Many years later, when Xia Lingguo returned once more to the lecture square of Star Engraving County, he could still clearly recall that afternoon when he first met Qian Yuliu.
It had been the graduation ceremony of the Star Engraving Military Academy. Xia Lingguo, then a first-year freshman standing below the stage, saw everyone around him as radishes—frankly, he still thought of them that way now. While he had no interest in such pointless graduation rituals, he did not exactly dislike them, he just found them meaninglessly dull.
But when the representative of the graduating class walked onto the stage, Xia Lingguo's gaze was instantly drawn to that young man.
"Respected teachers, dear classmates, good afternoon. I am honored to speak here today as the representative of the graduating class. I am Qian Yuliu, from the Department of Reconnaissance and Special Operations Command."
From the very first word out of this man's mouth, Xia Lingguo knew he and Qian Yuliu were the same species. No matter how grand or dignified his speech, there was no feeling to his words, no respect in his eyes, and his voice held the steely coldness of iron—this man simply had no humanity.
People like them were born not knowing their purpose, and faced death without fearing why they must die.
They were like raindrops falling from the sky, born solely to plunge toward the earth, aimless and drifting with the wind.
So Xia Lingguo asked around about Qian Yuliu's doings. When he learned that Qian Yuliu had joined White Night through Lin Jinyao, he drew close to Lin Jinyao himself, retracing Qian Yuliu's old path. There was nothing more to it— in this world, the only thing that stirred Xia Lingguo's curiosity was someone like Qian Yuliu.
However, he did not completely copy Qian Yuliu's approach. Qian Yuliu liked to wear a mask of coldness while playing at warmth to navigate social relationships, but Xia Lingguo had no interest in that. The mask he wore was 'transparency.'
If Qian Yuliu was an idol performing for the audience, then Xia Lingguo was simply a bystander watching from the sidelines.
When Qian Yuliu joined the Statistical Department, Xia Lingguo did not follow suit—because he had not yet graduated. Besides, he saw no need to join, since Qian Yuliu was already on the same side as him.
Yes, Xia Lingguo never believed the rumors outside. He was sure Qian Yuliu was a plant sent by Lin Jinyao into the Statistical Department, because Qian Yuliu had no reason to be attracted to that place—future prospects, honor, power, none of those things meant anything to them.
Only amusement, that was the real food in their lives, just as Qian Yuliu was to Xia Lingguo, just as…Qian Yuya was to Qian Yuliu.
Xia Lingguo quietly stayed by Lin Jinyao's side, always secretly observing Qian Yuliu. Whether Qian Yuliu was promoted to captain of the Statistical Department or his reputation worsened, Xia Lingguo never stopped watching.
The change had come that rainy night, a few days before.
When Qian Yuliu walked into Lin Jinyao's residence, Xia Lingguo keenly sensed that this was not Qian Yuliu — at least, not the Qian Yuliu he knew. Especially when Qian Yuliu shot Lin Jinyao, the trembling finger on the trigger, the flash of reluctance in his eyes, all left Xia Lingguo utterly baffled.
How should he put it, even if Qian Yuliu had changed genders, it wouldn't have been more shocking than this.
"People change," Xia Lingguo thought, "but that only really applies to normal people." "People like us, the only thing we change is the mask—as if the pattern on a blade could ever alter the fact it's a murder weapon, no matter how ornate or plain."
But now…even this cold, aloof sword called Qian Yuliu had gained a scabbard.
And because he could not let go of that confusion, when Lin Jinyao's old friend, Zuo Shiwen, the Headmaster of the Star Engraving Military Academy, secretly relayed White Night's 'request' to them at Lin Jinyao's memorial, Xia Lingguo volunteered to join this Vengeful Breaking.
There had been some complications along the way; after all, plenty of people wanted to participate in the Vengeful Breaking and thrash Qian Yuliu. Meanwhile, Xia Lingguo was just an unremarkable guy who rarely spoke shocking words, so he had a lot of competition. After beating up several of them, he finally managed to secure a spot.
Joining White Night, avenging Lin Jinyao—none of that mattered to Xia Lingguo. He just wanted to use the chance to have a deeper, more physical exchange with Qian Yuliu.
For people like them, masks on, words were always the weakest form of communication. "Every word, every punctuation mark out of Qian Yuliu's mouth was worthless." "Only fists clashing with flesh could help Xia Lingguo find the secret behind Qian Yuliu's change."
Besides, Xia Lingguo truly believed he could defeat the current Qian Yuliu. "A sword sheathed—what could it possibly cut?"
The result…
"Cough!"
Xia Lingguo was helped up by other students. He coughed twice, feeling numbing pain in his hands and feet—clearly, Qian Yuliu's Biting Battle Technique was no joke. Xia Lingguo managed to win a few rounds, but in the real world, blocking didn't mean you took no damage. Force always went both ways.
