Chapter 70: End of Term
Cao Bin washed his hands behind the counter and made coffee, asking, "Today's the last class of the semester. How are your projects going? Pi Yunhao, has your 'Wind Wheel' passed the field test?"
Xiao Pi conjured his broadsword, saying, "We tested it in today's practical class. It needs some fine-tuning in a few areas."
"Very good," Cao Bin took the sword, the broadsword twice as wide as his palm. Holding it in his left hand and stroking it with his right, the blade shimmered in black and gold, as if resonating with Cao Bin's powerful spiritual energy, humming softly.
Chen Lang couldn't help but clap, giving Xiao Pi a thumbs-up to indicate a job well done.
Holding the Wind Wheel, Cao Bin walked to the balcony, lifted the heavy sword with one hand, stood firmly, and pointed the tip towards the sky. His right hand supported the sword as the runes along the blade lit up one by one, right to the top.
The surrounding air swiftly started swirling, expanding in circle after circle, causing all the books in the room to rustle.
"So cool!" Jiang Hong exclaimed, "Wow! That's amazing!"
Xiao Pi was completely awestruck, saying, "Principal, you actually lit up the runes to the top of the sword! You’re even more skilled than my dad!"
Cao Bin withdrew his spiritual energy, and the broadsword dimmed again.
"Your dad just didn’t give it his all," Cao Bin joked, "Afraid of not keeping up nutritionally?"
Chen Lang laughed so hard he collapsed in front of the pool table, while Jiang Hong thought this must be a long-standing joke.
"Excellent," Cao Bin praised. "'Wind Wheel' focuses on the use of gravity and wind, with runes marking different zones based on their levels. Its initial function uses airflow to lighten the sword for easy swinging, overcoming air resistance. As spiritual energy increases, this heavy sword can use wind to accelerate, crushing enemies with its mass. When used to its fullest, it can even stir up hurricanes. A swordsman who can unleash its full potential will surely rank among the powerful."
Xiao Pi said sheepishly, "But I didn’t complete this sword alone. My dad and Teacher Keda helped a lot."
"That's okay," Cao Bin said, "I'll give it the evaluation it deserves."
Xiao Pi smiled, and Chen Lang looked expectantly at Jiang Hong, as if curious about his end-of-term project.
Cao Bin gestured to Jiang Hong, who said, "Um… Master, my project isn't finished yet. I've only completed the hilt and the guard. The blade hasn’t been tempered, nor has it been infused with spirit. It might have to wait until next semester."
Cao Bin replied cheerfully, "No problem, I promised you there's no rush. You can use the summer vacation to complete it."
"Okay, okay," Jiang Hong said, "I'll do my best."
Cao Bin advised, "First, you need to gather enough spiritual energy from nature and find a ley line well to successfully infuse the weapon with spirit."
"But I don’t know how to infuse spirit," Jiang Hong said, worried. "What if it causes an explosion?"
Cao Bin answered, "Lu Xiu should be able to protect you during the process. As long as you find the right ley line well, there shouldn't be any major accidents. Hmm… I think there's a suitable one in Xi'an, at the underground palace of the Daci'en Temple. It's a specially protected area, but that doesn't mean it's inaccessible. I'll think of a way for you."
Although there was time to spare, Jiang Hong still felt a bit disappointed. He looked at the broadsword Xiao Pi had made, while his own weapon was not only unfinished but also unnamed. He wondered if Lu Xiu, when wielding it, would look as cool as Lian Jiang did.
"Alright," Cao Bin said, "That's it for today... I'll leave the time for Xiao Lang. He has a lot he wants to say to you and can hardly wait."
After handing in his project, Xiao Pi left cheerfully. Cao Bin made coffee for them and said, "Xiao Lang, feel free. I'll step out for a while."
Chen Lang nodded and sat down with Jiang Hong at the bar. Today, Lu Xiu hadn't come, leaving only Jiang Hong, Chen Lang, and Si Gui in the activity room. Si Gui continued to assemble his LEGO, seemingly oblivious to their conversation.
Chen Lang: [I haven’t thanked you yet. Please accept my sincerest gratitude.]
Jiang Hong: [Huh? Thank me for what?]
Chen Lang: [You can talk to me. I can read lips, just don't speak too fast.]
Jiang Hong: "Okay, okay, that's much easier."
Chen Lang's electronic screen seemed tailor-made for him, filled with habitual words, phrases, and predictive text. He could select sentences with just a few taps and strokes, and it even had a voice playback feature.
"I really like Cangqiong University, but I don’t get many chances to come here." A somewhat familiar young male voice played from the electronic screen.
"Huh?" Jiang Hong was taken aback. He felt he had heard the voice somewhere before, but couldn’t quite place it.
Chen Lang smiled and wrote: [Is it a bit strange? I had a friend record it for me. I think I'll stick to text.]
Jiang Hong nodded, still trying to recall where he had heard that voice before. In a dream, perhaps?
Filled with curiosity, Jiang Hong read as Chen Lang wrote: [You never doubted and believed in my brother from the start. Very few people can genuinely do that. In this world, they don't exceed five. I'm really grateful for your trust in my brother.]
Jiang Hong: "Your brother?"
He looked intently at Chen Lang, trying to find traces of someone he knew in his features, and then it clicked!
"You're Chen Zhen's brother!" Jiang Hong exclaimed. "Wow, he never mentioned it... oh no, he did, but I didn’t pay attention. He actually has a younger brother! And you’re even more handsome than him... oh no, you both are equally handsome."
Chen Lang was amused again and shared a hug with Jiang Hong at the bar, the two seeming to share a special understanding.
Jiang Hong said, "This incident must have caused a lot of trouble for the Demon Hunting Committee, right?"
Chen Lang thought for a moment and wrote: [But I believe my brother and the others can handle it. Evil may prevail for a while, but darkness will not last.]
Jiang Hong thought it sounded like something straight out of a shounen manga, as these were lines he seldom heard in reality, typical of comic book dialogues. So, he nodded in agreement.
Chen Lang: [I came here to investigate the matter regarding the special artifact 'Book of Everything' overview.]
"Oh—" Jiang Hong understood.
[Don't worry.] Chen Lang, 【Although I know the Book of Everything is with you, you can trust me completely. Xiao Duo and I had speculated that the Book of Everything does exist. We guessed that it would appear in this special period, choosing a unique person to fulfill a particular mission.】
Jiang Hong: "I see... Do you want to take a look at it?" He wasn’t too worried about Chen Lang, as he was Chen Zhen’s brother and an important member of the Demon Hunting Committee. If the Committee had wanted to claim the Book of Everything for themselves, they would have done so already. The fact that it remained with him proved the higher-ups had no designs on it.
This also made Jiang Hong believe that they were all upright people. Any differences were merely ideological, but in principle, they were united and righteous.
Chen Lang: [May I? If it's convenient, I would indeed like to see it.]
Without a second thought, Jiang Hong suavely pulled out the dark metal ruler from thin air.
Chen Lang jumped in surprise. Jiang Hong extended the Book of Everything towards him. Chen Lang seemed a bit nervous, signaling him to wait, and first took out a pair of gloves from his pocket to put on.
Jiang Hong said, "It’s okay, no need to be so careful. We’ve all been tossing it around."
Chen Lang wrote on his electronic screen with one hand: [This is currently known as the world's most mysterious and ancient artifact. It must have its own 'spirit,' and must be treated with great respect.]
Chen Lang gently touched and caressed it, then conjured a toolbox from thin air and put on a magnifying glass to inspect it closely.
[Has it ever spoken to you?] Chen Lang asked.
Jiang Hong: "What? No, never. Geez, a talking artifact would be terrifying... Oh, but I guess it's okay, given this is a fantasy world setting..."
