While Hongying handled the paperwork for Lu Ming’s leave of absence at the academic affairs office, Lu Ming returned to his classroom to pack up his things.
Although he did not have many important belongings there, he still could not afford to leave behind anything that bore his personal traces.
In this world of god-slaying, some deity might well be able to curse him using things he had previously touched or owned.
Even though Lu Ming was the Soul King’s Agent, he knew the importance of caution and was never arrogant.
To avoid disrupting his classmates’ studies, Lu Ming chose to come during their morning run.
Normally, the run took twenty minutes, which was more than enough time for him to finish packing.
However, upon entering the classroom, he found two students who had skipped the run.
Instead, they were slumped over their desks, sleeping.
[Well, look at that.
Slacking off during the run.
Just wait until the student council catches them and docks points!] Lu Ming shook his head and walked inside.
Although his steps were light, he still alerted the two students.
As they raised their heads, Lu Ming realized the two slackers were Jiang Qian and Wang Shao.
Both looked terribly haggard and sickly; clearly, the events of last night had taken a severe mental toll on them.
“Lu Ming!” Seeing him, the two of them instantly stood up in excitement.
“Lu Ming, why are you so late today?
We were worried sick about you!” After escaping safely last night, Jiang Qian and Wang Shao had been on pins and needles.
Seeing that neither Lu Ming nor Lin Qiye had shown up today only amplified their anxiety.
As for Lin Qiye, their homeroom teacher had contacted his family and learned he had to go to the hospital.
But Lu Ming was a boarding student.
He had not returned to his dorm last night, and his guardian could not be reached.
This had led Jiang Qian and Wang Shao to assume the worst—that he had run into trouble with those monsters from yesterday.
“I’m fine.
But look at you two, you look exhausted.
You should ask for a leave of absence and get some proper rest.” Lu Ming nodded to them, walked straight to his desk, and began packing his books.
“Lu Ming, thank you so much for yesterday!
If it weren’t for you…” Wang Shao’s eyes welled with tears.
After getting home last night, a wave of lingering terror had washed over him.
Had Lu Ming not intervened, he would probably be dead by now, just like those faceless victims rumored in the news.
“Lu Ming, thank you so, so much!
If you hadn’t stepped in, I definitely would have been eaten by those monsters.” As a girl, Jiang Qian was much more emotional.
Tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks as she spoke.
They had told their parents about last night, but their parents did not believe them.
When Li Yifei and Liu Yuan saw them today, they looked like they had seen ghosts, completely unable to believe the two had survived.
Lu Ming really could not handle this kind of heavy, emotional atmosphere.
“We’re classmates, it was nothing.
I’m just glad you’re both safe.” He was not some therapist; he could only offer a few casual words of comfort.
At this moment, he actually envied Aizen.
If he possessed Aizen’s manipulation and sweet-talking skills, a few casual words would probably turn Wang Shao and Jiang Qian into his devoted fanboy and fangirl.
[Admiration is the state furthest from understanding!] The flex-heavy quote from Aizen echoed in his mind.
Although it did not fit the situation at all, the sheer aura of superiority was undeniable.
Jiang Qian and Wang Shao were ordinary people; they probably would not have much interaction in the future.
He would just treat this as having rescued two stray animals.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Wang Shao and Jiang Qian did not know what else to say and began scrambling for conversation.
“Lu Ming, why are you packing your things?
Lin Qiye went to the hospital today—did you save him last night too?” Lu Ming looked up at them and shook his head.
“I didn’t save Lin Qiye.
I’m here today to withdraw from school.
I won’t be coming back.” Wang Shao and Jiang Qian froze.
They never expected Lu Ming to take a leave of absence.
Jiang Qian opened her mouth to ask why, but Lu Ming cut her off and continued: “No need to ask where I’m going.
It’s better if you don’t know too much.
Surviving a great disaster brings good fortune.
Here’s a word of advice: if you ever encounter danger in the future, remember to trust whatever decision Lin Qiye makes.” Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, Lu Ming walked out of the classroom, leaving behind a piece of advice that utterly baffled the two.
The two stood frozen for a moment.
By the time they snapped out of it and rushed to the doorway, Lu Ming was already gone.
[Trust whatever decision Lin Qiye makes?] …
“All packed, Lu Ming?” Backed by her official status with Daxia’s backing, Hongying had easily processed Lu Ming’s leave of absence without any obstacles.
“Shh.
Sister Hongying, come over here.” Lu Ming whispered, pulling Hongying behind a nearby tree.
“What is it?” Hongying looked on curiously, following Lu Ming’s gaze toward the girls’ dormitory.
Seeing several girls heading toward the building, she suddenly had an epiphany and smirked mischievously.
“What?
Already missing high school?
Is one of those girls your crush?
If you like someone, you should say it out loud!” Lu Ming was utterly speechless.
*She’s shipping people even at a time like this?* “Sister Hongying, what are you thinking?
High school rules strictly forbid dating, okay?” As he spoke, Lu Ming sized Hongying up and mumbled under his breath.
