Chapter 61: Qi Wei
At dusk, Gegen Tuo Ru Ke Da, dressed in a shirt and waistcoat, impeccably tailored, entered the academic building amid students just out of class. He walked down the corridor to a sophomore class on “Advanced Talisman Studies” where Professor Luo Peng was answering two students' questions.
“Teacher Ke Da?” The students were surprised to see Ke Da.
Ke Da gestured for them to continue their questions, standing politely aside.
Although Ke Da was approachable with students, always casual, they all spontaneously respected him. Eager as they were to linger, they didn't dare delay him and quickly greeted him again before leaving.
“Teacher Ke Da.”
“Professor Luo.” Ke Da smiled mischievously, revealing his fangs, then snapped his fingers. A misty fog enveloped all the windows of the multipurpose lecture hall as if shielded by a magical barrier.
Professor Luo Peng, who was packing up his notes, stopped and quietly watched Ke Da.
“You’ve been at Cangqiong University for quite some time now,” said Ke Da, leaning against the lectern, “I remember you joined in September five years ago.”
Professor Luo Peng responded, “You have a good memory.”
Ke Da casually unbuttoned his shirt cuffs, rolling up his sleeves. He continued, “I also remember that it was Teacher Zhu Jingling who introduced you here.”
Professor Luo Peng uttered a quiet “Hmm.”
Ke Da said, “So, all of you from the Hui Meng group were brought in one after another, one by one?”
Luo Peng said, “On what basis do you say that? I know recently there’s been unease, even within the headquarters of the Exorcism Commission, with everyone speculating about each other…”
Ke Da waved his hand, signaling that there was no need for further explanation.
“The Omnibook,” Ke Da replied. “The number of people who know that Jiang Hong has this talisman can be counted on one hand. Who else but you could have leaked the information to them?”
Perhaps realizing that his last chance for denial had been shattered, Luo Peng’s face changed instantly.
“My style differs from Cao Bin’s,” Ke Da continued, “Of course, this is also what Principal Cao thinks. We can make a deal…”
But just as Ke Da mentioned the "deal", Luo Peng swiftly pulled out a dagger, its blade shimmering with a piercing cold light.
On a spring evening, a faint sound came from the third teaching building. Many students on the campus path noticed an odd scene: from the windows of Classroom 207 in the multifunctional teaching building, icicles burst forth, followed by a wave of icy air silently covering the building's exterior. In moments, the entire building was rapidly encased in ice and snow, transforming into a massive ice sculpture, glistening in the setting sun.
Frost covered every classroom door; the corridors and carpets began to freeze over, as the third teaching building was entirely enveloped in frost.
The students stopped in their tracks, gazing at the third teaching building.
The door of the multifunctional classroom on the second floor opened, and Ke Da emerged, casually brushing the frost off his clothing, scattering a cloud of snow powder, then walked away.
“Where’s Zhu Jingling?” Ke Da called the head of discipline, Xuan Hezhi.
On the phone, Xuan Hezhi responded, “Captured, but she committed suicide.”
Ke Da said, “Head back to the principal's office; we need to prepare for a remote meeting with Beijing.”
In the principal's office, Cao Bin toyed with the indigo glass dagger, Luo Peng’s desperate attempt for mutual destruction, as Xuan Hezhi arrived, looking pale.
“How many more in the Commission?” Xuan Hezhi asked.
“Unclear,” Cao Bin replied gravely, “Let’s first deal with the troubles in our backyard.”
Xuan Hezhi: “Who else?”
Cao Bin answered, “According to the clues provided by Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong, it’s only Zhu Jingling and Luo Peng for now.”
Ke Da said, “Luo Peng tried to take me down with him, self-destructing; but the impostor Zhu Jingling, her body is still intact, handed over to Xia Xinghui. Do you want to have a look?”
Cao Bin said, "Let's discuss that later, after the meeting."
The three S-rank exorcists remained silent for a moment before Cao Bin looked at Xuan Hezhi, who replied, "The Commission is still preparing."
Ke Da was exasperated with the efficiency of the Beijing Exorcism Commission; the three could only wait.
"Who else?" Ke Da asked. "The enemy has already replicated Chen Zhen. What about us three? I certainly don't want to end up fighting my own clone."
After a moment of contemplation, Cao Bin said, "Currently, Jiang Hong has only discovered replicas of Chen Zhen and Lu Xiu. But we can't rule out that they are creating more. Replicating us should not be easy."
Xuan Hezhi remarked, "Let’s just hope they don't come up with a clone of Xiang Cheng, or we'll be done for."
Ke Da added, "The complexity of dealing with a replicated Chen Zhen is nearly on par with Xiang Cheng. How's the situation at the front line?"
Cao Bin answered, "We don’t have a casualty count yet."
"What about our people?" Ke Da continued. "How's that kid doing?"
"Still alive," Xuan Hezhi replied, then suddenly asked, "Could Jiang Hong be replicated? Are you sure he and Lu Xiu haven't been switched?"
Cao Bin responded, "Yinghuo cannot replicate Si Gui, as the phoenix is a fate-defying entity, bearing the destiny of world rebirth, acting like a fail-safe for both the inner and outer worlds. There's only one. Jiang Hong is a mortal, but recently Si Gui imbued him with a spark of true phoenix fire, injected into his heart meridian, so Jiang Hong can’t be replicated either."
Ke Da immediately understood, saying, "Then Si Gui can remotely sense his situation."
Cao Bin stated, "Indeed, it was Si Gui who first detected his peril and has already gone to Guangzhou. Without him engaging the enemy, the damage in Guangzhou would have been much worse. But we can't rely too much on Si Gui; there's a limit to what he can do... Xuan Hezhi, I see Chen Zhen is calling. Shall we start the meeting?"
