Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Blood on the Letter
"Teacher Li, isn’t there still some time left before the two months are up?"
"Why are you here again? And you didn’t even have Yu give me a heads-up."
Su Xing smiled and casually walked over to Teacher Li Yu. He shook Teacher Li’s hand, then glanced at the girl in pink standing beside him and asked,
"And this is?"
"Oh, this is the teacher from Cang City High School who will be escorting the students. In a little over a month, she’ll be the one taking your brother to the Capital City."
Li Yu also stood up with a smile and shook Su Xing’s hand before continuing, "Brother Su, don’t be fooled by her youth. She’s one of our school’s master teachers."
"Hello, Brother Su."
The girl in pink was staring intently at Su Xing. Only when Li Yu mentioned her did she adjust her expression, revealing a charming smile. She stood up, walked over to Su Xing, and extended a hand adorned with purple-blue nail polish.
Su Xing didn’t take her hand. He simply nodded and smiled, then found a seat and made small talk with the two "teachers" on their home visit.
However, Teacher Li Yu seemed to have already accomplished his goal for the visit. Before long, he announced that he had other matters to attend to and had to leave. Unbothered, Su Xing saw the two of them out of the Sword Hall.
After leaving the Sword Hall, Li Yu and the girl drove to a nearby lake. They parked and watched the Sword Hall from a distance, discussing what they had discovered during their visit.
"What do you think of Su Xing?"
Li Yu asked, looking at Bailan, who was staring at the Sword Hall as if lost in thought.
This wasn’t the first time Li Yu had met Su Xing.
He had seen him before. Su Xing seemed to have changed a lot, yet at the same time, not at all. In any case, he couldn’t detect any trace of Extraordinary power on him.
But Bailan had been staring at Su Xing the whole time, as if she had noticed something.
"What I think of him..." Bailan pondered the question for a moment, then looked up and said earnestly, "He’s very handsome, has a great physique, and is incredibly masculine."
"..."
"I’m discovering you’re not just a Little Calamity Star, but also a complete fangirl. Looks like I’ll have to update your file," Li Yu retorted helplessly at Bailan’s words. Still, he pressed on, a bit frustrated, "You didn’t see anything else?"
"I did."
"You were in too much of a hurry. I forgot to get his number. I’m going back to get it now."
Bailan seemed to have a sudden realization. She tapped her open right palm with her left fist, then started to turn back. Li Yu sighed internally and grabbed the back of her dress collar, saying with resignation,
"Don’t bother. I’ll have Su Yu send it to you later."
"You need to stay hidden near Su Yu from now on. The mission comes first, you understand? If you jeopardize the organization’s mission by chasing after guys, not even I can protect you from the consequences."
"Don’t worry!"
Hearing that Su Yu would send her the contact info, Bailan stopped in her tracks. She slapped her chest forcefully with her right hand, making Li Yu’s eyelids twitch. It was like hearing a thud against a steel plate.
Li Yu thought to himself, ’Looks like... I can definitely rule Su Xing out as our mysterious expert.’
"By the way, Li Yu."
"Even though Su Yu’s brother is probably just a normal person... that Hall Master Li might not be so simple."
At the mention of Hall Master Li, Bailan’s playful demeanor vanished, and her tone grew serious.
"Did you sense Extraordinary power on him?"
Li Yu gave Bailan a surprised look. He knew that even though she was only a third-rank Sequencer and not as strong as him, her particular Sequence made her exceptionally sensitive to the flow of energy. It was possible she could perceive things he couldn’t.
But Bailan shook her head. She raised her right hand slightly to rest on her chin and said,
"I didn’t see any signs of Extraordinary power within him."
"But... I noticed a slight change in his expression when he saw us."
Anyone else hearing Bailan’s words might have thought she was making a fuss over nothing, but Li Yu wouldn’t. Nearly everyone who came up through the official system had to take a course on microexpressions. Sometimes, such subtle changes could be a crucial source of information.
Li Yu pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, "That’s important information, but we can’t conclude that he’s on to us just from that. For now, just keep a close eye on things."
"Mm."
"I’m heading back. You be careful out here by yourself."
Looking at Bailan, Li Yu’s voice softened unconsciously.
"Okay, okay, don’t worry about me. I’m strong!"
...
「Four days later.」
During that time, no more murders occurred in Southern Cang City, and life gradually returned to normal. Su Xing spent his days practicing his swordsmanship, teaching his classes, and bickering with Su Yu. It was a peaceful time.
As the threat of the killer subsided, many parents in the Sword Hall’s group chat began suggesting they resume in-person classes.
After all, for the students,
in-person classes were far more effective than online ones.
The parents wanted their children to excel, but for the students who were just slacking off, the end of online classes meant the nightmare was beginning all over again.
Su Xing, however, didn’t mind either way.
He earned his points whether the classes were online or in-person.
But the Hall Master believed the danger hadn’t truly passed, so he had no intention of resuming in-person classes yet. He just asked the parents to wait a few more days.
"Class dismissed."
"Goodbye, Coach Su!"
After finishing the day’s online class,
Su Xing quickly packed up his streaming equipment, then sat on the floor and opened his system panel. His eyes were immediately drawn to the number in the "Sword Dao Points" column.
[Sword Dao Points: 15]
’It’s about... enough.’
Su Xing muttered to himself in excitement.
He could finally level up "Breath of the Sword" to the next stage in one go.
’These are the Sword Dao Points I’ve saved for four days. I hope the advanced "Breath of the Sword" won’t disappoint me!’
Collecting his thoughts, Su Xing pushed himself up from the floor with his right hand. He dusted off his pants from sitting for so long and was about to head back inside.
Suddenly,
a piercing whistle cut through the air,
followed by the sound of shattering glass.
Something had smashed through the window and was hurtling toward Su Xing with considerable force.
Having practiced the sword for so long, Su Xing’s reflexes were lightning-fast. He snatched the flying object out of the air with one hand on pure instinct. Looking closely, he saw that the object that had shattered his window was, surprisingly, a plain, unremarkable envelope.
Su Xing murmured, ’Breaking glass just by throwing an envelope... That’s some incredible strength.’
After speaking, Su Xing stepped outside the Sword Hall and scanned the area, but saw no one. He then went back inside, ready to open the letter and see what it contained. Just then, he noticed a smear of bright red on his finger.
It was blood.
Su Xing knew it instantly.
The blood on the envelope sent a jolt of alarm through Su Xing, but he opened it anyway. Inside was a single sheet of white paper, crumpled as if stuffed in carelessly. On it was a single, stark word:
"Die!"