“Besides, what’s so great about high school girls?
If I had to choose, I’d choose someone mature like you…” His quiet murmur did not escape Hongying’s sharp ears.
Hearing Lu Ming compare her to high schoolers, Hongying’s eyes widened, and the tips of her ears began to burn.
She stole a glance at him, suddenly realizing that even though Lu Ming was just a high school student, his temperament and build were incredibly mature, and he was quite handsome.
If he took off that school uniform, he would easily pass for an adult.
For a brief second, her mind began to wander.
But she snapped out of it a moment later, her face flushing crimson as the heat spread from her ears to her entire face.
“Sister Hongying, don’t you think those girls are a bit unusual?” Lu Ming’s eyes remained fixed on the girls, entirely oblivious to her reaction.
“W-what’s so unusual about them?” Hongying kept her head lowered, terrified that Lu Ming would see her blushing.
*I actually thought a kid much younger than me looked handsome and reliable just now.
I must have lost my mind…* Lu Ming frowned.
“Those girls have the aura of a ‘Mystery’ inside them.
They aren’t normal.” These were the exact students Lu Ming had marked with his spiritual sense.
They had been implanted with snake seeds by the Nanda Snake Demon, though the seeds had not yet hatched.
Along the way, Lu Ming had tried using his spiritual energy to observe the other students.
Fortunately, the number of students implanted with snake seeds had not increased.
“What?!” Hearing Lu Ming’s words, Hongying instantly turned serious.
She carefully examined the girls, knitting her brows, but she could not detect anything out of the ordinary.
Hongying lacked Lu Ming’s spiritual perception and Lin Qiye’s eyes, so she could not see the hidden anomaly.
But she did not doubt Lu Ming’s words for a second.
“If they’re connected to a Mystery, we have to report this to the Captain.” If a large-scale Mystery incident occurred in the school, it would be a dereliction of duty for Squad 136.
“Let’s detain those girls first!” Hongying suggested in a low voice, but Lu Ming shook his head.
“They’re just being controlled by a Mystery.
The mastermind behind this hasn’t shown themselves yet.
We shouldn’t alert them.
If that creature realizes we’re onto them, it could have even worse consequences for the entire Cangnan City!” “Sister Hongying, let’s leave first.
Please report this school situation to the Captain.” After the girls entered the dormitory, Lu Ming quietly left spiritual energy marks on them for easier tracking later.
As they walked out of the school gates, Hongying felt that Lu Ming was wrapped in an even deeper shroud of mystery.
“Since it involves a Mystery, is it really okay to just leave them be like this?” Hongying asked softly.
“That’s why I’m asking you to report this to the Captain.
He should have a way to handle it.” Naturally, Lu Ming could not tell Hongying about Li Yifei.
The Nanda Snake Demon was already marked for death, but it was best to leave its elimination to Lin Qiye.
Otherwise, without Li Yifei playing the role of the sweet “grandson” caregiver for the old lady, the treatment progress of Nyx, the Goddess of Night, would likely be significantly set back.
His plan was simply to harvest the corresponding Zanpakuto materials when the snake seeds erupted.
Li Yifei and An Qingyu were crucial characters in the story.
Especially An Qingyu—as the chosen “blade-borrower,” he could not be allowed to miss the chance to get his first pot of gold from the Nanda Snake Demon…
Having successfully left Cangnan No.
2 High School, Hongying quietly followed behind Lu Ming, stealing glances at his back from time to time.
To her, Lu Ming did not seem like a high schooler at all.
He had discovered a Mystery event on campus yet had not acted impulsively.
Plan first, act later.
She had only ever seen this kind of calculating restraint in their Vice Captain, Wu Xiangnan.
“Sister Hongying, is there something on me?” As the Soul King’s proxy, Lu Ming was incredibly sensitive to any spiritual energy fluctuations.
Hongying staring at his back from behind left him a bit puzzled.
Although he had a clear conscience, was there anything about him that would make her suspicious?
Startled by his sudden turn, Hongying flinched.
She quickly averted her eyes, not daring to look at him.
Lu Ming followed her gaze in confusion, only to see a few ordinary trees by the path.
To be honest, Hongying’s behavior strongly resembled a high school girl harboring a secret crush on the class heartthrob.
But Lu Ming was not vain.
While he was confident in his looks, he did not think a proud, gifted individual like Hongying would fall in love with him at first sight.
After all, aside from his secret identity as the Soul King’s proxy, he did not possess any wealth or influence that would appeal to her.
“Oh!
I get it.
Sister Hongying, you want a Zanpakuto too, don’t you?” “I understand, I understand.
You’re a girl, after all!
I’ve already put you on the waiting list.
Once I finish forging one for Leng Xuan, I’ll make yours.” Lu Ming figured that his Zanpakuto was the only thing about him capable of catching her interest.
*Sister Hongying, we’re tight.
I’ll definitely set you up with a top-tier Zanpakuto.* *You get a Zanpakuto that won’t fall out of meta, and I get a human power bank to farm free experience.