When! Institute Tang Long Minghuan, dun-ts dun-ts dun-ts dun-ts!
It’s perfectly normal to play some music morning and night during a festival, but Xu Chuyao never expected that the very first song Freiden Academy played would be classic rock.
“As proof I was ready for this, up early, up and at ’em, howling away~ Ah 1!”
She gave a massive stretch, so big she almost threw the quilt off, then flopped back down to rest her spirit a little longer.
“Fen Jia, are you awake? Even if you don’t want to, get up. Let’s go eat breakfast,”
No one responded.
“Hey…”
Xu Chuyao sat up and looked—well then, there was already nobody in bed, not even a dent in the quilt. Who wakes up that early and goes out to do… what?
No idea if Hui Yao Lian would bring breakfast back.
What lies beyond the snow?
Still white mist, only now it had become an open world.
Shen Ning had planned to follow the experienced elders of the Research Institute, watching them to see if maybe they could communicate here, like in those weird dreams. But as soon as she stepped through the first door, everyone else disappeared. It was as if the doorway was a teleportation point; after passing through, people were scattered randomly.
Time in dreams always feels even more fleeting than emotions. She didn’t know how long she spent wandering in the endless white thunder, but at last, she saw a very primitive City-State.
Why was it so crude? Because the surroundings looked just like the kinds of tribal communities described in old books—clusters of rough, simple buildings made from all sorts of stones.
They called it a City-State not because of glory or splendor, but simply because it was a gathering place for people.
Yes, finally, people! Shen Ning stood atop one of the simple buildings and looked out. The City-State was packed with several thousand people, all kinds of odd voices blending and clashing in a riotous cacophony, the atmosphere vibrant and chaotic.
“So cold, bro. Can you give me some glue? I know we don’t need it here, but we might once we’re out.”
“Let me out! Teach me to come back? Let me out! Teach me to come back 2!”
“Incantation! Frequency! Hall annihilation! Like a servant!”
“What’s this? Starbucks! What’s this?”
Whether it was their bizarre, rock-like forms, or their wild, nonsensical speech, everything pointed to one truth—
There were no more humans.
But as for her, she wasn’t really human now either, so there was no need to care too much.
Shen Ning climbed down from above and looked around, soon spotting a lone basket-carrying auntie in a corner.
“My fear fell off. My must-have is gone, but my green onions are still dropping.”
The words didn’t really make sense, but at least they were closer to human speech than the others. Shen Ning walked up and tried cautiously, “Excuse me, this place—”
“Excuse me? Polite young lady, but there’s no one here, and our village still has a few men left…”
“No need for that, I’m just asking,” Shen Ning forced a friendly smile, “What’s happened here?”
She’d meant to ask where this was and what’s been happening, but realized that was a bit too ‘human,’ so she changed her wording.
She didn’t expect the basket-carrying aunt to actually answer, “It’s been chaos lately, you should be careful.”
“Huh?”
Shen Ning slipped up and sounded too human, but thankfully the auntie didn’t mind. Instead, she kindly explained, “Watch out for a self-absorbed, shiny little girl. She’s different from us—she can control things, she can fight, makes people mad, makes people happy. A lot of folks go and get beaten back.”
Shen Ning instinctively touched her hair, then realized how strange that must look and put her hand down, carefully observing the woman.
“You can’t see?”
“Nope. Even before I came in here, I was known as the blind woman of the village,” the aunt said, turning her head, “Anything else?”
“No, it’s nothing now.”
Liu You once said that the world of lazi is just a metaphor. She never thought there would actually be blind people here.
Shen Ning thought over the conversation—seems like the turmoil here was all her fault. Her big mood swings had influenced everyone, like throwing a rock into a calm pond, stirring everything up and making it all restless.
The aunt showed no particular emotion, likely a neutral party.
She glanced toward the crowd gathering in the City-State, wondering what they were all doing here—and what kind of place this was. She organized her words.
“Everyone, what’s happening here?”
“When the big gate opens soon, some people want to go over there,” the aunt pointed to the sky above the City-State, “Some will go to fight, some will go to protect the women.”
There are actually people who want to protect me?
Shen Ning twitched her lips, not sure what to feel.
“They’re many, those up front. They’re nervous, they’re showy, they’re used to it, they’re afraid.”
“They’re not willing to open it.”
Shen Ning gave up on caring about being human or not and asked bluntly what was on her mind.
The basket-carrying aunt shook her head, “I don’t know.”
What a quality answer.
“So, how many are in the first group? How many in the second?”
“Hm, big difference.”
Shen Ning thought, if she were queen here, this would probably count as the flatland battle. The only problem is that her power is still unstable. She’d better hold back until after she gets to the other side.
“Alright then, why is the big gate about to open?”
“No idea.”
