Chapter 658 The Enemies We Must Face
Under the arrangement of the information group, it didn’t take long for me to meet with Teaching Assistant Fu Xinglan.
We chose a venue run by their club in Ninglan New City.
Surprisingly, Tracy was also here.
It was intentional to have two people I was familiar with, both of whom became teaching assistants in the same batch as I did, meet with me, using the business card I gave out as proof.
This made me view this meeting with more seriousness.
It was highly likely a show of goodwill from the other side, but it could also mean that those who could speak with me might lead to a long and tedious topic?
However, many things could only be understood after the conversation began.
“Both of you, it’s been a while. You look quite haggard,” I remarked upon seeing them.
I instinctively sensed a hint of unease from them; my heart sense made it clear what state they were in. They couldn’t hide it from me, and thus, they couldn’t hide it from my heart sense.
“Yeah… ever since we parted last time, so much has happened. We ultimately cannot be as carefree as you,” Fu Xinglan lamented, following my lead.
Although her lament was pretended, the moment of unnaturalness upon meeting was genuine. The internal divide they recognized made them aware that they were not on the same level, even though their identities were objectively the same.
“Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, your attitude towards dealing with circumstances is indeed enviable. Unfortunately, it’s something we cannot learn,” she added.
“How can it be unlearnable? Before advancing to extraordinary, we all stand on the same level. If we set aside all the obstacles, then we would feel much lighter,” I stepped forward and said tentatively.
Although they wouldn’t actually do it just by thinking about it.
I naturally moved to the position they had prepared for me. It was clearly set up by them, with a total of three seats, meaning that when we discussed serious matters, it would only be the three of us.
“Black coffee, thank you,” I said to the attendant nearby, then turned my gaze to the main subjects.
“In the entire Witch Academy, it’s probably only you, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, who can say such things without reservation.”
“Of course, that’s my freedom,” I replied, and the attendant poured me a cup of black coffee with impressive efficiency. Maybe they knew my preferences in advance.
Coffee wasn’t particularly popular in the Witch Academy; a specially brewed sweetened version was fairly acceptable, but black coffee was an exception.
Because black coffee was often associated with staying up late, studying, and working. Witches indeed had a vibrant nightlife, but I had never seen their nightlife relying on coffee—they relied on romantic encounters.
After pouring me a cup of black coffee, the solitary attendant left, leaving just the two of them and me.
After the door closed, a barrier spell enveloped us. The barrier spell was a more advanced existence than a soundproofing spell, capable of blocking both sound and visuals, along with various magical detections. Theoretically, with some added methods, it could also block earth vein information, but clearly, they didn’t possess that capability.
“We understand about freedom, but such a word comes at too great of a cost for us,” Fu Xinglan at this point had also gathered her earlier casualness as the scene was set. With no fourth person aware, they were naturally prepared to refrain from any idle chatter.
“And such freedom for you, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, might also come at a cost,” Tracy also interjected.
“Me? What cost?” Seeing them serious, I went straight to the point. I understood that freedom required a price, and while I could grasp their intent, I wondered how it could apply to me. I shouldn’t have any cost, right?
Or should I?
“Jealousy.”
“Oh, that does seem true, but… is it not a matter of impotent rage?”
“And caution.”
“To remove it swiftly must also require corresponding measures.”
I commented on the reasons they both put forward.
“So could you please clarify a bit more? You know I’m not very good at understanding; if I misunderstand your words and create some unpleasant miscommunication, everyone will be unhappy,” I stated directly, then took a sip of coffee.
However, I was quite surprised that this cup of coffee was of a kind I hadn’t tried before. As someone practicing Five Senses Body Cultivation, my taste and smell couldn’t possibly be wrong; there were only certain types of coffee beans in the main world, differing only in preparation methods, but this one seemed to be different in its ingredients.
Perhaps it was a new variety from the Expanding Realm…
“That’s natural. I didn’t bring Teaching Assistant Xiao Han over to play the riddle game,” Fu Xinglan said, “Are you aware of the current relationship between the outside world’s families and the Extraordinary Academy?”
“I’ve understood a bit through the Earth Vein Identification Technique, so it’s fairly detailed,” I replied straightforwardly.
“Since you know, then you also understand the predicament the families are currently facing, right?”
“Dragged into the mire by the players? I’ve been planting trees in the Expanding Realm and haven’t kept up much, but I don’t think the players can cause much harm,” I continued.
