Chapter 105: Lunar Phase
By the time the Exorcism Commission arrived, only a puddle of silver blood remained of An Jie.
Dazed, Jiang Hong was immediately examined by Lu Xiu; he had a mild concussion and multiple soft tissue injuries.
Lu Xiu called Jiang Hong's parents and had Jiang Hong speak to them too, hiding the accident to avoid worry. He said they were in Chongqing, with Jiang Hong accompanying him for a few days, staying in a hotel.
Although Jiang Hong's parents felt something was off, they didn't probe further due to Jiang Hong's normal-sounding voice.
Then, the Exorcism Commission collected An Jie's remains. Chen Zhen personally arrived in Chongqing, accompanied by Fang Yifeng.
Jiang Hong's headache persisted until the next day when he finally regained full consciousness. An Jie left no will, and the suddenness of his death left everyone shocked. Chen Zhen decided to bury him in Chongqing, alongside other fallen exorcists, at the Tushan Cemetery in the Nanshan District.
An Jie's ashes, resembling silver fragments, were laid to rest in the cemetery, leaving Jiang Hong in disbelief that the Exorcism Commission's second-in-command, a time-traveling exorcist, had died so abruptly.
It rained in Chongqing that day. Approaching November, the weather was chilly. All S-rank exorcists except Xiang Cheng attended, including Chen Zhen, Cao Bin, Ke Da, Qi Wei, Xuan Hezhi, Fang Yifeng, all dressed in black suits, standing on either side of the cemetery's garden.
Many from the Exorcism Commission attended. With no family of his own, Chen Zhen solemnly placed An Jie's urn in the cemetery.
Overwhelmed by sudden grief, Jiang Hong stood at the end of the line, silently choking back tears.
“He's just gone like that?” Jiang Hong muttered, “It’s not right… it shouldn’t have ended this way…”
Lu Xiu placed a hand on Jiang Hong's shoulder, drawing him in for a comforting embrace and patting his back.
"Our brave Head of Security Affairs, a fearless Special-Class Exorcist..." Xuan Hezhi eulogized on behalf of Chen Zhen and the gathered exorcists.
Lu Xiu whispered to Jiang Hong, “It’s okay, Jiang Hong. Maybe he just returned to his original world.”
In the following days, everyone questioned Jiang Hong about the incident, repeatedly reviewing the dashcam footage from the government car. The footage captured the car flipping and rolling into the forest off the highway at the moment An Jie and Jiang Hong confronted the assailant.
An Jie’s right hand glowed, presumably preparing a time-travel spell. But the assailant's speed was too fast, leaving no time to react. Just one more second, and An Jie could have teleported away with Jiang Hong, rendering himself virtually invincible with his time-travel ability.
Therefore, An Jie had never feared Huixing, with Chen Zhen mostly reminding him to be cautious. Yet, in the end, An Jie fell victim to an unexpected assassination.
Until his last breath, An Jie protected Jiang Hong. The identity of the swift assassin remained a mystery; his speed was so fast that even the dashcam couldn’t capture his face, exceeding the frame rate and obscuring his identity with black flames.
After bidding farewell to An Jie, Chen Zhen and Cao Bin conversed quietly, with six Special-Class Exorcists gathered in a rare assembly.
The last time they had come together like this was during the joint effort of the Exorcism Commission to repel the ancient god Gonggong.
“Huixing has gained an advantage,” Chen Zhen observed.
Cao Bin replied, “We should have realized something when Xiang Cheng and Xiao Duo mentioned the timeline being sealed.”
Chen Zhen added, “An Jie never shared the principles of his time-travel with us. If we had used him as a temporal coordinate, he should have been the most vigilant.”
Ke Da sarcastically remarked, “So now the dead man is to blame?”
Chen Zhen shrugged, looking at everyone.
Cao Bin sighed, acknowledging the loss of An Jie as a catastrophic blow to the Exorcism Commission. An Jie, their trump card, had never been played. This incident revealed that Huixing was acutely aware of their strategies, hence the determination to eliminate An Jie at any cost.
“We need to appoint a new Special-Class Exorcist,” Chen Zhen stated, “Our situation is only going to get tougher.”
Chen Zhen looked gravely serious, and everyone's gaze simultaneously turned to Lu Xiu standing aside.
“No need to bother,” Lu Xiu responded, “Let's leave it as it is.”
It was clear to everyone that among the potential candidates, Lu Xiu was the most suitable for promotion to Special-Class Exorcist. Not only did he possess the necessary strength and responsibility, but he was also Cao Bin’s disciple and Xiang Cheng’s successor.
"There's no need for that," Cao Bin said, "Yinghuo is about to arrive. With Anjie’s death, Yinghuo will no longer have any reservations."
Silence fell again. Jiang Hong sat aside, his mind blank, still unable to believe that Anjie was gone.
"Will he come back?" Jiang Hong asked. "He'll return, right?"
"I don’t know," Chen Zhen replied, "His origins and destinations have always been a mystery. He joined the Exorcism Committee through Xiang Cheng’s recommendation. Only Xiang Cheng knew him best. It was also him who warned us about the impending disaster and Yinghuo’s imminent arrival in our world."
Keda said, "In fact, not many in the Exorcism Committee truly cared about him. I guess among us, perhaps Jiang Hong knew him best."
