home

search

Chapter 97: I’ll kill everyone

  The snow intensified, significantly reducing visibility.

  Suddenly, they heard arguing through the snow and wind.

  “That’s Na Fei and Aspirin!” Ke Yen recognized her friends’ voices, her expression changing.

  They hurried towards the sound.

  At a house entrance, Na Fei and Aspirin were arguing with a villager.

  “Get out, outsiders! This doesn’t concern you; you’ve crossed the border!” The villager, wielding a hammer, glared at them.

  “Excuse us, we only wanted some food,” Aspirin said calmly.

  “None of your business; if you want to see someone, go find them yourselves! If you dare knock on my door, I'll kill you!” The villager slammed the door shut.

  Both streamers looked uneasy.

  They noticed Ke Yen and the others arriving.

  “What happened?” Ke Yen asked.

  Na Fei shook her head.

  Aspirin said, “We tried investigating the village; something is wrong. We’re in the east; the west side is sealed off; we didn’t dare to investigate.”

  Na Fei continued, “We tried to get a child to take us to a villager’s house to check for signs of life inside, but we were stopped before we got there.”

  She sighed. “There’s definitely something wrong; these villagers are overly aggressive and secretive.”

  “At least they didn’t actually attack you,” Mithra observed.

  They headed back to their dilapidated room, sharing information along the way.

  Elise took the opportunity to explain the Dreamscape Gap to the four.

  Their reactions were understandably astonished; the concept of a dream world was astounding; even though they were accidentally involved, the sense of discovery was intense.

  Aspirin, after pondering, said, “The dream world! I’ve heard of it! It’s a Dreamland legend, dating back to the era of the forty-four pillar gods. After death, life and death are separated by a dream; only after passing through the dream can one rest peacefully.”

  He looked at Elise excitedly. “So Dreamland legends are based on something real!”

  Elise remained silent. “I will help you wake up from this dream. Death here will result in real death; be cautious.”

  “Speaking of which, the Miracle intensity here seems to be somewhat amplified. It’s not Dreamland level, but much higher than Planet Blue,” Aspirin suddenly recalled.

  They tested this and found it to be true; the intensity was at least 50-60% of Dreamland's, quite substantial.

  “Is this a characteristic of the dream world?” Yang asked.

  Elise and Mithra remained silent.

  Elise didn’t understand; she didn’t even know Miracles.

  Mithra didn’t feel any difference compared to her previous dream entries; she hadn’t been affected.

  “Can we use our life locks here?” Ke Yen suddenly asked.

  This was crucial, but unfortunately, Elise knew nothing about the Enchanting Land and couldn't answer. They couldn’t test it immediately and had to put that question aside.

  They refocused on their main objective.

  “To leave the dream, we need to find the dream weaver…difficult. This village isn’t large, but it’s not small either; there are several families,” Aspirin mused.

  “And these villagers won’t cooperate. Does the dream weaver have any distinguishing features? Otherwise, we’re completely at a loss,” Na Fei sighed.

  “Wait, killing the dream weaver lets us leave, without other conditions…should we kill everyone in the village?” Aspirin suddenly suggested.

  “Mas…massacre?” Ke Yen stared, speechless.

  Killing everyone in the village was excessive, even in Dreamland, let alone Planet Blue.

  “This is Planet Blue…no, this is a dream,” Yang said uneasily.

  “Even in a dream, this is real. There are many families, women, and children; are you sure you can do that?” Na Fei asked Aspirin.

  Aspirin fell silent. “…Let’s stick to the basics. If we don’t find another way, we’ll have no choice.”

  “If you confirm your course of action, you don’t need to act yourselves; I can do it; it’s part of my duty,” Elise said calmly.

  Silence fell.

  “Miss, don’t tempt us; let’s reconsider,” Aspirin said wryly.

  “Direct action isn’t without risk. This dream is currently stable, but forcibly disrupting its logic will reveal its true nature; we might face greater challenges and dangers,” Elise explained.

  “That makes sense,” Ke Yen whispered.

  Mithra remained silent, not participating in the discussion.

  She looked towards the sky; the snow was falling faster, the sky darker; visibility was severely reduced.

  Fortunately, a building was visible in the distance.

  “Huh? Someone? Are they bringing food?” Ke Yen aimed her camera.

  A figure stood silently in the snow and wind.

  “Who told you to wander around?! Get back here immediately! I have to deliver supplies in this terrible weather! And you’re not even there!” The wind carried the familiar shout.

  “Ugh, coming, coming!” Ke Yen grumbled. As they were about to approach, Yang suddenly recalled their previous strange encounter.

  “Wait!” He stopped the streamers, then called out, “Blizzard! There seems to be a hidden path here; it’s hard to get through; can you help us?”

  The three streamers looked puzzled.

