Chapter Twenty-Six: The Final Stage

In the instant before the battle erupted, as two members of the Winged race unleashed their bloodlines and charged forward, Xia Yan’s movements were swift beyond compare.

“Captain, calm down.” With a wave of Xia Yan’s hand, flames surged from his palm. A wave of fire-like energy billowed out, engulfing Feng Qiang and trapping him within it for a moment.

Then Xia Yan focused his mind, drew a deep breath, and slashed with all his strength—wielding his charged strike. The blade shimmered with firelight, its power seemingly unstoppable.

Nangong Yong’s expression changed dramatically. She quickly retreated, but could not dodge the blade’s brilliance. She was forced to block with her sword, Extreme Snow’s Grace. Ice and snow surged as her blade clashed with Xia Yan’s ever-shifting saber.

Yet, how could her body’s development compare to Xia Yan’s? Especially when this was Xia Yan’s full force. Instantly, a sweet taste rose in her throat, and she coughed up blood, stumbling back several steps before she could regain her composure.

At that moment, Lan Xin, wielding her sword with all her might, lunged relentlessly toward Gaodefo.

But Xia Yan reacted with lightning speed, stepping in front of Gaodefo and standing there, unmoving.

Blood began to trickle from his throat.

The blade stopped dead, its tip barely piercing the skin.

The Winged race members who had been about to join the fray were stunned into silence by this scene, abandoning their imminent conflict. Gaodefo’s eyes grew complex; he quickly grabbed Fanny and retreated, taking her away.

As captain, he understood well that starting a fight without cause would mean punishment for both sides.

“Mr. Xia Yan!” cried Fanny, gripped with terror and confusion as she reached desperately toward Xia Yan, unable to touch him.

She was so worried—afraid these three humans would kill Mr. Xia Yan. He was clearly a good person, risking himself to save her without asking anything in return.

Why were the human tribes like this? Or were they exceptions?

Lan Xin’s eyes brimmed with confusion and anger. “Xia Yan, why did you stand in front of me? I almost killed you—just a hair’s breadth away.”

Tears streamed from the girl’s eyes. “Are you mad? Are you out of your mind? Why would you take a blade for an outsider? Even I couldn’t stop myself!”

“Xia Yan, you damned traitor!” Nangong Yong hissed through gritted teeth, her lips stained with fresh blood. Without hesitation, she prepared to strike once more.

Feng Qiang, however, had grown much calmer. His earlier attack was impulsive; had he truly lost all reason, not even Xia Yan’s flames could have stopped him.

“Miss Lan Xin could have stopped herself—so long as she kept her head.” Xia Yan spoke earnestly. “It’s because I have faith in you that I chose this path.”

“Xia Yan...” Lan Xin looked at him, bewildered. Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock.

Xia Yan began to walk toward her, step by step, and she unconsciously backed away. The sword in her hand, Dark Night, wavered and then suddenly vanished.

Xia Yan gazed into her eyes, his expression serious. “Miss Lan Xin, why didn’t you kill them?”

Lan Xin was taken aback, disbelief flooding her face.

“Why didn’t you kill them?” Xia Yan sighed softly.

“Xia Yan, what are you talking about?” Lan Xin cradled her head and crouched on the ground.

Nangong Yong, who had just been about to charge forward and strike Xia Yan down, froze at this sight, rooted to the spot, at a loss.

“I’m saying, when those Winged ones ambushed you, why didn’t you kill them, Miss Lan Xin?” Xia Yan repeated.

“When I arrived that time, you were unharmed—which means you drove them off.” Xia Yan sighed. “With your strength, you could have killed them, yet you didn’t.”

“Xia Yan, do you want me to kill them?” Tears poured from Lan Xin’s eyes.

“Of course. Why not?” Xia Yan crouched beside her, very close, wishing she would look up at him.

“So I thought, if you can’t bring yourself to do it, then let me do it for you. From now on, when we’re on missions together, I’ll personally kill every Winged one who tries to harm you. One day, those riffraff won’t dare bother you again.”

Lan Xin’s eyes were clouded with confusion.

“Miss Lan Xin, you must understand—endless weakness and fear will only cause you to sink deeper, will only embolden them further. Only by killing enough of them will you make them afraid. Anyone who tries to kill us must be prepared for equal retribution.” Xia Yan spoke each word clearly. “Miss Lan Xin, you’ve done nothing wrong. The fault lies with those who want you dead. Even if you kill them all, you need not carry any guilt.”

“On the contrary, if you spare them, you’ll only fall deeper and deeper.”

Lan Xin was stunned.

“But,” Xia Yan’s tone hardened, “I absolutely will not allow you to slaughter the innocent. We have no quarrel with these people; this is our first meeting—there is no reason to kill them. That is absolutely forbidden.”

“Xia Yan...” Lan Xin murmured.

“If you ever try to attack these strangers merely because they are of another race, I will stop you,” Xia Yan said softly. “I, too, have known fear and confusion. I carry a heavier burden—and may not survive another two months. But even if the enemy before me is from the Demon race, if they haven’t harmed us or borne us any grudge, I would still act the same.”

“What should I do?” Lan Xin whispered to herself.

“There’s no need to worry,” Xia Yan shook his head gently. “Any outsider who tries to kill you, we won’t let a single one go. But those without malice—we won’t harm a single one of them. That’s the conviction at the core of our hearts.”

“If one day you lose your way, Miss Lan Xin, if you’re lost and helpless, I’ll guide you back to the right path—even at the cost of my life.”