Chen Zhen: "He didn’t want to talk about it, what can we do? But one thing is important, you can consider him a higher-dimensional being... Perhaps the destruction of this world could be his liberation."
Suddenly, in this cemetery, the sound of a violin echoed.
Cao Bin had a violin in his hand and began playing Shostakovich's Second Waltz.
Chen Zhen and Keda stopped their discussion, and everyone listened quietly.
Lu Xiu gestured for Jiang Hong to look up, and they both gazed at the sky together.
Amidst the violin music, the dark clouds slowly dispersed, revealing the celestial meridians of the evening sky.
Jiang Hong understood Lu Xiu's message — we all live in this world and will one day face partings, leaving the mortal world to enter the eternal cycle of heaven and earth. There’s no need to be overly sorrowful.
Jiang Hong felt much better, but he still clung to some things.
The exorcists gradually left, and finally, Cao Bin put away his violin, bowed slightly to Anjie, who stayed in Chongqing, and then turned and walked away.
Only Chen Zhen, Lu Xiu, and Jiang Hong remained, sitting on two stone chairs in the cemetery.
"He said he didn't know where his hometown was," Jiang Hong murmured, "Can he find his way back?"
Chen Zhen was silent for a moment, then said, "Jiang Hong, I've just realized, you're like a bridge."
"Ah?" Jiang Hong turned his gaze from the cemetery to Chen Zhen, asking, "Why do you say that?"
"You're the bridge between Cao Bin and me; between Anjie and me; between demons and humans..." Chen Zhen said, "You connect so many people, so many things. Through you, we've been able to communicate..."
"...You are remarkable, Jiang Hong."
Jiang Hong, with a somber expression, replied, "Maybe? I just can't believe that Anjie... just like that..."
Chen Zhen said, "Are you still upset? This is my inner demon. Too many comrades have been sacrificed, sometimes making me question whether all this is still meaningful."
Jiang Hong nodded and said, "Maybe it's just my fantasy? I always feel like he will come back to life."
Chen Zhen replied, "Perhaps. He once told me that coming to our world cost him a life. Maybe this experience of death is like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. He's just transformed his way of life once again."
Then, Chen Zhen’s palm radiated the light of the Heart Lamp. He gently pressed this power onto Jiang Hong's forehead and said, "But at least he's no longer on Earth. Don't be too attached, Jiang Hong. You've also checked with the Omnibook."
"Hmm." Jiang Hong nodded, suddenly feeling much clearer in his mind, and the discomfort in his heart eased a lot.
Indeed, right after Anjie's death, he had checked the pool of silver blood with the Omnibook.
The Omnibook showed [????]. There was no health bar, nor any attributes. If Anjie was still alive but in a different form, the Omnibook would definitely display his real name, "Wang Anjie."
During a business trip to Guangzhou, Jiang Hong had secretly checked Anjie's attributes. His HP was only 3200 points, and there were... wait!
Wait a minute!
Countless memories flashed rapidly through his mind!
Jiang Hong suddenly sat up straight, looking incredulously at Lu Xiu and then at Chen Zhen.
"What's wrong?" Lu Xiu and Chen Zhen both noticed Jiang Hong's expression.
Jiang Hong clearly remembered that beneath Anjie’s health bar, there were three slots like gem sockets, two glowing and one empty.
"Did he say that he had died once when he came to our world?" Jiang Hong asked Chen Zhen urgently.
Chen Zhen earnestly replied, "Yes, his exact words were, 'Coming here, I have already experienced death once.'"
Could those three gem sockets represent his lives or his transformations? Jiang Hong suddenly had a vague guess. He then looked at the urn.
"Anjie, he..."
Almost simultaneously, Lu Xiu and Chen Zhen made a "shush" gesture.
"Whatever you suspect," Chen Zhen said, "keep it deep inside your heart. Don't say anything. We all have the same hope."
Did they all know something? Where did they guess it from? Jiang Hong looked again at Lu Xiu. Was Lu Xiu also guessing that Anjie might be resurrected?
But with everything still shrouded in uncertainty, Lu Xiu said, “I need to return to the Sacred Land. What about you?”
Three days had passed since Jiang Hong met with Anjie, and he had to return to Cangqiong University.
They said their final goodbyes to Anjie in the cemetery and left the gravesite. But just as they were parting, Chen Zhen suddenly asked Lu Xiu a question.
“Who do you think the assassin could be?” Chen Zhen continued, “You're the only one who fought him. You must know. Can you tell us now?”
“Yes, but I don't want to say,” Lu Xiu answered, “I’ll handle him myself before he causes more harm.”
“I hope you do it soon,” Chen Zhen said. “Otherwise, several S-level exorcists will be doomed, until he meets his real target.”
“I will,” Lu Xiu replied, then turned to Jiang Hong, “You really should return to Cangqiong University. Staying at the school is the safest option now. The next move of the Yinghuo will definitely be to retrieve the Omnibook. I’ll take you home to pack, then to the airport.”
That evening, Jiang Hong returned home to find it dark, his parents absent. Lao Sun was in the living room corner watching an apocalyptic movie on an iPad.
In the dim house, only a small corner was lit by the glow of the screen.
“You’re back?” Lao Sun, unaware of the harrowing events during Jiang Hong's trip to send off Anjie, said, “Your parents went to a friend’s child’s wedding.”
