Chapter 77 77 Madman "Only the Spring and Autumn Annals can understand me and judge me."...
August 27, the first year of spiritual recovery, Jinwuyuan·Backyard.
"The leaders are here for the final exam, so everyone should perform well!" Ning Changkong clapped his hands jokingly.
Chi Zhaoming walked a little behind him and continued with a smile, "I can't lead you, Deputy Director Ning."
Behind Chi Zhaoming followed Yue Jingting and Zuo Langning, who came to Jinwu Garden to join in the fun, and in front of him stood the four little ones lined up in a row.
Today is the last day that the four of them will stay in Jinwuyuan. After today, they will return to Longyuan Academy to prepare for the start of school.
"Then please ask Director Chi to check your learning results." Ning Changkong moved back a few steps to make room for Chi Zhaoming who was flexing his wrist, preparing to let him practice a one-on-four match.
Gu Minghui bravely asked, "Senior Ning, can we have a fight with you?"
Ning Changkong stopped in his tracks and asked helplessly, "Why?"
He has not been in good health for the past two months, so the sparring has basically been left to Bai Xian. Bai Xian is also happy to stretch his muscles and help deal with this bunch of little radishes.
Gu Minghui said confidently: "There will be plenty of opportunities to fight with Master in the future, but this may be the only chance for me to fight with Mingqi-kun - ouch!"
Chi Zhaoming slapped him on the forehead and rubbed Xiao Gu's head twice: "What, I haven't beaten you for two months, so you want to be punished?"
Ning Changkong stepped forward with a smile, and took out the black spear named "Liuxian" in his hand. He weighed it twice in his hand, and spiritual energy circulated throughout his body.
He smiled and said, "You asked for this."
Before he finished speaking, the spear had already rushed towards the group of four with great force.
When he was still Lin Jinsong, he chose the bow and arrow in the practical class because he was in poor health and lacked physical strength. Even if he could win in close combat, the consumption would be too great and the loss would not be worth it.
After accepting the Phoenix inheritance on the night of the Lantern Festival, his strength increased greatly. In terms of combat power, he was ranked among the best in the entire Eastern cultivation world. The enemies he had to deal with on a daily basis were mostly small minions with evil spirits, so he could kill them one by one in close combat, which saved costs.
His lack of physical strength had not yet been cured. Ning Changkong frowned and blocked Gu Minghui's heavy blow with his gun, which made his palm numb.
But it was just a little brat, he could still handle this short-term outburst. Ning Changkong did not use Phoenix Fire, but used his gun to block Wen Qingsheng's sneak attack.
"Very good." Yue Jingting, who was watching from the side, praised, "It's at the level of a college graduate."
Ning Changkong curled his lips when he heard this: It's just the level of a graduate.
Not to mention his current supermodel combat power that relies on the phoenix spiritual power, even Lin Jinsong, who just entered the school last year, has the level of a graduate of Longyuan Academy. For the protagonists who have to bear the future of mankind and the survival of the world, this level is not good enough.
Chi Zhaoming was a little distracted.
There is no doubt that everyone standing here can be called a genius, and there are even many who have Grade A superior spiritual roots that are rarely seen in a century.
But Lin Jinsong, no, Ning Changkong, at the age of just eighteen, had reached the pinnacle of both the human and demon races in terms of combat power and knowledge. This talent was dazzling enough to illuminate an era.
…so dazzling that it makes people wonder whether Lin Jinsong's feat that once amazed everyone was just a simple effort made by the phoenix when he descended to the earth to train.
After all, Ning Changkong has not yet explained how he became a phoenix from Lin Jinsong, and he even worked wholeheartedly for the demon clan. Maybe he was a phoenix who transformed into a human form and walked into the human world to travel.
Lin Jinsong has no father or mother, but his every move does not seem like a child who lacks love. Perhaps it is because this identity was fake from the beginning.
"——Okay, that's enough." Ning Changkong knocked the double swords from Su Yunyao's hands, announcing the end of the sparring match.
