Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Blazing Fury of Feiyan

"This is unforgivable. I’m going to kill you!" At the height of his fury, Qin Xiaochuan could restrain himself no longer and was about to strike at Azure Dragon. But at that very moment, Feiyan behind him tugged at his sleeve, his gaze even colder, sharp as frost. "Save your anger for Vermilion Bird. He’s the one who truly deserves it."

With that, Feiyan cast off the black cloak draped around his shoulders and threw it over the ice-bound head of White Tiger.

"What are you doing?" Azure Dragon sneered, folding his arms as he watched Feiyan cover White Tiger’s head. "You, who are a monster like us, ought to scoff at such pointless sentimentality. Your cruel, savage nature should be just like ours—born for the kill. Since when did you start feeling sorry for a failed White Tiger? This isn’t like you, Feiyan."

"This is the first time I’ve seen Feiyan like this," White Shadow commented, astonished by Feiyan’s silence. He, too, had never seen such an expression on Feiyan’s face; his features were colder than the chilling aura Azure Dragon exuded. "In the past, Feiyan would have acted just like Azure Dragon. But now, after seeing what Azure Dragon has done, Feiyan’s displeasure is clear. The fighting spirit radiating from him is enough to terrify even me. I’ve never felt Feiyan’s anger so intensely. Perhaps he truly is enraged that White Tiger was killed by his own teammate…"

Azure Dragon grew angry at Feiyan’s lack of response, feeling slighted by his opponent’s indifference. Summoning all his demonic energy, he wrapped himself and Feiyan in a freezing storm. "You wretched creature, die!"

He lunged at Feiyan, intending to freeze him solid with his chilling aura. The moment Azure Dragon lifted his foot, Feiyan drew his sword from his waist. In a blur of speed, faster than ever before, he passed by Azure Dragon, and with a sweep of his blade, he slashed Azure Dragon’s torso into countless pieces. Glancing coldly at the butchered corpse now strewn across the floor, Feiyan spat out, "I’m done looking at your ugly face." Then, with a single motion, he sheathed his sword behind him.

"When—when did he even strike? I—I didn’t see a thing…" The battle was already over, and Zhang Yang’s jaw dropped in shock. Feiyan was terrifying—dealing with a monster like Azure Dragon so easily, and at such speed that no one could follow. To think I was arguing with someone this frightening… I must have a death wish. The thought made Zhang Yang mutter, "My impression of him has changed a little…"

"Phew…" White Shadow let out a breath, equally astonished. "I only saw the first slash. The rest—I couldn’t see at all." Turning to Feiyan, he asked, "How many times did you strike, Feiyan?"

"Sixteen."

"Incredible, Feiyan! You actually landed sixteen cuts—that’s astonishing!" Qin Xiaochuan, impressed by Feiyan’s poise in the center of the hall, hurried over and slapped him on the shoulder. "Even with my eyes wide open, I could only follow half of your attacks. You’re something else, Feiyan. If I fought you again, you might finish me off. Amazing, truly amazing!" He patted Feiyan’s shoulder a few more times, as if to show camaraderie. With an opponent like Feiyan, one careless moment could spell death. Qin Xiaochuan wasted no time cultivating goodwill; if he ever offended Feiyan again, he might end up in pieces—what a pointless way to die.

"Who knows…" Feiyan replied nonchalantly to Qin Xiaochuan’s flattery, then turned and walked away.

"He’s changing, little by little since coming here," White Shadow said, seeing Qin Xiaochuan gazing after Feiyan. "It seems since you became his teammate, he’s gradually been drawn in by you."

Watching Feiyan cross the main hall of Azure Dragon Palace toward the staircase at the corner, Qin Xiaochuan nodded at White Shadow and followed. One more demon remained—defeat him, and the magic flute would be destroyed.

At that moment, a bird swooped down from the sky and landed on the window ledge of the castle’s top floor.

"Lady Vermilion Bird! Lady Vermilion Bird!" To Qin Xiaochuan’s surprise, the little bird on the sill began to speak. It was clearly the Vermilion Bird’s pet.

"Swift Sparrow? Why are you only just back?" A figure in the shadows sat on a chair, cradling a crystal ball, watching Qin Xiaochuan and his companions through its glowing surface.

"Lady Vermilion Bird, judging by your mood, those three have failed, haven’t they?" Swift Sparrow seemed to understand her mistress well. Seeing Vermilion Bird’s face in the gloom, she guessed the source of her displeasure immediately.

