FXDL V7C2

Translated by: TaffyGirl13

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Chapter 2: Before visiting someone else’s home, why not call them to give a heads-up?

When the ending class bell rang, Fu Xing swept his items from the desk into his backpack and shot to his feet before racing straight to the Aquarius parlor as quickly as possible.

This parlor was the room used to wait for and receive external visitors, and was usually vacant. Recently, it was being used by Isaac’s supporters to meet with Isaac and announce any news. It was basically the gathering place for the southern darkblood alliance now.

While this was against regulation, Isaac’s change in status and his participation in the time reversal mission allowed Aquarius to turn a blind eye.

Fu Xing stood outside the parlor door to carefully listen in. Once he confirmed there were no meetings ongoing, he gently pushed open the door.

Isaac sat at the long desk alone, his elbows propped on the table with his fingers interlaced together and resting against his forehead. He appeared to be in deep thought and praying at the same time.

“Isaac,” Fu Xing quietly called.

This was his first time seeing Isaac since returning to the current space-time.

Upon returning, Isaac did not announce the truth of the history he had witnessed. Instead, he became more active in his interactions with his allies, taking the initiative to participate in meetings among the clans of the southern faction to hear their opinions. This was a massive encouragement to his supporters.

Isaac lifted his head at the sound. His usual pale and sickly complexion looked more haggard now. However, there was a new sense of resolute determination that had never been there before.

“Good evening, Fu Xing.” Isaac smiled faintly, “It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“It’s only been five days.” Fu Xing walked over to Isaac, pulling aside the chair opposite to him to take a seat. “Ahem…do you want some cookies?” He pulled out a food container and opened it to show it was brimming with handmade cookies. These had been a portion of the desserts served at dinner today.

Isaac glanced at the box, seemingly about to refuse. However, after a second’s hesitation, he chuckled lightly. “Thank you.” He reached out to grab a flower-shaped chocolate cookie.

“There was originally a matcha flavoured one that was super yummy! But they were all eaten by Rocort. These are the results of my hard efforts in protecting what remained.” Fu Xing pulled out a thermos from his bag as well and poured out a cup of tea to pass over to Isaac. “This is lavender tea. Paired with the cookies, it’s a match made from heaven!”

“Thank you.” Isaac accepted the tea and took a light sip. Then he let out a long sigh.

“You seem exhausted.” Fu Xing worriedly asked, “Are there that many issues to deal with in the southern alliance?”

“Because there’s constantly new intel and reports, decisions must be made at any moment, responding to unexpected changes as they occur.” Isaac tossed the rest of the cookie into his mouth and downed the rest of his tea in one go. “Leon officially took over the Sagveiss clan, and thus also the control of the northern alliance, and has been gathering military power. Such a major act has upset the emerging southern faction, with many switching radical parties.”

“Leon is only doing it to combat White Triangle…”

“I know.” Isaac’s face was solemn. “Him uniting the clans at this time to declare war against White Triangle has swayed quite a few of the centrist clans, turning them towards the northern alliance, and thus affecting the cohesion of the southern clans.”

“I don’t think Leon is doing that to go against you though,” Fu Xing couldn’t help but voice his thoughts. “He isn’t that despicable of a person.”

The moment the words escaped his mouth, he regretted speaking.

He was being too rude. He had forgotten that Isaac had just witnessed his grandmother’s death with his own eyes, forgotten how deeply the Sagveiss name tormented Isaac.

But to his surprise, Isaac did not appear to be upset.

“I know.” Isaac flatly said in a low voice, “At first glance, Leon’s actions appear to be causing the Sagveiss’s popularity to skyrocket. However, this strategic decision is actually an act of suicide. After the war, regardless of whether they win or lose, the Sagveiss clan will have to bear the burden of all the losses from the chaos of war, as well as the sorrow and resentment.”

Without war, everyone could just leave things as they were and continue living in false harmony.

Most darkbloods were middle or high-class in human society. While they might momentarily be moved by the courage stirred from war, they would only find loss in their people and wealth after the war. It would be more than enough for the terrible reality to hit them in the face by then.

There would be no post-war peace treaty in the war against White Triangle, nor any type of reparations being paid. All that would be gained would be the deaths of their own and their enemy.

Fu Xing was surprised by Isaac’s calm. He had assumed that after witnessing the truth of history, Isaac would feel bitter hatred towards Leon and the Sagveiss clan.

“Um…” Seeing how unaffected Isaac was when mentioning Leon, Fu Xing mustered the courage after a moment’s hesitation to say, “Although this might make you unhappy, I think we might have misunderstood Leon…”

Seeing Isaac’s unchanging expression, he continued, “Leon likely only found out the truth after going back in time as well, probably just one or two days before we did and he just didn’t tell us. Before that, he had no knowledge of what happened with your clan.”