Zuo Langning clapped his hands and said sincerely, "These children have made great progress. Thank you, Mingqi-kun."
Gu Minghui collapsed on the ground and gasped: "Thank you, Mingqi-kun, you are really good at teaching--"
Wen Qingsheng picked up his sword that had been thrown off the ground and asked in confusion, "Didn't we agree to say thank you together?"
"Oh, yes, I forgot." Gu Minghui blinked blankly and was hit on the head by Yan Xiaoling.
Ning Changkong coughed twice. He couldn't help but smile in front of these people: "Don't thank me yet. I have gifts for you."
He took out a few golden crystals inlaid with red lines from his pocket: "These spiritual stones store some of my spiritual power and can temporarily resist evil spirits."
He deliberately did not mention the runes engraved inside, pretending that he did not care too much.
Chi Zhaoming gave him a teasing look and then turned his head away.
When he was asked to deliver it himself, he actually did it.
Ning Changkong ignored him and continued to instruct: "But the spiritual power sealed in here is not much, it can only be used for emergencies. If you really encounter evil spirits, you still have to use the amulet I gave you before."
"Okay, then, happy graduation." Phoenix put his hands together and smiled, "I wish you all good luck in your future practice."
I don't know when and where we will meet next time, but as long as these little brats don't get into trouble again, I'll just ask him to pick them up.
After the three human children finished their greetings and expressed their gratitude, Yan Xiaoling spoke hesitantly: "Um, Senior Ning..."
"Can we take a look at your true self...?"
Ning Changkong glanced at the little fox pretending to be dead, and Su Yunyao covered his lips with his fist in embarrassment.
Well, she just mentioned that the phoenix's true form looked cute, that's all.
August 27, the first year of the Reiki Recovery, Jinwu Garden.
"So bird demons generally don't like to wear narrow sleeves?" Gu Minghui turned his head and asked Su Yunyao while wiping his sweat.
Phoenix declined the request to show his real body, but settled for the next best thing and agreed to show them his wings, but he had to change his clothes first.
The little fox patiently waited with his chin in his hand: "Yes, they usually have wide sleeves or no sleeves, otherwise they will feel their wings are restrained."
"Even though we have transformed into human form, we all retain some of the habits of animal form. For example, even though it is not necessary, I still like to show my tail, otherwise I always feel like I can't keep my balance."
Yan Xiaoling reached out and grabbed the tip of the waving fiery red tail, and rubbed it against the fur with evil intentions. Su Yunyao said "Hey" in dissatisfaction, and was about to pull the tail out, when the phoenix, who had changed his clothes, came out.
"I... don't have much time to take care of my feathers." Ning Changkong's right hand under his wide sleeves had already turned into wings. He shook his feathers uncomfortably, trying his best to maintain a gentle smile.
In order to prepare for the ceremony of paying homage to the phoenix, he privately spent a lot of time practicing how to transform into an adult phoenix, but after trying again and again, he found that the strain on his body was too great and he could barely maintain it for even a moment.
It was okay that only one wing appeared. Ning Changkong slowly adjusted his breathing and complained in his heart: "Why did I agree to hold the Hundred Birds Pay Homage to the Phoenix in the first place?"
Chu Qingge continued, "Uh, to confirm your identity as the Phoenix?"
"It seems like we've reached halfway now." Ning Changkong lowered his head, while several excited human children took turns stroking his wings.
Revealing the true form of the phoenix was partly to cut off the thoughts of several old friends, and partly to solidify the identity of the phoenix in front of the entire demon clan and consolidate one's own influence.
There is still not enough time. Ning Changkong sighed in his heart. When he brings enough benefits to Penglai, even if all the demons know in their hearts that he is just a human who inherited the power of the phoenix, they will have to pretend that they know nothing.
Time, and more time.
Carefully stroking the feathers, Yan Xiaoling exclaimed sincerely: "So beautiful." The main body of the wings that Ning Changkong transformed into was a beautiful golden-red color, with colorful feathers at the ends.