So when Xia Lingguo saw Qian Yuliu turn around, demanding to immediately begin the next Vengeful Breaking, it suddenly dawned on him.
Qian Yuliu's sword was not sheathed at all.
He was simply using his blade like a spiked club.
Otherwise, there was no way to explain how he could still be so spirited, still fighting on—Qian Yuliu's injuries had to be worse than Xia Lingguo's. The moment Xia Lingguo left the fight, the pain left him unable to stand, but Qian Yuliu kept fighting!
What did that mean?
It meant Qian Yuliu had reached some higher plane, a place beyond humanity that Xia Lingguo could not comprehend!
The mask he wore could even fool his own senses, block out pain!
Others only saw the first layer of Qian Yuliu's shocking betrayal; Xia Lingguo saw the second layer—his transformation of nature. But he never expected there was a fifth layer—Qian Yuliu had not become as shallow as the masses at all. He had become even more unfathomable!
Qian Yuliu had become an existence even less human than he was!
"Qian Yuliu, until the day we both fall to earth, I'll keep watching you." Xia Lingguo panted as he spoke.
Upon hearing this, Leyu paused for a moment.
"What the hell did that mean? Was this a death sentence? Does he want to jump off a building with me in his arms or something?"
"Ugh, Star Engraving County doesn't even have any tall buildings. I'd better stay away from skyscrapers in the future."
"Sigh, Qian Yuliu, what a sinful man you are…" Leyu sighed and looked at the final Vengeful Breaker.
Right now, all he wanted was to finish up here as soon as possible and find an old Medical Officer with strong hands to give him a massage. He might not be feeling pain, but this limp, sore post-fight feeling was truly obnoxious—like he'd just been beaten up. Which, really, he had been.
But clearly, things would not go as Leyu desired. He had to be fully alert to face the last Vengeful Breaker.
Lin Jinyao's daughter, Lin Xue.
"After this battle, the Lin family and you are finished, vengeance broken and paid. There will never be trouble between us again." Lin Xue clasped her hands in salute, her expression indifferent. "If I win, I ask only that Captain Qian kneel facing north and kowtow. I have no other demands. If I lose, the Lin family ancestral house is yours."
The crowd erupted in an uproar at her words.
"Xue'er!" Gao Jin, just coming to, was stunned when he heard this, "That's teacher's—"
"My mind is made up, please don't interfere with my Vengeful Breaking." Lin Xue looked calmly at Leyu. "With the Patrol Execution Guards as my witnesses, my verbal promise stands. Uncle, please forgive my rashness."
Lin Xue'en, the middle-aged man with worry in his brows, sighed, drew his sword from his waist and wiped it across his palm, letting blood drip down.
"My brother left everything to you. However you deal with the Lin ancestral home, I, Lin Xue'en, will not voice a single objection. If I go back on my word after this, may this sword cut through my own heart."
Leyu raised an eyebrow slightly. One rather nasty thing about the Vengeful Breaking policy was that Avengers—aside from using up a single valid opportunity for revenge—really paid no price and lost nothing in defeat, while for the Vengeful Breaker, even in the best case they'd owe an apology, and in the worst they had to compensate. Either way, they lost.
Therefore, some upstanding Avengers would add on: not only must the Vengeful Breaker do such-and-such if they lost, but the Avenger would also accept some penalty if they lost. This sort was rare; after all, few people kept their dignity and courtesy after losing their family to tragedy.
Of course, some Avengers used grandiose stakes to trick Vengeful Breakers into not surrendering—this kind of fishing was legal, so long as both willingly played along.
But there was another possibility, where the Avenger offered up a price far exceeding the Vengeful Breaker's compensation. This was usually for one reason: staking their promise on victory.
"I promise I'll do such-and-such if I lose—but I absolutely will not lose!"
As Lin Jinyao's only legitimate daughter, Lin Xue clearly held the right to decide the fate of the Lin ancestral home, and its value far surpassed Qian Yuliu kneeling in apology.
Honestly, if it weren't for his mission, Leyu would have wanted to kneel right now and try to win a house. After all, it was just bowing to Lin Jinyao—he could count it as paying his respects on the seventh day of mourning.
Staring at Lin Xue, Leyu found his mind wandering for a moment.
According to the plan he and Yinyin Yin had made, if there really was an insider among the Lin heirs, they would surely compete in the Vengeful Breaking to fight for the right to establish a White Night branch.
But among the three Avengers, Gao Jin was a confirmed idiot, Xia Lingguo was powerful but only Qian Yuliu's personal stalker, and neither had any relation to the traitor.
Now Lin Xue was wagering the ancestral house, clearly believing she had no chance of losing!
Could it be that the real traitor was…Lin Xue?