Chapter Seventy-Three: Qin Jing, We Are Going With You

Qin Jing naturally wasn’t so bored as to want to humiliate Hu Chaoyang. In his perception, Hu Chaoyang grew stronger the more they fought; later on, relying on sheer quantity of magical power, Hu even seemed to gradually suppress Qin Jing’s spiritual energy. After all, Hu had already stepped into the ranks of the extraordinary, while Qin had purposely held back his advancement. The gap of a full rank was significant.

So Qin Jing decisively withdrew, letting Alchemy No.1 handle the situation. As for the fact that he was beginning to lose to Hu Chaoyang in the end, Qin Jing didn’t care; GPD’s role was in commercial services, and his own ambition was to be a great merchant. Fighting and killing could never compare to the joys of a good life.

“Qin Jing, is Hu Chaoyang dead? Did he become a ghost?”

Yan Yizhen looked at Qin Jing, feeling as though this man had suddenly become a stranger. The scene she had just witnessed was far too shocking for ordinary people. The others quickly gathered as well. Hu Chaoyang was dead, but outside the tent, a lingering ghostly aura still terrified them.

“He’s not a ghost—he found his own opportunity and became an extraordinary being.”

A sudden voice rang out. Qin Jing found it familiar and looked up to see Zhang Wei, Yan Yizhen’s close friend, walking in with a grave expression.

“Zhang Wei?” Yan Yizhen was astonished. She and Zhang Wei had always been close, so much so that many joked they were childhood sweethearts. Zhang Wei had always shown an interest in her, but now he seemed to be hiding something as well.

Zhang Wei offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Yizhen. I’ve only recently become involved in this circle. According to the extraordinary, the world changed a year ago; many with talent are awakening supernatural powers. I think Hu Chaoyang was one of them—he awakened but was unfortunate enough to encounter Qin Jing.”

He looked at Qin Jing and smiled. “If I’m not mistaken, you’re extraordinary too, aren’t you?”

Qin Jing neither confirmed nor denied this, but asked in return, “Since you knew what was happening, why didn’t you step forward just now?”

A hush fell over the group.

Yes, if Zhang Wei had witnessed everything and was also extraordinary, why hadn’t he stepped in to save them?

In truth, Zhang Wei’s inaction was selfish, but as long as no one mentioned it, it would have passed without notice. Yet Qin Jing had exposed him, and Zhang Wei’s face instantly darkened.

This was the price of showing off: why should you only appear after the fight, acting as if you know everything and are here to explain it all?

Qin Jing thought to himself.

Indeed, he was petty. Returning to campus, he’d done so with the pride of “coming home in glory.” When Chen Hua first arrived, Qin Jing had felt a secret pleasure: See how well I’m doing now? Do you regret breaking up with me?

“Ahem, Hu Chaoyang seemed to have cultivated some evil path; his magical power was too strong. I admit, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat him.”

Zhang Wei offered an awkward explanation, then hurriedly said to Yan Yizhen, “Yizhen, things aren’t safe outside. It seems Hu Chaoyang wasn’t the only one acting in the school tonight. Come with me—my family has sent someone to pick me up. He’s a mighty expert and can definitely keep us safe.”

At that moment, Tian Qin spoke up, “Zhang Wei, are you only taking Yizhen?”

“Uh…”

A large bead of sweat rolled down Zhang Wei’s forehead. That truly was his intention. Though he had only just entered the world of the extraordinary, he already felt changed and looked down a bit on ordinary people. But he couldn’t say that aloud here.

“Of course not. We’re all classmates; I came to bring everyone. Qin Jing, will you come with us?”

He glanced at Qin Jing. Qin Jing seemed dangerous, but perhaps having him along as a human shield wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Throughout this, no one noticed Alchemy No.1—not even Zhang Wei. In his eyes, Alchemy No.1 didn’t exist. He’d merely sensed Qin Jing’s strength during the fight and that he’d somehow won.

As a product of the mythic world, Alchemy No.1 should have been a myth-tier existence. Though its “artificial soul” had been stripped, lowering it to extraordinary level nine, that was still immensely powerful. Alchemy No.1 could wield all manner of complex magical arts and wondrous effects. Its main programmed abilities were magical illusions and alchemical witchcraft.

Magical illusion, as the name implied, was the power to create hallucinations and block others’ perception. In Alchemy No.1’s programming, this ability was fixed at extraordinary level nine.

No one answered Zhang Wei’s suggestion. When Hu Chaoyang appeared, everyone had been terrified, and in their most desperate moment, it was Qin Jing who saved them. Now, almost every eye turned toward Qin Jing.

Even Chen Hua, the former school beauty and Qin Jing’s ex-girlfriend, stepped forward and said, “Qin Jing, is it really that dangerous outside? Can we go with you?”

Her face was still pale, tinged with fear. She had only come here to compete for affection, but now found herself caught up in calamity, her world upended. In her panic and confusion, the person she’d once been so close to—Qin Jing—had appeared, displaying unimaginable strength and shattering the monstrous ghost.

As a woman, in that moment, Chen Hua made up her mind: I want to get back together with Qin Jing.

She voiced what everyone else was thinking. Only Yan Yizhen frowned slightly, sensing Chen Hua’s deep cunning. By speaking for everyone, Qin Jing would be forced to agree, and even Yan Yizhen had no grounds to object—for she too wanted to follow Qin Jing, not the belated Zhang Wei.

Witnessing this, Zhang Wei felt a surge of jealousy and blurted out, “Qin Jing, the Cold Sea Supervisory Committee has also sent people. Are you sure you want to take responsibility for so many classmates? If something goes wrong…”

The Spirit Energy Supervisory Committee was the official organization in this era of spiritual resurgence, with branches everywhere. As an official body, it wielded tremendous power. Zhang Wei’s words were clearly an attempt to use the committee’s authority to pressure Qin Jing.

If Qin Jing were reckless and retorted against the committee, he’d make an enemy of them. Unfortunately for Zhang Wei, Qin Jing was not so foolish.

Qin Jing gave Zhang Wei a long look, then explained the role of the committee to the others. “Let’s go find the committee first. The officials will ensure everyone’s safety. Zhang Wei, weren’t you going to lead everyone? I’ll leave them in your care; take them to the committee. Is that all right?”

Zhang Wei was taken aback. “And you?”

He instinctively felt that leading such a large group was a hassle, and that Qin Jing was dumping the responsibility on him. His question came out a bit sharply.