she shot the leader’s head. A dozen S Army soldiers instantly raised their guns, rushing out of various buildings, looking for the shooter. Another shot was fired by He Xiaowei from the outskirts of the four-story building, shattering a streetlight, drawing the soldiers’ attention.
“Over there! Throw grenades at that building!”
“Yes!”
After this command, three soldiers with grenades moved towards He Xiaowei’s location. However, four crisp gunshots rang out from Situ Qing. All her shots found their marks. The three grenade-bearing soldiers fell before reaching He Xiaowei’s building, and the commander who ordered the grenades was also killed.
[Situ Qing, you might be exposed. Run now. Saving your life is most important.]
Upon receiving this message from Zhou Qian, Situ Qing immediately fled. Just as she left the building and hid in an adjacent alley, shouts were heard on the main street. “Wrong! The real sniper is in the bank! Move in quickly and eliminate them! This Falcon Squadron is too cunning!”
At this very moment, Situ Qing, who was desperately running for her life in the darkness, felt her heart skip a beat.
He’s different. Zhou Qian really… is different from Mu Sheng.
Upon reflection, she thought she should have realized this earlier. Most people in this world weren’t like Mu Sheng.
Mu Sheng was an anomaly—a demon dragging her down with him. She should have… should have left him long ago.
Elsewhere, Zhou Qian quickly sent messages to He Xiaowei and Yun Xiangrong.
[Successfully took out two of their minor leaders. Without a leader, they’ll be more chaotic; the mission is accomplished. Run now.]
After sending the two messages, Zhou Qian dashed toward the tallest building near the second main road.
He estimated that it was unlikely for an ambush to be there, but he wasn’t completely sure.
As he ran, Zhou Qian pulled out a second dragon scale, quickly summoning another small dragon.
After giving the dragon its orders, it flew from his embrace, heading straight for the tall building.
The dragon carried Zhou Qian’s life essence and would be treated as if it were a human.
It could test if there was a sniper hidden in the building.
After the dragon left, Zhou Qian stopped momentarily in a small alley far from the main street.
He stood with his back against a tree, blending into the shadows of the night. His gaze remained fixed in the direction the dragon had gone, not wavering in the slightest.
However, just a minute later, “Bang”—
From a distance, the sound of a gunshot echoed, and something fell, motionless.
At this very moment, Situ Qing, Yun Xiangrong, and He Xiaowei had split into two groups, each rushing towards that tall building. They had temporarily hidden in secluded spots, waiting for a definite message from Zhou Qian before converging at the building.
But they all heard the gunshot unexpectedly.
He Xiaowei almost shouted, but Yun Xiangrong covered his mouth just in time.
“Qian… What if something happened to him?” He Xiaowei’s voice shook uncontrollably. “Even if you guys had disagreements, objectively speaking, he’s not the main culprit. Without him, we might not get through the next level. This—”
Yun Xiangrong’s voice was also grave. Her dark eyes stared intently at the building, trying to locate the sniper.
She whispered, her voice hoarse, “Don’t worry. After all, he is Zhou Qian. I don’t think he’d die so easily. Let’s wait for further updates and not panic.”
As Yun Xiangrong spoke, a loud noise erupted behind them.
It was an oil drum trap set up by Yun Xiangrong, now detonated.
The resulting fire spread rapidly, engulfing the entire building in moments.
Among the flames, distant shouts of the S Army could be heard.
“We should retreat to the perimeter!”
“Right, retreat! We’ve set up so many bombs; the fire will surely set them off!”
“Jiang Yuqing is definitely not here; otherwise, they wouldn’t cause an explosion!”
“Retreat to the pier! Then blow this place up! We have many men… after the explosion, let them all come down, and we’ll push towards the city center!”
“Right! They won’t have anywhere else to run!”
Hearing this, He Xiaowei said, “Qian was right! The safe zone is shrinking… we have to keep moving towards the city. And did you hear? They’re getting reinforcements from the west pier! Isn’t their army on the ships? Did I hear it wrong?”
“You heard right,” Yun Xiangrong replied. “Their main forces are at the west pier.”
He Xiaowei exclaimed, “But our mission is to escort Jiang Yuqing to the west pier to board a ship! Do we really… have to take them all out as Qian said? How can we do that? With our mana, we could run out at any moment… How can we fight so many soldiers?! This mission is impossible!”
On the other side, Situ Qing had similar thoughts.
Zhou Qian turned out to be different from what she had imagined. Mu Sheng always pushed her to take risks. But although Zhou Qian was the team leader, guiding everyone’s actions, he also took risks himself. But…
Is he dead?
This mission was like facing a hundred enemies with just one person.
Can we really succeed?
Zhou Qian, the man everyone was worried about, was standing beneath a tree.
He watched as the dragon he had dispatched fell in the darkness. Its body slowly became transparent until it turned into a dim dragon scale, impossible for him to find.
Upon hearing the loud explosion, Zhou Qian turned around emotionlessly, looking at the building behind him that was engulfed in roaring flames.
The reflection of the fire in his unfathomably cold eyes made them seem as if they were ablaze.
He faintly felt that this time… he might actually be a little angry.
The bathroom door was unexpectedly pushed open. Startled, Ling Xiao’s hand quickly sprang away from the mirror. Turning to see the unexpected intruder, the two met eyes for the first time since waking up. This moment seemed to last for countless ages.
Not only did the opening of the door let in the flowing air, but it also brought with it Ling Xiao’s lost memories, which surged into his mind with the appearance of the man before him. Those forgotten scenes—intense, explicit, and desperate—jostled and rushed from his dormant memories, overwhelming him.
An eerie silence claimed the room. The atmosphere seemed to solidify into a ‘Do Not Enter’ sign at the door, and even dust seemed unable to penetrate.
The two silently exchanged glances for a long while. Only after Ying Feng gave him a quick up and down did Ling Xiao realize he was in disarray, even lacking a top.
“Why did you come in without knocking?” he blurted.
Ying Feng’s response was to step forward and close the door. The room was small to begin with, and with the door shut, it felt even more cramped. The distance between them was now close enough to touch.
Suppressing the urge to step back, Ling Xiao wanted to grab a piece of clothing or even a towel to wrap around himself, but he didn’t want to appear embarrassed in front of the other.
“We’re short on time, so I’ll only say this once,” Ying Feng began, indifferent to Ling Xiao’s state. “If the military finds out we deliberately entered that lab, your actions will be seen as intentional theft. Such a statement would be detrimental to you.”
“So, no matter how they question you, insist you accidentally wandered in or wait for my arrival before answering. As long as I’m not present, you have the right to remain silent at any time.”
“We’ll figure out the rest. Just remember what I’ve said.”
Having relayed this calmly and without a hint of unnecessary concern—like a lawyer instructing his client—he finally paused.
“Get ready soon,” he said, turning to leave.
“Do you blame me?” Ling Xiao’s voice suddenly came from behind.
Ying Feng’s grip on the doorknob tightened. “What’s the use of saying that now?”
He turned his head slightly, his voice still cold. “Regardless, if you hadn’t acted as you did, both our souls would have been utterly obliterated. So, in that respect, I should thank you.”
As Ying Feng left, the real world seemed to be shut out with him. Ling Xiao felt that as long as he didn’t leave this place, the things he didn’t want to face would never come.
Unfortunately, the inevitable couldn’t be avoided. After getting himself together, a short man in military uniform was waiting outside his door, accompanied by two officers.
“Are you ready to come with us?” It was phrased as a question, but there was no room for refusal.
Ling Xiao had expected this. He glanced around and saw Ying Feng and the principal on the other side of the corridor, both looking ambiguously in his direction.
Noticing his gaze, the principal nodded reassuringly, signaling him to go with them without worry. That’s when Ling Xiao realized what “we” Ying Feng was referring to.
Without any acknowledgement from Ying Feng, Ling Xiao quietly averted his gaze, whispering to the man in front, “Let’s go.”
They walked in the opposite direction of Ying Feng. Those behind silently watched the departing figures. As Fu Yao walked, he turned his head and, with a smile, mouthed to Ying Feng, “I’ll wait for you.”
Only when their figures disappeared around the corner did the principal turn to Ying Feng and say, “Let’s go as well.”
The military and school aircraft departed from the medical station one after the other, heading towards the same destination.
Upon arriving at the detention center, Fu Yao personally escorted Ling Xiao to his cell.
“You seem quite stable, more so than most Qizi. Probably because of the lingering aura of that young man. However, it’s uncertain how long you can maintain this state. I hope your time here won’t be too unbearable.”
Signaling the guard, the cell door slowly closed in front of Ling Xiao. The two men left, leaving him surrounded by an eerie silence and the chill of a cold window.
Dazed, Ling Xiao sat on the bed’s edge. Before long, his right hand began to shake uncontrollably. He immediately gripped his wrist with his left hand, but soon the left started shaking violently too. Gradually, the tremors spread throughout his body, forcing him to curl up in an attempt to fend off the sudden agony.
When Ling Xiao was enduring mental torture alone, Ying Feng and the principal were negotiating outside.
“We would like to apply for bail pending trial.”
“Name?”
“Ling Xiao.”
The prison staff checked. “The one just brought in? But he has only been in for less than ten minutes.”
“He just had his coming-of-age ceremony today, as a Qizi. For him, ten minutes already feels like a long time.”
“Coming-of-age ceremony? Today? With whom?”
“With me.” Ying Feng, who had been standing behind, took a step forward.
The warden looked up into his eyes. “Congratulations.”
“We had our coming-of-age ceremony less than 24 hours ago. According to regulations, for 72 hours after the ceremony, the Qizi must be with their Qizhu or under medical supervision. Afterward, a Qizi not rated high-risk must not be forcibly separated from their Qizhu for ten days. Here’s his medical report.”
Since Fu Yao had given that information, Ying Feng and the principal had been quickly researching relevant legal provisions. By now, Ying Feng had committed all relevant clauses to memory.
The warden reviewed the medical report and found no issues.
“What you’re talking about is medical regulations, but he has violated the law now.”
“Medical regulations take precedence over legal ones. Even death row inmates have the right to medical care during their imprisonment. If the health of any criminal or suspect is not guaranteed during detention, it’s the detention center’s negligence.”
The warden sighed. Truth be told, situations like this were rare. Nobody would be thrown into jail right after their coming-of-age ceremony, especially when that person was personally brought in by Fu Yao with only vague charges of theft.
“While I get your point, the suspect was brought in by Major General Fu Yao. You’d need his permission for bail.”
“We’ll get his permission,” the principal interjected. “Please expedite the procedure for him. You know the danger of leaving a Qizi in there during their adjustment period. Every minute can be risky.”
“That’s not my call,” the warden replied, then dialed a superior, reporting briefly.
“Alright, I understand.” He hung up. “They want to interrogate him first.”
“I demand to be present,” Ying Feng promptly added.
The warden didn’t refuse this time. “Fill out the form.”
After Ying Feng completed the paperwork, the warden signaled him to proceed but stopped the principal, who wanted to follow.
“You can’t go in.”
“I’m his principal, the school’s guardian.”
“From the moment he became an adult, there are no school guardians. There’s only the Qizhu. Please wait outside.”
The principal, without permission to attend, anxiously touched Ying Feng’s arm. “Don’t say anything unnecessary.”
“Okay.”
Ying Feng entered the interrogation room, seeing both the interrogator and Ling Xiao. Having been in that environment for only fifteen minutes, Ling Xiao looked significantly drained. Pale-faced, his lips tightly pressed, and hands clenched under the table to prevent them from shaking too visibly. Yet, his remarkable willpower was evident. Even in this situation, he exuded an intense defiance. His mental torment hadn’t reached his eyes, which remained sharp.
Ying Feng walked over and sat next to him. Only after he was seated did the interrogator speak.
“Your Qizhu insisted on being present during the interrogation. Can we begin now?”
