Chapter 33
Wu Mu hurried back to the Supervisory Department, then returned quickly, his face grim.
Xue Changyi asked, “What happened?”
Wu Mu said in a low voice, “The Supervisory Department just received a report that… the Seventh Yama King escaped during transport.”
“Escaped?” Xue Changyi frowned slightly. Dong Lan had willingly gone with the Envoys, clearly to protect him. If he escaped, the other Yama Kings would be implicated. He shouldn’t have gone with them in the first place, it was pointless.
With Dong Lan’s cultivation level, few in the Supervisory Department could stop him if he truly wanted to leave.
Xue Changyi said, “Is there something else you’re not telling me?”
Wu Mu nodded. “They said the Seventh Yama King also killed several Envoys during his escape… He’s now a wanted fugitive.”
“Old Seven must be in danger,” Xue Changyi said. “I have to find him.”
Wu Mu didn’t try to stop him. Dong Lan was Xue Changyi’s older brother and Wu Mu’s adoptive father. Although Dong Lan had deceived them both, there were still many unanswered questions, and the situation seemed more complicated than it appeared.
Wu Mu said, “Things are getting complicated. Before we look for Dong Lan, let’s ask the principal to remove our shackles.”
He glanced at the electronic shackles on their ankles.
Everyone entering Jixia Academy, both teachers and students, had to wear them.
With so many powerful individuals gathered in one place, it was a safety precaution, suppressing their spiritual power and cultivation.
Xue Changyi nodded. “Let’s go.”
They found the principal in his office, his face bruised from being caught in the crossfire earlier, having even fallen and almost knocked out his teeth.
“Ow… Ow—Hiss…” The principal winced as he examined his injuries in the mirror.
“Ah, Teacher Xue, Teacher Wu.” He put away the mirror, stood up, and greeted them with a smile. “Are you alright? About Teacher Dong… I heard what happened.”
Xue Changyi didn’t waste any time on pleasantries. “Principal, we want to remove our shackles.”
“This…” The principal’s smile faltered.
Wu Mu frowned. “Is there a problem?”
The principal chuckled nervously. “Teacher Wu, you misunderstand. With such a serious incident, of course you would want to remove your shackles, it’s perfectly understandable. I want to help, but… but…”
Xue Changyi said, “Just say it, Principal.”
The principal clapped his hands. “Alright, I’ll be frank! Just before you arrived, just two minutes ago, I received an email from the Central Office. Dong Lan killed several Supervisory Envoys during his escape. He was from the Supervisory Department and the Yama Courts, so… the Central Office specifically ordered that your shackles are not to be removed. You’re considered… persons of interest.”
Xue Changyi was Dong Lan’s younger brother, and Wu Mu was his adopted son. They both had “close relationships” with him, so removing their shackles was out of the question.
The principal smiled apologetically. “Teachers, this situation has escalated. I advise you to stay at the academy and not get involved any further.”
Xue Changyi said calmly, “I understand.”
He turned and left.
Wu Mu followed silently.
The principal called after them, “Teacher Xue, Teacher Wu—don’t get involved… hiss, ow, my face…”
Dong Lan stared at the black cloak, his leg throbbing, his strength fading, his vision darkening as he bled.
Thump—
He collapsed into the pool of blood.
Darkness consumed him, engulfing his consciousness.
“Dong Lan… Dong Lan…”
“Little Seven…”
“Wake… Seven… wake up…”
A distant voice, faint and fragmented, like his Second Brother’s voice.
Dong Lan, in his unconsciousness, seemed to hear his brother’s voice, so unreal, like a dream.
“Little Seven, wake up… Little Seven!”
The gentle yet urgent voice roused him, and he opened his eyes weakly.
“Second Brother…?” he croaked.
“Little Seven! You’re awake?” A man with a gentle face looked at him, his expression filled with relief. It was Li Han!
“Second Brother…” Dong Lan’s eyes filled with tears, his voice choked with emotion. “Second Brother, is that you? Am I… dreaming?”
“It’s me, Little Seven.” The man held his hand, his voice soothing. “It’s me, your Second Brother.”
Dong Lan’s blurry vision slowly focused, and he stared in disbelief. “Really? It’s you? Second Brother!”
He embraced Li Han, burying his face in his chest. “I thought I would never see you again! Where were you…”
“Shh,” Li Han gently patted his back, his voice low. “Little Seven, don’t cry, listen to me.”
He wiped away Dong Lan’s tears. “There’s no time, that person isn’t here, you have to leave, now.”
