I, Herrscher Slayer

"Mmm... I want to take a bath first. Today was such a terrible day."

Thinking about what had happened to her earlier, Fu Hua felt a headache coming on. Was today her unlucky day? First, she got into a nonsensical fight with Shen Gonglin, then he made her nose bleed. After that, she accidentally stumbled into his bathroom, only to be bitten on the finger and turn into that state. Finally, Shen Gonglin took advantage of her and pushed her out the window, face-first. The most astonishing commonality among this series of unfortunate events was that they were all caused by Shen Gonglin. Did she have a grudge against him? She hadn't before, but now she did.

This was the first time she'd felt such an emotion towards someone. This must be hatred, yes, she hated Shen Gonglin.

"Alright, Shen Gonglin's bathwater hasn't been drained yet... Oh, right, Class Monitor, there's one more thing I haven't told you, about our dorm..."

As she helped Fu Hua into the dorm, Mei suddenly remembered that she hadn't told Fu Hua that they had brought Shen Gonglin to the dorm. Fu Hua was also a member of the dorm, so she had to be informed. Letting a boy stay overnight in a girls' dorm was something Mei had never done before.

"Shen Gonglin is here too, right?"

Knowing what Mei was about to say, Fu Hua not only already knew but had also met him. It was just that the circumstances of their meeting weren't ideal. If possible, Fu Hua wished she could have met him somewhere else, anywhere but that place where they were being so open with each other.

"Eh? Class Monitor, how did you know?"

Mei looked at Fu Hua in surprise. She hadn't even said anything yet, so how did the Class Monitor know Shen Gonglin was here?

"...It's a simple deduction, isn't it?"

"As expected of the Class Monitor, so amazing."

Chapter 37: A Different Fu Hua Than Usual

In the dorm, Shen Gonglin and Fu Hua sat on the sofa, staring at each other. They simply gazed at each other without speaking, neither mentioning what had happened in the bathroom earlier. Ever since Fu Hua returned, her gaze had been fixed on Shen Gonglin. Judging by the reactions of the others, they probably didn't know she had already returned once. This was good; Fu Hua was finally relieved.

"Bronya, do Class Monitor and Shen Gonglin have some kind of past issue? I've never seen Class Monitor stare at someone like that before."

On another sofa, Kiana and the other two sat together. The tense atmosphere between Shen Gonglin and Fu Hua made them afraid to say a word. Mei leaned over to Bronya and whispered. How to put it? Those expressions in novels, with three parts sarcasm, four parts indifference, two parts sorrow, and one part nonchalance, were actually real. It turned out that a person's gaze could truly express so many emotions, like a pie chart.

As for Shen Gonglin, he was a boy with light in his eyes. Just looking at his beautiful eyes, one could tell he was harmless and innocent. Why was Class Monitor staring at Shen Gonglin like that? He hadn't done anything.

"Bronya doesn't understand either. Kiana, what do you think?"

The emotionless loli shook her head. Such questions were too difficult for her. If you asked her for game walkthroughs or the composition of artillery shells, she would have no problem. But in this situation, asking her was no different from asking Kiana. This girl sometimes had something called "idiot intuition."

"I think... have you two noticed that if you cover their faces, Class Monitor and Shen Gonglin look almost the same? Especially when Shen Gonglin wears my clothes, you can't even tell if they're male or female. I never noticed it before. Class Monitor is so flat... no, so manly! Now I think I understand why Shen Gonglin got a nosebleed during the day."

As the young lady of the Kaslana family, Kiana's focus was clearly different from Mei and Bronya's. Her sapphire-blue eyes twinkled with intelligence. Class Monitor was too flat. She was only a little taller than Shen Gonglin. Even Bronya, who was younger, was taller than her.

Sensing an unfriendly gaze, Kiana quickly covered her mouth, stifling the words that were about to escape. Class Monitor's glare was terrifying, as if she were about to eat her.