Chen Lang nodded, then looked at it for a while longer: [It has already acknowledged you as its master, right?]
Jiang Hong: "Seems like it, should I activate it?"
Chen Lang stepped back a little, and Jiang Hong channeled his modest magical power into it. The runes on the Book of Everything lit up, eliciting a look of surprise from Chen Lang, who then observed carefully. Jiang Hong also noticed for the first time that, upon infusing magic, the Book turned into a translucent amber color with runes flowing inside.
"Actually, it doesn’t have any special functions," Jiang Hong said somewhat regretfully, "Maybe it's because my magical power is too weak."
Chen Lang started to record, sketching the runes exactly as they appeared, and amidst his busyness asked: [What effects does it have?]
Jiang Hong: "Currently, it can display an opponent's health bar, copy and paste things, change the appearance of objects, and give me warnings..." Jiang Hong carefully recalled all the functions the Book of Everything had shown and added: "Actually, it’s quite useful."
Chen Lang: [Of course! You're saying the Book of Everything is 'quite useful'!]
Jiang Hong: "I can see your health bar, you know."
Chen Lang asked curiously: [How much is my health bar?]
Jiang Hong: "Only a little over 3000, that’s quite low. And your mana bar is just 420."
Chen Lang: [Yes, I am indeed a bit of a weakling.]
Jiang Hong: "I am, too."
Chen Lang: [The Book of Everything will protect you, don't worry.]
Jiang Hong: "But there's a buff under your health bar, looks like a golden flame. I don’t know what it is."
Chen Lang: [That's probably the symbiotic soul given to me by my brother. Don’t mind such details. What about the copy-paste function?]
Jiang Hong: "I can change this cup into something else, like, see? Oh, into a billiard ball… I need another object at hand to copy and paste it exactly. But it only changes the appearance. Essentially it’s still a cup. If I throw this billiard ball on the floor, it’ll break and revert to a cup."
Chen Lang: [Can it turn other things into itself?]
Jiang Hong: "???"
Jiang Hong found Chen Lang's thoughts quite peculiar.
"I haven’t tried that," Jiang Hong said. "But it’s not possible, you see. It’s like a mouse, and also like a remote control, so the remote can’t copy itself."
Chen Lang: [Can it copy things in a mirror?]
Jiang Hong: "..."
Jiang Hong tried it and found that it actually worked! Amazing! But is it really of any use?
Chen Lang: [So it uses light to achieve the effect of imprinting shapes. I understand.]
Jiang Hong: "I get it now too, you’re amazing."
Chen Lang: [Have you successfully copied anything with it? How did it turn out?]
Jiang Hong: "Speaking of that, I… haven’t yet!"
Jiang Hong almost inadvertently revealed something he had done, suddenly recalling a completely forgotten incident: not long ago, in the Demon Hunting Committee's treasure vault, he had used the Book of Everything to copy Shuhu's head!
Jiang Hong nearly bit his tongue, but luckily his mind worked fast. Remembering that, he quickly scanned his memories. Oh no, he had taken that head out and then it disappeared!
If it weren't for Chen Lang bringing it up, Jiang Hong would have completely forgotten about it!
But Shuhu's head was nowhere to be found, and since the Committee hadn’t said anything, it meant they still hadn’t discovered the switch... Thinking of this, Jiang Hong felt slightly relieved.
Chen Lang: [Apart from the overview, the Book of Everything has four other volumes: 'Law,' 'Matter,' 'Spirit,' and 'Momentum.' If you find the remaining volumes, they could be of great help.]
Jiang Hong was startled again upon reading this. The last time he heard someone so familiar with the Book of Everything was in front of Shuhu, and now Chen Lang casually mentioned its core contents!
"Will it be more powerful with the other parts?" Jiang Hong asked.
Chen Lang: ['Law' encompasses the magic of the world. Xiao Duo and I guess it could break and change the rules of how all magic is produced and functions. 'Matter' could alter the structure of objects or reveal their original state. Actually, the overview already has some of this ability, like displaying health bars, which is an effect of 'Matter.' As for 'Spirit,' I guess it's the logic of how the world operates, including but not limited to all physical and chemical rules, interactions of earth's veins, etc.]
"And 'Momentum'?" Jiang Hong asked.
Chen Lang looked a bit puzzled, shaking his head, saying: [Xiao Duo guessed it's life and death, I guess it's 'Future' and 'Past'.]
Jiang Hong was utterly shocked. The Book of Everything could change the future and past? That powerful? But since the Book is said to encompass 'everything in the world,' it would indeed cover past, present, and future.
Jiang Hong: "But getting these from the Huo Xing would mean getting beaten to death, right?"
Chen Lang: [They are not with them, at least I don't think so. Otherwise, they would have already conquered the Demon Hunting Committee.]
Jiang Hong thought about it and agreed. The person previously holding the overview was the impostor Chen Zhen. If there were other parts, he would have been almost invincible.
Jiang Hong: "Where could the other parts be scattered?"
Chen Lang: [I believe the overview will guide you when the time is right.]
Then, Chen Lang returned the Book of Everything to Jiang Hong, instructing him to keep it safe. The two quietly drank their coffee, and Chen Lang sent a message informing Cao Bin that they were done.
Chen Lang appeared to be thinking deeply. Jiang Hong hesitated, wanting to ask what he was pondering but then thought better of it, realizing it might be presumptuous to ask. Chen Lang noticed Jiang Hong's subtle expressions and smiled, writing: [I was thinking about what can be done with the Book of Everything's overview.]
Jiang Hong said, "So I somewhat understand now. Since it’s the 'overview,' it’s like a higher-level operating interface. The interface is already open, but some functions haven't been fully utilized yet."
Chen Lang: [Theoretically, that’s correct.]
'Law,' 'Matter,' 'Spirit,' 'Momentum' – the principles governing everything in the world. Jiang Hong gradually understood – 'Matter' is reflected in copying and pasting objects, checking statuses; 'Law' is the traces and mist seen through the Book when casting spells, which can be partially erased with the overview’s incomplete functions; 'Spirit' hasn’t manifested yet – modifying rules? 'Momentum' hasn’t either… No! There is! Jiang Hong remembered once seeing 'XX seconds until Chen Zhen arrives,' a prediction of the future!
In this quiet moment, Chen Lang wrote: [Regarding the other four volumes, don't rush. Since the Book of Everything chose you, I believe it will guide you to find them eventually. They might not be tangible, revealing themselves only at certain serendipitous moments.]
At this point, Cao Bin returned. He didn’t inquire about their conclusion, as if uninterested, simply sitting down behind the bar.
Cao Bin: "Today’s session should have ended here, but I suddenly remembered a few questions I need to ask you. Don't leave yet, Jiang Hong, this also concerns you."
Cao Bin asked Jiang Hong to stay seated, while Chen Lang wrote: [Is the mirror ready?]
Cao Bin nodded, leaving Jiang Hong puzzled: A mirror? What mirror?
Cao Bin skipped small talk, asking directly: "About the 'Inner Demons,' what conclusions have you reached in your research?"
Ah! Jiang Hong also remembered. Chen Lang's expression seemed a bit troubled upon hearing this.
Cao Bin said, "Just the initial conclusions are fine, as nobody can make a foolproof inference."
Chen Lang gestured for them to wait. After a full minute, he began to rapidly write and swipe on the screen, selecting sentences and words.
[Even preliminary conclusions are hard to come by, but considering the likelihood of Teacher Lu encountering his adversary, that moment may be drawing closer.]
After a brief pause, Chen Lang wrote again: [I can only share what I know and speculate, but I can’t guarantee its accuracy…]
Cao Bin: "Please elaborate."
Jiang Hong felt inexplicably nervous, watching Chen Lang write rapidly.
