Chapter 96 Guide 24
In the secluded confessional, candlelight flickered. Ji Yangxia sat on a rustic hard wooden bench, her gaze sometimes falling on the angel statue opposite her, sometimes wandering around the halo of light, her mind restless.
Although he had long understood the origin of everything and the truth of the world, decades of worship of the Holy Spirit prompted him to return to the sanctuary, hoping that the Holy Spirit would descend to judge and punish him for his sins.
With a heavy breath in his chest, Ji Yangxia prayed in a low voice, almost bitterly, to another "god" who was not the Holy Spirit: "He is the rising star of the Federation, destined to replace me and lead humanity into the future. God, it is wrong to bind him to the Sentinels. Even the fools of Chaos know the absurdity of it."
The confessional was silent; God was high above and did not respond.
Ji Yangxia was unable to control her low mood.
Unlike his rebellious and unruly colleagues, Ji Yangxia, despite his powerful strength and cold, aloof face, has a gentle personality and is extremely loyal to the Federation, to the point that many people ridicule him as the Federation's "lackey."
Ji Yangxia didn't care about those contemptuous and derogatory remarks. His innate sense of order was innate. It was precisely because he knew that the Federation was full of filth that he always worked for the Federation, fighting bravely against pollutants and wild sentinels, rescuing imprisoned guides, and promoting outstanding juniors, all so that the Federation could continue to exist.
In this chaotic, upside-down world, where is safe for humanity besides the Federation?
Many people ignore the material world and pray to the ethereal soul, seeking temporary peace.
Gods, gods.
Ji Yangxia couldn't remember when he realized the true existence of the gods. He only clearly remembered standing stiffly in the army a few years ago, unable to move, with only a slight consciousness prompting him to turn his eyes and take in the whole world and the cold faces of his subordinates.
In my memory, the army was fierce and domineering, hormones were the fuel, every soldier craved blood, and brawls were commonplace. But back then, they were like figures in a painting or a text, like puppets in a puppet show, manipulated by people, making different movements according to their will.
Then, suddenly, the wind came.
"Reporting, sir—"
Accompanied by the loud voices of his subordinates, the pungent smell of the sentry's perfume, the sound of dust flying up from the soles of boots, and the rustling of combat uniforms, all the sources of sound that stimulated the sentry rushed into his ears, causing Ji Yangxia to show an indescribable expression.
The whole world came alive in that instant.
"..."
So gods really do exist.
They simply never bother with creatures struggling in distress.
For example, not long ago, to be more precise, after Lu Xuejin returned to Zone 1, routine reports from the southeastern border kept coming back to the central command. Apart from him, no one noticed that time outside Zone 1 had suddenly slowed down and almost stopped.
When the cold voice echoed in his mind, Ji Yangxia inevitably accepted the existence of gods and the fact that, under the watchful eyes and even deliberate manipulation of gods, the world had become incredibly terrible.
Their creator is the source of all suffering.
He obeyed God's command and found Lu Xuejin. The moment he passed through the corpses and saw the shimmering water, he was genuinely overjoyed by the strength of his junior, and genuinely believed that this was a salvation given by God—God had not completely abandoned humanity, and Lu Xuejin would be the one to take up the baton after him.
He genuinely and earnestly suppressed his chaotic, immoral fantasies, forcing himself to forget his involuntary, hidden emotions. In his prime, Lu Xuejin was still young; this sudden, surging emotion was something Ji Yangxia could not defend. It was nothing more than the gaze and exploitation of a superior upon a junior—utterly despicable.
Emptying his heavy heart, he carried out the divine command with the purest and most innocent mind, approaching Lu Xuejin, clearing obstacles for her, and enduring pressure to postpone the recall time for her sake. The more he obeyed orders, the more he understood Lu Xuejin's importance to the god, and the more joyful he felt for the future of the Federation—with such a beloved darling of the god leading the Federation, even the most heartless god, who viewed humanity as mere ants and playthings, would surely extend his love to the people of this world.
But Ji Yangxia couldn't understand the god's later instructions. For the first time, he refused and prayed to the god with such piety and sincerity. Lu Xuejin was powerful and flawless and should not be tainted or bound by filth. He knew best the sentinel's inherent flaws and the sins he carried.
Although that is reasonable.
Thankfully, thankfully, it's not over yet.
Ji Yangxia gazed at the flickering candlelight, once again trying to persuade the gods.
