Chapter 146: The Demon Extermination Institute and a New Beginning

Not long after Xiao Moyuan finished his call, the steady, swift footsteps and several subtle yet undeniable spiritual energy signatures echoed from the edge of the clearing.

“Young Master!”

The leader was a young woman, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. She wore a sharply tailored, dark grey business skirt suit, covered by a black trench coat made of a peculiar material.

A pair of rimless glasses sat on her nose, behind which her eyes were sharp and calm. Her movements were efficient, and her aura was composed.

She quickly scanned the scene.

The severely injured Soul Refiner, now subdued; Chen Wan, whose soul was weak but stable; Lu Yang, looking somewhat disheveled but in high spirits; and the unharmed Su Mian and Xiao Moyuan.

Her gaze finally settled on Xiao Moyuan, and she bowed slightly, her tone respectful yet efficient.

Behind her, seven or eight men and women, similarly dressed in specialized trench coats and exuding a capable aura, followed. They moved with silent coordination, quickly fanning out.

Some maintained perimeter watch, while others advanced, deftly using special shackles adorned with runes and spirit-binding chains to restrain the collapsed Soul Refiner, then affixing several sealing talismans.

The entire process was quiet and swift, clearly indicating their disciplined training.

“Indeed, Hong Luan, you’ve arrived just in time.”

Xiao Moyuan nodded slightly to the leading woman, acknowledging her presence.

He pointed at the subdued Soul Refiner, his voice indifferent.

“Take him back to the institute. Detain him according to the ‘Black Prison’ Grade Seven threat standard. I’ll submit a detailed report later.”

“Ensure you thoroughly investigate the evil cultivation technique he practiced, his magical artifacts, and any potential accomplices.”

“Understood, Young Master.”

The woman, identified as Hong Luan, swiftly issued a few commands. Her subordinates immediately hoisted the now-sealed Soul Refiner, who resembled a dead dog, onto a nondescript black van that had silently approached at some point.

Hong Luan then turned back to Xiao Moyuan, awaiting further instructions.

Xiao Moyuan paused, then added:

“Additionally, inform the institute’s Archives Department and Monitoring Department that the incident involving the former Special Grade Vengeful Spirit, Chen Wan, has been personally handled and concluded by me.”

“Chen Wan’s obsession has been resolved, and her primary grievances have been placated. She is now bound to the ordinary human Lu Yang via a special symbiotic contract, transitioning into an observed protection target.

Her risk level assessment has been downgraded to ‘Observable Grade.’ I will submit the relevant reports and contract filings together.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Hong Luan assented again, her gaze briefly lingering on Lu Yang before moving on, devoid of any superfluous emotion or question, demonstrating extreme professionalism.

“We will perform a standard cleanup of the residual energy and combat traces at the scene to ensure no impact on ordinary teachers and students.”

“Thank you for your hard work,” Xiao Moyuan nodded.

Hong Luan bowed once more, then turned sharply, leading her team in a swift and silent departure, just as they had arrived.

The black van also vanished into the night without a sound, as if it had never been there.

If not for the lingering spiritual energy fluctuations in the air, the distinct signs of struggle on the ground, and the foul blood spat by the Soul Refiner, everything that had just occurred might have seemed like a phantom dream.

Lu Yang watched the group come and go with astonishing efficiency, his jaw agape. It was a long moment before he stammered, “Brother Xiao, this… this is the Demon Extermination Institute?”

“And that Sister Hong Luan, she’s like a special forces operative… her aura is incredibly powerful.”

“Just a standard action team from the Demon Extermination Institute’s Field Operations Department.”

Xiao Moyuan offered a brief explanation, his attention returning to Lu Yang.

He scrutinized Lu Yang from head to toe, pausing for a moment especially at his chest—where Chen Wan’s contract core resided.

“How do you feel?” Xiao Moyuan asked, his tone calm and revealing little emotion.

Lu Yang moved his limbs. The pain from the Soul Refiner’s energy impact and hitting the wall still seemed present, yet a new, warm strength circulated within him, a strange sensation.

