Su Xinyi had never experienced such rigorous protection before, leaving her with a mix of emotions.
The last time she'd faced a similar situation was during her time at Qi Ning Academy.
Back then, a gang had surrounded her, even threatening to assault her.
The following day, Qihua Galaxy Corporation, upon hearing the news, immediately ordered the gang's execution. The city's crime rate plummeted that very day.
After that incident, numerous underground organizations blacklisted Su Xinyi as a top-tier taboo figure.
But the current situation was slightly different...
The Phantom Network was a top-tier organization, possessing the full arsenal of Germany's most powerful military base, its reputation striking fear across China. Principal Huang knew that if he let her return home, she would inevitably face more assassins lying in ambush along the way.
Therefore, he had meticulously planned her security arrangements.
This was likely the most extravagant security deployment the school had ever seen since its founding in 4256, with every layer of defense personally funded by the Plum Blossom Family.
Su Xinyi was assigned to the second floor of Zi Xuan's office. Zi Xuan sat beside her on a swivel chair, drafting a report for the principal.
Noticing Su Xinyi's restless expression as she sat idly, he pulled out some snacks from a drawer. "Miss Su seems agitated. Have you eaten? Perhaps this will help..."
Su Xinyi stared in astonishment at the snack stash in his drawer. He had more essentials stocked here than she had in her own refrigerator!
Nevermind, she sighed, shaking her head listlessly. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened, but this time it was particularly frustrating.
The whole incident had started because she was on a date with someone she cared about... Couldn't they have found a different way to target me?
Though she had been rescued by a mysterious man, this same man had also saved Su and Ling. Who exactly was he?
"Ah, I understand. You must be worried about Ling Xian, right? Don't worry, he'll be fine. To be honest, he's lucky to have someone like you caring about him."
Even Zi Xuan, who understood the complexities of young hearts—after all, he had once been young himself—knew this well. "Back in my day, I was quite the charmer, always playing the field. If you want to get close to him, you need to cater to his interests."
Su Xinyi's cheeks flushed crimson. "Cater... cater to his interests?"
"Exactly. Give him what he wants most, and you'll naturally grow closer." Zi Xuan confidently adjusted his glasses.
She fell into deep thought: What does Ling Xian want most?
As she pondered, Zi Xuan smiled and pulled out a bag of custard bun snacks, drawing her attention.
"Li... Little Panda?"
"Heh heh. Ling Xian buys these from me all the time—three packs a week!" Zi Xuan said, handing her the package.
Su Xinyi, still surprised, asked, "Teacher Xuan... you sell snacks?"
"Of course! The Tianxu Education Bureau strictly prohibits us from teaching online, so I have to make a living somehow. Business is pretty good, though. Ling Xian is my top customer."
"..." Of course he is!
Listening to his words, Su Xinyi stared at the snack bag in her hand, lost in thought.
While Su Xinyi was absorbed in her thoughts, the assassination operation continued.
In the men's restroom on the first floor, a school guard lay unconscious in a stall, paralyzed by a propofol injection.
To prevent him from making noise when he woke up, the assassin bound him, gagged him with duct tape, and stripped him naked, even taking the underwear his wife had left for him.
After quickly changing into the guard's uniform and confidently adjusting his hair, he sprinted up to the second floor with an athlete's speed.
Knocking someone unconscious was easy enough, but this assassin was clearly a master.
As soon as he stepped onto the second floor, he moved down the corridor with a sharp, imposing aura.
Though he didn't know the status of his two brothers, Shen Yuan and Shen Qing, he remained confident that the operation was proceeding smoothly.
Yet a nagging unease persisted in his heart. Could they have encountered danger?
Near the target's location were three teachers' offices. The other two doors were tightly shut, but the curtains of one window were wide open.
There she is!
A cold smirk curled Shen Lu's lips. This assassination mission was destined to be a cakewalk. Before the operation, they had implanted a disguised surveillance signal on Su, ensuring she would be exposed no matter where she fled.
With his hands in his pockets, he probed the surroundings with his Spirit Power. She was indeed in the classroom, but her only companion was a dozing, muscular male teacher.
Shen Lu felt his organization was being severely underestimated.
Doesn't the school care about its students?
Eh, what's it to me anyway...?
Shen Lu stood before the door and sighed deeply. He had expected a fierce battle, but it seemed the school intended to let her leave unhindered.
As a Platinum Dragon Silk Assassin of the Phantom Net, he would make these fools who underestimated them pay dearly.
Let's see just how formidable you really are...
Inside the room, Zi Xuan and Su Xinyi were chatting and laughing, completely unaware of the impending danger.
The door exploded inward with a thunderous crash. Zi Xuan's expression darkened instantly—he had already sensed the killing intent.
Whoosh! A dagger flashed through the air like lightning, aimed straight at him. No warning, no words—just a direct attack.
"Master Xuan! Watch out!"
The entire sequence unfolded with lightning speed. From drawing the blade to launching the full-force throw, Su Xinyi found her eyes unable to keep up with the momentum. She covered her eyes, completely stunned by what was about to happen...
Until a clang of metal against metal rang out, she opened her eyes to find Zi Xuan had caught the flying dagger with his mouth!
Shen Lu stared in disbelief. "What?!"
"Peak Golden Core. No wonder he's a Platinum-Grade Assassin." Zi Xuan spat the blade onto the ground and rose, his voice cold.
Shen Lu was stunned by Zi Xuan's composure. The throw had been flawlessly precise, aimed directly at a vital point, and as swift as a bullet. Moreover, the blade had been imbued with True Qi. Yet Zi Xuan had caught it with his mouth?!
And with such precision... as if he had anticipated it?
"Do we know each other?" Shen Lu asked, sensing that Zi Xuan's demeanor resembled the legendary immortal cultivators he had heard tales of.
"Who I am... is irrelevant." Zi Xuan's gaze burned like a torch as he stared down his opponent.
Su Xinyi was utterly shocked. This was a far cry from the mild-mannered instructor she knew—a deeply concealed master!
Shen Lu's face darkened. Not only had Zi Xuan effortlessly caught the blade, but he had grown even more arrogant as a result! Who exactly was this man?!
But there was no time for deeper investigation.
He had to eliminate Su Xinyi to complete his mission!
With a flick of his wrist, he drew his longsword and lunged at Su Xinyi with lightning speed, aiming for her throat.
Zi Xuan blocked the strike, disarmed him, and delivered a devastating elbow strike to his face, sending him staggering backward.
Blood gushed from Shen Lu's nostrils. "Damn it..."
"You Phantom Assassins are getting sloppy. What's going on? Doesn't your leader train you properly?"
"Shut up! I don't understand... why are you even at this school if you're so weak—"
"Silence." Zi Xuan commanded, his voice radiating authority.
Shen Lu's entire body trembled violently, as if even his brain were shaking violently.
"Daring to attack my student... Now you'll pay the price." He sneered coldly.
"Huh—?" Shen Lu froze in shock.
Zi Xuan pulled out a sharpened pencil. "When you reincarnate next time, don't pull this kind of crap again!" What the hell?! How is he so strong?!
"You wouldn't—" Before he could finish the sentence, the pencil shot through the air like a lethal arrow.
The pencil pierced Shen Lu's chest, the faint crack of shattered ribs audible. It tore through his body, and he crashed to the ground...