  Yang’s call received no response; the figure remained motionless.

  They realized something was wrong.

  Na Fei immediately unleashed an Illumination Miracle, shining a beam through the wind and snow. When the light fell upon the figure…there was nothing there!

  No one!

  The three streamers were stunned.

  Mithra kicked up a patch of snow and dashed to the side.

  They belatedly turned to see a bizarre figure that had appeared beside them, moving with unnatural speed and unnatural movements.

  It was intercepted by Mithra.

  Mithra pulled the Xyrin Great Maul from beneath her robe and struck the figure.

  With a sharp, dull thud—a familiar sensation—the snow shattered.

  “What was that?!” Ke Yen exclaimed, frightened.

  “Playing tricks,” Yang muttered, recalling Mithra’s earlier words.

  The three streamers recalled Yang’s earlier statement.

  “Highly intelligent cursed entities? Really?! No, they only existed later; there shouldn’t have been cursed entities here twenty years ago!” Aspirin was confused.

  “This is a dream; anything is possible,” Na Fei pointed out.

  The incident wasn’t over.

  A continuous rustling sound echoed from the surrounding snow.

  They looked around; the snow seemed to have come alive; something was moving rapidly beneath the surface, approaching them.

  Everyone prepared to defend themselves.

  Shuffling—

  The snow around them suddenly rose; several icy branches, shaped like flowers, lunged at them.

  As they extended, a flash of blades sliced through them, neatly severing the branches and flowers, reducing them to harmless, soft snow that fell to the ground.

  Elise drew twin blades, swiftly scanning her surroundings, moving lightly and swiftly.

  She began pursuing the moving snow.

  BOOM!

  While Elise hunted, Mithra, wielding the Xyrin Great Maul, charged into the snow.

  Frozen Distortion took effect.

  Her body temperature rapidly decreased, spreading a chilling Low Temperature. The flying snow seemed to be swept up by her movement, becoming her escort.

  A moving “icy blizzard” formed, rapidly approaching the creatures moving beneath the snow.

  Her limbs stiff, she raised the Great Maul.

  CRASH!

  A dull roar echoed through the darkness and blizzard.

  Under Frozen Distortion, the Reinforce Body effect was gradually suppressed by the Low Temperature, but simultaneously, the inherent ability’s physical enhancement increased with the Low Temperature.

  Even with a frozen body and limited movement, terrifying power was unleashed.

  A large hole was torn in the snow, revealing fresh earth below.

  With the explosion, the movement beneath the snow ceased; only the wind remained.

  Yang and the three streamers were stunned; Elise calmly returned to their side. “Heavy snow; return to your rooms tonight.”

  She was spotless, not a single hair out of place.

  “Mithra…” Yang said.

  “I’m here.”

  Slow footsteps approached; a figure stumbled closer.

  The recent events made them tense.

  However, when the figure drew closer, Mithra, wielding the Xyrin Great Maul, emerged into the light, easing their anxiety.

  Mithra’s body was mostly covered in frost, nearly frozen solid.

  As she approached, a chilling aura enveloped them.

  Mithra stopped at a safe distance. “Let’s call it a night. Elise and I will go back; be careful; ignore anything that happens tonight.”

  Frozen Distortion ended automatically when she stopped moving, but her body temperature and the surrounding chill needed time to recover.

  Rustling—

  Yang looked towards the sound and saw a detail crack on Mithra’s arm, holding the hammer; a deep gash appeared on her forearm.

  “Mithra…” Yang began, but Mithra turned and left; Elise followed, their pace slow but swift; they quickly vanished into the blizzard.

  …Was that an ice Miracle?

  The three streamers were speechless.

  Both Mithra and Elise had been incredibly forceful.

  They hadn’t reacted in time, but even if they had, they likely wouldn’t have performed better.

  Their inability to react was mainly because Mithra and Elise had ended the encounter so quickly.

  ...

  “Ms. Passerby always brings new things, but she seems to enjoy destroying her body,” Elise commented, observing the wound on Mithra’s arm.

  The attacks hadn't harmed Mithra under Frozen Distortion; she'd inflicted the damage herself.

  “Just a test. Running constantly is risky; I might shatter or become an unbreakable ice statue. The temperature drops much faster in this environment; I need to control it,” Mithra casually retracted the hammer, examining her frostbitten arm.

  With a little effort, she could snap it off.

  Typical of her bosses: great power, brutal cost.

  “So, Ms. Passerby, what are your plans regarding this dream?” Elise, ignoring this, asked about Mithra’s intentions.

  Although there were more people this time, her duty was to guide all dream intruders.

  But since Mithra possessed the charm, she was primarily responsible to Mithra.

  “Well…let’s try teaching first. We’ll prepare teaching materials later tonight; we can’t embarrass ourselves in front of the children,” Mithra said casually.