Isaac did not speak, only quietly listening to Fu Xing.

“So, um…I wanted to, ahem, basically…”

 

Crap, I ran out of words. What am I supposed to say next? Don’t keep fighting and being at odds with each other, and just make up already? That sounds so stupid! 

Isaac sighed and slowly stated, “If Leon was as sinister as Herman he wouldn’t have let us discover the truth.”

Fu Xing was taken aback. “Since you know that, why—”

“I don’t know what to do.” Isaac’s brows furrowed together as he admitted, “If a Jew discovered that his close friend’s father was once a core Nazi member that slaughtered thousands of his people, it would be hard to accept it and continue calmly even with a rational mind.”

“That’s true too.” If he had discovered that the big-breasted female actress that he had crushed on for ages was actually a transvestite, thinking back on the endless nights they had spent together would definitely give him goosebumps, and it would be difficult to accept. 

Wait, that analogy doesn’t seem right. After all, it’s not like Isaac clutched a photobook of Leon every night to help explore himself.

“Moreover, I truly am resentful towards the Sagveiss clan, even if not at Leon.” Isaac’s expression turned cold as he said, “The Sagveiss clan has committed all manners of crime for the sake of power and their self-proclaimed righteousness and harmony. One could even say it’s admirable.”

“Ahem, so…” Fu Xing scratched his chin, his mind not quite able to catch up and comprehend the extremely complicated situation. “So you’re not angry at Leon?” His previous mood that had been weighed down with worry felt significantly lighter now.

Isaac hesitated for a moment before shaking his head, a look of pity replacing his frown. “Leon is also pitiful for being restrained by the Sagveiss’s fetters.” He muttered, “The Sagveiss clan not only deceived the world, but their own as well…”

“What do you mean?”

Isaac raised his head to peer at Fu Xing. After a few seconds of hesitation, he plainly admitted, “My scouts found some intel that during the Heidelberg Purge, much of the clan met bitter fates and Lia Sagveiss was among the list of casualties.”

Fu Xing nodded, “Yeah, I know about that.”

Leon’s character had become twisted since that moment on, making him turn cold as he chose to walk towards endless darkness.

“However, according to the newest reports I received from my intel group, Lia Sagveiss was not at Heidelberg at the time. The Abel clan had been holding a feast during those days, and every clan had sent representatives to attend which was why everyone naturally believed there were no surviving attendees. However, there were no records of Lia entering Luxemburg that afternoon. Lia’s maid, Fichte, wanted her young mistress to stay in Schengen, likely to accompany her to visit her hometown.”

After a second’s pause, Isaac voiced his conjecture, “Lia Sagveiss might not be dead.”

“What?!” Fu Xing was dumbfounded by the sudden revelation. “Where is she then?”

Isaac frowned and softly replied, “My guess is that only specific members of the Sagveiss clan would know…”

Only Leon was kept completely in the dark.

The Sagveiss elders had collaboratively fabricated the tragedy for Leon to be filled with resentment, for him to be molded into a clan leader as unfeeling as Herman.

It was indeed a tragedy. However, it wasn’t Lia that was the victim, but Leon. From beginning to end, he had been deceived and manipulated by his own bloodline.

“Why investigate all this?” Fu Xing was curious. Even if Isaac had dispelled his hard feelings on Leon, this was not something that could be achieved in a single day. How had he been able to receive the intel instantaneously?

“I previously sent someone to investigate.” Isaac looked down in embarrassment, “Back then, I wanted to do something for a friend.”

He knew Leon cared greatly about Lia, and also knew Lia’s body had never been found. He had originally wanted to just find the location of her remains so that they could hold a proper funeral for her and let her rest. He hadn’t imagined he would instead dig up the trail of an unimaginable truth.

“And now?”

Isaac was silent for a moment. He then quietly answered, “…If he still sees me as a friend.”

Fu Xing stared at the reserved yet earnest Isaac and suddenly recalled how Isaac had always been introverted but kind, always grateful to the things around him.

“Isaac, I want to find Leon.” Fu Xing earnestly declared, “I don’t want to see him endure pain alone.”

“And what will you do after you see him?” Isaac asked. “Leon is now the leader of the northern faction, his status completely different from before. Besides, he won’t necessarily want to meet us.”

Fu Xing furrowed his brows and crossed his arms as he contemplated this. Eventually, he gave up on the annoying hypothetical question.

“Whatever, I’m bringing him back.” Fu Xing announced with stubborn resolve, “If we dared to sneak into your grandmother’s bath, infiltrating the Sagveiss clan and knocking out Leon to carry him away with us isn’t a problem!”

An uncontrollable chuckle escaped from Isaac’s lips. “You make it sound like we’re hunting a wild boar.”

