Chapter Thirty-Five: Our Hero (End of Volume)

“Alright. Watermark ad test Watermark ad test,” Xia Yan nodded, signaling his agreement with Gong Kui’s suggestion.

He was keenly aware that if he wanted to dispel humanity’s doubts, he had to kill the former Director Ai You. Otherwise, making this matter public would be meaningless.

When Gong Kui heard Xia Yan casually mention the name Amelia, her expression subtly changed. Everything she had done was to tie Xia Yan’s fate to humanity’s. She had done so much for Xia Yan—he could never betray the human side now.

Soon after, Xia Yan bid Gong Kui farewell and, together with Lan Xin, left Fuxiang City, returning to the Blue family estate. For this final month, Xia Yan would stay there, learning the remaining ancient martial arts of the Thousand Sects.

On their way back, Lan Xin told Xia Yan that she had made a night trip to District 1 regarding Nan Gong Yong’s matter, and even changed her hairstyle and clothes before leaving.

Xia Yan nodded, saying nothing more.

For a month, Xia Yan stayed and practiced martial arts, while Lan Qing taught him with great dedication. In their spare time, Xia Yan and Lan Xin sparred, testing their strength against each other.

So the month went by swiftly, and Xia Yan decided to depart that day. Though his time studying the Thousand Sects’ martial arts had been brief, his talent made up for it. Though he was still a novice, he had already achieved something.

Now, Xia Yan’s mastery of ancient martial arts had surpassed that of Tang Yun in the past.

No one came to see him off that day. Relying on the institution’s flying vehicle, Xia Yan left quietly, alone.

By a remarkable coincidence, that same day, Gong Kui graduated directly from the institution as the top student. She was about to head to the First Human District, where she might take up an important position.

On the day of graduation, in the grand hall of the Ability Training Institution, Gong Kui was to give a speech at a meeting, with all members and the entire institution’s leadership and mentors in attendance.

The grand hall was spacious and bright, light flooding the space, the seats arranged in perfect order, stretching beyond the eye’s reach. Everyone in the institution sat in the hall, their eyes fixed on Gong Kui on the dais.

The theme of the meeting was called “He Is Our Hero.”

A murmur rose from the audience, all of it about Xia Yan: topics about Amelia, about the mutants, about the battle a month ago.

There were doubts, there was fearlessness, and there was outrage.

Under everyone’s gaze, Gong Kui began to speak.

“A month ago, our city of Fuxiang was struck by a great battle, and nearly all the combat-ability users present took part in it.

“In that battle, our greatest crisis was the Level 4 mutants. No one knew how many Level 4 mutants had invaded Fuxiang City. At that moment, our strength seemed so insignificant—there were few among us capable of confronting such terrifying beings.

“Institution’s management, not enough! Institution mentors, not enough! The Guardians, not enough!”

She immediately shifted the topic, focusing on Xia Yan.

“On the day the battle broke out, Xia Yan’s mind suffered a severe breakdown—he was on the verge of collapse.

“The severity of his problem was even worse than it appeared. If he had completely broken down, he would have lost himself, never to return, reduced to a hollow shell, living like a walking corpse.

“Even I, and those who know him well, believed he couldn’t participate in the battle. I was truly sorry, because Xia Yan was a vital force, a veteran Guardian capable of barely fending off Level 4 mutants.”

At this, many in the audience began discussing in hushed tones.

“So, before noon that day, Xia Yan’s strength wasn’t as great as we’d thought?”

“Why did he suddenly become so powerful?”

“Was it a demon power?”

“It’s just incomprehensible!”

Gong Kui surveyed the crowd.

“But Xia Yan overcame his psychological trauma—he recovered quickly! In fact, I only said a single thing: if we lost, everyone in Fuxiang City would suffer catastrophe!

“Perhaps you cannot imagine how terrifying a psychological shadow that can be, but let me put it into words,” Gong Kui’s voice rang clear and strong. “With less than thirty percent brain capacity developed, he awakened his second ability. That was the ‘reward’ for overcoming his psychological barrier.”

Her words caused an uproar in the hall.

“With less than thirty percent brain development, it should be impossible to awaken a second ability!”

“But he did it.”

“It’s a miracle!”

“It’s more than a miracle, it defies the rules themselves.”

“Are rules really so easily broken?”

“No wonder—Xia Yan, who slew countless Level 4 mutants, is a miracle in himself.”

“Without him, many of us would have died.”

“He’s truly a hero.”

“No doubt about it!”

Everyone was astonished, unable to comprehend it. This had surpassed all rules and broken common sense. Such a psychological scar should have been fatal, yet Xia Yan had overcome it.

They also realized that it was because of Xia Yan that so many survived—when by rights, they should have perished in that battle.

When the commotion died down, Gong Kui continued, “Eleven months ago, Xia Yan made a promise to a certain pure-blooded Demon.”

“A promise?”

“Pure-blood?”

Though she said “a certain one,” everyone understood she meant Amelia.

But curiosity remained—what was the exact nature of this promise?

“This promise dates back to an incident long ago, when certain demons engaged in forbidden research and were killed by Xia Yan. The true mastermind behind it was the former Director, Ai You.”

“Former Director?”

“Ai You?”

“The one who suddenly resigned?”

“So that’s why she left—and it’s related to Xia Yan.”

Gong Kui went on, “The promise was that, after a year, Xia Yan would go to the demon clan and duel the former Director Ai You—a life-and-death battle, with little hope of survival.”

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances—such a promise, with almost no chance of survival. Even if Xia Yan were strong, going to the demons' territory and fighting them—would they fight fairly? If he won, would they really let him go?

“Today, Xia Yan has set out for the Demon Clan in District 2 of the Earth Federation,” Gong Kui said. “I don’t know if he’ll return alive, but that’s not the point of this speech.

“I only wish to say: Xia Yan is the hero who saved Fuxiang City, and he will always be my friend.”

Gong Kui stepped down from the stage. The hall erupted into thunderous applause, which continued for a long time.

But Gong Kui knew well—this was not an empty speech. Xia Yan was now bound to humanity; he had only two choices left.

Kill Ai You, earn humanity’s trust, and survive a near-death ordeal.

Or fail to kill Ai You, and live on as a traitor…