At the words “Qizhu”, Ling Xiao’s eyes twitched. After a moment, he nodded.
The interrogator got straight to the point. “How did you obtain Embers II, which even the military prohibits?”
“At the base, during an external study visit,” Ying Feng answered.
The interrogator looked surprised, then turned to Ling Xiao, who nodded in agreement.
“Can you elaborate?”
“Earlier this month, our school organized a visit to the base. There was an accident. We got lost during the regroup and stumbled into a lab. That’s where we found Embers II.”
“Is that true?” the interrogator asked Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao, eyes downcast, confirmed, “It’s true.”
“Was there a clear sign prohibiting entry at the lab’s door?”
“Yes, it said ‘No Unauthorized Entry’.”
“Why did you enter anyway?”
“Out of curiosity.”
“Did you know the name and purpose of the stolen item before taking it?”
“Yes.”
“How did you know?”
“Two people came to the site during that time. We learned from their conversation.”
“People came but didn’t see you. So, you hid?”
“Yes.”
“Who were they?”
“Dr. Yao Tai, the health doctor from Bikong Academy, and Dr. Zhi Shang, the chief researcher at the base.”
The interrogator carefully noted down, “What did they go to do?”
“They also went to get the Embers II, related to the accident at that time.”
“Elaborate further.”
“We don’t know more details. Just after the injection, they could quickly head to the lighthouse and activate the protective shield. So, we concluded that it’s a very powerful thing.” Ying Feng deliberately omitted what he heard from Zhen He.
“Continue,” the interrogator said.
“Before leaving, I took one with me and secretly took it out of the base.” Ling Xiao took over the conversation.
“Why did you take it?”
“Just out of curiosity. I had no other intentions.”
“Did your companion, who is now your Qizhu and was present at the time, know about this?”
Ying Feng: “I did.”
Ling Xiao: “He didn’t.”
Ling Xiao looked at him in surprise; even the interrogator had a puzzled expression.
“You need to be sure about the answer to this question. It determines whether you are guilty in this case. If you accidentally entered the lab, the penalty is minor. But if you knew and didn’t report it, you’d be considered an accomplice. Are you aware of this?”
“I knew he took something that wasn’t his. I clearly knew what he took, but I neither stopped him nor exposed him. I am responsible for the consequences.”
He was very certain, and the interrogator emphasized again, “Your current statement could lead to your detainment. Are you sure everything you said is true?”
“I am.”
Ling Xiao looked puzzled and shocked. He didn’t understand why Ying Feng would say that. However, Fu Yao, who had been listening from the next room, chuckled.
“This guy is interesting. Regardless of whether he’s guilty or not, he’s insistent on taking the blame. It’s as if he wants us to detain him.”
Fu Yao’s Qizi whispered, “He’s probably worried that if his Qizi can’t be released, at least the two of them can be detained together. After all, for a newly initiated Qizi, staying overnight in custody is almost equivalent to a death sentence.”
“How redundant. During their chaotic phase, a Qizi isn’t allowed to be detained at the center. Even if found guilty, they can only be sent to medical supervision. Didn’t he consider the situation where his Qizi gets released and he gets detained?”
His own Qizhu was quite mischievous. The Qizi sighed. “If they’re not allowed to be detained, why bring them here?”
“I just wanted to scare him a bit, to see if it’s his sense of responsibility or self-will that predominates. Many years ago, when someone left, I stole a vehicle to intercept him. I did stop him. But he told me if he wanted to leave, he could leave any day. I could stop him for a day, but not the second day, the third day… So, I let him go. Over the years, I’ve been wondering if letting him go was a mistake. Maybe if I forced him to stay, the outcome would be different.”
His Qizi pondered for a moment. “I think you couldn’t have kept him. The tragedy of their coming-of-age ceremony was man-made. His heart was filled with resentment towards the culprit. It’s understandable he didn’t want to take responsibility. Though the outcome for these two was similar, it was purely accidental. Moreover, compared to Embers II, the life of a fledgling is much more precious.”
“To be honest, I’m quite glad they stole Embers II. Even though they broke the law, it unexpectedly saved their lives. It seems like there’s a divine plan. Their union is probably the same.”
Fu Yao nodded in agreement. “Some people shape their own destiny, while others are simply innocent. For people like these, we should help.”
He gestured. “Proceed with their release on bail.”
Back in the interrogation room, the interrogator was about to conclude.
“I have one last question for you,” he addressed Ling Xiao. “The testimony you provided—is it the truth, or did your Qizhu use his authority to make you say it?”
Ling Xiao remained silent for a while. Just when Ying Feng feared that the question might make him retract his statement, Ling Xiao softly said, “It’s the truth.”
The interrogator nodded and organized the documents he had recorded.
“Your situation is quite unique, so I’ll have to consult my superiors. In the meantime, please return to your respective waiting areas.”
Hearing they’d have to go back to their previous locations, Ling Xiao tensed up. Even though he quickly composed himself, Yin Feng caught his reaction from the corner of his eye.
“Someone in his state shouldn’t be kept here for long. I hope you can expedite the process.”
“I understand,” the interrogator replied. “I’m also a Qizi. I know how it feels.” He then reassured Ling Xiao. “Endure these first three days, and it’ll get better. I’ll apply for you as soon as I can, but the final decision depends on my superiors.”
The two were separated again. Yin Feng remained silent, and Ling Xiao didn’t look at him even once. It was as if they were strangers.
Once Ling Xiao was escorted away, the interrogator curiously asked Yin Feng, “I’m confused about your relationship. During the interrogation, I thought you were close, but now you seem distant. At moments like this, a hug would be comforting for him, but you two didn’t even make eye contact.”
Yin Feng turned to him. “More than a hug, he needs to get out of here as soon as possible.”
The interrogator shrugged apologetically. “I’ll get on it right away.”
With Fu Yao’s quiet recommendation, the bail papers were quickly approved, but the principal still felt it took too long.
“You can take him now.” The prison guard handed over the papers. “Given your unique circumstances, the trial will resume after the Qizi has safely passed the danger period, which is ten days from now. This applies to you too.”
The principal warned, “Every second in here has a cumulative negative effect. A prolonged stay can severely impact a Qizi’s mental health, leading to lasting trauma. Make sure to comfort and care for him.”
Yin Feng took the papers and left, the principal uncertain if he had heeded his words.
The guard was idly sitting in his seat when he saw a figure approaching. The person had the physique of a fledgling, but their eyes were the deep black of an adult. It was rare to see someone who had completed the coming-of-age ceremony yet still retained such a youthful appearance in this place. Today, he had seen two such individuals, and one of them was still detained inside.
“What can I do for you?” the guard inquired.
Yin Feng presented the bail approval documents. “I’m here to get my Qizi out.”
The author has something to say:
Tip: After the coming-of-age ceremony, a Qizi goes through three days of disorder, followed by seven days of the danger period. During this time, unless their psychological assessment is rated as high risk (like Lan Sheng), they shouldn’t be forcibly separated from their Qizhu.
Hua Jingchun’s goal was simple. She wanted Wu Huai to disappear—whether he was killed or taken away by that inexplicable masked master and disciple, it didn’t matter. As long as she could obtain that fake sword and verify it on the spot, that surname Wu would never approach the Chigou Sect again.
She was missing a leg and couldn’t act as an assassin, and she had limited reliable people around her. Now with the addition of these mysterious figures, the sharpness in her brows faded slightly.
The bandit Ma Shili dutifully played the role of a shield, showing off his might and influence in the surroundings. The merchant caravans that once passed through were almost nonexistent. With Shi Zhongyu watching over the village, there weren’t many disturbances. The dilapidated courtyard had become a temporary base for the Chigou Sect, and in just a few days, the assassination plan was taking shape.
This time, they didn’t need information from the Yueshui Pavilion. The impending arrivals of Qu Duanyun and Xu Jingming could be inferred from the tight security. The officials of Shafu had long been accustomed to dealing with the Chigou Sect and had lost their curiosity about the martial world. However, with the Prince of Rong arriving, they had to put on a good front to keep their positions.
That night.
Shen Zhu packed her clothes under her blankets and left the courtyard alone. Even though members of the Yueshui Pavilion weren’t particularly skilled in martial arts, they were still proficient in qinggong due to their years of wandering. Shen Zhu had a chubby sparrow with her and headed straight for Shafu, carefully scaling the walls to enter the city.
She stepped into the local branch of the Yueshui Pavilion, tidied her clothes, and entered the room reserved for the “Ministry of Heaven”.
“Isn’t this Little Red of the Ministry of Heaven?”
Inside the room sat a few members of the Ministry of Heaven, all of varying ages but with the weathered looks of people who had faced the elements. Shen Zhu smiled sweetly at them and found herself a stool to sit on.
The first speaker clearly didn’t like Shen Zhu’s manner. “The monthly salary of the Yueshui Pavilion isn’t given for nothing. What have you achieved since joining the Ministry of Heaven? I wonder who allowed you to get promoted. You must have gained quite a few benefits.”
He emphasized the word “benefits” sarcastically.
“I’ve read Brother Chen’s investigation into the ‘Mystery of the Disappearance of the Wushu Ore’, which is insightful. Unfortunately, some details are glossed over,” Shen Zhu replied with a poised smile.
Brother Chen hadn’t expected Shen Zhu to be so calm. Pointing out flaws in his research, he immediately lost his sarcastic mood. “What oversight? I traveled through half of Great Yun to investigate!”
“Sun Village, Wang’ankou, and Shenhe Village—all three produced refined wushu ore, yet you only wrote ‘no longer produced’ without explaining why.”
The face of the man surnamed Chen darkened as he was gently pointed out his oversight. After a moment, he retorted, “Such minor details, I can clarify them in three months!”
Shen Zhu intertwined her fingers and smiled even more brightly.
“Who is that lady?” the youngest one whispered. “I’ve never heard of her. I thought the Yueshui Pavilion didn’t admit women. How did she get in?”
“‘The Yueshui Pavilion does not admit women’ is an unwritten rule. Nowadays, there are few women who are literate, so how can they enter the Yueshui Pavilion? But she answered the incomplete question on the Divine Stone, so the Ministry of Heaven had to admit her.”
“Wow, that sounds impressive.”
“It’s nothing special. Since she joined, she hasn’t made any major discoveries. Every puzzle she turns in is mediocre. But they can’t find fault with her. Clearly, she’s just here to coast by. And she has quite an attitude. Did you know? On her first day in the Ministry of Heaven, she took on the ‘Seeking Immortal’ puzzle.”
“I’ve heard about that. If it’s solved, one can become the Minister of the Ministry of Heaven, right? That puzzle has been unsolved for centuries. My seniors told me that it’s not really a question but more of a symbolic decoration to represent the spirit of the Ministry of Heaven… Maybe she just didn’t know.”
The eldest snorted. “She knows what she’s doing. Look at Brother Chen. She’s playing him like a fiddle. That tricky ‘Mystery of the Disappearance of the Wushu Ore’ was something they bet on—”
Shen Zhu placed a book on the table. “I have other urgent matters to attend to. Once the instructions from the word cloth are passed on, I won’t join you for drinks.”
“Tsk, not even accompanying us for a drink,” the senior member snorted.
Shen Zhu flipped through the book, ignoring them.
The meeting concluded quickly, as per usual. After recording the instructions from the Yueshui Pavilion, Shen Zhu stealthily left the city. However, this time, she didn’t return to the village. Instead, she headed to an open space outside the city.
The place was overrun with wild grass, clearly an old graveyard. The atmosphere was dense with an eerie energy. The little sparrow on Shen Zhu’s shoulder shrank into a ball. Shen Zhu adjusted her hairpin and turned around. “Sister, come out. I’m tired of waiting outside for so long.”
A strong wind blew, and Shi Zhongyu landed from a tree. She still wore her coarse and tough attire, and her long hair was tied into a convenient bun. Shi Zhongyu frowned as she looked at Shen Zhu with a slightly stiff expression.