Xuan Hezhi glanced at his phone and placed a 3D projector on the office desk. The projector emitted a beam of light, forming the holographic figures of several people.
The holographic image of Chen Zhen spoke: "Attendees, please introduce yourselves."
Cao Bin said, "Among the S-rank exorcists, Xiang Cheng is unreachable due to the temporal flux."
Chen Zhen reported, "On our end, Fang Yifeng is also out of contact, but I've recalled Qi Wei."
A young man's voice responded, "I'm at Kuala Lumpur Airport, boarding in 25 minutes. I should arrive at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport tonight."
Ke Da remarked, "Your base in Guangzhou has been wiped out by Yinghuo."
Qi Wei replied, "Isn't that what you guys are for? We'll figure it out once I'm back."
Chen Zhen asked, "Anjie is still in Guangzhou, right? Anjie?"
"I'm here," came Anjie's voice.
Chen Zhen continued, "Alright, let's start the meeting. Anjie, please briefly update us on the current situation."
As Anjie's hologram appeared, Ke Da joked, "Hey, second boss, why do you look like you've been beaten up? Who would dare to hit you?"
Anjie remained silent.
Just as Anjie was about to speak, after a few seconds, he said, "Wait another three minutes for me."
Everyone: "......"
Following that, Anjie's projection suddenly vanished.
Temporarily disconnecting the communication, Anjie faced an infuriated Jiang Hong and explained, "Under those circumstances, someone had to cover the retreat."
"I don't care about the circumstances!" Jiang Hong retorted angrily.
They were now in a hotel, with the water level outside gradually receding and the Zhujiang River returning to its normal state, albeit amidst widespread devastation from the recent flooding.
Jiang Hong, infuriated upon seeing Anjie's final appearance, didn't care if he was a superior. With Lu Xu critically injured and Anjie nowhere to be found during the final battle, Jiang Hong fearlessly confronted his leader.
"Lu Xu fought for everyone!" Jiang Hong challenged, "And where were you then?"
In Anjie's suite, Zhang Xiting and Jiang Hong stood while Si Gui sat quietly, all watching Jiang Hong confront the deputy head of the exorcists. Jiang Hong instinctively felt that if Cao Bin had been there, he wouldn't have allowed Lu Xu, already weakened, to engage in a battle with his dark counterpart.
Anjie, surprisingly honest, replied, "I was observing the battle. Yes, you all made great sacrifices, and isn't that what every exorcist should do?"
"And what about you?" Jiang Hong spoke bluntly, "Yes, I'm just a soldier, and you're the high-ranking leader of the exorcists, with far greater power than us. Do you realize Lu Xu almost died?"
Anjie, containing his anger, calmly asked, "So, what do you want me to do now?"
"I need a clear explanation," Jiang Hong demanded, "Where were you at that time, and why didn't you intervene? Otherwise, I have reasons to doubt whether you're the real Anjie!"
Zhang Xiting, taken aback, signaled to Jiang Hong not to go any further, but Jiang Hong was resolute, suspecting the identity of the man claiming to be Anjie from the beginning.
Anjie responded, "So, that's your real intention. I was about to join a meeting with top exorcists. They would naturally be cautious."
"That's not necessarily true," Jiang Hong boldly stepped forward, unfazed.
After a few seconds of silence, Anjie suddenly burst into laughter.
"If I were my own duplicate," Anjie stated, "your suspicion about my identity right now would be unwise. You think having a phoenix and dragon at your back gives you enough leverage to subdue me, even if I turned out to be an infiltrator."
Jiang Hong fixed his gaze on Anjie, scrutinizing his every move.
Anjie continued, "But frankly speaking, if it came to a confrontation, you wouldn't stand a chance."
As Jiang Hong pointed the Wanwu Book at Anjie, Anjie added, "…regardless of what you plan to do with that artifact."
Jiang Hong had checked Anjie's stats – HP: 3200/3200 and MP: 1960/1960.
This revelation shocked him. How could the deputy head of the exorcists have such modest capabilities? Even Zhang Xiting had over 7000 HP, which contributed to Jiang Hong's doubts.
Below Anjie's health bar, Jiang Hong noticed three small, neatly arranged circles, two glowing and one dim. They resembled jewel-encrusted slots, but the third was empty.
"You have no choice but to trust me now," Anjie said. "I must join the meeting immediately, and you cannot listen in. Your most pressing task should be to care for your dragon and ensure he rests."
Jiang Hong finally stepped back and said, "Let me speak to Principal Cao, if he's also attending the meeting."
After a moment's thought, Anjie activated a magic communication device.
Having reached this point in the conversation, Jiang Hong intuitively believed Anjie wasn't an imposter, but he couldn't just let it go. If his suspicion caused more serious consequences, he would undoubtedly regret it later.
"Jiang Hong?" Cao Bin's voice sounded.
Anjie spoke, "He's doubting my identity because I didn't engage directly in the battle. Can you vouch for me?"
Jiang Hong asked, "Principal Cao, is that you?"
"Yes, it's me," Cao Bin responded.
Keda interjected, "No worries, go get some rest, Jiang Hong. You all must be exhausted."
Hearing Cao Bin's voice, Jiang Hong suddenly felt very tired. He mustered his energy and was about to speak.
However, Chen Zhen interjected, "Jiang Hong, you all did well. It's time to rest now. From here on, distinguishing whether Anjie is a duplicate created by Yinghuo will be our responsibility."
After a moment of contemplation, Cao Bin added, "If no one can dispel his doubts, my apprentice, it seems, won't let Anjie off the hook."
As expected, Cao Bin understood Jiang Hong well. Indeed, at this moment, Jiang Hong showed an extraordinary tenacity.