Wen Qingsheng subconsciously stroked the feather pendant on his neck. Ning Changkong laughed dumbly: "That is not my feather. Before my spiritual energy was revived, I practiced in the illusion and never came to the world."
After saying this, he glanced at the people watching meaningfully. Yue Jingting tried his best to hide his disappointed look, while Chi Zhaoming seemed to be thinking about something.
In order to analyze the motives of Li Bo and Phoenix, Ning Changkong and Chi Zhaoming shared what they saw on the night of the Lantern Festival, but did not explain in detail how he came back to life - after all, if Chu Qingge had not used the skills of a fast traveler to forcibly put the soul back into the dying body, Lin Jinsong would have really died in the Tongshan illusion.
Exposing the identity of the fast traveler would result in a deduction of wages, so he would not do such a thing.
The confrontation with the little fox gave him a new inspiration. Rather than saying that Lin Jinsong turned from a human into a phoenix, it is more credible to say that it was the experienced phoenix pretending to be a human. It can also explain the excessive strength he showed when he rescued Yan Xiaoling and Gu Minghui, and even during the midterm exam.
Director Chi narrowed his eyes slightly, obviously receiving his hint. Chi Zhaoming stared at the phoenix's golden-red feathers in a trance, recalling the words Ning Changkong had mentioned lightly.
"...How can that be possible? Of course I died once and for all." Feng Huang said this in Chi Zhaoming's office.
No matter what the truth is, Lin Jinsong, as a human being, is indeed dead. Chi Zhaoming glanced at Yue Jingting, whose face changed slightly.
I am determined to cut off contact with my old friends. When we meet, we don't recognize each other. It's no different from being dead.
"Director Chi?" Ning Changkong's words interrupted Chi Zhaoming's thoughts, and he came back to look. The phoenix had already folded its wings that it had briefly let out for viewing, and was looking at Chi Zhaoming with its sleeves raised.
Chi Zhaoming just remembered what he had agreed with Ning Changkong. He calmed himself down and called out to Gu Minghui: "Minghui, Mingqi and I have something to tell you."
August 27, the first year of spiritual recovery, Jinwuyuan Study.
"You have performed well recently." Ning Changkong poured tea and pushed the cups in front of Gu Minghui and Chi Zhaoming respectively: "Chief Chi and I have discussed it and are ready to tell you part of the truth."
Gu Minghui straightened his back and clenched the teacup with his stiff fingers, as if he was completely unaware of the boiling temperature.
Since the day of the final exam, he has been working hard day and night to prepare for this day.
—— Please tell me, who should I draw my sword to avenge?
His eyes were burning, and Chi Zhaoming seemed to be burned by them, and he looked away involuntarily.
Just as they had agreed before, Feng Huang recounted what he had seen and heard on the night of the Lantern Festival with a normal expression.
"The two thieves you saw in the Land of Ten Thousand Soldiers on the day of your final exams—Li Bo and Phoenix—broke into the Tongshan Illusionary Realm that my father created on the night of the Lantern Festival."
It just reorganized what Lin Jinsong saw after being abducted by Phoenix in a way that fits the perspective of Son of Phoenix, and made a lot of simplifications.
"The Tongshan Illusion has been secluded from the world for a long time. It takes a lot of effort to re-establish the passage between the real world and the illusion. I kidnapped you probably to use the Yinglong aura on you to 'knock' on the door of the Tongshan Illusion."
Gu Minghui interrupted abruptly, "Besides these two, have you seen anyone else? For example, a young practitioner who is about my age?"
“…I’ve never seen it before.” Feng Huang lowered her eyes reluctantly and expressed regret to Gu Minghui.
"I understand." Gu Minghui said calmly, "Is this all I can know?"
His eyes now turned to Chi Zhaoming. Chi Zhaoming nodded slightly to him: "I told you this because I'm afraid you might have wild thoughts and your mind might be unstable. It's our job as adults to deal with these things."
