Chapter 39: A Whale Falls

Kuang Lang turned to look at Zhao Lu. “Aren’t you going to protect him?”

Zhao Lu’s gaze landed on Jiang Xiaoyu, who was gently settling Xiaoqi in place. “He is not Xiaoqi.”

Kuang Lang let out a scoff. “True, he’s not worth it. But for Class Seven to lose a Foreign Language Squad Leader just like that—where are you going to put your face?”

Zhao Lu glanced at him sideways. “He’s not the leader anymore.”

Kuang Lang was surprised. “When did that happen?”

Zhao Lu’s gaze remained fixed on Jiang Xiaoyu. “Sisi was unwilling to step down.”

Kuang Lang chuckled: “Women, truly realistic.”

Zhao Lu whipped her head around, glaring fiercely at him. “If you’re so realistic, why didn’t you go save him? Saving him means saving Xiaoqi—don’t you even understand that much?”

Kuang Lang shook his head. “Xiaoqi is too strong—so strong she makes the Math Squad lifeless, so strong that as long as she’s around, no one dares contest first place in the Math Squad. If things go on like this, when will the school ever produce another Xiaoqi? So as for the current situation, I’m more than happy to see it play out.”

The principal took a step forward, the twilight gilding his exposed scales and his eerie slit pupils. He stared at the unconscious Xiaoqi and sighed. “The issue isn’t that Xiaoqi hogs resources, but that she lacks any sense of collective honor. She never participates in the district-wide wars—because of that, hoarding resources becomes her original sin.”

Teacher Zhao Lu gasped: “Oh right, I almost forgot about the District Aberration Competition. If I remember correctly, it’s in about half a month, isn’t it?”

The principal replied expressionlessly: “There are fourteen days, five hours, and forty-seven minutes remaining.”

Zhao Lu nodded, lost in thought.

The principal turned to Kuang Lang: “Teacher Kuang Lang, how about distributing Xiaoqi’s resources to Xu Tian? What do you think?”

Kuang Lang laughed heartily: “Principal, your judgment is spot-on. The Aberration Competition is organized by the district; Xu Tian has the right time, the right place, and the right people on his side.”

Principal: “Good, then that’s settled.”

Kuang Lang: “Agreed.”

“What about Teacher Zhao Lu? Do you have confidence in Class Seven’s Foreign Language Squad’s performance in the competition?”

Zhao Lu crossed her arms, staring at Jiang Xiaoyu as he walked toward Chen Hao and Limei, and let out a heavy sigh. “If only he had Sisi’s talent, or if Sisi had his guts… how wonderful that would be.”

The principal’s face darkened as he watched Jiang Xiaoyu. “That is not the fundamental reason I am giving up on Jiang Xiaoyu.”

Teacher Zhao Lu turned her head, puzzled.

“Isn’t being weak the original sin?”

Teacher Kuang Lang’s mouth twitched. “On the contrary—he’s an Exorcist Aberration?!”

Zhao Lu’s face was filled with shock. “What Exorcist Aberration? What are you two talking about?”

Principal: “He’s talking about Jiang Xiaoyu.”

Zhao Lu instinctively took a step back, pulling her body into the shadows. “He awakened the Exorcist Aberration talent?! This… how is this possible? The aberration world hasn’t seen a catastrophe like this in over a hundred years.”

The principal sighed: “Indeed. So even if he is Madam Lan’s son, I must give up on him.”

Kuang Lang and Zhao Lu cried out in unison: “Madam Lan’s son?!”

The principal stepped back further, plunging his body into darkness, leaving only his slit pupils glowing in the gloom: “I couldn’t figure out why Madam Lan’s son would come to our remote institute. Now I finally understand—Madam Lan knew she couldn’t protect him, so she hid him away with us.”

Teacher Zhao Lu took another massive step back, burying herself entirely in the shadows.

Teacher Kuang Lang was even more decisive; he turned around and began to walk away: “Principal, Teacher Zhao Lu, I didn’t hear a thing. I have completely lost interest in whatever happens here.”

On the sports field.

Dongfang was communicating urgently with Jiang Xiaoyu: “Are you listening to me? Your mental energy isn’t enough for me to cast a forbidden technique. Facing two S-rank aberration cultivators simultaneously, you are guaranteed to die. If you change your mind now, it’s not too late; I have a fifty percent chance of getting you and Xiaoqi out alive.”

Jiang Xiaoyu’s stride toward Chen Hao and Limei didn’t waver: “Dongfang, do you know why I only scored 312 points on the college entrance exam?”

“What does that matter right now?”

“In the second semester of my freshman year of high school, to save a female classmate who was being bullied by punks, I spent a year and a half recovering in a hospital. When I finally returned to school, my class had already moved up to senior year.”

Dongfang stuttered: “So… so what?”

“So, I won’t run away. If I run, they will definitely kill Blood Explosion.”

Dongfang screamed: “You’ll die if you don’t run!”

Jiang Xiaoyu smiled: “That wouldn’t be so bad either.”

Dongfang cursed loudly: “Arrogant jerk! I signed the Light-Dark Covenant with you; if you die, my true form will be injured too!”

Jiang Xiaoyu smiled bitterly: “Sorry, Dongfang…”

Dongfang sighed: “What’s the use of saying that now? Let me think, let me think of what to do, let me think carefully…”

Jiang Xiaoyu smiled bitterly: “Too late, only three steps left before I’m right in front of them.”

“Release your mental energy! Let me take control of your body. Even if I die, I’ll drag someone down with me. Dear clansman, if you die, I will avenge you; please believe my promise.”

Jiang Xiaoyu said with a smile: “I believe you.”

With that, he took a step forward, and light radiated from his body.

He took a second step, and the light grew even brighter.

He took a third step, and a sword of light coalesced in his hand.

Chen Hao and Limei looked at each other, shouting in unison: “An Exorcist Aberration?!”

Beneath the shade of the trees, Teacher Zhao Lu covered her mouth with both hands, utter disbelief written across her face.

“So… so strong!”

For the first time, the principal showed shock: “An S-rank Exorcist Aberration?! The sky over Huangquan Vocational Institute is about to collapse!”

Chen Hao laughed aloud, his laughter carrying a kind of delirious, frantic relief: “Limei, our son was right! He is an Exorcist Aberration! My son is the victim!”

Tears of blood streamed from Limei’s eyes: “Yes, yes, yes! My son is a good boy! He tried to eat Jiang Xiaoyu not to raise his cultivation, but to rid the world of evil!”

Chen Hao nodded: “Indeed. It’s just a pity our son overestimated his own abilities.”

“He is worthy of every aberration’s respect; I am proud of our son!”

“Indeed he is! Limei, let us rid the world of evil together!”

“Of course, what mercy do we need to show our enemies? Not just him—Blood Explosion, Xiaoqi, none of them can be spared. I want them all to pay with their lives to accompany our son.”

“As you wish!”