“I… I’m alright. Just a bit weak, but also strangely energetic… I can’t quite explain it.”

He scratched his head, then, remembering the most crucial question, he hurriedly asked, “Brother Xiao, how is Chen Wan doing now? What specific impact will that contract have on me in the future?”

Xiao Moyuan walked over to Lu Yang and gestured for him to extend his hand.

Lu Yang obeyed, extending his right hand. Xiao Moyuan’s finger pressed lightly in the air over the now-faded contract mark on his palm, and a faint golden spiritual light flickered.

“The contract is running stably.”

“Chen Wan’s soul is severely damaged, but through the contract connection, your vitality is slowly and continuously nourishing her essence.”

“She is currently in a deep sleep recovery period, similar to an animal’s hibernation, to minimize consumption and focus on healing.”

“She won’t materialize or actively communicate with you for a while.”

“All you need to do is live normally, eat well, sleep well, and maintain your robust vitality. This is the best help you can offer her.”

Lu Yang breathed a sigh of relief, but then his face fell.

“Half my vitality, Brother Xiao? Then… how long can I live? I won’t die young, will I?”

Though he was a coward, he still valued his own life.

Xiao Moyuan glanced at him. Unusually, he didn’t retort directly but calmly explained, “‘Half vitality’ is a relative concept, not a direct halving of your fixed lifespan.”

“Her nascent life force is potent and gentle. Your physical constitution will even improve because of her.”

“It means that the upper limit of your life force intensity is evenly divided, causing your basic metabolism, recovery ability, and even resistance to illness to drop to about half their original levels under normal circumstances.”

“This will make you tire more easily, recover from injuries more slowly, and you might not appear as ‘vibrant and full of life.'”

Lu Yang’s face grew even longer.

“However,”

Xiao Moyuan’s tone shifted.

“This means you’ve departed from the realm of a ‘pure ordinary person.’ The symbiotic contract connects not just life, but also a part of spiritual essence.”

“As a Special Grade Vengeful Spirit, the yin energy and spiritual essence contained within Chen Wan are subtly influencing and transforming your body.”

“Your meridians and qi perception will become more acute than an average person’s, and your adaptability to yin-attribute energy will increase. In other words—”

Xiao Moyuan looked into Lu Yang’s eyes.

“You now possess the foundation for cultivation, and at a higher starting point than many beginners.”

“If you are willing and can find suitable cultivation methods, you can attempt to cultivate. Once you formally embark on the path of cultivation, as your realm improves and your life essence strengthens, your lifespan will naturally extend.”

“At that point, the ‘half vitality’ you’ve contributed, in terms of total volume, might be far less than the portion you’ve gained. In essence, you are now a ‘potential stock,’ but you need to realize that potential yourself.”

Lu Yang listened, dumbfounded, his eyes slowly brightening.

“Cultivation? I can become as powerful as you?”

He recalled Xiao Moyuan’s crushing defeat of the Soul Refiner earlier, and his heart burned with excitement.

“The path of cultivation is long and arduous, with each person’s destiny and methods differing. There is no need to compare yourself to others,” Xiao Moyuan said calmly.

“As for how long you can live… if you have even a little talent and are willing to put in hard work, living past the normal human lifespan of seventy or eighty years should not be a problem. If you encounter further opportunities, that’s another matter entirely.”

“Seventy or eighty… that’s not bad!”

Lu Yang instantly became optimistic again; athletes’ nerves were always quite robust. “It’s better than being finished now! And I can cultivate to become powerful! This wave isn’t a loss!”

Watching Lu Yang quickly shift from worry to excitement, Hua Liang, standing nearby, couldn’t help but chuckle and interject, “You certainly have an open mind.”

“And you should already be feeling some changes now.”

“Changes?” Lu Yang asked curiously.

“Chen Wan shared your vitality, and you, in turn, share some characteristics of her spiritual body,” Hua Liang explained with interest.