"How can you prove you're the originals, not duplicates? What if Yinghuo's higher-ups are holding the meeting?" Jiang Hong asked.
No one laughed; it was a serious concern.
"Let me think," said Cao Bin. "I have a way to verify Chen Zhen. Jiang Hong, remember what you told me last year about the silhouette at Mai Qing's house?"
"Ah, I remember!" Jiang Hong exclaimed.
That was his first glimpse of Dark Chen Zhen, though only a silhouette, it hinted at a series of subsequent events.
Cao Bin explained, "At that time, the duplicates already existed. So, the 'Chen Zhen' you met later at the Exorcists' headquarters had memories that the duplicate didn't."
Chen Zhen also understood, saying, "So, you can ask me about something specific from my internship at the Exorcists' headquarters. If I recall the details correctly, it's the real me."
Understanding, Jiang Hong thought for a moment and asked, "What did you say when I brought you coffee?"
Chen Zhen was silent.
Jiang Hong waited.
Chen Zhen turned to Cao Bin and said, "That's too detailed... How could I remember?"
All S-class exorcists looked at Chen Zhen skeptically. After deep thought, Chen Zhen finally remembered, "Ah, right! I said the coffee... tasted good? You told me it was brewed by your teacher, is that teacher Lu Xiu?"
"Correct." Jiang Hong confirmed Chen Zhen's identity. Though it was expected, he was relieved. Anjie suggested, "I think we need to agree on a password for future emergencies."
"First, we need to confirm everyone present's identity," Cao Bin added.
Chen Zhen reassured, "Look, Jiang Hong, my identity is solid, you can rest easy. Leave the rest to me. Whether they are real or fake, I believe I can handle it."
"Okay," Jiang Hong agreed. "Then... I'll go back and take care of Lu Xiu."
Si Gui then stood up, accompanying them as they left Anjie's room.
"I need to go back," Si Gui stated.
"Thank you," Jiang Hong expressed his gratitude, relieved by Si Gui's arrival. The situation would have been unthinkable without him.
Si Gui didn't say much. He formed a 'goodbye' gesture with two fingers, turning into a flame and vanishing into thin air.
Zhang Xiting announced, "I've booked my flight. I need to head back now. The Exorcists' headquarters is probably in chaos."
"Thank you, Xiting," Jiang Hong embraced Zhang Xiting, understanding that he had come purely out of personal concern and couldn't stay long.
Zhang Xiting left the hotel on his own. Jiang Hong lingered in front of the elevator, hearing no sound from Anjie's room, probably due to a silence barrier, and then returned to his room.
Lu Xiu was soaking in the bathtub, floating in a relaxed pose. The water in the tub was a pale red, staining his body like diluted blood.
Jiang Hong approached the tub, first inspecting the wound on Lu Xiu's chest for confirmation.
"Feeling better?"
Lu Xiu didn't respond, eyes closed wearily. Jiang Hong took out the Wanwu Book to check on him and saw that his health and mana bars had significantly recovered. The debuffs 'weakness' and 'serious injury' had vanished, but the 'seal' status remained.
"It's okay, it's okay, Lu Xiu, don't worry about it," Jiang Hong comforted.
Lu Xiu's bare chest and shoulders floated on the water's surface, most of his body submerged. Jiang Hong leaned over the tub, gazing at him sideways, sometimes finding Lu Xiu's demeanor childlike.
Indeed, childlike. Lu Xiu, with the face and features of a young man, often reminded Jiang Hong of a young nephew. His furrowed brow when angry, his usually impatient and aloof demeanor, were so much like an innocent child.
Lu Xiu's eyes were also pure and clear. Even now, struck down by 'himself,' he still appeared confused, his anger veiling his eyes like mist.
After a few seconds of silence, Lu Xiu asked, "What are they up to?"
Jiang Hong recounted the recent events, and Lu Xiu listened quietly. After a while, he glanced at Jiang Hong and said, "Were you arguing?"
Jiang Hong admitted, "I was... a bit upset."
Lu Xiu responded, "Don't blame Anjie."
After soaking in the medicinal bath, Lu Xiu got up to shower. Jiang Hong offered help, but Lu Xiu gestured that it wasn't necessary; he had mostly recovered.
"What do we do next?" Jiang Hong inquired.
Lu Xiu remained silent.
Jiang Hong recalled every detail of the incident. It seemed their enemy from the Huanyu group had been driven away, but with Chen Zhen's clone appearing, a major upheaval in the Exorcists' order was imminent.
Their hotel room, with a view of the Pearl River, had floor-to-ceiling windows in the bathroom, offering an unobstructed view of the aftermath. The once-bustling city was now a scene of post-flood devastation.
Someone rang the doorbell, prompting Jiang Hong to answer.
"Hello," greeted a tall man in a suit, carrying a camera, accompanied by a young man holding a microphone. "We're from the Pearl River TV station. We'd like to interview someone who witnessed the flood yesterday..."
"I'm an Exorcist," Jiang Hong quickly responded.
A recent notification in Zhang Xiting's work group had informed them that colleagues disguised as reporters would arrive to handle the aftermath and erase civilians' memories. All Jiang Hong needed to do was identify himself.
"Oh, okay," said the disguised reporter. "May I see your ID, please?"
Jiang Hong showed his student ID, mentioning that his teacher was also there, currently showering.
After checking the ID, the reporter gestured that it wasn't necessary to check further. Jiang Hong warned, "The next room is a leader in a meeting."
"Got it," the reporter acknowledged and continued knocking on doors. Jiang Hong observed as they approached hotel guests with the microphone, releasing a powder that made them sneeze and then look bewildered.
"Next floor," the reporter instructed the cameraman.
"Thank you," Jiang Hong raised his hand in gratitude, and they nodded before leaving.
