Chapter 28
Seeing Xue Changyi lost in thought, Leopard Tail asked, “Boss, is something wrong?”
Xue Changyi shook his head. “It’s nothing. Continue with class, I’ll be going back.”
He put down the test papers and headed towards the Lugong dormitory, but instead of going to Room 444, he went up to the next floor, to Dong Lan’s room.
Knock, knock, knock—
No response.
He knocked again. “Old Seven, are you there?”
The door was unlocked, but there was no answer. Xue Changyi frowned and pushed the door open.
The room was empty and quiet, but a pot of crystal-clear white orchids sat on the desk.
—Ghost Orchids.
The Ghost Orchid, also known as Monotropa uniflora, resembled a mushroom, its translucent white body lacking any chlorophyll, one of the few plants that didn’t require photosynthesis. Many mistook it for a mushroom, but it was actually an orchid, also known as the “flower of the Underworld.”
Xue Changyi sighed, walking over and stroking a petal. “Old Seven?”
“Mm…?” A petal unfurled, as if tickled, followed by a soft human moan.
Rustle, rustle—
More petals unfolded, stretching like a person waking up, then with a flash of white light, the orchid transformed into a human form.
—Dong Lan!
Dong Lan, now human and completely naked, stretched his arms, rubbing his sleepy eyes. “Little Ten? What are you doing here?”
Xue Changyi sighed. “Asleep again? Your true form is the Ghost Orchid, you don’t like sunlight, why did you come to the academy to be a teacher?”
Dong Lan was well-suited for his role as the Seventh Yama King. As a Ghost Orchid, he didn’t require photosynthesis and could survive without sunlight. He disliked the sun and preferred sleeping during the day and being active at night.
Teaching at the academy, with its reversed day-night cycle, naturally made him sleepy.
Dong Lan grabbed his clothes and put them on. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Little Ten is teaching here, so big brother naturally has to be here too… Little Ten, did you need something?”
Xue Changyi nodded. “The blood samples I asked you to check, any news?”
“Blood… samples.” Dong Lan stammered slightly. “Those samples were sent to the Supervisory Department. You know how they are, treating us Yama Kings like thieves. Although I have contacts in the lab, it’s not easy to investigate. I haven’t found anything yet, I need… more time.”
Xue Changyi was slightly disappointed. “Alright.”
Dong Lan said confidently, “Don’t worry, Little Ten, I’ll find out for you.”
Xue Changyi continued, “And, Old Seven, I need another favor.”
“What is it?” Dong Lan was enthusiastic. “Anything you ask, I’ll help!”
“I need you to…” Xue Changyi said, “help me find Wu Mu. I can’t find him anywhere.”
“Wu Mu?” Dong Lan frowned. “Him again?”
Xue Changyi said, “Wu Mu took a leave of absence today, said the Supervisory Department was busy, so he couldn’t come to class.”
“Yes,” Dong Lan said sarcastically, “Busy reporting you, of course he’s busy.”
Xue Changyi frowned. “I don’t think Wu Mu was the one who reported me.”
“Hmph!” Dong Lan scoffed. “Little Ten, wake up! Don’t be fooled by Wu Mu, he’s bad news!”
“Anyway…” Xue Changyi said, “Please help me find him, find out where he is. He’s not at the Supervisory Department, not at home, not at the academy, where else could he be?”
Dong Lan pouted reluctantly.
Xue Changyi said, “If you don’t help me, Old Seven, I’ll have to use the Thousand Demon Eyes.”
The Thousand Demon Eyes could see every corner of the three realms, just like when they searched for Cheng Jiao, but it consumed a tremendous amount of energy, enough to drain a cultivator with a thousand years of practice.
“Little Ten, are you crazy?!” Dong Lan exclaimed. “Last time, Cheng Jiao was just lost within the academy, and Wu Mu couldn’t even find a feather! If you use the Thousand Demon Eyes, you’ll be drained! I won’t allow it!”
He then conceded, “Fine, fine, I’ll help you find him. But remember, absolutely no using the Thousand Demon Eyes! Do you hear me?”
Xue Changyi smiled. “I understand.”
Dong Lan grumbled, “You know I can’t resist you. Alright, go back and wait for news. I’ll go look for him. And remember—be good!”
Xue Changyi patted Dong Lan’s head, turning to leave. Dong Lan jumped up and down. “Patting my head again! You’re ruining my dignity as your older brother!”
The next day, the results of the mock exam were to be announced.
However, the Central Office suddenly requested the Thousand Demon Eyes, and Xue Changyi was too busy to leave, so he sent Leopard Tail and Fish Gills to deliver them.
Around dusk, Leopard Tail and Fish Gills returned, their faces grim.
“Boss! Boss!” Leopard Tail shouted. “It’s bad!”
“What is it?” Xue Changyi frowned.
Fish Gills, always the calmer one, said, “The Thousand Demon Eyes were stolen.”
“Stolen?”
Fish Gills explained, “We delivered the Thousand Demon Eyes to the Central Office without any problems. On our way back, we received a call saying they had disappeared.”
“Boss! What do we do? The Thousand Demon Eyes are a sacred treasure! If they’re lost, it’ll be chaos!” Leopard Tail paced anxiously.
Xue Changyi’s frown, however, eased, and he murmured thoughtfully, “So they’re gone…”
“Boss?” Leopard Tail was confused. What did he mean by “so they’re gone”?
