Chapter 31: Yaoxing Academy 31 Part 2

But thinking that once everything settled, he’d have to pursue a relationship with Lu Zhou to manage his Blackening Value, Xun Ji suddenly didn’t want the System fixed so soon.

After arriving in this world, he’d first ruined his mother’s keepsake, then forced him to be a little dog, and even schemed against him at the Winter Sports Meet. Xun Ji didn’t know what had bewitched Lu Zhou—he actually fell for him despite all that.

Xun Ji sighed inwardly as he scooped a spoonful of porridge into his mouth. It tasted like wax. Was it right for a dark novel’s villain to date the dark novel’s protagonist?

“Buzz buzz—buzz buzz—”

His mobile phone vibrated. Xun Ji answered; it was Principal Kong.

“Xun Ji, go talk some sense into that Lu Zhou kid. He won’t listen to me and hung up.” Principal Kong sounded frantic.

“What happened? Tell me slowly.”

Principal Kong’s voice choked up. “These past days, he’s been frantic searching for Lu Ting. I pulled strings at the police station to help, but still nothing. We missed the golden window—this thing… it’s probably…”

If traffickers had taken her, missing the first 24 hours made it like fishing the ocean.

But it wasn’t the police’s fault. Xun Ji had deliberately arranged for Xun Qian to appear at the abduction spot mentioned in the original text, rescuing Xiao Ting and wiping out the traffickers. The police had nothing to find.

Principal Kong swallowed his grief and steadied himself. “I figured Lu Zhou can’t keep wandering aimlessly. He’s been expelled from Yaoxing, so at least transfer to my school to settle down first, then plan long-term.”

As Xun Ji expected, Principal Kong handled the transfer.

“But the kid refused.” Principal Kong said helplessly. “Not only that—he said he had a lead on Lu Ting and had to go right away. He’s already at the airport!”

Xun Ji’s hand paused mid-sip, then slammed down the spoon.

“Airport?”

Principal Kong kept rambling. “I checked with police friends—it’s no lead, just a rumor about traffickers in some province. He’s rushing off blindly…”

“Ding.”

A message popped up.

Xun Ji opened it: from Lu Zhou, who had vanished for three days.

“I’m going to Province X for Xiao Ting. Will return if found. Don’t worry.”

At least he sent a message, but… Xun Ji’s head throbbed. Couldn’t he wait one more day?

Xun Ji hung up on Principal Kong and called Lu Zhou, but it went straight to voicemail—powered off.

Not giving him a moment’s peace.

Xun Ji helplessly called to Brother Wang. “To the airport. Now.”

*

Lu Zhou removed the SIM card and tossed it into an airport trash bin.

He stood dazed for a moment, then suddenly reached into the bin.

“Young man, what are you doing!” A nearby cleaning auntie stopped him hurriedly. “Trash bins are dirty. Once it’s thrown away, it’s gone.”

“Gone?” Lu Zhou’s lips trembled as he repeated it silently.

How could it be gone? How could he bear to let it go?

Xun Ji might see his message and contact him. He’d ask gently if he was okay, tell him to come home.

…But he couldn’t have that.

Lu Zhou turned numbly and walked away from the bin.

He feared seeing Xun Ji’s reply. Feared Xun Ji calling.

Feared that even a shred of concern from Xun Ji would shatter his resolve, turning him back into that useless wreck who could only cry in Xun Ji’s arms.

He didn’t know why things turned out this way, why it had to be Xiao Ting. But he knew it was all his fault.

His greed for the Hunting Shadow Game prize had sent Xiao Ting away to study abroad, dooming such a young girl to suffering, her fate unknown.

He had to find Xiao Ting.

He had to do it himself.

Xun Ji deserved the world’s best, but now Lu Zhou was the world’s worst.

Xun Ji shouldn’t—and couldn’t—be dragged into this slow, endless torment.

These three days felt like a nightmare. Lu Zhou didn’t know when—or if—it would end.

“Sir, are you alright?” At the gate, a flight attendant asked worriedly.

Lu Zhou’s face was ghastly pale, eye sockets sunken, dark circles heavy. He steadied his swaying body—like a rootless dead tree, every step cracking and crumbling silently.

Behind him, ground crew rushed by, faces grim, as if some major airport incident had occurred.

“…Blood everywhere, so scary…”

“…How’d the billboard just fall like that?”

“…Seems like some rich family’s… looking for someone…”

“…Probably didn’t make it…”

Fragments of talk drifted into Lu Zhou’s ears. He turned and walked expressionlessly into the jet bridge.

None of this had anything to do with him anymore.

Five minutes earlier.

“Young Master, too late. The flight to Province X is boarding. Even a hundred-meter sprint won’t make it.”

Brother Wang panted at the terminal entrance.

Xun Ji was exhausted too, gasping as he told Brother Wang, “Call my brother. Have him stop that flight immediately!”

Brother Wang paused, then pulled out his phone.

Xun Ji didn’t move, leaning under a huge billboard to rest, still dialing Lu Zhou—voicemail again.

Xun Ji felt inexplicably irritable, thinking he’d scold Lu Zhou properly once he got him back. Then, a familiar electronic tone rang unexpectedly in his mind.

【Ding! System bug fixed.】

【Original text loaded. Host may view at any time.】

【Blackening Value view function loaded. Current Protagonist Blackening Value: 80%.】

【OOC Punishment function loaded. Compiling Host’s OOC instances…】

Xun Ji: “Wait—what?”

【…Compilation complete. Host has accumulated 171 out-of-character words and actions.】

【Please select punishment method: 1. Individual punishments, 171 times total; 2. Consolidated punishment, 1 time total.】

Xun Ji: “…I choose no punishment.”

【No selection made. Option 1 will activate in 3 seconds.】

Xun Ji: “Wait, wait! I pick 2—2’s fine!”

171 times sounded terrifying. Better to get it over with at once.

The Unlucky System had mentioned OOC Punishment before. If he’d known fixing the bug would bring this, he wouldn’t have bothered—the original text and Blackening Value were viewable via Lin Yule anyway.

Xun Ji took the loss, feeling deeply annoyed.

【Host selected consolidated punishment. Activating in 3 seconds.】

【3…】

“Young Master, Eldest Young Master’s line is busy—probably in a meeting.” Uncle Wang approached, phone in hand.

【2…】

“Stay there—don’t move.” Xun Ji called out.

Who knew what punishment the Unlucky System had in store? If it punched him or something and someone saw him getting hit out of nowhere, it’d be weird.

Fortunately, few people near this entrance; no one noticed.

【1…】

Xun Ji’s heart raced inexplicably. He bargained with the System: “Go easy, just for show—don’t really…”

“Crash—!!!”

The massive billboard smashed down, cutting off his unfinished words.

Brother Wang blanked for seconds before charging forward madly.

“Young Master!!!”

Beneath the enormous billboard, crimson blood slowly seeped out in a wide pool. The young boy’s body lay like a porcelain doll knocked carelessly from its shelf, cracked all over. His brilliant golden hair soaked in the scarlet slurry, like wilted, decaying feathers.

A roar streaked across the sky as a plane soared away. The sky was clear blue, leaving no trace behind.