A hovercar came to a stop outside a desolate, abandoned building. Lian Qiguang paid the fare, jumped out of the hovercar, and looked around at the deserted ruins, furrowing his brow slightly.
Lian Qiguang opened the lightbrain in his hand and sent a message. “Where are you right now?”
The moment Lian Qiguang sent the message, a reply popped up immediately. “I don’t know, Lord Kumu, save me!”
A chill flashed in Lian Qiguang’s eyes. He no longer pinned his hopes on Mi Xiaobao’s food-obsessed mind. He put away his lightbrain and released his psychic energy in all directions to sweep the area.
Lian Qiguang stepped onto the path littered with scrap metal and slowly made his way deeper into the ruins. His psychic energy swept through the building, leaving no corner unexamined.
Suddenly, the psychic energy Lian Qiguang had released collided with a powerful force and was violently bounced back. Caught off guard, Lian Qiguang’s eyes narrowed instantly, and he took a few steps backward.
Lian Qiguang pressed his hand to his chest, his gaze darkening.
What a powerful force—at least at the Empty Realm level or higher.
With the enemy in the dark and himself in the light, Lian Qiguang channeled all his supernatural energy, remained vigilant of his surroundings, and walked steadily toward the source of the force.
The silence around him was eerie; compared to the bustling noise of traffic and crowds outside, this place felt more like a forgotten, isolated world.
Lian Qiguang walked for about half an hour. The landscape, once filled with dilapidated and abandoned metal, gave way to a sudden clearing, and a luxurious, exquisitely designed estate villa came into view.
Lian Qiguang stopped in his tracks, staring expressionlessly at the villa that stood out starkly from its surroundings. The wariness in his eyes did not fade; instead, he grew even more cautious.
Lian Qiguang reached out, gathering his fire-based ability in his hand, and suddenly hurled it at the villa. Just as the fireball was about to strike the villa’s front door, it suddenly halted, as if blocked by something. Fine ripples spread out in concentric circles, causing the air to suddenly twist. The fireball spun rapidly and suddenly rebounded toward Lian Qiguang. He dodged to the side, his body swaying slightly.
“A Void-tier ability barrier,” Lian Qiguang thought, feeling a hint of surprise.
Lian Qiguang’s ability was currently stuck at the peak of the Xuan Tier, while this barrier had already reached the Kong Tier. A single tier difference in ability meant a world of difference; for anyone else, breaking through this barrier would be nearly impossible. But for Lian Qiguang, he still stood a chance.
Lian Qiguang took two steps back, his gaze sharpening as a faint green glow slowly swirled around his body.
His wood-elemental ability was already unlike that of ordinary people; he could hold his own against Xiahou Shaoxuan even when giving it his all—let alone against this Void-tier power.
Lian Qiguang steeled his resolve. The green energy around his body grew denser and swirled rapidly, eventually coalescing into a massive storm that swept up the metal debris scattered across the ground, howling as it did so.
Lian Qiguang gritted his teeth silently and, in one decisive burst, slammed the storm violently against the villa’s protective barrier. The two forces clashed, locked in a stalemate, as massive waves surged across the barrier. The green storm focused on a single point, growing ever more intense.
A dark intensity flashed in Lian Qiguang’s eyes as he stared at the pressure created by the clashing forces, taking heavy, deliberate steps forward, inch by inch.
The barrier began to tremble, and as Lian Qiguang closed in, fine spiderweb-like cracks began to spread across its surface.
Lian Qiguang clenched his palm into a fist and suddenly let out a thunderous roar. As the forces collided, the barrier shattered into a shower of fragments. The scattered energy swept outward in all directions, accompanied by deafening booms that reverberated for several li, reducing the surrounding area to ruins.
Lian Qiguang staggered and dropped to one knee on the ground, his face pale and his breathing labored.
As the smoke cleared, Lian Qiguang raised his head and looked at the villa, which remained unscathed, letting out a slight sigh of relief.
After calming his racing heart and the discomfort in his body, Lian Qiguang slowly stood up and stepped through the villa’s shattered front door.
Walking across the smooth white stone floor inside the villa, Lian Qiguang surveyed his surroundings with a blank expression. The flower beds, trees, fountain, and statues all resembled the castles he had once seen in books—so opulent and extravagant as to be shocking.
“Lord… Lord Kumu?” A timid voice came from the side. Lian Qiguang paused slightly and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw Mi Xiaobao cowering behind a wall, wearing a baggy, oversized garment that clearly didn’t belong to him, his hair a tangled mess, watching Lian Qiguang cautiously.
