Gu Tianchen grinned. "Close enough. It'll be mine soon anyway."
Zhao Kongcheng looked incredulously at Wu Xiangnan. "This kid joined our team just like that?"
"To clarify, he hasn't officially joined. He's a temporary member," Wu Xiangnan said precisely.
"How'd you trick him into it?" Zhao Kongcheng asked, curious.
"Ahem, Old Zhao, watch your words. Night Watchmen business isn't 'tricking,'" Wu Xiangnan said. "I asked if he'd join, and he said he would if Hongying helped him with her Crimson Rosefire Mantle's flame. That's it."
Zhao Kongcheng turned to Hongying. "You gave it to him?"
"He insisted."
"He asked, and you just handed it over?"
"No way it was that easy. I gave it to him after he beat me," Hongying said.
"You, at Pond Realm, lost to a Lamp Realm newbie?!" Zhao Kongcheng exclaimed, stunned.
"First, I didn't use Pond Realm strength to bully a rookie. Second, this kid's Forbidden Ruin is all flashy, pulling out an avatar. I wasn't ready and lost," Hongying explained.
"Where's Lin Qiye?" Wu Xiangnan asked.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Zhao Kongcheng's face. "I let that kid slip away…"
"The agent of Seraph Michael, and you just let him escape?"
The plan had been for Wu Xiangnan to handle Gu Tianchen while Zhao Kongcheng took charge of Lin Qiye.
Now, Wu Xiangnan had brought his charge back and even recruited him as a temporary member, but Zhao Kongcheng had fallen for Lin Qiye's excuse about fetching study materials, letting him slip right under his nose!
A deep sense of failure surged within Zhao Kongcheng.
"Don't worry, I'll drag that kid Lin Qiye back!" Zhao Kongcheng gritted his teeth.
"He's already gone. Where are you going to find him?"
"Lin Qiye was wearing the same No. 2 High School uniform as this kid. I'll stake out the school gate tomorrow. I refuse to believe I can't catch him!" Zhao Kongcheng declared confidently.
After a long pause, Zhao Kongcheng looked at the group. "Alright, no need to sugarcoat it. Just tell me straight—am I, Old Zhao, really that charmless?"
Team 136 fell into an awkward silence.
"Tianchen, little bro, have some water! Wanna spar again after?"
"Are you hungry? Should I cook you another bowl of noodles?"
"Did you get hurt earlier? Need me to patch you up?"
"I'll go check on the Captain and Leng Xuan."
Zhao Kongcheng: -_-#
…
Cangnan No. 2 High School, School Gate.
"Yo, Old Zhao's here?"
Gu Tianchen grinned, greeting Zhao Kongcheng, who was staking out the school gate.
"Quiet down and get to class," Zhao Kongcheng hissed, wary of tipping off his target.
Gu Tianchen smiled, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and strolled into the campus.
Class 2, Grade 2.
Gu Tianchen settled into his seat. His desk mate, Li Yifei, leaned over and whispered, "Tianchen, did you sign the confidentiality agreement?"
Gu Tianchen nodded.
"Lin Qiye hasn't shown up yet. Did those monsters last night…" Li Yifei made a throat-slitting gesture.
"He's fine. We both signed the agreement. That guy got a shock last night, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise—his eyes can open now. He's at the hospital getting them checked," Gu Tianchen explained.
"Good, good." Li Yifei's worry eased.
When the evening study bell rang, Gu Tianchen and Li Yifei left the school gate, chatting and laughing.
Under a streetlamp, a forlorn middle-aged man sat on the curb, surrounded by a pile of cigarette butts, looking utterly desolate in the dim light.
"Old Zhao, still waiting?" Gu Tianchen approached, smiling.
Zhao Kongcheng tossed his cigarette, grinding it out, his bloodshot eyes glaring. "Where's that kid?"
"Oh, you mean Lin Qiye? He took a leave of absence today. Didn't come to school."
Boom!
Zhao Kongcheng felt like he'd been struck by lightning, his mood plummeting.
I wasted a whole damn day?!
Seeing Gu Tianchen's smug grin only fueled his irritation.
This kid passed by me at least three times today and didn't say a word!
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
"You didn't ask."
Zhao Kongcheng was on the verge of exploding when Li Yifei waved at a boy holding a few books nearby.
"Lin Qiye! Lin Qiye! Your eyes can really see now?!"
Hearing Lin Qiye's name, Zhao Kongcheng spun around. Sure enough, the kid stood not far off, clutching his books.
Lin Qiye cursed inwardly. Why did I have to take this route?
And Li Yifei—what's with the shouting? Do I know you that well?!
"Got you at last, kid!"
Seeing the situation turn sour, Lin Qiye bolted.
Zhao Kongcheng lunged after him in hot pursuit.
He fled, he chased—Lin Qiye couldn't escape, wings or not.
Li Yifei blinked, confused. "What's going on?"
"No big deal. Old Zhao's taking Lin Qiye to a 'study session,'" Gu Tianchen said with a grin.
"Huh? A study session? Is that legit?" Li Yifei asked, shocked.
"Well… the 'room' might not be legit, but the studying is totally above board," Gu Tianchen replied, deadpan.
Back home, Gu Tianchen entered the Pangu Temple to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art.
"Yo, little bro, you're getting things done! Second flame collected already?" Zhurong said, laughing.
"All for getting you out sooner, Fire Bro. I'd walk through fire for you," Gu Tianchen said earnestly.
"Good, good, good! Today, I'll guide you further on cultivating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art and Dutian Divine Fire," Zhurong said, pleased.
"Fire Bro, before we start, I've got a question. With both the Dutian Divine Flame and the Crimson Rosefire Mantle now, can I use Rebirth Through Fire to revive twice?" Gu Tianchen asked eagerly.
"Of course. If you die someday, use the other flames first. Save the Dutian Divine Fire for last. Its divine might could overwhelm you, and you might end up burning yourself alive. Plenty of folks have played with fire and got burned," Zhurong warned.
"Got it. Can Rebirth Through Fire revive someone else besides me?" Gu Tianchen asked.
"No, this divine ability only works on you. It's useless for others."
Gu Tianchen's brow furrowed, a hint of disappointment.
His hope of using Rebirth Through Fire to revive Zhao Kongcheng was dashed…
…
A few days later, Old Town District.
Dark clouds gathered, and heavy rain poured down.
It felt like something ominous was brewing.
Zhao Kongcheng, holding the umbrella Lin Qiye had given him, stepped out from the kid's apartment building.
Not far off, a boy under an umbrella watched silently as Zhao Kongcheng climbed into a black van in the rain.
Zhao Kongcheng pulled out a cigarette, about to light it, when a voice crackled through his earpiece, making his pupils constrict.
The unlit cigarette fell to the ground.
***
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