That was just how Fu Xing was. Impulsively simplifying any complicated matters and sticking to his own beliefs with a willful innocence. Although he appeared to be foolish, he was actually just extremely warm.

“Perfect, I just requested to leave campus the day after tomorrow to return to St. Petersburg. Perhaps we can travel together and visit Leon in Stuttgart first so you can execute your kidnapping scheme.”

“Awesome!” He would definitely bring Leon back!

A sense of ruefulness rose in Isaac’s heart as he saw how Fu Xing was itching to go with such hotbloodedness. 

“I’m really envious of Leon for having a roommate like you.”

“We’re not just roommates, we’re friends! Something like this is only natural between friends!”

“But if you weren’t roommates, you might not have even gotten the chance to become friends. Because of the fateful opportunity of living together, you could get to know each other well enough to become friends.” Isaac rested his head on his fist as he looked at Fu Xing with a relaxed expression. “If I had been the one to room with you at the beginning, you might have gone a different path.”

If he had escaped from his self-made isolation earlier, his school life might have been even more exciting, or his entire life could have changed.

“But everyone got to know each other not long after school started, so there wouldn’t have been a difference.” Fu Xing grinned as he patted Isaac’s arm, “You’re all my friends, and you’re all equally important.”

“That’s true.” Isaac smiled and slowly stood. “We should be going. If we continue staying here any longer, the brownie in charge of this place will pull a prank on the chairs next time.”

“Good point!” Fu Xing followed Isaac as he shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Scheming little beasts.”

When they left the room, Fu Xing walked ahead, his pace unconsciously increasing as the corners of his lips rose into a bright smile without him realising.

He was very happy to see the conflicts between Isaac and Leon about to be resolved; the broken ties would be reconnected soon.

Although the situation outside was crisis upon crisis, although he was still confused and uncertain of himself, those troublesome matters were the last things on his mind.

The maelstrom in the outside world had nothing to do with him. He was just a minor character that only cared about his friends. This was more pressing, more real, and more important.

He wanted to protect the things he treasured.

 

It was the dead of the night, the darkness before dawn, quieter than midnight. This was when both night and day walkers rested.

During the several days he had been alone in the room, Fu Xing had been going to bed depressed, resulting in him tossing and turning restlessly. However, tonight he managed to fall into a peaceful sleep with a clear objective in mind: to pursue his friend that had left the group.

In his dreams, a peculiar sensation rose from his consciousness. Although he was asleep, his thoughts gradually grew clearer, breaking his dream and pushing him back to reality.

Fu Xing slowly opened his eyes, and a hazy figure appeared near him.

“Leon?!” He reflexively reacted, sitting up in shock.

“Nope.” A familiar voice replied, “It’s me.”

The figure walked over to the window, the moon’s snow-white glow embellishing a pale face.

“You’re…” Fu Xing found the person very familiar, their name at the tip of his tongue. However, the moment he opened his mouth, his mind went blank, and any hint of recognition dissipated like smoke.

“Youny.” The youth smiled faintly, “You should still remember me.”

“Oh, yeah!” The foggy haze in his mind immediately cleared up, his confusion turning into delight. “Why are you here?”

“It’s been a long time, I came to check how you’re doing.” Youny walked over to sit at the edge of the bed. “You did quite an extreme thing, Fu Xing. Time reversal is very dangerous.”

 “Ah, I know. But it was an accident. It’s pretty complicated…” Fu Xing awkwardly scratched his bedhead.

This was his first time meeting Youny outside the forest, and it felt out of place.

Youny only smiled thinly without asking for more details. He had heard about the situation from eavesdropping on Samukawa’s conversation with Sanbi.

“You’re leaving school tomorrow?” Youny asked.

“Mhm, because Leon—”

“I know, he left. You’re going to find him?”

He had been paying closer attention to Fu Xing’s movements since the time reversal incident. While Fu Xing had been in deep sleep just now, he had even cast a defense charm that would automatically activate if Fu Xing encountered a life-threatening situation. The moment the defense mechanism opened, it would also launch an attack, while sending an instantaneous signal to him so that he would be able to immediately arrive at the scene.

This charm had expended a significant amount of his energy. He had told himself that this strict protection was for himself, to ensure that his key chess piece would remain unharmed so as not to affect his spell.

It was absolutely not to protect He Fu Xing.

“Mhm.” Fu Xing nodded, full of self-confidence. But unease then bled through his expression as he dropped his head. “I hope he’s willing to come back…”

Honestly, he was terrified Leon would be firmly set on not coming back with him.

As if responding to Fu Xing’s emotions, there was a faint ripple through the air from a fluctuation of energy that the typical person could not see.

Youny’s brows shot up as he silently observed the arcs of light only visible to him.