"Class Monitor, is it okay? It's already dark, so please let Shen Gonglin stay in our dorm for one night. He'll be very well-behaved and won't make any noise. He can sleep on the sofa."

Mei took the initiative to break the stalemate, looking at Fu Hua expectantly, like a little girl asking her parents for permission to keep a stray cat at home. Shen Gonglin found it awkward no matter how he heard it. He turned to look at Mei. Did this girl intend to keep him as a pet?

"I have no objections. We must act according to the circumstances. We can't just kick Shen Gonglin out at a time like this. However... you all need to be careful, especially you, Kiana. He's still a boy. Don't wander around the dorm in your pajamas when he's staying here."

Fu Hua shook her head. She had just been distracted. She had no other intentions regarding Shen Gonglin staying in the dorm. Everything that had happened before was just a misunderstanding. Although he was a bit rigid, Fu Hua was not harsh at all. Kicking him out of the dorm was impossible.

However, it was still necessary to remind the others. This guy wasn't as harmless as he looked. As the first person to fight him and have close contact with him, Fu Hua knew his true nature. He was a complete pervert, and he possessed such powerful combat strength. If he wanted to do anything, no one in this dorm could stop him except herself.

"It's okay, Class Monitor. Look how cute he is. How could this guy do anything strange... Hey, can't you just behave? I'm speaking well of you!"

"Shut up. Believe it or not, I'll bite you."

Kiana sat next to Shen Gonglin and rubbed his head. Inattentive, Shen Gonglin flipped her onto the sofa. He said nice things, but if this guy hadn't secretly tried to put a hat on her, Shen Gonglin would have almost believed him. Twisting Kiana's arm behind her back, Shen Gonglin bared his white teeth. He really wanted to bite her neck. When he bit Fu Hua's finger and sucked her blood earlier, he had discovered that blood seemed to have a special attraction for him. Could he have been a vampire before?

He felt like his past identity was becoming more and more mysterious.

"Wait, you can't bite this!"

Hearing Shen Gonglin say this, Fu Hua became a little anxious. The feeling from before seemed to resurface. Possessing a heart willing to sacrifice herself to save others, Fu Hua quickly rushed forward and locked Shen Gonglin's neck. As a result, Shen Gonglin and Kiana looked at Fu Hua curiously. They were just joking. Shen Gonglin wasn't a dog; he wouldn't just bite people for fun.

"...Cough, cough. There are just a lot of bacteria on teeth. Biting people is both painful and unsafe, so it's best not to do such things... That's settled. I'll go take a bath first."

Feeling that her reaction had been a bit excessive, Fu Hua coughed twice to cover it up. Then she explained the reason for her actions. After being sucked by Shen Gonglin just a little bit earlier, she had turned into that state. If Kiana were bitten by Shen Gonglin, the situation would likely be no better than hers. As a dorm mate and a subject of surveillance, Fu Hua felt responsible for protecting her well.

Without waiting for Shen Gonglin and Kiana to react, Fu Hua silently climbed off Shen Gonglin. Earlier, to prevent him from biting Kiana, she had jumped onto Shen Gonglin's back in her haste. Thinking about it now, that action was completely unnecessary. Why was she losing her calm demeanor around Shen Gonglin? The moment she saw him, her state of mind seemed to be disrupted. This wouldn't do; she needed to adjust herself properly.

"Mei, don't you think Class Monitor seems a bit off? She's completely different from her usual self. Did she eat something bad?"

Watching Fu Hua enter the bathroom, Kiana seized the opportunity, flipped over, and subdued Shen Gonglin. This guy had poor combat skills and weak physical fitness. Kiana had only pretended to be pinned by him earlier to lower his guard. With such little strength, how could he be her opponent? Pressing Shen Gonglin down with one hand, Kiana pinched his face and discussed the issue with Mei. Class Monitor was indeed very strange.

"I don't know... Maybe she's just too tired."

Looking at the bathroom door, Mei couldn't figure it out either. Class Monitor was indeed different from her usual self.