Xue Changyi snapped out of his daze, but didn’t continue on the topic of the stolen Thousand Demon Eyes. Instead, he said, “Leopard Tail, Fish Gills, spread the word that I’m injured, seriously injured.”
“Injured?” Leopard Tail was even more confused.
Xue Changyi instructed, “Spread the news, especially to the Supervisory Department.”
“Boss,” Leopard Tail said, bewildered, “What are you planning?”
Fish Gills didn’t question him, just nodded. “Alright, Boss, we’ll do it right away.”
A dark, windowless room, like a giant metal box.
Confined and oppressive.
The only light came from the sparks of the electrified window bars.
Wu Mu, shackled, stood motionless in the darkness, like a statue.
“Hey, did you hear?” A voice spoke from outside, one of the guards watching over Wu Mu.
“One of the Yama Kings is injured.”
Clank…
The chains rattled slightly as Wu Mu turned his head towards the sound.
“I heard it too, the… Tenth Yama King! Lord Xue!”
“That’s right, him!”
“I heard the Thousand Demon Eyes were stolen, and Lord Xue is seriously injured. Could it be related?”
“Definitely, otherwise, with Lord Xue’s power and cultivation, who could injure him?”
“I wonder how serious it is.”
“I heard it’s very serious, he’s on the verge of death…”
Clank!
The chains rattled again, louder this time.
Wu Mu strained against the chains, stepping towards the electrified window. “Did you say Xue Changyi is injured?”
The guards outside were loyal to the former Director General and ignored him.
“Xue Changyi is injured…” Wu Mu murmured, his black eyes flickering with concern.
Bang!!!
Crackle—
A loud bang, followed by the crackling of electricity as the bars short-circuited, like a thunderclap.
The guards jumped back in alarm. “Minister Wu, this is an electrified window designed by the former Director General! We advise you to be obedient, if you get electrocuted, we…”
Wu Mu’s voice, hoarse and almost unreal, came through the bars. “Open the door! Let me out! I have to see Xue Changyi!”
“Minister Wu! We told you, we can’t let you out!”
“Don’t waste your energy. Even though you’re the former Director General’s adopted son, we can’t release you.”
“This electrified window…”
Bang—!!!
Crack!
Before the guards could finish, a loud explosion, accompanied by a blinding flash of light, erupted from the window. The shockwave sent the two guards flying, crashing to the ground.
“Wu…”
“Minister Wu?!”
The electrified window shattered. Wu Mu’s eyes were no longer black, but like two flames, no, two rising suns.
He emerged from the darkness, engulfed in flames. The guards didn’t dare stop him. After all, it was the radiance of the sun, who would dare touch it?
The guards scrambled back, clearing a path.
Wu Mu’s face was cold as he strode out of the cell.
“Quick! What are you waiting for? Inform the former Director General!”
“Minister Wu has escaped!”
Wu Mu rushed out of the prison. The surroundings were desolate, shrouded in darkness.
And this place, clearly “south of the Terrace of Forgetfulness, east of the Bridge of Helplessness, west of the Mirror of Retribution, and north of the Iron Gate,” was—Jixia Academy!
Wu Mu frowned slightly. The Supervisory Department’s secret prison was located within Jixia Academy, within Underworld High School.
When he had been imprisoned, his eyes were covered, and he was led through a winding path. The former Director General clearly didn’t want him to know the prison’s location.
So… the secret prison was within the academy.
Wu Mu frowned, puzzled, but this wasn’t the time to ponder such questions. He was more concerned about Xue Changyi’s safety.
“Xue Changyi…” he murmured, breaking into a run, his usual cold composure gone.
“Wu Mu!” A raspy, aged voice called out from behind him.
Wu Mu stopped. He knew that voice all too well, it was his adoptive father—the former Director General.
He slowly turned around, facing a hunched figure in a black cloak, leaning on a cane.
“Wu Mu, you have disappointed me greatly!” The former Director General slammed his cane on the ground. “Escaping from prison, do you know what the punishment is?!”
Wu Mu’s voice was hoarse. “I don’t care. I have to see Xue Changyi. I told you… no one can harm him, not even you.”
“You…” the former Director General sputtered. “You’re truly infatuated, what a pity…”
“Pity?” A cold voice suddenly interrupted.
The former Director General, clearly not expecting anyone else to be nearby, jumped, turning around sharply.
A figure in black, even in the darkness of night, held a black umbrella.
“Xue Changyi?!” Wu Mu looked at him, his face lighting up with surprise.
He asked anxiously, “Are you hurt? Where? Is it serious?”
Xue Changyi smiled faintly at Wu Mu. “The Thousand Demon Eyes were stolen, so I had to resort to this tactic to find you. I had my subordinates spread the rumor that I was injured, because…”
Because Wu Mu cared deeply for Xue Changyi, and upon hearing he was injured, would definitely come running.
And Xue Changyi had laid his trap.
He had caught not only the little crow, Wu Mu, but also a bigger fish.
He turned to the bigger fish—the former Director General.
“Luring you out was both difficult and easy,” Xue Changyi sighed softly. “Difficult, because I never imagined that Wu Mu’s adoptive father, the former Director General of the Supervisory Department, was you…”
“Easy,” Xue Changyi looked at the cloaked figure, who always hid their face, and said softly, “Easy, because… it was you.”
