Though he could still hear sounds from afar with his eyes closed, the exhaustion from constantly changing clothes and acting wore heavily on Xia Yu’s mind, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
Early in the morning, Xia Yu called his homeroom teacher to explain the situation and took the morning off to go to the Certification Agency to redo his race authentication.
Xuanwu City was home to a mixed population of Humans, Demons, and the Demon Clan.
Even the types of energy were divided into magic power, spiritual power, and Demonic Aura, making things complicated.
To maintain national peace and security, Professional Institutions had developed limiters capable of suppressing magic power, Demonic Aura, and spiritual power.
Limiters varied in level and quality; the more expensive ones were easy to carry and wore just like everyday items.
The hairband Xia Yu wore was the lowest-grade limiter.
After redoing the authentication, if his Bloodline percentage had risen, he would have to buy a new limiter.
The Certification Agency was a seven-story Glass Building, much like a human Government Service Hall, with the same procedural flow.
After taking a number and waiting in line, Xia Yu found he really disliked coming to places like this.
Because it seemed he was the only Blood Clan member in Xuanwu, and even then, he only carried ten percent of the gene.
He would rather live as a Human than be stuck among this crowd of demons and monsters.
Although fighting was strictly prohibited here, some people still ignored the rules.
The smell of secondhand smoke mixed with blood in the air made Xia Yu uncomfortable; he wished he had worn a mask.
The feeling now was strange, unbelievable, and awful.
He could actually tell just by scent which direction blood came from and what race the other person belonged to.
It seemed some ability related to the Blood Clan had strengthened, but to Xia Yu, it was useless.
Covering his nose and mouth, he just wanted to get out of there quickly.
The authentication process was simple but fast.
There was only one machine; a person stood before it, and within a minute the results came out.
Then, using the results, one filled out a certificate to submit to the school, and the whole process was done.
However, this time was different from the last—Xia Yu waited ten minutes, yet his results still hadn’t appeared.
“Xia Yu.”
A young man with black hair, wearing a white coat and rectangular glasses, holding Xia Yu’s form, appeared before him.
“Your test results have changed significantly compared to last time. I’d like to talk with you.”
Xia Yu froze, furrowing his brows slightly with a bad premonition.
He noticed a trace of nervousness in the young man’s eyes, and even his heartbeat seemed faster than normal.
“Have some tea first.”
Xia Yu followed the staff into a room called the Observation Room.
The square room had just a table and two chairs.
The walls were pale green, and the furniture was ordinary home-style.
Though it looked like the interrogation rooms often seen on TV, the intention was to create a warm atmosphere, which only made Xia Yu more aware that this place was not safe.
He stared at the brownish liquid in the transparent cup in front of him; his intuition told him not to drink it.
“According to your last test report, your body contained only ten percent Blood Clan gene, and at that time, you were still in elementary school.”
“Mm.”
The room was very quiet.
The young man spoke gently, like a teacher, with a warm expression.
“Now, in your second year of High School, your Bloodline percentage has risen to sixty percent.”
The young man looked at the report in his hands, then at Xia Yu, who was visibly tense.
The signs of his Blood Clan traits—sharp fangs, eye color, hair—were all now evident.
“Has any of your family come?”
His mother was missing, and his father was human.
“No, I’ve lived alone since Middle School.”
“I see.”
The young man had seen many cases like Xia Yu at the Certification Center—race members whose families didn’t care—but this was his first Blood Clan case.
Out of concern, he spoke seriously.
“Your Blood Clan gene might slowly consume the human part of you over time. If you feed on the blood of other races, it will strengthen your Blood Clan power, and then you’ll no longer be human at all.”
Xia Yu had no real concept of what sixty percent meant.
He only understood his body was worse off than before, and the changes could only be suppressed with medication.
“Have you noticed any changes recently? For example, food tasting different, hearing sharper than before?”
Xia Yu honestly shook his head.
“Have you had any urges to feed on blood?”
He shook his head again.
“Do you feel uncomfortable standing under the sun?”
Xia Yu nodded.
“Looks like it’s not very serious yet. But you have to be careful. If you completely transform into a Blood Clan member, our higher-ups will pay closer attention to you.”
Xia Yu listened attentively to the young man’s serious and solemn expression, not daring to take it lightly.
“Our Nation has a strained relationship with the Blood Clan. We’re still quietly fighting a difficult war against villainous forces. Perhaps someday, after you graduate, you will step onto the battlefield too—to protect this city’s peace and the people important to you.”
Xia Yu swallowed nervously and listened carefully as the young man continued.
“Since you haven’t awakened anything beyond your Blood Clan appearance, unlike other races that show dangerous or prominent traits, this report still classifies you as human, only adjusting your data. The school certificate has already been prepared.”
“Thank you.”
Xia Yu received the authentication results and certificate handed to him and listened as the young man added:
“If one day, you feed on blood uncontrollably or attack humans, we will detain you in the Observation Room.”
That sounded more terrifying than receiving three consecutive punishments at school.
To put the young man at ease, Xia Yu promised:
“I understand. I’ll be careful.”
As soon as he left, the conversation in the Observation Room had left Xia Yu overly anxious.
He hurried to the restroom.
Undoing his pants zipper, Xia Yu reached down as usual but suddenly felt something was off.
It felt a bit short.
Unsure…
He looked down, startled, and quickly zipped up his pants, calmly washed his hands, and left pretending nothing had happened.
Xia Yu stood between two Fox Clan members, who looked puzzled, not understanding why he had undone then redone his zipper.
It didn’t matter.
After seeing that length, Xia Yu lost all urge to urinate.
With no hope left, he leaned against the bus window of Bus 37 on the way back to class, gazing out at the clear sky and the flying birds disappearing into the distance.
Birds could still grow up, but his little bird was shrinking.
“My youthful little bird will never come back… Hey, I’m on my way.”
The phone of an old man sitting behind Xia Yu suddenly rang.
Even after the call ended, the tune played on in Xia Yu’s mind.
Maybe, his little bird really was gone for good.
Shorter than yesterday after his shower, it wouldn’t grow back even with medication.
It seemed it would only get shorter from now on.
Since childhood, Xia Yu never let his face show any unpleasant feelings, no matter how badly he performed or how harshly the teacher scolded him.
He never showed a hint of sadness.
But this time, he could feel something inside him quietly shattering…