Chapter 75: Summer Vacation
On the night of the school anniversary, stars twinkled in the deep night sky, and the Milky Way resembled the trail of a phoenix sweeping through with light and shadow.
Lu Xiu left the stage amidst the flute music, silently joining Jiang Hong to listen to Si Gui's performance.
Si Gui played a gentle pop tune, "You Are My Sunshine." The atmosphere of the evening first reached a climax and then, with the soothing music from Lu Xiu and Xiang Si Gui, relaxed into a grand, flowing sensation.
"So beautiful!" Jiang Hong whispered in admiration. Thousands were silent, gazing towards the stage, where only Si Gui was bathed in the starlight, his flute playing soft and enveloping the tender night.
Looking up at the night sky, the summer constellations formed a grand triangle with the stars Vega, Altair, and Cygnus, running like a magnificent stream into the heart of the Milky Way at the core of Scorpius.
“You are my sunshine…”
Gradually, with the sound of a homeward flute, all the students began a grand chorus, converging into an ocean of song, a spectacular sight.
The emblem of Cangqiong University, a phoenix reborn from the ashes and soaring into flight, was the perfect symbol to conclude the annual university celebration.
“You are my sunshine,My only sunshine;you make me happy,when skies are gray…”
Holding hands, Jiang Hong couldn't help but sing along with the crowd. Suddenly, he glanced at Lu Xu and found him staring back, causing Jiang's face to instantly flush red.
“You are my sunshine…”
The tiered stands folded back into place with the last notes of the homecoming song, reverting to their original campus appearance. Lights flickered across the area, crisscrossing and then brightly illuminating the entire campus. The celebration stage disappeared into the administration building, and the interweaving staircases in the sky returned to their normal positions within the teaching and administrative buildings.
The music faded into the night, and everything returned to its usual state, as if a dream had finally ended.
The students lingered, not wanting to leave. When the bright lights came on and the night market reopened, the evening celebration finally ended. The buzz of people rose like a tidal wave, and the campus streets returned to their lively, bustling state with music resuming in various locations.
"It's over," said Lu Xu. "Shall we go for late-night snacks?"
"You were so cool!" Jiang Hong had completely forgotten about the battle a few hours ago, even the fact that Zhu Rong had attacked the school, as if it all were just a fleeting dream.
"Let's go," Lu Xu said, taking Jiang Hong's hand, and they headed back to the street of shops.
"Vacation is starting!" Jiang Hong was ecstatic, jumping onto Lu Xu's back. Lu Xu didn't resist and carried him. They wandered among the night food stalls; the campus was even livelier at night than during the day. The cool breeze blew as tables and chairs were set up, and people began to drink beer and eat late-night snacks while chatting.
"Jiang Hong!" Jin shouted from a nearby table. "Come have a drink!"
"Hold on!" Jiang Hong waved at Jin from a distance.
"What do you want to eat?" Lu Xu asked, letting Jiang Hong ride on his back.
"Let's check over there," Jiang Hong suggested. "Crayfish! Ah! I want crayfish!"
The owner of "Clam Spirit Crayfish & Night Beer" was a chubby, friendly young man. His sign clearly revealed his identity. Seeing Lu Xu, he immediately greeted, "Senior! What would you like?"
Jiang Hong was pondering the odd combination of clam spirit and crayfish, but Lu Xu had already ordered at the stall. As they moved behind the stall, they suddenly found a table set far away from the students. To their surprise, it was Chen Zhen, Chen Lang, and Cao Bin sitting there with crayfish, grilled fish, and a few bottles of beer.
Chen Lang saw them and waved. Chen Zhen, who was talking to Cao Bin, also noticed Lu Xu.
Cao Bin gestured for them to join the table.
Chen Zhen said something with a smile, to which Cao Bin promptly replied, "No worries, feel free."
"What's up?" Lu Xu asked.
"Let me not disturb you two," Cao Bin said with a smile.
"It's fine," Lu Xu replied.
Jiang Hong exclaimed, "What are you guys talking about? Oh, grilled fish!"
Chen Lang handed them chopsticks and disposable bowls. The stall owner's culinary skills were commendable; they were lucky to grab seats before the place got crowded.
Chen Zhen said, "Actually, I have something to ask you, Jiang Hong. After tonight, who knows when we'll meet again."
Jiang Hong tensed up and glanced at Lu Xu. Chen Zhen quickly added, "Don't worry, it's nothing serious."
Lu Xu gestured that it was okay, then poured beer for Jiang Hong and himself.
"That last moment," Chen Zhen said, "it was you, right?"
"What... what?" Jiang Hong quickly realized what Chen Zhen meant.
"During the confrontation with the dark sorcerer Chen Zhen, was it he who disrupted the other's spellcasting? Although no one could see Jiang Hong, or rather, chose to ignore his presence, the outcome surely must have been felt by Chen Zhen."