“Especially in the initial stages of her recovery and spiritual feedback, this enhancement will be quite noticeable. Y

our physical attributes, including strength, speed, endurance, and even your five senses, will undergo a comprehensive enhancement that surpasses ordinary human limits.”

“While it won’t turn you into a superhero, it will definitely be a world of difference compared to your previous self. If you don’t believe me, you can try it.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Yang’s gaze immediately searched the surroundings, finally settling on a discarded square stone block at the edge of the clearing, used to hold down a tarpaulin.

The stone block was about half a meter on each side and looked incredibly sturdy. In the past, he and a couple of other guys had tried, and it took two or three people to barely lift one side.

He walked to the stone block, rubbed his hands, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation. He settled into a horse stance, gripped the bottom of the block with both hands, focused his qi in his dantian, and lifted with all his might—

The expected heaviness did not materialize.

The stone block was lifted effortlessly from the ground, and due to his excessive force, it even bounced up slightly!

“Holy crap!”

Lu Yang quickly stabilized it, gently lowering the stone block, his face filled with disbelief. He flexed his arms, then tried to lift one corner of the block with a single hand.

Though it was a bit strenuous, he actually managed to lift it!

“It’s true… my strength has increased so much! Holding this thing feels like carrying a case of mineral water before!”

He excitedly bounced in place a couple of times, feeling his body much lighter. His punches and kicks swished with power, and his five senses seemed sharper; he could hear the distant chirping of insects more clearly and see details in darker areas.

“Haha! This is amazing!”

Lu Yang grinned from ear to ear. The previous danger, lingering fear, and slight worry about losing half his vitality were now largely diluted by the surprise of this sudden ‘superpower.’

His nature was cheerful, and his heart was big. In a blink of an eye, he began to enjoy the benefits of this “blessing in disguise.”

Watching Lu Yang experiment with his strength and feel the changes in his body like a big kid with a new toy, everyone present found themselves smiling faintly.

Chen Wan, dormant within him, seemed to sense his pure and joyous emotions.

Her silent spiritual core warmed slightly for a moment, and a gentle, comforting thought brushed through Lu Yang’s mind, making him feel an inexplicable sense of peace and delight.

Lu Yang stopped moving, touched his chest, and grinned, whispering, “Senior Sister, you think this is good too, right? I’ll protect you from now on!”

Seeing that the matter was resolved and Lu Yang was fine, Xiao Moyuan did not linger. He naturally reached out his hand, looking at Su Mian, who had been quietly waiting by his side.

The icy sternness in his brows melted away as he turned to her, and his voice softened.

“It’s getting late, baby. We should head home too.”

Su Mian naturally extended her small hand, placing it in his warm palm, and nodded, “Mm.”

The unspoken intimacy and understanding between them flowed through the air.

Seeing this, Lu Yang teased with a grin, “Oh, wow, look at how mushy you two are!”

“Brother Xiao, Su Mian, your relationship progressed incredibly fast, didn’t it? I remember less than half a year ago, you two were rivals, always bickering whenever you met, like sworn enemies!”

“How long has it been, and you’re already holding hands and calling each other ‘baby’? Tsk, tsk, I wonder how Miss Shen, the campus beauty, would feel if she knew!”

He was purely joking, without much malice, simply marveling at how quickly things had changed.

Su Mian’s face flushed slightly. She glared at Lu Yang but didn’t release Xiao Moyuan’s hand. Xiao Moyuan merely gave Lu Yang a faint glance, the meaning in his eyes causing Lu Yang to instantly shrink his neck and quickly shut up.

Returning to Xiao Moyuan’s spacious and modern apartment, Su Mian kicked off her shoes and, like a lazy cat, flopped onto the soft, wide sofa in the living room, letting out a satisfied sigh.

“Phew—today was truly… full of twists and turns. It scared me to death.”

“So, there really are people in this world who cultivate by absorbing others’ grievances… they feel even scarier than some monsters.”

The Soul Refiner’s grotesque appearance and cruel methods had left a profound impression on her.

