Chapter Thirty-Four: The Choice

“I’ll be there within a month,” said Xia Yan.

“Alright.” Emilia closed her eyes.

“By the way, Emilia,” Xia Yan mused, “according to our agreement, if I kill Ai You, the former director, will you let me go?”

“Xia Yan, I’ve made it very clear—you can defeat her, but you cannot kill her.” Emilia’s expression darkened. “I’ll say it again: If you kill Ai You, every demon will slaughter you the very instant you do. You won’t survive her death, regardless of my intervention. But if you defeat her, I’ll let you go.”

“I see. But I won’t spare her.” Xia Yan spoke with conviction. “She was the mastermind behind that incident. Darren died, Levin died, and only she survived. Even if I meet my end at your hands, I’ll kill her first.”

“Go ahead and try, Xia Yan.” Emilia sneered. “Don’t forget—even if you survive the demons, the mutant clans despise you. They’ll never let you walk free.”

“That’s your fault!” Xia Yan retorted.

Emilia chuckled. “What can I say? Even if I’m the culprit, those lowlifes wouldn’t dare seek revenge against me—they’ll only go after you. Isn’t it obvious why? It’s always easier to pick on the weak.”

Their conversation ended there. The pureblood turned away, uninterested in Xia Yan, and departed. Just as she was leaving, she left him with a final remark.

“If you come to District Two, I’ll send someone to fetch you.”

Xia Yan sighed softly, unable to fathom Emilia’s motives. She had utterly no reason to save him—no matter how he looked at it.

Rising, Xia Yan went to the counter to pay. Despite ordering the most expensive coffee and tea, it was hardly a burden for him now.

By the time he returned to the institution and reunited with Lan Xin and Miyagi, night was drawing near—it was almost nine o’clock. They hadn’t left, waiting in anxious anticipation.

The white-robed director, Feng Qiang, several management members who knew Xia Yan, ordinary staff, and even those who had never met him before were all waiting, curious about his fate.

That night marked the largest gathering ever inside the Fuxiang City Ability Training Institute.

News of Xia Yan’s return spread instantly throughout the institution.

“That’s Xia Yan?”

“Not even seventeen, yet already a formidable human.”

“He’s powerful enough to disdain all staff, management, and instructors! His combat ability rivals the squad captain of the Guardians and the director herself.”

“He’s stronger than both the director and the Guardian captain.”

“Yes, Xia Yan is even mightier—he slayed a Level 4 mutant much faster than the director or the Guardian captain.”

People whispered about Xia Yan’s achievements. In Fuxiang City, every ability user knew his name. This man performed miracles, accomplished feats no one else could, and saved the city.

He was like a ray of light illuminating the land.

Many were grateful—without Xia Yan, countless who stood here would have perished. Their friends, family, brothers, lovers—many would have fallen with them.

“He’s a traitor, isn’t he?” A discordant voice broke through, and discussion shifted.

“That demon is a pureblood. Why would she save Xia Yan?”

“I suspect Xia Yan is her pawn in Fuxiang City.”

“Xia Yan must be a spy, infiltrating humanity to steal confidential information.”

“No wonder Xia Yan is so close to Lady Miyagi—turns out he’s a piece played by the demons!”

“It’s obvious. He left with Lady Emilia and returned unharmed, fully recovered.”

“Xia Yan can’t possibly be from District Nine. Otherwise, Lady Emilia would have no reason to save him.”

“Exactly. I’ve heard Emilia’s temperament is unpredictable, and she harbors only disdain for humans, never goodwill.”

“I heard Xia Yan and Lady Miyagi are close. Who knows if this will rupture their relationship, or if he’ll be arrested by humanity?”

“That beautiful silver-haired girl—is she Xia Yan’s lover? If she hears this, how will she react?”

The crowd gossiped, most of them spectators, neither human nor demon. Xia Yan had saved them, and they were grateful, but such matters were fair game for discussion—it was, after all, the truth.

Xia Yan went straight to Miyagi’s office. Both Miyagi and Lan Xin were waiting for him, eager for the final conversation.

“Xia Yan, are you alright?” Lan Xin exclaimed, finally at ease seeing him unharmed.

“Did Emilia do anything to you?” Miyagi asked, clearly worried.

“I’m fine,” Xia Yan assured them.

“What happened, really?” Miyagi hesitated. “Why did Emilia seek you out?”

“There’s no real motive.” Xia Yan shook his head. “She just wants me to go to the demon clan within a month.”

“In a month…” Miyagi sighed. “The deadline’s moved up again. Yet I still can’t comprehend why that pureblood came here—there are too many unanswered questions.”

“Humanity must be full of suspicions about my identity,” Xia Yan said with a wry smile, glancing at Miyagi.

Miyagi answered seriously, “Yes, intel just came in. The higher-ups want to strip you of your Guardian status and place you under strict surveillance. If there’s even a hint of espionage, we’re to execute you in secret.”

“You’re telling me all this—does it matter?” Xia Yan smiled bitterly.

“Of course not.” Miyagi laughed. “You know, with the intelligence we share, I have no reason to doubt you. A year ago, I knew of your meeting with Emilia and your duel with Ai You.”

“A battle a year later doesn’t erase human suspicion. Whether or not it happened, that pureblood shouldn’t have saved him—unless he’s a demon, or their pawn,” Lan Xin interjected. “But I trust Xia Yan. In all the time I’ve known him, he could never be the demon’s pawn.”

“We three became closer ten months ago. I had Xia Yan study the ancient martial arts of the Thousand Sects, precisely because I never doubted him,” Miyagi smiled. “Xia Yan, when you leave District Nine, you must depart as a hero, not as a suspect.”

Xia Yan sighed softly.

“Xia Yan, let’s make the duel with Ai You public. There’s no reason to hide it any longer.” Miyagi looked at him. “Once it’s out, it won’t let Emilia’s scheme succeed—they won’t question your identity as much.”

Every benefit comes with a cost; Xia Yan knew this well. Revealing the truth wouldn’t eliminate all suspicion. To be truly cleared, he’d have to kill Ai You—but Emilia had said he could defeat her, not kill her, or he’d be doomed.

Thus, exposing his identity was nearly a dead end.

If humanity saw him defeat Ai You but not kill her, would they think it was all an act?

“Emilia is truly vicious. She’s not only subjected Xia Yan to suspicion, but also burdened him with the mutants’ hatred,” Lan Xin said angrily. “I agree—it must be made public. Xia Yan shouldn’t be doubted, and her plot must not succeed.”

“Even if we make it public, it won’t dispel everyone’s suspicions. After all, Emilia saved me,” Xia Yan said, his expression complex.

“If we don’t, Xia Yan will become humanity’s enemy. I don’t want that outcome.” Miyagi smiled helplessly. “Personally, I hope you agree, but if you don’t, I won’t force you.”