"Jiang Hong quickly feigned ignorance, knowing that the truth about the pot must not be revealed to Chen Zhen, or it would inevitably lead to complications involving Shuhu's head and his own entry into the treasure vault, which would be a major problem."
"Although Shuhu had said there was no need to worry about it, as it would be insignificant by the time it came to light, Jiang Hong still chose not to disclose it."
"Chen Zhen simply smiled at Jiang Hong, and suddenly, everyone fell silent."
"Cao Bin said, 'If he says no, then it's no.'"
"Chen Zhen: 'He didn't deny it, did he, Jiang Hong?'"
"Cao Bin: 'If you must ask that way, I can also say, he didn't admit it.'"
"Lu Xiu fell silent for a moment, looking towards Jiang Hong, and Chen Zhen said, 'I know there must be more to this, but what I want to know is, in the end, was it you who saved me?'"
"'No, no!' Jiang Hong immediately denied, saying, 'Uh, it was all because of you, right?'"
"Chen Zhen using the word 'save' was too heavy a term, and Jiang Hong never felt that he could 'save' anyone, at most he just lent a hand."
"Chen Zhen nodded and said, 'I understand, regardless, I must express my deepest gratitude to you.'"
"Cao Bin remained silent, deep in thought, while Chen Zhen sighed, his expression complex. His younger brother Chen Lang noticed this and placed his hand on his brother's, as if to encourage him."
"'I thought I could fight him alone and defeat him,' Chen Zhen said, 'but at that moment, I did waver. Without this valuable assistance, perhaps now we…'"
"Cao Bin said, 'What's our greatest advantage when facing illusion? You've reminded me more than once, Chen Zhen. It's the help we provide each other, the willingness to risk our lives to protect one another. Regardless of any hesitation, we ultimately won, and that's what matters most. You can't always think about bearing everything alone, it's meaningless.'"
"Chen Zhen fell silent, then self-mockingly said, 'Being a great exorcist for so long, one tends to carry a bit of an idol's burden, thank you.'"
"Jiang Hong didn't dare to interject in this dialogue between two powerful figures. He glanced at Chen Lang, who was quickly writing and selecting on a tablet, and after forming a sentence, Jiang Hong read it out loud."
"'True light is not the absence of darkness, but the ability to not be overshadowed by it.'"
"Cao Bin raised his eyebrows, and Chen Zhen nodded."
"'It's Xiao Duo's favorite saying,' Chen Zhen said with a smile."
"Cao Bin replied, 'It's the same principle for you, for Xiao Hei, and for each one of us.'"
"Jiang Hong: '?'"
"Jiang Hong didn't understand why Cao Bin suddenly brought up Lu Xiu. Lu Xiu's face changed for a moment, filled with anger, then sadness, but quickly returned to normal, replying, 'Yes, that's right.'"
"Then, everyone silently began to eat and drink, the atmosphere turning somewhat tense. Jiang Hong carefully pondered Chen Zhen's words, realizing that he must care deeply, just like Lu Xiu cares about his clone. Both of them had the same obsession: to personally defeat themselves. Discovering the inability to conquer their own darker selves, their convictions wavered."
"And Cao Bin was right, our confidence in defeating 'them' comes because we believe in each other."
"Suddenly, in this quiet moment, Lu Xiu spoke up, asking Chen Lang, 'Is there any magical item in the world that can make someone temporarily invisible?'"
"Chen Lang thought for a moment and replied, '[There are many magical items that can render one invisible, but all invisibility items cannot block the flow of 'spirit.' They might work on mortals, I guess?]'"
"'Right,' Jiang Hong said, curious despite not understanding why Lu Xiu asked this question. 'Is there any magical item that can make someone 'completely disappear'?'"
"Chen Lang seemed a bit perplexed, while Cao Bin poured beer for Chen Zhen. Lu Xiu leaned back in a plastic chair, his hand resting unconsciously on Jiang Hong's back, stroking his spine, starting the conversation but leaving it to the two of them."
"Chen Lang: '[I've heard, just heard mind you, and it's a very contradictory rumor, not to be taken seriously... There's a rumored magical item, or rather 'an' item, that can refract all consciousness. Perhaps this counts as 'complete invisibility'? After all, if consciousness is refracted, it disappears thoroughly, though I can't fathom how it works.]'"
"Here it comes! Jiang Hong's heart raced, wondering if continuing this topic might accidentally expose his venture into the treasure trove – but he also understood Lu Xiu's intention in raising this question: to subtly reassure Chen Zhen. It must be!"
"Jiang Hong asked curiously, 'Why?'"
"Chen Lang: '[If this item really can refract consciousness, how did the first person who possessed it discover it?]'"
"Jiang Hong: 'Right! Oh?'"
"In that instant, Jiang Hong thought of the non-existent 'third compartment' in the treasure vault. Without Shuhu's reminder, he wouldn't have known about the 'third compartment' at all! After counting two, he would always skip to 'four,' and even with Shuhu's reminder, without the power of the Book of Everything, he couldn't see the pot in the third compartment."
