Xuan Zi left

In the distance, the presences of those high-ranking Soul Engineers drew ever closer. The one in the lead had already stepped into the entrance to the corridor.

"That damned bastard."

A trace of killing intent flashed through Xuan Zi's eyes, then swiftly died out.

He took a deep breath, forcing all his fury back into his chest.

With a flicker, his figure vanished into the sea of blood.

At the same time, his Spiritual Power dispersed as well, withdrawing without a sound like an ebbing tide.

At the far end of the corridor, Jing Hongchen appeared around the corner, followed by more than a dozen high-ranking Soul Engineers from the Illustrious Virtue Hall. Soul Rings flashed around every one of them; even the weakest was a nine-ring Titled Douluo.

And when they arrived, what they saw was an all-engulfing sea of blood.

Red blood filled the entire corridor, soaking the walls, ceiling, and floor without exception.

The air was thick with the pungent stench of blood, mingled with the smell of rubble and dust. It was nauseating.

"Lu Ren!"

Jing Hongchen shouted and charged recklessly into the sea of blood.

Blood soaked his robes, and his footsteps made wet squelches as he trod through it.

Soul Power formed a barrier around him, keeping the blood out.

The next moment, the sea of blood began to recede like an ebbing tide. The churning waves gradually subsided, and the red liquid flowed away along the walls and floor, exposing shattered stone slabs and walls riddled with damage beneath.

The blood gathered into thin streams, all flowing in the same direction.

A dark corner at the end of the corridor.

Jing Hongchen hurried over.

In the corner, Lu Ren lay curled up on the floor, his face as pale as paper, his lips purple, and his entire body ice-cold.

His blood-soaked school uniform clung to him, outlining his thin frame.

His chest barely rose and fell, and his breathing was so faint it was almost imperceptible.

Jing Hongchen crouched down and reached for the side of his neck.

His pulse was still there, but it was so slow it seemed liable to stop at any moment.

His skin was icy, like a stone submerged in a river in the depths of winter.

As far as Jing Hongchen could sense, Lu Ren's body showed almost no signs of life. His Soul Power was exhausted, his Spiritual Power scattered, and his temperature was too low for a living person.

"Are you still alive?"

There was a tremor in Jing Hongchen's voice.

"No, you can't die. You absolutely cannot die!"

"I finally saw a glimmer of hope. You can't just die like this!"

Jing Hongchen desperately prepared to pour his own Soul Power into Lu Ren's body. At the same time, he whipped his head around and roared at those behind him:

"Get a doctor! Hurry!"

Before his words had faded, a hand caught his wrist.

The grip was very faint, like a strand of spider silk in the wind, yet it sent a shudder through Jing Hongchen.

He lowered his head and saw Lu Ren's eyelids trembling slightly before slowly opening a crack.

"What are you shouting so loudly for..."

His voice was hoarse, but warmth seemed to be gradually returning to Lu Ren's body.

"I'm not dead."

Jing Hongchen froze for an instant, then threw his head back and laughed.

His laughter echoed through the empty corridor, shaking loose bits of rubble from the walls.

"Good! Good! As long as you're not dead!"

He turned his hand over and gripped Lu Ren's wrist, channeling a rich, mellow stream of Soul Power into his body. The warm energy flowed through his meridians like spring sunshine melting a frozen river.

Lu Ren's complexion improved a little. His lips went from purplish blue to pale, and his breathing gradually steadied.

He leaned against the wall with his eyes closed, his chest slowly rising and falling.

Jing Hongchen stood and turned to look at the Soul Engineers behind him.

They were still standing in the corridor where the blood had yet to dry, Soul Rings flashing around them. Their gazes rested on the boy in the corner, filled with shock and curiosity.

"Disperse," Jing Hongchen said with a wave. "Tighten security. Put the entire academy on level-one alert."

"Also, notify the higher-ups that an intruder at the Titled Douluo level has infiltrated Mingdu. Tell them to stay vigilant."

"Yes!" Several Soul Engineers left to carry out their orders, their footsteps gradually fading down the corridor.

The rest remained where they were without moving.

Jing Hongchen glanced at them, his tone turning cold:

"What are you still standing around for? Get back to your duties."

Only then did they seem to awaken from a dream, turning to leave one after another.

Silence returned to the corridor, leaving only Jing Hongchen and Lu Ren.

Lu Ren leaned against the wall. His face was still pale, but he looked much better than before.

The positive energy of the Reverse Cursed Technique circulated within him, repairing his damaged meridians inch by inch. Ruptured capillaries knit back together, and the bruising beneath his skin slowly faded.

Jing Hongchen crouched down to meet his eyes.

"Who did this?"

"Taotie Douluo, Xuan Zi," Lu Ren said without opening his eyes. "Someone from Shrek Academy."

Jing Hongchen's brows twisted into a tight knot, the wrinkles on his forehead like gullies carved by a knife.

"What did he come here for?"

"To recruit me." Lu Ren opened his eyes and calmly gazed at the shattered ceiling overhead.

Fragments of a Soul Guidance Lamp were embedded in the cracks, reflecting dim yellow light.

"And he offered very generous terms."

Jing Hongchen's pupils contracted slightly, and a barely perceptible trace of tension flashed in his eyes.

"Did you agree?"

"If I'd agreed, I wouldn't be in this state."

Lu Ren's voice was mild, with a trace of nonchalance.

He raised a hand to feel his chest. His ribs were intact, his internal organs unharmed, and most of his internal injuries had already healed.

The Reverse Cursed Technique was even more efficient than he had expected. The meridians injured by the force of Xuan Zi's oppressive presence were now repairing themselves at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"I refused."

The corridor fell quiet for a moment.

Jing Hongchen looked at him with a complicated gaze.

The boy had said "I refused" in the most matter-of-fact tone, as though turning down the recruitment offer of a Level 98 Super Douluo was no different from turning down a dinner he did not want to eat.

The terms Shrek Academy offered must have been as generous as they could possibly make them.

Enough to tempt anyone, enough to make anyone bow their head.

Yet he had said no.

"So he just left like that?"

There was a hint of doubt in Jing Hongchen's voice, its final note rising slightly.

"He didn't want to leave." Lu Ren lowered his hand and looked at Jing Hongchen. "But your alarm went off, and your people arrived. He didn't dare run wild on the Illustrious Virtue Hall's turf."

His tone was certain, as though he were stating a fact verified time and again.

In the original story, the Body Sect had turned out in full force to invade the Illustrious Virtue Hall and ultimately paid the price. Du Busi had withdrawn with his battered remnants, while Huo Yuhao had reaped the benefits.

The academy's defenses were formidable enough to send the powerhouses of any faction home with their feathers clipped, let alone a lone Xuan Zi.

Xuan Zi could not even defeat Du Busi. He could infiltrate without a sound, but he could not withstand them head-on.

Once the alarm sounded, if he did not run, he would no longer be able to escape.

Jing Hongchen remained silent for a long time.

The only sound left in the corridor was the night wind passing through the broken windows, whimpering like some ancient lament.

"From now on, you must stay at the academy," he said in a low voice. "If he's still watching you from the shadows, we have no way to keep you completely safe."