  “…We?”

  “Of course. Professor Elise, we’re a team.”

  ...

  The next day, in their makeshift classroom, the three teachers reviewed their teaching materials.

  “We’ll divide these subjects among ourselves; I’ll assist. Miss Elise, do you need help?” Although Mithra and Elise had prepared the lesson plans with Zheng Zhan's guidance last night, they confirmed everything before class.

  Mithra was fine, but Elise worried Zheng Zhan.

  Elise looked at the materials with the curiosity of a child.

  Her translator could handle Planet Blue’s language, but having someone unfamiliar with the subject teach was problematic.

  “…No problem,” Elise glanced at Mithra before answering Zheng Zhan.

  Although she suspected Mithra’s intentions weren’t entirely good, it wasn’t a major issue; preparing and teaching children wasn't difficult.

  Sparse footsteps approached; the courtyard door opened; the children arrived.

  There were fewer than expected; many arrived furtively.

  Mithra noted that the children came alone, unaccompanied by parents.

  Although the village was small, it wasn’t unusual for the children to walk alone, but it was likely due to the villagers’ reluctance to interact with Zheng Zhan.

  “Teacher!” A familiar voice called out; a girl quickly ran to Zheng Zhan through the snow.

  “Yang Xue, these are the new teachers,” Zheng Zhan softened his tone, gently patting the girl’s head.

  “She brought us here yesterday,” Mithra gestured towards Yang Xue, acknowledging her.

  “Priest, and Nun!” Yang Xue pointed at Mithra and Elise, smiling. “The new teachers!”

  Following Yang Xue’s lead, the other children, initially hesitant due to Mithra and Elise’s unfamiliar faces, approached.

  Perhaps because of Zheng Zhan’s stoicism, the children didn’t resist Mithra and Elise’s reserved expressions.

  Elise looked uncomfortable, while Mithra greeted the children easily, quickly building rapport.

  Only seven children arrived. Zheng Zhan waited, then asked a child, “Isn’t Yang Qi coming today?”

  The relaxed atmosphere tightened; a child whispered, “Yang Qi…he said he doesn’t want to study.”

  “Why? He said he wanted to study hard and go to the outside world,” Yang Xue asked.

  “His parents said no; there’s nothing we can do. Adults say grown-ups have to worry about things…My mom always says we can’t leave; outsiders look down on mountain people…” a girl said, pouting.

  “Alright, let’s begin class,” Zheng Zhan sighed, clapping to gain their attention.

  He had discussed this with Mithra.

  The church’s work wasn’t going well; initially, many children attended, but now, only a handful remained.

  He could only do his best.

  “I’ll study hard and go to the outside world!” Yang Xue, the most energetic and optimistic child, remained unaffected by her surroundings.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “Yes, do your best; I support you,” Zheng Zhan looked at Yang Xue; a barely perceptible smile touched his lips before vanishing.

  The lessons began.

  Three teachers instructing seven students was relaxed; the children were well-behaved.

  The children’s foundations were strong, thanks to Zheng Zhan; Mithra and Elise, even as "PPT-only" teachers, were sufficient.

  At lunchtime, Zheng Zhan cooked for the children. He was responsible not only for teaching but also for preparing their lunches.

  Supplies were delivered periodically, though increasingly less frequently; sometimes, there was only enough for the children, not Zheng Zhan.

  Zheng Zhan would find a way.

  “If it’s insufficient, I’ll buy more when I occasionally go down the mountain,” Zheng Zhan said, his expression unchanged.

  “Have you considered reporting this?”

  “Too far; the outside world is chaotic; who would care about this remote area?” Zheng Zhan said flatly.

  “You’re amazing,” Mithra took a bite of Zheng Zhan’s cooking. It wasn’t fancy, simple fare, but palatable.

  “Just doing what I can; the children can’t choose their circumstances,” Zheng Zhan replied.

  The afternoon class was short; the children soon left for home.

  Saying goodbye to each child, it was clear they enjoyed attending class.

  Yang Xue lingered. “Teacher, Priest, and Nun! See you tomorrow!”

  After the children left, Mithra and Elise went outside.

  While the role-playing in this peaceful dream was enjoyable, their primary objective couldn't be forgotten; this village had many suspicious aspects.

  They went to Yang and the streamers' room.

  Only Yang was there; the three streamers were absent.

  “Just you?” Mithra surveyed the room, noticing signs of a fire.

  Yang said awkwardly, “They said I was too weak and wandering outside was unsafe; they left me here.”

  “They’re right,” Mithra said.

  Yang was about to argue when sounds came from outside; the three streamers returned.

  “Huh? Mithra, you’re here. Any findings?” Aspirin asked.

  Mithra recalled her day, filled with teaching materials. “None.”