“Mi Xiaobao,” Lian Qiguang said in a cold tone.
“Lord Kumu!!” Lian Qiguang’s nod made Mi Xiaobao’s eyes widen. He darted out from behind the wall, ran quickly to Lian Qiguang’s side, and hugged him tightly, unable to hide his deep sense of grievance as he burst into tears.
“Lord Kumu!! I just… I just knew you’d come to save me!”
“What happened?” Caught off guard by Mi Xiaobao’s sudden embrace, Lian Qiguang felt a pang of unease but didn’t push him away, asking in a detached tone.
“I, I…” Recalling the madness of that night, Mi Xiaobao’s face flushed crimson, and he stammered, unable to find the words.
“Lord Kumu, did you come right after you got my message?” Mi Xiaobao let go of Lian Qiguang, buried his head, and quietly changed the subject.
“Mm.” He thought for a moment, then added, “I was in the Dean’s office when I saw the message you sent.”
“I was so scared.” Mi Xiaobao clenched his little fists and rubbed his eyes, sniffling as if he were about to cry again. “You were the only one I could think of, Lord Kumu. If you hadn’t come, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.”
Looking at Mi Xiaobao, who had his head down, rubbing his eyes, and looking utterly heartbroken, Lian Qiguang realized he didn’t want to talk about it, so he didn’t press the issue any further. As long as the boy was okay, that was all that mattered.
“Let’s go.” Lian Qiguang tossed out the words and turned to leave. Mi Xiaobao hurried after him, his two chubby little hands clutching Lian Qiguang’s hem tightly, refusing to let go. Lian Qiguang glanced back but didn’t pull away.
“Lord Kumu, are you hurt?” ” Noticing Lian Qiguang’s slightly pale face, Mi Xiaobao asked anxiously.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry—it’s all my fault.” Mi Xiaobao pouted, tears streaming down her face.
“……” Lian Qiguang glanced at Mi Xiaobao, shoved his hands into his pockets, and stared expressionlessly at the sky above. “As long as you’re okay.”
As he stepped out of the villa, Lian Qiguang paused, turned to look behind him, his gaze shifting restlessly as if he were pondering something. Mi Xiaobao followed Lian Qiguang’s line of sight and sniffled. “Lord Deadwood? What are you looking at?”
In response to Mi Xiaobao’s question, Lian Qiguang remained silent as always. With one hand, he shoved Mi Xiaobao behind him, then condensed flames in his palm, shaping them into a giant dragon that crashed into the villa. A deafening explosion followed, and the villa was blown to pieces, instantly turning into a sea of fire.
“!!!” Mi Xiaobao
“Let’s go. The police will be here any minute.” Having finished his dirty work, Lian Qiguang slipped his hands back into his pockets and turned to walk away with a clear conscience, his expression as calm as ever, as if nothing had happened.
Mi Xiaobao swallowed hard as he watched Lian Qiguang’s small eyes sparkle like a sky full of stars once more. In his eyes, Lian Qiguang’s status had soared several notches higher, elevating him to godlike status.
“Lord Deadwood, aren’t you… coming back with me?” After Lian Qiguang helped him onto the hovercar, Mi Xiaobao tugged at Lian Qiguang’s sleeve, reluctant to let him go. Having just escaped that terrifying place and facing a completely unfamiliar surroundings, Mi Xiaobao was relying on Lian Qiguang more than ever.
“I still have some business to attend to,” Lian Qiguang said calmly as he pulled his sleeve back into place, watching Mi Xiaobao’s face instantly cloud over. “If you’re willing to tell me who bullied you, I’ll take care of him for you.”
Thinking of Zhe Lang, Mi Xiaobao’s face paled slightly; he turned his head away, not daring to meet Lian Qiguang’s eyes. Mi Xiaobao wasn’t stupid; he knew exactly what Zhe Lang had done to him yesterday. But he didn’t dare say it—and he couldn’t say it. If anyone found out he’d been raped…
Then he would definitely be forcibly expelled. As a minor, he knew what kind of “protection”—or perhaps “perversion” would be a more fitting term—Blue Star’s laws provided for minors.
He’d be forcibly expelled, locked up in a “protection” facility, then randomly matched with someone, losing his freedom forever. He wasn’t a natural person; he didn’t have the rights that natural persons possessed.
Besides, he didn’t want to see the strange look in Lian Qiguang’s eyes—the way he looked at him.