“Being women of the martial world, you shouldn’t be so wary of me,” Shen Zhu said, not with reprimand, but with a hint of teasing in her voice.
“Warriors don’t ask about one’s origins. As for Shi and Yin, I know about them,” Shi Zhongyu said formally, bowing in respect. “But from what I’ve observed over the past few days, you don’t seem to be the loyal servant of Sect Master Shi. If you’re just collaborating with him…”
“You think I might leak information about the Chigou Sect, since we don’t have a direct interest at stake?”
“Yes,” Shi Zhongyu admitted openly. “I saw you sneaking out in the middle of the night, and I was worried.”
Shen Zhu took two steps forward, patting Shi Zhongyu on the shoulder. “I have deep hatred for the Immortal Assembly, and I won’t play into their hands. Don’t worry, with the strength of those two from the Kushan Sect, even if the Heavenly Emperor Laozi himself tried to interfere, they could still forcibly take Wu Huai.”
Shi Zhongyu shrank back. “You don’t seem like someone harboring deep hatred. From the age of six or seven, you were taken in by a family in Qizhou, and they are still doing well today.”
That family had nothing to do with the Immortal Assembly. And how could a child less than six- or seven-years old hold onto such a deep-rooted hatred? Shi Zhongyu had seen those consumed by hatred, and they always looked miserable. But there was no sign of such shadows in Shen Zhu’s eyes.
“It must have been hard for you to investigate,” Shen Zhu said with a playful smile. “The Immortal Assembly probably thought the same as you; that’s why they spared my life back then.”
“If you’re so resentful, why not learn martial arts and take revenge yourself?”
Shen Zhu raised an eyebrow. Although she still appeared playful, there was a growing intensity around her. “What you said makes sense. It’s a pity that I, being a weak woman, can’t kill them all one by one. Maybe it’s better to eliminate their roots and branches.”
Shi Zhongyu took a step back, sensing the genuine and serious tone in Shen Zhu’s words.
“I’m only collaborating with Sect Master Shi out of mutual need. Aren’t you also using us? Didn’t you intentionally bring the Kushan Sect into the courtyard of Hua Jingchun to help Chigou?” Shen Zhu stepped closer to Shi Zhongyu, almost causing the sparrow on her shoulder to fall.
Shi Zhongyu stared at Shen Zhu’s delicately made-up face for a long while, at a loss for words.
“…I was presumptuous tonight,” she finally admitted, bowing her head in seriousness. “I apologize for my offense.”
Inside the village courtyard, the atmosphere had lightened significantly.
With their plans in motion, Hua Jingchun provided them with the woodshed and added some straw meant for feeding cattle. Despite its simplicity, the master and disciple finally had a clean, private room.
“Should we leave the door open?” Shi Jingzhi said cautiously, recalling how Yin Ci had a falling out with the villagers who had taken him in due to being forcibly locked in a woodshed.
He now didn’t want this person to suffer even the slightest bit; his feelings were a mix of bitterness and numbness, which felt very unfamiliar to him.
Yin Ci glanced at Shi Jingzhi, as if seeing right into his heart. “It’s fine. I came in willingly.”
Sect Master Shi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Utilizing his skills in making makeshift shelters, he constructed a relatively clean straw bed in the woodshed. The surrounding air, once tainted with the unpleasant odors of urine and sweat, was now filled only with the scent of the person in his embrace and the fresh aroma of straw. He fell asleep almost instantly.
For the first time in a long while, Shi Jingzhi slept peacefully. However, in the middle of the night, he inadvertently rolled off the bed.
There was a ripping sound.
Shi Jingzhi rolled too leisurely, and not only did his clothes tear, but he was also jabbed awake by the branches stacked against the wall. In pain, he shook his head, ignoring the ripped clothing, and muttered under his breath as he crawled back to the straw bed.
Once on the bed and holding his lover tightly, Sect Master Shi sect realized something was amiss. There used to be a slight touch of a hard object against his chest, but now that spot felt hollow, as if a piece of his heart was missing.
…The protection brocade pouch A’Ci gave him was gone!
It felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him, and Shi Jingzhi fully woke up. He glanced at the peacefully sleeping Yin Ci, then carefully got out of bed. Without even lighting a fire, he began searching under the moonlight.
The protection brocade pouch was dropped near the bed.
When Shi Jingzhi had rolled into the pile of branches earlier, its strap had gotten caught, leaving it behind. Moonlight shone through the window, casting a faint halo on the pouch. The embroidered peach blossoms seemed even more lifelike. Heartbroken, Shi Jingzhi quickly picked up the pouch, examining it for dirt or tears.
Upon examination, he indeed found something amiss. There was some wet mud in the corner of the woodshed, and a corner of the pouch was damp, giving off a slight earthy smell. Sect Master Shi’s face fell, and he felt deeply saddened.
He decided immediately to clean it outside.
He would get someone to sew an inner pocket in his clothes later. If one day, during a fierce battle, it fell into a deep ravine off a cliff, he wouldn’t even have a place to cry. As Shi Jingzhi carefully cleaned the pouch, his mind wandered. He was so lost in thought that he failed to hold back a mouthful of blood, which he spat out.
Having learned from past mistakes, Shi Jingzhi turned quickly, and all the blood landed on the ground.
However, at that moment, the pouch in his hand suddenly became a tad warmer.
The change in temperature was extremely subtle. As perceptive as Shi Jingzhi was, he only vaguely noticed it because of the contrast with the cold water. He had always kept it close to him and never noticed anything unusual.
Shi Jingzhi furrowed his brows. Closing his eyes, he brought the pouch close to his nose and sniffed carefully. The faint earthy scent mixed with the smell of medicinal ingredients, reminding him of a spider’s web thread that’s about to break, but he managed to discern it.
…The scent was very similar to the materials used by Chen Qianfan for his spells.
Yin Ci said it was a tranquility charm written by Chen Qianfan. However, tranquility charms were usually made with medicinal paper and cinnabar and shouldn’t have the scent of a monster’s corpse.
Shi Jingzhi splashed cold water on his face, took a deep breath, and decisively opened the small pouch.
The Northwest was arid and sandy. Not long after venturing out, Xu Jingming quickly grew reluctant. Fine wine and delicious food here inevitably came with a hint of sand as an ingredient. The Prince of Rong almost broke a tooth, and the wind-filled sand roughened his fair complexion considerably.
“Qu Duanyun, I don’t understand. Are you trying to avoid the Shirou or what? Dealing with the Chigou Sect wasn’t enough, why detour so far?” Xu Jingming moisturized his hands with some fine cream inside his palanquin. These days, they had been constantly traveling through sandy plains, and he felt restless.
“Your Highness, it’s good to see the scenery of the northwest while you’re here. Once we approach the Northwest Great Prohibition, it will become lively.” Qu Duanyun, pulling on his horse’s reins, replied, somewhat evasively.
“I don’t have time for scenery. I just want to get the Shirou as soon as possible and present it to my Emperor Brother.” Xu Jingming wasn’t swayed by him.
The Emperor had always detested the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage and consequently showed little interest in the immortals. Xu Jingming, having grown up in the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence, feared that his brother would despise him by association. The Imperial Preceptor’s Residence hadn’t done anything wrong, but if the Emperor could appreciate the abilities of the immortals, the tension might ease.
“My Emperor Brother is always concerned about the wellbeing of the kingdom, and his complexion worsens daily. Even if the Shirou doesn’t grant immortality, it must be a divine tonic. The sooner we get it, the less he’ll suffer.”
The more Xu Jingming spoke, the more convinced he was that he was doing something beneficial. His tone even carried a hint of pride.
Qu Duanyun was silent for a moment, then without turning back, he said, “A fast horse and light agility make the journey easier. Your Highness’ convoy is not suited for these paths. Only near the Northwest Great Prohibition is there a major trade route, so…”
The implication was clear: If not for the prince’s slow entourage, they would’ve arrived long ago.
Pretending to misunderstand, Xu Jingming changed the subject. “The Northwest Great Prohibition sounds daunting. How did it become a bustling place?”
“The area here is dry and lacks rain, often plagued by sandstorms. Sandstorms from the west are particularly troublesome. Initially, the place was uninhabitable. When the kingdom was established, the Great Prohibition was put up here by the Saint. It blocked the sandstorms, allowing people to live here.”
Qu Duanyun finally turned around.
Using a fan to shield his face, Xu Jingming frowned. “I’ve heard that formations need materials to sustain them. How has such a huge barrier been maintained for three hundred years? I haven’t heard of any mystical materials produced in Shafu.”
“The Saint have their own secrets,” Qu Duanyun replied dismissively.
Retreating to his sedan chair, Xu Jingming muttered, “…If the barrier was so effective, why did we end up eating so much sand?”
Unbeknownst to him, his casual complaint was prophetic.
The market at the barrier wasn’t as lively as Xu Jingming had described. While the sandstorms weren’t as devastating, a lot had slipped through from the west. Fresh fruits placed on stalls were quickly covered in dust. Passersby wore light scarves to protect their faces, looking like wrapped dumplings in the warm wind.
Thankfully, there was an inn for them to rest. With walls on all sides, Xu Jingming felt a bit rejuvenated. He donned his dashing young master’s attire and began mingling in the dining hall.
Qu Duanyun had already left the inn early to communicate with someone. With no outsiders around, Xu Jingming felt quite relaxed.
Within an hour, he was chatting with a young waitress at the inn. Given his lavish attire, it was clear he was no ordinary person. The waitress, hoping for a generous tip, played along.
“My grandmother says the sandstorms have been getting worse. This used to be a big market, but now fewer people come. Our inn doesn’t make much money anymore.”
The waitress poured wine for Xu Jingming, her accent bearing hints of Shafu.
“Sir, look at the decorations in this room. Do you like them? In my grandmother’s time, they were gilded with gold leaf. Now, they’re all worn away. If the sandstorms get any worse, my family will move back to Shafu.”
Tapping his fan against his palm, Xu Jingming parroted, “This barrier was set up by a Saint using a secret method. How could it fail?”
“It must be the Chigou digging everywhere, damaging the formation,” the waitress whispered conspiratorially. “I’ve also heard that when the Saint set up the barrier, there were tomb robbers stealing things.”
Xu Jingming wasn’t surprised. Such rumors were common in Great Yun. “Impressive, stealing right under the Saint’s nose.”
Meanwhile, near Shafu.
Shi Jingzhi remarked, “Steal from under He Cheng’an’s nose?”
He Cheng’an was the name of the first Imperial Preceptor. Out of resentment towards the Immortal Assembly, Sect Master Shi refused to use the title “Saint” for him.
The yard was filled with an incessant stench and noise that kept people from sleeping. Everywhere he looked, there were eyes watching. Shi Jingzhi felt uncomfortable being too intimate with his disciple, so he decided to strike up a conversation with Yin Ci about Hua Jingchun.
As a recruiter of the Hua Clan, “Su Zhi” naturally knew more—the Hua family specialized in making tools for tomb exploration, and these techniques were passed down only within the family. Hua Jingchun was in charge of repairing and creating these tools within the sect, making a living off this expertise.
…However, when it came to stealing from the first Imperial Preceptor, the Hua Clan’s ancestors were truly exceptional. No wonder “Su Zhi” wanted to recruit members from the Hua Clan. Shi Jingzhi took several deep breaths in succession.
Yin Ci seemed unimpressed. “Indeed, they stole right under his nose. It’s said that the Hua ancestors infiltrated the construction crew of the formation, took advantage of the ‘Awakening Formation’ moment, and stole several buckets of mercury from it. The anti-poison mouthpiece and water bags made by the Hua Clan are still in use by the Chigou Sect.”
He sighed regretfully after saying this.
“When the ‘Awakening Formation’ was activated, the surroundings were filled with toxic mercury vapor. Nothing grew, and there were no living beings, not even insects. I am quite curious about the techniques of the Hua ancestors.”
