Chapter 121
Chapter 121
“Spatial fissures appeared inside the Safe Zone…”
“Anomalies invaded. The Anomaly Hunter Bureau responded. Heavy casualties…”
“Multiple Anomaly Hunters killed in action. Bureau director sacrificed…”
Every new message turned Su Xiaoyue’s blood colder, as though it had frozen in her veins.
Her body began trembling uncontrollably. She did not want to believe what she saw.
Beyond Xu Minghu’s information, there were messages from Wu Rendi, Qin Lan, and others. All had been sent long ago.
“Such a horrifying disaster… and I knew nothing…”
Her heart seemed caught in a fist, making it difficult to breathe.
In the silent room, only her pounding heartbeat remained, clear as a drum.
She saw Qin Lan’s warning, telling her not to return to Safe Zone 088 under any circumstances during those days.
His words were calm and did not even mention the disaster’s severity.
Su Xiaoyue could still sense the gravity he had felt.
And while it happened, she had been far away in the Central Region, entirely absorbed in advancing her Talent.
Indescribable guilt surrounded her.
“Answer… Qin Lan… Please answer…”
Su Xiaoyue’s thoughts were in chaos. She knew Qin Lan had joined the Anomaly Hunter Bureau. She knew he would have stood on the front line during the disaster, fighting those terrifying anomalies.
If so many Anomaly Hunters had died, then Qin Lan…
She did not dare continue the thought.
Her only wish was for Qin Lan to answer.
But the phone produced nothing except a busy tone.
He was not on another call. He could not be reached.
Su Xiaoyue’s face grew even paler.
…
“Brother Xue, look. This is our academy’s simulated combat hall.”
Yu Qianqian enthusiastically introduced it to Qin Lan. “The United Government provided the technology. It’s a simulated instance exclusive to our academy, helping students safely and efficiently improve their practical combat skills.”
“The only drawback is that communication signals are blocked here, because they worry someone might leak the technology.”
Qin Lan nodded. “Understandable.”
Classified technology naturally required blocked communications.
Clear Spring Academy was hardly unusual. The Anomaly Hunter Bureau had even more signal-free areas.
Qin Lan had encountered simulated instances during the four-school joint examination, but they did not interest him.
At most, the technology could simulate a 3-Star anomaly. Anything stronger consumed more energy than the system could support, so it held no value for Qin Lan.
…
“Hello? Principal Wu?”
“Oh, Xiaoyue… Uh, well… We haven’t spoken in a long time. How have you been? University treating you well?”
Wu Rendi sounded flustered over the phone, as though busy with something.
Su Xiaoyue did not care.
“Principal, where’s Qin Lan? What happened to him?”
“Isn’t he in the Safe Zone? I can’t reach him…”
Wu Rendi sighed on the other end.
“Him? He’s gone.”
Boom.
The words struck Su Xiaoyue like a bolt from a clear sky. Her mind went blank.
“Gone?”
She repeated it instinctively, unable to believe him.
Wu Rendi thought nothing of it and hummed in confirmation.
“Yes. Gone.”
“Qin Lan isn’t here anymore.”
Su Xiaoyue went rigid.
She clung to one final shred of hope.
“Principal Wu… Why did Qin Lan… go? When did it happen?”
Wu Rendi sighed.
“Because of that incident a while ago… Anomalies invaded, and the Safe Zone fell into chaos. We finally managed to settle things, but then he left. I only heard it from someone else…”
Su Xiaoyue tightened her grip on the phone.
“Then… was it painful when he went?”
Wu Rendi carefully recalled his conversation with Qin Lan.
“Probably not. He seemed pretty relaxed when he left.”
“Hello? Xiaoyue? Is my signal bad? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Su Xiaoyue ended the call in a daze.
Sitting in his office, Wu Rendi stared at his phone in confusion and muttered to himself.
“Wait, didn’t that kid tell her before he set out?”
“Why did she need to ask me?”
“Strange.”
To Wu Rendi, it had been an entirely ordinary conversation.
Qin Lan really was no longer in Safe Zone 088. He had left recently. Nothing wrong with that.
He had also seemed emotionally stable when he departed. He even had the leisure to haggle with Wu Rendi.
Wu Rendi never imagined what his words would do to Su Xiaoyue.
“How could this happen…”
“He was messaging me not long ago…”
Su Xiaoyue crouched down as tears streamed uncontrollably over her face.
She had planned to confront Qin Lan after the Nine Academies Tournament and interrogate him about exactly where that “junior student” had come from.
She never expected such terrible news.
“How can you be so selfish…? You promised you would tell me whenever something happened…”
Su Xiaoyue’s voice shook, teardrops falling one by one onto her knees.
“You didn’t leave me a single word in the end. You only told me not to come back…”
“You worried about me. Why didn’t you worry about yourself?”
Still crouched on the floor, Su Xiaoyue sobbed until she could no longer restrain herself and began to wail.
“Waaah… Liar! You’re a liar!”
“You even said… waaah… you said you’d definitely repay me! This is how you repay me? Waaah… Bastard…”
After a long time, Su Xiaoyue finally calmed somewhat.
Her heart continued to twist with waves of pain.
…
After leaving the simulated combat hall, Yu Qianqian checked her phone. Her eyes brightened and her voice rose.
“Oh! Yueyue is done!”
“Finally! She suddenly entered some kind of training a while ago and couldn’t be contacted. Now it’s finally over!”
She excitedly poked Qin Lan.
“Brother Xue, I’ll take you to meet her soon. Just improvise!”
Qin Lan felt an inexplicable urge to laugh.
“Improvise? Fine…”
As Yu Qianqian continued reading, however, her brow furrowed.
“Hmm?”
“Wait. She seems really upset. What happened?”
Yu Qianqian could not determine the reason from Su Xiaoyue’s messages. She knew only that her friend was deeply distressed.
That made matters difficult.
She had planned to arrange a meal and introduce “Xue Chuan” directly, but now the plan could only be postponed.
With no other option, Yu Qianqian apologized.
“Brother Xue, I’m sorry. I may need to spend some time alone with her first…”
“Can I contact you after she feels better?”
Qin Lan did not mind. He waved a hand.
“Whatever. I’ll probably remain at your academy for two days.”
“Contact me later.”
The Nine Academies Tournament would begin soon. Qin Lan had received a complimentary spectator seat and naturally intended to join them.
He could use the time to explore Clear Spring Academy and learn about the place where Su Xiaoyue lived.
There was no hurry to meet.
He had already reached the academy. What could possibly go wrong now?
As the thought crossed his mind, Qin Lan heard a commotion nearby.