The Disbanded Ascetic Society Club

Due to the lack of information, further exploration of the Meditation Method is temporarily impossible.

As the only method Tang Qi can cultivate right now, he won't give it up. His strength is increasing every day, and it's normal for risks to appear.

After tidying up, Tang Qi went directly to the first-floor area that had been dealt with. Although it was the scene of the confrontation with the killer, after Stana's negotiations, the body parts were transported away overnight, and the police station would compensate Tang Qi, or rather, the homeowner, for the losses.

Looking at the wall that was almost destroyed, Tang Qi casually made himself some breakfast. After eating, he went to class.

After a night had passed, the atmosphere at St. Thorn High School was completely different from yesterday.

The shocking murder was supposed to cause a huge stir, but because of Tang Qi's intervention, the stir was extinguished as soon as it began.

With the intervention of official forces, public opinion naturally turned to praise the efficiency of the Messer City Police Department.

However, within Thorn High School, many people were still discussing the case.

The students were excited, while the faculty and staff were greatly relieved, their faces much more relaxed and cheerful.

Adults always think about more things than these naive children.

A serial killer so brutal that they could skin four young girls alive was hidden within a campus full of teenagers. If it had gone on any longer, these faculty members would likely have been living in fear.

This current situation was the best.

Of course, these lively atmospheres, as usual, had nothing to do with Tang Qi and Sally.

The main reason was Sally. Tang Qi initially thought that Sally was isolated by almost all the students because she was bullied by the "popular kids" in sisterhoods, brotherhoods, and the like.

But after observing for the past few days, Tang Qi found that this shouldn't be the main reason.

Sally's situation at St. Thorn High School was a bit strange. She wasn't completely being bullied. Most students avoided Sally as if she were the plague, seemingly afraid of being contaminated by something bad.

For example... luck.

Tang Qi only learned about these things after a day of classes, when many students subtly and not-so-subtly hinted at them.

Compared to Sally, Tang Qi's outward appearance was actually quite good.

After all, this body had a delicate appearance, coupled with a good family background, proper demeanor, and the added bonus of having defeated a popular senior once. If it weren't for Sally's implication, Tang Qi might have been able to smoothly join the ranks of popular boys.

Many students, perhaps out of kindness or sympathy, offered reminders.

This reminded Tang Qi of Sally's nickname he heard when they first met, which seemed to be "Unlucky Sally."

He vaguely understood something, but Tang Qi didn't accept the good intentions.

Tang Qi had two purposes for coming to St. Thorn High School.

First, to use the mysterious power here to temporarily avoid facing the Samira Family.

Second, by playing the role of an ordinary high school student, to hide himself while understanding this new world.

Since he was playing a role, his current state was the best.

He didn't need to be a popular student, nor did he need to make too many friends. A quiet student with only Unlucky Sally as a friend, an ordinary Asian, was perfect.

This was what Tang Qi thought, and this was what he did.

For him, it was naturally no big deal, just ordinary.

But for Sally, it was a bit unusual.

In fact, Sally had seen some of the other students' reminders to Tang Qi, so when she found that she hadn't lost Tang Qi, her only friend, after school, a pretty face hidden behind exaggerated black-rimmed glasses immediately broke into a bright smile.

However, she quickly reined it in, looking uneasy, and whispered to Tang Qi, "I really am unlucky. People who become friends with me will also become unlucky."

Facing the girl's very kind reminder, Tang Qi smiled faintly and said, "It's okay, I also want to see how unlucky it can get. If there really is such a magical phenomenon, maybe I'll accept it even more happily."

As he said this, Tang Qi couldn't help but recall his experiences after meeting Sally: the campus bullying on the first day, then the thugs, and finally the Bronx Dog-Faced Man. A strange feeling swept through Tang Qi's heart.

But he quickly suppressed it and offered a word of comfort to prevent the girl from worrying further.

Tang Qi said he planned to borrow some materials from the Messer Library but wasn't familiar with the route and hoped the girl would help guide him.

Sally was indeed distracted and happily agreed.

However, as the two of them walked out of the teaching building's lobby, they were startled by the lively atmosphere outside.

In the tree-lined area surrounded by the four teaching buildings, many tables and stalls were set up in every corner, along with some tents. Many male and female students were busy, and long queues had formed in front of some tables, while others had few visitors.

Many students were also carrying flyers and other things, moving around and distributing them.

"This is... I remember now, today seems to be Club Recruitment Day."

"It's one of St. Thorn High School's traditions. All the school clubs hold centralized recruitment on this day, mainly targeting the newly enrolled ninth-grade students."

Seeing Tang Qi's confusion, Sally immediately explained from the side.

Tang Qi glanced around and indeed saw some eye-catching signs hanging in front of those tables and tents, which were club names. The most popular ones were undoubtedly clubs like the Dance Club or Boxing Club, which gathered popular students.

Those with few visitors were some strange clubs, such as the Clown Club, the Ancient Attire Club, and the Dad Joke Club.

Tang Qi didn't look at the popular clubs, his gaze specifically directed towards the unknown clubs in the corners.

He scanned the area but didn't find his target.

"Sally, I heard there's a club at St. Thorn High School called the Ascetic Society?"

Tang Qi asked casually.

Hearing the question, Sally furrowed her brow. Just as she was about to think, it seemed like something suddenly came to mind, and she immediately said, "The Ascetic Society? I remember now. I think it was just yesterday, the Ascetic Society was disbanded."

"Disbanded?"

"Yeah, I heard it was because that instructor from the Church of Light in Mihuang State felt there was no need for students to participate in ascetic practices. In the end, he disbanded the club and returned to the Mihuang State Church himself."

"Oh, I see. I was hoping to see what ascetic practitioners were like."

Tang Qi narrowed his eyes slightly. In his mind, he recalled the first day he entered St. Thorn High School and then rented that small building, seeing the area designated by Pastor Sinbani as the activity area for the Ascetic Society Club – a secluded spot centered around a clock tower.

Sally's words now explained why Tang Qi hadn't seen the strange sights of the Ascetic Society Club training that Pastor Sinbani had mentioned these past few days.

It turned out the club had suddenly been disbanded.

This seemingly insignificant clue, however, deepened the doubts in Tang Qi's heart. Coupled with the Confessor's Treasure Map he had sent away with Stana's help last night, that number, that hint of conspiracy, grew stronger.

Also, speaking of areas in the entire campus I haven't checked yet, that place is one.

Many thoughts ran through his mind, but his expression remained unchanged.

Only that sense of urgency in his heart became even harder to shake off.

"Let's go. While the Messer Library hasn't closed yet."

Tang Qi lowered his gaze and said calmly.