Chapter 14: Trapped Between Wolves and Tigers

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Chu Zihang always felt that something was off, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. More precisely, it seemed like there was an extra person around him. When he played basketball, she was the cheerleader. When he went to the youth center, she was practicing dance in the studio next door. When he did homework, she was nearby, biting on a pen, lost in thought. Even when he went to clear out the overpass, she would sit on the car roof humming a tune. Chu Zihang sensed something strange but couldn’t say exactly what.

One day, while playing basketball, he glanced back by chance and saw Xia Mi in the stands. She wore a purple skirt and white high heels, her hair tied in a high ponytail, and her eyelids were adorned with shimmering eyeshadow. She was intently focused on a Kun Gunil figurine in her hands, seemingly whispering to it. Her eyes shone so brightly they outshone the sparkles on her makeup.

Only then did Chu Zihang realize something was amiss. Rather than Xia Mi following him, it seemed she was following Tang Xi. Unless he entered the overpass himself, he hardly ever got Kun Gunil—most of the time it was in Xia Mi’s hands. He still didn’t know Xia Mi’s true identity; to him, she acted like an ordinary student—just sunnier, brighter, and more beautiful. It was the same with Tang Xi; he never really knew what her background was.

But Chu Zihang knew neither Xia Mi nor Tang Xi were ordinary. These two extraordinary people seemed to have reached some kind of agreement, maintaining a strange balance between them. Tang Xi never complained about Xia Mi’s persistence, and Chu Zihang naturally said nothing either. He simply pretended the girl didn’t exist and quietly went about his business, day after day, year after year.

He grew increasingly silent; no one knew what he was thinking, only that he became more skilled at cutting down Deadpools. Kun Gunil flashed with flickering lightning, repeatedly piercing through thick fog, leaving transparent trails in the air that crisscrossed like perilous brush strokes on calligraphy practice sheets. One black shadow after another pounced, eventually dissolving into a splash of dense ink, shattering into thousands of flying ink threads in the mist.

Chu Zihang paused briefly, glanced around, his gun’s tip dipping slightly, black droplets of blood slowly falling. More dark shadows crawled up from under the overpass, but he didn’t glance at them once. The pale gold in his eyes faded, and he decisively turned and left. His movements were so practiced, as if he had done this hundreds of times—and indeed he had.

It was the summer of 2007, Chu Zihang had just entered the second year of high school. The shadows of the wutong trees rustled, cicadas cried out desperately, and a cool breeze flowed along the overpass. He stepped out of the twisted world, and the beautiful girl leapt down from the car roof, extending her hand to him.

Chu Zihang hesitated, expressionless, handing over the Kun Gunil. Xia Mi nodded in satisfaction and climbed into the passenger seat. “Why so slow this time?”

Chu Zihang didn’t answer her question; he knew it wasn’t directed at him. Tang Xi sighed in exasperation, “So many Deadpools, and it only took a few minutes to clear them. Slow?”

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“Pretty slow.” Xia Mi was a little dissatisfied. “What’s the point of farming those things anyway? And you don’t even get involved. Are you just training Chu Zihang? How interesting.”

The mentioned protagonist, Chu Zihang, didn’t even turn his head. Like a chauffeur, he focused on driving, ignoring the conversation between the two beside him. Clearly, he was used to this by now. Tang Xi certainly wouldn’t admit that she was nurturing Chu Zihang for her own purposes, so she casually replied, “Don’t worry about it. I have my reasons.”

She was studying her own stats panel.

Weapon name: Kun Gunil (Damaged Clone Version)
Owner: Chu Zihang
Status: Beginner (4128/5000)
Durability: 88/100

(Beginner-level Kun Gunil clone, already possessing some of Kun Gunil’s abilities, with a 40% damage bonus against dragons. Skill active: Reverse Control – temporary free control of weapon spirit in any size.)
(Next stage: Intermediate, weapon spirit selectively controllable.)

Weapon spirit controlling the weapon… interesting. In the future, who the true host is might get confusing. The only problem was that gaining experience was becoming harder. Previously, one Deadpool counted for several points; now, sometimes it took several to count as one. Where would they find more experience?

As she pondered this, Xia Mi’s light laugh sounded: “Of course, I could just ignore it, but did you forget what you promised me?”

“It’s been three years already. Aren’t you going to keep your promise?”

Tang Xi paused as she checked her panel. Time had flown—they had spent three pleasant years together, almost making her forget that Xia Mi was far from an ordinary, easygoing classmate. Over these years, Cassel Academy, for reasons unknown, frequently came looking to cause trouble. At first, Tang Xi handled things personally, but later she delegated to Tang Wei and the others, who erased memories and dealt with Xia Mi.

Through this, Tang Wei and the others had fully accepted their fate of being recruited. Tang Xi even named their group “World Tree,” attracting many newcomers. However, Cassel Academy had clearly taken notice; their visits to investigate became more frequent, and there was a vague sense that their cult-like secrecy might soon be exposed—or perhaps it already had been.

But compared to the threat from Cassel Academy, Xia Mi, the legitimate Dragon King, felt even more oppressive. It was truly a case of wolves at the front and tigers at the rear, with neither side easy to handle. One false move might mean utter ruin.

Tang Xi thought for a while and said, “Soon, soon.”

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“Is that the answer again?” Xia Mi smiled, her smile tinged with amusement. “You tell me you had an accident and can’t retrieve your true body for now, but I’m a bit curious…”

“Do you even have a true body?”

At those words, the air suddenly froze. Even Chu Zihang, driving, sensed something was wrong. Tang Xi felt a terrifying murderous intent. She knew clearly Xia Mi was suspicious—or rather, this famously clever Dragon King had never stopped doubting. She had been watching, probing, and now it seemed she had reached a conclusion.

If Tang Xi couldn’t provide a satisfactory explanation, she had no doubt Xia Mi would act. Could Kun Gunil withstand the destruction from the Earth and Mountain Kings?

Most crucially, this time it would be hard to bluff her. No one knew what Xia Mi had discovered.

Tang Xi’s mind raced. Finally, she bit her lip and resolutely said, “Fine, I will leave Chu Zihang.”

“But I need you to help me with one last thing.”

Xia Mi raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. She gripped tightly, and Kun Gunil began to bend slightly, but she paid no mind, continuing to apply force.

Durability -1
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Damn, she’s serious? Tang Xi’s eyes widened, quickly saying, “Really, just one last thing. Have I ever lied to you in these three years?”

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“Trust me, I will remember your kindness, I will never forget you from now on!” Tang Xi’s voice was like a plea for her life, firm and sincere. “Really! Just this once, please trust me!”

“Just once! We’re friends, after all!”

Xia Mi chuckled softly and finally released the slightly bent Kun Gunil, lazily saying, “Fine, last time.”

“But once you leave Chu Zihang, you won’t have anyone following you anymore. Why not come with me instead? How about that?”