Tang Xunan held Lu Yan's fingers tightly. Lu Yan didn't keep pets, but he unexpectedly welcomed stray animals. Every time he passed by the hospital's flower bed, three or four cats would gather around, rubbing against his legs.
Out of mimicking human behavior, Lu Yan had tried stroking the chin or head of the stray cats. Each time, the cats would joyfully expose their bellies, some even affectionately licking his fingers.
The cats' tongues had thorns. Lu Yan hadn't expected Tang Xunan's mouth to have them too, causing an itching sensation when he licked his fingertips.
Tang Xunan's golden pupils focused. The breath of time emanated from him, entwining and withering the vines that tightly bound him, turning into the ashes of vegetation.
Even someone as slow as a banyan tree realized something was amiss. "Aren't you a believer?! How could this be?" It spoke with shock. "You clearly bear the mark of the true lord!"
Lu Yan replied, "Honestly, our true lord has long desired to become the king of all pollutants. But there are too many advanced pollutants in this world that hinder its plans. So, my lord collaborated with humans and signed the 'Peaceful Coexistence Treaty'—you're just the first step in its exclusion of dissidents."
The enraged banyan tree exclaimed, "He learned betrayal just like those hideous humans!"
Raising its long branches, it moved to strike Lu Yan. However, before it could get close, a flash of light cut it off. Red sap sprayed from the severed tree branch.
Tang Xunan spread dragon wings, shielding Lu Yan. "Keep your distance, hide. But don't leave my sight."
It was too dangerous for Lu Yan here. Staying put meant a high chance of being affected. The mark of the true lord had lost its effect. But venturing too far might invite attacks from other pollutants.
In the Pollution Disease Prevention and Control Center of City P, they finally received a long-awaited distress signal. The sheer volume in just these two days was staggering. Many distress signals even came from assistants.
Two A-class Harbingers stationed in City P immediately took action, entering the botanical garden to assist in evacuating students. Numerous pollutants had escaped from the garden. Although the contamination level was only three to four thousand, the sheer number was still troublesome.
Lu Yan had chosen a hiding spot for himself—a small pond. Tested with a detector, it had no pollutants. The pond was just the right size for him to swim in.
Water flowed in and out of his gills at the side of his head, no different from breathing air. Plus, the natural water here tasted much better than the headquarters' tap water.
At the system's insistence, Lu Yan peeked out from the pond, observing the distant battle.
"See how others fight, then look at you."
Tang Xunan's fighting style resembled a CG movie filled with violent aesthetics. The banyan tree was massive, its life remarkably resilient.
Countless roots emerged from the soil, dark and obviously toxic, with sharp thorns at their ends. It couldn't believe that this human, with a mutation level of 97, dared to use his talents so unrestrainedly!
But Tang Xunan dared. Branches were relentlessly sliced off, green leaves fell, wilting into yellow mud within half a minute.
The banyan tree roared, "You forced me!"
Its roots extended deeper than most had anticipated. Almost the entire City P was within its grasp.
Originally, it didn't want to resort to this final weapon. When it was still a tree, despite the unwise, ugly humans carving love on it, the garden staff used to water and care for it, and it rather liked that.
But Tang Xunan's strikes were deadly. The power of time attached to his blade drained the tree's vitality continuously.
Having gained wisdom and life with such difficulty, it didn't want to die.
City P shook as if in an earthquake. In the middle of the road, stubborn roots rose, breaking through the asphalt. Like living entities, they seized the nearest passerby.
"Talent - Life Absorption."
This ordinary person swiftly became part of the banyan tree, clinging to the trunk like dry bark.
"What... What is this?!" The passerby covered their mouth, screaming and fleeing in panic.
The ground cracked, buildings collapsed. Several speeding cars collided, cries echoing everywhere.
A researcher standing atop a tall building stared at it all, suddenly looking bewildered.
"Professor, is this the future we hoped for?"
He leaped off the building.
The dying banyan tree suddenly surged with vitality. Tang Xunan, sensing something, wore a grim expression. "You despicable," he muttered, and his blade ignited a translucent yellow flame, a power known as Dragon's Breath. But it had been a while since Tang Xunan had used this ability. The last time he did, it plunged him into a violent aftermath—a nightmare he refused to recall.
The blade struck the trunk, a collision echoing like metal on stone. A portion of the tree evaporated into thin air due to the intense heat. Tang Xunan, sweating profusely, reached for a sedative from his uniform's inner pocket, then lit a cigarette.
The banyan tree oozed red sap, its visage contorted in fury. "False deity! You vile pollutant! Betraying us to ally with humans! My spores will spread this news across the world with the wind!"
The tree crashed down. In the botanical garden, mushrooms burst, releasing a dense flurry of white spores that swept like a sudden downpour across rivers and mountains. Post-explosion, all mushrooms in the garden withered instantly.
In the distant dream realm, the slumbering deity sneezed inexplicably. The sound of a helicopter overhead reached them. Amidst the blood-red vision, a humanoid figure approached—Lu Yan. Yet, Tang Xunan, of all people, didn't want to see him right now. He held the blade defensively. "Stay back," he growled. "Please, stay away."