  Aspirin looked disappointed, but quickly said, “We tried exploring the west; the east has too few villagers; they’re mostly in the west.”

  “While we didn’t dare get close for fear of being discovered, I saw villagers moving snow towards a specific location,” Ke Yen said, handing Mithra her camera.

  Mithra reviewed the footage; the streamers had attempted to leave the village, encountering a white mist that seemed to mark the dream's boundary, but their curiosity led them to explore further.

  They discovered the dream's scope extended beyond the village, encompassing a large area of the snowy mountains.

  They returned to the village.

  Snowwind Village had many houses, but all were sealed shut; rarely were people seen in the east.

  They avoided confrontation and headed towards the west, near a ravine.

  Mithra examined the footage; as they approached the mountainside, the buildings seemed denser due to the elevation changes.

  On a cleared path, many figures could be seen carrying large sacks of snow towards the ravine.

  “Something’s definitely wrong!” Ke Yen stated confidently.

  Na Fei said, “Based on what we know from twenty years later, the team that cultivated the Snow Flower Demon was hidden here. This might be a trace.”

  “Or it could be a local custom. We need to investigate further. What do you say, Mithra? Want to go?” Aspirin finally revealed his true intentions.

  They had experienced danger the previous night; this village wasn’t as peaceful as it seemed.

  Although confident in their abilities, they were wary of the unknown; they knew Mithra and Elise’s strength and hoped for their assistance.

  Mithra didn’t answer, continuing to watch the footage.

  After discovering the problem, the three streamers discussed it and returned.

  However, in the rapidly changing footage…

  Mithra paused the video.

  In the snow, a pristine white flower appeared; upon closer inspection, bright blue eyes opened within its stamen.

  “You’ve been discovered,” Mithra stated.

  Bang!

  The moment she spoke, something struck Na Fei at the window.

  Na Fei quickly turned.

  She saw a large, unnerving eye staring directly at her through the glass, inches away.

  Na Fei quickly retreated, her face paling with fright.

  It was a flower; its stamen was an eye; its intertwined petals formed a humanoid shape. Seeing Na Fei flee, it stumbled away from the window.

  Aspirin and Ke Yen rushed outside; as they exited, several white branches lashed out.

  They used Miracles to defend themselves, far less awkwardly than yesterday's ambush.

  Mithra and Elise followed them out.

  “The same type of flower-like branches from under the snow yesterday; they are impurities within this dream,” Elise stated.

  “Right.” Mithra raised her hand; the Abhorrence staff appeared, Ignite clinging to it.

  Swish!

  As the branches entangled the two streamers, a fiery whip struck, instantly reducing the branches and flower to scattered snowflakes.

  The two streamers turned, surprised, seeing Mithra’s staff.

  Most online followers of Mithra recognized this weapon—her signature transforming staff, used in her previous “lucky” encounters.

  But the moment the branches were destroyed…

  Bang!

  A gunshot echoed.

  Mithra swiftly turned, her staff transforming into a blade, slicing the bullet in two.

  “Stay here,” she told Elise, pointing her staff at the ground.

  Enlightened Step activated; she vanished instantly.

  The hunter swiftly turned to flee, but before he could take a step, he lost his balance and fell.

  His leg snapped.

  “Ah…!” Before he could scream, a foot landed on his head, forcing it into the snow, muffling his cries.

  “Due to personal reasons, I dislike being shot at,” Mithra’s other foot pressed down, her full weight on him.

  “Ugh…” The hunter, his head buried in the snow, struggled to breathe.

  Only when his struggles weakened did Mithra slightly lift her foot, allowing him to gasp for air.

  “Spare me! Spare me! I’m possessed!” He begged for mercy.

  Mithra squatted, looking down. “Convenient timing. Tell me about this village. What are you doing?”

  “I…I don’t know…”

  Swish!

  Mithra casually created an ice spear with Ice Creation and stabbed him in the buttock.

  As he tried to scream, Mithra pressed his head down again.

  After a moment, she released him.

  “…I…I don’t know…It’s the village elder and Yang Lao Da…They arrange everything…I’m just a hunter…Spare me…”

  “What about those snow monsters?”

  “…After their arrival, those things frequently appear…but they usually don’t attack us…I don’t know anything else…That’s all I know!”

  Mithra nodded, standing and stepping away.

  The hunter finally breathed a sigh of relief.

  But looking up, he saw Mithra raise her foot and stomp down.

  Crunch!

  Mithra crushed the hunter's head.

  Blood and other fluids splattered onto Mithra's robe; the Maw promptly extended its tongue.

  Because of the extreme cold, the Maw reduced its activity to avoid freezing its tongue.

  After licking the blood from Mithra’s robe and consuming the corpse, the Maw quickly retracted, like someone rushing to the toilet in the winter and quickly returning to bed.

