Time returned to the present.
After leaving the examination hall, Jian Ling felt refreshed and invigorated.
In this past week, he had truly witnessed what a top-tier student was capable of, effortlessly securing first place in his department, with his submitted project being passed around by several professors who praised it endlessly. It was even displayed on the electronic bulletin board, and he was even named the department's beauty... Ahem, I'm getting sidetracked.
"Hey, you... Ling Ge, over here!" Bai Wen had come out first and was waiting at the entrance.
"Let's go, let's go out to eat."
"Oh, you've gotten rich, kid, you can afford to eat out now."
"Oh, it's just a treat for ourselves after the exams, right? Besides, I kept a little of the compensation money the school gave me last time, besides giving some to my parents. It's enough for us to have fun for a while." Bai Wen clapped Jian Ling on the back with force.
...
"Come on, let's have a toast." The two started on a bottle of cola and a bottle of Sprite.
"By the way, I heard the department's beauty lives right across from you, have there been any interesting things happening?" Bai Wen suddenly asked with a gossipy look.
"Where did you hear that from... Never mind, it's not important." Jian Ling thought about it, and it was probably spread by other classmates living in that community who saw them.
"What could happen? You know, that girl is as cold as ice. She doesn't say more than three sentences a week. What could possibly happen?" Jian Ling picked up a dish and replied indifferently.
"Ah? How can that be? Let me tell you, all women are secretly passionate. If you don't take the initiative, how can she possibly talk to you?" Bai Wen lectured him, clearly disappointed.
"Living across from the department's beauty is such a great blessing. You must seize this opportunity and try to win her over. By then, you'll definitely be the most dashing guy in the whole school..." Once Bai Wen started talking, he couldn't stop, spewing all sorts of crude jokes.
...
"Oh, and there's something else." He suddenly changed the subject, feigning mystery.
"A few days ago, in the Wild Mountains not far from the school, a strange white light suddenly appeared, accompanied by a faint earthquake."
"What's so special about that? Maybe it was a group of young people seeking thrills, having a party in there." Jian Ling didn't take these words to heart at all.
Recently, the news had also been reporting some supernatural phenomena, but he mostly didn't believe them. Even if he occasionally thought some might be possible, they were too far removed from him and not something he should be concerned about.
"Oh, if it were really like that, why would I even mention it?" Seeing Jian Ling's indifferent attitude, Bai Wen grew a little anxious.
"Listen to me! After that, strange and terrifying beast roars would come from the mountains every night. Someone dared to go into the mountains to investigate, and when he was found, only half of his leg remained." Bai Wen's story became more and more bizarre, making it sound like he was telling a horror story.
"Alright, you're making it sound like you saw it yourself." Jian Ling continued to eat on his own.
"Although I haven't seen it, the news is absolutely reliable!" Bai Wen thumped his chest, guaranteeing it.
"Alright, alright, I believe you, okay? Hurry up and eat, the food's getting cold."
...
After dinner, the two said goodbye.
Jian Ling burped as he walked home, and suddenly remembered the Wild Mountains Bai Wen had mentioned.
"It seems that the place I live is closer to there than the school..."
"Never mind, it's not important anyway. I don't believe in any demons or ghosts."
Thinking this, he suddenly felt a little uncomfortable in his stomach.
"Tsk, I drank too much soda."
He glanced around and immediately spotted the woods by the roadside, hurrying in to relieve himself.
"Phew~, that's better." Just as he finished and was about to leave, a faint light caught his attention.
"Who's running into the woods at night? Could it be a couple?" Driven by curiosity, Jian Ling slowly approached the light, finally hiding behind a thick tree and cautiously peeking out.
A tall figure was leaning against a tree, engrossed in a phone screen, seemingly watching something very exciting, so much so that she hadn't noticed him at all.
By the faint light of the phone, Jian Ling recognized that flawless face.
"Bronya? What is she doing here? It looks like she's waiting for someone." Jian Ling felt he shouldn't interfere in other people's private matters, but curiosity urged him to keep watching.