“That person…?” Dong Lan’s eyes flickered, noticing his unfamiliar surroundings.
Before losing consciousness, he had encountered a strange figure in a black cloak, dressed almost identically to himself, speaking cryptic words.
He quickly looked around. A dark room, like… a laboratory.
Various equipment and instruments surrounded him, cabinets filled with samples, including an entire wall of blood samples.
“That’s!?” Dong Lan exclaimed, trying to sit up. “Blood samples… Ow!”
The movement sent a sharp pain through his leg, which was severely injured and unbandaged, starting to bleed again.
But he ignored the pain. “Blood samples! Class Nine’s blood samples! What are they doing here?”
The missing samples, the switched samples, they were all here!
Li Han gripped his hand. “Little Seven, there’s no time, this place is too dangerous, you have to leave!”
Dong Lan gripped his hand tightly. “Second Brother, let’s go together!”
Li Han shook his head. “I’ll distract him, you go. I’m just a mortal now, I can’t run.”
“No!” Dong Lan was adamant. “I can’t make another mistake, I have to take you with me!”
“Hahahaha!!!”
A chilling laughter echoed through the room. “Such brotherly love, so touching… Too bad, neither of you is going anywhere.”
The heavy metal door opened, and a figure in a black cloak strolled in.
Dong Lan instinctively shielded Li Han, who was much taller than him.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The cloaked figure applauded, chuckling. “So many questions, I’m sure. Shall I answer them for you? Look, these are the blood samples you so diligently collected for me. Without you, it wouldn’t have been so easy. Oh, and…”
He looked at Li Han. “And the Second Yama King, such an excellent test subject! If you hadn’t demoted him, capturing a Yama King with such high cultivation would have been quite difficult. But now… it’s so much easier.”
Dong Lan noticed the scars covering Li Han’s body, marks of experimentation.
“You…” Dong Lan roared, his voice hoarse with rage, “You bastard!!”
“Hahaha! Well said!” the cloaked figure laughed. “But you should be cursing yourself, Dong Lan. If it weren’t for you, would your Second Brother be in this state? Imagine, when Xue Changyi finds out, how much more will he hate you? You abandoned your brother for him, you’ve always been ruthless. Trying to play the good guy now… isn’t it a little too late?”
“I… I…” Dong Lan’s anger turned to confusion, his eyes darting around, his body trembling.
“Little Seven! Little Seven!” Li Han gripped his shoulders. “Look at me! Don’t listen to him, he’s trying to trick you! Second Brother doesn’t blame you, never has…”
“Second Brother…”
“Hahaha!” The cloaked figure laughed again. “Look, your good Second Brother, so kind and forgiving. And you, a despicable villain who would stop at nothing to achieve your goals. You and I aren’t so different. The only difference is—I’m the winner, and you, the loser!”
The cloaked figure spread his arms, turning slowly, taking a deep breath. “Look! All my handiwork! You thought you were the master of Jixia Academy, Dong Lan? Surprise! I am the true master! You were just a stepping stone, a pawn in my game!”
Dong Lan’s voice was hoarse. “What are you trying to do?”
“What am I trying to do?” The cloaked figure shook his head. “You disappoint me. What I’m doing is exactly what you were trying to do! I’m trying to fight against the encroaching death!”
“No, no…” He shook his head again. “Not exactly. You were doing it for your family, your little brother, so he could survive the fall of the sun. But I’m different… some people don’t deserve to live. Only those who are superior, like myself, chosen by the world, deserve to survive.”
He pointed at Li Han. “You, a stepping stone, a test subject, a mere guinea pig for the world’s evolution. Your only value is your contribution to this world.”
He then pointed at Dong Lan. “And you, a coward! The world’s evolution is cold and ruthless! Unburdened by emotions! As a Ghost Orchid, you don’t need sunlight, you don’t need photosynthesis, you don’t fear death, you had a natural advantage! But… you disappoint me. I thought we were the same, I was so foolish! Now I see…”
“You’re better suited as a potted plant! Ahahahaha—”
“Are you finished?” A cold voice interrupted.
The cloaked figure froze, his laughter dying in his throat. He looked around wildly. “Who?! Who’s there? Show yourself!”
Bang—!!!
The metal door crashed to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust.
A figure stood in the doorway, dressed in black, holding a black umbrella, even in the darkness.
It was Xue Changyi!
“Xue Changyi?!” the cloaked figure shrieked in disbelief.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you,” Xue Changyi raised an eyebrow, his voice soft. “Libationer.”
