Starry Sky Professional

The blade's momentum cuts through the air, striking the small, black-clad figure heavily and sending him flying once again. A clear sound of bones cracking echoes through the space.

"This person... isn't actually strong! And there's no one assisting him... are they underestimating me?"

"Did he think a nano-suit could save him? But I've almost shaken him to death..."

"What a pity. If I had brought the Qinghong Sword with me, I could have pierced through his nano-suit with a single swing..."

"Hmm? Wait... something’s not right!"

At this moment between life and death, the small, black-clad figure displays tremendous resolve—or perhaps tenacity might be the better word—his experience with taking hits is remarkably abundant, knowing how to dissipate forces in a variety of ways.

"He... he seems like..."

Fang Xing's fingers, poised as if to draw a sword, pause for a moment.

Subsequently...

The small, black-clad man seizes the opportunity, scrambling towards a nearby door, shouting hoarsely, "For the Gate!"

He pulls the door open and rushes inside.

When Fang Xing follows him through, he discovers only an ordinary small compartment, with no trace of the black-clad figure to be found.

He stands there, momentarily bewildered.

Shortly after, a team of Prevention Bureau operatives seals off the building while Jing Xia leads a bulldog, sniffing left and right.

"Captain!"

At this point, a team member approaches, handing over a sniper rifle.

"This is a very old model... comparing the ballistics results, it's the kind used by the Gate faction."

Holding the sniper rifle, Jing Xia looks at Fang Xing and says, "I’m sorry... it seems the Gate faction is retaliating for the last incident, I underestimated them."

"It's nothing..."

Fang Xing waves it off, recalling the moment when he was shot.

‘Something feels off... If someone were truly aiming to attack me, they wouldn’t let me sense such a dangerous presence... A real assassin should be able to conceal their killing intent, and they wouldn’t use such an old sniper rifle... If it were a laser sniper rifle, I’d be done for...’

‘That person... intentionally gave me a chance and, in the end, exposed the Gate faction... Could they be trying to warn me?’

Fang Xing was now almost certain that the small, black-clad figure was indeed Liu Wei.

For someone who mastered muscle activation like him, changing his physique was a mere trifle.

People can alter their appearance, but the instinctual reactions of the body during a crisis are unchangeable!

How should I put it? The original owner of the apartment was too familiar with Liu Wei, especially when taking hits...

‘So... he wants to warn me that the Gate faction is about to make a move against me? Wait... Could it be that Liu Wei has already joined this cult? No wonder he can't openly warn me...’

Fang Xing had long suspected something was off with Liu Wei, wanting to distance himself.

Unexpectedly, it turns out he joined the Gate faction.

Yet from today's warning, it seems Liu Wei hasn't lost his humanity.

Humans truly are the most complex creatures.

“Captain Jing Xia, have you discovered anything?”

Fang Xing, noticing Jing Xia's evident excitement, couldn't help but ask.

Woof woof!

Just then, the fierce dog also started barking vigorously at the spot where Liu Wei last disappeared, near the door.

“Interesting... I underestimated the Gate faction, and they underestimated you... Your strength forced that cult member into a desperate escape, even using teleportation technology in their flight, leaving us with coordinates...”

Jing Xia's face flushed with excitement, “If we can't seize a few hidden strongholds of the Gate faction with these clues, then we're all just useless!”

Fang Xing fell silent upon hearing this, suspecting that this might have been intentionally leaked by Liu Wei.

‘What a good brother, we clearly said we’d part ways and sever ties...’

‘Unfortunately, I am no longer who I was.’

'Plus, Liu Wei definitely messed up. He originally planned to fire just once, then discard the gun and some clues, but didn’t expect me to be so formidable, chasing him down until he was completely cornered, exposing even more... I hope I can still see him at school tomorrow...’

The following day.

At Yukai High School.

Fang Xing entered the classroom with a hint of anxiety.

Immediately, his brows furrowed slightly.

Liu Wei, who normally appeared like a fitness enthusiast, was conspicuously absent today; his seat lay empty.

Moreover, even when the teacher, Lanfei, began taking attendance, Liu Wei was still nowhere to be seen.

“Class, Liu Wei is on sick leave today. While you focus on studying hard, also remember to take care of your health...”

With this, Lanfei officially began the lesson: “The Hundred-Star Examination is approaching. I hope all of you achieve good results. Now, please open your Ethics textbook to page 57...”

Once class ended, Fang Xing left the classroom and headed towards the restroom.

There's no denying it—whether boys or girls, an affinity for gossiping and even doing other things in the restroom seems to be second nature.

After all, federal law prohibits the installation of surveillance equipment in private residences or public restrooms.

Feeling slightly disdainful, Fang Xing entered a stall, tapping open a tile on the top layer.

Behind this tile lay an inconspicuous communication device.

