Chapter 8, The Disappearance of Old Ding

He looked at himself in the mirror, sometimes frowning, sometimes pouting, and sometimes smiling, making all sorts of faces. After receiving that strange heart yesterday, he was initially bewildered, and then he became embroiled in various events. Only now, in this desolate place, can he freely express the exhilaration in his heart.

He intended to speak very plainly, yet an uncontrollable look of joy shone through his face, and the more he spoke, the more pleased he became

He stood still, took a step back, and asked in surprise: "Wenjing, how did you come here?"

Shu Yu was startled by him, as bright sunlight streamed in from outside the window. Chi Chuanle stood with his back to the light, yet still appeared radiant. The large black-framed glasses that used to adorn his face were gone, revealing a pair of standard phoenix eyes. The entire person seemed different from before.

He originally just wanted to splash dirty water on Lao Ding to completely eliminate his own suspicion. But as he spoke, he himself was truly astonished. It turned out that Lao Ding really had so many points of doubt! Did he hide in such a weak building just for that mysterious heart? What exactly is this thing?

In a rare event of collective evolution, all the boys in the Zero dormitory underwent evolution, leaving only him overlooked. Although it was not a terrible thing for him, after a night of receiving disdainful glances, it would be impossible to say that he felt completely at peace. At such a moment, a typically shy girl suddenly approached him and even took the initiative to invite him out, seemingly expressing a certain attitude, an attitude of unwavering support.

Chi Chuanle suddenly realized, and he nodded vigorously, saying: "Yes, why shouldn't I take what I deserve?"

Shu Yuxin thought to himself and nodded, saying: "I came back early yesterday and saw him at the door. I was feeling particularly down at the time, so I didn't greet him..." After finishing, he added, "What happened?"

Ah? Chi Chuanle obviously hasn't connected the dots yet. He was taken aback for a moment, thought for a while, and suddenly nodded, saying: "It's very possible. Don't you find Lao Ding suspicious? The things he usually tells us are not something an ordinary person could say, right? For instance, the specific circumstances of the Phoenix Feather Airport, the glorious history of the Kunlun National School, the causes and consequences of the Star Fragment Federation's independent coup... He speaks as if he has seen it all with his own eyes!"

He opened his eyes, sat up, yawned, and pressed a button on his wristband. A small holographic screen rose up, displaying a message. A neutral electronic voice, accompanied by a distinctive metallic echo, said sternly: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, classes are suspended for one day, and the campus is closed. All students are required to remain on campus and are not permitted to go outside. Violators will be immediately expelled!"

Shu Yu's slight frustration dissipated, and a smile involuntarily appeared at the corners of her mouth, which was just noticed by Chi Chuanle, who had jumped into the dormitory through the window. Unable to resist, he teased, "Oh, have you been up to something sneaky? Looking so pleased with yourself!"

Chi Chuanle shook his head solemnly and asked again, "Did you see him yesterday?"

Wen Jing seemed to glare at him, her voice raised slightly: "I mean, after the ban is lifted!"

Shu Yu could tell what he was thinking just by looking at his expression, and with a smile, he said: "Nothing is certain yet; who knows what the future will be like"

Wen Jing also smiled, her laughter clear and crisp, like the gentle chime of wind bells, particularly uplifting to the spirit

The blood-red heart hidden beneath this surface, does it conflict with its own body? What kind of power does it possess? How should this power be utilized?

Shu Yu patted his shoulder and nodded.

Wen Jing is naturally introverted and often blushes easily, but this time she unexpectedly took the initiative to approach him, clearly attempting to express something. However, regardless of the circumstances, Shu Yu felt somewhat touched.

Chi Chuanle nodded repeatedly and suddenly asked, "Have you seen Old Ding?"

Shu Yu shook his head: "I have checked! Of course, I haven't checked everything, but those that can be verified are all true! In fact, some of them were only recently declassified and exposed"

He stared at the mirror in front of the sink, touching his own chest

After a night of commotion, the green light on Shuyu's wristband on his left hand lit up early this morning, beeping repeatedly

The school suspects Old Ding—this is simply a stroke of good fortune that has fallen from the sky

He twisted and turned for quite a while before finally feeling satisfied and washing up, then walked back to his dormitory

However, Shu Yu pondered for a moment and replied, "I do not quite agree with your statement"

Chi Chuanle habitually adjusted his glasses, only to realize that they were no longer on his face along with the book. He smiled awkwardly and said, "My glasses broke last night. I didn't pay much attention at the time, and it was only this morning when someone asked that I noticed. It seems like I am no longer nearsighted!"