  Afterward, Mithra didn’t return but looked in another direction.

  Someone was there.

  The person didn’t hide but walked out.

  It was Zheng Zhan.

  “It’s only the first day,” Mithra said.

  “Yes, the first day, and I witnessed my new colleague crush someone’s head and then use tentacles to consume and clean the remains,” Zheng Zhan said impassively.

  “You didn’t run?”

  “Couldn’t escape. You appeared beside him and subdued him instantly. I’m not skilled in physical combat; I didn’t bother resisting,” Zheng Zhan replied.

  “Why are you here?” Mithra asked, changing the subject.

  “After school, I usually take a walk. I saw him rushing this way with his gun; it wasn’t his usual hunting time, so I suspected something was wrong…He shot at you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then your retaliation isn’t surprising,” Zheng Zhan said calmly.

  “Killing him isn’t important; Professor Zheng, did you hear my questions?”

  “Yes. Investigating this village…is that why you’re here?” Zheng Zhan nodded and asked Mithra.

  “Yes.”

  “….” Zheng Zhan paused briefly. “Then I can help you with the village’s anomalies.”

  “You have information?”

  “Yes, quite a bit,” Zheng Zhan said slowly.

  ...

  Returning to the small room, everyone was waiting; they immediately questioned her about the gunshot. Mithra recounted the hunter's story.

  “That damn fool!” Yang exclaimed angrily.

  “Let’s slow down the investigation. This village is heavily surveilled; your actions might have been noticed,” Mithra said, ignoring what she’d consumed.

  Aspirin frowned. “So we’ve alerted them; we haven’t reached the ultimate boundary; this is just a warning.”

  “Those flower monsters are similar to the cursed entities from twenty years later, but there are differences. They move silently in the snow; we can’t use our full strength; outside action is too risky,” Na Fei said.

  Having been frightened by them repeatedly, she planned to avoid snowy regions for the next few years.

  “Most importantly, we don’t know the date within this dream. I tried to find out, but the date is vague due to the dream; we only know it’s winter. We don’t know how close we are to the Snow Flower Demon incident; if it’s imminent, it would be very disadvantageous,” Aspirin added.

  If the Snow Flower Demon incident erupted before they found the dream weaver and the opportunity to break the dream's logic, they would face a "real Wandering God" within the dream's logic.

  Although Mithra and Elise were powerful, they didn't believe they could confront a Wandering God directly.

  The Snow Flower Demon incident was undoubtedly a life-or-death situation; encountering it would likely be fatal.

  Critically, they didn’t know how close they were to that event.

  A conservative approach might be safer, but it could also lead to failure.

  “We definitely can’t approach the west again. Each time you’ve investigated the west, you’ve been threatened; twice now; a third time, we can’t predict the consequences,” Yang said.

  They could only nod in agreement.

  Complete passivity was unacceptable, but reckless action was equally unwise. If several of those snow monsters attacked, even with full effort, they would struggle to overcome them.

  After their discussion, Mithra and Elise took their leave.

  If the four were being watched, she couldn't stay close.

  Mithra suspected she was being watched closely as well.

  Returning, Mithra considered how to quickly and efficiently clear the village.

  Then, she heard children crying and shouting.

  Following the sounds, they found several older children playing noisily by a small pond. Yang Xue was emerging from the icy water, crying and trying to get out.

  Each time she tried, the other children pushed her back in.

  “Why are you doing this!” Yang Xue cried.

  “That’s how we treat outsiders! If you want to go to the outside world, you’re an outsider!” a child said.

  “Isn’t the outside world better? Seeing the outside world will make the village better!” Yang Xue said, confused and upset.

  “Why are you worrying about that? You should be getting married soon! My grandma says if you run off like this, your parents will be alone! The village will be empty! You’re stupid; you believe anything those outsiders say!” a girl scolded her.

  As Yang Xue tried to climb out and the children prepared to push her back,

  Mithra kicked the child who had pushed Yang Xue into the water.

  “Ah!” The child screamed; the others didn't help him; they were frightened by Mithra.

  Mithra stepped into the water, ignoring the cold, and pulled Yang Xue out.

  Then, she used Ignite on her.

  Using the embers to dry her off was a luxury.

  “Teacher Priest…” Yang Xue, nearly frozen, instinctively called out.

  “Yes,” Mithra replied casually.

  The embers quickly dried Yang Xue and Mithra; Mithra set Yang Xue down, who was reluctant to let go, finding the teacher priest warm.

  “Teacher Priest, you’re on fire!” She exclaimed, noticing the flames on Mithra.

  “It’s fine,” Mithra patted herself; the flames extinguished.

  “Amazing! Is that a Miracle from the outside world?!” Yang Xue’s eyes sparkled.

  Mithra nodded.