This was a sign that the time was ripe.

At the moment, Fu Xing was like a glass 90% full. The slightest change would cause it to spill or overflow.

It would not be long — just four more days — until the key turned the tides. Soon, the day he could be free of this cage would arrive.

“Don’t think so much, cheer up.” Youny reached out to pat Fu Xing on the shoulder. “You will definitely figure something out, just like you always do.”

“You have so much faith in me.” Fu Xing looked up at Youny and sighed, “It’s a good thing I have you.”

“Why?”

“You came all the way here just to give me encouragement.” Fu Xing beamed, “Thank you.”

When Youny saw Fu Xing’s grateful expression, the strange emotion arose in his heart once more. It was like a warm breeze, invisible yet gentle as it brushed over frozen ground.

“It’s no big deal.” Youny turned his head to avoid Fu Xing’s gaze that was excessively bright with pure innocence.

“Oh yeah, did you receive my gift? I bought some souvenirs on the school trip and placed them under the usual tree,” Fu Xing excitedly asked, looking forward to finding out Youny’s reaction.

Youny paused for a second before shaking his head with a smile. “No.”

“Is that so?” His expectant expression immediately turned into disappointment, as he consoled both of them with a regretful tone, “Someone else probably took it. Hopefully whoever did enjoys it, haha.”

Youny stared at Fu Xing as he softly asked, “Why did you want to give me something?” To curry favour from me? “Did you want something in return?”

“In return?” Fu Xing’s brows shot up in confusion, as though the question was ridiculous. “I didn’t think that much. I just wanted to share the joy from the school trip. Shouldn’t friends be like that?”

Youny did not respond.

His subconscious told him that he had to stop talking. He could not ask more questions or chat more, or else—

Or else he would feel unnecessary attachment towards his “chess piece”…

Fu Xing studied Youny in silence, with a growing suspicion. “Youny, are you alright?”

The corners of Youny’s lips rose to form a large smile that did not reach his eyes.

He reached out to pat Fu Xing on the shoulder. “Good night. I hope you have a good dream.”

Sleepiness suddenly covered Fu Xing’s head like a heavy cap, his consciousness being oppressed to the deepest parts of his mind. He was on the verge of falling back into the dream that had been interrupted earlier.

“…You too…” Fu Xing tried his best to grin at Youny as he mumbled, “Don’t…force yourself too much…be happy…” Then he fell asleep.

Youny stood. With one last glance at Fu Xing, he pushed open the window and flew into the night sky.

It had been many centuries since he last dreamed. He did not need to dream, because beautiful dreams needed to be created with one’s own hand to be meaningful.

At the moment, his spirit could completely leave his body, but only for about a day.

The winter solstice would be soon, the shortest day of the year.

That would be the critical time when he could completely break the seal.

 

The sun setting earlier on the winter solstice and the fog from the incessant rain meant twilight would begin at four in the afternoon.

Isaac and Fu Xing took advantage of the cloudy weather to leave school early and head to the airport for a direct flight to Stuttgart. Although their other friends wanted to join as well, the school had tight restrictions on student requests to leave campus due to the sensitivity of the circumstances outside. Fu Xing and Isaac had only managed to leave by using their status as Aquarius members.

“This is the second time I’m visiting Leon’s home.” Fu Xing glanced outside at the gradually fading scenery outside as he murmured quietly to himself and recalled the last time they had visited during summer vacation. “There were maids! Even though everyone had grumpy expressions, the food was amazing.”

They had treated outsiders terribly, but had been highly respectful towards Leon. Leon was like an emperor that received everyone’s worship as he led his subordinates with an aloof arrogance, yet not inciting any dislike.

“Is that so.” Isaac smiled faintly, and after a few seconds, stated, “Next time, you’re welcome to my humble home if you’re interested…”

“Can I?” Fu Xing was delighted at first, but then he thought of the current circumstances and Isaac’s status, and he backtracked. “But visiting you so rashly doesn’t seem like a good idea…”

“The Nyeva manor may not be as large or magnificent as the Sagveiss one, but—” Isaac earnestly said, “We also have maids, tons of them.”

“Er…” It’s not like I’m visiting Leon just for the maids.

“If you’d like, you can request for them to change into short dresses and call you master.” Isaac’s expression turned slightly troubled as he added, “But I hope you don’t do anything too discourteous towards them. Like having them walk around the kitchen naked with just aprons on for entertainment, or putting cream on their ch-chests…I think that might be going too far…” Isaac’s voice gradually faded out the more he spoke, his face flushed red.

“What the hell! I’m not a pervert or anything! What kind of person do you think I am?!” Hold on, why does that trope sound a bit familiar?