It is particularly regrettable to think that someone as intelligent and perceptive as Shu Yu may never evolve, potentially spending a lifetime in a gathering place of non-evolvers, forever referred to as a "weakling," and at any moment being assigned to the most dangerous and arduous locations

Shu Yu suddenly became a bit excited. He nodded and said, "Hmm! No problem, I will accompany you wherever you go!" As he spoke, he winked and smiled, saying, "It is my honor to work hard for a beautiful woman. Please feel free to command me as you wish!"

Chi Chuanle expressed his gratitude, saying: "Thank you, Shu Yu! You are truly wise!"

Chi Chuanle shook his head and said, "It's not that easy... I haven't even touched the threshold of S level. I've heard that many people spend their entire lives unable to overcome this hurdle"

He said irritably: "You look so pleased with yourself, yet you can't even walk through the door, let alone jump out of the window!"

Shu Yu responded with a questioning "Ah": "What business do I have?"

Shu Yu stated solemnly: "This is why I say we should utilize family resources. First, you indeed have this need; the process of advancing to S-level may be lengthy, so where will the various resources and support come from during this process? If you do not leverage the current family relationships, where else will you find them? Second, everyone has their responsibilities and obligations. You cannot separate yourself from the family; when the family encounters danger or other events, you must step forward. If you do not utilize the current family relationships, where else will you find them? Second, everyone has their responsibilities and obligations. You cannot separate yourself from the family; when the family encounters danger or other events, you must step forward. This is your obligation. Therefore, enjoying and utilizing family resources is your right. Why would you want to give these up?"

It was only then that he remembered that Old Ding had disappeared, the dormitory supervisor was no longer there, and the girls could naturally come up now

At this point, he turned and asked, "Have you been ranked? By the way, what did you all do after yesterday?"

The tone was very stern. Shu Yu thought for a moment and then smiled to herself, saying: "Is this going to be a news blackout? No wonder, such a collective mutation is indeed a major event! The school will definitely have to find out the cause..."

After the riot yesterday, all the evolved students were taken away by the school security team. During this inspection, it was discovered that there were a total of 53 non-evolved students living in the dormitory, and surprisingly, only one of them had not evolved. At that moment, most of the security team members looked at him with unusual expressions, and some of the classmates who had already regained their senses shared the same look. ... Surprise, disdain, disgust, indifference ... . ... Moreover, some exaggeratedly and deliberately distanced themselves from him, as if he carried some kind of contagion. At that moment, most of the security team members looked at him with unusual expressions, and some of the classmates who had already regained their senses shared the same look. ... Surprise, disdain, disgust, indifference ... . ... Moreover, some exaggeratedly and deliberately distanced themselves from him, as if he carried some kind of contagion.

Is this a date, or ... ...

He looked at Shu Yu and said seriously: "Shu Yu, I have thought it over. From now on, I will no longer seek those people; I will make them come to seek me!"

Shu Yu understood that "those people" referred to his relatives. The Chi family is a large clan, with many high-level evolved beings, and has always lived in the glory of being respected and admired. However, ever since Chi Chuanle, who had not evolved by the age of seventeen, emerged as a weakling, the family has faced much ridicule. As a result, after Chi Chuanle entered the junior intermediate academy at the age of twelve, he became a figure akin to a mouse or a pest in the family, and his mother also suffered considerable unjust treatment. Therefore, it is entirely understandable that Chi Chuanle would say such things now.

Chi Chuanle felt a twinge of doubt about his judgment and hesitantly said, "Could those things he mentioned be fabricated..."

Wen Jing was just about to go out when she almost bumped into his arms. As she stopped, her face immediately turned red. Upon hearing Shu Yu's question, her face became even redder, and she spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's: "Are you, are you okay?"

Her fair and delicate cheeks bore a hint of blush, yet her smile was lively and spirited: "Could you accompany me to the city for a while..." She cast a shy glance at Shu Yu, her voice lowering, "I have something I want to buy, could I ask for your advice on it?"

Shu Yu had not yet reacted, shaking his head and saying, "Probably not, right?" He pointed to the communication device on his wrist and said, "Didn’t the school issue a notice this morning? Prohibiting us from going out?"

This statement came unexpectedly, catching Shu Yu off guard, and his expression changed instantly. Fortunately, he was particularly quick to react and immediately exclaimed, "That's right, Lao Ding! Was he also in the dormitory at that time? Has he evolved?"

Shu Yu asked, "Do you intend to leave the family?"

Wen Jing looked up, glanced at him hurriedly, shook her head vigorously, and suddenly asked: "Classmate Shu Yu, do you have time this weekend to go to the library?"

