Sitting in the second row of the classroom, Yan Yu, who had also noticed Yan Qi—now transformed into the female emperor Daoyan—standing at the classroom door, couldn’t help but show a hint of surprise upon hearing the homeroom teacher’s words.
Realizing that Yan Qi had come all this way to find her, there must be something extremely important going on.
Without overthinking it, Yan Yu immediately stood up from her seat and addressed the teacher.
“Teacher, I’m here.”
Spotting Yan Yu rising from the second row, the homeroom teacher quickly said,
“Ah, Yan Yu, there you are. Hurry and go with Miss Daoyan so you don’t hold things up.”
“Okay.”
After responding, Yan Yu shot a glance at Xu Ziqi, who was sitting beside her. Understanding her intention, Xu Ziqi promptly shifted aside, allowing Yan Yu to leave her seat and meet Yan Qi at the door.
Seeing her sister standing before her, Yan Qi felt a little guilty about interrupting the class. She quickly apologized to the teacher in a remorseful tone.
“I’m really sorry for disturbing your lesson, Teacher.”
“No need to apologize, Miss Daoyan. Please take Yan Yu outside to discuss your important matter.”
“Thank you. Yan Yu, come with me.”
“Mm.”
After exchanging a few words at the door, Yan Qi quickly led her sister away from the classroom and toward a nearby pavilion meant for resting.
Watching the stunning beauty—Yan Qi in the form of Empress Daoyan—leave with Yan Yu, the students, unwilling to let her go just like that and eager for a deeper interaction, began rising from their seats, ready to chase after her.
Even if they couldn’t speak to her, they at least wanted to leave some impression on her, to make sure she remembered that someone like them existed in this world.
But before these students could take a single step, the homeroom teacher—who had been all smiles toward Yan Qi just moments ago—shot them a frigid glare from the podium.
Recognizing the warning in that look, the students immediately lost their nerve, quietly sitting back down without daring to utter a word.
Seeing her students finally settled back into their seats after her silent reprimand, the previously irate teacher’s expression softened.
She then picked up her chalk and continued the day’s lesson as if Yan Qi’s appearance had been nothing more than an illusion.
…..
“Daoyan, what’s the urgent matter you wanted to discuss with me?”
Once they reached the pavilion, Yan Yu looked at Yan Qi curiously.
In response to her sister’s question, Yan Qi didn’t hold back and quickly explained.
“Yan Yu, here’s the situation.”
As Yan Qi elaborated, Yan Yu finally understood why she had come looking for her—and the grave crisis now looming over their city, Ninghang. Her face paled slightly at the revelation.
Still, despite Yan Qi’s clear explanation, Yan Yu found it hard to believe. She looked at her sister and asked,
“Daoyan, are you serious? Is Ninghang really surrounded by over twenty Flesh Blooms right now?”
Yan Qi nodded.
“It’s true. The city is completely encircled by more than twenty Flesh Blooms.”
“How could this happen…”
“Let’s not dwell on that. Do you remember the plan I mentioned earlier?”
“I remember, but why do we have to wait for the Anomaly Bureau to evacuate the civilians near the black barriers before taking action? Why not just go in now and destroy them?”
Having learned about the nature of the black barriers created by Flesh Blooms during a casual conversation with Yan Qi the night before, Yan Yu knew that battles inside the barriers before the Flesh Blooms fully bloomed wouldn’t affect the real world.
Confused by Yan Qi’s cautious approach, she pressed further.
Yan Qi thought for a moment before answering.
“Because the situation we’re facing now is completely different from usual.”
Armed with a six-star follower transformation card, Yan Yu found the Flesh Blooms trivial to deal with. She frowned.
“How is it different? There are just more of them this time.”
“Exactly because there are so many that I’m being this cautious.”
“Just because of that?”
“Just because of that.”
Still not grasping why an increased number of Flesh Blooms posed such a problem, Yan Yu pressed on.
“Can you explain your reasoning in detail?”
Instead of answering directly, Yan Qi posed a question in return.
“Yan Yu, how many Flesh Blooms do you think can naturally grow near a single city at the same time?”
Unfamiliar with this information, Yan Yu thought for a moment before replying.
“Hmm… probably around the same number as what’s surrounding Ninghang now?”
Yan Qi shook her head, rejecting her sister’s answer.
Surprised but trusting Yan Qi’s judgment, Yan Yu asked,
“Then how many can actually grow near a city at once?”
Yan Qi raised her right hand and held up two fingers.
“Two? That few? But you said there are over twenty around Ninghang right now. Does that mean… they weren’t naturally grown, but deliberately planted?”
Lowering her hand, Yan Qi replied seriously,
“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m implying.”
“But can Flesh Blooms—things connected to the Abyss—really be controlled by people?”
“Normal humans and even supernatural beings couldn’t do it. But for cultists? That’s a different story.”