Xu Chuyao was stumped.
The dorm manager downstairs was energetically waving her hands, “Shen Ning really hasn’t come down, I’ve checked.”
Rather than a dorm manager, it was more like a temporary greeter. Whenever the guests from upstairs came down, they were always met with a warm welcome and best wishes.
But they really hadn’t seen that mysterious girl come out this way.
“She’s not in the dorm either. According to you all,” Xu Chuyao picked up some paper and a pen from the table and sketched a line tumbling down from the building, “there’s only one explanation—Shen Ning rode the wind and just… floated away.”
The dorm staff looked at each other. One finally forced a smile and said, “We’ve heard for ages that Wang Ning is outstanding, with exceptional talent in wind manipulation. Now I see it’s true…”
“What truth! I was joking!”
How could a living person just vanish like that? You’re telling me she floated away on a gust of wind in broad daylight? Her phone can’t be reached, her shoes are still under the bed, and she just up and disappeared, you…
Emmm. I’m waiting.
Feeling like the only transmigrator here, Xu Chuyao started reviewing the book’s content in her mind.
No way, how could it be that easy to find a way out? Was she the main character after all?
Forget it for now, the most important thing is to get the Smart Stone over here…
“Xu, up so early. Even on vacation, you keep good habits. All our students should learn from you,” the Headmaster of Freden Academy approached from outside, “The opening ceremony is about to start. Why don’t you take your seat?”
“Is there any Smart Stone? Is there any nearby? I need it urgently for official business.”
The Headmaster frowned for a long moment, then glanced around to make sure nobody else was listening, and hurriedly pulled the girl aside.
“Listen, Xu, let’s keep our voices down. That stuff is very harmful to students. To put it bluntly, no matter how perfect a reason, our teachers and students absolutely cannot touch it, and in the future, we will advise graduates not to get involved either.”
Xu Chuyao silently glanced at him.
“You misunderstand, Headmaster. I genuinely need it. I’m not familiar with anyone here—otherwise, I wouldn’t be asking you.”
Why do you want a guarantee written here? You think I’m fishing for something?
The Headmaster of Freden Academy saw her expression wasn’t faking, and finally replied, “Sorry, but I really don’t know much about it. However, the representative from Security just arrived, apparently a capable assistant of the department head. He’s in the ceremony hall now. You might ask him.”
Indeed, if the remaining Smart Stones in Freiden had been taken away by insiders, most likely Security would be responsible.
“Alright, I’ll go ask.”
“Xu, this way please. I’m sorry I can’t accompany you. Lots of guests arrived early today—I need to greet them.”
The Headmaster’s formal smile couldn’t be wiped off, and he was already run ragged this morning.
Xu Chuyao followed the campus map signs and, after a while, reported to the ceremony hall. Rehearsal hadn’t started yet, the stage empty, and only one person was sitting in the front row.
“Hello, may I ask if you are the assistant to the Security Department head?”
She approached politely.
“No need, the famous Miss Xu Chuyao,” the tall man stood up, “Rare to meet you in person. Your reputation precedes you.”
“You’re exaggerating—no, I mean, thank you. Let’s get down to business. I have some urgent official matters, I need a Smart Stone immediately,” Xu Chuyao told him, “Can you ask your supervisor? He’ll know what it is.”
“It’s fine, Miss Xu Chuyao, I know about Smart Stones. They were the weapon used in the recent city collapse incident.”
“You know? That’s great. Do you have any in reserve, or know where I could find one?”
Faced with Xu Chuyao’s slightly anxious questioning, the man didn’t answer. Instead, he laughed good-naturedly.
“I should say, Miss Xu Chuyao, you are fully responsible for coordinating efforts to prevent them from using the stolen Smart Stones in another attack. But Xu Chuyao, you can’t monitor everything at once. You have your own research on Smart Stones, don’t you?”
Wait, what’s with those golden stars over your head? Are you mocking me?
Xu Chuyao stared at him, feeling like something was off.
“Who exactly are you?”
Meanwhile, on his way to the campus gate, the Headmaster of Freden Academy received a call from Security.
“Hey, Old Tommy, what a surprise, it’s been a while. The school owes much of its rebuilding to your help. I know you’ve been busy lately, I’d never blame you for not visiting—besides, you already stopped by before. As long as you’re well, that’s all that matters… What? You didn’t send anyone? Then who…?”
At the same time, in the Freiden Academy Library, a handsome, blond man stepped out, looked around, and took a deep breath of fresh, free air.
“Building One, Building Two, Building Three, Building Four, and a few small ones.”
As a distinguished graduate of Freiden Academy, former supervisor of the Fred Valley Research Institute, and leader of the Smart Stone research team, Professor Swina had a simple wish.
He blew up his own alma mater.