Shu Yu said: "You cannot possibly separate yourself from the family, which means that in the future, if anything happens, you will certainly share both honor and disgrace. So why not make use of the resources at home?"

Shu Yu pondered for a moment, then looked up at Chi Chuanle and said, "Actually, I also think it's possible..." His thoughts raced, and his words became increasingly fluent, "Don't you find Lao Ding very strange? He's not always in the dormitory; sometimes when we look for him, we can't find him. He says he's gone to buy alcohol, but I've never seen him around. Moreover, how does a reclusive alcoholic who never leaves his house and doesn't even have a personal terminal know so many peculiar things... He says he's gone to buy alcohol, but I've never seen him around. Moreover, how does a reclusive alcoholic who never leaves his house and doesn't even have a personal terminal know so many peculiar things..."

In the mirror, a boy with black hair and black eyes is reflected, especially his pair of eyes, which do not shimmer with the usual brown of ordinary people, but are truly pure black, appearing unfathomable at a glance. For a boy, he is relatively sturdy. His regular exercise has even given him two well-defined pectoral muscles—now those muscles are smooth and even, without any blemishes.

Chi Chuanle's expression was somewhat shocked; he stared at Shu Yu and asked, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Chi Chuanle looked at him with confusion

Shu Yu shook his head in frustration: "Because it has nothing to do with us. I thought he just learned it from other sources. Who would have thought that our dormitory manager might be a hidden master of intelligence?"

He used to be severely myopic; of course, in this day and age, treating myopia is merely a minor surgery. Shu Yu had once asked why he didn't go for treatment, but he just smiled and shook his head. Later, after Shu Yu learned about his family situation, he no longer said much about it.

Chi Chuanle, while pondering the words he had just spoken, casually replied: "Aside from me, they fell asleep after their outburst, and the security team took them to the Evolution Building. I followed along, and upon arrival, I underwent a physical examination, various tests. Early this morning, we underwent special testing and preliminary enhancement; my special test result was level 8, and after enhancement, it reached level 9"

As he reached the door, he nearly collided with the person who was just stepping out.

Security Captain Kang Lai? Inquire about Old Ding? After this collective mutation incident?

Shu Yu was certainly not foolish; upon hearing Wen Jing's repetition, he immediately understood and was momentarily taken aback

She did not say anything else about the picture book, only agreeing with Shu Yu on the time and place to meet over the weekend, and then she gracefully disappeared into the stairwell

Shu Yu raised his chin slightly, gestured towards him, and asked, "Where are the glasses?"

Shu Yu was also taken aback by what he said: "Level 9? Doesn't that mean a potential advancement to S at any moment?"

He glanced around. The entire Zero dormitory was quiet, with no one else present besides him. He lazily yawned, scratched his messy hair, and stood up to walk to the restroom at the end of the corridor

Chi Chuanle did not seem to know anything; he casually shook his head and said, "It's nothing. After the training today, I ran into Teacher Kanglai. He asked me a question, and I thought you were closer to Old Ding, so I thought I would ask you as well."

He and Wenjing are not very familiar with each other. Due to certain reasons, their relationship has always been somewhat ambiguous. However, what exactly it is, no one has ever expressed clearly.

Ah? Shu Yu seemed a bit dazed; after thinking for a moment, he replied, "I should be free... Is there something you need?"

A faint glimmer of joy surfaced in Shu Yu's eyes, which he forcefully suppressed as he cautiously asked, "Do they really think that this collective mutation was caused by Old Ding?"

In response, Shu Yu remained calm, inadvertently recalling the sympathetic gazes of Chi Chuanle and Wageri. If it were the old him, he might have been hurt by such looks, but now...

Yesterday, this power seemed to manifest twice. Once when Old Ding tore open his chest, and once when the spikes of Mo Shenke, after his transformation, touched the blood on his body. ... Both instances seemed to be related to his blood ... ? ... Could it be that he can only use his power by sacrificing blood? That can't be true ... ? This is just too frustrating ... ...

Chi Chuanle said with great delight, "Oh, you have no idea, the feeling of flying is absolutely fantastic! Let me enjoy it for a couple of days first!"

Chi Chuanle hesitated for a moment and said, "It can't be possible... Even if I am willing, my mother definitely wouldn't agree... She grew up in that kind of environment..."

He was animated and spoke with great joy. Shu Yu looked at him, smiling but saying nothing. Only then did he awkwardly say, "I know, I have already become an evolved being, and I can undergo surgery at any time..." As he spoke, he straightened his chest and proudly declared, "But regardless, this is achieved through my own efforts, and its significance is altogether different!"