Shi Jingzhi leaned close to Yin Ci, humming softly. After a tumultuous day, he was already exhausted. Yin Ci’s voice was gentle and pleasing, and it seemed to shield them from the surrounding noise. Listening to tales from a hundred years ago, Shi Jingzhi finally felt sleepy.
Noticing the slight movement of Shi Jingzhi’s head, Yin Ci gently pressed it onto his shoulder, lowering his voice. “Sleep.”
“Say something, anything,” Shi Jingzhi mumbled. “As long as you’re talking, I won’t hear the noise.”
Yin Ci paused, then chuckled. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell you some ghost stories?”
“I’m so tired, and you definitely won’t,” Shi Jingzhi declared decisively. “You can’t scare me…”
He figured out Yin Ci’s ways. Normally, Yin Ci would tease him with spooky tales, but now that he wanted to sleep, Yin Ci wouldn’t dare wake him with such stories.
Strangely, despite the dilapidated environment and their casual conversation, Shi Jingzhi had never felt this content. It was like a starving man finally getting a full meal or someone stepping on soft satin after walking on needles.
Shi Jingzhi’s voice faded, becoming a murmur.
Confirming that Shi Jingzhi was asleep, Yin Ci adjusted his position and leaned against the wall. The moment his gaze left the man beside him, it turned cold as ice.
A hundred years ago, he had decided to give up the search for answers about his unique constitution and instead seek a way to die, which led him to join the Chigou Sect.
Back then, the Chigou Sect was just a small sect scavenging for ancient weapons from old battlefields. Its followers were poor locals struggling to make ends meet. Although they were involved in morally questionable activities, few among them were truly evil.
Yin Ci, in his “mad” state, had wandered the desert for a long time and had vague memories of various battle relics. He led a group to each site, and they sold the good weapons to the government and melted down the rest to make agricultural tools. With a larger workforce, Yin Ci led his people to raid several tombs of the nobles in the Western Regions, bringing wealth to the Chigou Sect.
Unlike other sects, the Chigou Sect had a mutually beneficial relationship with the local community. The rise of Chigou brought a shade of gray to the clearly defined good and evil of the martial world in Great Yun.
Although Yin Ci wasn’t deeply attached to the Chigou sect, he wasn’t heartless. Over the last hundred years, the sect had prospered, adhering to his initial rules. Now, it was about to be broken by the Immortal Assembly, which made him slightly anxious.
It was a good time.
No matter the motives of the Immortal Assembly, they only needed to derail the situation—disrupt the ascension ceremony and capture the fake Patriarch. Both Chigou and Taiheng had people present, so they wouldn’t have trouble finding members of the Immortal Assembly.
But appearing directly was risky. Fortunately, they had a perfect “shield”.
The next day.
“You want to help me?” Hua Jingchun laughed. “Do you even know the situation, and yet you offer assistance?”
Her injured leg was healing, but the wound was still open, making it impossible to fit a prosthetic. She found a bench to sit on, still exuding a fresh scent of blood.
Yin Ci said, “Of course we know. You’re hiding here, trying to gather villagers who are dissatisfied with the Chigou Sect, to disrupt the ascension ceremony of the new Patriarch.”
Hua Jingchun merely responded with an “oh”, neither confirming nor denying. “How can you tell?”
“The few around you are members of the Chigou sect. They look different from ordinary villagers, and the calluses on their hands aren’t from farm tools,” Yin Ci said with a slight smile.
“Interesting. But this unsolicited help feels suspicious.”
“We both are from Shafu. Who doesn’t have a relative in Chigou there? We just returned from Qizhou and only then learned about the current state of Chigou,” Shi Jingzhi said in a perfect Shafu accent. “Protector Hua, with your leg injured like this, you mustn’t have a good doctor nearby, right?”
After a long silence, Hua Jingchun revealed a smile. “Fine, we are so short on hands right now, we could even use a dog.”
Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci: “…….”
“You two wait for me in the woodshed. We usually discuss things there. I’ll be there after getting some sun.” She then subtly signaled one of her subordinates.
Yin Ci noticed but remained silent with a smile.
The woodshed was cramped, filled with stacks of dry firewood and hay bundles. The master and disciple waited inside for the duration of an incense stick. Soon enough, Hua Jingchun, limping, approached with several subordinates and stopped at the entrance.
She smirked maliciously at them and made a gesture. Shen Zhu exclaimed in surprise as one of the followers of the Chigou Sect threatened her with a knife, making her shiver as she entered the woodshed.
“Offering unwarranted help implies deceit or thievery, especially from those afraid to show their true face,” she scoffed. “This is the ‘Miss Sun’ you’ve been escorting. This lady is frail and often ill, needing medical attention… I’ve had someone examine her condition just now. You can repeat the diagnosis. If it matches, we can talk. If not, don’t blame me for not acknowledging past favors.”
“…Truly the characteristics of a demonic sect.” Shi Jingzhi murmured. “A’Ci, they’re harder to deal with than Taiheng.”
Even if they sold Protector Hua a hundred favors, even if she was down on her luck, she wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate. Yin Ci nodded with a strange sense of satisfaction on his face.
“The more challenging, the better.”
If Protector Hua was someone who mindlessly agreed to everything, it would be hard for them to act. They had been waiting for this moment.
Before he could finish, Yin Ci utilized his qinggong, instantly appearing behind Protector Hua and pressing two fingers against a fatal acupoint on her neck. Shen Zhu sighed, deftly dodging the person trying to capture her. Sparrows descended from the sky, aiming for the eyes of her attacker. Startled, the man dropped his knife.
The long knife fell, but no sound was heard when it hit the ground.
Shi Jingzhi didn’t signal, instead stepping forward and catching the knife by its handle. He then held the gleaming blade against the neck of another person; the one who had been close to Protector Hua the previous night and talked a lot.
A last surge of vital qi was released, the door of the woodshed slammed shut, followed by a cloud of dust settling.
“Can we talk now?” The smile on Sect Master Shi’s face was hidden behind a mask, but it lingered in his tone.
From the beginning, the master and disciple didn’t expect Hua Jingchun to agree.
Protector Hua had chosen a good spot. This remote woodshed seemed well prepared by her, with no bandits in sight, making it an ideal place to take action. To persuade someone from a demonic sect, mere words and favors weren’t enough. Strength was the key.
“I was wondering why I was suddenly captured.” Shen Zhu touched her neck. “There are bandits outside, so I couldn’t move. Who would’ve thought there would be such excitement here.”
Seeing that the other party still wanted to negotiate, Hua Jingchun wasn’t in a hurry. She looked over the three members of the Kushan Sect and snorted. “It seems that even though I’m used to hunting geese, there are times I’m pecked in the eye by them*. Which warriors are you? Care to introduce yourselves?”
*(终日打雁，叫雁啄了眼) Proverb referring to a person who has subdued a certain person or thing all his life has been subdued by the very person/thing.
“Well…”
“As for the matters of the Chigou Sect, it should be resolved by its own people,” Hua Jingchun said coldly, showing no sign of weakness. “If outsiders take advantage of us, I would be too ashamed to face our Patriarch Su in the afterlife.”
Yin Ci: “…” It was a pity he wasn’t in the afterlife.
Shi Jingzhi was also taken aback. This Protector Hua was really good at turning conversations awkward. Knowing Hua Jingchun’s predicament, he realized she would not easily back down. They weren’t intentionally hiding their identities, but the Kushan Sect had deeply offended Matron Wuxue before. Compared to the reputable sects hunting them outside, the Chigou Sect might dislike them even more.
The situation was a bit complicated; they needed to come up with another story.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise.
As Sect Master Shi was racking his brain for a response, the fragile door of the woodshed was thrown open. A silhouette rushed in, illuminated by the morning light. Her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were worn, but the aura was very familiar to those present.
Shi Zhongyu walked in hastily, almost colliding with Shen Zhu, who was guarding the door. She glanced around and let out a sigh of relief. “It’s good that nothing happened.”
Shi Jingzhi seized the opportunity. “Miss Shi, your arrival is timely.”
Yin Ci stepped back, releasing the still weak Protector Hua.
“What do you mean by ‘nothing happened’?” Hua Jingchun shifted her focus. “Sister, what do you mean by that?”
Shi Zhongyu replied, “I heard you brought them to the woodshed, so I knew there would be a fight. Sister Hua, they are… Well, you’re no match for them.”
Being away for days, she was still as blunt as ever.
Hua Jingchun wasn’t offended by Shi Zhongyu’s words, instead asking urgently, “From what you’re saying, do you recognize them? Who are these three?”
Having witnessed Matron Wuxue’s disdain for the Kushan Sect, Shi Zhongyu understood the situation. She struggled to find the right words, neither lying nor revealing the truth.
“Sister Hua, it’s not convenient for me to say.” She shook her head. “But I’ve known these people for several months, and each of them is a highly skilled warrior. I can vouch for that.”
Hua Jingchun’s expression darkened. She leaned against the stacked wood, lost in thought. Her aura stabilized somewhat, no longer emanating the same level of hostility and murderous intent as before.
“Miss Shi, do you also intend to intervene in the ascension ceremony?” Shi Jingzhi asked in surprise.
“No, this is an internal matter of Chigou. Other major sects should avoid involvement.” Shi Zhongyu shook her head. “Even if I leave Taiheng, if I act rashly, it will tarnish Taiheng’s reputation. Instead, I can only help Protector Hua… That Young Patriarch truly treats lives like grass; he shouldn’t lead Chigou.”
Only her eyes remained clear on her face. She gazed at Shi Jingzhi with an extremely sincere expression.
Shi Jingzhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
He was delighted to have demonstrated his strength first. With Shi Zhongyu’s endorsement following, Hua Jingchun, who was devoted to Chigou, would no longer refuse their help. He felt a bit sad… Shi Zhongyu’s intention was clear: No matter how much the Kushan Sect caused chaos, there wasn’t much reputation left to tarnish.
“So, you all are not from the major sects.” Hua Jingchun finally sighed in relief. “In light of Miss Shi’s endorsement, I can discuss matters with you.”
“Protector Hua, let me ask once more. To my knowledge, that Young Patriarch has the Bone Sweeping Sword as a token, insiders to vouch for him, and even the lineage of the Su Clan. Protector Hua, with your devotion to Chigou, are you also willing to break the rules?”
Breaking the rules to save the sect wasn’t a new concept. However, seeing Protector Hua’s composed demeanor, it didn’t seem like she would “abandon rules for righteousness”.
Hua Jingchun looked at Shi Zhongyu again. Seeing no reaction from Shi Zhongyu, she slowly said, “That Bone Sweeping Sword is fake. My family has always been responsible for repairing antiques; I can tell at a glance.”
Yin Ci raised an eyebrow—the claims about his lineage were false, and the sword he carried was also fake; he wondered where the Young Patriarch got his confidence.
“It’s all about intuition. Wu Huai won’t hand over the sword, so I can’t get definitive evidence,” Hua Jingchun’s tone grew heavy. “Wu Huai knows I can see through it. Shortly after joining the sect, he found an excuse to throw me off Three Provinces Cliff… This leg of mine was a result of that fall.”
Shi Jingzhi asked, “Where is the real Bone Sweeping Sword? Shouldn’t it be in the sect? That imposter can’t have destroyed the real thing just to disguise his identity…”
‘That’s A’Ci’s sword,’ he thought displeased.
Hua Jingchun’s expression darkened. “It’s embarrassing to say, but Patriarch Su’s Bone Sweeping Sword was stolen at some point, and we still haven’t found it. This time, to stop Wu Huai from ascending, we can only fight.”
“I don’t know why you’re helping, but this fight won’t be easy. That pesky Prince of Rong just had to come at this time, so the security in Shafu tightened. Taiheng’s Qu Duanyun is also here. Without evidence, he’ll treat us as bandits causing disorder. If you’re hoping to gain from this battle, I don’t think there’s much to be gained… Even if you want a reward, I don’t have much to give.”