The high and mighty gods did not respond.
It wasn't until Ji Yangxia left the confessional room dejectedly that he suddenly spoke, his tone unusually cold, and Ji Yangxia could even detect a hint of anger in his calm words.
"The situation on the southeastern border is more serious; you go and handle it."
"yes."
Ji Yangxia took a deep breath, concealing the desolation in his eyes, and quickly threw himself into his work, which allowed him to temporarily forget his pain.
Pollutants are active in autumn, with the southeastern border being the most active area. This year's activity level is unprecedentedly high, with several undetectable polluted areas emerging one after another. The good news that Ji Yangxia conveyed to Lu Xuejin was pure fabrication; the actual situation is extremely serious.
"They no longer simply follow the naked law of nature, where the strong rule and pursue instincts and desires to fight, but instead remain restrained and silent, deliberately provoking the nerves of the sentries, as if... something is directing them."
The observer was pale and his voice trembled as he reported, unable to hide his fear.
"King, a king has been born among them!" The sudden, sharp, and piercing voice made the observer immediately curl up after shouting, his body trembling like a leaf, his pupils quivering nervously, as if he had witnessed the most terrifying scene of his life.
"He's fallen. Let him go with an easier life." Ji Yangxia closed his eyes and gazed at the distant sky. Ever since the appearance of the Sentinels and the pollutants, humanity has never seen the bright blue sky described in books.
king……
—The “Monarch” opened His eyes. Three enormous, bizarre organs. He dwells on the boundary between reality and illusion, a place humans call the spirit world, a place of utter darkness, except for a light in His lair—a phantom light emanating from the coarse, hard scales that cover Him from top to bottom.
Mia's eyes could not close when they were alive, but the monarch was a corpse, a decaying, filthy, and foul-smelling dead thing, which, because it was used as the foundation of the small world, was able to draw energy and gain vitality. But it no longer possessed Mia's powerful abilities, and its eyes closed wearily, gaining a moment to breathe.
With difficulty, the monarch peered down from the spirit realm and, among countless fragments of spirit, glimpsed the eye of an invisible being.
It is dead.
However, it will take some time for the demise of the physical body to be reflected in the higher dimensions of the imprinted spirit. Through its wide-open eyes, the monarch saw the scenes it had recorded during its lifetime.
Birth, battles, finding a host, infiltrating the Federation, the host going mad... scene after scene unfolds and disappears rapidly under the monarch's cold gaze, until the last scene, which is the moment before its death.
In the center of their vision, the smiling youth possessed a physical appearance that was enough to conquer the world. This was not an appearance that pollutants could appreciate, but the aura emanating from him made pollutants both close to him and afraid of him.
The monarch's pupils trembled, and a strange longing appeared on his face, but the next second his tail tip curled up in fear.
The title of monarch was merely a self-deprecating one for Him. Even while alive, He could not reach the level of a true monarch, but in the youth, He sensed that supreme aura.
offspring...
The mouthparts wriggled greedily.
By drinking the monarch's blood, He can be freed from this weary, numb corpse and return to the invisible world.
Strangely, in that brief glance, He also caught a whiff of His kind, a scent that was mottled and impure, almost imperceptible.
The serpent's tail trembled, and it could no longer resist its desire. Its right eye turned to the center and timidly followed the spirit world to find the young man, who was immersed in a dream. A dark aura fell into his dream and made everything unrecognizable.
...
He walked into the classroom, stepping over the flying snow and the hard marble floor tiles.
The sky was overcast, but the spacious area was brightly lit. Dozens of mahogany tables and chairs were neatly arranged, and his classmates were playing with shiny, expensive quill pens. Despite their young age, they were already wrapped in uniforms, and their innocent faces were filled with coldness, mockery, and condescending contempt.
Many people stared intently at him as he walked toward his seat, and then revealed malicious smiles.
There were no priceless quills on his desk, only a few rolls of sheepskin, and a soft rustling sound came from the empty drawer, which was eerie when out of sight.
He paused in front of the table, feeling the gaze of his classmate like a thorn in his back, silently yet seemingly shouting insidiously: "Put it in, put it in!"
He extended his hand.
The leader held his breath, a vicious smile on his pale, thin face.
However, none of the screams, cries, and pitiful pleas for help that he had anticipated came to pass; there was only silence, and even the occasional hissing sounds were gone.
But what he put in was clearly a highly aggressive venomous snake!