“It's okay,” Jiang Hong replied, “I'll send them a message. Lao Sun, get in the bag, we’re heading back to Xi'an.”
Lao Sun crawled into Jiang Hong's bag. Jiang Hong hurriedly packed his suitcase, and when he was leaving, he couldn't help but look back.
The house was empty, but he seemed to see the dining table light up, returning to the day nearly a year ago when he, Lu Xiu, his father, and mother were eating hot pot at that table.
Lu Xiu quietly waited for Jiang Hong until he reluctantly left his home of eighteen years.
A car from the Chongqing Exorcism Committee was waiting outside the community, so Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu got in and headed to the airport in the night.
“They were targeting Anjie,” Lu Xiu said in the car, “It's not related to you, at least not this time. Don’t feel like you caused his death.”
“But if I hadn't been with him,” Jiang Hong replied, “he could have protected himself. He wouldn’t have died if it wasn't for protecting me.”
Among so many people, only Lu Xiu saw the guilt deep within Jiang Hong's heart.
"No," Lu Xiu answered, "No one, when facing 'him', has nearly enough time to prepare spells, especially exorcists like An Jie and Chen Zhen who are of the mage type."
"Who is he?" Jiang Hong suddenly recalled, the speed of that shadow was too fast, even comparable to Lu Xiu, a swordsman type. If Lu Xiu were ambushed, although it wouldn't be fatal, the outcome of who would win or lose was still uncertain.
Lu Xiu did not answer.
Jiang Hong suspected that Lu Xiu had discerned the other's identity but chose not to disclose it.
"We've arrived," Lu Xiu said, "Staying by Master's side means safety for you. Go ahead, I'll come back to check on you after I'm done with my tasks."
Jiang Hong looked at Lu Xiu, who had become his only reliance at that moment. He had a lot to say but didn't know who to confide in, except for Lu Xiu who understood him completely.
Standing in front of Lu Xiu, he felt like he was back to being the naive mortal teenager who stepped into Cangqiong University more than a year ago.
Lu Xiu extended his hand and hugged him, the two of them quietly embraced at the security checkpoint.
"Shall we go on a road trip in a camper van this winter holiday?" Lu Xiu suddenly asked.
"Sure, let's go!" Jiang Hong replied, "Where do you want to go?"
Lu Xiu said, "We could go to Xinjiang to see the snow."
"Great!" Jiang Hong answered.
Lu Xiu initiated the separation from Jiang Hong, signaling him to go.
After passing through security, with reddened eyes, Jiang Hong entered the waiting hall and discovered that Lu Xiu had bought him a business class ticket. He entered the VIP lounge and was surprised to see Cao Bin, Xuan Hezhi, and Keda there.
The plane was delayed, and Keda waved to Jiang Hong, inviting him to sit beside him. Cao Bin was quietly instructing Xuan Hezhi about something, occasionally nodding towards Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong heard a bit about the security arrangements, presumably after this incident, Cao Bin had asked Xuan Hezhi to strengthen the security within the school.
Keda hugged Jiang Hong warmly, much like a large beast cradling a rabbit or some other small animal. Jiang Hong knew this was just Keda's way, nothing more, and thus he too leaned back on the sofa, lost in thought.
"If I were to die one day," Keda said, "would you be this upset?"
"Of course, I would!" Jiang Hong replied, "What are you talking about? Don't say such unlucky things!"
Keda chuckled, saying, "That's still worth a lot, huh? Do you think Feng Li would be upset?"
"He would be, of course," said Jiang Hong.
Keda, however, thought differently, saying, "Lord Feng Li has a more open view of life and death. But never mind."
"Did you use that horn?" Jiang Hong asked.
"No," Keda answered, "It's pointless, forget it."
Jiang Hong shifted his position. Being with Keda felt like returning to a world full of life and vigor. He sometimes thought Keda was the most real among them - blunt when upset and bursting into laughter when happy. This down-to-earth nature made their casual chats lively, filled with playful banter, love stories, experiences, or talks about where to eat and play.
It seemed that, for him, demons and temptations were no more important than the people in this world.
"You know," Keda continued, "if the Great Demon King were to come, I might really be the first to die. Among the S-class exorcists, I'm the least powerful, don't you think?"
"Uh..." Jiang Hong said, "That might be true."
Keda: "You're too honest. You could at least try to comfort me."
Jiang Hong: "But it's true. You can only transform into a grey wolf, at most you can fly, but without wings, just hopping through the air..."
Keda: "You're provoking me now, Jiang Hong..."
Jiang Hong: "Of course, I think it's because of your heart demon. The heartbreak you suffered dealt a big blow, even weakening your combat abilities. Although I'm not clear about the standards for an S-class exorcist, I guess you must have been very strong in your prime."
Keda replied, "My predecessors were indeed strong. But when it came to me, the power dissipated, and I couldn't keep up."
Jiang Hong: "It's not the power that dissipated, it's just that you're not up to par."
Keda: "Do you have to be so blunt! Don't I have any dignity?!"
Jiang Hong: "Because you have someone you don't want to abandon and wish to protect. I believe once you get past this, you'll definitely become a very strong guy!"
In the midst of speaking, Cao Bin glanced at Keda and Jiang Hong.
So both of them fell silent.