Xiao Moyuan followed her in, casually draping his jacket over a chair back. He walked to the sofa and naturally sat beside Su Mian.

He reached out, pulling her into his embrace to make her more comfortable, his fingers gently stroking her smooth, long hair.

“The path of cultivation has myriad routes, thousands of them.”

“The righteous path is arduous, requiring accumulation day by day, comprehending heaven and earth, and tempering one’s heart.”

“The evil path, especially one that directly seizes others’ soul power and negative emotions, appears to progress swiftly and possess strange power.

In reality, its foundation is weak, with endless hidden dangers, and it is often accompanied by twisted minds and a cruel bloodlust.”

Xiao Moyuan’s voice was steady above Su Mian’s head, carrying a reassuring strength.

“It’s not surprising that such evil cultivators exist.”

“Under the sun, there are always shadows. One of the responsibilities of the Demon Extermination Institute is to clear away these shadows.”

Su Mian adjusted her posture in his arms, tilting her small face to look at him.

“That’s why I said it! People are good and bad, and monsters must be the same—there are good monsters and bad monsters. Like that Soul Refiner, he’s clearly human, yet he’s more evil than many monsters.”

“But the Demon Extermination Institute seems to be especially strict with monsters, treating them almost uniformly as potential threats… can’t they be a little more lenient and differentiate? Even a good monster like Xue li has to be regulated…”

Her words carried a hint of injustice for her ‘kind’ and also a hidden worry about her own potential future situation.

Xiao Moyuan lowered his head, looking into her clear eyes, which held a trace of stubbornness. He sighed softly, his hand stroking her long hair even more gently.

“I understand what you’re thinking.”

“But from the perspective of the Demon Extermination Institute, or rather, from the perspective of maintaining order in human society and the safety of the vast majority of ordinary people, this is a regrettable but necessary choice.”

He patiently explained, “Monsters are born with powers far beyond ordinary humans. Once this power gets out of control, the damage to ordinary people can be devastating.”

“Moreover, the habits, needs, and moral concepts of monsters differ greatly from humans; many conflicts arise from fundamental differences in cognition.”

“The Demon Extermination Institute doesn’t have enough manpower, energy, or time to individually identify whether every monster appearing in the human world is good or evil, or whether their ‘good and evil’ standards align with humans.”

“To minimize risk, they can only establish the strictest rules: if unregistered or out-of-control monsters are discovered, the priority is to control them or expel them back to the ‘Mystic Realm.'”

“This may be unfair to some well-intentioned monsters, but it is currently the most effective way to protect more ordinary people.”

Su Mian listened quietly. Although she still felt a bit unconvinced, she understood the logic behind it. She nodded sullenly.

“That’s true… after all, ordinary people are too vulnerable. If everyone was like that Soul Refiner today, any slightly capable person could cause great chaos.”

“It’s good that you can understand.”

Xiao Moyuan kissed the top of her head.

“These matters involve too much historical evolution, power balance, and practical considerations.

When you later enter the Demon Extermination Institute to study and gain access to more internal information and cases, you will have a more comprehensive understanding of the complexity of this world and the necessity of the Demon Extermination Institute’s existence.”

He paused, his tone growing softer, imbued with a sense of promise.

“No rush. The most important thing right now is to resolve the potential hidden trouble of Xia.

Once this matter is concluded, and you officially enter the Demon Extermination Institute, you’ll not only be able to systematically learn how to control your powers but also understand more about this world, about demons, and about the Mystic Realm.”

He cupped Su Mian’s face, gazing into her eyes.

“And the matter closest to your heart—your parents. Currently, through some special channels and lingering clues, the Demon Extermination Institute can only preliminarily confirm that they did not die back then.

Instead, they may have fallen into a special area or spacetime fold within the Mystic Realm, temporarily unable to return, but their life signs have not ceased.”

“Once we’ve settled down here and your strength has improved, I can apply to the institute, or we can make our own preparations, and go together to the Mystic Realm to search for their whereabouts.”

The whereabouts of her parents had always been Su Mian’s deepest, most tender obsession and pain.