"'Oh...' Jiang Hong inferred something else from this. Could it be that the consciousness of everyone in the Exorcism Committee could be refracted? Meaning, no one in the Committee, no matter who, ever knew about the existence of a 'third compartment' containing a pot!"
"This is utterly absurd! Yet, such a thing is very possible!"
"Lu Xiu lazily said, 'If no magical power is infused, the magical item won't activate, and then it could be seen, right?'"
"Chen Lang: '[If that were the case, this item would have left behind many rumors; inferring from the almost nonexistent rumors, the item is self-activating. Such a high-level magical item must have its own consciousness, so it needs to activate itself to protect itself.]'"
"'That's also true,' Jiang Hong said. 'So, could it possibly be in the Exorcism Committee?'"
"Chen Lang: '[It might be in some inconspicuous place, but if it doesn't want to be found, you'll never find it.]'"
"'Hmm...' Jiang Hong nodded and said, 'Got it.'"
"Lu Xiu looked at Cao Bin, their eyes meeting. Cao Bin seemed to understand but remained expressionless, while Chen Zhen realized something and smiled, saying, 'Come on, let's drink.'"
"Just as everyone was about to raise their glasses again, the Heavenly Pulse suddenly flashed."
"The brilliance of the Heavenly Pulse mingled with the Milky Way, the celestial anomaly triggering a chaotic vortex of magical power. The radiance flickered as if the creator of stars had disrupted all rules and the arrangement of stars, but it was just a fleeting moment, and everything returned to normal."
"Students in the campus were all taken aback, looking up at the night sky, thinking an enemy had come, but soon, the Milky Way returned to calm."
"Cao Bin and Chen Zhen both looked up at the night sky simultaneously."
"Did Fang Yifeng succeed?" Cao Bin asked.
"Yes, he did," Chen Zhen said, "I temporarily entrusted the 'Wheel of Eons' to him."
Right after, Chen Zhen received a phone call. It was Qi Wei's voice saying, "Operation over, I'm exhausted!"
"Did you rescue everyone?" Chen Zhen asked.
Qi Wei's voice was clear, and some of it reached Jiang Hong's ears through the phone.
"Everyone's been rescued! It's just a pity we didn't grab the Qingyu Golden Cup. Yifeng wanted to make a retaliatory strike, but I said forget it, with so many hostages..."
"Alright, good," Chen Zhen put on his headphones and added, "Take the colleagues we rescued back to the Exorcism Committee for now, check against the list, be cautious of any changes, I'll be right back... An Jie!"
Chen Zhen saw An Jie, who was talking to Xuan Hezhi not far away, quickly approached him, and the two left Tsangqiong University. Chen Zhen seemed in good spirits, turning back to signal Chen Lang to continue playing here for a while, but Chen Lang, not sentimental, quickly followed Chen Zhen.
"What are they doing?" Jiang Hong was very surprised, "Is there another arrangement tonight?"
"Yeah," Cao Bin, sipping his beer, replied, "The Exorcism Committee sent out a very powerful top-class exorcist. While the illusion was attacking us, they counterattacked their stronghold. You don't need to worry anymore, the hostages should all be rescued."
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Jiang Hong hadn't expected Chen Zhen to be such a formidable figure. It seemed like they were at a disadvantage, but with Chen Zhen and Cao Bin's ambush, they turned the tables in one move!
Lu Xiu asked, "What about the inner demons replicated in the Exorcism Committee?"
Cao Bin answered indifferently, "Chen Zhen already has a list, they were dealt with in advance. The Heart Lamp can also exorcise demons. For him, such inner demons are just a minor issue."
Raising his glass, Cao Bin said with a smile, "Here's to the good health of our big boss."
"Jiang Hong began to laugh."
"In a dark corner of the world, jagged rocks crisscrossed to form a massive cliff, blade-like cliffs standing tall, their bottoms unseen, with countless rocks floating in the air. This place seemed like a space where gravity had been lost."
"Dark mist entwined around a central pillar, manifesting blood-red eyes, like a beast choosing its prey, watching over the blue-black flame burning on one of the rocks."
"'Perhaps I should let you rest for a while,' a deep voice resonated in the closed space, 'You've wasted much spiritual power and still haven't achieved what I desire.'"
"'I've done my best,' Chen Zhen's voice came from the blue-black flame, 'My energy is insufficient.'"
"'What about the ambush you set up?' the beast roared."
"'I can't trigger it at will,' Chen Zhen's voice was weary, 'These ambushes are vital for your descent. And Xiang Cheng hasn't shown himself; I must be on guard against him at all times. I need more help. The Book of Everything has been taken by Jiang Hong, Cao Bin hasn't been truly born yet, and currently, only Lu Xiu can assist me. I've been fighting alone.'"
"'Devour,' the beast said, 'from the inside out. Your mistake is to always think from outside in, thinking elimination solves the problem. Why such elaborate measures for a mere mortal? This is precisely the error; how many messengers have ultimately failed at the hands of mortals?'"