This operation and final exercise turned out more brutal than anticipated. 29 trainees died, 11 severely injured. 3 teaching assistants perished. One senior researcher committed suicide. Over 700 casualties in City P, with 1300 injured. Subject 07 vanished.
Clearly, a hidden issue disrupted the process. Headquarters fumed, summoning Gong Weibin, the current director of the First Institute, for an interrogation. Investigations were ongoing.
Lu Yan hadn't seen Tang Xunan since returning to Yanjing; the latter was probably writing a report. In total, Lu Yan gained 537 student points, equating to 53,700 contribution points. A windfall, but at a grave cost.
To prevent emotional triggers, HQ canceled the graduation ceremony in favor of a memorial service. On a Saturday afternoon, Lu Yan prepared to return to his hometown, K City, dragging a suitcase. Zhou Qiming mentioned being in Yanjing and offered to pick him up.
As Lu Yan waited for the transport, Tang, the instructor he hadn't seen in a while, stepped out of another car. In early July's scorching weather, Tang remained in his impeccably neat black uniform, the silver cross on his tie unwavering.
Approaching Lu Yan, Tang asked, "Heading back to K City?"
Lu Yan simply replied, "Yeah." After all, getting a Yanjing residence permit was quite a task.
He still had to go to the Magic City to buy a school district house for Director Hu's grandson. The atmosphere became somewhat silent for a moment. After not seeing each other for over a week, the hot-headedness had cooled down.
Lu Yan admitted to having some inappropriate thoughts about Tang Xunan, but only towards the one who would hum and obediently curl up his tail – not this distant man who seemed to create distance even from meters away.
Now, Tang Xunan was probably never going to be like he was at 19, wrapping his tail around him and snuggling up in his arms.
Lu Yan suddenly asked, "Did the things in the dream really happen?"
Tang Xunan lowered his eyes and softly replied, "They did happen, just without you in reality."
It was regrettable. The intense pain after the transplant surgery was taken as fear of being seen as a monster. In the real world, he had endured it all alone.
"How did Professor Qiao end up?"
"His lover saved him, and at the critical moment, it was also Professor Qiao who saved me."
Otherwise, he might have been sentenced to death by vote. Tang Xunan knew when to keep silent.
Lu Yan thought for a moment and said, "I'll keep it confidential."
"I..." Tang Xunan wanted to say something more, but suddenly, a loud honk sounded from the street side.
Lu Yan turned his head and saw Zhou Qiming driving a pink convertible, honking wildly on the street.
"Yan Yan! I'm here to pick you up!"
After saying that, Zhou Qiming waved his big hand, holding up a banner with red letters on a white background: [Congratulations to my husband Lu Yan for graduating with the highest score].
Behind him, detectives and Chen Shier simultaneously released colorful ribbons, creating a cheerful and festive atmosphere.
Lu Yan: "..."
System: [Haha, it seems like your first love ended before it even began.]
Tang Xunan usually didn't show much emotion, but this time, a hint of astonishment appeared on his face. He looked at Lu Yan, seeking an answer, but Lu Yan just avoided his gaze as if trying to escape.
Tang Xunan wasn't naive; he had already figured out the answer. So, he tightened the knife in his hand, lips pursed, and said, "...I still have work, won't be seeing you off."
After that, without waiting for Lu Yan's response, he turned and left hastily, like a fleeing soldier.
System: [It was supposed to be a movie for three, yet I can't even get the names...]
"Shut up," Lu Yan muttered with some annoyance.
After all, what happened in the dream was all false.
[Dreams might be false, but the emotions are real.] The system sighed, [I've heard dragons have two tails. Don't you want to try?]
"I absolutely don't want to, thank you," Lu Yan replied expressionlessly. "And there aren't two, that's just a rumor."
The system's tone suddenly became shocked: [Why do you know more about it than I do?!]
Lu Yan didn't answer it but walked toward Zhou Qiming, asking, "What are you doing?"
He was pointing at the word "husband" on the banner.
"Over there," Zhou Qiming replied confidently, "sisters call each other husbands! Should I call you my wife? That works too."
Lu Yan: "..."
He felt like hitting someone.
"Is there a problem?"
Lu Yan: "...No."
Zhou Qiming gallantly opened the car door. "Let's go, big bro, I'll treat you to dinner! By the way, who were you talking to just now? Looked tall and handsome."
After saying that, Zhou Qiming instinctively looked at the top of Lu Yan's head. Because of his talent for the virtual world, in his world, everyone had titles that could be seen when they got close enough.
After a moment, he couldn't help but take off his sunglasses and exclaimed, "What the heck have you been up to during this training?!"
The title above Lu Yan's head could change at any time, but usually, there was only one.
This time, Lu Yan surprisingly had two titles, one of which was the highest-rarity gold title!
[Master of Taming Dragons]
[Exterminator of Cults (Novice)]
Last time, Zhou Qiming had seen a golden title in Yanjing headquarters, when he brushed past Tang Xunan.
Zhou Qiming pondered for a moment. Tang Xunan's title seemed to be... [Despair of the Black Dragon]??
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