Chapter 38: Fu Hua Takes the Blame

"Hoo... Calm down. This isn't something that warrants too much attention."

In the bathroom, Fu Hua let out a long sigh. When she opened her eyes again, the girl's emerald-green eyes had returned to their usual calm, like still water. As long as she stayed away from Shen Gonglin, her state of mind could be stabilized again. This was the state of mind a martial artist should possess. There was still much she needed to do...

However, this tranquil heart couldn't help but stir again upon seeing the bathtub. Sometimes, having a good brain wasn't a good thing. Like now, seeing the bathtub, Fu Hua couldn't help but recall what had happened with Shen Gonglin here. Why, even though she had told herself it wasn't important, did she keep thinking about it?

It must be because the feeling from before was still lingering in her body.

Fu Hua raised her finger. The small tooth mark on her fair knuckle proved everything. There was no poison either. When Shen Gonglin absorbed her blood, he had also injected something into her body. And this was the reason for her body's abnormality. It was truly like a legendary vampire. If he had bat wings, he would be even more like one.

Shaking her head to clear her mind, Fu Hua sat cross-legged in the water. It seemed that without completely restoring her state of mind, she couldn't face Shen Gonglin anymore. Closing her eyes, Fu Hua heard a strange and meaningless series of syllables in her mind. This was something she had created long ago, for reasons unknown, called the "Sword Heart Art." This series of syllables couldn't explain its meaning, but its profoundness lay in its ability to calm the mind and spirit when heard or recited. And this was exactly what Fu Hua needed now.

The state of mind merges into the lake until it becomes still water; the heart lake freezes into dustlessness; the heart ice becomes a clear mirror; the heart qi becomes formless void... As the inner voice resonated, Fu Hua's expression grew increasingly serene. The Mindful Essence within the Great Void Sword Qi was precisely the essence focused on training the mind. However, this cultivation method was only suitable for women. It wasn't that men couldn't cultivate it, but their upper limit would be far lower than women's. She wondered if Shen Gonglin would be any different if he cultivated it...

No, why was she thinking about him again?

Fu Hua frowned. Her condition today was really not good. A martial artist's greatest taboo was divided attention. How could she be distracted while cultivating her Mindful Essence? The path of martial arts feared deviation the most; it not only harmed oneself but also brought disaster to the world.

After silently reciting the Sword Heart Art in her mind, Fu Hua finally restored her mental state and body to their original condition. However, this probably had little to do with the Sword Heart Art; it was likely just a matter of time healing her. What exactly had Shen Gonglin injected into her body? Was it saliva? To affect a Valkyrie's body to this extent was even more terrifying than drawing out Honkai energy.

After all, without Honkai energy, Valkyries still possessed their physically trained capabilities. But after falling victim to Shen Gonglin's move, even she couldn't control her own body and was too weak to stand. If her own body could be put in such a state, let alone the other Valkyries.

Would this guy become a Valkyrie killer in the future?

She needed to train him. Not just his martial arts and physical skills, but his mindset as well. He needed proper guidance. She initially thought he was just an uncarved piece of raw jade, but now it seemed he was a piece of jade that had already revealed its sharp edge.

Should she teach him the Great Void Sword Qi?

After cleaning herself up, Fu Hua stepped out of the bathtub. Looking at the water, she felt speechless again. She had been too focused on bathing when she first got in. There was no way the bathwater had been refilled in this short amount of time. It was undoubtedly water Shen Gonglin had used. Fine, she had already bathed, so there was no point in dwelling on it. Fu Hua pulled the plug and drained the tub. She had already fallen for his trick; she couldn't let Mei and the others go through the same thing.

With that thought, Fu Hua quickly changed her clothes. At that moment, a piece of red fabric on the washing machine beside her caught her attention. This should be Himeko's underwear. But she had been on missions during this period and wasn't even at St. Freya Academy. How could her underwear be in the bathroom? Someone must have brought it in...

It had to be Shen Gonglin.

