Chapter 8: Go Find Her

In the classroom, Su Li looked out the window, his expression somewhat dazed.

It was morning.

Warm sunlight slanted across the academy’s staggered buildings, gilding the pointed roofs and spires with a golden edge.

The air was hazy, the light diffused through the thin mist, softening every hue into warmth.

He watched the beautiful scenery, but his heart was restless and agitated.

Su Li remembered that alley.

You Xue stood in the shadows, her clothes torn, a few scrapes on her body.

Her pale blue eyes were filled with coldness and indifference.

Once, Su Li had thought those eyes were the color of the sky—so clear and innocent.

But at that moment, he felt they were frozen ice, chillingly cold.

You Xue had said, don’t worry about her, don’t contact her anymore.

So he got angry, said harsh words, and turned away.

But now, Su Li regretted it a little.

‘Maybe I should have talked things through with You Xue. Even if she really wants to push me away, I need to find out the reason.’

Otherwise he wouldn’t be as torn as he was now, feeling both that his actions back then were justified and that there might have been unavoidable reasons behind them.

He sighed inwardly.

“Su Li, what are you thinking about?”

Su Li turned at the voice.

It was Alice, the blonde-haired girl who was his classmate but not someone he knew well.

Su Li didn’t understand why she was approaching him.

“Nothing.”

Su Li replied flatly.

“I was just surprised to see you blanking out alone.”

The girl turned her head away, and Su Li couldn’t see her expression.

“There’s nothing strange about it,” Su Li said.

“I was just thinking about something.”

Alice fell silent for a moment.

Seeing that she still hadn’t left, Su Li asked, puzzled.

“Is there something else?”

“I just… no, it’s nothing!”

Alice seemed at a loss.

She turned around and walked away.

Watching the blonde girl’s retreating figure, Su Li found it inexplicable.

She just wanted to chat?

‘Maybe she’s someone who gets lonely easily,’ Su Li guessed.

“Bro Su.”

A voice came from the classroom door, accompanied by heavy breathing.

Su Li looked toward the sound.

It was his roommate, Cheng Yehai, who tossed a bag of bread onto Su Li’s desk.

“I brought your bread.”

Su Li nodded.

“Thanks.”

He had just torn open the wrapper and taken a bite when Cheng Yehai sidled up with a lecherous grin.

Su Li was startled and asked impatiently.

“What?”

Cheng Yehai rubbed his hands together like a fly and asked.

“Why did Alice come over just now?”

Su Li shook his head.

“Nothing. We just chatted a little.”

“Really nothing?”

Cheng Yehai pressed on.

Su Li shot him a glance and asked.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Well, well…”

Cheng Yehai scratched his head, suddenly looking embarrassed.

“She’s a cute girl, after all, and a transfer student from outside. It’s only natural to be a little interested, right?”

Su Li smiled faintly, his expression unchanging.

“I thought it was something serious. I think it’s not interest—you’re just acting on pure lust.”

Su Li took a bite of bread, chewed slowly, and deliberately stayed quiet.

Cheng Yehai waited a few seconds, then couldn’t hold back.

“So just now…”

“She asked why I was spacing out,” Su Li said.

“I said I was thinking about something, and then she left.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Su Li looked at Cheng Yehai with amusement.

“Aren’t you usually pretty wild? Why are you so shy all of a sudden?”

Cheng Yehai shifted under his gaze and quickly said.

“What do you know? This is called youthful bashfulness.”

Su Li pretended to be serious and nodded.

“Fine, youthful bashfulness. Then you can keep being bashful.”

Su Li finished the last bite of bread.

He glanced at his phone—the timing was perfect.

Class was about to start.

The first lesson of the day was Low-Level Mana Operation Theory.

The teacher for this class was an unusually serious middle-aged man named Chu Tianci, who was like a terracotta warrior—Su Li had never seen him smile.

Chu Tianci stepped onto the podium, and the chatter in the classroom died down.

He stood erect, rigid and methodical.

“Students, before class, I need to inform you of something.”

Chu Tianci’s gaze swept across the room, as if confirming everyone was listening.

“Yesterday, there was an attack on the outer perimeter of the academy.”

Murmurs broke out in the classroom.

“According to the investigation, members of the terrorist organization [Dark Crow] disguised themselves as food procurement personnel and attempted to plant bomb devices inside the academy.”

As soon as Chu Tianci finished, a student asked.

“Sir, were those terrorists caught? Could they still have accomplices hiding in the academy?”

Chu Tianci paused, then said.

“Actually, that’s the most puzzling part. When these Dark Crow members were discovered, they were already dead. And the assembly materials for the devices they were transporting were scattered on the ground. After inspection, no missing parts were found.”

Chu Tianci finally concluded.

“In other words, someone learned of Dark Crow’s plan, killed the people transporting the goods midway, but didn’t take anything.”

The classroom erupted in discussion.

Chu Tianci looked around the room and said flatly and coldly.

“As for who acted, the academy currently has no leads. Their identity, motive, background—all unknown.”

He paused, as if choosing his words.

“But from the traces at the scene, this person acted with extreme professionalism, clear goals, and decisive execution. That person didn’t act on impulse—they were well-prepared. They knew Dark Crow’s route, delivery time, and even their supernatural abilities.”

“Their target should be Dark Crow alone. It’s unclear what their attitude is toward the academy.”

“So…”

Chu Tianci’s tone grew grave.

“Until the investigation is complete, no one is allowed to leave the academy alone. This is not a suggestion—it’s an order.”

The classroom fell silent.

No one spoke, but everyone understood the seriousness of the matter.

Su Li lowered his head, staring at his textbook.

As Chu Tianci spoke, Su Li felt an indescribable unease.

Yesterday, the outer perimeter of the academy.

Why such a coincidence?

You Xue.

That name came to Su Li’s mind.

‘Could it be her?’

‘Why was she there at that time?’

He had always gone to the slums to find her.

She never left the area too recklessly on her own.

Because the slums were dangerous—full of thugs and ruffians.

If she went out too often, she might be targeted by those lowlifes.

So Su Li always told her to stay inside as much as possible, and if she really wanted to get some air, to call him so he could protect her.

But that day, You Xue hadn’t come to see him.

She had even avoided him.

‘Did she do it?’

Recalling the gentle smile in his memory, Su Li’s thoughts seemed caught on something, unable to move forward or back.

He hoped it wasn’t her.

His childhood sweetheart was supposed to be just a cute, ordinary girl who needed protection—not a killer.

But once he connected these two events in his mind, Su Li couldn’t ignore the possibility no matter what.

He had to go ask her.

But she wasn’t replying to his messages anymore.

He would go find her in person.

He would get the truth.

You Xue was his childhood sweetheart.

He had promised to protect her.

With that thought, Su Li made his decision.