Era of Magic and Martial Arts

Chapter 384 - 368: When a Century’s Heights Lie Down

82% of the lamp bases in Upper City lit up, the great artificial sunlight streaming through the tall campus trees, casting onto the wide playground, the grand scene of the Martial Arts Joint Examination dazzling the eye.

The fighting ring was set up in the center of the campus, surrounded by excited students.

Students from various colleges wore brightly colored Martial Arts attire, their expressions tense yet excited, as if the air was filled with the explosive scent of conflict and competition.

Various well-dressed dignitaries came as guests to observe, cameras surrounded them like long guns and short cannons.

There were also many student parents, the Arresting Bureau and Patrol Office blended into the crowd in plain clothes, sharing in the festive excitement.

The entire Eighth Academy seemed to be enveloped in an atmosphere of enthusiasm, vigor, and positivity.

The girls’ dormitory was filled with an oppressive atmosphere.

Xiaojuan’s bed was empty, the blanket folded neatly, as if she’d never slept there.

Li You stood by the bed, her fingers trembling slightly as she touched Xiaojuan’s pillow, feeling cold inside.

"Where exactly did Xiaojuan go last night?"

Cuicui sat on her bed, her brow furrowed, her tone tinged with a hint of unease.

Li You didn’t answer, her gaze drifted toward Feng Yuhuai.

Feng Yuhuai was sitting at the mirror brushing her hair, her long locks like a waterfall, exuding an ethereal elegance.

Her expression was calm, yet there was a faint sadness between her brows, seemingly troubled by where Xiaojuan had gone.

"Yuhuai, do you think something happened to Xiaojuan, like what happened to Yazhi...?"

Cuicui suddenly asked, her voice trembling a little.

Feng Yuhuai put down the comb and turned around, a hint of concern in her eyes:

"We searched the dorm building thoroughly; even though we didn’t find Xiaojuan, we didn’t find any bloodstains either, so let’s not scare ourselves. Xiaojuan might have had something to do at night and went out, just didn’t have time to tell us."

Feng Yuhuai tried to comfort Cuicui, but the worry on Cuicui’s face did not lessen at all, she sighed helplessly:

"How about I accompany you to ask the counselor?"

Li You stood quietly beside them, only changing her shoes before following them out when they left.

minutes later.

The counselor sat behind the desk, hands folded, knuckles pale.

The counselor answered calmly:

"I understand, you don’t need to worry, there was a matter at Xiaojuan’s home, she went back last night."

Li You’s pupils trembled violently, her lips pressed into a ghastly-white line, even her breathing seemed to stop.

Last night’s memories flooded back like a tide, she pinched her palm subconsciously, the sharp pain reminding her she wasn’t seeing ghosts.

Though usually carefree and bold, Cuicui displayed a starkly different sensitivity, shaking her head:

"Impossible, I asked the dorm auntie, she didn’t get up to open the door last night, besides, I checked Xiaojuan’s closet, she couldn’t have gone out in her pajamas in the dead of night, right?"

The atmosphere in the office abruptly turned gloomy, the air seemed to freeze.

The counselor’s face darkened suddenly, inexplicably icy.

He stared coldly at Xiaojuan, "Do you think the teacher is lying to you?"

"I... I didn’t mean it like that!"

Cuicui couldn’t help speaking, her voice trembling, as if she had summoned great courage,

"I’m just worried about Xiaojuan...after all, the killer who murdered Yazhi might still be hidden in the school..."

"Enough!"

The counselor interrupted Cuicui sharply, his tone unquestionable:

"The school will handle this, don’t ask more questions, and don’t go around spreading rumors. Especially now, with the martial arts competition ongoing, no chaos can occur."

After a pause, the counselor looked at Feng Yuhuai, his tone softened slightly as he advised:

"Feng Yuhuai, since you’ve managed to reach the finals, seize every moment to prepare, don’t get involved with their nonsense, this is your rare opportunity, understand?"

He then looked at the seemingly defiant Cuicui, snorting coldly:

"And you, you were eliminated in the second round of the martial arts exam this time, go back and train hard, don’t get caught up in idle thoughts, or you might get dropped from the martial arts honors class during final exams."

Cuicui’s eyes widened, flashing with stubbornness and anger, she opened her mouth to retort.

Li You behind her grabbed her wrist, gently shaking her head.

Cuicui felt suffocated, unable to vent, she clenched her teeth, forcibly swallowing her retort.

She was unwilling but helplessly allowed Li You to lead her out of the office.

Feng Yuhuai remained silent, her footsteps were almost inaudible.

She lowered her head, long black hair like a curtain hiding half her face, her expression concealed in shadow, unclear.

She didn’t speak up or express any opinion, just quietly followed behind them, as if a quietly silent shadow.

As they approached the stairwell, Feng Yuhuai slightly turned her head to look back.

She saw the counselor clutching a thick folder, quickly stepping out of the office, his expression somewhat hurried, his brows slightly furrowing, as if pondering something.

His steps were rushed, the soles scraping against the tiles producing subtle friction sounds, particularly piercing in the quiet corridor.

Feng Yuhuai watched as his figure vanished behind the adjacent dean’s office door, which he shut with a dull "clack."

She withdrew her gaze, slightly tilted her head, then a faint, elusive smile curved her lips.

The dean’s office windows were tightly shut, the air conditioner emitting a low hum, cold air mixed with the worn scent of the mahogany desk.

The counselor stood before the desk, succinctly reporting the matter.

After listening, the dean remained expressionless, leisurely removing his gold-rimmed glasses.

His action was slow, producing a delicate friction sound like a blade scraping bone as the frame crossed his temples.

"Another one."

The dean breathed onto the lenses, the cloth dragging out a sticky rasp as he wiped the surface,

"This is the fourth one in the past couple of days."

The counselor’s Adam’s apple moved: "What?"

The dean coughed lightly, putting his glasses back on, his eyes behind the lenses resembling foggy deep pools:

"Nothing, I mean you handled it well, if students come asking again, just say the same."

The counselor nodded, hesitated briefly, then lowered his voice further: "Students are easy to handle, but with the parents..."

"Just say they were held back to prepare for the Martial Arts Tournament."

The dean interrupted,

"Even a clumsy excuse will do, as long as it drags through these couple of days, let the Martial Arts Joint Examination conclude smoothly."

The counselor understood, nodding, but still had a bit of worry:

The counselor understood but remained somewhat worried, his voice barely audible:

"If that’s the case, then for the missing students..."

The dean raised a hand to stop him, then stood up, walking to the window, and drew the heavy curtains.

"Sunlight" poured in, yet couldn’t dispel the chill indoors.

He gazed at the stone monument standing before the teaching building, engraved with the school’s founding date.

Festive banners fluttered in the wind, the red fabrics flapping against the monument, the gilded letters "Eighth Academy" shining brightly.

Only the shadow of the monument stretched long, as if a century’s height lay stretched down, silently enveloping the entire campus.

......