[...So-called Inner Demons are a person’s obsessions. The nature of Inner Demons is self-evident; confronting our desires and fixations is the best way to understand them. But there’s a detail that makes me think there’s much unknown in our current theoretical framework. After the Battle of Guangzhou, I carefully reviewed all the reports and found that, at the end of Lu Xiu’s battle with his Inner Demon, the Inner Demon Lu Xiu mentioned, 'I will absorb you'.]
"Ah!" Jiang Hong also remembered.
[This was mentioned in An Jie’s report, so I believe it’s true.]
Jiang Hong immediately said, "Yes! I heard it too!"
Chen Lang nodded seriously, raising his eyebrows at Cao Bin, whose expression grew more solemn.
Chen Lang: [So, we can assume that Inner Demons want to absorb their originals to become stronger. If this mechanism exists, we may need to reevaluate the role of hostages. First, what conditions must be met for 'absorption'? Secondly, what results would 'absorption' yield?]
[Based on this, Inner Demons can’t 'unconditionally' absorb their originals. They need to reduce the originals' strength to a certain point, whether mentally, physically, or both. From the battle between Teacher Lu and his Inner Demon, we can infer this. The conditions for absorption might be what we discussed second… Sorry, is this a bit convoluted?]
Both Cao Bin and Jiang Hong said simultaneously: "Not convoluted."
[What kind of fusion entity will emerge after 'absorption'? Who decides the personality of this fusion entity? The Inner Demon? The original? Or both? There’s no experimental data right now, but I think this is an important breakthrough point.]
Chen Lang finished writing and looked at them.
Cao Bin said, "I understand."
Jiang Hong thought to himself that although new ideas were raised, they didn’t seem very practical…
"Okay, thank you, Xiao Lang," Cao Bin said. "Tomorrow is the school anniversary, you can enjoy a day on campus before returning."
Chen Lang, seemingly still a child at heart, smiled at this, said his goodbyes, and ran off. Before leaving, he wrote on his electronic screen: [Looking forward to tomorrow night’s splendid program!]
Left alone, Jiang Hong and Cao Bin exchanged looks. Cao Bin spread his hands, signaling, 'What are you waiting for?'
"Is the class over?" Jiang Hong asked.
"It's vacation time," Cao Bin said seriously, "The first academic year is over. Congratulations, Jiang Hong, you are Cangqiong University's..."
"Oh yeah—!" Jiang Hong finally realized and started jumping around, excited about the summer vacation!
Before Cao Bin could finish his sentence, Jiang Hong had already dashed out.
Cao Bin: "..."
Si Gui: "..."
"What were you going to say?" Si Gui asked.
Cao Bin, with a hint of resignation: "I was going to say that he is the first person in Cangqiong University’s history to complete the first year of studies as a pure mortal."
"Vacation time—!" Jiang Hong burst in again, lunging at Cao Bin, then turned to lunge at Si Gui, who quickly said, "Don’t come over—!"
Si Gui's LEGO was finally spared from Jiang Hong's mischief. Jiang Hong had already put thoughts of Inner Demons and Western swords behind him as he ran out of the administration building.
The first year of university life had ended, and Jiang Hong had entered another phase of life, naturally adapting to this bizarre new world. Its sudden arrival, like a whirlwind, had swept him into the very center of the storm.
Nearly all the students were enjoying this afternoon before heading home, anticipating the full-day school anniversary celebration tomorrow. Many were having picnics on the grass or skateboarding in open areas.
Jiang Hong saw Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi; Lian Jiang was teaching Xiao Pi how to skateboard. He waved at them from a distance, but they didn’t see him, busy chatting and laughing.
He remembered the pot he had sneakily taken from the Demon Hunting Committee and messaged Zhang Xiting. Zhang's reply was: [Oh, your stuff? It’s in the closet, next to the fake hand.]
Jiang Hong: "..."
Jiang Hong hurried back to his dormitory and found, after searching, that the aluminum pot was still in his bag, thankfully not used by his roommates to cook instant noodles.
Jiang Hong: "..."
Jiang Hong remembered that supposedly putting the pot on his head would make him invisible?
But with people constantly coming and going in the dorm, wouldn't suddenly turning invisible be weird? Maybe he could use it occasionally, hmm.
So, Jiang Hong tucked the pot away in his storage locker.
Jiang Hong took out his phone and saw a message from Lu Xiu two hours ago. Lu Xiu had invigilation duties that afternoon. Suddenly feeling playful, Jiang Hong decided to go find Lu Xiu and swiftly headed towards the teaching building.
At the fourth-floor multi-purpose classroom, Jiang Hong peeked in from the doorway and spotted Lu Xiu.
Today, Lu Xiu was dressed in a T-shirt and loose shorts, wearing the black and red headphones Jiang Hong had given him. He stood in front of the whiteboard, looking bored as he watched the students take their exam.
Lu Xiu himself seemed like a student who had finished the exam early. In appearance, attire, and demeanor, he didn’t resemble a teacher at all.
Jiang Hong, watching from outside, found the whole scene amusing.
"Last ten minutes," Lu Xiu announced coolly.
A small commotion stirred in the classroom. Jiang Hong thought: He’s so handsome! Even invigilating looks good on him!
Lu Xiu turned his head, his gaze landing on Jiang Hong. He obviously knew Jiang Hong was there.
Jiang Hong stared at Lu Xiu, suddenly feeling a bit flushed.
Lu Xiu hesitated a moment. Jiang Hong gestured that he didn’t need to mind him, but Lu Xiu still walked over to the classroom door.
"What's up?" Lu Xiu asked.
Jiang Hong: "Nothing... just came to see you."
Lu Xiu then hummed in acknowledgment. Jiang Hong noticed that in the classroom, the demon tribe students began exchanging glances. He Jian, peeking out, saw Jiang Hong and sneakily winked at him.
"Sit here," Lu Xiu gestured Jiang Hong to an empty seat in the first row. Jiang Hong thought Lu Xiu would return to the lectern to invigilate, but he smoothly sat down beside him.
"Have you finished all your classes?" Lu Xiu asked in a low voice. "You did well in the practical class today. I saw it."
Jiang Hong thought: You’re supervising an exam, is this okay?
Jiang Hong whispered, "Today, the Demon Hunting Committee brought in a consultant..."
Lu Xiu: "No cheating!"
The students were startled. Without turning his head, Lu Xiu replied, "Chen Zhen’s younger brother, I know."
Jiang Hong nodded. Suddenly, Lu Xiu gently took his hand under the desk, their fingers intertwining in an intimate gesture. They hadn’t seen each other for two days.
Instantly, Jiang Hong's heart began to race, overwhelmed by the beauty of the moment.
He suddenly felt an indescribable happiness, both nervous and expectant.
Over the past few days, it seemed as if he had come to terms with the reality that he was... no, already in a relationship with Lu Xiu. But Lu Xiu never said anything about it, leaving him both anxious and enamored.
Oh no, oh no... I...
Jiang Hong was lost in thought again, and Lu Xiu gave him a couple of extra glances.
Lu Xiu: "?"
Jiang Hong snapped back to reality and whispered, "I was wondering... what's this?"
Jiang Hong placed his hand on Lu Xiu's thigh and felt a few pieces of stiff paper in his pocket. He reached into the pocket and pulled them out.
Lu Xiu said, "Those are booth coupons given out for the school anniversary celebration, for spending."
Jiang Hong: "Oh—how come I don't have any?!"
Lu Xiu: "Only teachers get them, and they're not vouchers. They're just for getting special limited-edition items for teachers."
Jiang Hong: "Give me some..."
Lu Xiu: "Aren’t we going to be together tomorrow?"
Jiang Hong thought that made sense. Lu Xiu handed them all to him, saying, "You keep them."
"I'm on holiday now," Jiang Hong whispered again.
Lu Xiu: "Hmm, where do you want to go? Three minutes left!"