How could this kid be so calm? Just touching the slippery snake scales would make that stupid slum kid cry and scream!
The man's mouth twisted into a vicious grin as his plans spiraled out of control. His malicious smile was replaced by anger, and he leaned forward involuntarily. He could only see the boy's back and had no idea what was happening in the drawer.
"Hey, what are you doing?" he couldn't help but ask, his tone sinister. "Is there something shady hidden inside?"
The thin new student suddenly turned around, startling everyone—between his snow-white fingers, a venomous snake, as thick as three fingers held together, its body jet black with a greenish tinge, was coiled, its diamond-shaped head swaying slightly, looking quite terrifying.
This venomous snake is highly aggressive; even the slightest disturbance will cause it to bare its fangs. Its venom is not fatal, but it can instantly induce high fever, coma, persistent itching, and joint pain.
But now, it's lying obediently in the new student's hand, not moving at all!
"Gary, thank you for sending it to me."
The new student patted its head, looked up at Gary, and seemed quite pleased with the gift hidden in the drawer.
His irises were the purest, clearest blue, purer than a washed sky or a windswept lake. The most expensive sapphires in the area couldn't compare to even a fraction of that color. Reflecting Gary's angry, convulsing face, he seemed oblivious to the fact that this was bullying. The new student's pale lips were slightly upturned, his patent leather shoes barely touching the floor, like a clever little lamb.
"Look, Gary, isn't it cute?" The new classmate leaned closer and held the obedient poisonous creature in front of Gary, its beautiful eyes curving into crescents, and the light scent of shampoo wafting over its face.
That damn slum kid has golden hair that's even more pure and dazzling than that of a nobleman!
Gary was furious and about to shove him away when his eyes met the snake's. Fear gripped his heart, crushing it with overwhelming force. The venomous creature he had personally sought out was as docile as a toy in the slum boy's hands, yet it opened its curved mouth to him, revealing scimitar-like fangs, with fluid swirling between its translucent teeth. Gary held his breath and instinctively took a half-step back.
If he gets bitten, no, this kid wouldn't dare... he's the baron's son!
Gary forced a smile: "Okay, whatever you like. Now take it away."
"Why are you taking it away? Don't you like it?" The new student brought the snake even closer, so close that if the snake were to flick its tongue even slightly, it would seem to catch Gary's eyeballs.
A faint fishy smell wafted towards me.
Gary's body stiffened, his mind went blank, and as the snake's head drew closer and closer, he looked around in panic and realized that the people who had been surrounding him had already hidden to the side, watching him with excitement and fear.
“I told you to get away! You bitch, get away!” Gary shouted incoherently. “I’m going to fire you and have my father buy you back to be my slave! I’ll whip you, whip you until your skin is torn and bleeding! Get away, didn’t you hear me!”
Gary's breathing became more and more rapid, his bravado masking his inner weakness. The new classmate, oblivious to the foul language, chuckled as he pressed the snake against Gary's cheek, as if it were some kind of fun.
"Look, it likes you very much."
Gary was speechless. The slippery sensation sent chills down his spine and drove him to the brink of madness. Terrified, he screamed and collapsed to the ground, frantically retreating. The venomous snake, as if enraged, writhed and hissed on his body. Every inch of its movement felt like a slow, agonizing torture, causing Gary excruciating pain.
"Get away!!!" he shrieked.
But instead of receiving help from others, what awaited him was a sharp pain that ripped through his flesh.
By the time the tutor arrived, Gary had fallen into delirium, his limbs were convulsing and spasming, his eyes were vacant, and he was constantly uttering incoherent babbling due to the high fever.
"You bitch, kill her, kill her, take her away..."
"Baby, are you alright? Look at your father." The baron, who had rushed over, hugged Gary tightly, his heart breaking. He turned and glared fiercely at the doctor. "What are you standing there for? Take the young master to get treatment right now!"
After Gary was taken away, the Baron finally turned his arrogant gaze to the culprit. His face was even thinner than his son's, his facial muscles contorted. Faced with his beloved son's pain, he could no longer maintain any aristocratic manners. The Baron cursed angrily, "What are you waiting for? Throw him out! You scum from the slums, a reincarnation of an evil spirit, a vicious monster! How can there be such a filthy, lowly person in Pernambuco School!"
“Sir, watch your words,” the principal said sternly.
"Watch your words, ma'am! My child has been harmed! This bitch has set poisonous snakes on Gary! What are you waiting for?! Fire him right now!"