After all, gossip about a department's beauty was quite intriguing, especially one of the aloof and mysterious type.
"Beep! Leave immediately, or climb the third tree on your left to observe." It was that emotionless voice again, but Jian Ling was already used to it.
But it should only appear when he was about to encounter a fatal danger, right?
Could it be that watching some gossip would cost him his life?
But he didn't doubt this premonition ability that had saved his life many times. He tiptoed to the tree, using his hands and feet, and climbed up nimbly.
...
About ten minutes later, just as Jian Ling was getting a little impatient, a faint sound of footsteps suddenly echoed through the woods.
The footsteps grew from distant to near, gradually becoming clearly audible, even drawing Bronya's attention.
A figure emerged from the other side of the woods. He was cloaked in a black hooded robe, making it impossible to distinguish his gender, yet he subtly exuded a chilling pressure.
"You're late, Xing."
"Hmm, a few ruffians blocked the way." Perhaps having not spoken for a long time, the black-robed person's voice was hoarse for a moment, then returned to normal, emitting a slightly neutral but still barely discernible female voice.
"Did you catch them?"
"Killed them."
"Sigh, can't you control yourself a little?" Bronya rubbed her forehead.
"Where's what I asked for?"
"Here." The black-robed person flipped his hand, revealing an item in his palm.
Due to the distance, Jian Ling couldn't see what it was exactly, only that it seemed to be a glistening object, which was then thrown into Bronya's hand.
"...Thank you." Bronya inspected the item, then put it away and thanked him, turning to leave.
"Wait..." The black-robed person reached out to stop her.
"Do you... really not want to go back and see?"
...
In the silent stillness, the black-robed person read the answer in her slightly averted gaze.
"Alright."
"I just wanted to tell you, Mother... she misses you very much." The black-robed person's tone was not as harsh as before, becoming a little more gentle.
"Heh heh..." But at the same time, Bronya's smile gradually turned cold.
"Then please tell the old lady that I'm doing very well outside, I don't need her to worry, and I don't care for her resources!"
"I... Sigh~" The black-robed person wanted to say something more, but in the end, said nothing, turning and leaving.
...
Once he confirmed that the black-robed person had completely left, Bronya's gaze drifted among the treetops, sharp and precise like a sniper scope, quickly locking onto a spot.
"Come out, you've been listening for so long, why not come down and share your thoughts?"
Jian Ling was startled, but upon closer inspection, he realized she wasn't looking in his direction.
...
After a few seconds of silence, a rustling sound echoed through the woods.
"Tch, as expected of 'Silver Wing', to have found me so quickly. It seems Great Priest still misjudges your strength." From the shadows, a man leaped down from a tree.
"I clearly carry the Great Priest's marked token, so why were you still able to find me? How exactly did you do it?" The man squinted his weasel-like eyes, ready to counterattack at any moment.
"Sorry, I don't chat with dead people." A faint blue light gathered in Bronya's palm, coalescing into a high-energy particle light saber.
"If you hand over your token, I might give you a quick death." Bronya outwardly observed her prey with interest, secretly searching for an opportunity for a fatal blow.
"Impossible, don't even think about it!" The man shook his head violently.
In that instant, Bronya's eyes sharpened, and she vanished from her spot in a flash, leaving only an afterimage.
When the man came to his senses, the light saber was already pressing against his neck. Even though his consciousness reacted first, his body was unable to make any move in that thousandth of a second.
The man was terrified!
"Gods, please save your devout follower!"
As he chanted, the surrounding space-time instantly slowed down ten thousandfold, as if an invisible hand blocked all flow, giving him ample time to complete his prayer.
Rip!
A black box burst through his clothes and flew out, releasing power that enveloped him.
!
Bronya's pupils constricted, and she dodged the impact, retreating a dozen steps in just one second to create distance between them.
"Such strong Rupture Energy." She frowned her delicate brows, seemingly sensing a hint of threat.
"Today, let me, in the name of the gods, eradicate you, vile heretic!"
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