Feng Huang showed that he cared more about Gu Minghui than his master. He said worriedly, "Don't be impulsive and don't do stupid things. If you have any problems, communicate with your elders more often."
Gu Minghui was completely free of the excitement and nervousness he had when he first entered the study. He pulled out his chair with an unusual calmness and stood up: "Okay, I understand."
"Li Bo, and Phoenix." He paused and said calmly, "I remember it."
Chi Zhaoming didn't come to his senses until Gu Minghui left the study.
Ning Changkong watched Gu Minghui's back disappear into the corridor with interest before he spoke: "The Yinglong aura on him suddenly surged. He looked too calm just now. It must be the Yinglong fragments that caused it."
"Yes...ah." Chi Zhaoming responded half a beat late and took a deep breath.
Ning Changkong smacked his lips and teased him casually: "Mr. Ye likes dragons, but he is so useless."
He made great use of the Yinglong fragments and sold Gu Minghui to Li Bo. However, when he really saw the Yinglong's posture in the end, he shrank back.
If only Ye Gong really just loves dragons. Chi Zhaoming sighed.
Ning Changkong raised his eyes to look at him, his expression more serious than ever before. He asked:
"Don't you regret it, Chi Zhaoming?"
Feng Huang knocked on the table and said solemnly: "You took the initiative to cooperate with Li Bo, betrayed Gu Minghui, triggered the revival of spiritual energy, triggered an era of unrest, and directly or indirectly killed many people - don't you regret it?"
Outside the study, there was the sound of cicadas simulated by magic. If Chi Zhaoming listened carefully, he could also hear the laughter of Yan Xiaoling and others at the other end of the corridor.
Young college students are looking forward to making their mark in the era of the renaissance of spiritual energy, and they aspire to reach the end of their spiritual practice.
"Absolutely not." Chi Zhaoming said firmly, "I'm sorry, but I don't regret it."
Chi Zhaoming stood up and for the first time told his thoughts to the only ally who knew about his extraordinary plan.
"I know that during the millennium when spiritual energy was declining, humans have achieved a lot. Without the need for cultivation, without the need for innate wings or scales, we can still explore the sky and the ocean."
"But we can obviously do more." Chi Zhaoming's eyes were blazing.
"Humanity has acquired enough knowledge to scientifically understand the nature of Reiki. When Reiki fully recovers, we will gain new energy and develop new technologies based on Reiki."
"Perhaps one day, we will be able to make everyone have a physical quality enhanced by Reiki, cure previously incurable diseases, and greatly extend human lifespan."
"This will be a collective evolution of humanity," he concluded.
"But not without a price." Phoenix interrupted him, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze.
Not all regions are like China, with a long tradition of spiritual practice, and can smoothly pass through the initial stage of spiritual recovery, when practitioners with evil intentions commit crimes, not to mention the influence of evil spirits.
Even in China, even though Chi Zhaoming had made preparations in advance, there were still people who lost their lives because of houses collapsed by overgrown plants, because of the inability of pets to control their behavior that suddenly gained intelligence, and because ordinary people were as fragile as paper in this world filled with spiritual energy.
Ning Changkong spent this year's Qingming Festival in the demon tribe, but he was not unaware of the fact that the Chinese people observed a three-minute silence on that day.
The revival of spiritual energy, the miracle that the practitioner had prayed for a thousand years... was not without a price.
Chi Zhaoming said calmly: "I understand, and I am willing to take this responsibility."
"But I can't hand over the Alien Bureau to someone else at this moment. I must ensure that the power of Chinese practitioners can get on the right track. When the Alien Bureau no longer needs me, perhaps I will take the initiative to surrender and confess the matter."
As the director of the Special Affairs Bureau, he secretly cooperated with a cult organization, and what awaits him is endless interrogation and prison life.
But no matter whether you become a hero or a sinner in human history, no matter what kind of insults you have to bear.
"What's the point of taking responsibility? The dead can't be resurrected." Ning Changkong said to him coldly: "How many lives do you have to pay for it?"