Lu Xiu, now in clean clothes, sat on the bed texting on his phone, appearing much better.
He didn't mention his recent defeat again and said to Jiang Hong, "The meeting is over. I need to return to Xi'an immediately, the principal has assigned me a task. I've booked your flight back to Beijing on my phone. The car is waiting downstairs, ready to leave anytime."
"Are you leaving now too?" Jiang Hong was still concerned about Lu Xiu's condition.
Lu Xiu nodded, adding, "Keep my scale with you at all times, never take it off. You should return to the Exorcists' order as soon as possible, latest by tomorrow morning. I'll come to find you."
Jiang Hong escorted Lu Xiu to the hotel rooftop. Lu Xiu turned to look at Jiang Hong, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent. He gently tapped Jiang Hong's forehead with his index finger, transformed into a dragon, and vanished into the dim sky.
Anjie approached Jiang Hong, asking, "I need to head back to Beijing immediately. When's the next flight?"
"I've already booked it," replied Jiang Hong, "and arranged the car as well."
Knowing Anjie would leave right after the meeting, Jiang Hong had booked evening flights for them. Anjie needed to return to the Exorcists' order urgently to deal with the complex issue of infiltrators. Jiang Hong was curious about the meeting's conclusion but felt out of place to inquire about decisions made by S-class Exorcists.
The atmosphere turned awkward, particularly as Jiang Hong had berated Anjie earlier.
They packed their luggage and rode in the car together. Anjie remained silent throughout, resting with his eyes closed, adding to the eerie silence.
Having lost his phone during his capture, Jiang Hong could only sit and stare blankly.
Upon reaching the airport and about to go through security, Jiang Hong suddenly heard someone calling Anjie's name.
"Wang Anjie!" a young voice shouted.
Jiang Hong turned around and saw Anjie pausing in his steps. A young man with slightly long hair tied at the back, dressed in outdoor gear as if he had just returned from the wilderness, yet carrying a musical instrument bag and dragging a suitcase, approached them.
"Did you just land?" Anjie asked, turning around.
"Yeah," the young man replied. "Heading back to Beijing?"
Anjie nodded. Jiang Hong, curious and busy with his luggage and security check, sneakily used the Wanwu Book to check the young man's attributes.
Name: Qi Wei.
HP：??????/??????
MP：??????/??????
Oh, one of the eight S-class exorcists! Jiang Hong remembered. At that moment, Qi Wei noticed him.
Jiang Hong wondered if checking someone's attributes covertly would be noticed and felt a bit nervous.
"Any further suspicious activity at the geomantic nodes?" Qi Wei asked, conversing with Anjie but scrutinizing Jiang Hong up and down.
Anjie replied, "No need to go there again. It was just a relic they used. You take care of the aftermath in Guangzhou first."
"I missed the last part. What else did Chen Zhen say?" Qi Wei continued to look at Jiang Hong, his gaze lingering on his chest. Jiang Hong instinctively felt puzzled. What was he looking at? Then he realized! Qi Wei had spotted his dragon scale!
"A mark," Anjie said, "to distinguish friends from foes."
Qi Wei nodded, gave Jiang Hong a smile, and Jiang Hong suddenly noticed that Qi Wei also wore a red string around his neck.
"You too..." Jiang Hong suddenly realized something.
Qi Wei generously took out a scale tied to a red string and showed it to Jiang Hong; it was a dark gold scale, but its pattern was different from the one Jiang Hong wore.
"Well, that’s it," Qi Wei responded, remembering something, then added to Jiang Hong, "Yours is a dragon, mine is a Jiao. Yours is more superior."
"Oh..." Jiang Hong, unsure whether to be modest or proud, said, "It's not really... that superior."
"Bye," Qi Wei waved at them.
An Jie looked at Jiang Hong as if he was looking at a fool.
Aboard the plane, Jiang Hong finally relaxed, lying back in his seat.
An Jie began to go through a stack of documents.
As the twilight deepened and the plane prepared for takeoff, rolling along the runway, Jiang Hong suddenly felt something. It seemed as if the dragon scale over his heart was signaling the presence of a similar creature nearby.
This wasn’t an alert. Curious, Jiang Hong leaned towards the plane window, looking out.
He saw a dragon!
No, not a dragon. Dragons have two horns, but this dragon-like creature, soaring near the airport, had only one horn. It was a Jiao!
Atop the Jiao’s head stood a figure, too distant for Jiang Hong to discern clearly, but he instinctively felt it must be Qi Wei.
An Jie, unfazed, didn’t even divert his attention.
Jiang Hong pressed against the window, witnessing the dimming sky, a blood-red sunset, sun and moon sharing the sky, myriad of rainbows. Qi Wei, atop the Jiao, rose with the wind, soaring through the air.
He was playing a musical instrument, a trumpet.
The golden trumpet, basking in the sunset’s afterglow on one side and the gentle moonlight on the other, resonated across the southern lands, as Debussy’s "Clair de Lune" began to waft over the city.
"Melody Magic!" Jiang Hong gasped, seeing the flood-ravaged banks of the Pearl River, where bricks and stones levitated and fallen trees restored themselves.
"Is he that powerful?" Jiang Hong was speechless, witnessing Melody Magic capable of restoring an entire city, its entropic reversal akin to that of a creator!
"Utilizing the power of the full moon night and the Earth's ley lines," An Jie casually remarked, "Melody Magic can be amplified."
As the plane took off, leaving the runway and ascending into the sky, Jiang Hong saw the ley lines for the first time. They shimmered brilliantly, like flowing gossamer, swiftly gliding by. The ley lines' light, ever-changing, gradually blended into the evening’s rainbows, while Qi Wei and his Jiao became silhouettes against the vast heavens, disappearing into the night.