“Emerald shared the thing you hid in the cookie box with everyone,” Isaac awkwardly confessed. “I thought they were normal movies, so I borrowed a few to watch…” He had just wanted to understand Fu Xing better, yet had ended up nearly dying of blood loss at his computer.

“That damn bastard crook!” Fu Xing shouted in irritation, “Those were the imported editions that I had ordered online! No wonder I felt like something had gone missing! Damn him, I’m going to make him pay half the price…”

Isaac couldn’t contain the grin on his face as he watched Fu Xing angrily rant on. He patted Fu Xing on the head and thoughtfully asked the flight attendant to bring some cake and tea for Fu Xing.

“Are you happy?”

“I’m not Rocort…” Fu Xing picked up his fork and began shoveling the cream cake into his mouth. His grumblings ceased and the furrow in his brows relaxed as they bled into an expression of bliss.

Isaac chuckled.

Even if Fu Xing was not Rocort, this move was still effective.

After finishing the snack and taking a sip of the tea, Fu Xing let out a sigh of content as he glanced outside at the dark night sky. There was no trace of light to be seen, with no visible moon or stars. The ground was ablaze with lights that glittered brighter than any star.

“Isaac.”

“Hm?”

“Have you ever wondered why Countess Lee did all those things?” Fu Xing brought up the question he had been puzzling over for days. “She didn’t need to help those girls, nor did she need to stand on the side of humans in her fight for peace. Wouldn’t she have been happier if she hadn’t done anything at all, and just peacefully lived her life as a countess…?”

“What differentiates humans from other species is that humans will invest in others that are weaker, regardless of whether there is any benefit to them, and view the greater population’s welfare as their goal. Such sentiments make them appear nobler and greater than other species.” Isaac sighed, “Lee had beautiful morals, but these morals made her be perceived as weak by some conservatives in the world of special animate beings.”

Most special animate beings were only self-centered and egotistic. 

However, he felt proud of her.

Fu Xing frowned, “I still don’t understand.” Countess Lee had been too dazzling, to the point where it made him feel even more disappointed in himself. He was just a mediocre nobody among both humans and special animate beings.

Isaac smiled. “Why do you want to go find Leon? There wouldn’t be any consequence to not doing so, and you could just happily continue life with others.”

“But…” That was true, but he could not live like that.

“That’s not all.” Isaac continued on to say, “In our first year, Brad injured you, yet you were willing to forgive him and he became your friend; Dan Juan, Emerald, and Momiji always tease you, yet you don’t mind; Rocort only cares about eating, yet you still care for him like a nanny. And Persi, she caused so much trouble across the academy, yet why did you give up your reward in exchange for her safety?”

“Uh…” Fu Xing was at a loss for words, uncertain how to reply.

Everything Isaac said were things that seemed natural and right to him. It was as incomprehensible as someone suddenly asking him why he used his nose to breath instead of his mouth.

“And me. I was just a nameless nobody back then that was gloomy and repressed. You could’ve ignored me like everyone else, or you could have completed the assignment yourself. Why did you seek me out to work together?”

“Er, well…” He hadn’t thought that much.

During their first year, Isaac had seemed silent and depressing and had been the marginalised member of the class. He had seen a shadow of his old self in the lonesome Isaac — excluded by others and constantly given the cold shoulder.

He had just felt that he could not simply ignore Isaac like everyone else had.

“Was it for personal gain?” Isaac asked.

“Of course not!”

“Then why?”

“I don’t know.” Fu Xing hesitantly answered, “I just…couldn’t do nothing…”

“I believe Countess Lee was the same. There are many situations where doing nothing would be neither beneficial nor harmful; while doing something could instead hold risk and danger. However, due to her noble character and ideals, she persisted in walking a different path from others.” Isaac slowly stated in a low voice, “You and she are alike.”

Fu Xing was dumbstruck at these words for a few seconds before his ears immediately reddened.

“You’re exaggerating way too much! As if I’m anywhere as admirable as her!” He faked a laugh as though he had just heard a joke, and he stiffly patted Isaac on the shoulder. “I’m just a coward, haha.”

Isaac only smiled wordlessly.

He knew Fu Xing was not a coward. Rather, there had been no chances for everyone else to know how pure and kind Fu Xing was. He believed that if faced with a great change, Fu Xing would sacrifice himself for others’ happiness, just like Lee had.

“When Leon returns, it’ll be nearly Christmas. We should do a gift exchange!” Fu Xing hurriedly switched the subject in embarrassment.

“Sure.”

“We need to make best use of our time.” Fu Xing went on, “Soon after Christmas will be New Year’s, and then it’ll be the next semester.”

Then they would graduate.

And then they would all go separate ways.

The train of thought brought on a wave of forlorn reluctance, attacking him like an ice-cold needle piercing his neck. He couldn’t help but shudder at the feeling.

