I'm Also Only Living My Second Life

As the saying went, when one achieved fame and success, one returned home in glory.

From Qian Yuliu's memories, Le Yu knew that he had returned to his alma mater once after graduation.

That time, Qian Yuliu had returned as an outstanding graduate. Though he had joined the Statistics Department, it had not yet earned its notorious reputation. As a newly established department, it had instead been seen by the public as a promising sign of the court's reforms. He had received praise from many teachers and students, even taking the stage to give a speech and encourage the students.

But times had changed.

The Statistics Department's full name was the "Radiance Executive Committee Investigation and Statistics Department." Publicly, it was said to be a department that listened to public opinion, soothed the people, and reformed democracy. In truth, its primary duties were arresting the Anti-Light Rebels and purging internal threats.

The Anti-Light Rebels had been able to stir up enormous unrest throughout Radiance partly because the court had grown increasingly exploitative in recent years. Its policies were chaotic, corrupt officials ran rampant, and years of natural disasters had struck in succession. The great clans and noble families had added fuel to the flames as well. Thus, "Against the Light" had emerged in accordance with the people's will, meaning rebellion against Radiance and resistance against the court.

Star Engraving City lay beside a seaport, so its residents still lived reasonably well. But the disasters in inland regions had become extremely severe. Skyline District alone had lost nearly three-tenths of its population, which was why the Anti-Light Rebels had risen up and killed the Skyline District governor as a sacrificial banner.

Yet rather than soothing the people, the court had established the Statistics Department to arrest righteous individuals on a massive scale. The progressive students of the Star Engraving Military Academy had long been dissatisfied.

And now, their "dear" senior, "Qian Yuliu," had returned.

"Qian Yuliu, you beast!"

An egg flew toward him. Le Yu's instinctive perception allowed him to dodge it immediately, but another egg had been thrown right at the direction he was avoiding toward. Le Yu simply raised a hand and slapped it aside—

The egg burst, liquid splashed everywhere, and a pungent stench flooded his nostrils.

Le Yu took out a handkerchief and wiped the foul egg liquid from his hand. He had initially wanted to scold them for wasting food, but it turned out they were making use of rotten eggs. He could not bring himself to accuse them of wasting food anymore.

"Are you trying to defy the Statistics Department?!" Chen Fu was furious. Standing in front of Le Yu, he shouted, "Who attacked a Statistics Department agent? Step forward! Is this all Military Academy students can do—hide in the crowd and throw trash?"

At the south gate of the Star Engraving Military Academy, students were confronting Statistics Department agents. Several hundred students had gathered at the entrance, blocking the road and refusing to let the Statistics Department vehicles enter.

When the agents demanded that the crowd disperse and insisted on carrying out official business, the crowd immediately erupted. They shouted, "The Statistics Department is here to arrest people!" drawing even more onlookers. Left with no choice, Le Yu, as the team leader, had to get out of the vehicle.

Qian Yuliu was a "celebrity" here. The moment Le Yu stepped out, he received a head-on "welcome ceremony."

Love someone, and you wished them life. Hate someone, and you wished them death.

The more the students had respected Qian Yuliu before, the more they hated him now.

He just had not expected rotten eggs to be a universal projectile across worlds. The students had also found them remarkably quickly.

Le Yu had expected this scene and was not angry. There was nothing for him to be angry about, anyway. He was not the real Qian Yuliu, so he treated it like playing a first-person role-playing game—except the game was unusually realistic, and the rotten eggs genuinely stank.

Besides, even if Qian Yuliu himself were here, he certainly would not be angry. With his Cold-Blooded Physique, he simply could not feel negative emotions. And when he had joined the Statistics Department, he had already been prepared for this.

"Captain, what do we do?" Zhou Guangshi looked frightened. "How about we wait outside the target's home and arrest him secretly?"

"No." Ai Lili immediately objected. "Our appearance at the Academy has already alerted them. If we do not arrest them now, they will definitely flee overnight. Why would they go home? Besides, we have so many targets to arrest. How could we have time to wait around? If the mission fails, what will the director think of us?"

"But we can't arrest anyone like this. What if it causes a riot..."

"They're just students. Would they dare oppose the Statistics Department?"

"They're military academy students!"

"It's all the same! Captain, arrest them!"

Chen Fu also turned to look at Le Yu. He said nothing, but the hesitation in his eyes was plain to see. In a low voice, he said, "Brother Qian, I'll listen to you."

Ahead, the students were in an uproar, their voices deafening. Behind him, the team members argued endlessly, each with their own opinion. In a daze, Le Yu seemed to see an enormous black pot slowly taking shape, ready to crash down onto his head.

"Everyone, Qian Yuliu was the one who personally shot Mr. Lin! We absolutely cannot let the Statistics Department take away our companions!"

"The Statistics Department is nothing but a bunch of murderers!"

"Qian Yuliu, you teacher-killing traitor!"

"Scum!"

"Our alma mater is ashamed of you!"

Chen Fu's expression turned even uglier.

