By the time Xue Ji returned to school, the students of No. 3 High had already undergone three days of training and had begun mastering their abilities—at least enough to protect themselves from the impending danger.
Xue Ji walked into the classroom as if nothing had happened, but the others were too tense to even notice her arrival.
Shen Dai, lost in thought, instinctively glanced at Xue Ji’s seat and realized she had somehow returned unnoticed. Xue Ji was casually greeting the classmates around her. Shen Dai felt an inexplicable sense of relief, but something told her Xue Ji shouldn’t have come back now.
Walking over to Xue Ji’s desk, Shen Dai spoke slowly, “Xue Ji, didn’t you check the class group chat?”
Xue Ji blinked. “Ah, sorry, Class President. I just woke up last night—what’s happened these past few days?” She genuinely had no idea about the school’s situation, having spent the previous night strategizing for the upcoming operation.
Seeing her clueless expression, Shen Dai couldn’t hold back. “The school’s about to become a battlefield! You shouldn’t be here!”
The students around Xue Ji chimed in one after another.
Her best friend, Zhao Cheng, added, “Yeah, Ji… er, Ji-jie, you had an accident during your awakening. Rumor has it your ability has some nasty side effects.”
Warmth spread through Xue Ji’s chest. In her past life, she had been a background presence in class, with Zhao Cheng as her only close friend. Yet now, despite their own fear, they were all worried about her safety first.
The student behind her urged, “Plus, Xue Ji, you missed the basic training. You really shouldn’t stay here.”
Everyone was practically pushing her to leave.
Zhao Cheng placed his gaming phone on her desk, reluctantly saying, “Ji-jie, take care of my account for me.”
The mood was so dramatic that Xue Ji felt it’d be rude not to leave.
She quickly explained, “My ability is really strong—you guys need me.”
They all nodded, clearly not buying it.
And just like that, she found herself escorted to the school gates by Shen Dai and a few others.
This well-meaning misunderstanding only strengthened Xue Ji’s resolve. Watching them wave goodbye, she thought, This time, no one will die.
Once outside, she whistled, summoning Ling Xiaoxiao, who had been circling overhead. “I’ll take your deal,” Xue Ji said. “Help me protect them.”
Ling Xiaoxiao’s voice was smug. “Told you you’d agree. Don’t forget my condition, though.”
Xue Ji’s heartbeat quickened at the memory of last night’s “condition.” In exchange for Ling Xiaoxiao’s help… she had to sleep with her.
What kind of absurd request was that? Not that she minded—if a beauty made such a demand, who’d refuse? But in her current body, the idea was ridiculous. If anything, she was the one at risk of being devoured. Shaking off those thoughts, Xue Ji sighed. “I’m still a man inside. You’re really okay with this?”
Ling Xiaoxiao smiled, fluttering into Xue Ji’s arms. “Xiao Xue is Xiao Xue. No matter what form you take, you’re still you to me.”
The words stirred something in Xue Ji’s heart, making it skip a beat. Ever since taking Ling Xiaoxiao in, she’d always been the passive one in their relationship. Had she really rescued a homeless girl… or had she been ensnared by someone with ulterior motives? Now, she knew—it was definitely the latter.
Ling Xiaoxiao had calculated this from the start. She knew Xue Ji would never abandon her classmates to danger. With that leverage, she was confident Xue Ji would come to her willingly—though she’d never resort to such underhanded tactics again.
“Go on,” Ling Xiaoxiao said, fluttering away. “They’ve been waiting for you.”
At the school’s back gate, the usual security guard was gone. In his place stood three figures: a man codenamed Blade, along with two others. As Xue Ji approached, Blade tossed her a set of gear—her combat uniform. The black-and-red windbreaker and tactical pants looked sleek.
“Change into this. We move out soon,” Blade ordered.
Without a word, Xue Ji scanned the team before leaving to suit up. The sniper, codenamed Hawkeye, was uncharacteristically serious, silently checking his gear without looking up. The quiet woman with healing abilities maintained her gentle smile—apparently, she was like this even with teammates.
When Xue Ji returned, Blade gave a quick briefing before they set off. The plan was simple: while Chen Shijie’s forces lured the enemy out from underground, their squad would infiltrate and execute the decapitation strike.
According to intel from bio-mechanical scouts, the rat swarm’s leader had reached Tier-5 Mutant Beast levels. These creatures had evolved rapidly due to early exposure to spiritual energy resurgence. High Command’s orders were clear: eliminate it now, before it grows stronger.
An hour later, an explosion marked the start of the battle. Chen Shijie directed armed forces to suppress the mutated rats swarming from the school’s exits. These crimson-eyed beasts defied conventional logic, charging forward mindlessly, like a tidal wave of flesh and claws.
Thanks to prior preparations, the Rotfang Beasts could only emerge from the cafeteria. Students and soldiers surrounded the lone exit, holding the line—for now.
Meanwhile, Xue Ji’s team had already infiltrated the underground, advancing toward their target. The female teammate warned, “Keep your gas masks and goggles secure. There’s an unknown virus down here.”
As they pressed forward, Hawkeye signaled a halt at a corner. Using tactical hand signs, he warned of enemies lurking above. Blade tossed a sonic disruption grenade around the bend. Seconds later, heavy thuds echoed as massive creatures dropped from the ceiling, screeching before charging.
In the damp darkness, pairs of blood-red eyes lunged at the squad, now ten meters back. These beasts were the size of large dogs—their evolution rate was alarmingly fast.
No time to think. Gunfire and sonic grenades pinned the creatures five meters away. Conventional bullets barely scratched them, leaving only shallow dents.
Seizing the opening, Blade drew his short sword. As the beasts staggered, he closed the gap in a flash. Steel gleamed—three heads hit the ground. But their black blood was corrosive, forcing him back.
The remaining three pounced, claws reeking of decay. Blade couldn’t retreat fast enough—until gunshots rang out. Bullets pierced their eyes, crippling them. Blade finished the job, cleanly decapitating them.
The synergy between Blade and Hawkeye was flawless. Their abilities—C-Rank Slash Enhancement and Death’s Eye—were tailor-made for this mission: one crippled, the other executed. No wonder they’d been assigned the decapitation strike.
Wiping black blood off his blade, Blade motioned to advance. But he missed the slender, bipedal rat mutant hiding in the shadows.
Xue Ji’s pupils contracted. “Get down—NOW!”
A whip-like claw shot from the sewage ditch—a meter-long blade aimed at Blade’s throat. Even Hawkeye’s reflexes weren’t fast enough.
“Torrent Barrier!”
Water erupted from Xue Ji’s palms, forming a shield around Blade. The claw struck—and froze mid-air, trapped inches from his neck.
For the first time, even the unshakable Blade broke a cold sweat.