Jiang Hong hadn't decided yet, and they just sat there. After another three minutes, Lu Xiu let go of Jiang Hong's hand and announced, "Time's up, stop writing."
The students obediently got up, none of them daring to complain. They packed their things and came over to bid farewell to Lu Xiu.
"Goodbye, teacher."
"Thank you, teacher."
"Happy holidays, teacher."
Lu Xiu nodded, and Jiang Hong helped him organize the exam papers. He Jian happily said, "Goodbye, teacher. Goodbye, teacher's spouse."
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Lu Xiu, as if he hadn't heard, replied, "See you next semester."
Jiang Hong: "..."
Lu Xiu: "?"
Jiang Hong internally screamed in embarrassment, his face turning red. Holding He Jian’s paper, he made a "tearing" gesture towards He Jian, who was quickly leaving the classroom. He Jian immediately turned pale and made a "kneeling and begging" gesture, imploring Jiang Hong not to do anything rash.
"Will you stay over at my place tonight?" Lu Xiu asked. "The holiday is about to start; do you have any plans?"
The last few students handing in their papers were startled by this.
"Uh," Jiang Hong said, "No, are you coming back to Chongqing with me?"
With everyone finally gone, Lu Xiu, carrying the papers, left the classroom and replied, "I'm okay with anything. Do you have any place you want to go?"
Jiang Hong replied cheerfully, "I’ll think about it and make a plan."
"Hmm," Lu Xiu responded, leading Jiang Hong into his office. "I’ll bind these papers first; wait for me a bit."
"Jiang Hong," Zhu Jinling greeted Jiang Hong.
"Hi, teacher," Jiang Hong scurried over and said, "Teacher, how many points did I get?"
Zhu Jinling glanced at Lu Xiu, who was binding papers nearby and, without turning his head, said: "Ms. Zhu, don't mind him."
Zhu Jinling laughed, "Have some tea, here, take a piece of chocolate."
Zhu Jinling poured tea into an English-style cup for Jiang Hong and asked him to sit, saying, "Last time, didn’t you ask me to find a place with abundant spiritual energy?"
"Oh! Oh!" Jiang Hong remembered and glanced guiltily at Lu Xiu. He had recently asked Zhu Jinling to find a place with strong spiritual energy, intending to gather it and infuse it into his Western sword.
But he didn't want Lu Xiu to know yet, so he was a bit hesitant.
"Here," Zhu Jinling said, "take a look at this."
Zhu Jinling took out a map of East Asia, marked it with a pen, and said, "You mentioned collecting from earth veins, but first, it's too dangerous; second, the energy from earth veins is yin, and many vein points are inaccessible. I think the energy from sky veins is better."
"Can energy from sky veins be collected too?" Jiang Hong asked.
"Yes," Zhu Jinling patiently explained, "Olkhon Island in Lake Baikal, Har Horin southwest of Ulaanbaatar, Longmen Mountain in Luoyang, Xiangyang Xianshan in Hubei... almost all on mountain ranges. I've marked seven points for you."
"Oh, that's a bit far," Jiang Hong noted Lake Baikal and Har Horin, thinking about the distance.
"Mr. Lu can fly, right?" Zhu Jinling said, "Here, this map is for you."
"Thank you, Ms. Zhu!" Jiang Hong now had a way to gather spiritual energy from nature, though he wasn't sure how much he could collect.
"What are you collecting the spiritual energy of the heavenly veins for?" Lu Xiu asked. "To make a bomb?"
Jiang Hong chuckled mischievously, casting a secretive glance at Lu Xiu. He had a plan.
"I want to accelerate Old Sun's cultivation. Let's go by car," said Jiang Hong. "During the summer break, we'll travel in an RV to these heavenly vein locations."
Lu Xiu looked at the map and responded, "Okay."
By evening, the cafeteria had emptied significantly as most students had left campus for fun. Thinking of the upcoming RV trip with Lu Xiu, Jiang Hong was overjoyed. This time would be much more enjoyable than their trip to Yamdrok Lake!
"Will you sleep over at my place tonight?" Lu Xiu asked.
The question was quite embarrassing, but Lu Xiu always looked so natural when he asked it, as if he too was looking forward to sleeping cuddled up with Jiang Hong.
"We have an activity in our dorm tonight, a dinner party with drinks," Jiang Hong said. "Should I just not go back?"
Lu Xiu replied, "Go ahead, one day won't make a difference."
Jiang Hong looked at Lu Xiu, suddenly remembering what Lian Jiang had taught him. Should he ask about the confession wall now?
Lu Xiu said, "Shall I pack some food for you? What's with you today, staring at me like that?"
"No." Jiang Hong became nervous again and looked away, prompting Lu Xiu to gently scrape his face with a finger.
"Then you..." Jiang Hong felt extremely uneasy inside. After a long pause, he finally said, "Then I’ll go back."
Jiang Hong seemed reluctant to leave, so Lu Xiu grabbed some things and said, "I'll accompany you back."
Night had fallen, and all the colorful lights were hung up around the school. Someone was playing the violin in the distance, and amidst the music, the lights seemed alive, weaving through the trees and railings.
"It must look really beautiful when lit up," Jiang Hong said, glancing at the lights in the dark.
Today, He Jian called him "teacher's spouse," and Lu Xiu must have heard it, but he said nothing.
"Will it be very lively tomorrow?" It was Jiang Hong's first time experiencing the school anniversary.
"Yes," Lu Xiu replied, "It's quite lively."
Jiang Hong: "What is there to do?"
Lu Xiu: "A lot. You'll see."
Jiang Hong: "What did you do before? Last year? Did you set up a booth?"
Lu Xiu: "No, I just stood far away and watched casually."
Jiang Hong: "..."
Lu Xiu: "It's too boring."
Jiang Hong thought: Why are you contradicting yourself?
"So you won't be bored tomorrow?" Jiang Hong said.
"Because I'll be with you," Lu Xiu said matter-of-factly.
At that moment, all the lights in the campus lit up, and students from all around shouted in awe: "Wow—"
"You're here, so it won't be boring," Lu Xiu replied.
Jiang Hong tried to control his smile, but couldn't help the corners of his mouth from turning up.
Both were captivated by the lights. It must be said that Cao Bin had good taste; he didn't use flashy, multicolored lights or green lights that looked like they belonged in a horror setting, but uniform orange-yellow bulbs, giving Tsangqiu University a very romantic atmosphere.
"I'm going back," Jiang Hong said.
"See you tomorrow," Lu Xiu gazed into Jiang Hong's eyes.
Jiang Hong felt as though Lu Xiu wanted to kiss him, but was hesitating.
I'll do it then—Jiang Hong thought.
"Hahaha—” Jiang Hong exclaimed, “Holidays are here! I'm so happy!"
Jiang Hong did a 180-degree turn, climbed onto Lu Xiu's back, hugged him from behind, and kissed his cheek.
"Bye!" Jiang Hong said.
With his face flushed red, Jiang Hong didn't dare look back at Lu Xiu and ran off.
When he reached the second floor, Jiang Hong sneakily glanced down.
Lu Xiu was still standing there, facing the trees lit with lights, motionless.
When they reached the third floor, Jiang Hong leaned over the railing to look down. Lu Xiu was still there, his back to the dormitory building.
By the time they reached the fourth floor... Jiang Hong stole another glance and saw Lu Xiu turning his head, their eyes meeting.
"Aren't you going back?" Jiang Hong called out loudly.
Lu Xiu watched Jiang Hong for a long while, the lights behind him like halos in a camera lens, flowing through the tranquil night, casting his tall figure in silhouette. Jiang Hong couldn't see his expression.
Jiang Hong even took out his phone to take a photo of him. In the end, Lu Xiu waved at him, put on his headphones, and walked away.