It was normal for someone to know that Lin Jinyao had been arrested and even killed. After all, they had not acted secretly when they went to arrest him; they had practically made a spectacle of it.

But the only people who knew that Qian Yuliu had killed Lin Jinyao were the agents and rebels present at the time.

The rebels were all imprisoned now. Where the information had leaked from was therefore obvious.

"Avenging Mr. Lin!" someone suddenly shouted.

"Avenging Mr. Lin!"

"Avenging Mr. Lin!"

Rather than dispersing, the students surged forward together, pressing toward the Statistics Department agents!

Every one of them was filled with righteous indignation, as though they were carrying out heaven's will!

Now, even Ai Lili, who had held the most aggressive attitude, was somewhat afraid. Chen Fu took a step back and let out a heavy breath. "Brother Qian, let's withdraw for now..."

Withdraw...

Could I just not do these things?

A thought of escape suddenly rose in Le Yu's heart. On further consideration, it did seem like a good choice.

Without question, if Le Yu withdrew now, this arrest mission would most likely end in failure. When he returned, Lan Yan might not punish him over it, but he probably would not place much trust in him again.

New agents like Ai Lili might think Lan Yan was a kind and gentle man, but how could someone entrusted by the prefectural governor with the Statistics Department's heavy responsibilities—someone who had arrested countless Anti-Light Rebels—possibly be easy to deal with?

From Qian Yuliu's memories, Le Yu knew that the most important thing in the Statistics Department was not talent, but loyalty.

And it had to be loyalty capable of betraying one's own class.

Quite a few people had joined the Statistics Department alongside Qian Yuliu. Yet only a small number, including Qian Yuliu, had received promotions and raises. Most of the others had either been assigned to logistical departments or simply dismissed.

Those who had been cast aside were not lacking in ability. They simply had not demonstrated loyalty. When ordered by their superiors to arrest Anti-Light Rebels, they had failed to carry out the orders to the end because of sympathy, pity, fear, and other reasons. They had shrunk back when things became difficult.

To serve the court was to stand against the progressives among the people. Anyone without that resolve could never be entrusted with important duties.

If Le Yu backed down here, Lan Yan would naturally understand that Qian Yuliu's loyalty went only this far. At best, he would be sidelined; at worst, he would be sent to the frontier—transferred away.

Once he backed down, Qian Yuliu would forever lose his qualifications to become part of the Statistics Department's inner circle.

But...

Wasn't that exactly what Le Yu wanted?

Being an undercover agent was too dangerous. Being a Statistics Department agent was even more dangerous. The former made one an enemy of the court, while the latter made one an enemy of the people. Simply put, Qian Yuliu's current combined identity meant he was making enemies of everyone!

Walking on thin ice, dancing on a blade—that described Le Yu's situation perfectly.

But Le Yu was not one of the Radiant People. He had no feelings for this world. He had no dream or goal that he absolutely had to pursue. He was merely an ordinary person who wanted to go home and survive.

If he backed down here, he could even resign openly once he returned. If he left the Statistics Department, the danger posed by his undercover identity would naturally disappear as well, and he could become an ordinary person with no responsibilities at all.

Then Le Yu could go home and eat with Qian Yuya in peace. After completing the challenge of surviving fifteen days, he could upgrade his skills, slowly farm, slowly study the system. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Le Yu had no obligation to involve himself in this political struggle that affected countless people. His abilities were enough to ensure that he could live well simply by keeping his head down.

He was obviously so weak. He should have lived more cautiously.

Giving up came with countless benefits.

Persisting meant a narrow escape from death.

There was no doubt which choice he should make.

Only...

Lin Jinyao's gaze suddenly resurfaced in Le Yu's mind.

On that rainy night, amidst the chaos, Lin Jinyao's eyes had shone like stars. The way he looked at Qian Yuliu had been full of affection and satisfaction.

When Lin Jinyao saw his prized student point a hand cannon at him, what had he been thinking?

Pride? Relief? Or... guilt?

"Ha." Le Yu sighed softly. "But what does any of this have to do with me?"

Hearing Le Yu murmur, the others could not help but breathe a sigh of relief, thinking their captain intended to withdraw.

Though unwilling, Ai Lili also knew that arresting anyone under these circumstances was utterly impractical. If casualties truly occurred within the Academy, it might instead bring trouble upon the Statistics Department. To soothe the people, the prefectural governor might even punish the Statistics Department.

Just as everyone prepared to retreat from the Academy, they saw their captain suddenly stride forward and curse loudly at the crowd.

"Mu Feihong! You incite students to oppose the court, then hide among them to cling to life. Is this what it means to be a teacher and role model?"

It was early morning, and the sunlight was just right. Le Yu unconsciously used Mental Power to strengthen his voice, making every light source in the area tremble. His voice boomed through the campus like thunder, startling countless pigeons into flight.

The entire scene fell silent.

Then countless voices exploded like thunder—

"Scum! Trash! Your mother would've been better off giving birth to a roasted pork bun than giving birth to you!"

"Avenging Mr. Lin!"

"Beat this family-ruining bastard to death!"

"He's here to arrest Mr. Mu! We can't let him succeed!"