Judging by its erased serial number, it was likely a black-market product.

He paused briefly before activating the device, which blinked with light before a recorded video surfaced.

“A-Xing... I have to leave!”

Onscreen, Liu Wei sighed visibly: “I’m giving up on the college dream... Why? You probably recognized me yesterday. You didn't report me to the Prevention Bureau; I'm grateful for that...”

Just as easily as Fang Xing could recognize Liu Wei, Liu Wei evidently sensed something amiss with Fang Xing.

“I must tell you this: you are currently in a very dangerous situation, extremely dangerous! Since last time, the Gate faction has set their sights on you. They are keen on recruiting talented students as disciples... I tried to take on this task myself, but I couldn’t seize it...”

"It seems this refers to the incident with Guo Peipei last time... If Liu Wei was given the task, perhaps he might let me off the hook?"

Fang Xing pondered thoughtfully.

"Alright... I suppose you've guessed it by now. I've joined the Gate faction..." Liu Wei on the screen gave a self-deprecating laugh. "For this, I've gained special abilities. That's what I deserve. The Gate faction really can awaken powers within people... However, just because one has powers doesn't mean they become pawns of an evil god. I still keep my own will and have found ways to resist... From now on, I will dedicate myself to greater causes, fighting for the liberation of more bio-enhanced people! So... there's no need to find me anymore. I hope you get into the university of your dreams, old friend!"

"Liberating bio-enhanced people? Has this guy joined the Resistance? Isn't he just jumping from one hole into another?"

Fang Xing frowned. "But, it seems there are not many choices. After all, the Gate faction must have ways to control its members. Without relying on a major power, it'd be hard to resolve..."

He went over the events in his mind. It must be that Liu Wei saw no hope in the college entrance exams, joined an evil god organization, then found out they were targeting him, so he came to warn him.

Indeed, he was a true brother to the original owner!

"Alas... I'm not really myself."

"However, for Liu Wei to risk exposure to warn me... it seems the targeting against me this time is unprecedented, far greater than with Guo Peipei last time?"

"Is it the kind of situation where one slip and you'd be caught? How absurd, who have I offended?"

Fang Xing couldn't help but vent.

He knew it deep down—he was just too exceptional. Being too outstanding naturally attracts envy.

Xia Long and Lu Guangming are investors, the Gate faction aims to corrupt... essentially, there's little difference.

The key is in being valuable enough to be used!

"Still, my background is too humble. As a bio-enhanced being, I have no backing and am easy to manipulate... if I'm too brilliant, it's indeed easy to encounter all sorts of troubles."

"Haha! Feeling touched yet?"

The video continued, and Liu Wei suddenly changed his expression, winking jovially, "Don't get too emotional, I'm just helping you out in passing... I've long planned to use the Gate faction as a stepping stone to join other powerful groups... What era do you think this is? Hanging out with evil god followers has no future!"

"Lastly, I'm not sure if there are still Gate faction members in the school. Guo Peipei might not be the only one. Be careful..."

With that, the video came to a complete stop.

Fang Xing stayed silent, clenching his right hand tightly.

Layer by layer, Fang Xing's innate true energy gradually eroded the black market communication device, reducing it to a pile of powder, which he then flushed down the toilet.

With the sound of rushing water, the powder vanished completely.

“Truly... there's nothing I can do for you now. Each person must look out for themselves...”

Fang Xing sighed, returning to his classroom to continue his martial arts lesson.

...

After school.

At the riverbank.

Fang Xing aimlessly kicked at stones.

There's no denying it, Fang Xing had to admit, Liu Wei's demeanor left quite the impression on him.

Though naive, this display of brotherly camaraderie was genuine.

This only made Fang Xing feel more uncomfortable, as he was not truly the original owner of his current body.

'Another debt of gratitude. I must remember to repay it someday.'

He quietly reminded himself.

Throughout his journey so far, although largely reliant on his own efforts, he had benefitted from the support of the school principal and Xia Long, whom he knew he would eventually need to repay.

Not to mention his use of Gu Yun, and now Liu Wei's warning...

'Unknowingly, have I become entangled with so many ties and obligations here? Have I truly blended into this universe?'

Fang Xing murmured inwardly.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, his gaze shifted as he noticed Bai Lianyi, a classmate, wearing a floral white dress, entering a bridge's underpass.

'Why isn't she going home after school? What's she doing under the bridge? Is she working an extra job? Shouldn't she be in the wealthy district?'

‘I've heard that once wealthy people grow bored of everything, they enjoy the thrill of outdoor adventures... It’s not easy doing this kind of work, is it?’

Fang Xing sighed inwardly, feeling a mix of curiosity and doubt.

What he failed to notice was that the surveillance cameras, which once monitored the entire street, had started flickering for unknown reasons. It was as if they were malfunctioning suddenly...

]

(End of Chapter)