Chapter 61: Qi Wei
At dusk, Gegen Tuo Ru Ke Da, dressed in a shirt and waistcoat, impeccably tailored, entered the academic building amid students just out of class. He walked down the corridor to a sophomore class on “Advanced Talisman Studies” where Professor Luo Peng was answering two students' questions.
“Teacher Ke Da?” The students were surprised to see Ke Da.
Ke Da gestured for them to continue their questions, standing politely aside.
Although Ke Da was approachable with students, always casual, they all spontaneously respected him. Eager as they were to linger, they didn't dare delay him and quickly greeted him again before leaving.
“Teacher Ke Da.”
“Professor Luo.” Ke Da smiled mischievously, revealing his fangs, then snapped his fingers. A misty fog enveloped all the windows of the multipurpose lecture hall as if shielded by a magical barrier.
Professor Luo Peng, who was packing up his notes, stopped and quietly watched Ke Da.
“You’ve been at Cangqiong University for quite some time now,” said Ke Da, leaning against the lectern, “I remember you joined in September five years ago.”
Professor Luo Peng responded, “You have a good memory.”
Ke Da casually unbuttoned his shirt cuffs, rolling up his sleeves. He continued, “I also remember that it was Teacher Zhu Jingling who introduced you here.”
Professor Luo Peng uttered a quiet “Hmm.”
Ke Da said, “So, all of you from the Hui Meng group were brought in one after another, one by one?”
Luo Peng said, “On what basis do you say that? I know recently there’s been unease, even within the headquarters of the Exorcism Commission, with everyone speculating about each other…”
Ke Da waved his hand, signaling that there was no need for further explanation.
“The Omnibook,” Ke Da replied. “The number of people who know that Jiang Hong has this talisman can be counted on one hand. Who else but you could have leaked the information to them?”
Perhaps realizing that his last chance for denial had been shattered, Luo Peng’s face changed instantly.
“My style differs from Cao Bin’s,” Ke Da continued, “Of course, this is also what Principal Cao thinks. We can make a deal…”
But just as Ke Da mentioned the "deal", Luo Peng swiftly pulled out a dagger, its blade shimmering with a piercing cold light.
On a spring evening, a faint sound came from the third teaching building. Many students on the campus path noticed an odd scene: from the windows of Classroom 207 in the multifunctional teaching building, icicles burst forth, followed by a wave of icy air silently covering the building's exterior. In moments, the entire building was rapidly encased in ice and snow, transforming into a massive ice sculpture, glistening in the setting sun.
Frost covered every classroom door; the corridors and carpets began to freeze over, as the third teaching building was entirely enveloped in frost.
The students stopped in their tracks, gazing at the third teaching building.
The door of the multifunctional classroom on the second floor opened, and Ke Da emerged, casually brushing the frost off his clothing, scattering a cloud of snow powder, then walked away.
“Where’s Zhu Jingling?” Ke Da called the head of discipline, Xuan Hezhi.
On the phone, Xuan Hezhi responded, “Captured, but she committed suicide.”
Ke Da said, “Head back to the principal's office; we need to prepare for a remote meeting with Beijing.”
In the principal's office, Cao Bin toyed with the indigo glass dagger, Luo Peng’s desperate attempt for mutual destruction, as Xuan Hezhi arrived, looking pale.
“How many more in the Commission?” Xuan Hezhi asked.
“Unclear,” Cao Bin replied gravely, “Let’s first deal with the troubles in our backyard.”
Xuan Hezhi: “Who else?”
Cao Bin answered, “According to the clues provided by Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong, it’s only Zhu Jingling and Luo Peng for now.”
Ke Da said, “Luo Peng tried to take me down with him, self-destructing; but the impostor Zhu Jingling, her body is still intact, handed over to Xia Xinghui. Do you want to have a look?”
Cao Bin said, "Let's discuss that later, after the meeting."
The three S-rank exorcists remained silent for a moment before Cao Bin looked at Xuan Hezhi, who replied, "The Commission is still preparing."
Ke Da was exasperated with the efficiency of the Beijing Exorcism Commission; the three could only wait.
"Who else?" Ke Da asked. "The enemy has already replicated Chen Zhen. What about us three? I certainly don't want to end up fighting my own clone."
After a moment of contemplation, Cao Bin said, "Currently, Jiang Hong has only discovered replicas of Chen Zhen and Lu Xiu. But we can't rule out that they are creating more. Replicating us should not be easy."
Xuan Hezhi remarked, "Let’s just hope they don't come up with a clone of Xiang Cheng, or we'll be done for."
Ke Da added, "The complexity of dealing with a replicated Chen Zhen is nearly on par with Xiang Cheng. How's the situation at the front line?"
Cao Bin answered, "We don’t have a casualty count yet."
"What about our people?" Ke Da continued. "How's that kid doing?"
"Still alive," Xuan Hezhi replied, then suddenly asked, "Could Jiang Hong be replicated? Are you sure he and Lu Xiu haven't been switched?"
Cao Bin responded, "Yinghuo cannot replicate Si Gui, as the phoenix is a fate-defying entity, bearing the destiny of world rebirth, acting like a fail-safe for both the inner and outer worlds. There's only one. Jiang Hong is a mortal, but recently Si Gui imbued him with a spark of true phoenix fire, injected into his heart meridian, so Jiang Hong can’t be replicated either."
Ke Da immediately understood, saying, "Then Si Gui can remotely sense his situation."
Cao Bin stated, "Indeed, it was Si Gui who first detected his peril and has already gone to Guangzhou. Without him engaging the enemy, the damage in Guangzhou would have been much worse. But we can't rely too much on Si Gui; there's a limit to what he can do... Xuan Hezhi, I see Chen Zhen is calling. Shall we start the meeting?"
