Chapter 8
Chapter 8
In the corridor of the dormitory building, Xu Changjiang and Leng Qingyan were shaken beyond words, their expressions full of complicated emotions.
Whenever an A-class anomaly appeared, catastrophe followed. It represented the utmost danger.
Yet Li Que had suppressed two of them and beaten them into complete obedience.
More than that, he intended to guide these anomalies onto the righteous path.
Who would believe such a thing?
But Li Que was already doing it.
Judging by Meng Mo and Nian Youyu’s behavior, he even seemed to be achieving results.
“Suppressing two anomalies of at least A-class is astonishing enough. He actually intends to teach them as well…”
Xu Changjiang murmured to himself. At last, he understood why Li Que refused to expose his identity.
At present, the entire nation-and indeed the whole world-held the same unwavering policy toward anomalies: eliminate them.
Those not of our kind could never share our loyalties, and that was doubly true of anomalies.
Humans and anomalies could not coexist.
If the world learned that someone was attempting to reform high-ranking anomalies, the revelation would cause an unimaginable uproar.
It defied every accepted convention!
Li Que himself would probably face inconceivable trouble.
“I think Teacher Li’s idea is… very forward-thinking and innovative,” Leng Qingyan suddenly said.
She looked at Li Que, a strange light glimmering in her beautiful eyes.
Suppressing anomalies of this level was already an extraordinary feat. To go a step further and attempt to reform them-what breadth of mind and courage did that require?
With Li Que’s strength, joining the authorities would bring him unrivaled status. He would instantly become a nationally famous anomaly wielder. Yet he had given all of that up.
Instead, he served as an unnoticed ordinary teacher at a special school, quietly carrying out work that could shake the entire world.
For the first time in her life, Leng Qingyan felt an inexplicable sense of reverence and admiration.
Xu Changjiang’s expression was equally complicated.
“Teacher Li certainly has… remarkable ideas.”
Zhu Jiayan, standing nearby, felt utterly miserable.
Li Que could say a few impressive-sounding words off the cuff and receive this degree of approval from the officials?
Whenever Zhu Jiayan prepared for an inspection, he didn’t dare leave so much as a scrap of trash lying around. Yet Li Que’s students had turned their dormitory into a filthy mess, and these officials ignored it completely while showering Li Que with praise.
Having powerful connections really was incredible!
Beside him, Zhou Chaoyang’s expression grew even graver. He couldn’t help wondering what rank of anomaly wielder Li Que actually was.
To command such respect from Director Xu…
Could he be B-class?
“Teacher Li, I think we’ve seen enough for today. We won’t disturb you any longer,” Xu Changjiang said.
Everything he had witnessed had left his mind buzzing.
He needed to return and carefully consider how this situation should be handled.
“All right. Thank you all for making the trip.”
Li Que smiled, then took the opportunity to turn toward Zhu Jiayan.
“Principal Zhu, about firing me…”
Zhu Jiayan’s expression changed dramatically, and he hurriedly put on a smile.
“Teacher Li, you must be joking! You’re the finest teacher at our school. Firing you is completely out of the question!”
“From now on, the school will give you its full support. You just focus on your work!”
He thumped his chest as he made the promise, his heart in utter panic.
Li Que heaved a long sigh of relief.
Good. Keeping his job was secondary. What really mattered was that he could continue earning Good Teacher Points.
Not long afterward, Li Que, Zhu Jiayan, and the others escorted Director Xu’s party out of the school. Basic courtesy demanded at least that much.
But Xu Changjiang and Leng Qingyan were overwhelmed by the honor and repeatedly insisted that it wasn’t necessary.
“Teacher Li, you’ve even taken the trouble to see us out. I’m truly sorry to impose on you,” Xu Changjiang said humbly before leaving.
“I’m the one who caused all of you trouble,” Li Que replied with a smile. “It’s thanks to your help that I can continue teaching quietly at this school.”
Given Zhu Jiayan’s rotten temperament, he really might have fired Li Que.
Xu Changjiang and the others had at least done him a favor.
But Xu Changjiang and Leng Qingyan’s expressions turned solemn.
They had understood the hidden meaning in Li Que’s words.
He was clearly telling them to keep everything here confidential so that his peaceful life wouldn’t be disturbed.
“We understand. Teacher Li, we’ll take our leave now.”
Xu Changjiang spoke gravely.
They climbed into their vehicles and drove away.
“Teacher Li, you really kept this hidden deep! Why didn’t you ever tell your old pal about any of it?”
Zhu Jiayan turned around and warmly clasped Li Que’s hand.
“Dinner is on me tonight. You absolutely have to do me the honor!”
All he wanted now was to make amends and clear up the day’s misunderstanding.
Otherwise, he might truly lose his position as principal.
…
At the same time, inside Room 203…
“Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Nian Youyu, who was eating snacks, looked at Meng Mo curiously.
Meng Mo loved to sleep. Ordinarily, he could sleep forever as long as no one disturbed him.
“Something fun is about to happen.”