Fu Hua clenched the underwear in her hand. It hadn't been there when she washed up this morning, and Shen Gonglin had just used this bathroom. No one else had the opportunity. Her mind, which had just been calmed by the Mindful Essence, was once again stirred. It seemed she really had to teach Shen Gonglin the Great Void Sword Qi, or at least the Mindful Essence. She had to correct his twisted state of mind, otherwise... otherwise, having him live in this dormitory was dangerous, dangerous in every sense of the word.

But speaking of which, Himeko's were so much bigger than hers. Sometimes she really had to admire her. With such size, it must be troublesome during combat, definitely disadvantageous. Like herself, with no resistance and minimizing the area exposed to attacks, she was the most suitable physique for a Valkyrie. Should she write a paper advising the admissions department? From now on, anyone whose size exceeded A cup would not be allowed to enroll!

"Class monitor, don't drain the bathwater, I still need it... Class monitor? Sorry, I didn't see anything!"

Hearing the sound of water from the bathroom, Mei, who happened to be passing by the bathroom door, rushed in. She hadn't bathed yet, and it was too much trouble to drain the water. Besides, Shen Gonglin had added a lot of bath salts when he bathed, and it would be a waste to only have two people use it. Although she was a young lady, Mei was also a thrifty girl. Hearing Fu Hua draining the water, she instinctively ran in. As soon as she entered, she saw Fu Hua holding a piece of underwear, lost in thought. And that red underwear... judging by the style, it belonged to Teacher Himeko.

That's right, it must be like this. She always thought the class monitor was someone proud and independent of everyone else, but she was also a normal girl.

Mei thought of many things in that instant. She originally thought the class monitor was someone who focused solely on martial arts with a clear mind, but seeing her like this, Mei suddenly understood. She must be secretly holding Teacher Himeko's underwear here, imagining what she would look like when she grew up. Such a class monitor was adorably clumsy, but she probably wouldn't want anyone to know about it, so Mei understood.

She saw nothing, and she would say nothing.

"Didn't see anything? Why is Mei acting so strange too? Was she bitten by Shen Gonglin as well?"

Completely unaware of what Mei was talking about, Fu Hua tilted her head, put away the underwear, and prepared to take it to Himeko's bedroom. She would give Shen Gonglin some face. She saw nothing, and she would say nothing.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Stolen

There was nothing to report overnight. As the first ray of dawn illuminated the room, the door of a bedroom in the St. Freya Valkyrie dormitory quietly opened. Hearing the faint breathing sound from the sofa, she slowly walked out. The thoughts she had last night were not just idle talk. She had indeed decided to teach Shen Gonglin the Mindful Essence, and morning was a good time to cultivate one's state of mind.

"Shen Gonglin, wake up. I'm taking you somewhere."

Squatting in front of the sofa, Fu Hua reached out and shook Shen Gonglin's shoulder. This guy was sleeping soundly and didn't react at all. Even though he was sleeping on the sofa, Shen Gonglin slept very soundly. The thin blanket on him was the one Mei had secretly covered him with last night. Now, Fu Hua's gentle force couldn't wake him. It was only around four or five in the morning; it wasn't Shen Gonglin's wake-up time yet.

"...Sorry, this is a necessary measure to wake you up."

Looking at Shen Gonglin's sleeping appearance, Fu Hua apologized before reaching out and pinching Shen Gonglin's cheeks. Ordinary methods couldn't wake Shen Gonglin, so she had to do this. It had been a long time since she last taught someone martial arts. This was the first time Fu Hua wanted to teach someone martial arts, all because Shen Gonglin was too special. He had already learned two moves of the inch punch; with such comprehension, she wondered what would happen if she taught him more profound techniques.

After thinking all night, Fu Hua finally decided to guide Shen Gonglin herself. Such great talent should not be wasted. As long as she guided him, she believed Shen Gonglin could play a greater role.

"Ugh... it hurts... Class monitor?"