  “With this Miracle, everyone can stay warm! They said the outside world is bad. If we don’t go outside, we can’t learn such amazing things!” Yang Xue, her earlier tears seemingly feigned, became spirited.

  The child who had been kicked into the water ran away, shivering.

  “Do your best,” Mithra encouraged her casually.

  Yang Xue cheerfully waved goodbye, her earlier dejection gone; Mithra's fire had ignited her dreams of the outside world.

  “She’s a remarkable child,” Elise commented, watching Yang Xue leave.

  Mithra didn’t respond, turning towards the school.

  Elise sighed inwardly.

  However wonderful, it was only a dream from twenty years ago.

  ...

  Back at the school, Zheng Zhan had been waiting.

  Dusk had fallen; the fire and candles were the only light sources.

  “Here to see what information you’ve found,” Mithra said, entering.

  Zheng Zhan put down the assignment he was grading and turned to face her.

  “Before we discuss this, Father Mithra, if you knew the full truth behind Snowwind Village, how would you handle it?”

  “The quickest and simplest solution,” Mithra replied immediately.

  “What if you discovered that the entire village was being used as hostages? What would you do then?” Zheng Zhan’s voice was heavy; perhaps due to the shadows cast by the firelight, his expression appeared troubled.

  “It’s none of my concern,” Mithra responded without hesitation.

  “So, your purpose is to simply eliminate everything in this village; is that correct?” Zheng Zhan asked.

  “I don’t want to assign myself a specific mission; if that’s how you understand it, then so be it.”

  Zheng Zhan nodded, understanding; his gaze drifted to the small window; the blizzard raged outside.

  “I’ve been teaching here for a while and noticed some problems; I tried investigating, but I’m just a church teacher; I can’t confront the hidden forces. Although I know Miracles, I can only defend myself. Considering the cost of killing me, after several probes, they stopped attacking me, allowing me to stay here peacefully.”

  “Didn't you consider seeking outside help?”

  “When I realized the hidden forces behind this village, I did consider it, but they quickly noticed. They warned me before I went down the mountain,” Zheng Zhan said calmly.

  “If I left, they’d follow me. If I acted strangely, they’d have time to retreat and eliminate Snowwind Village before outside help arrived.”

  Considering this, Mithra pondered. “If they’ve been here for a long time, they won’t abandon it easily.”

  Zheng Zhan nodded, then shook his head. “Perhaps, but I can’t risk the children.”

  Unexpectedly, Zheng Zhan wasn’t foolish; he knew there was a problem but remained passive; he was likely constrained.

  The children were his priority.

  “And…” Zheng Zhan hesitated, then continued. “They’ve seen through me, and they offered me a tempting deal—”

  “If I ignore the village’s situation, after they’ve achieved their goals, they’ll release me; I can do whatever I want…and…I can take anyone I want from the village.”

  Zheng Zhan fell silent after speaking.

  His expression was unchanged, but Mithra sensed his frustration and despair.

  A very tempting offer.

  Zheng Zhan hadn’t acted rashly primarily to protect the children.

  The hidden group used the children to control Zheng Zhan, but offered to guarantee their safety after completing their objectives. While Zheng Zhan lacked control and couldn’t be certain of their promise, he had limited options.

  Even if he successfully contacted the outside world, he couldn't guarantee his report would be taken seriously or whether insufficient information would lead to misjudgments and more casualties.

  Reckless action, if discovered, wouldn't concern those responsible, but Snowwind Village would likely be eradicated.

  By inaction, ignoring their actions, he could at least ensure the children's safety.

  For a normal person, this wasn't a choice.

  “So, you’re telling us this now?” Mithra asked.

  “Because this is a village, they haven’t constantly monitored me. And they’ve likely assessed you. How many times have you been observed since entering the village?”

  “Twice.”

  “That’s about right. After assessing your strength, they’ll likely approach you soon, then decide your fate based on the conversation.”

  “You’ve seen this many times?”

  “Over the past two years, besides you, there have been three other groups, seven people in total. I advised them, but it only increased their curiosity; they persisted, provoking those behind the scenes and were killed.”

  Mithra realized something. “Your presence this afternoon was to advise them.”

  “Although those four didn’t seem receptive, I still tried,” Zheng Zhan didn’t deny it.

  “Have you considered joining forces with others, increasing your strength, and confronting those behind this?” Mithra asked.

  Zheng Zhan paused, then sighed. “I dare not.”

  Having been threatened for two years, Zheng Zhan was likely weary.

  Direct confrontation seemed less reliable than seeking outside help.

  Silence fell; Mithra and Zheng Zhan faced each other.

  “It seems my initial answer wasn’t satisfactory,” Mithra broke the silence.

  Mithra didn't share those concerns; regardless of how realistic this dream was, it was still a dream. Yang and the three streamers might hesitate to resort to a massacre.