Chi Zhaoming sat back down and said calmly, "I know that some people will sacrifice, and I also know that I cannot sacrifice for others, but I still think this choice is necessary."
"——The only people who know me and judge me are the Spring and Autumn Annals."
"I'm sorry and regretful for 'killing' you, but I don't regret it, Jinsong." Chi Zhaoming looked straight at Ning Changkong.
The moment Gu Minghui left the study, Chi Zhaoming suddenly understood the source of the strange feeling in his heart and why he shrank under Gu Minghui's gaze.
Feng Huang repeated to Gu Minghui the story of Lin Jinsong's death, and the mastermind behind it was none other than Chi Zhaoming himself.
Ning Changkong knocked on the table impatiently again: "Who is talking to you about this? I'm talking about other people - those who died in the turmoil caused by the revival of spiritual energy."
"I mean, do you believe that a world where auras are revived and there is a huge disparity in the strength of people will be a better place? Don't you think this is like giving a dagger to hurt each other to ignorant children?"
Chi Zhaoming laughed: "How is your thinking different from Li Bo's? Don't you both regard humans as objects that need to be taken care of?"
Li Bo deeply realized the difference in martial arts between practitioners and ordinary people, so he believed that there must be strong practitioners to establish order and to care for and feed the weak ordinary people.
Chi Zhaoming: "Humans have lived through a long history and have perfect political systems and organizations. They are far from being ignorant children. Life will find a way out. I just believe in this."
The study fell into a brief silence. Feng Huang drank a sip of tea in deep thought, then slowly said, "Regarding what happened on the night of the Lantern Festival, I advise you to clarify things with your apprentice as soon as possible. Even if they become enemies sooner or later, it is better for you to turn yourself in than for him to find out on his own."
Ning Changkong said vaguely: "...It doesn't matter to me. Even if this didn't happen, I would have left."
Although Lin Jinsong's escape was indeed quite complete, even if nothing happened, he would have taken the initiative to find an opportunity to escape.
Of course, he said this now to hint to Chi Zhaoming: Lin Jinsong was actually the alias of Phoenix when traveling in the human world. He just took advantage of the opportunity of Phoenix abducting people to fake his death and escape, and returned to the identity of Phoenix.
As long as Ning Changkong does not hand over this step to Chi Zhaoming, Lin Jinsong will stand between Chi Zhaoming and Gu Minghui, the master and apprentice, and become an unsolvable knot in their relationship. For the sake of his long-cherished "victory after death", Ning Changkong would still be more happy to see Gu Minghui, the designated next director of the Alien Affairs Bureau, cooperate well with his master.
Anyway, he is going to die sooner or later, so it doesn't hurt to do him a favor.
And Chi Zhaoming... Chi Zhaoming sadly found himself relieved.
No matter how much he prepared himself mentally, when he really came face to face with the person he had killed with his own hands, he couldn't help but feel guilty.
Fortunately, it was only a false identity that died, and fortunately the Phoenix just returned to its rightful place.
"No future." Ning Changkong muttered, but did not lower his voice, making it clear that Chi Zhaoming wanted to hear it clearly.
Chi Zhaoming smiled bitterly. He was so contradictory: if he really didn't believe in or love human beings, he wouldn't be so arrogant as to start a new era in this way.
But if he truly loved the world with all his heart, he would hesitate to sacrifice some of the people who were destined to die in the chaos in exchange for the possibility of human development; he would not help but feel guilty for Lin Jinsong's death.
Being a saint is too arrogant, being a madman is too soft-hearted. Ning Changkong commented on him in his heart and asked, "By the way, how is the teaching material of your public training school going? Can I take a look?"
Chi Zhaoming obviously didn't expect the topic to take such a 180-degree turn. He was stunned for a moment: "Huh?"
Ning Changkong was disappointed that the two of them could not make each other better: "You and Li Bo are both crazy. I really want to see how you write the ideological and political teaching materials for practitioners. It's really..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