Xuan Hezhi glanced at his phone and placed a 3D projector on the office desk. The projector emitted a beam of light, forming the holographic figures of several people.
The holographic image of Chen Zhen spoke: "Attendees, please introduce yourselves."
Cao Bin said, "Among the S-rank exorcists, Xiang Cheng is unreachable due to the temporal flux."
Chen Zhen reported, "On our end, Fang Yifeng is also out of contact, but I've recalled Qi Wei."
A young man's voice responded, "I'm at Kuala Lumpur Airport, boarding in 25 minutes. I should arrive at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport tonight."
Ke Da remarked, "Your base in Guangzhou has been wiped out by Yinghuo."
Qi Wei replied, "Isn't that what you guys are for? We'll figure it out once I'm back."
Chen Zhen asked, "Anjie is still in Guangzhou, right? Anjie?"
"I'm here," came Anjie's voice.
Chen Zhen continued, "Alright, let's start the meeting. Anjie, please briefly update us on the current situation."
As Anjie's hologram appeared, Ke Da joked, "Hey, second boss, why do you look like you've been beaten up? Who would dare to hit you?"
Anjie remained silent.
Just as Anjie was about to speak, after a few seconds, he said, "Wait another three minutes for me."
Everyone: "......"
Following that, Anjie's projection suddenly vanished.
Temporarily disconnecting the communication, Anjie faced an infuriated Jiang Hong and explained, "Under those circumstances, someone had to cover the retreat."
"I don't care about the circumstances!" Jiang Hong retorted angrily.
They were now in a hotel, with the water level outside gradually receding and the Zhujiang River returning to its normal state, albeit amidst widespread devastation from the recent flooding.
Jiang Hong, infuriated upon seeing Anjie's final appearance, didn't care if he was a superior. With Lu Xu critically injured and Anjie nowhere to be found during the final battle, Jiang Hong fearlessly confronted his leader.
"Lu Xu fought for everyone!" Jiang Hong challenged, "And where were you then?"
In Anjie's suite, Zhang Xiting and Jiang Hong stood while Si Gui sat quietly, all watching Jiang Hong confront the deputy head of the exorcists. Jiang Hong instinctively felt that if Cao Bin had been there, he wouldn't have allowed Lu Xu, already weakened, to engage in a battle with his dark counterpart.
Anjie, surprisingly honest, replied, "I was observing the battle. Yes, you all made great sacrifices, and isn't that what every exorcist should do?"
"And what about you?" Jiang Hong spoke bluntly, "Yes, I'm just a soldier, and you're the high-ranking leader of the exorcists, with far greater power than us. Do you realize Lu Xu almost died?"
Anjie, containing his anger, calmly asked, "So, what do you want me to do now?"
"I need a clear explanation," Jiang Hong demanded, "Where were you at that time, and why didn't you intervene? Otherwise, I have reasons to doubt whether you're the real Anjie!"
Zhang Xiting, taken aback, signaled to Jiang Hong not to go any further, but Jiang Hong was resolute, suspecting the identity of the man claiming to be Anjie from the beginning.
Anjie responded, "So, that's your real intention. I was about to join a meeting with top exorcists. They would naturally be cautious."
"That's not necessarily true," Jiang Hong boldly stepped forward, unfazed.
After a few seconds of silence, Anjie suddenly burst into laughter.
"If I were my own duplicate," Anjie stated, "your suspicion about my identity right now would be unwise. You think having a phoenix and dragon at your back gives you enough leverage to subdue me, even if I turned out to be an infiltrator."
Jiang Hong fixed his gaze on Anjie, scrutinizing his every move.
Anjie continued, "But frankly speaking, if it came to a confrontation, you wouldn't stand a chance."
As Jiang Hong pointed the Wanwu Book at Anjie, Anjie added, "…regardless of what you plan to do with that artifact."
Jiang Hong had checked Anjie's stats – HP: 3200/3200 and MP: 1960/1960.
This revelation shocked him. How could the deputy head of the exorcists have such modest capabilities? Even Zhang Xiting had over 7000 HP, which contributed to Jiang Hong's doubts.
Below Anjie's health bar, Jiang Hong noticed three small, neatly arranged circles, two glowing and one dim. They resembled jewel-encrusted slots, but the third was empty.
"You have no choice but to trust me now," Anjie said. "I must join the meeting immediately, and you cannot listen in. Your most pressing task should be to care for your dragon and ensure he rests."
Jiang Hong finally stepped back and said, "Let me speak to Principal Cao, if he's also attending the meeting."
After a moment's thought, Anjie activated a magic communication device.
Having reached this point in the conversation, Jiang Hong intuitively believed Anjie wasn't an imposter, but he couldn't just let it go. If his suspicion caused more serious consequences, he would undoubtedly regret it later.
"Jiang Hong?" Cao Bin's voice sounded.
Anjie spoke, "He's doubting my identity because I didn't engage directly in the battle. Can you vouch for me?"
Jiang Hong asked, "Principal Cao, is that you?"
"Yes, it's me," Cao Bin responded.
Keda interjected, "No worries, go get some rest, Jiang Hong. You all must be exhausted."
Hearing Cao Bin's voice, Jiang Hong suddenly felt very tired. He mustered his energy and was about to speak.
However, Chen Zhen interjected, "Jiang Hong, you all did well. It's time to rest now. From here on, distinguishing whether Anjie is a duplicate created by Yinghuo will be our responsibility."
After a moment of contemplation, Cao Bin added, "If no one can dispel his doubts, my apprentice, it seems, won't let Anjie off the hook."
As expected, Cao Bin understood Jiang Hong well. Indeed, at this moment, Jiang Hong showed an extraordinary tenacity.
