Shen Ning slept soundly, but the two people in the dorm couldn’t.
Mi Xiaolu kept repeating to herself in her heart that these were only special circumstances, a small shadow beneath the sunlight.
This world was still quite beautiful; no matter how dark the shadow, it was just an accident.
At one in the morning, she told herself this, and at two o’clock, she repeated the same.
Unfortunately, not a single hour passed with any sleep.
Mi Xiaolu couldn’t take it anymore.
“Xu Chuyao?”
“Hmm.”
“You’re not asleep either?”
“Hmm.”
Great, at least there’s someone else to suffer sleeplessness with.
“What are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking about how Shen Ning could reach Third Rank.” Xu Chuyao sighed. “What am I going to do from now on?”
What’s called a shattered dream?
It’s when the dream you had in the first half of the night—ascending to late Second Rank and turning defense into offense, making your girlfriend kneel mercilessly at your feet—gets broken by waking up to find your girlfriend is already Third Rank.
Even pulling your dream self back wouldn’t stand a chance—she really can’t be beaten.
“Eh, you’re actually worried about this? I thought you were thinking about how to solve the problem.” Mi Xiaolu was surprised. “As for Shen Ning, getting stronger isn’t a bad thing. Just don’t make her angry.”
Living peacefully would be great.
Xu Chuyao shook her head: “Living peacefully is life; making her angry is work… and also a hobby.”
Besides, Yao Yao just updated her rank today. Now all her friends and close acquaintances at school know what a genius she is.
Not only is she brilliant and resourceful, but her martial virtue is also abundant. She’s already in mid-Second Rank before the second half of the third grade.
Like her bust, she stands out among the other students.
But if her villain value drops and her strength doesn’t increase, how can she maintain the persona of a genius?
She might even be laughed at as a fallen genius.
Xu Chuyao absolutely couldn’t accept this.
Yao Yao always made others laugh, but never let herself be laughed at.
“Heroes can’t retreat in the face of danger.” The fierce girl raised her little fist. “So what if she’s Third Rank? Let’s fight!”
Evil geniuses never lack plans. Third Rank or not, Xu Chuyao has to explode her villain value.
First, get some rest to recharge.
Due to the special nature of Shengling Academy, even on holidays, teachers cannot leave arbitrarily.
Going out for a walk at a set time each day was about all they were allowed.
Sometimes, even that small amount of time was taken away.
That day, Yu Jing originally wanted to visit the familiar teahouse in the city as usual, but before she could leave, her phone received a message from the leadership asking her to come immediately to the office building.
When she arrived, she realized things might be serious because many teachers were already there.
Besides Principal Lü, the Mayor He was also present, having visited once before.
The Clown Gang incident?
No, Yu Jing quickly dismissed that thought.
Their students had already cleared out the Clown Gang in the city, and there was a person present who couldn’t be ignored.
No one knew who he was, but his clothing style was unlike anyone else.
White Scarf wore a white robe and stood out starkly in the room.
“This gentleman is Mr. Abu Abba, the representative of the Ahab Financial Group stationed in Center City’s Friendly Cultural Exchange Hall.” Mayor He introduced him.
This title was similar to a diplomat in the pre-Spirit era.
“Ahab Financial Group?” Principal Lü raised his head, eyes alert. “What’s going on?”
Center City’s cooperation with the Ahab Financial Group was limited because the Rockmorgan Family and the Chen Clan had many industries here.
Before today, it had been a long time since anyone from them came.
Mr. Abu Abba’s name was strange, but he was straightforward.
In fluent common tongue, he addressed everyone: “Recently, some of our unnamed personnel went missing near the academy.
They originally came with the goodwill and friendship granted by the True God.
Now, their whereabouts are unknown.
I represent the financial group and also the will of the True God to come seek the fate of our people.”
Before anyone from the school could speak, Mayor He frowned: “Your people came to Center City without informing us?”
He hadn’t heard any news and in all these years, the Ahab Financial Group had never been this enthusiastic.
Mr. Abu Abba slightly raised his head, his gaze not on the speaker but seemingly on his True God.