Cao Bin said earnestly, "You may not be the strongest, but you are the most tenacious. As long as you want to fight, you'll fight until the very end of the world."
Keda leaned on the sofa, lazily twirling Jiang Hong's hair with his fingers, coiling it up, then letting it fall.
"Right," Jiang Hong, tormented by curiosity for a long time, asked Keda, "What was that you mentioned last time... about the issue with the style of S-class exorcists?"
Keda: "Oh! That! You mean the thing about four out of eight special class exorcists being gay!"
Jiang Hong: "Ah, you're too loud... lower your voice..."
Cao Bin: "..."
Xuan Hezhi seemed to perk up his ears but quickly controlled himself, not turning to look at them.
Keda said with a laugh, "It's just that the higher-ups think there's an issue with our conduct."
Afraid of being scolded by Cao Bin, Jiang Hong hurriedly tried to change the subject, but Keda said, "Guess who the four are? An Jie doesn't count, he's an alien, and aliens don't have the concept of being gay."
Thinking of An Jie, Jiang Hong felt sad again, but Keda immediately said, "Do you think our principal is one of them?"
Cao Bin: "............"
Cao Bin glared at Keda sternly, but Keda pretended not to see and continued, "I'll tell you anyway."
"Who is it?" Jiang Hong asked again, "How about we go to the restroom, and you tell me secretly?"
Keda casually stroked Jiang Hong's chin and said ambiguously, "Chen Zhen, Qi Wei, Xuan Hezhi..."
"Ah?" Xuan Hezhi, unexpectedly called out, first looked at Keda, then at Cao Bin, and was instantly filled with panic, "What, no, that's not it. Am I gay? I didn't know that!"
"And the alien, An Jie," Keda added seriously.
"Hey," Jiang Hong said, "stop making stuff up about him... Huh?"
Jiang Hong noticed something, while Xuan Hezhi was frantically denying, saying, "No, it's not like that. Although no girl has shown interest in me, I believe my orientation is still primarily... primarily, boss, let me explain..."
Cao Bin: "Keda, that's enough. Don't lead Jiang Hong astray."
Jiang Hong suddenly understood – oh, Keda was speaking ironically.
Oh, what does that mean?! So, excluding Xiang Cheng and himself, the remaining one is Cao Bin?!
Goodness! Principal, you like men too? I couldn't tell at all!
Jiang Hong struggled to control himself from looking at Cao Bin, thinking: Master seems like a super straight guy! So manly! But on second thought, it makes sense because, although Cao Bin appears tough on the outside, he's actually very gentle inside, the exact opposite of Chen Zhen who is outwardly gentle but inwardly tough!
This realization instantly adds at least ten thousand points to Cao Bin's appeal.
And who's the other one? Fang Yifeng?! Jiang Hong was again shocked.
"Actually, it's all Fang Yifeng stirring up trouble," said Keda, "The handsome and considerate elder brother from Guangdong, Fang Yifeng, likes to make friends and take care of cute younger brothers. With so many sworn brothers, jealousy and envy arise, leading to complaints."
"Alright, alright, my curiosity is satisfied, no more talking," Jiang Hong hurriedly stopped Keda, fearing Cao Bin would erupt in anger at them.
The boarding announcement came, and everyone stood up, ready to return to Xi'an.
"When is Yifeng coming to school?" Cao Bin asked again.
"Still not sure," Keda and Jiang Hong, walking arm in arm, turned back and said to Cao Bin, "Chen Zhen finally caught him, he won't let him go that easily. You'll have to figure it out yourself."
The plane took off from Jiangbei Airport, heading to Xi'an. At an altitude of 10,000 meters, Jiang Hong couldn't help but wonder, if the minions of Yinghuo suddenly attacked the plane, what were their chances of survival?
But the dark Lu Xiu had already been eliminated, and other demons probably couldn't fly this high. At least for now, they were safe.
In the distant, gloomy underground, beside a blood pool, the dark Chen Zhen stared into the pool. Unlike the calm blood pool of over a year ago, it now began to slowly churn.
A shadow appeared beside the blood pool, black fire dissipating, revealing Cao Bin's figure.
The dark Cao Bin was adjusting the blade between his fingers, also gazing at the blood pool.
"As the day of our lord's arrival draws near," the dark Chen Zhen said, "the power of the blood pool will grow stronger. In this time, I will provide you with more usable material."
The dark Cao Bin said, "I only want Lu Xiu. You just used up Lu Xiu like that, it's the biggest waste."
The dark Chen Zhen coldly said, "I am the one who calls the shots here, not you."
The dark Cao Bin scoffed and countered, "Just like our real selves, have we ever submitted to each other?"
The dark Chen Zhen shifted his gaze from the blood pool to the dark Cao Bin, his eyes faintly flashing with anger.
"Retrieve the Book of All Things as soon as possible," the dark Chen Zhen said, "Although it’s not very useful, only when it's in our hands can we be at ease."
The dark Cao Bin scoffed again, melting into the darkness, leaving behind a remark: "When to retrieve it is my business, don’t boss me around. The way you manage your subordinates doesn't work on me."
The dark Chen Zhen suppressed his rage and said solemnly, "Be very cautious of Lu Xiu's sword. That sword, along with the Sword of Wisdom, are the only two weapons that can currently restrain you. Don't blindly challenge your other half, and don't provoke Lu Xiu."