“It’s okay,” Mi Xiaobao grinned, though the smile on his face was a bit stiff. “I’m out now, aren’t I? It was just a false alarm. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“A master at the Void Realm—I wouldn’t stand a chance against him, and with your pathetic combat skills, he could crush you with a single finger.” Lian Qiguang crossed his arms, calmly observing Mi Xiaobao’s attempt to hide the truth.
Void Realm!!
Mi Xiaobao’s face went pale instantly. Given that he’d been completely helpless against the man, he’d known the man wasn’t ordinary, but he never imagined he’d be this strong.
“Let’s head back to school,” Lian Qiguang said, turning to leave.
“Lord Kumu, where are you going?”
“I have something to take care of. I need to make a trip to Zone 1.”
“Zone 1!” Mi Xiaobao’s eyes widened. Even the driver, who had already been waiting impatiently, cringed and silently swallowed the words he was about to say to urge him on.
Watching Lian Qiguang’s figure gradually fade into the distance, Mi Xiaobao opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to hide the truth from Lian Qiguang, but he also couldn’t afford to be expelled.
He wasn’t a natural person; as for what happened yesterday, he would choose to forget it, pretending it had never happened.
Lian Qiguang wandered the streets, squinting at the shadow beneath his feet. He’d originally planned to go to District 1 tomorrow, but after all the commotion with Mi Xiaobao, he no longer wanted to return to the academy, so he contacted Xiahou Luoyu and asked him to come pick him up.
Although he already had a pretty good idea about the suspicions in his heart, he still hoped that his judgment this time might be wrong.
If things were truly as he suspected, then he would have to prepare for battle once again.
Lian Qiguang stopped in his tracks. Surrounded by hovercars whizzing by, he stared at his reflection on the ground, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly turned around.
“Why are you following me?”
Qiu Limò was still clad in a black high-neck jacket, standing with his arms crossed in the shade of a tree, silently watching Lian Qiguang. His falling black hair obscured his expressionless dark eyes. The setting sun cast a warm, orange glow, yet he remained shrouded in a perpetual chill and solitude.
“He’s hurt.” Under Lian Qiguang’s gaze, Qiu Limuo spoke silently.
Lian Qiguang’s eyes darkened. He knew who Qiu Limuo was referring to, but he didn’t understand why Qiu Limuo had come to find him.
“He’s hurt.” Qiu Limuo raised his head, his dark eyes peering deep into Lian Qiguang’s.
“He can get hurt too?” Lian Qiguang looked up at the sky; his flat tone made it impossible to tell whether it was concern or sarcasm.
“He’s been calling for you. He wants to see you.”
After a long silence, Lian Qiguang slowly averted his gaze and looked at Qiu Limò with a blank expression. “Do you know who he is?”
“I don’t want to know, but he’s my father.”
“Foolish.” Lian Qiguang shot Qiu Limò a cold glance and turned to leave.
Qiu Limò darted forward, blocking Lian Qiguang’s path. His dark eyes fixed on Lian Qiguang, calm and unruffled. “Come with me to see him. Consider this my plea.”
“You’re no match for me.” Lian Qiguang glanced at Qiu Limò and turned to step around him. Just as Qiu Limò reached out to grab Lian Qiguang’s shoulder, Lian Qiguang’s eyes darkened; he leaned back to dodge, and an icy spike formed in his hand, pointing straight at Qiu Limò’s brow.
“Haven’t you ever noticed? I look a lot like you.” Qiu Limò reached out and gripped the ice spike between his eyebrows; blood flowed freely through the gaps between his fingers, falling to the ground and splattering into vivid, crimson blossoms.
“The person you used to be, Lord Dark Light.” Qiu Limò raised his head, brushing his black hair aside from his face, and gazed at Lian Qiguang with detachment.
Lian Qiguang’s grip tightened suddenly, and a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes.
His dark eyes swept over Qiu Limò’s brow and eyes; the more he looked, the heavier his heart grew. The shape of his brows, eyes, mouth, and nose—along with that aloof, cold demeanor and the aura between his brows—actually bore seven or eight parts resemblance to his former self. But all this time, Qiu Limò had been wearing a high-collared black coat, his face hidden by his black hair, and his head bowed—so this resemblance had been significantly diminished.
So, the jarring sense of familiarity that had always puzzled him was right here.
“I beg you, go see him.” Qiu Limò released his grip and bent his back—a posture he had never before adopted.
Lian Qiguang retracted his ice spikes, cast a faint glance at Qiu Limò, and turned to leave.
“Tell him to live well and not to do anything he can’t take back. As long as he doesn’t cross my line, I’ll still be his teacher.”