Volume One: The Dragon's Soul Awakens Chapter 32: Beyond the Plan

“My goodness! Li Qingchi and Li Vanilla are siblings?” Mo Xing stared at the lines on the document, his hands trembling, unable to believe what he was seeing.

He recalled Li Vanilla from earlier that day: during the morning's theoretical exam, she arrived late and caused a burst of laughter among the students, seeming like a shy and unlucky soul; at noon, she received his autograph and was delighted, chirping like a little sparrow; during the evening’s team assessment, she spoke encouraging words to him, clearly a genuine fan.

All in all—

She was a good girl!

But her brother, Li Qingchi, had sought power by joining the Dark Sect, participated in the development of forbidden drugs, kidnapped Brother Mianhua as a test subject, and poisoned Shiyan!

He was nothing short of a villain, a scourge upon the world!

How could the siblings be so vastly different?

He still remembered clearly how Li Vanilla had said her brother would come to pick her up, yet after waiting for so long, he never showed.

After everything that had happened, Li Qingchi likely would never have the chance to pick her up again...

“Some villains have feelings too,”

Mo Xing turned to see President Zhang holding a thick notebook, jotting down a few words as he chatted.

“But when they cross moral boundaries and endanger others and society, no matter how much sentiment they wear, they cannot escape the law’s judgment.”

President Zhang closed the notebook and turned to Mo Xing.

“Yesterday is gone. Today is a brand new day.”

“Huh?” Mo Xing was a bit dazed. In the distance, a heavy toll rang out—the midnight bell. It truly was a new day, and the carriage he sat in was already heading toward the school hospital.

“By the way, President Zhang, how are you so amazing? You calculate every second so precisely, even knowing when the campus guards would arrive!”

“And back then, I had barely rushed over, and Li Qingchi was already defeated by you! That was only two minutes later!”

“And that move of yours—how did you melt the Copper Walls and Iron Gates of the Divine Weapon Tower? Incredible!”

“Enough! You’re asking too many questions.” President Zhang raised a hand to signal stop. Faced with Mo Xing’s barrage, anyone would feel overwhelmed.

“Uh... alright.” Mo Xing quickly closed his mouth, feeling like a nosy child who just had to get to the bottom of every mystery.

“I heard people say you’re a rather shy boy, with a slight stutter. I didn’t expect you to be so curious.” President Zhang smiled.

“Ah? Who said I was shy?” Mo Xing asked, puzzled.

“She’s met you twice, the first time she rescued you from a swarm of reporters,” President Zhang replied.

“Oh, you mean that incredibly strong woman in black! Looks like all the big names know each other!” Mo Xing suddenly realized, remembering the time in the teaching building lobby when reporters surrounded him like hungry wolves.

“She said her codename is Lemon. So, do you know her real name?” Mo Xing asked.

“Her name is Xia Ningxin,” President Zhang said calmly.

“Xia Ningxin? That name sounds so familiar.” Mo Xing rested his chin on his hand, pondering where he’d heard it before. Was it Brother Chen Anyue? Maybe Brother Cai Hong had mentioned it? Or was it Brother Mianhua? But he was still unconscious, so there was no way to ask.

“What? Xia... Xia Ningxin?”

Suddenly, Mo Xing remembered: she was the daughter of Aslant’s wealthiest magnate, a prodigy at the sixth stage of the Azure Realm, known as the Ice Queen and campus belle!

The woman in black and Xia Ningxin were one and the same!

“Then... President Zhang, what’s your full name?” Mo Xing asked. The Ice Queen, Xia Ningxin, rarely spoke more than three sentences to anyone, except for one person.

And now, President Zhang had conversed with Xia Ningxin so much—could it be...

“I am Zhang Zhihong,” President Zhang replied with a gentle smile. “And I am also your roommate.”

What? He really was Zhang Zhihong! The prodigy who entered at the second stage of the Azure Realm! The president of the Saint Sky Royal Academy Student Council! The one who defeated Li Qingchi, the villain, in just two minutes! Most importantly—

He was my roommate!

“Mo Xing, I hope we can learn from each other,” Zhang Zhihong said politely, extending his hand.

“Ah... alright, let’s help each other,” Mo Xing hurriedly shook Zhang Zhihong’s hand, thinking to himself, how could I ever teach a genius like you anything! The heavens really know how to torment people—so many shocking revelations in one night! Li Qingchi and Li Vanilla are siblings! The woman in black is Xia Ningxin! The true identity of the genius is my roommate!

My poor heart can hardly take it!

“Why are your hands shaking?” Zhang Zhihong smiled.

“No... not at all, I’m just excited to meet my roommate!” Mo Xing explained quickly, but his hands were truly trembling.

“Zhang, your battle plan was flawless, everything was predicted, simply seamless!” Mo Xing exclaimed.

“There’s no such thing as a perfect plan. In fact, there were many unpredictable factors in this operation,” Zhang Zhihong replied.

“Like what?” Mo Xing asked.

“You,” Zhang Zhihong pointed at Mo Xing. “You were the greatest unpredictable factor.”

“Me? Why?” Mo Xing scratched his head.

“You weren’t in the original plan. Someone forced you in,” Zhang Zhihong explained.

“Ah? So I was a substitute?” Mo Xing said, “I guess that’s what it means!”

“Not exactly. The task was supposed to be mine alone, but a third party got involved.”

Two hours earlier, at the school hospital.

Chen Anyue and Dr. Bai faced each other.

Three differently colored orbs floated beside Dr. Bai, and beneath his feet appeared a six-pointed star magic circle glowing with green light.

“Let’s see who teaches whom!” Dr. Bai laughed.

“Heh, since you’re not afraid of me wrecking this room, don’t blame me if I go all out!” Chen Anyue unleashed his heavy artillery from his Titan Ring.

“We must still take care of public property.”

Dr. Bai snapped his fingers crisply in the air, transforming the entire room into a monochrome barrier of black, white, and gray.

“Eternal Night!”

One of the intermediate skills for healers. It creates a void barrier based on the surrounding environment, allowing combat inside without damaging real-world objects. The higher the healer’s level, the longer the barrier lasts and the stronger its resilience.

“Interesting.”

Chen Anyue fired the Light Cannon, a high-energy laser beam shooting forward. Dr. Bai dodged quickly, while the wooden table beside him was pierced by the beam.

“Magnetic Storm Attack!”

Chen Anyue unleashed magnetic forces, attempting to pull Dr. Bai in for a fatal blow. Healers, unlike other professions, are support-based: usually only able to boost teammates, rarely fit for solo combat. Most end up as doctors or work at competitions, repairing battle-damaged arenas and healing injured athletes.

Even if he had Azure Realm-level skills, Chen Anyue believed he could handle him with ease!

“Your accuracy is lacking!” Dr. Bai snapped his fingers again, spun lightly, and teleported to another spot.

“What... how is that possible?” Chen Anyue was shocked. In his experience, healers shouldn’t have teleportation skills!

“No need to be so surprised,” Dr. Bai smiled. “There are always unexpected things.”

“As long as I wish, you simply can’t touch me.”