“No problem.” Sect Master Shi handed over the knife he was holding. “For me, I only ask for two things—hand over Wu Huai to us, how about it?”
“Do as you please. We have no use for that bastard. What’s the second?”
“In Chigou’s warehouse, there should be a mud statue made personally by Lady Sun. After the chaos in Chigou subsides, Protector Hua can hand it over to us.”
Hua Jingchun frowned. “That thing isn’t very valuable. It’s more of a keepsake, but it’s not impossible to give…”
“That’ll do.”
On the other side of the courtyard, Su Si and Yan Qing were unaware of the chaos. Under the rule of the sand bandits, many in the courtyard had injuries. The bandits were normally lazy, but now they had a few able-bodied men. Yan Qing was currently busy helping distribute porridge and pastries to the people, extremely preoccupied.
Su Si didn’t want to serve strangers. He chose the coolest corner to sit and roasted a bird—they only had thin porridge and pastries here. Yan Qing practiced daily, so they needed to add some meat.
He played with his butcher knife, humming a discordant tune. The crude wooden handle had new blood on it, making it shiny. Su Si added a small iron ring to the base of the handle, with the ghost coin gifted by Yan Qing tied to it. The crude knife, combined with this pendant, had a certain rustic charm.
After Yan Qing finished his work, the meat was roasted. Su Si tore the meat into pieces and threw it into the porridge. “You eat first. I’ll roast another.”
“Thank you.” Yan Qing took the bowl with both hands, smiling very warmly.
“It’s not as delicious as what Senior Yin makes. Don’t complain.” Su Si sneezed and wiped his nose. “But this damned place stinks so much that even delicacies would be tasteless.”
“It’s delicious.”
“San Zi, if you’re playing dumb, then just play dumb. Don’t talk nonsense. Don’t I know my own skills?”
Yan Qing just smiled and looked at Su Si cleaning the bird. “That knife of yours is really good. We’ve been out for so long, and I’ve never seen you sharpen it.”
Su Si flicked the blood off the knife, looked left and right, and his smile became mischievous.
“Of course, I made it myself,” he winked at Yan Qing. “This knife may look ugly, but it’s made of the best material.”
“Where did you get the material?”
The knife blade swept through the air, cutting thin bones as if slicing through butter. Su Si looked at the courtyard full of people and put on a mysterious expression. “Hmm… I’ll tell you when I’m in a good mood.”
The moonlight was like water, and hundreds of ghosts surged out like waves from various alleys.
Zhou Qian stood with his back to the crowd of ghosts, leaning slightly against a streetlamp. The light illuminated his long and beautiful eyes, making him appear calm and composed but also cold and ruthless.
Silently, he pulled out a snow-white and eerie object—it was the Rib of God.
He then raised his eyes and calmly gazed down the long street, the corner of his mouth curling up with a determined smile.
Ahead of him, Yun Xiangrong and He Xiaowei saw the message he sent. Pretending to walk towards Situ Qing, they slowed down after a few steps and quickly moved away from her.
Situ Qing was oblivious to what was happening behind her.
She just shivered all over and took a long breath. The sensation of the ghosts crawling on her just now was terribly uncomfortable, reminding her of eels. That cold and chilling sensation seemed to penetrate her soul, making every cell of hers tremble, completely different from her own icy aura.
By comparison, Da Shou standing next to her felt much warmer. Now, she just wished for a living person to come closer.
With that thought, Situ Qing took a few more glances at Da Shou. She found his appearance and demeanor reminded her of Mu Sheng when he was young.
When they were both young, there was no rift or conflict between them. They were of the same status—neighbors, childhood friends, closer than real siblings. She was two years older than Mu Sheng. They went to school together, and she helped him with his homework. However, Mu Sheng was so smart that he soon didn’t need her help, sometimes even solving problems faster than her.
Back then, he often cheerfully called her “sister” without any mockery. His innocent and kind expression was exactly like Da Shou’s just now.
Outside the game, separated by a screen, Mu Sheng saw Situ Qing actually walking with Da Shou. He shook his head slightly and quickly sent her a message: [Stay away from this kid. He will hurt you.]
But Situ Qing didn’t see it in time because Da Shou had grabbed her wrist.
In the game, Situ Qing felt a vibration at her wrist, but Da Shou’s position blocked her view of her watch panel. She didn’t push him away immediately, partly because she longed for the warmth on her wrist, especially after being surrounded by the coldness of the ghosts. She was desperate for the warmth of a living being.
However, after just thirty seconds, she tried to pull her hand back but found that Da Shou had a firm grip on her, making it hard for her to break free. Realizing something was amiss, she pushed Da Shou away, quickly accessed her system panel, and saw Mu Sheng’s message.
But it was already too late. Before she could turn and run, she saw Da Shou take action—he removed his jacket, revealing explosives strapped to his waist. He intended to take both of them down!
Situ Qing heard him say, “Sister, I’m sorry. But if I don’t do this, I won’t be able to see my mother. I just want to see her… I miss her so much!” Then with a click, Da Shou triggered the explosives.
Situ Qing’s heart sank.
She knew she couldn’t escape. In theory, her special ability might be able to freeze everything, including the explosives that hadn’t detonated. If Mu Sheng had sent the message earlier, she would have had time. But all her skills had a long casting time, and she would be blown to pieces before her icy powers took effect.
She knew she couldn’t make it. Mu Sheng’s message came too late, and she saw it half a minute too late.
She knew she was going to die in this instance.
Despite knowing she couldn’t survive, her survival instinct made her turn and try to run back. At that moment, she saw Zhou Qian standing under a nearby streetlight—under its illumination, he was holding up a bone and seemed to be murmuring something.
Then, the entire street, including the reflected moonlight and streetlights, started to warp. The explosion behind her didn’t happen immediately, and her running became extremely slow.
Zhou Qian has slowed down time!
Did he use such a massive amount of mana just to save me?
Why would he waste mana to save me?!
Wait, he only slowed down time. He didn’t stop it entirely.
Just as Situ Qing realized this, she heard a massive “boom” behind her.
The bomb had exploded!
A heat wave suddenly rose, and the entire back of Situ Qing was engulfed in flames, causing her so much pain that she couldn’t help but scream.
At that moment, she realized that there was not an inch of good skin left on her back.
[Player Situ Qing’s HP has dropped to 50%]
By the time she saw this prompt, Situ Qing was drenched in cold sweat.
But she knew she wasn’t dead yet. She was only slightly hurt by the outermost layer of the explosion.
Immediately after, time slowed down even more, so much so that the truly life-threatening shockwave was still delayed.
Biting her teeth hard, Situ Qing trembled from the pain. She then looked up and saw Zhou Qian slowly approaching her. He looked like a demon about to slay her, but at the same time, like a god who could save her.
Zhou Qian was smiling.
In Situ Qing’s eyes, that smile was endlessly mocking.
Situ Qing knew Zhou Qian was toying with her.
If he wanted to kill her, he wouldn’t need to slow down time.
But if he wanted to save her, why did he wait until after she was hurt by the outermost shockwave to further slow down time?
Does he want to save me or send me to my death?
The intense pain from her back made Situ Qing’s mind a bit foggy. She could even smell her burnt skin. Cold sweat had completely soaked her forehead, neck, palms, and back.
“What do you want?” Situ Qing managed to ask him, her voice hoarse.
She wasn’t even sure if she had actually said the words.
Because her time was also slowed down, perhaps she never got the words out.
But Zhou Qian seemed to have understood her.
Holding the Rib of God, he walked step by step towards her, looking down on her, and said, “Of course, I want you to beg me. Beg me, and I might consider saving you.”
“Don’t you see? Who pushes you into hell, and who saves you?”
“You… you…” Situ Qing wanted to argue, but she had to admit that Zhou Qian was right.
Considering Mu Sheng’s intelligence, he should have known that the child was problematic, so why didn’t he tell her sooner? Why wait until the very last moment?
Suddenly, Situ Qing looked at her watch again, as if trying to question Mu Sheng through the system panel, who was watching her in danger.
From this action, Zhou Qian saw right through her.
Walking up to Situ Qing, he placed the Rib of God on her shoulder.
And with that, Zhou Qian took Situ Qing out of time.
Unable to bear the pain on her back, Situ Qing almost collapsed.
Zhou Qian chuckled softly and said in a deep voice, “He pushes you into grave danger, and just before that danger strikes, he sends you a warning to save you. This way, you’ll become more and more reliant on him.
“He’s the one who sets the trap for you, but he’s also the one who rescues you. It’s like him slapping you and then offering you candy… Gradually, you can’t break free from him. Not only can you not leave him, but you might even begin to feel sympathy for him, empathizing with him to some extent…”
“Situ Qing, this isn’t love. You’re sick. This condition is similar to Stockholm syndrome*. He’s the kidnapper that trapped you. How can you fall for him?”
*Condition in which hostages develop a psychological bond with their captors.
“I guess he’s used this method many times. But if you walk in the night too often, you’ll eventually encounter ghosts*. Maybe the previous times he saved you at the last second. But just now… seems like he made a mistake. If he had warned you a bit earlier, would you be in this situation?”
*Idiom referring to if one constantly engages in risky or dubious activities, they will eventually face negative consequences or run into trouble.
While gasping in pain, Situ Qing asked Zhou Qian, “Putting me in extreme danger and then saving me at the last moment… Zhou Qian, isn’t what you’re doing now the same?”
Zhou Qian laughed again, looking into her pain-filled eyes. “Of course not. I’m not asking you to love me.”
“There’s no emotional entanglement between us. If there is any, it’s just hatred. After all, you killed a good man named Gao Shan.”
His tone turned cold as he looked into her eyes. “Situ Qing, I’m just trying to wake you up. You’re in an extreme emotional state because of him. How can I wake you up if I don’t use extreme methods?”
“Come on, Situ Qing, grab this bone and come see the light with me.”
No, I cannot be swayed by him.
How can there be any light on him?
I’m just stepping from one abyss into another.
The constant pain in her back reminded her that if she didn’t hold onto that bone, she would die. She would definitely die.
“Come, Situ Qing. Look behind you.”
Zhou Qian pressed the bone against the side of her head, forcing her to turn and look behind her.
Immediately, Situ Qing saw a sight that filled her with unspeakable terror.
A mushroom cloud from an explosion was just a stone’s throw away from her.
The mushroom cloud almost illuminated the sky, blindingly bright yet seemingly having the power to obliterate everything.
If… If Zhou Qian were to release that bone, she would be instantly blown to smithereens.
Situ Qing shivered uncontrollably, her survival instincts overtaking her rational mind and any mental defenses, making her swiftly grab the bone pressed against her head.
Seeing this, Zhou Qian gave a faint smile, turned, and ran with her out of the explosion’s range.
Then he deactivated his skill, and time returned to normal.
“Boom—!” The mushroom cloud bloomed, like the most magnificent flower.
But apart from the explosion’s epicenter, no one died.
Watching this from a distance, sweat poured off Situ Qing as if she had been drenched in water countless times.
The boundless terror and never-ending pain had completely sapped her strength, and she collapsed onto the ground.
After catching her breath for a moment, she looked up at Zhou Qian beside her. “What did you—”
Unexpectedly, Zhou Qian had used an ordinary skill on her.
[Bone Nightmare]: Induces the target into an illusion, with a 30% backlash chance.
This ordinary skill of Zhou Qian had a unique feature.
If the target’s mental and physical conditions were good, the induced illusion would be extremely basic, similar to seeing an elf in water when drinking. It would be neither harmful nor particularly offensive.
However, if the target’s mental state was compromised, Zhou Qian could exploit it.
He remembered the detailed skill description mentioning that his current level was too low to maximize this skill’s potential. If he tried, he might suffer a backlash that could even threaten his life.