Meng Mo’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Didn’t you smell that scent on the woman?”
“She smells so delicious. Don’t you want to eat her?”
Nian Youyu rolled his eyes. “I don’t want Sir rapping my palm… Still, it has been a long time since I had a proper meal.”
He licked his lips. “That old woman… wasn’t nearly enough.”
“Don’t worry,” Meng Mo said. “There’ll be plenty to eat soon.”
“That woman smells so delicious that lots of anomalies will want to eat her. She’ll bring plenty of them here, and then you’ll be able to eat your fill.”
Nian Youyu’s eyes lit up. “Will there be any S-class ones? I haven’t eaten an S-class in ages!”
Meng Mo curled his lip. “Dream on. Her constitution and the anomalous entity she contains are unusual, but they can only attract A-class anomalies at most.”
Nian Youyu looked disappointed, but he still said, “A-class… isn’t bad.”
…
Not long afterward, Xu Changjiang and his group returned to the Anomaly Suppression Bureau.
“Qingyan, what do you think… about this situation?”
Xu Changjiang looked hesitant.
“Director, do you want to report it?” Leng Qingyan asked in return.
Xu Changjiang nodded. He was the director of the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, after all, and something this significant had happened within his jurisdiction.
By rights, he should notify his superiors immediately and let them assess and handle the situation.
But Leng Qingyan said, “Li Que made his wishes very clear. He only wants to do his work in peace, without interference from the outside world.”
“If we spread word of this, it could easily backfire. If our superiors decide what Li Que is doing is wrong, a massive battle could break out immediately.”
“Li Que is at least A-plus-class and may even have reached the threshold of S-class. He also has two A-class anomalies under his command. Who could bear the consequences?”
Mingjiang City, at the very least, would inevitably suffer catastrophic casualties.
“On the contrary, I think… we should support Li Que!”
Resolve shone in Leng Qingyan’s eyes. “With him there, those two A-class anomalies can attend school peacefully, can’t they?”
“He even helped us deal with the Cat-Faced Crone and the Stray Cat. He may be an unregistered anomaly wielder, but he stands on the side of justice!”
Xu Changjiang gave a bitter smile. Of course he understood everything Leng Qingyan was saying.
But Li Que was attempting to reform anomalies. The matter was far too sensitive.
The entire nation-the entire world-treated anomalies as mortal enemies to be eradicated.
Yet Li Que intended to live alongside them and reform them.
“We’re making an enormous gamble,” he said.
If everything went smoothly for Li Que, all would be well. But if something went wrong, the resulting disaster would be unimaginable.
“I think our odds of winning are excellent,” Leng Qingyan replied. “An unregistered anomaly wielder reached A-plus-class through his own efforts without losing control.”
“What kind of willpower and strength of character must that require?”
“If a man like him can’t succeed, who possibly could?”
“And if Li Que truly succeeds, the entire world may discover a completely new way of dealing with anomalies!”
All this new path required for now was the silence of the Mingjiang City Anomaly Suppression Bureau.
If Li Que succeeded, he could change the entire world.
But if the gamble failed, the bureau would bear an unimaginable responsibility. Xu Changjiang and the others would lose their careers for concealing the truth.
Xu Changjiang hesitated for a long time. The scene of Li Que teaching those two anomalies at Mingjiang No. 7 Special School resurfaced in his mind.
At last, his expression hardened with resolve.
“You’re right. If someone like Li Que can’t succeed, who possibly could?”
“Then we’ll put our faith in him. Every person in the Anomaly Suppression Bureau will stake their future on this gamble!”
He had made his decision.
“This matter must remain completely confidential. No one can learn about Li Que or anything happening at Mingjiang No. 7 Special School.”
Xu Changjiang’s expression was grave. “But we also need to keep abreast of the situation there at all times.”
“Qingyan, you’ll be responsible for Mingjiang No. 7 Special School from now on and assist Li Que. I’ll make the arrangements for you to become the school’s dean of discipline.”
That would be both more convenient and more reassuring.
Leng Qingyan nodded. “All right.”
Xu Changjiang continued muttering to himself, “The investigators headquarters sent to look into Rain will arrive soon. I still have to figure out how to hide everything from them…”
Since he had decided to help Li Que, his cover-up needed to be flawless.
…
At the same time…
“There isn’t a trace left. How could the Anomaly Suppression Bureau have handled this so cleanly?”
In Jixiang Alley, the man in gray examined the area with a deep frown.
The Cat-Faced Crone had been only one step away from A-minus-class. The Mingjiang City Anomaly Suppression Bureau shouldn’t have had the strength to deal with her.
The man in the battered felt hat stood behind him, deep in thought.
“If someone could do this much, we probably won’t find anything ourselves. Report it to Purple Sparrow. She happens to be coming here to investigate Rain’s whereabouts, so she can search for clues from inside the Anomaly Suppression Bureau.”
Purple Sparrow was the mole their organization had planted within the Anomaly Suppression Bureau system.
…