"The blue-black flame remained silent, then spoke after a moment, 'My lord, I request to use more ancient gods. My ambush has been thwarted, the other me found my arrangement, the inner demons I cultivated for a long time have been destroyed by the exorcists, and the hostages were taken away.'"
"The beast replied, 'Go, I will give you what you need, but ancient gods are not crucial, neither is power, nor are clever schemes and strategies. To prevail, it's all about the heart. You must no longer underestimate them, break them from within, from their hearts, and wait for the moment of my descent.'"
"'Whatever they do, it won't change the outcome of your return,' Chen Zhen's voice said."
"'Yes,' the beast said solemnly, 'that's right, you must have confidence, but everything you do is not without purpose.'"
"The day after the school anniversary, contrary to expectations, there was no chaos. It seemed as if someone had cast a spell while all the students were asleep, making all the stalls, debris, and decorations vanish in the blink of an eye."
"It was as if a gust of wind had brought the splendid setup and then swept it all away clean with another breeze as the sun rose."
"Jiang Hong thought to himself that in his four years of university, he must learn this spell, as it would be very useful for household chores."
"'Jiang Hong, help me with my leg,' Old Sun said again."
"Got it, got it," Jiang Hong said, "I've always remembered... don't bother me, let's pack up first. Hey, why is everyone here?"
Jiang Hong pushed open the door of his dormitory, and his roommates exclaimed together, "Wow, Madam, you didn't come back again last night!"
Jiang Hong, feeling defeated, reluctantly went to get his luggage. Everyone's stuff was already prepared, and Zhang Xiting said, "Shall we all go to the airport together?"
Jiang Hong: "I... uh..."
He didn't dare to say he just came back to grab his suitcase and was about to leave with Lu Xiu, but everyone was so warm and friendly, so Jiang Hong had no choice but to text Lu Xiu, who replied, '[Got it, will wait at the school's back gate later, let's all go together.]'
Jin: "Did you have fun last night?"
Jiang Hong: "It was... okay, I guess? What about you guys? Haha, didn't see you there."
Zhang Xiting: "Did you sleep in Teacher Lu's dorm?"
Jiang Hong: "Yeah... yeah." He then weakly protested, "Stop patting my shoulder, it's so hot."
He Jian: "Everyone heard the love song Teacher Lu sang for you yesterday!"
Jiang Hong: "Guys, just tell me what you want me to do, let's be straightforward!"
He Jian: "I recorded it!"
Jiang Hong: "Don't force me to watch it again... what? You recorded it? Send it to me quick, let me see!"
So, they all relived the moment of Lu Xiu singing 'Thank You,' Jiang Hong blushing fiercely as he watched, hurriedly saving it and saying, "Okay, okay, that's enough, let's go!"
The dorm group, each with a suitcase, the 'team boxes' they bought together, arrived at the school's back gate, where He Jian was the first to exclaim, "Wow—!"
A Rolls-Royce, belonging to the principal, was parked at the entrance.
Lang Quan was waiting nearby and said, "You guys had a good time."
"I'm just going to the airport, aah! There's no need to bring out a Rolls-Royce for a few freshmen!"
Lu Xiu, sitting in the passenger seat, said, "Isn't it because we have many people?"
Seeing Lu Xiu, Jiang Hong immediately added, "I thought you'd call a cab..."
Lu Xiu: "Shall we go?"
Jiang Hong: "Do I have to drive?!"
Lu Xiu: "Otherwise, we won't all fit. Don't you want to drive?"
Jiang Hong: "I want to, will drive."
He Jian kept asking questions, so Lu Xiu said, "This car belongs to Principal Xiang, just borrowed it for a bit."
He Jian then flattered with a smile, "Teacher Lu..."
Jin and Zhang Xiting quickly caught on, saying with a smile, "Teacher Lu..."
"Everyone failed?" Lu Xiu said incredulously, "That can't be, right? Zhang Xiting, even you failed?"
Zhang Xiting awkwardly said, "I missed the roll call twice, not sure if I failed."
Lu Xiu: "You never attended classes, did you!"
Scratching his head, Zhang Xiting left Lu Xiu to check on WeChat for them, and it turned out none of the three had failed, much to everyone's relief.
Jiang Hong awkwardly parked the car at the airport. Lang Quan would come back to drive it away. They proceeded with everyone to security check and checked in their luggage. Lu Xiu wanted to hold Jiang Hong's hand but thought better of it and instead put his arm around his shoulder, saying to the others, "See you next semester, thanks for looking after Jiang Hong."
Everyone said their goodbyes at the airport, and for some reason, Jiang Hong felt deeply moved by the phrase "thanks for looking after Jiang Hong." My goodness, such boyfriend material!
This summer break was filled with anticipation for Jiang Hong. Lu Xiu would be going home with him for the entire summer, and they even planned to travel in an RV! How wonderful!
