“What the f*ck...” Qiao Jiajin exclaimed, jaw hanging open in disbelief as he pointed frantically to the spot where the old man had vanished. His hands still trembled. “Swindler Lad, did you see that? He’s like the Terminator!”

White Tiger...? Qi Xia murmured the name under his breath, a strange sensation prickling at the back of his mind. This {White Tiger}... could it really be the same {White Tiger} whose status rivaled that of the {Vermilion Bird}? The way he had vanished into thin air was nothing like an ordinary human—he was likely an {overseer}, like the Vermilion Bird.

But why had he seemed so... unhinged?

Despite his apparent role as an overseer, he seemed intent on helping Qi Xia escape this place.

As Qi Xia mulled over these ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) unsettling thoughts, Qiao Jiajin suddenly slapped him on the shoulder with enough force to nearly knock him off balance. “Swindler Lad! You’re not scared silly, are you?”

“Hm?” Qi Xia paused, brow furrowing. "Scared silly?"

“Why aren’t you surprised?!” Qiao Jiajin looked both alarmed and exhilarated. “A living Terminator, that old man! ArnOLD Schwarzenegger!” After a beat, he added with a grin, “Maybe we should call him ArnOldMAN Schwarzenegger...”

"Enough," Qi Xia cut him off with a dismissive wave. "The more you talk, the more absurd it sounds. Let’s head to the {school}."

Qiao Jiajin grumbled in reluctant agreement, throwing one last glance at the spot where the old man had disappeared. Under his breath, he muttered, “Maybe this is all some kind of movie...”

Following the map Kim Wonhun had given them, they steadily made their way toward the school. Along the way, they passed several {Earthly Branches} stationed at building entrances. While Qi Xia had seen this before, it was clearly Qiao Jiajin’s first time, and his astonishment was plain.

The last time Qi Xia had made this trip, he’d dragged his battered body for four grueling hours. Now, they arrived in less than two.

At the entrance stood two unfamiliar faces, each cautiously scanning their surroundings.

Qi Xia approached at an unhurried pace.

“Common people?” the middle-aged man asked.

“Yes,” Qi Xia nodded. “Both of us are common people, invited by Chu Tianqiu.”

The younger man considered this, then asked, “Is there someone among you named {Qi Xia}?”

“Yes, I am,” Qi Xia confirmed.

At that, the young man exchanged a quick, meaningful glance with the middle-aged one.

Qi Xia’s sharp eyes caught it immediately.

"Understood. Please follow me," the young man said, a faint smile touching his lips. Turning, he gestured for them to come along. Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin exchanged a silent look before falling in step behind him.

The young man quickened his pace, keeping a careful distance, while the middle-aged man slipped away in another direction, vanishing from sight as they moved deeper into the campus.

“What kind of elite school is this?” Qiao Jiajin exclaimed, stepping onto the synthetic basketball court with wide eyes. “Damn! Is this surface made of rubber? Must be more expensive than sand!”

Qi Xia’s gaze drifted toward the teaching building. For an instant, he caught sight of shadows watching from the windows. But the moment his eyes met theirs, the figures quickly pretended to be busy, retreating from view. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

“Something feels off,” Qi Xia murmured. “Qiao Jiajin, stay alert.”

“Stay alert?” Qiao Jiajin, carefree moments ago, instantly tensed. His expression hardened into that of a man who’d seen too many rough days. Leaning close, he whispered, “An ambush?”

“I’m not sure,” Qi Xia replied, thoughts racing. The atmosphere here felt less like a welcome and more like a setup—a {turkey shoot}.

They followed the young man into the teaching building, acutely aware they were being shadowed. Several figures trailed them, keeping a calculated distance—not too close, not too far.

Qiao Jiajin picked up on it immediately. Cracking his neck with a slow, deliberate motion, he twisted his wrist and said, “You really are something, Swindler Lad—you caught that ahead of time. We’re surrounded.”

Qi Xia’s eyes narrowed. “How many?”

“Nine,” Qiao Jiajin answered steadily. “Four behind, one ahead, two on each side.”

Qi Xia’s expression darkened. What exactly is going on here?

Was {Passage to Heaven}’s true purpose to kill? If so, why not strike the moment they arrived in the plaza, instead of luring them here?

His unease deepened.

What about Officer Li, Han Yimo, and Doctor Zhao? If they were the targets, Officer Li—trained at the police academy—wouldn’t go down easily.

In this place, only Zhang Shan and Officer Li could put up a serious fight. Zhang Shan wasn’t the type to kill without reason.

So what was the purpose of this strange encirclement? Qi Xia had no answers.

“Swindler Lad, how good are you in a fight?” Qiao Jiajin asked.

“Not great,” Qi Xia shook his head. “But I’ve studied the Art of War.”

“Art of War? That’s a waste of talent against nine people,” Qiao Jiajin chuckled. “Just stay put; let me handle this.”

With that, he strode up to the young man leading them and casually slung an arm over his shoulders in a gesture both friendly and menacing.

The young man froze, startled by the sudden contact.

“Leng-zai, this place is pretty spacious, ain’t it?” Qiao Jiajin grinned.

“Is—Is that so?” the young man stammered, forcing a smile. “It used to be a school, so of course, it’s big.”

“Did ya know?” Qiao Jiajin’s tone turned serious, his eyes locking onto the man’s. “If you want to trap someone, it’s best in an open space. This place is too messy—it’ll screw you up.”

“Uh...?” The young man blinked, feigning confusion. “I don’t quite understand...”

“Look,” Qiao Jiajin pointed at the discarded tables and chairs littering the floor. “Obstacles everywhere. They block your men from reaching me, but I can use them as weapons. You really think nine guys can hold me here?”

The man’s expression shifted—just slightly. He tried to break free, but Qiao Jiajin’s grip was like iron.

“Leng-zai, why are you doing this to us?” Qiao Jiajin’s expression darkened. “Where are our teammates?”

The man struggled again, but the hold was unyielding. At last, he stopped resisting.

“You’re strong...” he said through gritted teeth, forcing a smile. “But you’ve made one mistake. It’s not nine surrounding you—it’s ten.”

Before Qiao Jiajin could react, the door beside them burst open.

A massive figure charged through—a hulking man, thick with muscle, rushing forward like an enraged bull. The impact sent debris flying, the sound of splintering wood echoing as he bore down on Qiao Jiajin.