But when he reached a higher level with stronger base attributes, he could create and control the illusion.
Currently, Zhou Qian couldn’t craft or control an illusion to make Situ Qing completely lost in it.
But given her current fragile state—pain from the explosion, fear of death, threats from Zhou Qian, combined with her feelings of disappointment, fear, love, and hate towards Mu Sheng—all these negative emotions were overwhelming her.
In such a state, Zhou Qian could show her the illusion she feared the most.
……
The intense pain on her back made Situ Qing drift in and out of consciousness.
The moment the bone passed before her eyes, she felt a weight on her head and fell unconscious.
She felt like she was back in her childhood, with scenes from her past fast-forwarding before her eyes. At first, she was an observer, but eventually, she merged completely with her past self, reliving her life.
Situ Qing’s mother was named Situ Xue, who, to many, seemed as pure and beautiful as snow*.
*[Xue] (雪) means snow.
Situ Xue raised Situ Qing by herself. When Situ Qing was nine, they moved into an apartment where she met Mu Sheng. They were neighbors, living door-to-door.
Situ Qing and Mu Sheng weren’t siblings, but their bond was even stronger. She was very kind to Mu Sheng, largely because Mu Sheng’s mother was kind to her and her mother.
Mu Sheng’s mother, feeling sorry for the mother-daughter duo, always invited them over whenever she made something tasty.
Thus, the two families got along very well.
But no one expected Mu Sheng’s father to end up with Situ Xue.
They claimed they were in true love. Mu Sheng’s mother went through immense emotional pain, eventually falling into depression.
One day, while she was driving to pick up Mu Sheng, her mental state was compromised. It was unknown if it was due to a momentary lapse or if she wanted to end both their lives. Regardless, a tragic accident occurred.
After the accident, Mu Sheng’s mother passed away, and Mu Sheng was left with a lifelong disability.
At his bedside, Situ Qing was consumed with guilt. She kept apologizing to Mu Sheng, saying she would dedicate her life to make up for it.
Finally, Mu Sheng said to her, “Then let’s run away. I can’t stand being in this house, even for a moment. How can I face my father and your mother? They are murderers. Maybe I’ll lose control and kill them.”
And so, Situ Qing really took him with her.
No one had ever told her that the mistakes of adults should not be something a child should bear.
Yet, she felt so guilty towards Mu Sheng. Because of her mother, his entire life was ruined.
In reality, Situ Qing’s life trajectory had also been completely altered.
Back then, Situ Qing was only in her second year of high school.
To pay for Mu Sheng’s school fees and their living expenses, she dropped out of school early and worked various jobs, doing loads of work every day.
She was tired and resentful but bore it silently. Even when Mu Sheng’s temper was extremely bad, even when he dragged her into a bottomless abyss with him.
There was one incident that Situ Qing remembered particularly well.
One day, she was working at a milk tea shop. As it was close to the end of the year, many office workers from nearby buildings were working overtime and having lots of meetings. Hence, the demand for milk tea was particularly high.
That afternoon, Situ Qing made almost 300 cups of milk tea. She was almost exhausted to death and didn’t finish work until midnight.
She was so worn out that she could barely walk. She texted Mu Sheng that she wouldn’t come home that night and would spend the night at the milk tea shop and return the next morning.
After sending the message, Situ Qing laid down on the shop’s sofa to rest.
But she barely rested before deciding to return home.
She was worried about Mu Sheng being alone at home. If she didn’t cook dinner, Mu Sheng might not eat at all, especially given his mobility challenges.
Dragging her exhausted body, when Situ Qing arrived home, she encountered something she’d never expected.
Below their rented apartment, she saw Mu Sheng’s father’s car.
The next day, Situ Qing asked Mu Sheng, “Did your father find us?”
Mu Sheng replied, “Sister, how can you be so naive? We’re two minors. Is it hard to find us? They reported it to the police and found us long ago. It’s just that you were working that day, so only I met them.”
Situ Qing asked, “Didn’t they ask us to go back?”
“Of course they did. But I told them if they dared to force us, I’d not only kill myself but also take you with me. They got scared and let us stay out for the time being.” Mu Sheng chuckled. “My father foolishly believes… in at most half a year, I’d cool down and be willing to return. Who does he think he’s driven to death?”
Situ Qing, puzzled, inquired further. “Then… What was your father doing here last night?”
Mu Sheng’s gaze became inscrutable. “He came to see me and brought some money. I told him to just transfer it to my bank account in the future.”
Situ Qing frowned. “If he knew where we were all along, has he been sending money before?”
Mu Sheng nodded, “Of course. They’re afraid we won’t have enough to eat or wear.”
“Why then… Why…” Situ Qing clenched her fists. “I could have continued studying and not worked. Why did you…”
Interrupting her, holding Situ Qing’s hand, and looking into her eyes, Mu Sheng said, “Because I love you, sister.”
Situ Qing found herself unable to understand Mu Sheng’s actions. “What… What did you just say?”
“I said I love you.” Whispering into Situ Qing’s ear, Mu Sheng continued, “Without seeing you willingly sacrifice for me, how would I know you love me? I just wanted… you to prove your love for me.”
“Sister, I’m disabled. How can I be sure you’ll stick with me for life?”
“I just wanted to make sure… you were truly willing to sacrifice everything for me.”
“No, Mu Sheng… my mother wronged you, but I have my own life. I could’ve—”
“Sister, I just love you too much. Maybe I’m young and don’t know how to handle our relationship. After all, I hate your mother, and you resemble her… but I truly love you. Can you forgive me? I was just too afraid you’d leave me.”
“Mu Sheng…”
“If you knew my father would give us money, you might just abandon me.”
Situ Qing didn’t know what to say. Her grievances turned into tears.
But she couldn’t push Mu Sheng away.
She’d rushed to the scene of the accident and saw Mu Sheng’s mother in a pool of blood, her eyes staring at her as if Situ Qing had committed an unforgivable sin, owing her too much.
“Sister, don’t cry.” As Mu Sheng wiped her tears, he said, “I don’t want to use my father’s money. It feels dirty. Only what you give is good. I just want to love you.”
When this incident first happened, Situ Qing was deeply shocked. However, as similar incidents occurred more frequently, she seemingly became accustomed to it, even becoming numb.
What could she do even if she felt terrible? How could she leave such a Mu Sheng? She already owed him, so how could she really abandon him with his disability?
For a long time, Situ Qing had been having a recurring nightmare. After preparing breakfast for Mu Sheng, she forgot to turn off the stove and hurried to work. A fire indeed broke out at home, but since she was out working to earn money, she knew nothing about it. Poor Mu Sheng, due to his physical disabilities, couldn’t escape and perished in the flames.
In her dreamlike state, Situ Qing never imagined that this dream would come true.
Dragging her tired body, Situ Qing returned to the entrance of her building only to see her rented apartment engulfed in flames. Thinking of the helpless Mu Sheng, she felt she had once again failed him—because she was busy working and couldn’t attend to him at all times, leading to this disaster.
Fear and guilt surrounded Situ Qing, and she recklessly tried to rush into the fire.
“It’s dangerous, young lady!”
“Don’t go! The firefighters are here!”
Such voices continuously echoed in her ears, and she was held back by the crowd.
After an unknown period of worry and anxiety, when guilt and concern nearly suffocated her, two firefighters carried out Mu Sheng. However, by that time, Mu Sheng had turned into a charred corpse.
Mu Sheng was dead, completely and utterly.
“No—!”
Situ Qing knelt on the ground, completely devastated. The person she loved the most, who also tormented her for a lifetime, was now dead. Her world suddenly felt empty. It seemed like she couldn’t feel anything.
It seemed like Situ Qing and Mu Sheng had been intertwined for a long time. Both were young, but they seemed to have been entwined for countless days and nights. Love or hate between them was indistinguishable. Who owed whom was also blurred.
All Situ Qing knew now was that all her guilt, concern, secrets, heaviness, and twisted love and attachment had abruptly left her before she could thoroughly understand it, before she was prepared.
Her world used to be colorful and sweet. Back then, the boy next door was adorable, her mother was beautiful, and the neighboring aunt and uncle were friendly… Later, after a sudden change, she lived alone with Mu Sheng, working tirelessly. Her world turned black and white.
Now… Staring at the charred corpse, where even the facial features were indiscernible, Situ Qing felt her world was empty. It seemed like she lived in a world where nothing existed. No Mu Sheng, no parents, no one. That world was void of even black and white.
This emptiness lasted for a long time until Situ Qing gradually regained her senses. She realized she was kneeling on the street with many kind-hearted people around, seemingly comforting her. They must have been doing it for a while, but she felt deaf to it all.
It was only then that her senses gradually returned, and Situ Qing started feeling the pain in her heart. It felt as if someone was tightly squeezing and crushing it, the pain even surpassing the severe injuries on her back.
Wait…
Where did the injuries on her back come from?
At that moment, Situ Qing abruptly woke up from the most terrifying dream and found herself in tears. She hadn’t cried when she was close to death or when her back was severely burned by the explosion wave. But she was utterly shattered because of a dream.
Instinctively touching her face, feeling as if it had been repeatedly drenched in rain, Situ Qing took several breaths and opened her eyes, seeing Zhou Qian looking down at her. His eyes were cold and cruel. He was mocking her—the most ruthless and terrifying devil in the world!
With all her strength, Situ Qing reached out and tightly grabbed Zhou Qian’s shirt.
“Zhou Qian, I’m going to kill you. I’m going to kill you!”
Zhou Qian’s face remained calm. He looked at Situ Qing with deceptive eyes while speaking in a soft voice. “Situ Qing, tell me, what was your most genuine feeling just now? Face me honestly and face yourself honestly. When you saw his corpse, what was your first reaction?”
“I…”
Seemingly recalling a feeling of emptiness, as if everything was drained from her, Situ Qing was left speechless.
The deep voice of Zhou Qian continued, “Situ Qing, be honest. You’ve felt it, haven’t you? Let me see if there’s any hope left for you.”
“I… I…”
Tears streamed down Situ Qing’s face once again. She couldn’t help but break down. Unconsciously, she let go of Zhou Qian’s shirt, which she had been gripping. She covered her face and began to sob uncontrollably.
Ever since the day after Mu Sheng’s mother died, she started suppressing herself, holding back all the pain, even the longing for her mother. And now, for the first time in so many years and countless nights, she cried her heart out.
Amidst this emotional breakdown, she answered Zhou Qian with sobs. “I felt… relieved, as if a weight had been lifted. I feel liberated. I feel free now. I feel like I should be happy… I feel like I can have a normal life. I… Zhou Qian…”
“When I saw him die, my first reaction was… relief. So, Zhou Qian…”
“Are you satisfied?!”
“Are you satisfied now, Zhou Qian?!”
Zhou Qian waited quietly for her to cry for a full minute. Then, he extended his hand and patted her shoulder. “This proves there’s still hope for you. Remember this feeling, Situ Qing.”
“Remember this feeling of freedom, liberation, and relief.”
“Now you can let him go.”
“Forgive yourself and live for yourself.”
Outside the game, in front of the tablet screen.
Mu stared as Zhou Qian looked up. His cold gaze seemed to pierce through the screen, staring right at him. With a malicious, mocking tone, he said, “Did you hear that? Seeing you dead, her first reaction was relief.”
“The thing she feared most in her life was causing your death due to her negligence.”
“But what she most looked forward to was also—to see you die.”
Later on, this game video of Zhou Qian was watched countless times, garnering the highest attention and eliciting numerous comments.
[Holy shit, that’s next-level strategy! I’ve never seen such a crafty move! He’s so skilled at winning people over!]
[I don’t get it. He expended so much mana, just to anger Situ Qing and turn her against her gambler? So, what’s Zhou Qian planning for Situ Qing next?]
[I don’t know about later, but in this instance, his move was worth it.]