Chapter 75: Summer Vacation
On the night of the school anniversary, stars twinkled in the deep night sky, and the Milky Way resembled the trail of a phoenix sweeping through with light and shadow.
Lu Xiu left the stage amidst the flute music, silently joining Jiang Hong to listen to Si Gui's performance.
Si Gui played a gentle pop tune, "You Are My Sunshine." The atmosphere of the evening first reached a climax and then, with the soothing music from Lu Xiu and Xiang Si Gui, relaxed into a grand, flowing sensation.
"So beautiful!" Jiang Hong whispered in admiration. Thousands were silent, gazing towards the stage, where only Si Gui was bathed in the starlight, his flute playing soft and enveloping the tender night.
Looking up at the night sky, the summer constellations formed a grand triangle with the stars Vega, Altair, and Cygnus, running like a magnificent stream into the heart of the Milky Way at the core of Scorpius.
“You are my sunshine…”
Gradually, with the sound of a homeward flute, all the students began a grand chorus, converging into an ocean of song, a spectacular sight.
The emblem of Cangqiong University, a phoenix reborn from the ashes and soaring into flight, was the perfect symbol to conclude the annual university celebration.
“You are my sunshine,My only sunshine;you make me happy,when skies are gray…”
Holding hands, Jiang Hong couldn't help but sing along with the crowd. Suddenly, he glanced at Lu Xu and found him staring back, causing Jiang's face to instantly flush red.
“You are my sunshine…”
The tiered stands folded back into place with the last notes of the homecoming song, reverting to their original campus appearance. Lights flickered across the area, crisscrossing and then brightly illuminating the entire campus. The celebration stage disappeared into the administration building, and the interweaving staircases in the sky returned to their normal positions within the teaching and administrative buildings.
The music faded into the night, and everything returned to its usual state, as if a dream had finally ended.
The students lingered, not wanting to leave. When the bright lights came on and the night market reopened, the evening celebration finally ended. The buzz of people rose like a tidal wave, and the campus streets returned to their lively, bustling state with music resuming in various locations.
"It's over," said Lu Xu. "Shall we go for late-night snacks?"
"You were so cool!" Jiang Hong had completely forgotten about the battle a few hours ago, even the fact that Zhu Rong had attacked the school, as if it all were just a fleeting dream.
"Let's go," Lu Xu said, taking Jiang Hong's hand, and they headed back to the street of shops.
"Vacation is starting!" Jiang Hong was ecstatic, jumping onto Lu Xu's back. Lu Xu didn't resist and carried him. They wandered among the night food stalls; the campus was even livelier at night than during the day. The cool breeze blew as tables and chairs were set up, and people began to drink beer and eat late-night snacks while chatting.
"Jiang Hong!" Jin shouted from a nearby table. "Come have a drink!"
"Hold on!" Jiang Hong waved at Jin from a distance.
"What do you want to eat?" Lu Xu asked, letting Jiang Hong ride on his back.
"Let's check over there," Jiang Hong suggested. "Crayfish! Ah! I want crayfish!"
The owner of "Clam Spirit Crayfish & Night Beer" was a chubby, friendly young man. His sign clearly revealed his identity. Seeing Lu Xu, he immediately greeted, "Senior! What would you like?"
Jiang Hong was pondering the odd combination of clam spirit and crayfish, but Lu Xu had already ordered at the stall. As they moved behind the stall, they suddenly found a table set far away from the students. To their surprise, it was Chen Zhen, Chen Lang, and Cao Bin sitting there with crayfish, grilled fish, and a few bottles of beer.
Chen Lang saw them and waved. Chen Zhen, who was talking to Cao Bin, also noticed Lu Xu.
Cao Bin gestured for them to join the table.
Chen Zhen said something with a smile, to which Cao Bin promptly replied, "No worries, feel free."
"What's up?" Lu Xu asked.
"Let me not disturb you two," Cao Bin said with a smile.
"It's fine," Lu Xu replied.
Jiang Hong exclaimed, "What are you guys talking about? Oh, grilled fish!"
Chen Lang handed them chopsticks and disposable bowls. The stall owner's culinary skills were commendable; they were lucky to grab seats before the place got crowded.
Chen Zhen said, "Actually, I have something to ask you, Jiang Hong. After tonight, who knows when we'll meet again."
Jiang Hong tensed up and glanced at Lu Xu. Chen Zhen quickly added, "Don't worry, it's nothing serious."
Lu Xu gestured that it was okay, then poured beer for Jiang Hong and himself.
"That last moment," Chen Zhen said, "it was you, right?"
"What... what?" Jiang Hong quickly realized what Chen Zhen meant.
"During the confrontation with the dark sorcerer Chen Zhen, was it he who disrupted the other's spellcasting? Although no one could see Jiang Hong, or rather, chose to ignore his presence, the outcome surely must have been felt by Chen Zhen."