Upon hearing Xiao Moyuan’s words, her eyes instantly welled up.

She wrapped her arms tightly around Xiao Moyuan’s waist, burying her face in his firm chest, her voice choked but incredibly sincere, “Thank you… Xiao Moyuan. Thank you, really.”

She thanked him for saving her, taking her in, protecting her, guiding her, and now promising to help her find her closest kin.

Xiao Moyuan felt the little fox’s complete reliance and gratitude in his arms, and his stern heart softened beyond measure.

He lowered his head and kissed her earlobe, a faint, almost imperceptible smile and teasing glint in his deep voice. “I’ve accepted your thanks.”

“However… if possible, I’d prefer you to use a different address.”

“Like ‘Brother’? Or… ‘Husband’? Hmm… ‘Master’ doesn’t sound bad either?”

“Hiss—!”

Su Mian’s face instantly turned crimson. She abruptly broke free from his embrace, indignantly hitting his shoulder. “You! In such a solemn and touching atmosphere, you’re teasing me again!!!”

Any of those three addresses made her cringe to the extreme. It was one thing to be forced to use them in private occasionally, but to deliberately make her say them at a moment like this was simply unbearable.

Xiao Moyuan gently caught her weak fist, then smoothly pulled her back into his arms, chuckling softly. “I think between us, there’s no need to be ‘solemn’ all the time.”

“Isn’t it better to be relaxed, natural, to say whatever you want to say, and to use whatever address you want?”

“Are you going to be stiff and tense whenever you’re with me?”

Encircled in his arms, Su Mian listened to his steady heartbeat. Her indignation gradually receded, and she felt that what he said… seemed to make sense. Indeed, there was no need for so many deliberate rules and distances between them.

Though those addresses still made her blush and her heart race, perhaps… it wasn’t impossible to slowly get used to them?

She let out a soft hum, a tacit agreement, and relaxed her body once more, leaning securely against his broad shoulder.

Xiao Moyuan picked up the remote control, turned on the TV, and tuned it to a soothing documentary channel, lowering the volume to serve as background noise.

They simply nestled together in the warm light of the living room, enjoying the tranquility and warmth after the temporary lull in the storm.

However, this tranquility did not last long.

“Beep-beep—beep-beep—”

The crisp, persistent ringtone of a phone sounded from Su Mian’s satchel, which she had casually tossed on the other end of the sofa, breaking the quiet of the room.

Su Mian was too lazy to move, so Xiao Moyuan stretched out his arm and retrieved the phone for her.

The name and caller ID avatar flashing on the screen made Su Mian pause slightly, a complex emotion flitting across her face.

Xiao Moyuan keenly caught her change, handed her the phone, and asked, “What’s wrong? Who is it?”

Su Mian looked at the three characters “Shen Zhixia” and the bright, cheerful smiling avatar on the screen, and pursed her lips. “It’s… Shen Zhixia.”

Xiao Moyuan was not surprised. He understood and simply hummed, “Mm.”

“Now, besides Shen Zhixia and your family, there’s probably no one else who can cause such a big emotional fluctuation just by calling you.”

He had a remarkably accurate grasp of Su Mian’s interpersonal relationships and thoughts.

Su Mian looked at him in slight surprise. “Oh my god, you know that too!”

“Not hard to guess,” Xiao Moyuan said calmly, his eyes watching her serenely. “Do you want to answer?”

Su Mian bit her lower lip, conflicted.

With her relationship with Xiao Moyuan having undergone a drastic change, deep down, she truly didn’t know how to face Shen Zhixia, especially not wanting her to know about her current intimate cohabitation with Xiao Moyuan.

That would make her feel a strange… guilt and awkwardness.

“You… you keep quiet, okay?” Su Mian finally pressed the answer button, not forgetting to glare at Xiao Moyuan as she whispered a warning.

Xiao Moyuan cooperatively made a zipping motion over his mouth, though a knowing and faintly teasing glint flashed in his eyes. He leaned back into the sofa, settling in to watch her with composure.

…

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