Chapter 70: End of Term
Cao Bin washed his hands behind the counter and made coffee, asking, "Today's the last class of the semester. How are your projects going? Pi Yunhao, has your 'Wind Wheel' passed the field test?"
Xiao Pi conjured his broadsword, saying, "We tested it in today's practical class. It needs some fine-tuning in a few areas."
"Very good," Cao Bin took the sword, the broadsword twice as wide as his palm. Holding it in his left hand and stroking it with his right, the blade shimmered in black and gold, as if resonating with Cao Bin's powerful spiritual energy, humming softly.
Chen Lang couldn't help but clap, giving Xiao Pi a thumbs-up to indicate a job well done.
Holding the Wind Wheel, Cao Bin walked to the balcony, lifted the heavy sword with one hand, stood firmly, and pointed the tip towards the sky. His right hand supported the sword as the runes along the blade lit up one by one, right to the top.
The surrounding air swiftly started swirling, expanding in circle after circle, causing all the books in the room to rustle.
"So cool!" Jiang Hong exclaimed, "Wow! That's amazing!"
Xiao Pi was completely awestruck, saying, "Principal, you actually lit up the runes to the top of the sword! You’re even more skilled than my dad!"
Cao Bin withdrew his spiritual energy, and the broadsword dimmed again.
"Your dad just didn’t give it his all," Cao Bin joked, "Afraid of not keeping up nutritionally?"
Chen Lang laughed so hard he collapsed in front of the pool table, while Jiang Hong thought this must be a long-standing joke.
"Excellent," Cao Bin praised. "'Wind Wheel' focuses on the use of gravity and wind, with runes marking different zones based on their levels. Its initial function uses airflow to lighten the sword for easy swinging, overcoming air resistance. As spiritual energy increases, this heavy sword can use wind to accelerate, crushing enemies with its mass. When used to its fullest, it can even stir up hurricanes. A swordsman who can unleash its full potential will surely rank among the powerful."
Xiao Pi said sheepishly, "But I didn’t complete this sword alone. My dad and Teacher Keda helped a lot."
"That's okay," Cao Bin said, "I'll give it the evaluation it deserves."
Xiao Pi smiled, and Chen Lang looked expectantly at Jiang Hong, as if curious about his end-of-term project.
Cao Bin gestured to Jiang Hong, who said, "Um… Master, my project isn't finished yet. I've only completed the hilt and the guard. The blade hasn’t been tempered, nor has it been infused with spirit. It might have to wait until next semester."
Cao Bin replied cheerfully, "No problem, I promised you there's no rush. You can use the summer vacation to complete it."
"Okay, okay," Jiang Hong said, "I'll do my best."
Cao Bin advised, "First, you need to gather enough spiritual energy from nature and find a ley line well to successfully infuse the weapon with spirit."
"But I don’t know how to infuse spirit," Jiang Hong said, worried. "What if it causes an explosion?"
Cao Bin answered, "Lu Xiu should be able to protect you during the process. As long as you find the right ley line well, there shouldn't be any major accidents. Hmm… I think there's a suitable one in Xi'an, at the underground palace of the Daci'en Temple. It's a specially protected area, but that doesn't mean it's inaccessible. I'll think of a way for you."
Although there was time to spare, Jiang Hong still felt a bit disappointed. He looked at the broadsword Xiao Pi had made, while his own weapon was not only unfinished but also unnamed. He wondered if Lu Xiu, when wielding it, would look as cool as Lian Jiang did.
"Alright," Cao Bin said, "That's it for today... I'll leave the time for Xiao Lang. He has a lot he wants to say to you and can hardly wait."
After handing in his project, Xiao Pi left cheerfully. Cao Bin made coffee for them and said, "Xiao Lang, feel free. I'll step out for a while."
Chen Lang nodded and sat down with Jiang Hong at the bar. Today, Lu Xiu hadn't come, leaving only Jiang Hong, Chen Lang, and Si Gui in the activity room. Si Gui continued to assemble his LEGO, seemingly oblivious to their conversation.
Chen Lang: [I haven’t thanked you yet. Please accept my sincerest gratitude.]
Jiang Hong: [Huh? Thank me for what?]
Chen Lang: [You can talk to me. I can read lips, just don't speak too fast.]
Jiang Hong: "Okay, okay, that's much easier."
Chen Lang's electronic screen seemed tailor-made for him, filled with habitual words, phrases, and predictive text. He could select sentences with just a few taps and strokes, and it even had a voice playback feature.
"I really like Cangqiong University, but I don’t get many chances to come here." A somewhat familiar young male voice played from the electronic screen.
"Huh?" Jiang Hong was taken aback. He felt he had heard the voice somewhere before, but couldn’t quite place it.
Chen Lang smiled and wrote: [Is it a bit strange? I had a friend record it for me. I think I'll stick to text.]
Jiang Hong nodded, still trying to recall where he had heard that voice before. In a dream, perhaps?
Filled with curiosity, Jiang Hong read as Chen Lang wrote: [You never doubted and believed in my brother from the start. Very few people can genuinely do that. In this world, they don't exceed five. I'm really grateful for your trust in my brother.]
Jiang Hong: "Your brother?"
He looked intently at Chen Lang, trying to find traces of someone he knew in his features, and then it clicked!
"You're Chen Zhen's brother!" Jiang Hong exclaimed. "Wow, he never mentioned it... oh no, he did, but I didn’t pay attention. He actually has a younger brother! And you’re even more handsome than him... oh no, you both are equally handsome."
Chen Lang was amused again and shared a hug with Jiang Hong at the bar, the two seeming to share a special understanding.
Jiang Hong said, "This incident must have caused a lot of trouble for the Demon Hunting Committee, right?"
Chen Lang thought for a moment and wrote: [But I believe my brother and the others can handle it. Evil may prevail for a while, but darkness will not last.]
Jiang Hong thought it sounded like something straight out of a shounen manga, as these were lines he seldom heard in reality, typical of comic book dialogues. So, he nodded in agreement.
Chen Lang: [I came here to investigate the matter regarding the special artifact 'Book of Everything' overview.]
"Oh—" Jiang Hong understood.
[Don't worry.] Chen Lang, 【Although I know the Book of Everything is with you, you can trust me completely. Xiao Duo and I had speculated that the Book of Everything does exist. We guessed that it would appear in this special period, choosing a unique person to fulfill a particular mission.】
Jiang Hong: "I see... Do you want to take a look at it?" He wasn’t too worried about Chen Lang, as he was Chen Zhen’s brother and an important member of the Demon Hunting Committee. If the Committee had wanted to claim the Book of Everything for themselves, they would have done so already. The fact that it remained with him proved the higher-ups had no designs on it.
This also made Jiang Hong believe that they were all upright people. Any differences were merely ideological, but in principle, they were united and righteous.
Chen Lang: [May I? If it's convenient, I would indeed like to see it.]
Without a second thought, Jiang Hong suavely pulled out the dark metal ruler from thin air.
Chen Lang jumped in surprise. Jiang Hong extended the Book of Everything towards him. Chen Lang seemed a bit nervous, signaling him to wait, and first took out a pair of gloves from his pocket to put on.
Jiang Hong said, "It’s okay, no need to be so careful. We’ve all been tossing it around."
Chen Lang wrote on his electronic screen with one hand: [This is currently known as the world's most mysterious and ancient artifact. It must have its own 'spirit,' and must be treated with great respect.]
Chen Lang gently touched and caressed it, then conjured a toolbox from thin air and put on a magnifying glass to inspect it closely.
[Has it ever spoken to you?] Chen Lang asked.
Jiang Hong: "What? No, never. Geez, a talking artifact would be terrifying... Oh, but I guess it's okay, given this is a fantasy world setting..."