Chapter 105: Lunar Phase
By the time the Exorcism Commission arrived, only a puddle of silver blood remained of An Jie.
Dazed, Jiang Hong was immediately examined by Lu Xiu; he had a mild concussion and multiple soft tissue injuries.
Lu Xiu called Jiang Hong's parents and had Jiang Hong speak to them too, hiding the accident to avoid worry. He said they were in Chongqing, with Jiang Hong accompanying him for a few days, staying in a hotel.
Although Jiang Hong's parents felt something was off, they didn't probe further due to Jiang Hong's normal-sounding voice.
Then, the Exorcism Commission collected An Jie's remains. Chen Zhen personally arrived in Chongqing, accompanied by Fang Yifeng.
Jiang Hong's headache persisted until the next day when he finally regained full consciousness. An Jie left no will, and the suddenness of his death left everyone shocked. Chen Zhen decided to bury him in Chongqing, alongside other fallen exorcists, at the Tushan Cemetery in the Nanshan District.
An Jie's ashes, resembling silver fragments, were laid to rest in the cemetery, leaving Jiang Hong in disbelief that the Exorcism Commission's second-in-command, a time-traveling exorcist, had died so abruptly.
It rained in Chongqing that day. Approaching November, the weather was chilly. All S-rank exorcists except Xiang Cheng attended, including Chen Zhen, Cao Bin, Ke Da, Qi Wei, Xuan Hezhi, Fang Yifeng, all dressed in black suits, standing on either side of the cemetery's garden.
Many from the Exorcism Commission attended. With no family of his own, Chen Zhen solemnly placed An Jie's urn in the cemetery.
Overwhelmed by sudden grief, Jiang Hong stood at the end of the line, silently choking back tears.
“He's just gone like that?” Jiang Hong muttered, “It’s not right… it shouldn’t have ended this way…”
Lu Xiu placed a hand on Jiang Hong's shoulder, drawing him in for a comforting embrace and patting his back.
"Our brave Head of Security Affairs, a fearless Special-Class Exorcist..." Xuan Hezhi eulogized on behalf of Chen Zhen and the gathered exorcists.
Lu Xiu whispered to Jiang Hong, “It’s okay, Jiang Hong. Maybe he just returned to his original world.”
In the following days, everyone questioned Jiang Hong about the incident, repeatedly reviewing the dashcam footage from the government car. The footage captured the car flipping and rolling into the forest off the highway at the moment An Jie and Jiang Hong confronted the assailant.
An Jie’s right hand glowed, presumably preparing a time-travel spell. But the assailant's speed was too fast, leaving no time to react. Just one more second, and An Jie could have teleported away with Jiang Hong, rendering himself virtually invincible with his time-travel ability.
Therefore, An Jie had never feared Huixing, with Chen Zhen mostly reminding him to be cautious. Yet, in the end, An Jie fell victim to an unexpected assassination.
Until his last breath, An Jie protected Jiang Hong. The identity of the swift assassin remained a mystery; his speed was so fast that even the dashcam couldn’t capture his face, exceeding the frame rate and obscuring his identity with black flames.
After bidding farewell to An Jie, Chen Zhen and Cao Bin conversed quietly, with six Special-Class Exorcists gathered in a rare assembly.
The last time they had come together like this was during the joint effort of the Exorcism Commission to repel the ancient god Gonggong.
“Huixing has gained an advantage,” Chen Zhen observed.
Cao Bin replied, “We should have realized something when Xiang Cheng and Xiao Duo mentioned the timeline being sealed.”
Chen Zhen added, “An Jie never shared the principles of his time-travel with us. If we had used him as a temporal coordinate, he should have been the most vigilant.”
Ke Da sarcastically remarked, “So now the dead man is to blame?”
Chen Zhen shrugged, looking at everyone.
Cao Bin sighed, acknowledging the loss of An Jie as a catastrophic blow to the Exorcism Commission. An Jie, their trump card, had never been played. This incident revealed that Huixing was acutely aware of their strategies, hence the determination to eliminate An Jie at any cost.
“We need to appoint a new Special-Class Exorcist,” Chen Zhen stated, “Our situation is only going to get tougher.”
Chen Zhen looked gravely serious, and everyone's gaze simultaneously turned to Lu Xiu standing aside.
“No need to bother,” Lu Xiu responded, “Let's leave it as it is.”
It was clear to everyone that among the potential candidates, Lu Xiu was the most suitable for promotion to Special-Class Exorcist. Not only did he possess the necessary strength and responsibility, but he was also Cao Bin’s disciple and Xiang Cheng’s successor.
"There's no need for that," Cao Bin said, "Yinghuo is about to arrive. With Anjie’s death, Yinghuo will no longer have any reservations."
Silence fell again. Jiang Hong sat aside, his mind blank, still unable to believe that Anjie was gone.
"Will he come back?" Jiang Hong asked. "He'll return, right?"
"I don’t know," Chen Zhen replied, "His origins and destinations have always been a mystery. He joined the Exorcism Committee through Xiang Cheng’s recommendation. Only Xiang Cheng knew him best. It was also him who warned us about the impending disaster and Yinghuo’s imminent arrival in our world."
Keda said, "In fact, not many in the Exorcism Committee truly cared about him. I guess among us, perhaps Jiang Hong knew him best."