[Right? Among the four of them, who could deal normal damage? If he doesn’t win over Situ Qing now, then when? There’s a tough fight coming up!]
[I kind of feel sorry for Situ Qing.]
[To the person above, there’s something hateful in every pitiable person!]
[That might be true… She was forced into this. Let’s see if she can make amends in the future. Maybe she’ll work hard to earn gold coins and finally trade them to Yun Xiangrong to get Gao Shan back?]
[I think you guys are missing the point. Why would a low-level player like Situ Qing, who seemingly has no past grudge with Zhou Qian, attack him? Whose orders?]
[Peach Blossom Legion, perhaps? I heard they gave her a pass to enter this hall…]
[Why would Peach Blossom want to kill Zhou Qian? Didn’t their senior retire?]
[Didn’t Priest analyze for us last time? Zhou Qian caught the eye of a Rank God player, who wants to train him as his “shepherd”!]
[Is Zhou Qian caught in a struggle between Rank God players? I heard there are factional struggles among high-level players… Could that be true? I’ve heard rumors that Rank God players are selecting who can truly stand beside the gods!]
[Yeah, isn’t it a contest between [Scholar] and [Blood Demon] for the top spot? Whoever’s on top will rule the game and lead all of us!]
[I’ve heard the same. They’re even forcing players to pick sides. There’s a big battle brewing between them! It’s unclear which side the Peach Blossom Legion is on. High-level players are currently vying for powerful [Shepherds]. For someone like Zhou Qian… it’s better to kill him if they can’t have him!]
[Having only completed two dungeons, Zhou Qian is already the most watched newbie, currently ranking first. So being pursued is the treatment for the top newbie? I really don’t envy that!]
[Yeah, high-level players, please don’t give me the same attention as Zhou Qian! Leave me be; I don’t want to be your [Shepherd]. Let me be free, thank you!]
[The two above are so narcissistic. Do you see anyone paying attention to you?]
Inside the private room, Priest silently observed everyone’s comments and, for some reason, sighed softly.
Then he opened a letter he had received, bearing a distinct peach blossom mark at the corner.
……
At this moment, in the game.
Dark clouds approached, obscuring the moonlight.
The long street became even darker.
Situ Qing broke down in tears, while Zhou Qian looked towards the street.
Not long ago, Da Shou, with explosives strapped to him, wanted to drag the players to death with him. However, he failed in the end, and only he died.
On the other side, Xiao Pang ran swiftly down the entire street, scattering dog’s blood everywhere and sticking talisman papers.
As a result, all the ghosts that were in groups vanished one after another.
After receiving a message from Zhou Qian, Yun Xiangrong and He Xiaowei not only quickly distanced themselves from Da Shou but also quickly paid attention to Xiao Pang’s movements.
When Zhou Qian used the “Bone Nightmare” skill on Situ Qing, Xiao Pang had just dealt with a horde of ghosts. Seeing that Da Shou blew himself up without taking any players with him, Xiao Pang rushed towards the players again.
He Xiaowei’s eyes widened instantly. “Fuck, does he also have a bomb on him?”
Yun Xiangrong said in a deep voice, “Quickly, use the guqin to control him!”
As soon as Yun Xiangrong spoke, He Xiaowei took out his guqin and began to play it.
The system didn’t provide any warnings about the danger of Xiao Pang and Da Shou. This meant that they were not the “monsters” that needed to be defeated in the instance. Their attacks were covert, without any special skills, which also meant they were vulnerable.
Sure enough, when He Xiaowei plucked the strings aimed at Xiao Pang’s feet, Xiao Pang immediately tripped.
As he fell, Yun Xiangrong swiftly attacked, with willow catkins falling, precisely targeting Xiao Pang’s arms.
Yun Xiangrong’s damage output was mediocre, but it was enough to handle Xiao Pang, an NPC that wasn’t even considered a monster.
Once Xiao Pang was incapacitated, Yun Xiangrong quickly brought out a rope, first tying his hands behind him to prevent him from triggering the explosive. Once the explosive risk was neutralized, she tied up his feet.
He Xiaowei rushed forward to help, and in the end, together with Yun Xiangrong, they tied Xiao Pang to a lamppost.
After staring at Xiao Pang for a while, He Xiaowei heard footsteps and turned to see Zhou Qian.
“Qian’er, I don’t understand. What’s happening?” He Xiaowei nudged Zhou Qian’s arm and glanced at the still-crying Situ Qing.
Zhou Qian said, “Using some mana now is worth it. Otherwise, it’ll be troublesome later. With Situ Qing around, things are a bit easier.”
He Xiaowei glanced at Xiao Pang again and couldn’t help but ask Zhou Qian, “So… what’s going on? Why did they want to harm us? Are they children? The ghosts… don’t pose a threat to us?”
Zhou Qian counter-asked, “Did you see any ghost hurt you?”
He Xiaowei rubbed his hands. “Well, not really.”
Zhou Qian continued, “It’s all easy to deduce. Think about it, what’s the background of this city?”
He Xiaowei replied, “The S army invaded… The Seventh Army protects the civilians!”
“Right,” Zhou Qian said. “Now, think about it, what did the old lady ask us to do when she saw us?”
“Aha, I get it,” He Xiaowei exclaimed. “She said there are many traitors in the city lately and warned us not to reveal our identities. She asked us to take off our military uniforms. In a way, she was protecting us!”
“Exactly,” Zhou Qian replied. “Additionally, remember when you were about to get married as Dong Shui, the young Jiang Yuqing appeared. In his perspective, he didn’t see those people as ghosts. He looked at them the same way he looked at us.”
“Don’t forget, we deduced early on that young Jiang Yuqing would protect us and is on our side.”
“So, his appearance, besides introducing a subplot, was also a hint from the game—that the ‘ghosts’ in this level are actually on the good side.”
After a brief pause, Zhou Qian added, “Recall not long ago when we were surrounded by those young beggars. They didn’t intend to harm us. They didn’t know they were dead and continued to rob, just like when they were alive. But when they saw me take out the uniform of the Seventh Army, they immediately stopped and were overjoyed. They spread the word that the Seventh Army had arrived. They thought… they could be saved.”
He Xiaowei paused, then said, “The old lady told us to change our clothes. But we were still exposed. We…”
After a brief moment of distraction, he said, “We’ve been exposed for a while! Hearing the suona sound on the way to the wedding, we wore our military uniforms. We were seen by people long ago. But, the people who saw us were… were…”
He Xiaowei’s gaze turned to the tied-up Xiao Pang. He furrowed his brow tightly, as if feeling that the truth he discovered wasn’t only saddening but also so incredible that it was almost hard to accept.
“In times of war, nothing is impossible,” Zhou Qian said. “When the S army invaded Baicheng, they slaughtered the civilians… Miss Zhang couldn’t wait for her Dong Shui to return and had already passed away.”
Thinking of the smiling expression in Miss Zhang’s eyes in the photograph and thinking of the piece of red wedding dress and the embroidered shoe found in the mass grave, tears welled up in He Xiaowei’s eyes.
“This is a world of mixed truth and illusion,” he continued. “What happened in that mass grave probably really happened. This city is empty because nearly everyone in Baicheng was slaughtered back then. As for the wedding of Dong Shui and Miss Zhang, it never really happened. This was Jiang Yuqing’s vision. He knew everyone was dead, but he hoped that even in ghost form, his comrade and Miss Zhang could have their wishes, so he created such an illusion in this conscious world.”
Zhou Qian narrowed his eyes and said, “Real memories and false visions together make up this world. We need to discern which parts are real and which are fake. For example, the malicious intent of those two children may be real.”
Jiang Yuqing’s memory couldn’t have possibly conjured the bones and mass graves from thin air. This was probably from what he had seen with his own eyes. The most logical guess was that after Dong Shui and Miss Zhang broke off their engagement, they left Baicheng, met up with the rest of the Falcon Squadron, and began the mission to escort Jiang Yuqing to Nancheng.
Perhaps during their escape, they passed through Baicheng and saw the desolation and emptiness left behind by the war. They came across numerous bodies, found many mass graves, and even discovered parts of Miss Zhang’s wedding dress and the embroidered shoe.
But entering Baicheng must have been extremely dangerous, as it would have been filled with S Army forces. So, what role did these two children play at that time?
Being locals and children, they would have easily gained the trust of the Falcon Squadron.
Perhaps at a moment of crisis, Xiao Pang and Da Shou appeared and said, “Big brother, big sister, follow us. We can save you.”
Maybe someone in the Falcon Squadron fell for it, and the children detonated the bombs they carried, sacrificing themselves in the process.
He Xiaowei looked at the tied-up Xiao Pang, struggling to find words, and then asked Zhou Qian, “But why? If the entire city was surrounded by the S Army, wouldn’t it be easy for them to exterminate the Falcon Squadron? Why would they force two children from Baicheng to do this? Why would the children agree?”
Zhou Qian’s expression turned cold. “The S Army is like their name implies—they are venomous snakes. Perhaps even more venomous than snakes. They not only wanted to kill the people of Baicheng but also wanted to watch them kill each other. Perhaps ordinary killing methods no longer satisfied them, so they forced two children from Baicheng to turn against those they originally looked up to in the Seventh Army.”
He Xiaowei’s eyes reddened, and he was rendered speechless. Zhou Qian walked towards Xiao Pang and asked, “Did they force or trick you by using your mother? Did they tell you that if you carried the bomb and led us into a trap, they would spare your mother?”
Looking up at Zhou Qian, Xiao Pang trembled and tears flowed. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to find my mom… I just wanted her to come back.”
Just then, there was a “bang”.
Xiao Pang was killed, lying in a pool of blood.
The S army had killed everyone in the city, leaving only Da Shou and Xiao Pang. When the Falcon Squadron entered the city, they were trapped, and the two children were tasked to kill them. If they succeeded, the S Army would have enjoyed a cruel spectacle of brethren killing each other. If they failed, the S Army would simply take care of the Seventh Army members themselves.
Now, the two children had undoubtedly failed, and the S army lurking in the shadows was about to emerge.
Zhou Qian stepped closer to Xiao Pang. Although Xiao Pang could no longer hear, Zhou Qian whispered, “You don’t need to apologize. You’re not our enemy, the S Army is.”
“Qian’er, we… we…” He Xiaowei swallowed hard, torn between fear and rage.
The system soon sent a message.
[Player triggered main plotline: Jiang Yuqing was captured by the S Army in Baicheng, where they tortured him to extract scientific research secrets; Jiang Yuqing would rather die than betray but was later saved by a spy from the Seventh Army hidden within the S Army inside Baicheng.]
[Player Mission: On behalf of the Falcon Squadron, locate Jiang Yuqing and take him to the western pier to escape by boat.]
“Xiaowei Ge—”
Suddenly hearing this voice, He Xiaowei turned to look at Zhou Qian.
At this moment, the clouds had dispersed, and the moonlight made Zhou Qian’s gaze exceptionally clear.
“What’s…what’s up?” He Xiaowei asked.
Unlike his usual comedic demeanor, affected by the plot, He Xiaowei’s tone was dull, lacking energy.
Then he saw Zhou Qian, with his shining eyes, say, “How about we go all out?”
“How do we go all out?” Seemingly influenced by Zhou Qian, He Xiaowei gradually became somewhat excited.
Zhou Qian said, “In reality, we can only be the villains. So, in this instance, let’s be… heroes.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Of course, to annihilate all the members of the S Army and avenge everyone!”
For a moment, Ying Feng was in a daze, not knowing if the principal was speaking to the Qizhu who abandoned him or to Ying Feng himself. When he came back to his senses, the man in front of him had disappeared.
“Sounds far-fetched, doesn’t it?” A voice with a completely different tone intruded into Ying Feng’s ears. “Who would’ve thought someone as arrogant as him would one day spill out such sentimental words.”
