Volume Two: The Boy of a Thousand Faces, Truth or Illusion Chapter Fifty-Three: Confession

Three Forms: Hundred Currents Shatter the Misty Wind
Butterfly Dance, Bee Sting

Huo Ye and Shangguan Jade Butterfly, both empowered by their abilities, could traverse a thousand miles in half a day with their swift legs. The four Golden Toad mercenaries brushed past them, unable even to glimpse their faces before losing consciousness.

Before they parted ways, Huo Xialan had reminded them to try to leave survivors. Huo Ye had no objection; their task was simply capture—final judgment of the guilty would be left to the law.

Even for the twisted-minded Qi Suo, Huo Ye had not become a killer; he merely knocked him out. Yet, to prevent him from waking and harming others, Huo Ye had indeed broken the man's limbs, eliminating any future threat. There was no vengeance for the attempt on his own life.

Shangguan Jade Butterfly still wielded her peerless weapon, Frosted Edge of Morning Dew.

Huo Ye used his fingernails.

Though Shangguan Jade Butterfly knew Huo Ye’s individual power was sub-grade stem cells, she didn’t realize he could alter his body's microstructures. Not that Huo Ye deliberately concealed this—he simply didn’t consider it a use of his ability and never mentioned it. When Ke Zhen once asked what functions sub-grade stem cells had apart from immense strength and rapid healing, Huo Ye had replied, "None."

After all, altering one’s voice had no use in battle. But only when cornered do people unlock their deepest potential. Unable to use Ghost-Slaying Blade as Night Rain Crow, Huo Ye’s mind raced, and he thought of growing his nails into claws, infusing them with his power to perform ability techniques.

Yet, fingernails are merely bodily tissue, far less resilient than a weapon forged with abilities. After using his techniques, Huo Ye’s ten nails shattered, blood welling from his fingertips. But the bleeding quickly stopped, for his nails immediately regenerated, fashioned anew into his deadly claws.

Watching from the side, Shangguan Jade Butterfly’s heart ached, so she reached out and grabbed Huo Ye.

Huo Ye turned, both pausing in their flight. He asked, “Um…your name is Shangguan Jade Butterfly, isn’t it?” feigning ignorance.

Shangguan Jade Butterfly nodded vigorously, thrilled—Night Rain Teacher remembered her name!

“Then, why do you keep following me? Surely you have your own matters to attend to,” Huo Ye spoke with the tone of a head of household; in truth, he had always been the leader of their quartet, despite being peers.

“Because…because…” Shangguan Jade Butterfly twisted her fingers, at a loss for words.

Huo Ye smiled gently, dimples forming on his cheeks. “If you can’t say it, don’t force yourself. Farewell.”

He gave her a carefree turn of his back, ready to sprint out of sight the instant she could no longer see him, lest she catch up again.

Watching his departing figure, Shangguan Jade Butterfly fell into confusion. Why did she still lack the courage? She’d resolved to take a step forward—she couldn’t let him just leave!

So she stretched out her hand, grabbing Huo Ye’s arm.

Huo Ye felt the trembling breath of the girl beside him, and the force with which her nails dug into his arm. He understood: Shangguan Jade Butterfly was making a decision.

“Because…I don't want to say goodbye. Every time, every single time, I only get to see you for a fleeting moment, then I never know when the next meeting will be—when your next signing event will be, or even if there will be another. I don’t want to wait, don’t want to be so passive, don’t want to only look up to you. I want to stand beside you!”

As she spoke, tears flowed uncontrollably. It was the first time in so many years she’d uttered so many words. Often, her tongue felt uncooperative, but she spoke fluently at last, for these words had weighed on her heart for five years.

With his eyes closed and half his face masked, Huo Ye’s expression was unreadable.

He heard echoes of words from the past: “Huo Ye, our families don’t match. You should always have been a noble I looked up to—and now you are. If possible, I want to stand beside you.”

How foolish—always together, yet always feeling apart.

Huo Ye opened his eyes, instantly evaporating the tears in his gaze. He turned, beaming radiantly. “Such a passionate little fan! Do you want to be friends with me?”

He’d long known Shangguan Jade Butterfly’s feelings, but was unsure whether he could reciprocate. He knew he needed a romance to cleanse his wounded heart, but didn’t want to love merely for the sake of it. He hadn’t fallen for her, nor could he give her what she desired, so he chose to feign ignorance.

After her near-confession, Shangguan Jade Butterfly had lost all courage. She wondered, if Night Rain Crow disliked her clinginess, what would she do?

But upon hearing Huo Ye’s words, her eyes shone brilliantly. She nodded fiercely and replied, “Yes!” Though it wasn’t what she truly meant, being friends was better than never meeting again.

Unrequited love—no matter how deep it grows, must first show its humility.

Alice was right: Huo Ye was not adept at handling others’ enthusiasm and easily softened. Since Shangguan Jade Butterfly had reached this point, perhaps he should give her—and himself—a chance.

Huo Ye grasped her left arm, raised his own, and their crystal brains touched with a soft click; they connected via Flight Message.

Huo Ye had always kept a work crystal brain, though he'd rarely used it in the past two years. For today’s signing, he wore it again, and the Flight Message account bound to it was the official Night Rain Crow.

“Alright, now we’re friends.” Huo Ye smiled. “You’re the first friend on this account. But I need to handle something alone today. Let’s talk later.”

With that, he fled with practiced nonchalance.

Shangguan Jade Butterfly stroked her left wrist where he’d held her, her face radiating happiness.

Bancroft was equipped with over a hundred underground shelters. All outsiders and ordinary merchants from the academy had taken refuge. To ease anxiety, the academy lowered large screens in the shelters, broadcasting drone footage—to reassure everyone that here, in Bancroft, chaos could not prevail.

Victory was assured; the outsiders were but ants before the might of Bancroft—this was their pride.

Golden Toad had underestimated Bancroft’s power. Not only were there faculty capable of single-handedly slaying calamity-class threats, but even their students were exceptional talents. Youth was no excuse to underestimate them.

Sixty invaders had entered; now half were captured alive, the rest only struggling in their final moments.

Huo Xialan, swift and agile, led students in supporting battles across the city, collecting captured mercenaries.

At a street corner, Huo Xialan encountered Qin Shiqian, calculating with an abacus.

“Ah, Vice President, I was wondering when you’d arrive. I was afraid they might escape my ice prison, so I stayed here.” Qin Shiqian turned to look at the mercenaries frozen into the building, only half their faces exposed for breathing. He mused, “But perhaps I worried too much.”

“Perhaps,” replied Huo Xialan.

“Haha, old Qin, you’re still as extravagant as ever. Not like me—I only dare destroy a single whisk at most.” Feng Wuming walked up, dragging three mercenaries whose mouths were wrapped tight, muffled cries escaping them—unclear if they cursed or begged.

“Oh, awake? You’d better keep sleeping, gentlemen.” With that, Feng Wuming swung his whisk, spinning the three in a wide arc before slamming them heavily to the ground.

“Hmm, they’ve lost consciousness again. President Huo, please take them away.” Feng Wuming smiled.

“Alright,” Huo Xialan replied.

Qin Shiqian adjusted his glasses. “President Feng, best to start calling her ‘Vice President’—soon enough, there’ll be another President Huo, and it’ll get confusing.”

Huo Xialan’s brow arched imperceptibly.

Huo Ye crossed an empty street corner, instantly changing into his own clothes and removing his mask. Now, it was time for the Little Reaper to harvest.