“It seems Teaching Assistant Xiao Han’s knowledge indeed isn’t vast. Families are indeed dragged into a bottomless mire by the players, but not in the way you imagined. Moreover… the players are not as harmless as you think… Since we’ve brought this topic up, may I ask if we can seek an answer to a question from you?”
“Go ahead and ask.” I didn’t make any firm promises.
“Are those players related to the Witch Academy? We want to know if those players were introduced to the main world by the Witch Academy.”
“That question seems to carry no meaning for you; once suspicion arises, a crime is already established.”
“Is that a default? You truly know many things we don’t.”
“Well~ isn’t it a bit too forceful to extract an answer that way? I can only say it’s the actions of individual witches; don’t elevate it to the level of the academy as a whole.”
“I see… But as you said, debating individual actions versus those of the academy seems to have little meaning as well.”
“It seems so, but with that question over, let’s return to the main topic.” I said, after having given them some information, these guys were indeed more eloquent than I was, “Let’s discuss the troubles that freedom has brought me.”
“Sure, your freedom really stimulates the nerves of those from the families.”
“After all, you are an exception, while the outside world is a collective united front. The collective either assimilates the individual or destroys the individual.”
“So you’re saying, aren’t you part of the family too? Have I stimulated you as well?”
“I seem to be… but we see things more clearly, so we only dare admire from a distance; only those who are unaware of the consequences will feel envy and even hatred.”
“So, how does the family plan to target me?” I took another sip of coffee and inquired.
“Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, do you think only the family is targeting you? Our family isn’t foolish, especially the factions leaning toward the Witch Academy.”
“And who else? The players?” I asked with interest.
“Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, your words indicate you do not fully understand your value and capabilities. I can also see that you are completely disregarding the implications represented by useless things in your relentless pursuit of higher beings,” Fu Xinglan replied.
Even Tracy beside her had a serious expression.
“Perhaps the enemies you face are at a level higher than you expected.”
Prompted by their remarks, I quickly thought of something.
Betrayer Witch.
Or was it the Betrayer Witch of the Betrayer?
In any case, it referred to those who do not wish to see the Witch Race do well… no, perhaps they aren’t even considered kindred?
The Betrayers seem to have been made famous by the Primordial Witch.
So… reminded by them, I instantly realized!
What is the lower limit for the Betrayer Witch?
Extraordinary Witch!
What else exists on the same level as the Extraordinary?
Extraordinary Beings! Those who have advanced to the extraordinary but are not limited to just the Betrayer Witches.
Perhaps it includes Extraordinary Elves, maybe Extraordinary Holy Angels, or Extraordinary Wizards?
Yet I had always overlooked the void structure beyond the main world, and had also neglected that the main world was not solely the Witch Academy!
It seemed that upon reaching the Witch Academy, I unconsciously developed such a haughty disposition, even those less conspicuous academies had mentors who stood at the same level as Extraordinary Witches!
“The Extraordinary Academy… intends to deal with me? But they dare… oh, just hold on, let me sort this out myself.” I gestured them to wait.
After sorting through the connections, I soon identified the key point.
I had stayed too comfortably within the Witch Academy, to the point of nearly forgetting my original thoughts.
I still remembered asking Teacher Ji whether strength or knowledge was more important in the void, which essentially boiled down to whether the void was driven by logic or not.
However, it was clear that much evidence indirectly proved this was a void where power spoke, and only under absolute power and order could logic exist.
Thus, my potential was terrifying.
The level of Spirit Vision at the Floating World allowed me to grasp even a piece of Real Time, which even the extraordinary cannot touch—that was a blessing of the main world.
The two Great Spellbooks constituted my foundation.
Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, Fields, and Comprehension were all part of my potential.
The skills I had mastered, along with the crucial knowledge-sharing technique that I had not yet fully valued—these were all aspects of my capability.
Even the infrastructure such as the Wanlian Main Network Tree was built upon the order within my fields.
The Extraordinary Academy in the main world was not merely an academy; it was an extension of the will of other extraordinary races in the void within the main world, resembling a kind of base.
So… those not of my race must possess different intentions.
Stifling geniuses doesn’t seem like a difficult thing to fathom; it’s just that my surroundings had been too comfortable, causing me not to think deeply… My reliance on the Witch Academy was too entirely displayed in this regard, making me appear more naive when contemplating such issues.