With his cheeks pinched, Shen Gonglin groggily opened his eyes. His deep purple eyes looked hazily and unfocused at the girl in front of him. Even opening his eyes didn't mean he was awake. This state was between half-asleep and half-awake. If he were awake, and Fu Hua dared to pinch his face... this kid would definitely fight back.

"Yes, it's me, Shen Gonglin. It's time to get up."

Not wearing her usual blue training outfit, Fu Hua was dressed in more casual attire today, suitable for activity. A sleeveless top and pure white shorts were a dazzling combination, but they couldn't attract Shen Gonglin's attention. His purple eyes were filled with confusion. It was time to get up?

How could that be?

"No, let me sleep... sleep for five..."

As he spoke, Shen Gonglin closed his eyes again. Fu Hua nodded. If it were five minutes, that would be fine. It was a bit much to make Shen Gonglin get up so early. He looked like a pampered young master who had been spoiled. A five-minute lazy break wouldn't hurt.

"Five hours..."

Alright, she would just take him as he was.

Without giving Shen Gonglin any more time to delay, Fu Hua slung him over her shoulder and stood up. Mei and the other two were still asleep, so she didn't need to disturb them. She had to find a secluded place to teach Shen Gonglin. Also, Fu Hua wanted to figure out why she had become like that last night. She was just bitten by Shen Gonglin... or perhaps, this was what Fu Hua wanted to figure out the most.

Opening the door, she ran out with Shen Gonglin on her shoulder. As she passed through the academy, she inevitably attracted the attention of others. Although it was still early, there were people at St. Freya who woke up early or hadn't slept all night. They looked at Fu Hua carrying Shen Gonglin away in surprise. Yesterday, Kiana was showing off holding a boy, and today it was Fu Hua's turn. It seemed idiots were contagious. Living in the same dormitory as Kiana, even the great Fu Hua was acting strangely.

The training room was still under repair due to yesterday's incident, so that place was clearly out of the question. The back mountain seemed quite suitable, so that's where she decided to go.

It's time to get up and make breakfast.

Not long after Fu Hua left, Mei also opened her eyes. The girl's excellent biological clock allowed her to wake up on time to serve everyone in the dormitory. She had a unique knack for taking care of people. The saying "a maid's body and a young lady's fate" seemed to describe Mei perfectly. However, she quite liked this feeling. At least when she took care of others and saw their smiles, she would also be happy. This was the greatest meaning of Mei's survival right now.

Lifting the quilt and tidying the bed, each Valkyrie at St. Freya Academy had her own room. The small room was decorated very warmly by Mei. Actually, yesterday she wanted Shen Gonglin to sleep in her room, even if she and Kiana had to squeeze together, it wouldn't matter. But due to various reasons, she couldn't bring herself to say it. She hoped he had rested well on the sofa. If he hadn't slept well, would she let him sleep in her room today?

She hadn't seen Shen Gonglin all night and missed him quite a bit. It was great that he had woken up. Mei had a very good impression of Shen Gonglin, as if a sense of closeness was emerging from the bottom of her heart. The moment she woke up, she thought of him. She quite liked this feeling.

"Shen Gong... he's not awake yet."

After washing up, Mei quietly called out as she pushed open the door. Mei tiptoed closer to the sofa, guessing he was still asleep at this hour. This usually dignified and graceful girl also had a little thought in her heart. No matter how sensible she was, she was still a girl. It was good that he wasn't awake. Since he wasn't awake, she could look at him sleeping. When he was unconscious, Mei often stared at him, sometimes for hours, but even so, she still hadn't seen enough.

Not taking a picture was Mei's greatest restraint. She wasn't as excessive as Kiana. Just looking wouldn't hurt, right?

Who knew that when she circled to the front of the sofa, Mei froze. Shen Gonglin wasn't there. Only the messy bedding remained on the sofa. The elegant girl's face immediately darkened. She had already been to the bathroom, and Shen Gonglin wasn't there. Could it be... Mei glanced at the other closed doors. Could it be that she had slept peacefully last night, but Shen Gonglin was stolen by someone else?