  For Mithra, however, a massacre was a viable option.

  Her only concern was that if she acted rashly without quickly breaking the dream's logic, the “dream Snow Flower Demon” could appear at full power, even without external influence.

  That was why she hadn’t acted.

  Would Zheng Zhan oppose her if she insisted?

  “No,” Zheng Zhan replied. “I’ve been waiting for someone like you—powerful and decisive.”

  Mithra was surprised.

  Zheng Zhan continued, “If you were like me, telling you all this would only add another victim; it wouldn’t change anything.”

  “But you wouldn’t hesitate; decisive action is the only chance here.”

  Even if Zheng Zhan’s emotions had constrained him twenty years ago, his reason had led him to this conclusion.

  “You have a plan,” Mithra said.

  “Over the past two years, I’ve made many attempts. Fortunately, the surveillance wasn’t perfect; I found opportunities to leak information,” Zheng Zhan said, changing the subject.

  “So you’ve already contacted outside help?” Mithra raised an eyebrow.

  It turned out that Zheng Zhan hadn't been entirely passive; he hadn't given up on resistance.

  “Yes, but I couldn’t provide detailed information about the village, so I worried about misjudgment from the outside. And the recent blizzard has hampered communication; I don’t know when help will arrive. But it should be within the next few days; I need more certainty,” Zheng Zhan said flatly, looking directly at Mithra.

  Clearly, Mithra’s sudden arrival was the certainty he sought.

  Mithra looked at Zheng Zhan, recalling descriptions of the Snowwind Village incident from twenty years ago.

  The criminal organization’s exposure led to Hope City's swift response, allowing them to eliminate the Snow Flower Demon before it could spread to the city.

  So, the exposure of the hidden forces in this remote village was due to Zheng Zhan’s actions?

  After a brief thought, Mithra replied, “Very well. If necessary, I’ll kill everyone.”

  ...

  The next day, life at the school continued as usual.

  Elise quickly adapted, teaching effectively and requiring minimal assistance from Zheng Zhan.

  Mithra took over lunchtime cooking.

  To Zheng Zhan's surprise, Mithra was an adept cook; her communal meal was better than his.

  “Father Mithra, do you often cook for many people?” Zheng Zhan asked while assisting.

  “I’m from a rural area; my grandfather was often hired to cook for village events; I learned from him,” Mithra replied casually.

  “Valuable experience,” Zheng Zhan nodded.

  “But I don’t like cooking; I never took over my grandfather’s business; it’s atrophied since I went to the city, but I haven’t forgotten completely,” Mithra said, lifting the pot. “Call the children for dinner.”

  The children didn't notice any difference; the improved cooking wasn't noticeable; Zheng Zhan’s cooking wasn’t bad.

  After the afternoon class, Mithra and Elise remained at the school; they didn't plan on moving around, signaling calmness to the hidden force. Zheng Zhan, however, went out.

  His earlier statement about taking a walk after school wasn’t a lie.

  Even for him, the small room felt confining.

  However, during his walk, he encountered someone.

  Yang.

  Zheng Zhan found it strange that Yang had sensed the situation. While he hadn’t entirely trusted Mithra’s explanation, he still found it odd.

  Zheng Zhan couldn’t quite understand the strangeness; Yang had looked familiar, yet he didn’t recognize him.

  Zheng Zhan remained wary of Yang.

  “Professor Zheng…” Yang was surprised to encounter Zheng Zhan, then greeted him hesitantly.

  He instinctively called him Professor, then remembered this wasn’t his stern professor, but he also thought that this person was a teacher too.

  “Hello. What are you doing alone?” Feeling a sense of unease, Zheng Zhan remained polite, nodding and asking.

  “Uh, my relationship with the others isn't great. They didn't take me when they went out; I had nothing to do in my room, so I came for a walk,” Yang said, somewhat dejected.

  He was a genius at university, but his obsession with trivial matters had hindered his graduation, becoming a source of ridicule.

  Yet, he believed he could achieve great things if he could make a breakthrough.

  The “breakthrough” didn't come; facing three famous streamers, he felt powerless; his skills and knowledge were inferior, especially compared to “Half an Aspirin,” whose composure made Yang feel inadequate.

  As for Mithra?

  After witnessing a glimpse of Mithra's power, he'd given up on comparing himself.

  Zheng Zhan examined Yang carefully. “You sensed my believer status; your perceptive abilities are exceptional; don’t underestimate yourself.”

  This made Yang even more embarrassed.

  Suddenly, Yang recalled something, staring at Zheng Zhan. Seeing Zheng Zhan’s puzzled expression, he said, “Professor Zheng, you seem to know ice Miracles? Uh, I sensed it; I’m also an ice Miracle believer.”

  Although he was embarrassed, Yang’s sharp mind was working.