Thus, my prior concerns were indeed necessary; maintaining vigilance was also crucial.
But how long had I been enrolled?
I had thought it would be unnecessary to worry about this issue for years—who would have known that such matters would come so swiftly?
At this moment, I took a deep breath, took another sip of coffee, calmed myself, and then looked at the two waiting quietly.
“Is it true that the Extraordinary Academy intends to target me? The three top academies?”
Hearing my words, the two were somewhat shocked; they hadn’t expected me to lock onto such high targets so directly, but in a sense, it didn’t seem wrong.
“It seems that after seriously examining yourself, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han has also given yourself such a high evaluation. It appears our understanding of you has indeed been too shallow.”
“Let’s just be straightforward,” Fu Xinglan said, no longer preparing to beat around the bush.
“Please speak; I will listen carefully.” I responded with anticipation.
It seemed I might have guessed too high?
But thinking that way didn’t seem wrong; after all, moving against me in the main world… no one could bear the consequences.
I possessed the Reincarnation Rebirth Spell, along with the blessing of the Soul Dream, which served as a haven for my soul. Even if my physical body died, my soul could enter the Soul Dream to hide and then revive once it was safe. Even if I couldn’t revive myself, the Academy Head could assist, after all, she had the Metamorphosis Rebirth Spell.
Unless the opposing side could strike down my body and soul together at a speed I can’t react to, but could that be possible?
I also possessed the seventh sense of Body Cultivation—the Sense of Time, which was an instinct of body cultivation; if forced to compare it with magic, it was akin to a passive skill.
“This time, those targeting you are the players.”
“Oh, that doesn’t seem unexpected; I was thinking of targeting them when they acted against me.”
“I know those players cannot pose much threat to you; after all, you can easily cut down their trump cards, which says a lot. However… those players are preparing to join forces with the families to discuss eliminating you and have stated… you must d*e.”
“From your tone, it feels as though you were there in person.”
“Yeah, at least one senior teaching assistant from my family was present at the time.”
“That’s interesting. Your presence means they invited you, right? Did you sell them out?” I couldn’t help but smile and inquire.
“After all, we know what it takes to k*ll you, so we’re not foolish.”
“But not everyone is foolish?” I probed.
“Correct. Do you need me to…”
“No need; I’m not interested in those guys, but if it’s just that, it still feels like mere skirmishes?”
“It seems that Teaching Assistant Xiao Han is very confident in your strength… but just now we did not deny the speculation you put forward,” Fu Xinglan said with a grave expression.
“So… there are influences from the Extraordinary Academy backing those players, even delivering the killing blow at a crucial moment?”
“As per our current analysis, that is the case.”
“Then I have a question—how did those players get in touch with the Extraordinary Academy?” I continued to press.
“We don’t know, as our stance is with the Witch Academy; thus, we are unaware.”
“Alright…” I sighed and didn’t delve deeper; after all, that was no longer important, was it?
“Aren’t you afraid of being isolated for sharing such important information with me?”
“Naturally we are afraid; or rather… we have already been isolated.”
“Then why do you still do this… perhaps it’s because you see this as maximizing your benefits? What do you wish to gain from me?”
“A favor—one that you are absolutely capable of providing.”
“One favor? Are you sure you want to quantify it that way?” After all, without that favor mentioned, their goodwill alone would be enough to yield endless benefits from me. However, quantifying it into a specific favor removes the depth of affection.
“Right… we need a guarantee, an absolute favor that can be counted among trump cards.”
“Betting on both sides?” I chuckled lightly.
But based on my heart sense, control of the current rhythm indicated that their intentions were sincere, though I wouldn’t just easily trust them.
“No… it’s the ember left after an ideological split. Please be cautious; those who target you will also include families that lean toward the Witch Academy. However, they won’t act directly and will leave no evidence.”
“Witches do not need evidence or reasons to eliminate bothersome flies,” I said with a smile.
“Exactly because we understand, and they do not, that’s why we gather here. We do not represent just the two of us but an entire united body.”
“Alright, I will prove you have good insight.”
“We look forward to it.”
“Oh, by the way, I want to ask another question. Where does this coffee come from?”
“Coffee? Oh, we bought it from a merchant who came to Ninglan New City. Here’s another friendly piece of information… that merchant is from outside our world.”
“Interesting, from outside the world?”