Le Yu's actions had undoubtedly detonated a powder keg. Strengthening one's voice with Mental Power was one of the most basic applications of Mental Power. Every Awakened could do it, but most people instinctively avoided doing so—because it was simply too loud.

What Le Yu had done was equivalent to picking up a loudspeaker and talking to the students. Naturally, the students picked up loudspeakers to shout back—who at the Star Engraving Military Academy wasn't an Awakened? Who could not shout insults at full volume!?

Facing the accusations of thousands with cold defiance, Le Yu stood motionless. He calmly watched the students before him, who looked as though they wanted to devour his flesh and grind his bones. He loosened his neck slightly and asked again, "Mu Feihong, since you incited students to oppose the court, don't blame the Statistics Department for carrying out its duties. First squad, remove firearm restrictions. You are authorized to fire freely on any attackers!"

The moment he said those words, Le Yu's entire body relaxed.

Words spoken were water spilled; an arrow released from the bow could never return.

From this moment on, Qian Yuliu's infamy would become known throughout Star Engraving Prefecture!

Countless people would learn that the Star Engraving Military Academy had produced a villain who, for fame and profit, had ruthlessly attacked his junior schoolmates, served as a tiger's accomplice, and cast aside all humanity!

His peaceful farming plan had shattered completely. What awaited Le Yu next was either a miserable life of schemes and deception, or... a death so brutal that everyone would cheer.

Yet Le Yu did not regret it.

Well, perhaps he did a little. Just a tiny, tiny little bit.

Thinking it over carefully, Le Yu felt that his earlier plan had been far too optimistic. Even under the Statistics Department's protection, he had still faced assassination attempts. If the Statistics Department stopped using him, Qian Yuliu's former "great achievements" for the department would immediately turn against him.

Leaving the Statistics Department safely was as unrealistic as someone from the underworld washing their hands in a golden basin. It would only be more dangerous. Others could ignore the rules of the underworld and come after him, while the Statistics Department would not help him.

More importantly, what would he eat if he lost his job? There was no social welfare here. There were plenty of beggars outside.

Of course, those were all excuses.

He simply did not want to betray Lin Jinyao's final trust.

He simply did not want to waste the groundwork Qian Yuliu had laid.

How absurd. Le Yu and Qian Yuliu were mortal enemies. The moment Le Yu had transmigrated here, Qian Yuliu had casually killed him. Qian Yuliu had then had his body taken and soul extinguished by Le Yu. Yet now, Le Yu actually wanted to continue Qian Yuliu's original mission.

But Le Yu had to admit that he had been moved.

For someone like him, who had lived in a peaceful age, it was impossible to understand people like Lin Jinyao and Qian Yuliu. What kind of ideal, what kind of future, could be worth sacrificing one's life and destroying one's reputation for?

With that question in mind, Le Yu found a blazing emotion within Qian Yuliu's memories.

"Yuliu, Radiance has already grown dim. The governors of every district levy harsh taxes and exploit the people. Though Skyline District has suffered severe disaster, officials at every level keep embezzling relief supplies. Morning Wind District raises sea bandits to strengthen itself. Summer Dusk District is faintly becoming a state within a state... Clearly, technology has advanced and productivity has continually risen over the past several centuries, yet the people's standard of living worsens by the day. That is because the vast majority of resources are controlled by governors and high officials."

"War will inevitably break out. The high officials can hardly wait to use their blades to divide Radiance's cake anew. White Night's belief is not merely to destroy the sun called 'Radiance,' but to extinguish all those 'wildfires' among the high officials and create a nation where the night is dark and lightless, yet the entire world is white."

"White Night's belief is also the belief of me, Lin Jinyao. Yuliu, what about you? What kind of world do you want to create?"

"I want to create a world where Yuya can live peacefully."

Throughout Qian Yuliu's twenty-two years of life, that had been his sole wish.

Qian Yuliu, I cannot grant that wish.

You killed my body, and I destroyed your soul. That makes us even. Now that I live in your body, as rent, I will follow your road and keep walking.

If I do not walk it well, please do not blame me. After all, I am only living my second life too.

Chen Fu advised, "Brother Qian, are we really going to..."

Le Yu looked at the cursing students ahead and suddenly clapped his hands. "First squad, prepare for combat!"

A black case was pushed out from the vehicle. With a crack, it split open to reveal the hand cannons inside. The agents exchanged glances, but they quickly picked up the hand cannons, loaded them, and aimed at the crowd as a deterrent.

Some students grew afraid, but even more were enraged. "Come on! You think we'll submit to secret-police dogs like you!? Come on!"

They rushed forward competitively, practically baring their chests and begging for bullets to bloom into bloody medals upon them. The agents did not dare fire and were driven back again and again by the students.

With an icy expression, Le Yu raised his hand cannon and fired a shot into the sky. The piercing report echoed across the campus, and only then did the surging crowd halt.

He said coldly, "Is this your answer, Mu Feihong?"

At that moment, a somewhat deep voice rang in everyone's ears.

"You want an answer? Fine. Then this old Mu will give you one."