“Xia Yan...” Her voice was barely audible. “Can I trust you?”

“Please, believe me.” Xia Yan gave her a cheerful smile.

This cold, resolute girl let her tears fall, sobbing like a child with grief she could not contain.

Xia Yan stood by her side, gently patting her back.

At that moment, Xia Yan felt as if something new was stirring within him—as if a second ability was on the verge of awakening.

Watching this, Feng Qiang’s face was full of guilt and self-reproach, his confusion clearing into bitter clarity.

Once, he thought, even a child could see more clearly than him. Once, he too had lost his original purpose.

Nangong Yong gazed at the scene with incomprehension.

Xia Yan, how had things come to this? How could you shield our enemies—outsiders?

Xia Yan, I came here for you. Watching you at the Tribunal, I saw in you the self I once dreamed of.

I thought you would always stand by my side—always, always.

Why is it like this, Xia Yan?

This mission ended with the voluntary withdrawal of the Third Human Squad. Since Xia Yan had not attacked, neither team would face disciplinary action.

Though Fanny wanted to speak with Xia Yan, her captain Gaodefo stopped her, warning her not to get too involved with this human squad. The five-member Winged team quickly left the scene, intent on hunting down the injured mutant beast.

On the outskirts of District Nine, the wildlands stretched as far as the eye could see.

Amidst countless mutant tribes, a black-clad youth stood, his features still childish, no older than thirteen or fourteen.

“That human...” His speech was clumsy but intelligible. “That human—the one who hurt me...”

He remembered the day when, just as he was about to kill that woman, the human boy had struck him with fire.

He had finally evolved, now a level-five mutant—one who could take human form.

“Humans, this time I’ll use my wits and kill every last one of you in this district.” The black-clad youth gritted his teeth. “Heh, I’ll destroy you with cunning. All I need is to open a gap in District Nine’s defense wall, and all the powerful mutants will swarm in. You’ll all die—heh heh heh...”

He knew well that, as king of the mutants, a single command would cause all mutants to submit unconditionally.

“The human who hurt me, I’ll save for last—so you can witness the power of a king.”

The level-four Shadow Leopard had finally evolved to level five, gaining intelligence equal to a human’s. Now he was king among mutants, to whom all others must bow.

His goal: to slaughter all the espers of District Nine and kill the human boy he hated most.

District Nine, Fuxiang City, within the agency—Miyakui’s office.

“What is going on?” Miyakui’s face was grim as she pointed at Nangong Yong. “Why were you so reckless as to attack the Winged ones?”

“It was that Winged woman—she was going to kill us!” Nangong Yong protested.

She didn’t know Miyakui’s true identity but guessed she must be from one of the great families of District One, just like herself.

“Miss Fanny merely approached to speak with Xia Yan. He saved her several days ago, and she wished to thank him.” Miyakui looked at her coldly. “Besides, that woman is not a combat-type esper—she showed no sign of attacking.”

“Miyakui,” Nangong Yong gritted out, “I told you before I came here: I can do many things, including assassinating some of their talented outsiders. Give me those missions—let me kill them.”

Nangong Yong was furious. “So what if I kill some Winged ones? They’re our enemies. What I did wasn’t wrong!”

“But if you attack and kill them unprovoked, the Winged race will put you on trial in return,” Miyakui retorted. “Your whole squad might be wiped out.”

“Be more discreet!”

“Enough!” Miyakui cut her off. “You’ll face severe punishment for this. Write a self-critique, and apologize to Xia Yan.”

“Why?” Nangong Yong was bewildered. “Even if I was wrong, does that make Xia Yan right? He’s human—he has your trust—yet he helped an outsider!”

“Xia Yan did nothing wrong. At the very least, you and the Winged team bear no grudge.” Miyakui shook her head. “Have you forgotten the Federation’s laws?”

“But they’re outsiders. We’re human!” Nangong Yong’s anger flared. “One day, the world will be plunged into war. The more we weaken their forces now—”

“I told you to be silent.” Miyakui’s tone was icy. “Nangong Yong, you have two choices: return to District One immediately, or accept disciplinary action.”

“Miyakui, do you trust Xia Yan that much?” Nangong Yong stared at her stubbornly.

“Xia Yan is not our enemy. He is human, and our companion. But he is not a puppet or a soldier—he has his own mind.”

“Miyakui...” Nangong Yong gritted her teeth.

“Even though Xia Yan has only a little over two months left before he must face the leader of the Demon race—Ai You—in a deadly duel, he has never lost his way. But you—your hatred for outsiders has become irredeemable. You are the one at fault, not Xia Yan.”

“He has to go to the Demon race? To duel someone as strong as a director?” Nangong Yong was incredulous, her expression darkening. “I understand. I’ll write my self-critique and apologize to Xia Yan.”

After Nangong Yong left, Miyakui gradually calmed, letting out a bitter sigh. “Feng Qiang, captain of the Third Human Squad, has resigned after his mistake. Now Nangong Yong is in this state—can this squad still survive?”

She felt a vague sense of unease. District Nine was now as calm as the stillness before a storm.

That night, Nangong Yong opened her photonic computer and entered Xia Yan’s name into the search engine.

She browsed every trace with care—until suddenly, she found an entry about the Condemned.

She clicked it open and found information beyond belief. Her eyes widened, and for a long time she could not recover from her shock.

This information was about that girl named Su Zhu...