"Jiang Hong quickly feigned ignorance, knowing that the truth about the pot must not be revealed to Chen Zhen, or it would inevitably lead to complications involving Shuhu's head and his own entry into the treasure vault, which would be a major problem."
"Although Shuhu had said there was no need to worry about it, as it would be insignificant by the time it came to light, Jiang Hong still chose not to disclose it."
"Chen Zhen simply smiled at Jiang Hong, and suddenly, everyone fell silent."
"Cao Bin said, 'If he says no, then it's no.'"
"Chen Zhen: 'He didn't deny it, did he, Jiang Hong?'"
"Cao Bin: 'If you must ask that way, I can also say, he didn't admit it.'"
"Lu Xiu fell silent for a moment, looking towards Jiang Hong, and Chen Zhen said, 'I know there must be more to this, but what I want to know is, in the end, was it you who saved me?'"
"'No, no!' Jiang Hong immediately denied, saying, 'Uh, it was all because of you, right?'"
"Chen Zhen using the word 'save' was too heavy a term, and Jiang Hong never felt that he could 'save' anyone, at most he just lent a hand."
"Chen Zhen nodded and said, 'I understand, regardless, I must express my deepest gratitude to you.'"
"Cao Bin remained silent, deep in thought, while Chen Zhen sighed, his expression complex. His younger brother Chen Lang noticed this and placed his hand on his brother's, as if to encourage him."
"'I thought I could fight him alone and defeat him,' Chen Zhen said, 'but at that moment, I did waver. Without this valuable assistance, perhaps now we…'"
"Cao Bin said, 'What's our greatest advantage when facing illusion? You've reminded me more than once, Chen Zhen. It's the help we provide each other, the willingness to risk our lives to protect one another. Regardless of any hesitation, we ultimately won, and that's what matters most. You can't always think about bearing everything alone, it's meaningless.'"
"Chen Zhen fell silent, then self-mockingly said, 'Being a great exorcist for so long, one tends to carry a bit of an idol's burden, thank you.'"
"Jiang Hong didn't dare to interject in this dialogue between two powerful figures. He glanced at Chen Lang, who was quickly writing and selecting on a tablet, and after forming a sentence, Jiang Hong read it out loud."
"'True light is not the absence of darkness, but the ability to not be overshadowed by it.'"
"Cao Bin raised his eyebrows, and Chen Zhen nodded."
"'It's Xiao Duo's favorite saying,' Chen Zhen said with a smile."
"Cao Bin replied, 'It's the same principle for you, for Xiao Hei, and for each one of us.'"
"Jiang Hong: '?'"
"Jiang Hong didn't understand why Cao Bin suddenly brought up Lu Xiu. Lu Xiu's face changed for a moment, filled with anger, then sadness, but quickly returned to normal, replying, 'Yes, that's right.'"
"Then, everyone silently began to eat and drink, the atmosphere turning somewhat tense. Jiang Hong carefully pondered Chen Zhen's words, realizing that he must care deeply, just like Lu Xiu cares about his clone. Both of them had the same obsession: to personally defeat themselves. Discovering the inability to conquer their own darker selves, their convictions wavered."
"And Cao Bin was right, our confidence in defeating 'them' comes because we believe in each other."
"Suddenly, in this quiet moment, Lu Xiu spoke up, asking Chen Lang, 'Is there any magical item in the world that can make someone temporarily invisible?'"
"Chen Lang thought for a moment and replied, '[There are many magical items that can render one invisible, but all invisibility items cannot block the flow of 'spirit.' They might work on mortals, I guess?]'"
"'Right,' Jiang Hong said, curious despite not understanding why Lu Xiu asked this question. 'Is there any magical item that can make someone 'completely disappear'?'"
"Chen Lang seemed a bit perplexed, while Cao Bin poured beer for Chen Zhen. Lu Xiu leaned back in a plastic chair, his hand resting unconsciously on Jiang Hong's back, stroking his spine, starting the conversation but leaving it to the two of them."
"Chen Lang: '[I've heard, just heard mind you, and it's a very contradictory rumor, not to be taken seriously... There's a rumored magical item, or rather 'an' item, that can refract all consciousness. Perhaps this counts as 'complete invisibility'? After all, if consciousness is refracted, it disappears thoroughly, though I can't fathom how it works.]'"
"Here it comes! Jiang Hong's heart raced, wondering if continuing this topic might accidentally expose his venture into the treasure trove – but he also understood Lu Xiu's intention in raising this question: to subtly reassure Chen Zhen. It must be!"
"Jiang Hong asked curiously, 'Why?'"
"Chen Lang: '[If this item really can refract consciousness, how did the first person who possessed it discover it?]'"
"Jiang Hong: 'Right! Oh?'"
"In that instant, Jiang Hong thought of the non-existent 'third compartment' in the treasure vault. Without Shuhu's reminder, he wouldn't have known about the 'third compartment' at all! After counting two, he would always skip to 'four,' and even with Shuhu's reminder, without the power of the Book of Everything, he couldn't see the pot in the third compartment."