Chen Lang nodded, then looked at it for a while longer: [It has already acknowledged you as its master, right?]
Jiang Hong: "Seems like it, should I activate it?"
Chen Lang stepped back a little, and Jiang Hong channeled his modest magical power into it. The runes on the Book of Everything lit up, eliciting a look of surprise from Chen Lang, who then observed carefully. Jiang Hong also noticed for the first time that, upon infusing magic, the Book turned into a translucent amber color with runes flowing inside.
"Actually, it doesn’t have any special functions," Jiang Hong said somewhat regretfully, "Maybe it's because my magical power is too weak."
Chen Lang started to record, sketching the runes exactly as they appeared, and amidst his busyness asked: [What effects does it have?]
Jiang Hong: "Currently, it can display an opponent's health bar, copy and paste things, change the appearance of objects, and give me warnings..." Jiang Hong carefully recalled all the functions the Book of Everything had shown and added: "Actually, it’s quite useful."
Chen Lang: [Of course! You're saying the Book of Everything is 'quite useful'!]
Jiang Hong: "I can see your health bar, you know."
Chen Lang asked curiously: [How much is my health bar?]
Jiang Hong: "Only a little over 3000, that’s quite low. And your mana bar is just 420."
Chen Lang: [Yes, I am indeed a bit of a weakling.]
Jiang Hong: "I am, too."
Chen Lang: [The Book of Everything will protect you, don't worry.]
Jiang Hong: "But there's a buff under your health bar, looks like a golden flame. I don’t know what it is."
Chen Lang: [That's probably the symbiotic soul given to me by my brother. Don’t mind such details. What about the copy-paste function?]
Jiang Hong: "I can change this cup into something else, like, see? Oh, into a billiard ball… I need another object at hand to copy and paste it exactly. But it only changes the appearance. Essentially it’s still a cup. If I throw this billiard ball on the floor, it’ll break and revert to a cup."
Chen Lang: [Can it turn other things into itself?]
Jiang Hong: "???"
Jiang Hong found Chen Lang's thoughts quite peculiar.
"I haven’t tried that," Jiang Hong said. "But it’s not possible, you see. It’s like a mouse, and also like a remote control, so the remote can’t copy itself."
Chen Lang: [Can it copy things in a mirror?]
Jiang Hong: "..."
Jiang Hong tried it and found that it actually worked! Amazing! But is it really of any use?
Chen Lang: [So it uses light to achieve the effect of imprinting shapes. I understand.]
Jiang Hong: "I get it now too, you’re amazing."
Chen Lang: [Have you successfully copied anything with it? How did it turn out?]
Jiang Hong: "Speaking of that, I… haven’t yet!"
Jiang Hong almost inadvertently revealed something he had done, suddenly recalling a completely forgotten incident: not long ago, in the Demon Hunting Committee's treasure vault, he had used the Book of Everything to copy Shuhu's head!
Jiang Hong nearly bit his tongue, but luckily his mind worked fast. Remembering that, he quickly scanned his memories. Oh no, he had taken that head out and then it disappeared!
If it weren't for Chen Lang bringing it up, Jiang Hong would have completely forgotten about it!
But Shuhu's head was nowhere to be found, and since the Committee hadn’t said anything, it meant they still hadn’t discovered the switch... Thinking of this, Jiang Hong felt slightly relieved.
Chen Lang: [Apart from the overview, the Book of Everything has four other volumes: 'Law,' 'Matter,' 'Spirit,' and 'Momentum.' If you find the remaining volumes, they could be of great help.]
Jiang Hong was startled again upon reading this. The last time he heard someone so familiar with the Book of Everything was in front of Shuhu, and now Chen Lang casually mentioned its core contents!
"Will it be more powerful with the other parts?" Jiang Hong asked.
Chen Lang: ['Law' encompasses the magic of the world. Xiao Duo and I guess it could break and change the rules of how all magic is produced and functions. 'Matter' could alter the structure of objects or reveal their original state. Actually, the overview already has some of this ability, like displaying health bars, which is an effect of 'Matter.' As for 'Spirit,' I guess it's the logic of how the world operates, including but not limited to all physical and chemical rules, interactions of earth's veins, etc.]
"And 'Momentum'?" Jiang Hong asked.
Chen Lang looked a bit puzzled, shaking his head, saying: [Xiao Duo guessed it's life and death, I guess it's 'Future' and 'Past'.]
Jiang Hong was utterly shocked. The Book of Everything could change the future and past? That powerful? But since the Book is said to encompass 'everything in the world,' it would indeed cover past, present, and future.
Jiang Hong: "But getting these from the Huo Xing would mean getting beaten to death, right?"
Chen Lang: [They are not with them, at least I don't think so. Otherwise, they would have already conquered the Demon Hunting Committee.]
Jiang Hong thought about it and agreed. The person previously holding the overview was the impostor Chen Zhen. If there were other parts, he would have been almost invincible.
Jiang Hong: "Where could the other parts be scattered?"
Chen Lang: [I believe the overview will guide you when the time is right.]
Then, Chen Lang returned the Book of Everything to Jiang Hong, instructing him to keep it safe. The two quietly drank their coffee, and Chen Lang sent a message informing Cao Bin that they were done.
Chen Lang appeared to be thinking deeply. Jiang Hong hesitated, wanting to ask what he was pondering but then thought better of it, realizing it might be presumptuous to ask. Chen Lang noticed Jiang Hong's subtle expressions and smiled, writing: [I was thinking about what can be done with the Book of Everything's overview.]
Jiang Hong said, "So I somewhat understand now. Since it’s the 'overview,' it’s like a higher-level operating interface. The interface is already open, but some functions haven't been fully utilized yet."
Chen Lang: [Theoretically, that’s correct.]
'Law,' 'Matter,' 'Spirit,' 'Momentum' – the principles governing everything in the world. Jiang Hong gradually understood – 'Matter' is reflected in copying and pasting objects, checking statuses; 'Law' is the traces and mist seen through the Book when casting spells, which can be partially erased with the overview’s incomplete functions; 'Spirit' hasn’t manifested yet – modifying rules? 'Momentum' hasn’t either… No! There is! Jiang Hong remembered once seeing 'XX seconds until Chen Zhen arrives,' a prediction of the future!
In this quiet moment, Chen Lang wrote: [Regarding the other four volumes, don't rush. Since the Book of Everything chose you, I believe it will guide you to find them eventually. They might not be tangible, revealing themselves only at certain serendipitous moments.]
At this point, Cao Bin returned. He didn’t inquire about their conclusion, as if uninterested, simply sitting down behind the bar.
Cao Bin: "Today’s session should have ended here, but I suddenly remembered a few questions I need to ask you. Don't leave yet, Jiang Hong, this also concerns you."
Cao Bin asked Jiang Hong to stay seated, while Chen Lang wrote: [Is the mirror ready?]
Cao Bin nodded, leaving Jiang Hong puzzled: A mirror? What mirror?
Cao Bin skipped small talk, asking directly: "About the 'Inner Demons,' what conclusions have you reached in your research?"
Ah! Jiang Hong also remembered. Chen Lang's expression seemed a bit troubled upon hearing this.
Cao Bin said, "Just the initial conclusions are fine, as nobody can make a foolproof inference."
Chen Lang gestured for them to wait. After a full minute, he began to rapidly write and swipe on the screen, selecting sentences and words.
[Even preliminary conclusions are hard to come by, but considering the likelihood of Teacher Lu encountering his adversary, that moment may be drawing closer.]
After a brief pause, Chen Lang wrote again: [I can only share what I know and speculate, but I can’t guarantee its accuracy…]
Cao Bin: "Please elaborate."
Jiang Hong felt inexplicably nervous, watching Chen Lang write rapidly.