"How can you prove you're the originals, not duplicates? What if Yinghuo's higher-ups are holding the meeting?" Jiang Hong asked.
No one laughed; it was a serious concern.
"Let me think," said Cao Bin. "I have a way to verify Chen Zhen. Jiang Hong, remember what you told me last year about the silhouette at Mai Qing's house?"
"Ah, I remember!" Jiang Hong exclaimed.
That was his first glimpse of Dark Chen Zhen, though only a silhouette, it hinted at a series of subsequent events.
Cao Bin explained, "At that time, the duplicates already existed. So, the 'Chen Zhen' you met later at the Exorcists' headquarters had memories that the duplicate didn't."
Chen Zhen also understood, saying, "So, you can ask me about something specific from my internship at the Exorcists' headquarters. If I recall the details correctly, it's the real me."
Understanding, Jiang Hong thought for a moment and asked, "What did you say when I brought you coffee?"
Chen Zhen was silent.
Jiang Hong waited.
Chen Zhen turned to Cao Bin and said, "That's too detailed... How could I remember?"
All S-class exorcists looked at Chen Zhen skeptically. After deep thought, Chen Zhen finally remembered, "Ah, right! I said the coffee... tasted good? You told me it was brewed by your teacher, is that teacher Lu Xiu?"
"Correct." Jiang Hong confirmed Chen Zhen's identity. Though it was expected, he was relieved. Anjie suggested, "I think we need to agree on a password for future emergencies."
"First, we need to confirm everyone present's identity," Cao Bin added.
Chen Zhen reassured, "Look, Jiang Hong, my identity is solid, you can rest easy. Leave the rest to me. Whether they are real or fake, I believe I can handle it."
"Okay," Jiang Hong agreed. "Then... I'll go back and take care of Lu Xiu."
Si Gui then stood up, accompanying them as they left Anjie's room.
"I need to go back," Si Gui stated.
"Thank you," Jiang Hong expressed his gratitude, relieved by Si Gui's arrival. The situation would have been unthinkable without him.
Si Gui didn't say much. He formed a 'goodbye' gesture with two fingers, turning into a flame and vanishing into thin air.
Zhang Xiting announced, "I've booked my flight. I need to head back now. The Exorcists' headquarters is probably in chaos."
"Thank you, Xiting," Jiang Hong embraced Zhang Xiting, understanding that he had come purely out of personal concern and couldn't stay long.
Zhang Xiting left the hotel on his own. Jiang Hong lingered in front of the elevator, hearing no sound from Anjie's room, probably due to a silence barrier, and then returned to his room.
Lu Xiu was soaking in the bathtub, floating in a relaxed pose. The water in the tub was a pale red, staining his body like diluted blood.
Jiang Hong approached the tub, first inspecting the wound on Lu Xiu's chest for confirmation.
"Feeling better?"
Lu Xiu didn't respond, eyes closed wearily. Jiang Hong took out the Wanwu Book to check on him and saw that his health and mana bars had significantly recovered. The debuffs 'weakness' and 'serious injury' had vanished, but the 'seal' status remained.
"It's okay, it's okay, Lu Xiu, don't worry about it," Jiang Hong comforted.
Lu Xiu's bare chest and shoulders floated on the water's surface, most of his body submerged. Jiang Hong leaned over the tub, gazing at him sideways, sometimes finding Lu Xiu's demeanor childlike.
Indeed, childlike. Lu Xiu, with the face and features of a young man, often reminded Jiang Hong of a young nephew. His furrowed brow when angry, his usually impatient and aloof demeanor, were so much like an innocent child.
Lu Xiu's eyes were also pure and clear. Even now, struck down by 'himself,' he still appeared confused, his anger veiling his eyes like mist.
After a few seconds of silence, Lu Xiu asked, "What are they up to?"
Jiang Hong recounted the recent events, and Lu Xiu listened quietly. After a while, he glanced at Jiang Hong and said, "Were you arguing?"
Jiang Hong admitted, "I was... a bit upset."
Lu Xiu responded, "Don't blame Anjie."
After soaking in the medicinal bath, Lu Xiu got up to shower. Jiang Hong offered help, but Lu Xiu gestured that it wasn't necessary; he had mostly recovered.
"What do we do next?" Jiang Hong inquired.
Lu Xiu remained silent.
Jiang Hong recalled every detail of the incident. It seemed their enemy from the Huanyu group had been driven away, but with Chen Zhen's clone appearing, a major upheaval in the Exorcists' order was imminent.
Their hotel room, with a view of the Pearl River, had floor-to-ceiling windows in the bathroom, offering an unobstructed view of the aftermath. The once-bustling city was now a scene of post-flood devastation.
Someone rang the doorbell, prompting Jiang Hong to answer.
"Hello," greeted a tall man in a suit, carrying a camera, accompanied by a young man holding a microphone. "We're from the Pearl River TV station. We'd like to interview someone who witnessed the flood yesterday..."
"I'm an Exorcist," Jiang Hong quickly responded.
A recent notification in Zhang Xiting's work group had informed them that colleagues disguised as reporters would arrive to handle the aftermath and erase civilians' memories. All Jiang Hong needed to do was identify himself.
"Oh, okay," said the disguised reporter. "May I see your ID, please?"
Jiang Hong showed his student ID, mentioning that his teacher was also there, currently showering.
After checking the ID, the reporter gestured that it wasn't necessary to check further. Jiang Hong warned, "The next room is a leader in a meeting."
"Got it," the reporter acknowledged and continued knocking on doors. Jiang Hong observed as they approached hotel guests with the microphone, releasing a powder that made them sneeze and then look bewildered.
"Next floor," the reporter instructed the cameraman.
"Thank you," Jiang Hong raised his hand in gratitude, and they nodded before leaving.