"'Oh...' Jiang Hong inferred something else from this. Could it be that the consciousness of everyone in the Exorcism Committee could be refracted? Meaning, no one in the Committee, no matter who, ever knew about the existence of a 'third compartment' containing a pot!"
"This is utterly absurd! Yet, such a thing is very possible!"
"Lu Xiu lazily said, 'If no magical power is infused, the magical item won't activate, and then it could be seen, right?'"
"Chen Lang: '[If that were the case, this item would have left behind many rumors; inferring from the almost nonexistent rumors, the item is self-activating. Such a high-level magical item must have its own consciousness, so it needs to activate itself to protect itself.]'"
"'That's also true,' Jiang Hong said. 'So, could it possibly be in the Exorcism Committee?'"
"Chen Lang: '[It might be in some inconspicuous place, but if it doesn't want to be found, you'll never find it.]'"
"'Hmm...' Jiang Hong nodded and said, 'Got it.'"
"Lu Xiu looked at Cao Bin, their eyes meeting. Cao Bin seemed to understand but remained expressionless, while Chen Zhen realized something and smiled, saying, 'Come on, let's drink.'"
"Just as everyone was about to raise their glasses again, the Heavenly Pulse suddenly flashed."
"The brilliance of the Heavenly Pulse mingled with the Milky Way, the celestial anomaly triggering a chaotic vortex of magical power. The radiance flickered as if the creator of stars had disrupted all rules and the arrangement of stars, but it was just a fleeting moment, and everything returned to normal."
"Students in the campus were all taken aback, looking up at the night sky, thinking an enemy had come, but soon, the Milky Way returned to calm."
"Cao Bin and Chen Zhen both looked up at the night sky simultaneously."
"Did Fang Yifeng succeed?" Cao Bin asked.
"Yes, he did," Chen Zhen said, "I temporarily entrusted the 'Wheel of Eons' to him."
Right after, Chen Zhen received a phone call. It was Qi Wei's voice saying, "Operation over, I'm exhausted!"
"Did you rescue everyone?" Chen Zhen asked.
Qi Wei's voice was clear, and some of it reached Jiang Hong's ears through the phone.
"Everyone's been rescued! It's just a pity we didn't grab the Qingyu Golden Cup. Yifeng wanted to make a retaliatory strike, but I said forget it, with so many hostages..."
"Alright, good," Chen Zhen put on his headphones and added, "Take the colleagues we rescued back to the Exorcism Committee for now, check against the list, be cautious of any changes, I'll be right back... An Jie!"
Chen Zhen saw An Jie, who was talking to Xuan Hezhi not far away, quickly approached him, and the two left Tsangqiong University. Chen Zhen seemed in good spirits, turning back to signal Chen Lang to continue playing here for a while, but Chen Lang, not sentimental, quickly followed Chen Zhen.
"What are they doing?" Jiang Hong was very surprised, "Is there another arrangement tonight?"
"Yeah," Cao Bin, sipping his beer, replied, "The Exorcism Committee sent out a very powerful top-class exorcist. While the illusion was attacking us, they counterattacked their stronghold. You don't need to worry anymore, the hostages should all be rescued."
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Jiang Hong hadn't expected Chen Zhen to be such a formidable figure. It seemed like they were at a disadvantage, but with Chen Zhen and Cao Bin's ambush, they turned the tables in one move!
Lu Xiu asked, "What about the inner demons replicated in the Exorcism Committee?"
Cao Bin answered indifferently, "Chen Zhen already has a list, they were dealt with in advance. The Heart Lamp can also exorcise demons. For him, such inner demons are just a minor issue."
Raising his glass, Cao Bin said with a smile, "Here's to the good health of our big boss."
"Jiang Hong began to laugh."
"In a dark corner of the world, jagged rocks crisscrossed to form a massive cliff, blade-like cliffs standing tall, their bottoms unseen, with countless rocks floating in the air. This place seemed like a space where gravity had been lost."
"Dark mist entwined around a central pillar, manifesting blood-red eyes, like a beast choosing its prey, watching over the blue-black flame burning on one of the rocks."
"'Perhaps I should let you rest for a while,' a deep voice resonated in the closed space, 'You've wasted much spiritual power and still haven't achieved what I desire.'"
"'I've done my best,' Chen Zhen's voice came from the blue-black flame, 'My energy is insufficient.'"
"'What about the ambush you set up?' the beast roared."
"'I can't trigger it at will,' Chen Zhen's voice was weary, 'These ambushes are vital for your descent. And Xiang Cheng hasn't shown himself; I must be on guard against him at all times. I need more help. The Book of Everything has been taken by Jiang Hong, Cao Bin hasn't been truly born yet, and currently, only Lu Xiu can assist me. I've been fighting alone.'"
"'Devour,' the beast said, 'from the inside out. Your mistake is to always think from outside in, thinking elimination solves the problem. Why such elaborate measures for a mere mortal? This is precisely the error; how many messengers have ultimately failed at the hands of mortals?'"