Chen Zhen: "He didn’t want to talk about it, what can we do? But one thing is important, you can consider him a higher-dimensional being... Perhaps the destruction of this world could be his liberation."
Suddenly, in this cemetery, the sound of a violin echoed.
Cao Bin had a violin in his hand and began playing Shostakovich's Second Waltz.
Chen Zhen and Keda stopped their discussion, and everyone listened quietly.
Lu Xiu gestured for Jiang Hong to look up, and they both gazed at the sky together.
Amidst the violin music, the dark clouds slowly dispersed, revealing the celestial meridians of the evening sky.
Jiang Hong understood Lu Xiu's message — we all live in this world and will one day face partings, leaving the mortal world to enter the eternal cycle of heaven and earth. There’s no need to be overly sorrowful.
Jiang Hong felt much better, but he still clung to some things.
The exorcists gradually left, and finally, Cao Bin put away his violin, bowed slightly to Anjie, who stayed in Chongqing, and then turned and walked away.
Only Chen Zhen, Lu Xiu, and Jiang Hong remained, sitting on two stone chairs in the cemetery.
"He said he didn't know where his hometown was," Jiang Hong murmured, "Can he find his way back?"
Chen Zhen was silent for a moment, then said, "Jiang Hong, I've just realized, you're like a bridge."
"Ah?" Jiang Hong turned his gaze from the cemetery to Chen Zhen, asking, "Why do you say that?"
"You're the bridge between Cao Bin and me; between Anjie and me; between demons and humans..." Chen Zhen said, "You connect so many people, so many things. Through you, we've been able to communicate..."
"...You are remarkable, Jiang Hong."
Jiang Hong, with a somber expression, replied, "Maybe? I just can't believe that Anjie... just like that..."
Chen Zhen said, "Are you still upset? This is my inner demon. Too many comrades have been sacrificed, sometimes making me question whether all this is still meaningful."
Jiang Hong nodded and said, "Maybe it's just my fantasy? I always feel like he will come back to life."
Chen Zhen replied, "Perhaps. He once told me that coming to our world cost him a life. Maybe this experience of death is like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. He's just transformed his way of life once again."
Then, Chen Zhen’s palm radiated the light of the Heart Lamp. He gently pressed this power onto Jiang Hong's forehead and said, "But at least he's no longer on Earth. Don't be too attached, Jiang Hong. You've also checked with the Omnibook."
"Hmm." Jiang Hong nodded, suddenly feeling much clearer in his mind, and the discomfort in his heart eased a lot.
Indeed, right after Anjie's death, he had checked the pool of silver blood with the Omnibook.
The Omnibook showed [????]. There was no health bar, nor any attributes. If Anjie was still alive but in a different form, the Omnibook would definitely display his real name, "Wang Anjie."
During a business trip to Guangzhou, Jiang Hong had secretly checked Anjie's attributes. His HP was only 3200 points, and there were... wait!
Wait a minute!
Countless memories flashed rapidly through his mind!
Jiang Hong suddenly sat up straight, looking incredulously at Lu Xiu and then at Chen Zhen.
"What's wrong?" Lu Xiu and Chen Zhen both noticed Jiang Hong's expression.
Jiang Hong clearly remembered that beneath Anjie’s health bar, there were three slots like gem sockets, two glowing and one empty.
"Did he say that he had died once when he came to our world?" Jiang Hong asked Chen Zhen urgently.
Chen Zhen earnestly replied, "Yes, his exact words were, 'Coming here, I have already experienced death once.'"
Could those three gem sockets represent his lives or his transformations? Jiang Hong suddenly had a vague guess. He then looked at the urn.
"Anjie, he..."
Almost simultaneously, Lu Xiu and Chen Zhen made a "shush" gesture.
"Whatever you suspect," Chen Zhen said, "keep it deep inside your heart. Don't say anything. We all have the same hope."
Did they all know something? Where did they guess it from? Jiang Hong looked again at Lu Xiu. Was Lu Xiu also guessing that Anjie might be resurrected?
But with everything still shrouded in uncertainty, Lu Xiu said, “I need to return to the Sacred Land. What about you?”
Three days had passed since Jiang Hong met with Anjie, and he had to return to Cangqiong University.
They said their final goodbyes to Anjie in the cemetery and left the gravesite. But just as they were parting, Chen Zhen suddenly asked Lu Xiu a question.
“Who do you think the assassin could be?” Chen Zhen continued, “You're the only one who fought him. You must know. Can you tell us now?”
“Yes, but I don't want to say,” Lu Xiu answered, “I’ll handle him myself before he causes more harm.”
“I hope you do it soon,” Chen Zhen said. “Otherwise, several S-level exorcists will be doomed, until he meets his real target.”
“I will,” Lu Xiu replied, then turned to Jiang Hong, “You really should return to Cangqiong University. Staying at the school is the safest option now. The next move of the Yinghuo will definitely be to retrieve the Omnibook. I’ll take you home to pack, then to the airport.”
That evening, Jiang Hong returned home to find it dark, his parents absent. Lao Sun was in the living room corner watching an apocalyptic movie on an iPad.
In the dim house, only a small corner was lit by the glow of the screen.
“You’re back?” Lao Sun, unaware of the harrowing events during Jiang Hong's trip to send off Anjie, said, “Your parents went to a friend’s child’s wedding.”