The principal shielded the child, who barely reached his waist, behind him and calmly said, "As far as I know, Gary is not entirely a victim. I cannot unilaterally and hastily decide a child's future. We can discuss everything when the other parent arrives."
She bent down and touched the child's head. He gripped her sleeve tightly, looking somewhat helpless. His warm eyes trembled with anxiety. Even though he was terrified, he still habitually smiled, not wanting to worry her, which instantly evoked boundless pity in her.
This scene pierced the Baron's eyes, and he shouted, "What are you waiting for! The other one? That bitch? Her stepping into Bai Nan is a defilement of this place!"
"Oh, really?"
A casual, smiling question came from outside the door.
The Baron, like a dumb goose with its neck being choked, suddenly shut his mouth.
The office door opened, and a biting wind howled in. Snowflakes swirled behind the newcomer, as if adding to her imposing presence.
Lu Yangfeng closed the door, keeping the wind and snow out. She turned slightly, her embroidered skirt fluttering in the breeze. This woman, infamous in high society, didn't fit the definition of a "socialite." Compared to her son, Lu Yangfeng was merely pretty, but she also had a pair of sparkling blue eyes and silky black hair, giving her every smile and gesture a mysterious, exotic charm.
She doesn't have a striking appearance, yet she can drive several powerful and wealthy people crazy. Even noble ladies who should be heartbroken or scornful are drawn to her—there are even rumors that this woman has captivated not the Duke, but the ruthless Duchess.
If it were a stunning beauty who walked in, the Baron would have given way immediately, but this woman… The Baron scrutinized her critically, finding her mediocre and boring from head to toe, without a trace of attraction.
The rumors that he had captivated several nobles and even a duke were probably just Lu Yangfeng's publicity stunts—simply attending the same ball as a duke was enough to be considered as being favored by him; socialites were used to using such gossip to enhance their own status.
Even if someone truly has unique taste, they wouldn't fight with someone who is also an aristocrat for the sake of a lowly person from the slums.
"Madam," the baron sneered, straightening his back to display his superior status, so different from that of the courtesan, "your child is far too unruly, daring to release a poisonous snake to bite my child. Hmph, it's one thing to lack a father's guidance, but before you racked your brains to send him here, didn't you teach him anything about manners?"
"I think you should transfer him to another school as soon as possible, otherwise, with his vicious nature, he'll inevitably mess with someone you shouldn't!"
After speaking, the Baron's cold gaze swept over the headmaster, exerting increasing pressure.
He's determined to make that beast slink out of here today!
Lu Yangfeng only glanced at him before walking past him toward the child hiding behind the principal.
"Come here." She bent down slightly, gently separating the child's tightly clenched fingers, and squatted down to examine the child's face and hands as an equal. "Sweetie, are you hurt?"
"No." The child looked up with a smile and answered obediently, more like a mature and sensible little adult than the hysterical baron.
The principal looked on with increasing satisfaction and affection. He turned to stare at the Baron, trying to use his eyes to urge him to remain calm and not throw a tantrum in front of the child.
Behind her, the child turned his head, his gaze passing over his mother's shoulder to the baron, who was glaring angrily. Suddenly, he gave a sinister and smug smile.
The baron was immediately enraged. He slammed his fist on the table and roared furiously, "Dismissed! Dismiss this lawless little beast immediately!"
The roar shook the windowpanes, and spittle nearly landed on the headmaster's face. The baron pointed angrily at the mother and child standing quietly in the corner, his eyes filled with a murderous intent.
"And you! You monster born of a vile bastard! How did you discipline your bastard son? Letting him bite people with poisonous snakes?! Trash like you shouldn't live in this world! You..."
The principal frowned, trying to interrupt: "Sir, please calm down..."
However, the two people at the center of the storm were strangely calm.
The two, one big and one small, stood there, neither refuting, neither crying, nor even showing a trace of anger, simply watching the Baron calmly. But that extreme silence, coupled with the faint yet penetrating chilling aura emanating from Lu Yangfeng, gradually choked the Baron's angry curses, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat.
Facing the Baron, their expressions were undisguised smugness and arrogance. But as soon as the headmaster turned around, the younger one panicked and the older one frowned and pretended to be weak and innocent, as if it was not his son who was injured, but the two perpetrators in front of him!
Author's Note:
Xiaoxue wrote a beautiful poem for me today [glasses]
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