"The blue-black flame remained silent, then spoke after a moment, 'My lord, I request to use more ancient gods. My ambush has been thwarted, the other me found my arrangement, the inner demons I cultivated for a long time have been destroyed by the exorcists, and the hostages were taken away.'"
"The beast replied, 'Go, I will give you what you need, but ancient gods are not crucial, neither is power, nor are clever schemes and strategies. To prevail, it's all about the heart. You must no longer underestimate them, break them from within, from their hearts, and wait for the moment of my descent.'"
"'Whatever they do, it won't change the outcome of your return,' Chen Zhen's voice said."
"'Yes,' the beast said solemnly, 'that's right, you must have confidence, but everything you do is not without purpose.'"
"The day after the school anniversary, contrary to expectations, there was no chaos. It seemed as if someone had cast a spell while all the students were asleep, making all the stalls, debris, and decorations vanish in the blink of an eye."
"It was as if a gust of wind had brought the splendid setup and then swept it all away clean with another breeze as the sun rose."
"Jiang Hong thought to himself that in his four years of university, he must learn this spell, as it would be very useful for household chores."
"'Jiang Hong, help me with my leg,' Old Sun said again."
"Got it, got it," Jiang Hong said, "I've always remembered... don't bother me, let's pack up first. Hey, why is everyone here?"
Jiang Hong pushed open the door of his dormitory, and his roommates exclaimed together, "Wow, Madam, you didn't come back again last night!"
Jiang Hong, feeling defeated, reluctantly went to get his luggage. Everyone's stuff was already prepared, and Zhang Xiting said, "Shall we all go to the airport together?"
Jiang Hong: "I... uh..."
He didn't dare to say he just came back to grab his suitcase and was about to leave with Lu Xiu, but everyone was so warm and friendly, so Jiang Hong had no choice but to text Lu Xiu, who replied, '[Got it, will wait at the school's back gate later, let's all go together.]'
Jin: "Did you have fun last night?"
Jiang Hong: "It was... okay, I guess? What about you guys? Haha, didn't see you there."
Zhang Xiting: "Did you sleep in Teacher Lu's dorm?"
Jiang Hong: "Yeah... yeah." He then weakly protested, "Stop patting my shoulder, it's so hot."
He Jian: "Everyone heard the love song Teacher Lu sang for you yesterday!"
Jiang Hong: "Guys, just tell me what you want me to do, let's be straightforward!"
He Jian: "I recorded it!"
Jiang Hong: "Don't force me to watch it again... what? You recorded it? Send it to me quick, let me see!"
So, they all relived the moment of Lu Xiu singing 'Thank You,' Jiang Hong blushing fiercely as he watched, hurriedly saving it and saying, "Okay, okay, that's enough, let's go!"
The dorm group, each with a suitcase, the 'team boxes' they bought together, arrived at the school's back gate, where He Jian was the first to exclaim, "Wow—!"
A Rolls-Royce, belonging to the principal, was parked at the entrance.
Lang Quan was waiting nearby and said, "You guys had a good time."
"I'm just going to the airport, aah! There's no need to bring out a Rolls-Royce for a few freshmen!"
Lu Xiu, sitting in the passenger seat, said, "Isn't it because we have many people?"
Seeing Lu Xiu, Jiang Hong immediately added, "I thought you'd call a cab..."
Lu Xiu: "Shall we go?"
Jiang Hong: "Do I have to drive?!"
Lu Xiu: "Otherwise, we won't all fit. Don't you want to drive?"
Jiang Hong: "I want to, will drive."
He Jian kept asking questions, so Lu Xiu said, "This car belongs to Principal Xiang, just borrowed it for a bit."
He Jian then flattered with a smile, "Teacher Lu..."
Jin and Zhang Xiting quickly caught on, saying with a smile, "Teacher Lu..."
"Everyone failed?" Lu Xiu said incredulously, "That can't be, right? Zhang Xiting, even you failed?"
Zhang Xiting awkwardly said, "I missed the roll call twice, not sure if I failed."
Lu Xiu: "You never attended classes, did you!"
Scratching his head, Zhang Xiting left Lu Xiu to check on WeChat for them, and it turned out none of the three had failed, much to everyone's relief.
Jiang Hong awkwardly parked the car at the airport. Lang Quan would come back to drive it away. They proceeded with everyone to security check and checked in their luggage. Lu Xiu wanted to hold Jiang Hong's hand but thought better of it and instead put his arm around his shoulder, saying to the others, "See you next semester, thanks for looking after Jiang Hong."
Everyone said their goodbyes at the airport, and for some reason, Jiang Hong felt deeply moved by the phrase "thanks for looking after Jiang Hong." My goodness, such boyfriend material!
This summer break was filled with anticipation for Jiang Hong. Lu Xiu would be going home with him for the entire summer, and they even planned to travel in an RV! How wonderful!