Isaac could tell Fu Xing was feeling depressed, so he patted the other on the head. “Leaving won’t be the end, but the start of another journey.”

“Oh…” He knew this, but he still did not want to face it.

“Will you forget us just because we’ve graduated?”

“Of course not!” Even if they never saw each other again, even if they were not physically together, the ties of their friendship would never disappear! 

“Then what are you worried about?” Isaac sincerely said, “We can only grow after facing a new environment. I really look forward to the day I can meet a new Fu Xing after we’ve parted ways.”

“Ack, what kind of words are those?” Fu Xing looked away in embarrassment. “You make it sound like a promise between childhood sweethearts in a dating sim.”

Isaac chuckled, then asked quietly with a hint of shame colouring his tone, “Are you referring to the trope in the Kichiku Chokyo video?”

“No!” That damn Emerald! I will definitely make that bastard crook pay for ruining my image! 

 

When they got off the plane, a Nyeva servant was already waiting outside the airport for them. A navy blue car with the clan emblem was parked there to receive them.

The car’s air conditioning system was not great, slowly circulating lukewarm heating. Fu Xing couldn’t help but hug his clothes tighter against his body as he curled up from the cold temperature.

“Our clan’s car isn’t as luxurious as the Sagveiss clan’s,” Isaac said with slight remorse.

“Don’t say that! I think it’s amazing! You should see my dad’s ancient car, it’s basically just mobile scrap.”

Their thirty-something-year-old black car could have been replaced ages ago, yet the frugal He Xuan Yi had refused to do so, instead trying to maintain it as best as possible. He had even added a ton of spells to it. Every time it started, the engine would make the sound of a wet fart. The tattered old body of the car looked like it was on the verge of falling apart, yet the car was as swift as though it had jet engines thanks to the acceleration spell on it. When driving on the highway, it could beat any street racer there was.

Isaac smiled as he heard Fu Xing’s description.

As they chatted together in the car, Fu Xing suddenly noticed that Isaac’s responses were gradually getting shorter, as though his mind was somewhere else. When he looked out the window, he saw only white mist, a straight road, and woods on either side.

Even if Leon’s residence is in the outskirts, it shouldn’t be this remote…

Isaac’s expression hardened, but he was still as collected as before. He shot Fu Xing a subtle smile before quietly pulling out a blade from his pocket and wordlessly handing it to Fu Xing, forcing him to grab a tight hold of it.

“Isaac?” Fu Xing did not understand.

Isaac responded with a gentle smile filled with resolve. He then turned his head to quietly ask the person in the driver’s seat, “Are you a new chauffeur?”

“Yes.” Without turning around, the person answered in a cold, flat tone.

“Where is the previous one?” Isaac reached downwards to the side of his boot.

There was a second of silence before a chuckle came from the front seat. “In the trunk.”

The moment these words dropped, Isaac immediately whipped out the long and slender needle concealed in the hidden pocket at the side of his shoe and threw it at the front seat. The tip pierced through the back of the chair and struck the person seated there. As they cried out in pain, the car lost control and skidded off the road, crashing into a lamppost.

“Go now!” Isaac kicked the car door open and dragged Fu Xing off to run away.

The assassin let out an ear-piercing roar, but he was pinned to the car seat and unable to move. Then, a few cars came up behind and stopped as armed troops ran out to chase after them.

“Damn it! They’re Sagveiss assassins!” Isaac’s grip on Fu Xing’s hand tightened as they raced through the forest. “Leon wants to exterminate us?!”

“No! They weren’t sent by Leon! Leon doesn’t know about this!” Fu Xing was hot on Isaac’s heels, panting as he defended Leon.

“You’re speaking up for him even now?!”

“Because I was attacked by this same group over summer vacation!” Fu Xing shouted in frustration.

Isaac was so taken aback by this declaration that his pace faltered slightly.

“During the school trip, the darkbloods that were killed by White Triangle were originally trying to assassinate me.” With a deep breath, Fu Xing confessed the truth. “They believe my existence is a hindrance to Leon, haha.”

It’s so ridiculous. I’m just a nobody, there’s no need to send such a large troop after me. It’s like using a sledgehammer to crack open a nut. They could KO me with just a nail clipper…

“Does Leon know?”

“I didn’t tell him…”

Isaac clenched his jaw as remorse and resentment filled his heart.

The troops’ footsteps gradually grew nearer. Isaac glanced behind them and saw the dark figures already in sight.

Looks like we won’t be able to escape them…

Isaac pulled out the sword at his waist and fell into a fighting stance. He lowered his head and quietly said to Fu Xing, “You go ahead first. Leave this to me.”

Fu Xing agitatedly refused, “No way!”

“Stop being stubborn.” Isaac held his temper back as he urged, “They’re almost here, don’t waste any time here and run.”