“It's okay,” Jiang Hong replied, “I'll send them a message. Lao Sun, get in the bag, we’re heading back to Xi'an.”
Lao Sun crawled into Jiang Hong's bag. Jiang Hong hurriedly packed his suitcase, and when he was leaving, he couldn't help but look back.
The house was empty, but he seemed to see the dining table light up, returning to the day nearly a year ago when he, Lu Xiu, his father, and mother were eating hot pot at that table.
Lu Xiu quietly waited for Jiang Hong until he reluctantly left his home of eighteen years.
A car from the Chongqing Exorcism Committee was waiting outside the community, so Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu got in and headed to the airport in the night.
“They were targeting Anjie,” Lu Xiu said in the car, “It's not related to you, at least not this time. Don’t feel like you caused his death.”
“But if I hadn't been with him,” Jiang Hong replied, “he could have protected himself. He wouldn’t have died if it wasn't for protecting me.”
Among so many people, only Lu Xiu saw the guilt deep within Jiang Hong's heart.
"No," Lu Xiu answered, "No one, when facing 'him', has nearly enough time to prepare spells, especially exorcists like An Jie and Chen Zhen who are of the mage type."
"Who is he?" Jiang Hong suddenly recalled, the speed of that shadow was too fast, even comparable to Lu Xiu, a swordsman type. If Lu Xiu were ambushed, although it wouldn't be fatal, the outcome of who would win or lose was still uncertain.
Lu Xiu did not answer.
Jiang Hong suspected that Lu Xiu had discerned the other's identity but chose not to disclose it.
"We've arrived," Lu Xiu said, "Staying by Master's side means safety for you. Go ahead, I'll come back to check on you after I'm done with my tasks."
Jiang Hong looked at Lu Xiu, who had become his only reliance at that moment. He had a lot to say but didn't know who to confide in, except for Lu Xiu who understood him completely.
Standing in front of Lu Xiu, he felt like he was back to being the naive mortal teenager who stepped into Cangqiong University more than a year ago.
Lu Xiu extended his hand and hugged him, the two of them quietly embraced at the security checkpoint.
"Shall we go on a road trip in a camper van this winter holiday?" Lu Xiu suddenly asked.
"Sure, let's go!" Jiang Hong replied, "Where do you want to go?"
Lu Xiu said, "We could go to Xinjiang to see the snow."
"Great!" Jiang Hong answered.
Lu Xiu initiated the separation from Jiang Hong, signaling him to go.
After passing through security, with reddened eyes, Jiang Hong entered the waiting hall and discovered that Lu Xiu had bought him a business class ticket. He entered the VIP lounge and was surprised to see Cao Bin, Xuan Hezhi, and Keda there.
The plane was delayed, and Keda waved to Jiang Hong, inviting him to sit beside him. Cao Bin was quietly instructing Xuan Hezhi about something, occasionally nodding towards Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong heard a bit about the security arrangements, presumably after this incident, Cao Bin had asked Xuan Hezhi to strengthen the security within the school.
Keda hugged Jiang Hong warmly, much like a large beast cradling a rabbit or some other small animal. Jiang Hong knew this was just Keda's way, nothing more, and thus he too leaned back on the sofa, lost in thought.
"If I were to die one day," Keda said, "would you be this upset?"
"Of course, I would!" Jiang Hong replied, "What are you talking about? Don't say such unlucky things!"
Keda chuckled, saying, "That's still worth a lot, huh? Do you think Feng Li would be upset?"
"He would be, of course," said Jiang Hong.
Keda, however, thought differently, saying, "Lord Feng Li has a more open view of life and death. But never mind."
"Did you use that horn?" Jiang Hong asked.
"No," Keda answered, "It's pointless, forget it."
Jiang Hong shifted his position. Being with Keda felt like returning to a world full of life and vigor. He sometimes thought Keda was the most real among them - blunt when upset and bursting into laughter when happy. This down-to-earth nature made their casual chats lively, filled with playful banter, love stories, experiences, or talks about where to eat and play.
It seemed that, for him, demons and temptations were no more important than the people in this world.
"You know," Keda continued, "if the Great Demon King were to come, I might really be the first to die. Among the S-class exorcists, I'm the least powerful, don't you think?"
"Uh..." Jiang Hong said, "That might be true."
Keda: "You're too honest. You could at least try to comfort me."
Jiang Hong: "But it's true. You can only transform into a grey wolf, at most you can fly, but without wings, just hopping through the air..."
Keda: "You're provoking me now, Jiang Hong..."
Jiang Hong: "Of course, I think it's because of your heart demon. The heartbreak you suffered dealt a big blow, even weakening your combat abilities. Although I'm not clear about the standards for an S-class exorcist, I guess you must have been very strong in your prime."
Keda replied, "My predecessors were indeed strong. But when it came to me, the power dissipated, and I couldn't keep up."
Jiang Hong: "It's not the power that dissipated, it's just that you're not up to par."
Keda: "Do you have to be so blunt! Don't I have any dignity?!"
Jiang Hong: "Because you have someone you don't want to abandon and wish to protect. I believe once you get past this, you'll definitely become a very strong guy!"
In the midst of speaking, Cao Bin glanced at Keda and Jiang Hong.
So both of them fell silent.