  Even if this was Zheng Zhan from twenty years ago, he was undoubtedly far more talented; perhaps he had already mastered Miracles, and Yang could learn from him.

  “You?”

  “Yes, me.”

  “Proficient isn't quite right. I’m not focused on Miracles; knowing them is enough. After leaving the church, I’ll likely return to teaching at a school—elementary or middle school. Younger students are easier to manage,” Zheng Zhan replied unexpectedly.

  “That’s…impossible,” Yang instinctively protested, then stopped himself.

  He was a top ice Miracle believer and researcher; why did he want to teach elementary or middle school?

  And those schools didn't have Miracle courses; wouldn’t Zheng Zhan’s Miracle skills be wasted?

  “Why not?” Zheng Zhan found Yang’s surprised reaction unusual.

  “You’re so young, your senses are so sharp; your Miracle skills are exceptional; you’re a super genius; why would you waste yourself like this?” Even knowing this was a dream, Yang instinctively tried to dissuade Zheng Zhan.

  “Soft-heartedness leads to ruin; I couldn’t even protect my students…what use is a genius?” Zheng Zhan’s voice was strained.

  Yang was stunned.

  He didn't understand, but he’d never seen Zheng Zhan express such intense emotion.

  “As for you, you’re young, your ice Miracle skills are passable; train hard to become a powerful believer,” Zheng Zhan shifted the topic to Yang.

  Yang froze.

  He knew Zheng Zhan knew something because of precognition, but Zheng Zhan's assessment of Yang twenty years ago was based on his senses alone.

  “I! I want to learn from you…” Yang remembered his purpose.

  Zheng Zhan looked at him strangely, then nodded. “Alright. I haven’t used my skills in a long time; I might be rusty.”

  ...

  Thump!

  Yang fell to the ground, his body covered in shivering frost.

  A crushing defeat!

  Although he’d anticipated it, the reality was devastating.

  He couldn't even defeat Zheng Zhan, who was younger than him twenty years ago! The difference was enormous!

  Anyone who called him a genius again would be wrong; compared to Zheng Zhan, he was utterly outclassed.

  Zheng Zhan withdrew his hand, looking puzzled. “Your Miracle application is impressive; your Low Temperature, freezing speed, and range far exceed mine. But…your control is nonexistent. You let the Miracle rage uncontrolled; it’s unbelievable.”

  “Uh, my control is really bad,” Yang mumbled, pulled up by Zheng Zhan.

  “Do you even control your Miracles? It’s fine now, but if you become stronger and reach Clarity, without controlling the Miracles imprinted on your body, you’ll suffer severe consequences. Didn’t your teachers teach you this?” Zheng Zhan said seriously.

  Yang was even more embarrassed.

  He’d been taught this countless times, but ignored it all.

  “You…weren’t trying to let the Miracle grow naturally, experimenting with something, were you?” Zheng Zhan seemed to realize something.

  Yang was shocked.

  He’d been seen through.

  Seeing this, Zheng Zhan knew he was right. “The lack of Miracle control is unusual; I had to consider this possibility. People have experienced uncontrolled Miracle changes, awakening unique symbols, but they were lucky, mostly driven by self-interest. Why did you think you’d be lucky?”

  Zheng Zhan, accustomed to teaching, fell into a lecturing tone.

  Yang, naturally, felt no resentment.

  He even felt a sense of déjà vu; Professor Zheng had said something similar before.

  “I…wanted to understand death…” Yang said shamefacedly.

  “Death?”

  Yang paused, took a deep breath, and said, “I’m also a mountain child. My village wasn’t as isolated as Snowwind Village, but it wasn’t large; everyone lived peaceful lives. I never wanted to leave; I wanted to inherit my father’s carpentry business, marry, and settle down. But the village was buried by an avalanche. Few survived; my father survived but was injured; he’s in a vegetative state.”

  “You want powerful strength for revenge? That doesn’t require death…” Zheng Zhan showed some emotion but still tried to dissuade him.

  “Those enemies are unique; they might not be powerful, but they’re difficult to kill completely. Many are researching how to eliminate them; using the power of death is one approach…I want to contribute,” Yang said, his eyes slightly reddened, though he didn’t cry.

  He hadn’t cried in a long time; although this was an excuse, the scene might have stirred his memories of Snowwind Village.

  Zheng Zhan remained silent.

  He was only in his twenties; although mature and experienced, he was still affected.

  “Professor Zheng, teach me death ice Miracles!” Yang said earnestly.

  He thought Zheng Zhan wouldn’t refuse.

  However, Zheng Zhan looked puzzled. “Huh? I don’t know death Miracles.”

  Yang: ???

  He was stunned.

  He hadn’t considered that Zheng Zhan might not have mastered death Miracles yet.

Recommended Popular Novels