Silence.
Both of them stared at the man who had suddenly appeared.
Farrah let out a breath of relief, while Chen Wen stepped back to put some distance between them.
He was starting to get nervous—a Professor showing up meant this place had already been discovered.
Then they heard the man’s bewildered voice: “Damn it, aren’t I wearing a mask? How did you recognize me?”
An Xiaoyi was indeed wearing a mask—a dance mask with silver-white trim, casually taken from the Collection Room.
It made his eyes look a bit seductive.
He had no idea why the Principal collected such odd things.
He had been hiding in the Collection Room, listening to what was happening outside.
When Farrah passed by, pressed close to the wall, An Xiaoyi happened to spot her and figured this girl was bound to end up dead if things continued.
So he grabbed a mask and came out to help, not expecting to be recognized at first glance.
“Your hair, your eyes, your clothes—this is real life, not an anime,” Farrah explained, seeing that compared to Chen Wen, Professor An was more concerned about how he’d been exposed.
“It’s so dark—how could you see so clearly?” An Xiaoyi was still incredulous.
“Alright, alright, just pretend I guessed…”
Farrah was speechless.
She felt like a hero who hadn’t even started their quest and was already doomed…
Now that her identity was exposed, there was nothing left to do.
An Xiaoyi questioned sternly, “This is a restricted area on campus. I want to know why you’re here.”
Farrah wanted to make a face of utter exasperation, but even if the person she secretly liked was clueless and hopeless, she could only respond calmly: “I’m a Student Assistant for tonight’s Night Duty Management Department. I found out the Administration Building lost power, so I came to check.”
An Xiaoyi thought for a moment—he’d never heard of this.
“You’re tonight’s Duty Professor. I’m your assistant,” Farrah added.
Her eyes were full of grievance. “But you skipped out on your night duty.”
An Xiaoyi froze, also unable to recall being assigned any night work.
Right at that moment, his phone buzzed with a text: [Professor An Xiaoyi, you are scheduled for campus night duty on 3.15 tonight. Please report to the Night Duty Management Department before midnight—within twelve hours.]
An Xiaoyi was left in a daze.
So it was true, but the message had come way too late.
From the look on his face, Farrah already had a bad feeling.
“If you didn’t know you were the Duty Professor, then why are you here?”
Before An Xiaoyi could answer, Chen Wen finally lost his patience and roared from down the corridor: “Enough! Have you forgotten I’m still here? How can you be so selfish? This is not the time for chit-chat!”
An Xiaoyi glanced at him, only now remembering his presence. “Think about your own situation. You’re standing way too far away.”
From the moment this new Professor appeared, Chen Wen had been wary, retreating more than twenty meters down the dark hallway. No wonder the other two had ignored him and gotten caught up in conversation.
Chen Wen licked the blood remaining on his wrist, breathing heavily. Healing his wound had taken some energy.
Now, he was certain An Xiaoyi was alone and hadn’t notified the school.
But even so, he dared not act rashly.
When hunting Farrah, Chen Wen had been confident—he had nearly ten years of combat experience.
As Intelligence Team Leader, he was frequently sent on missions and often used his position to torment Executioners.
Taking down Farrah would have been easy.
But now, with An Xiaoyi in the mix—who seemed ordinary enough, just a handsome young man—everything changed.
Vampires are usually sharp.
It was clear to Chen Wen that Professor An was hiding his true strength.
He appeared gentle and elegant, but beneath that calm gaze was a deep, unfathomable ocean.
“Looks like there’s only two of you,” Chen Wen took a deep breath and grinned coldly.
“And neither of your Powers is offensive. How about this—you two step aside, and it’ll be better for all of us. I know you have a trump card, Professor An, but I promise, I can still kill you.”
“Who are you?” An Xiaoyi asked.
Chen Wen gritted his teeth, thinking the question was meant to belittle him.
“Chen Wen, Acting Professor, Group Leader of the Intelligence Division,” Farrah whispered. “Give me your phone, but don’t make any sudden moves. Can you hold him off? I’ll notify the school.”
An Xiaoyi pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to her.
“I’m a Vampire. Did you think I couldn’t hear you?” Chen Wen snapped, furious.
“Hard to imagine St. Antiona Academy has a Vampire disguised as a Professor—an Acting Professor, no less. Is this school run by machines?” An Xiaoyi weighed his dagger, staring straight into those blood-red eyes.
Then he turned, surprised, and whispered, “Why aren’t you leaving?”
With Farrah here, An Xiaoyi couldn’t risk exposing his identity.
No… Even so, he couldn’t reveal himself.
He Xiaoxin must not appear.
Otherwise, Farrah would get suspicious.
He shouldn’t even be here, let alone with that woman.
“People of the Cambrah Family only run when they’re alone. They never leave anyone behind,” Farrah stood behind him.
“Besides, you’re just a History Professor.”
“In your eyes, am I just a helpless little hamster?”
“Pretty much.”
“You really are like those female side characters in web novels and short videos—just saved by the protagonist, then suddenly develop selective amnesia and keep doubting the protagonist’s abilities.”
An Xiaoyi spoke to her very bluntly.
Honestly, couldn’t this young lady of the family have a bit more insight? Didn’t she see him chop off the guy’s wrist just now? Didn’t she understand what “hiding one’s true strength” meant? With her here, he felt awkward. Could she please just leave?
“Oh.” Farrah turned and walked away.
“Professor An, you shouldn’t get involved in this,” Chen Wen advanced, picking up speed.
“Save that line for someone else. She’s already gone—aren’t you coming out yet?” An Xiaoyi waved in that direction.
Chen Wen smiled, but he wouldn’t fall for the same trick again.
The distance between them shrank.
Claws and dagger were about to clash.
The next second, almost simultaneously—
There was no expected hand-to-hand combat, no flashy display of skill, no sparks as claw met dagger.
An Xiaoyi pulled out a handgun from his coat and aimed it at his opponent.
At the same time, Chen Wen unleashed his Power.
Bullets collided with black bats, filling the air with a bloody mist. The faint light of the blood illuminated both their smiles.
“Looks like we’re the same kind of people. What happened to the dagger? Isn’t using a gun a bit unchivalrous?” Chen Wen praised.
“You’re no different—charging in like a wild bull, but actually ready to use your Power all along.” An Xiaoyi clapped his hands. His eyes finally relaxed, lazy to the extreme.
This new Professor at St. Antiona Academy was clearly hiding his true strength. His usual demeanor was completely different from now—he was at ease, a seasoned veteran.
“Just as I thought, you’re a veteran demon hunter.”
“Veteran demon hunter? Don’t add extra roles to me. I’m just a weak, desk-bound Professor.”
“But you still don’t have a powerful Power,” Chen Wen raised his hand, summoning more bats. “I’m not some mindless monster like Deadpool. And…”
He activated his Power with his right hand, while silently picking up a gun with his left, aiming at the surprised An Xiaoyi.
“I’ve got a gun too.”
“Forgot to mention—actually, I have two Powers.” This time, it was Chen Wen’s turn to be stunned. An Xiaoyi cleared his throat and looked again in that direction. “And my second Power is… Aren’t you coming out yet!”
Chen Wen looked over and was shocked. Out of the darkness walked He Xiaoxin, holding a Silver-White Sword etched with patterns.
Director of the Information Center, at least an S-class Power Holder. Her eyes shone with brilliant golden light in the darkness.
“Farewell.” Chen Wen scrambled up the wall and fled, but not before firing several shots at An Xiaoyi.