[...So-called Inner Demons are a person’s obsessions. The nature of Inner Demons is self-evident; confronting our desires and fixations is the best way to understand them. But there’s a detail that makes me think there’s much unknown in our current theoretical framework. After the Battle of Guangzhou, I carefully reviewed all the reports and found that, at the end of Lu Xiu’s battle with his Inner Demon, the Inner Demon Lu Xiu mentioned, 'I will absorb you'.]
"Ah!" Jiang Hong also remembered.
[This was mentioned in An Jie’s report, so I believe it’s true.]
Jiang Hong immediately said, "Yes! I heard it too!"
Chen Lang nodded seriously, raising his eyebrows at Cao Bin, whose expression grew more solemn.
Chen Lang: [So, we can assume that Inner Demons want to absorb their originals to become stronger. If this mechanism exists, we may need to reevaluate the role of hostages. First, what conditions must be met for 'absorption'? Secondly, what results would 'absorption' yield?]
[Based on this, Inner Demons can’t 'unconditionally' absorb their originals. They need to reduce the originals' strength to a certain point, whether mentally, physically, or both. From the battle between Teacher Lu and his Inner Demon, we can infer this. The conditions for absorption might be what we discussed second… Sorry, is this a bit convoluted?]
Both Cao Bin and Jiang Hong said simultaneously: "Not convoluted."
[What kind of fusion entity will emerge after 'absorption'? Who decides the personality of this fusion entity? The Inner Demon? The original? Or both? There’s no experimental data right now, but I think this is an important breakthrough point.]
Chen Lang finished writing and looked at them.
Cao Bin said, "I understand."
Jiang Hong thought to himself that although new ideas were raised, they didn’t seem very practical…
"Okay, thank you, Xiao Lang," Cao Bin said. "Tomorrow is the school anniversary, you can enjoy a day on campus before returning."
Chen Lang, seemingly still a child at heart, smiled at this, said his goodbyes, and ran off. Before leaving, he wrote on his electronic screen: [Looking forward to tomorrow night’s splendid program!]
Left alone, Jiang Hong and Cao Bin exchanged looks. Cao Bin spread his hands, signaling, 'What are you waiting for?'
"Is the class over?" Jiang Hong asked.
"It's vacation time," Cao Bin said seriously, "The first academic year is over. Congratulations, Jiang Hong, you are Cangqiong University's..."
"Oh yeah—!" Jiang Hong finally realized and started jumping around, excited about the summer vacation!
Before Cao Bin could finish his sentence, Jiang Hong had already dashed out.
Cao Bin: "..."
Si Gui: "..."
"What were you going to say?" Si Gui asked.
Cao Bin, with a hint of resignation: "I was going to say that he is the first person in Cangqiong University’s history to complete the first year of studies as a pure mortal."
"Vacation time—!" Jiang Hong burst in again, lunging at Cao Bin, then turned to lunge at Si Gui, who quickly said, "Don’t come over—!"
Si Gui's LEGO was finally spared from Jiang Hong's mischief. Jiang Hong had already put thoughts of Inner Demons and Western swords behind him as he ran out of the administration building.
The first year of university life had ended, and Jiang Hong had entered another phase of life, naturally adapting to this bizarre new world. Its sudden arrival, like a whirlwind, had swept him into the very center of the storm.
Nearly all the students were enjoying this afternoon before heading home, anticipating the full-day school anniversary celebration tomorrow. Many were having picnics on the grass or skateboarding in open areas.
Jiang Hong saw Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi; Lian Jiang was teaching Xiao Pi how to skateboard. He waved at them from a distance, but they didn’t see him, busy chatting and laughing.
He remembered the pot he had sneakily taken from the Demon Hunting Committee and messaged Zhang Xiting. Zhang's reply was: [Oh, your stuff? It’s in the closet, next to the fake hand.]
Jiang Hong: "..."
Jiang Hong hurried back to his dormitory and found, after searching, that the aluminum pot was still in his bag, thankfully not used by his roommates to cook instant noodles.
Jiang Hong: "..."
Jiang Hong remembered that supposedly putting the pot on his head would make him invisible?
But with people constantly coming and going in the dorm, wouldn't suddenly turning invisible be weird? Maybe he could use it occasionally, hmm.
So, Jiang Hong tucked the pot away in his storage locker.
Jiang Hong took out his phone and saw a message from Lu Xiu two hours ago. Lu Xiu had invigilation duties that afternoon. Suddenly feeling playful, Jiang Hong decided to go find Lu Xiu and swiftly headed towards the teaching building.
At the fourth-floor multi-purpose classroom, Jiang Hong peeked in from the doorway and spotted Lu Xiu.
Today, Lu Xiu was dressed in a T-shirt and loose shorts, wearing the black and red headphones Jiang Hong had given him. He stood in front of the whiteboard, looking bored as he watched the students take their exam.
Lu Xiu himself seemed like a student who had finished the exam early. In appearance, attire, and demeanor, he didn’t resemble a teacher at all.
Jiang Hong, watching from outside, found the whole scene amusing.
"Last ten minutes," Lu Xiu announced coolly.
A small commotion stirred in the classroom. Jiang Hong thought: He’s so handsome! Even invigilating looks good on him!
Lu Xiu turned his head, his gaze landing on Jiang Hong. He obviously knew Jiang Hong was there.
Jiang Hong stared at Lu Xiu, suddenly feeling a bit flushed.
Lu Xiu hesitated a moment. Jiang Hong gestured that he didn’t need to mind him, but Lu Xiu still walked over to the classroom door.
"What's up?" Lu Xiu asked.
Jiang Hong: "Nothing... just came to see you."
Lu Xiu then hummed in acknowledgment. Jiang Hong noticed that in the classroom, the demon tribe students began exchanging glances. He Jian, peeking out, saw Jiang Hong and sneakily winked at him.
"Sit here," Lu Xiu gestured Jiang Hong to an empty seat in the first row. Jiang Hong thought Lu Xiu would return to the lectern to invigilate, but he smoothly sat down beside him.
"Have you finished all your classes?" Lu Xiu asked in a low voice. "You did well in the practical class today. I saw it."
Jiang Hong thought: You’re supervising an exam, is this okay?
Jiang Hong whispered, "Today, the Demon Hunting Committee brought in a consultant..."
Lu Xiu: "No cheating!"
The students were startled. Without turning his head, Lu Xiu replied, "Chen Zhen’s younger brother, I know."
Jiang Hong nodded. Suddenly, Lu Xiu gently took his hand under the desk, their fingers intertwining in an intimate gesture. They hadn’t seen each other for two days.
Instantly, Jiang Hong's heart began to race, overwhelmed by the beauty of the moment.
He suddenly felt an indescribable happiness, both nervous and expectant.
Over the past few days, it seemed as if he had come to terms with the reality that he was... no, already in a relationship with Lu Xiu. But Lu Xiu never said anything about it, leaving him both anxious and enamored.
Oh no, oh no... I...
Jiang Hong was lost in thought again, and Lu Xiu gave him a couple of extra glances.
Lu Xiu: "?"
Jiang Hong snapped back to reality and whispered, "I was wondering... what's this?"
Jiang Hong placed his hand on Lu Xiu's thigh and felt a few pieces of stiff paper in his pocket. He reached into the pocket and pulled them out.
Lu Xiu said, "Those are booth coupons given out for the school anniversary celebration, for spending."
Jiang Hong: "Oh—how come I don't have any?!"
Lu Xiu: "Only teachers get them, and they're not vouchers. They're just for getting special limited-edition items for teachers."
Jiang Hong: "Give me some..."
Lu Xiu: "Aren’t we going to be together tomorrow?"
Jiang Hong thought that made sense. Lu Xiu handed them all to him, saying, "You keep them."
"I'm on holiday now," Jiang Hong whispered again.
Lu Xiu: "Hmm, where do you want to go? Three minutes left!"