Cao Bin said earnestly, "You may not be the strongest, but you are the most tenacious. As long as you want to fight, you'll fight until the very end of the world."
Keda leaned on the sofa, lazily twirling Jiang Hong's hair with his fingers, coiling it up, then letting it fall.
"Right," Jiang Hong, tormented by curiosity for a long time, asked Keda, "What was that you mentioned last time... about the issue with the style of S-class exorcists?"
Keda: "Oh! That! You mean the thing about four out of eight special class exorcists being gay!"
Jiang Hong: "Ah, you're too loud... lower your voice..."
Cao Bin: "..."
Xuan Hezhi seemed to perk up his ears but quickly controlled himself, not turning to look at them.
Keda said with a laugh, "It's just that the higher-ups think there's an issue with our conduct."
Afraid of being scolded by Cao Bin, Jiang Hong hurriedly tried to change the subject, but Keda said, "Guess who the four are? An Jie doesn't count, he's an alien, and aliens don't have the concept of being gay."
Thinking of An Jie, Jiang Hong felt sad again, but Keda immediately said, "Do you think our principal is one of them?"
Cao Bin: "............"
Cao Bin glared at Keda sternly, but Keda pretended not to see and continued, "I'll tell you anyway."
"Who is it?" Jiang Hong asked again, "How about we go to the restroom, and you tell me secretly?"
Keda casually stroked Jiang Hong's chin and said ambiguously, "Chen Zhen, Qi Wei, Xuan Hezhi..."
"Ah?" Xuan Hezhi, unexpectedly called out, first looked at Keda, then at Cao Bin, and was instantly filled with panic, "What, no, that's not it. Am I gay? I didn't know that!"
"And the alien, An Jie," Keda added seriously.
"Hey," Jiang Hong said, "stop making stuff up about him... Huh?"
Jiang Hong noticed something, while Xuan Hezhi was frantically denying, saying, "No, it's not like that. Although no girl has shown interest in me, I believe my orientation is still primarily... primarily, boss, let me explain..."
Cao Bin: "Keda, that's enough. Don't lead Jiang Hong astray."
Jiang Hong suddenly understood – oh, Keda was speaking ironically.
Oh, what does that mean?! So, excluding Xiang Cheng and himself, the remaining one is Cao Bin?!
Goodness! Principal, you like men too? I couldn't tell at all!
Jiang Hong struggled to control himself from looking at Cao Bin, thinking: Master seems like a super straight guy! So manly! But on second thought, it makes sense because, although Cao Bin appears tough on the outside, he's actually very gentle inside, the exact opposite of Chen Zhen who is outwardly gentle but inwardly tough!
This realization instantly adds at least ten thousand points to Cao Bin's appeal.
And who's the other one? Fang Yifeng?! Jiang Hong was again shocked.
"Actually, it's all Fang Yifeng stirring up trouble," said Keda, "The handsome and considerate elder brother from Guangdong, Fang Yifeng, likes to make friends and take care of cute younger brothers. With so many sworn brothers, jealousy and envy arise, leading to complaints."
"Alright, alright, my curiosity is satisfied, no more talking," Jiang Hong hurriedly stopped Keda, fearing Cao Bin would erupt in anger at them.
The boarding announcement came, and everyone stood up, ready to return to Xi'an.
"When is Yifeng coming to school?" Cao Bin asked again.
"Still not sure," Keda and Jiang Hong, walking arm in arm, turned back and said to Cao Bin, "Chen Zhen finally caught him, he won't let him go that easily. You'll have to figure it out yourself."
The plane took off from Jiangbei Airport, heading to Xi'an. At an altitude of 10,000 meters, Jiang Hong couldn't help but wonder, if the minions of Yinghuo suddenly attacked the plane, what were their chances of survival?
But the dark Lu Xiu had already been eliminated, and other demons probably couldn't fly this high. At least for now, they were safe.
In the distant, gloomy underground, beside a blood pool, the dark Chen Zhen stared into the pool. Unlike the calm blood pool of over a year ago, it now began to slowly churn.
A shadow appeared beside the blood pool, black fire dissipating, revealing Cao Bin's figure.
The dark Cao Bin was adjusting the blade between his fingers, also gazing at the blood pool.
"As the day of our lord's arrival draws near," the dark Chen Zhen said, "the power of the blood pool will grow stronger. In this time, I will provide you with more usable material."
The dark Cao Bin said, "I only want Lu Xiu. You just used up Lu Xiu like that, it's the biggest waste."
The dark Chen Zhen coldly said, "I am the one who calls the shots here, not you."
The dark Cao Bin scoffed and countered, "Just like our real selves, have we ever submitted to each other?"
The dark Chen Zhen shifted his gaze from the blood pool to the dark Cao Bin, his eyes faintly flashing with anger.
"Retrieve the Book of All Things as soon as possible," the dark Chen Zhen said, "Although it’s not very useful, only when it's in our hands can we be at ease."
The dark Cao Bin scoffed again, melting into the darkness, leaving behind a remark: "When to retrieve it is my business, don’t boss me around. The way you manage your subordinates doesn't work on me."
The dark Chen Zhen suppressed his rage and said solemnly, "Be very cautious of Lu Xiu's sword. That sword, along with the Sword of Wisdom, are the only two weapons that can currently restrain you. Don't blindly challenge your other half, and don't provoke Lu Xiu."