Lu Xiu, now in clean clothes, sat on the bed texting on his phone, appearing much better.
He didn't mention his recent defeat again and said to Jiang Hong, "The meeting is over. I need to return to Xi'an immediately, the principal has assigned me a task. I've booked your flight back to Beijing on my phone. The car is waiting downstairs, ready to leave anytime."
"Are you leaving now too?" Jiang Hong was still concerned about Lu Xiu's condition.
Lu Xiu nodded, adding, "Keep my scale with you at all times, never take it off. You should return to the Exorcists' order as soon as possible, latest by tomorrow morning. I'll come to find you."
Jiang Hong escorted Lu Xiu to the hotel rooftop. Lu Xiu turned to look at Jiang Hong, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent. He gently tapped Jiang Hong's forehead with his index finger, transformed into a dragon, and vanished into the dim sky.
Anjie approached Jiang Hong, asking, "I need to head back to Beijing immediately. When's the next flight?"
"I've already booked it," replied Jiang Hong, "and arranged the car as well."
Knowing Anjie would leave right after the meeting, Jiang Hong had booked evening flights for them. Anjie needed to return to the Exorcists' order urgently to deal with the complex issue of infiltrators. Jiang Hong was curious about the meeting's conclusion but felt out of place to inquire about decisions made by S-class Exorcists.
The atmosphere turned awkward, particularly as Jiang Hong had berated Anjie earlier.
They packed their luggage and rode in the car together. Anjie remained silent throughout, resting with his eyes closed, adding to the eerie silence.
Having lost his phone during his capture, Jiang Hong could only sit and stare blankly.
Upon reaching the airport and about to go through security, Jiang Hong suddenly heard someone calling Anjie's name.
"Wang Anjie!" a young voice shouted.
Jiang Hong turned around and saw Anjie pausing in his steps. A young man with slightly long hair tied at the back, dressed in outdoor gear as if he had just returned from the wilderness, yet carrying a musical instrument bag and dragging a suitcase, approached them.
"Did you just land?" Anjie asked, turning around.
"Yeah," the young man replied. "Heading back to Beijing?"
Anjie nodded. Jiang Hong, curious and busy with his luggage and security check, sneakily used the Wanwu Book to check the young man's attributes.
Name: Qi Wei.
HP：??????/??????
MP：??????/??????
Oh, one of the eight S-class exorcists! Jiang Hong remembered. At that moment, Qi Wei noticed him.
Jiang Hong wondered if checking someone's attributes covertly would be noticed and felt a bit nervous.
"Any further suspicious activity at the geomantic nodes?" Qi Wei asked, conversing with Anjie but scrutinizing Jiang Hong up and down.
Anjie replied, "No need to go there again. It was just a relic they used. You take care of the aftermath in Guangzhou first."
"I missed the last part. What else did Chen Zhen say?" Qi Wei continued to look at Jiang Hong, his gaze lingering on his chest. Jiang Hong instinctively felt puzzled. What was he looking at? Then he realized! Qi Wei had spotted his dragon scale!
"A mark," Anjie said, "to distinguish friends from foes."
Qi Wei nodded, gave Jiang Hong a smile, and Jiang Hong suddenly noticed that Qi Wei also wore a red string around his neck.
"You too..." Jiang Hong suddenly realized something.
Qi Wei generously took out a scale tied to a red string and showed it to Jiang Hong; it was a dark gold scale, but its pattern was different from the one Jiang Hong wore.
"Well, that’s it," Qi Wei responded, remembering something, then added to Jiang Hong, "Yours is a dragon, mine is a Jiao. Yours is more superior."
"Oh..." Jiang Hong, unsure whether to be modest or proud, said, "It's not really... that superior."
"Bye," Qi Wei waved at them.
An Jie looked at Jiang Hong as if he was looking at a fool.
Aboard the plane, Jiang Hong finally relaxed, lying back in his seat.
An Jie began to go through a stack of documents.
As the twilight deepened and the plane prepared for takeoff, rolling along the runway, Jiang Hong suddenly felt something. It seemed as if the dragon scale over his heart was signaling the presence of a similar creature nearby.
This wasn’t an alert. Curious, Jiang Hong leaned towards the plane window, looking out.
He saw a dragon!
No, not a dragon. Dragons have two horns, but this dragon-like creature, soaring near the airport, had only one horn. It was a Jiao!
Atop the Jiao’s head stood a figure, too distant for Jiang Hong to discern clearly, but he instinctively felt it must be Qi Wei.
An Jie, unfazed, didn’t even divert his attention.
Jiang Hong pressed against the window, witnessing the dimming sky, a blood-red sunset, sun and moon sharing the sky, myriad of rainbows. Qi Wei, atop the Jiao, rose with the wind, soaring through the air.
He was playing a musical instrument, a trumpet.
The golden trumpet, basking in the sunset’s afterglow on one side and the gentle moonlight on the other, resonated across the southern lands, as Debussy’s "Clair de Lune" began to waft over the city.
"Melody Magic!" Jiang Hong gasped, seeing the flood-ravaged banks of the Pearl River, where bricks and stones levitated and fallen trees restored themselves.
"Is he that powerful?" Jiang Hong was speechless, witnessing Melody Magic capable of restoring an entire city, its entropic reversal akin to that of a creator!
"Utilizing the power of the full moon night and the Earth's ley lines," An Jie casually remarked, "Melody Magic can be amplified."
As the plane took off, leaving the runway and ascending into the sky, Jiang Hong saw the ley lines for the first time. They shimmered brilliantly, like flowing gossamer, swiftly gliding by. The ley lines' light, ever-changing, gradually blended into the evening’s rainbows, while Qi Wei and his Jiao became silhouettes against the vast heavens, disappearing into the night.