"Don’t waste time with useless talk," Vermilion Bird snapped, cutting her off. "What about the investigation I ordered on Qin Xiaochuan? What did you find?"

"Heh heh, don’t be hasty, my lady. I found something quite interesting about Qin Xiaochuan. Look here." Swift Sparrow flitted from the windowsill and joined Vermilion Bird before a huge glass mirror. As Swift Sparrow pointed with her wing, the mirror’s surface shimmered, and a girl’s image appeared—Fan Fan. "This is the one considered that man’s greatest weakness. Her name’s Fan Fan, and she’s Qin Xiaochuan’s classmate."

"Is she his lover?"

"Their relationship is close, but still rather innocent. In any case, this girl is that fellow Qin Xiaochuan’s soft spot!" Swift Sparrow flapped her wings in midair, her tone certain.

"Very well. Let the people controlled by the demon insects deal with her at the school," said Vermilion Bird, raising a flute and pointing at Fan Fan’s reflection. "Let this girl be the sacrifice that marks the start of the slaughter." She brought the magic flute to her lips and began to play, using its sound to command those humans under the demon insects’ control to hunt down the girl in the image.

It was afternoon, and school had just let out. Fan Fan, walking down the corridor, happened upon Teacher Li from the guidance office.

"Hello, Teacher Li!"

"Fan Fan, still here? Why haven’t you gone home?"

"I’m leaving now, just need to fetch my bag from the classroom. Goodbye, Teacher Li!"

With a polite bow, Fan Fan turned to get her bag.

"Wait."

Hearing Teacher Li call her, Fan Fan stopped and turned around. "Yes, Teacher Li? Is there something else?"

"The final exams are coming up. If you work hard, you should have no problem making the top ten, right?"

"Heh, I’ll do my best, Teacher Li!"

"Whether you want to hear it or not, I have to say it: don’t get too close to that rascal Qin Xiaochuan. He’ll ruin your studies, understand?"

"Yes!" Fan Fan stuck out her tongue as she turned away, clearly reluctant to agree. Every time she met Teacher Li, he warned her to stay away from Qin Xiaochuan, making her so nervous that she’d go out of her way to avoid him. Teacher Li seemed deeply prejudiced against Qin Xiaochuan, the perennial problem student.

Just then, a demon insect burrowed into Teacher Li’s ear. In moments, drool began to drip uncontrollably from his mouth, his expression twisted and grotesque, his body shuddering. Soon after, as if losing all consciousness, his body stiffened and he lurched toward Fan Fan’s classroom. Clearly, Teacher Li was now under the demon insect’s control.

As Fan Fan was gathering her things to leave, the classroom door was suddenly flung open with great force. Seeing Teacher Li enter, Fan Fan was startled. "Teacher Li, is there something else?"

"…Didn’t… I tell you… to leave? Why are you still…?" Teacher Li’s face was terrifying now, drool streaming from his lips and splattering on the floor. Seeing Fan Fan still in the classroom, he mumbled, "Disobedient students… deserve… to die!"

With that, Teacher Li balled his fist and swung at Fan Fan. She ducked, covering her head, and his punch crashed through the classroom window, shattering the glass. Seeing Teacher Li so crazed, Fan Fan dropped her bag and fled. How had he become like this? It was terrifying.

After escaping the building, Fan Fan sensed something was wrong—the whole school was eerily quiet, not a soul in sight. How could this be? It was never like this after school. She didn’t know that this was all Vermilion Bird’s doing. To clear out any unrelated people, Vermilion Bird had sealed the school, all for the sake of capturing Fan Fan and using her against Qin Xiaochuan. In order to defeat him, Vermilion Bird would stoop to any means, however despicable. For a demon, nothing was out of bounds so long as victory was assured.

With no one around, Fan Fan ran toward the school gates, hoping to go home and get away from this terrifying place. But as she reached the entrance, she saw a line of people standing before the gate. They didn’t look like students or staff, and their behavior was odd—they blocked the gate, neither entering nor leaving, swaying in place, marching on the spot. As she approached, Fan Fan realized with horror that they were just like Teacher Li, drooling, their eyes rolled back—just like zombies from a horror film.

With her path blocked, Fan Fan turned and ran back toward the school building. There was a rear exit behind it, usually opened after school for students’ convenience. Since the main gate was blocked, her only hope was to reach the back door and pray it wasn’t guarded by these strange people.