“The last time a female student from Center City visited Ahab City, her beauty and wisdom left a deep impression on the prince,” he said.
“Therefore, the prince sent someone with gifts to express his admiration.”
The teachers and leaders exchanged glances until Principal Lü spoke up:
“The one who went to Ahab City last time was Xu Chuyao.”
They all knew the name well but took half a minute to recall.
Not only was Xu Chuyao a promising young genius, she was also the school’s recognized school flower.
Ha, if this was the reason, it made sense.
“Recently, no outsiders have visited our school.” Yu Jing asked him, “If your representatives went missing outside, why not search directly instead of coming to us?”
Indeed, why?
Everyone had the same question and looked towards White Scarf in unison.
Under everyone’s gaze, Mr. Abu Abba showed no fear and confidently said:
“Because all five of them are Peak of Second Rank Spirit Power Users.”
The teachers and leaders were stunned.
Logically, after the Clown Gang incident, the City Security Department had shown weakness and was undergoing reorganization.
During this period, Shengling Academy was the highest stronghold of the city’s fighting power.
Five Peak of Second Rank Spirit Power Users suffering an accident and seeking the academy’s help was reasonable.
But thinking back, if you wanted to sneak into the school flower’s side to confess, did you really need five Peak of Second Rank Spirit Power Users?
This wasn’t a love confession; it was closer to a bride kidnapping.
Many teachers, including Yu Jing, doubted their true purpose.
“You said they went missing near the academy,” Principal Lü said, “Then take us there first.”
Regardless of their true motives, finding the people came first.
After all, five Peak of Second Rank Spirit Power Users wandering the city posed a threat to social security.
Following Mr. Abu Abba’s lead, Principal Lü and Mayor He headed the group of teachers and quickly arrived at an abandoned building about two kilometers away.
“The last signal from their trackers was here before losing contact.”
When he said this, White Scarf again received the strange gazes of the teachers.
Who carries trackers when confessing love?
The upper floors were quickly searched, but no one was there.
Only the underground parking lot remained.
A male teacher took the lead and opened the door to the passage, then immediately—
“Ugh!”
He vomited.
What is a Third Rank Spirit Power User?
The upper echelons of the Spirit Power world, chosen among the chosen, above all others.
To put it bluntly, the teachers wouldn’t do such dirty work, so the group waited outside the abandoned building for an hour.
Mayor He called a construction crew to open a hole in the first floor, letting sunlight shine into the parking lot.
Only then was everything revealed.
At that moment, several construction workers also vomited.
Mr. Abu Abba found his long-awaited “love confession team,” scattered all over the parking lot.
“True God…” White Scarf closed his eyes and prayed, “Please bless your unfortunate people. May they rest in your kingdom.”
While he prayed, the teachers had much to do.
Once the workers cleared the debris inside, they tried to find anything recognizable and analyze how the scene was caused.
“They suffered an attack like a meat grinder,” said one teacher, “Look at this pillar and the surrounding walls—it’s as if countless sharp blades spun and sliced through.”
“A Third Rank Wind Element Spirit Power User could cause this effect. A friend of mine has a similar technique.”
“Where in the city is there a Third Rank Wind Element Spirit Power User?”
While the colleagues debated, Yu Jing found a photo in the “pursuit of objects” pile—a frontal shot of their cute and well-behaved female student.
Her face was adorable, her smile sweet, her long hair flowing, her chest full.
“Your ‘love confession team’ even needs to bring a photo of their target?” she asked Abu Abba. “Xu Chuyao went through formal procedures to visit Ahab City last time, with records. You could just come to the school and say the name. Why bother finding her by photo?”
“That’s right.” Abu Abba looked serious. “Our people don’t like to call out names. Bringing photos is more convenient.”
By now, other teachers understood: this group probably wasn’t here on behalf of the Ahab Prince’s love confession.
Giving “love confession” as the reason beforehand was likely just a cover-up for this photo.
But no matter what, the people were already dead.
The most important question now was: who did this?
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