Seeing Ying Feng’s incredulous expression, Fu Yao candidly revealed the truth. “Don’t be fooled by your principal’s downtrodden appearance now. Back in the day when he reigned supreme over the entire Bikong Academy. He was so arrogant that one would want to strangle him.”
Ying Feng roughly guessed the relationship between these two. “Do you hold a grudge against the principal?”
“A grudge? Ha!” Fu Yao sneered. “It’s more like mutual disdain. Even though I had major reservations about his character, I still recognized his strength and once considered him a worthy opponent. Unfortunately, after he was defeated by someone, he was defeated by the entire world. Despite previously boasting about whose achievements in the military would be greater, he ended up taking a position as a principal in a small academy. Seeing him now, constantly in a melancholic state, I would rather he maintained his former arrogance.”
Adversaries of equal strength, entirely different fates—the success or failure of a single coming-of-age ceremony could change so much.
Fu Yao waved it off, not wanting to discuss the principal any further. “Although your medical report shows no issues, I’m afraid your Qizi isn’t as optimistic. As his Qizhu and a direct witness, I have the right to detain you.”
Ying Feng knew there was more to come and waited patiently.
“But I don’t intend to. Even if I forced you to stay now, it would only be temporary. Once the restriction is lifted in the future, you can still leave. Your principal was right, if you really want to go, no one can stop you.”
He shifted slightly. “So, I have something to say. I wonder if you’d be interested in hearing it out?”
Ying Feng intuitively felt that what was coming next wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but he had to listen anyway.
“Speak.”
“After you leave, the idea that your Qizi will be sent to the Disease Control Center is a naïve notion… You should know, by procedure, he has to be arrested and await trial under incarceration.”
“For someone like him, who has just completed the coming-of-age ceremony and is forced to be separated from his Qizhu and sent to a detention center without any medical protection,” Fuyao slowed down his words, “I guarantee, he won’t survive 72 hours inside. His spirit will collapse, and his willpower will wither. He won’t even have to wait for the trial; he can directly report to the base.”
Ying Feng’s expression darkened. “Are you threatening me with him?”
“I haven’t finished my threat yet,” Fuyao responded with a smirk.
He took a step forward and walked out of the medical station’s gate. In front of him was a vast expanse of land.
“Our race is inherently aggressive. Our unique physical attributes allow us to easily defeat any opponent. If we wanted, the entire galaxy would bow to us. But to this day, the armies of our people have only set foot on a few neighboring planets. Do you know why?”
Ying Feng was clueless.
Fuyao tapped his chest. “Because of the soul’s traction.”
“I have led armies to many places and found that once we leave this planet, a sense of unease arises among my kind. The further we are from our homeland, and the longer the duration, this feeling intensifies. Once a certain limit is crossed, even the morale to fight disappears.”
“We later realized our movement is restricted by a circle with the Soul Lighthouse at its center. Venturing far from this center, our souls worry about returning and resist the journey. Only standing on our own soil do we feel grounded. This restriction has curtailed our race’s expansion. The reason behind this remains unclear and is often attributed to an implicit balance.”
He extended his hand, grasping at the distance. “It’s a pity that we are confined to this limited space in such a vast universe. Our view of the world is limited, and many never venture beyond it in their lifetimes.”
“Now, do you understand what I’m trying to say?” He turned around. “The soul’s traction always exists. Even if you go to the closest place from here, like the Wolfsbane, it will increasingly beckon you to return.”
“Don’t think that being a Qizhu means you won’t have mental pressure, and don’t assume the person who bit your principal is freely wandering the world. Freedom only exists here, under your feet. Once you leave, invisible chains will bind you. I hope by then, you won’t regret your impulsive decision.”
Suddenly, Fu Yao shifted his tone. “If you really want to see the world outside, come to the military. I’ve seen your profile; you are a promising newcomer, just what we’re looking for.”
“In the past, only the Qizhu had to take the entrance exam for the Royal Sky Military Academy. If the Qizhu passed, the Qizi was also admitted but could only choose auxiliary majors like communications or medical.”
“I was admitted to Royal Sky without taking the exam. My only condition was that my Qizi be treated equally. Thus, he became the first Qizi to be admitted to the Combat Command major since the founding of the academy.”
“During our time at the academy, we developed a unique fighting style exclusive to a Qizhu and their Qizi. As long as the two cooperate, the energy they unleash is far greater than two Qizhu of similar strength.”
“Our training model was recognized by the academy. Five years after my graduation, Royal Sky officially established the Joint Combat major, recruiting talented Qizhus and Qizis. Both have to pass the entrance exam.”
“I’m satisfied with the abilities of both you and your Qizi. If you’re willing to apply, I can write a recommendation letter for you. You might not realize the weight my recommendation holds in your application.”
Fu Yao paused, then routinely asked Ying Feng’s opinion, “What do you think?”
“First intimidation, then enticement? Your methods differ from the principal’s, but your goals are strikingly similar. Our unfamiliarity, all the things you’ve done and said behind my back, are they all out of regard for the principal? Maybe the relationship between you two isn’t as adversarial as it seems.”
“It can’t be helped. Even though I find him annoying, Bikong is my alma mater, and he’s my fellow alumnus. Doing him a favor feels good, especially imagining his unease. Moreover, not everyone gets so much talk from me. It’s a kind of camaraderie; a strong recognition of another’s potential. I’m willing to lend a hand seeing a promising junior heading the wrong way.”
Ying Feng didn’t explicitly agree or decline. “I appreciate your kindness. If I do choose Royal Sky, I’ll get in based on my own abilities.”
“Having ambition is good. But I must remind you kindly that, at your current level, joining the military is a delusion. The premise of joining is full development. If you follow in your principal’s footsteps, you’ll undoubtedly be rejected. That eternal virgin, hahaha.”
“Really?” Ying Feng said expressionlessly. “Considering your height, I thought you hadn’t developed either.”
No sooner had Ying Feng finished speaking than a heavy punch landed on his abdomen. He was sent flying, crashing into the courtyard wall after flying several meters.
Ying Feng, falling from mid-air, felt as if the air was sucked out of his lungs. After a few painful coughs, he managed to breathe again. Having just exited the healing chamber, he felt he’d have to return soon.
Fu Yao approached without a hint of remorse, his wrist cracking. “Given your current endurance, you can probably take two of my punches. So, you’re welcome to repeat what you just said.”
Clutching his painful spot, Ying Feng struggled to speak, realizing that this man was mad.
“You probably don’t yet know the true strength of our people. What you learned at the basic academy barely scratches the surface of combat.”
He suddenly produced a crystal in his palm, tossed it, caught it, and gripped it firmly, releasing a blinding white light. After fluidly completing these actions, Fu Yao punched a stone pillar nearby. The massive column was instantly shattered, and Ying Feng raised his hands just in time to shield his face from the debris.
Fu Yao blew off the residual ashes on the back of his hand. After such violent actions, surprisingly, there was not even a slight injury left. Ying Feng was greatly shocked. Even if he tried hard to maintain his composure, a part of his emotions uncontrollably seeped out.
“Did you see that? There are many interesting things in the future waiting for you to discover. If you don’t want to miss them, walk step by step on the right path!”
Ying Feng leaned against the wall and stood up. Fu Yao casually threw something at him. His casual attitude made it seem like something worthless.
Ying Feng took it and saw that what Fu Yao threw looked like a stone the size of a goose egg, crystal clear, perfectly round, and flawless, with a dark gold flow inside. It was by no means something ordinary.
“What is this?” Ying Feng was puzzled. “Why are you giving it to me?”
“It’s originally yours. A soul stone that fell off from the Kui. You left it in the mine. The highest level—a triple S-grade soul stone. It’s probably worth a city, right? Among all those who just completed the coming-of-age ceremony, you are probably the richest.”
Ying Feng’s face turned a bit pale, half because of Fu Yao’s attack. “This isn’t mine.”
Fu Yao chuckled. “The person is yours, so the item is naturally yours. Qizis don’t have personal property. Legally speaking, it’s yours. Of course, whether you keep it or give it to him is your choice.”
A notification sounded from the terminal on his wrist. Looking at the message, Fu Yao’s lips curled into a meaningful smile.
“Your Qizi is finally awake. Aren’t you going to visit him?”
……
“Have you woken up?” The chief physician saw Ling Xiao open his eyes and quickly approached. “How do you feel?”
Ling Xiao sat up in a daze; his expression was either blank or vacant.
The chief physician checked his pupils to make sure he was conscious and repeated, “Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
Only then did Ling Xiao respond. He looked up with almost transparent gray eyes and asked, “Where am I?”
The physician reassured him, “This is an emergency medical station set up by the military. You’ve been here for a while.”
“What happened to me?”
“You encountered danger during your field practice, but the military rescued you in time,” the physician explained vaguely.
Ling Xiao gave a soft acknowledgment and then began to space out again.
A medical staff member’s words triggered some of his missing memories. He recalled that they were on a field training exercise. He made a bet with Ying Feng on who would score higher, and then a Kui appeared…
He remembered challenging the Kui fearlessly and got knocked aside. In his dizziness, Ying Feng pulled him away. He just remembered Ying Feng holding his hand and later holding him in his embrace.
When Ying Feng pushed him away and charged at the Kui, Ling Xiao regained consciousness. He then found the “Ember II” in his embrace—he had stolen it from the lab out of youthful curiosity, never thinking it would come in handy one day.
His memories were fragmented after that. Seeing his dazed expression, the physician suspected that perhaps the paralytic component in the saliva might have affected him, making him appear somewhat dull.
However, the next moment, Ling Xiao swiftly grabbed the physician’s clothes, surprising him. “Was I the only one rescued?”
“No, both of you. Your companion was with you.”
“Is he alright?”
The physician hesitated slightly. “His injuries are much lighter than yours. He should be fine now.”
Ling Xiao sighed in relief, whispering that’s good.
But why did he feel like he had forgotten something very important? He tried hard to remember, but the path to those memories felt tangled, leading him back to where he started.
“If you’re feeling better, maybe take a shower,” the physician kindly suggested.
Only then did Ling Xiao realize his terrible state. His entire right arm was stained with unknown blood. His uniform shirt was missing, and he had several dark red spots on his chest.
“Is my treatment finished?” he asked innocently.
The physician wasn’t sure how to tell him; while physical injuries could be healed, hickey marks weren’t physical injuries. Many who just became a Qizi would subconsciously forget certain things because they couldn’t accept the reality, and it seemed he was no different.
“Your injuries are severe and won’t heal quickly. They’ll heal over time.”
“Oh.” Ling Xiao nodded blankly. “Let’s go then.”
Ling Xiao’s feet touched the ground again, and every step he took seemed as if he were walking on clouds, making everything feel unreal. The surrounding environment, nearby objects, and the person leading the way all seemed to materialize from illusion. This moment felt like a dream, with white fog obscuring his vision. All sounds were banished miles away, with the narrow corridor never seeming to end.
The physician opened a door connecting dream to reality for him. “The bathroom is here, and the clothes have been placed inside. Call me if you need anything.”
Ling Xiao nodded, stepping through the door absentmindedly. The bathroom was immaculately clean. There was a bright mirror hanging on the wall, mercilessly reflecting all it saw. Just a brief glimpse, and Ling Xiao found himself unable to look away.
He walked closer, staring at the stranger in the mirror. The stranger stared back with pale gray eyes. They looked at each other for a moment that felt like an eternity.
After a long while, Ling Xiao reached out, his fingers trembling slightly in the air, advancing and retracting several times.
The reflection mimicked his actions, timidly approaching him until the cold sensation of the mirror met his touch, leaving no room for delusions.
Finally, he touched the reflection’s eyes, his fingertips lightly brushing the corners of its eyes, drawing a faint arc along the contour.
How could this be him? How could this possibly be him?
The author has something to say:
Tip: The people of Tianxiu need to continuously mate in order to develop. However, there is a peak in development. Once this peak is reached, both parties will not grow any further, but physical desires will always persist.
Kinky Translations 