“You’re the one that should stop being stubborn!” Fu Xing angrily roared back. “Staying here is surefire death!”

“If you know that already, then hurry up and run.” Isaac was starting to become irritated. “You staying back won’t help the situation at all.”

“Then let’s go together! Since you’re so strong, protect me! Why must you stay here?!”

“Because I don’t want to see you get hurt or see you die!” Isaac’s voice rose up to a yell, but he immediately looked apologetic after. He then quietly pleaded, “I’m begging you, please go, stay alive and  be well…”

Fu Xing stared at Isaac as he felt engulfed by unbearable sorrow.

He did not want to see his friends get injured or see his friends die either. And he refused to let anyone feel sadness because of him.

It was time. He knew what he had to do.

Even if this decision might result in him never being able to see his friends again, he had no other choice at the moment.

“Don’t worry, it should be you running.” Fu Xing sighed and stopped in his tracks as he pulled out the ice-cold button from his pocket and pressed it.

“Fu Xing?” Isaac was worried by Fu Xing’s detached calm.

“Isaac, continue running — the further the better.”

“I’d rather die than leave you behind!”

“It’s not the Sagveiss assassins you need to flee from.” Fu Xing held his hand out to show the gold button. “White Triangle is coming.”

“How do you know?”

“This button was given to me by one of White Triangle’s people. It contains a transmitter that I’ve already activated. They’ll be here soon.” Fu Xing smiled bitterly as he confessed the secret he had hidden for so long, “In St. Petersburg, White Triangle killed the assassins to protect me.”

Isaac was shocked. He hadn’t imagined the truth would be like this.

“I’m no hero at all. I didn’t get this using my own strength, it was given to me out of charity. Haha…”

 It was finally out. Confessing his weakness turned out to be so easy, yet so painful.

“But—”

“I have a friend in White Triangle, so they won’t do anything to me.” Fu Xing forced a smile. “Hurry up and leave, or else we’ll all meet our ruin!”

He opened his backpack to take out a plastic zip-loc bag with a paper talisman. “Take this. It’s a wind-summoning talisman that Emerald sold me at half price. You can ride the wind out of here. That guy may be a crook, but he still has enough of a business ethic to not sell fake goods.”

Isaac studied Fu Xing for a moment to confirm he wasn’t lying. “What a reckless guy…”

“I’ll be waiting for you guys to help me deal with the aftermath,” Fu Xing grinned.

With a clenched jaw, Isaac grabbed the talisman and muttered the words of activation. A corner of the paper immediately began to smoke, the vapors spinning around to stir up a strong gale that surrounded Isaac.

“I’ll come find you!” Isaac swore to Fu Xing with his whole heart.

Fu Xing waved at Isaac, then immediately began to run as quickly as possible in the opposite direction.

Before long, he encountered the troops that had been in pursuit. The Sagveiss assassins were momentarily stunned at the sight of Fu Xing voluntarily returning.

“What, are you giving up?” The male in the lead looked at Fu Xing in disdain through his mask.

“Yep.” Fu Xing tried his best to keep his fear from showing on his face. He did not know when White Triangle would arrive, and whether or not he could last until they arrived for his rescue.

“What about the Kirst survivor?”

“He turned into wind and flew away.”

The man flicked his sword up so that the icy blade touched Fu Xing’s neck.

“If you don’t want a painful death, you’d better speak up fast.”

“Hmph, I suggest you don’t do anything rash. My dad is close with the warden, and he knows legislators too!” But unfortunately, the legislators don’t know him. 

Fu Xing put all his effort in acting big-mouthed, spouting whatever random things he could. Every second he dragged this on was one second more he could win for Isaac to flee.

“Do you think we can’t find him without you?” The man sneered, “Tell me his location while I still have patience.”

“You guys should be the ones running away.” Fu Xing swallowed hard, “Reinforcements are coming, and I think it’s better if you leave now…”

The image of Sylvia’s group tragically dying at the hands of White Triangle and the cursed souls appeared in his mind. Even if these people before him were his enemy, he did not want to see their lives get erased.

The man only scoffed scornfully. “The Kirst clan’s intel is beyond lacking. By the time they realise something is wrong, your corpses will have rotted away.”

“Really, you need to run away…” Fu Xing’s voice trembled as he spoke. He could sense the abnormal aura approach closer as the air began to vibrate from a strange disturbance.

“Useless trash.” As he spoke, the man lifted his sword and aimed it at He Fu Xing’s heart to stab.

Fu Xing reflexively closed his eyes and held his hands up in front of his body as he shrank back.

The expected pain never came. He slowly opened his eyes to see a scarlet silhouette standing between him and the assassin.

He lowered his hands to see the Sagveiss assassins’ eyes wide with horror.