Lightning flashed in her eyes, and Mei directly pushed open Kiana's door. This guy didn't listen to her yesterday and didn't lock the door properly. Wasn't she afraid Shen Gonglin would sneak in at night? Mei's sharp purple eyes scanned the room. Shen Gonglin didn't seem to be there, but it wasn't impossible that he was hiding under Kiana's quilt right now. Mei's sharp gaze fixed on Kiana in bed. This guy was very likely. Ever since yesterday, she seemed to have been thinking about Shen Gonglin!

Chapter Forty: Fu Hua. Freebie

Suddenly pulling open Kiana's quilt, the sudden cold air startled Kiana, who was lying sprawled out. The moment the young lady of the Kaslana family opened her eyes, she saw a cold-faced Mei. Mei's expression reminded her of Mei she had seen a long time ago at Senba Academy. Kiana was immediately startled. Hadn't Mei already returned to normal? What was going on today? And why was she suddenly pulling off her quilt?

Was it because she missed Mei too much and was groggy from sleep, dreaming?

He wasn't here. Shen Gonglin wasn't here. Then could he be at Bronya's?

Only Kiana was under the blanket, her delicate figure wrapped in light blue pajamas and sleep pants. But Mei had no time to admire it; she wasn't gay, and she considered her own orientation to be perfectly straight. She tossed the blanket aside and looked under the bed. Mei began searching Kiana's room without a word, checking under the desk, in the trash can, and in the closet – every place a person could hide. Only after confirming that Shen Gonglin was nowhere to be found did the frosty expression on Mei's pretty face finally begin to thaw. Neither Shen Gonglin nor Kiana had betrayed her.

That was good.

"Mei, what's wrong? Are you looking for something?"

It was then that Kiana finally reacted. She cautiously approached Mei and asked, Mei's expression just now had been terrifying. Seeing that Mei's mood had calmed down, Kiana dared to come closer. It had been a long time since she'd seen Mei like this, and seeing her again was strangely nostalgic.

It was the same Mei who used to have that Raiden-like queenly demeanor.

"No, it's just that Shen Gonglin is missing. I came here to look for him. I'm sorry for disturbing your rest."

Mei forced a smile and patted Kiana's head. She had wrongly suspected this girl. But if he wasn't with Kiana, where else could Shen Gonglin have gone? He wouldn't have gone to Bronya's, would he... That was also quite possible. He had touched Bronya's leg when he was in the infirmary, and that child didn't even know how to resist. Although Shen Gonglin always acted indifferent towards lolis, who could say for sure? Maybe he was just pretending, and would sneak into Bronya's room late at night when everyone was asleep, and then...

Mei dared not think further.

"Eh, Shen Gonglin is missing? I don't know anything about that. I saw him sleeping when I went to the restroom last night. When did he disappear?"

Upon hearing this, Kiana also showed a surprised expression. Mei, who had been secretly observing Kiana's face, only fully dismissed her suspicion after seeing that Kiana's demeanor was not feigned. Mei didn't know why she was reacting so strongly to this matter, as if some consciousness within her was forcing her to do it. This feeling... it had been present ever since she had finished "charging" Shen Gonglin.

"I don't know either. When I felt the blanket, it was already cold... Kiana, go check Bronya's room. I'll go to Class President's."

Assigning Kiana her task, Mei went to Fu Hua's door and knocked. She couldn't be as casual with the Class President as she was with Kiana. It couldn't be the Class President anyway, considering it was Fu Hua. How could someone as proper as her abduct Shen Gonglin?

"Class President? Class President? Have you seen Shen Gonglin... Class President, I'm coming in?"

After knocking and receiving no response, Mei pushed the door open and walked in. The bed was neatly made, but the Class President wasn't there. It seemed the Class President had indeed taken Shen Gonglin... But knowing this answer, Mei felt less flustered. After all, it was the Class President. With her flat... No, with her slender figure, what was there to fear?

"Shen Gonglin, we've arrived. This is it... Still not awake?"