Jiang Hong hadn't decided yet, and they just sat there. After another three minutes, Lu Xiu let go of Jiang Hong's hand and announced, "Time's up, stop writing."
The students obediently got up, none of them daring to complain. They packed their things and came over to bid farewell to Lu Xiu.
"Goodbye, teacher."
"Thank you, teacher."
"Happy holidays, teacher."
Lu Xiu nodded, and Jiang Hong helped him organize the exam papers. He Jian happily said, "Goodbye, teacher. Goodbye, teacher's spouse."
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Lu Xiu, as if he hadn't heard, replied, "See you next semester."
Jiang Hong: "..."
Lu Xiu: "?"
Jiang Hong internally screamed in embarrassment, his face turning red. Holding He Jian’s paper, he made a "tearing" gesture towards He Jian, who was quickly leaving the classroom. He Jian immediately turned pale and made a "kneeling and begging" gesture, imploring Jiang Hong not to do anything rash.
"Will you stay over at my place tonight?" Lu Xiu asked. "The holiday is about to start; do you have any plans?"
The last few students handing in their papers were startled by this.
"Uh," Jiang Hong said, "No, are you coming back to Chongqing with me?"
With everyone finally gone, Lu Xiu, carrying the papers, left the classroom and replied, "I'm okay with anything. Do you have any place you want to go?"
Jiang Hong replied cheerfully, "I’ll think about it and make a plan."
"Hmm," Lu Xiu responded, leading Jiang Hong into his office. "I’ll bind these papers first; wait for me a bit."
"Jiang Hong," Zhu Jinling greeted Jiang Hong.
"Hi, teacher," Jiang Hong scurried over and said, "Teacher, how many points did I get?"
Zhu Jinling glanced at Lu Xiu, who was binding papers nearby and, without turning his head, said: "Ms. Zhu, don't mind him."
Zhu Jinling laughed, "Have some tea, here, take a piece of chocolate."
Zhu Jinling poured tea into an English-style cup for Jiang Hong and asked him to sit, saying, "Last time, didn’t you ask me to find a place with abundant spiritual energy?"
"Oh! Oh!" Jiang Hong remembered and glanced guiltily at Lu Xiu. He had recently asked Zhu Jinling to find a place with strong spiritual energy, intending to gather it and infuse it into his Western sword.
But he didn't want Lu Xiu to know yet, so he was a bit hesitant.
"Here," Zhu Jinling said, "take a look at this."
Zhu Jinling took out a map of East Asia, marked it with a pen, and said, "You mentioned collecting from earth veins, but first, it's too dangerous; second, the energy from earth veins is yin, and many vein points are inaccessible. I think the energy from sky veins is better."
"Can energy from sky veins be collected too?" Jiang Hong asked.
"Yes," Zhu Jinling patiently explained, "Olkhon Island in Lake Baikal, Har Horin southwest of Ulaanbaatar, Longmen Mountain in Luoyang, Xiangyang Xianshan in Hubei... almost all on mountain ranges. I've marked seven points for you."
"Oh, that's a bit far," Jiang Hong noted Lake Baikal and Har Horin, thinking about the distance.
"Mr. Lu can fly, right?" Zhu Jinling said, "Here, this map is for you."
"Thank you, Ms. Zhu!" Jiang Hong now had a way to gather spiritual energy from nature, though he wasn't sure how much he could collect.
"What are you collecting the spiritual energy of the heavenly veins for?" Lu Xiu asked. "To make a bomb?"
Jiang Hong chuckled mischievously, casting a secretive glance at Lu Xiu. He had a plan.
"I want to accelerate Old Sun's cultivation. Let's go by car," said Jiang Hong. "During the summer break, we'll travel in an RV to these heavenly vein locations."
Lu Xiu looked at the map and responded, "Okay."
By evening, the cafeteria had emptied significantly as most students had left campus for fun. Thinking of the upcoming RV trip with Lu Xiu, Jiang Hong was overjoyed. This time would be much more enjoyable than their trip to Yamdrok Lake!
"Will you sleep over at my place tonight?" Lu Xiu asked.
The question was quite embarrassing, but Lu Xiu always looked so natural when he asked it, as if he too was looking forward to sleeping cuddled up with Jiang Hong.
"We have an activity in our dorm tonight, a dinner party with drinks," Jiang Hong said. "Should I just not go back?"
Lu Xiu replied, "Go ahead, one day won't make a difference."
Jiang Hong looked at Lu Xiu, suddenly remembering what Lian Jiang had taught him. Should he ask about the confession wall now?
Lu Xiu said, "Shall I pack some food for you? What's with you today, staring at me like that?"
"No." Jiang Hong became nervous again and looked away, prompting Lu Xiu to gently scrape his face with a finger.
"Then you..." Jiang Hong felt extremely uneasy inside. After a long pause, he finally said, "Then I’ll go back."
Jiang Hong seemed reluctant to leave, so Lu Xiu grabbed some things and said, "I'll accompany you back."
Night had fallen, and all the colorful lights were hung up around the school. Someone was playing the violin in the distance, and amidst the music, the lights seemed alive, weaving through the trees and railings.
"It must look really beautiful when lit up," Jiang Hong said, glancing at the lights in the dark.
Today, He Jian called him "teacher's spouse," and Lu Xiu must have heard it, but he said nothing.
"Will it be very lively tomorrow?" It was Jiang Hong's first time experiencing the school anniversary.
"Yes," Lu Xiu replied, "It's quite lively."
Jiang Hong: "What is there to do?"
Lu Xiu: "A lot. You'll see."
Jiang Hong: "What did you do before? Last year? Did you set up a booth?"
Lu Xiu: "No, I just stood far away and watched casually."
Jiang Hong: "..."
Lu Xiu: "It's too boring."
Jiang Hong thought: Why are you contradicting yourself?
"So you won't be bored tomorrow?" Jiang Hong said.
"Because I'll be with you," Lu Xiu said matter-of-factly.
At that moment, all the lights in the campus lit up, and students from all around shouted in awe: "Wow—"
"You're here, so it won't be boring," Lu Xiu replied.
Jiang Hong tried to control his smile, but couldn't help the corners of his mouth from turning up.
Both were captivated by the lights. It must be said that Cao Bin had good taste; he didn't use flashy, multicolored lights or green lights that looked like they belonged in a horror setting, but uniform orange-yellow bulbs, giving Tsangqiu University a very romantic atmosphere.
"I'm going back," Jiang Hong said.
"See you tomorrow," Lu Xiu gazed into Jiang Hong's eyes.
Jiang Hong felt as though Lu Xiu wanted to kiss him, but was hesitating.
I'll do it then—Jiang Hong thought.
"Hahaha—” Jiang Hong exclaimed, “Holidays are here! I'm so happy!"
Jiang Hong did a 180-degree turn, climbed onto Lu Xiu's back, hugged him from behind, and kissed his cheek.
"Bye!" Jiang Hong said.
With his face flushed red, Jiang Hong didn't dare look back at Lu Xiu and ran off.
When he reached the second floor, Jiang Hong sneakily glanced down.
Lu Xiu was still standing there, facing the trees lit with lights, motionless.
When they reached the third floor, Jiang Hong leaned over the railing to look down. Lu Xiu was still there, his back to the dormitory building.
By the time they reached the fourth floor... Jiang Hong stole another glance and saw Lu Xiu turning his head, their eyes meeting.
"Aren't you going back?" Jiang Hong called out loudly.
Lu Xiu watched Jiang Hong for a long while, the lights behind him like halos in a camera lens, flowing through the tranquil night, casting his tall figure in silhouette. Jiang Hong couldn't see his expression.
Jiang Hong even took out his phone to take a photo of him. In the end, Lu Xiu waved at him, put on his headphones, and walked away.