Fu Xing shifted his gaze towards the red figure.

Its long ebony curls spilled over the fine curves of its body. He could see the side of its beautiful face, where a cloth covered in runes covered where its bright eyes should be.

He recognised this figure. He had met them in his trip to the past, the glorious flower that had been destroyed by malice.

Even turned into a cursed soul, Lee Kirst was as elegant as she had been when he had first met her. However, the gentleness in her face was nowhere to be seen, replaced by an enchanting aura that made others tremble with fear. 

The scarlet figure immediately attacked, not allowing the enemy any time to think or flee. Her arms spun around her body like she was dancing as she passed through the enemy and slit their throats with her sharp nails that were enchanted to administer fatal poison.

“AH!” Agonised shrieks rang out. While the wounds were not deep, they were dyed an inauspicious shade of violet like a swollen polyp.

“Rip off the talisman covering her eyes!” The darkblood leader evaded Lee’s attacks as he shouted the command.

The remaining people immediately began to focus their attacks at Lee’s face. However, Lee dodged them all, swiftly injuring the attackers in return.

As the man watched his subordinates fall one after another, he began his next order, “Retr—”

But his decision was too late. At the first sound of footsteps running away, the chilling nails silently pierced through the air, leaving a searing cut at the back of his neck.

In less than five minutes, the hostile atmosphere changed into deathly stillness. Each of the top-tiered darkblood assassins had collapsed on the ground.

Fu Xing had not moved an inch as he held his breath, afraid of accidentally making the wrong move. Everything had happened too quickly, and his heartstrings were taut with anxiety.

He looked down at the darkblood assassins on the ground and discovered that although they were heavily wounded, they were still breathing. His tense emotions slightly relaxed at this realisation.

Fu Xing raised his head to look at the beautiful side silhouette quietly standing in front of him.

“Lee…” Fu Xing carefully asked.

The cursed soul did not speak, only standing still like an empty doll.

Fu Xing couldn’t help but walk up to it. After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out to touch the figure, a bone-chilling cold spreading through his fingers.

He noticed the corners of its lips had risen to form a hint of a smile on the cold, stiff face. It was a bittersweet smile of reminisce and regret.

Fu Xing was astonished.

Is she conscious and aware? Does she still remember me? Does she have the memories of the past space-time when we once met?

He was about to ask out loud, but the sound of approaching engines drew his attention away.

Three silver vans quickly emerged from the snowy woods and surrounded the area. The car doors opened as armed members in white military uniforms and masks on their faces got out of the cars with guns in their hands. They formed a circle around Fu Xing, weapons aimed at him as they alertly and warily watched him and Lee.

“Who are you?” A man wearing a silver emblem took a step forward to question Fu Xing.

“The one that called for help.” Fu Xing lifted the gold button, “I’m the one that pressed the button. Fidel gave it to me.”

The man scrutinised Fu Xing for a while before slowly going up to study the gold button in Fu Xing’s hand. Once he confirmed it was genuine, he lowered his weapon. The others followed suit, dropping their guard.

“I am Joel.” The man spoke in accented English as he removed his mask to reveal a profound face. He appeared to be of similar age to Fidel, but did not display the same kindness, instead giving off the austereness of a soldier.

“I’m He Fu Xing,” Fu Xing answered in non-fluent English. After a pause, he added, “I am, ahem, Fidel’s…friend…” He hoped that this would help his current situation and what would happen next.

“Perhaps.” Joel indifferently turned to walk back to his car. “Special Case #13, you are indeed the target of his attention.”

Fu Xing was taken aback.

Special Case #13? Is that referring to me? Fidel is watching me? 

The members of the World Sanctification Court led Fu Xing to a different car, which made Fu Xing inwardly sigh in relief.

As he sat in the car, he looked outside the window to see the other members lift the downed darkbloods onto stretchers and load them into the cars.

“Will you be torturing them?” Fu Xing was worried that White Triangle would interrogate them with cruel methods and find out where the darkbloods were from, specifically the Sagveiss’s location…

Although they were assassins after him, he was still concerned about the circumstances they might have to face.

“We have other more effective means for them.”

Fu Xing was extremely curious, but did not dare to ask any further.

His gaze moved over to the red silhouette that had stood proud and tall in the same spot from beginning to end. Several White Triangle members went up to her to place a metal collar branded with runes around her snow-white neck.

Then, the beautiful body was placed into a beautiful coffin-like glass box embedded with numerous spells. Every person’s movements were careful, though there was no knowing if it was out of respect or fear.

The car started, and the scene outside the window began to flow backwards as Fu Xing was being led to his unknown future.

Fu Xing looked back at the mountain in the distance. He wondered if Shalom was in a specific corner in the mountain range.

Will I be able to return this time?

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