Part 3
Chu Xiao, who was leaning against the wall unsteadily, breathed a sigh of relief. Even though his consciousness was confused, he still didn’t want Luo Shizhen to see his ugly self.
He hadn’t expected that Xiao Shan, his nemesis, would be the one to help him.
The twisted stones seemed alive, crawling across his face toward the other side, eager to replace this body.
Painâ
Extreme painâ
It was as if something was roaring and screaming in the depths of his heart, trying to devour him completely.
He didn’t want to… didn’t want to be devoured.
Shizhen… Luo Shizhen, Luo Shizhen was still waiting for him to explain the exam paper, waiting for him to finish school.
Chu Xiaoâs vision began to blur. He seemed to see his younger self carrying a schoolbag, with Luo Shizhen chattering happily beside him about the happy things he encountered that day.
These images were shattering in his memory, signifying the disappearance of his human side.
Badâ
Chu Xiao suddenly thought, Will Shizhen think I lost control and mutated because I argued with him?
It wasn’t like that. It wasn’t. He had always been hovering on the edge of mutation.
He had just wanted to ask why it was Xiao Shan.
Why wasn’t it him?
Clearly, he was the one who had always been by Luo Shizhen’s side.
Chu Xiao opened his mouth but found he couldn’t make a sound. His throat seemed to have been quickly blocked by stones.
No, he couldn’t mutate now.
This wasn’t the first time Chu Xiao faced this situation. Last time, he was heavily injured by an Anomaly during mutation, and although his body was mostly destroyed, it interrupted the mutation.
What about this time?
His whites were covered by large patches of black, but his trembling hand accurately pulled out the dagger at his waist and aimed it at his heartâ
Lin Qi, who was about to rush in, stopped.
“Looks like I’m not needed. He plans to do it himself.”
He felt a bit emotional and appreciative. Only ten seconds or so had passed, yet Chu Xiao could figure out the key point and be cruel enough to act on himself.
This kid, if he could survive this hurdle, would definitely be someone significant in the future.
“Chu Xiao!!”
Chu Xiao failed to execute the act.
The moment the dagger thrust down, it was knocked away by Luo Shizhen, who had broken free from Xiao Shan’s hand.
Clangâ
A crisp sound. In the next second, Chu Xiao was pulled into a warm embrace.
“Chu Xiao, it’s okay, it’s okay.”
Luo Shizhen’s voice trembled a little, but it was firm, just like when they were little and Chu Xiao was isolated and bulliedâhe would run out, beat everyone away, and then pull Chu Xiao up to comfort him.
“Are you polluted? Don’t be afraid, it’s okay. I’m a Purification Awakener; I can purify you.”
“I know Purification. The teacher said I’m very amazing. With me here, you won’t be in trouble.”
Luo Shizhen’s hand landed on Chu Xiao’s cheek as he said the first word. The layered stones felt cold, hard, and strange, but he wasn’t afraid at all.
Although he was afraid of ghosts, this was Chu Xiao. His good friend Chu Xiao.
Chu Xiao must be very scared. He remembered that when they were young, if Chu Xiao was bullied, he would pretend nothing happened on the surface, looking cold, but Luo Shizhen would catch him crying secretly.
In Luo Shizhen’s eyes, Chu Xiao was still that friend who needed his martial protection, who would cry secretly if he couldn’t beat others.
He carefully held Chu Xiao in his arms. Where his palm touched, the black mist that seemed to be pouring out endlessly was gradually disappearing.
Chen He’an, who had been holding his breath and watching, stepped forward excitedly.
He looked at Luo Shizhen with tenderness and appreciation. This young Purifier, who always seemed weak and malleable like dough, now wore the determined expression characteristic of a Guardian.
“It works!! It really works!!”
Lin Qi was incredulous. “He’s still purifying continuously? Isn’t Luo Shizhen only Rank 1?”
Chen He’an was also a bit stunned by the situation.
Internal mutation meant the body had accumulated a pile of pollution long ago. Once pollution reached a critical point and could no longer be balanced, it began to leak out violently.
It was like a limit of 100; pollution at 99 was precarious, and exceeding 100 caused an internal collapse, releasing all pollution.
At this time, if a Purification Awakener helped purify a portion, removing the initial surge of pollution and reducing the internal pollution to about 81%, bringing it back under the critical point, the Awakener could survive the internal mutation.
Although they would still suffer some pollution, their sanity would be preserved. As long as they were careful in battles against Anomalies and treated immediately after external pollution, there wouldn’t be major issues.
But Luo Shizhen had already purified the pollution leaking externally, yet he was still following the breach to continuously purify the pollution inside Chu Xiao.
Lin Qi’s expression turned serious as he adjusted his watch.
“Pollution level in Chu Xiao’s body has dropped to 74%.”
Pollution levels had classifications. The higher the pollution, the more the Awakener was affected.
0%â30%: White Zone. Basically safe.
31%â59%: Grey Zone. Somewhat problematic but controllable. Most Awakeners were in the Grey Zone state.
60%â80%: Black Zone. The state was severe. Eternal Day would assign Safety Officers to follow and help reduce pollution as much as possible.
81%â100%: Oblivion. Mutation could happen at any time.
Chu Xiao had been hovering around 99 and had just broken past 100%.
But now, under Luo Shizhen’s purification, his pollution value was dropping rapidly.
Chu Xiao’s body had returned to normal, and his eyes became clear.
“68%.”
“51%.”
Lin Qi lowered his hand, his eyes filled with shock.
“Dropped to 49. Less than two minutes. From [Oblivion], all the way down to [Grey Zone].”
Even though Chu Xiao was only a Rank 1 Awakener, so the 100% pollution volume wasn’t remarkably high, Luo Shizhen was also only Rank 1.
He was even a Purifier who supposedly had the hardest time using abilities initially.
Silenceâ
The teachers were silent, and the other students were silent.
Everyone watched as the newly awakened Luo Shizhen diligently cleared the pollution for Chu Xiao.
Luo Shizhen didn’t stop. He was actually a bit “stuffed,” but it didn’t matter; he just had to endure a little.
When he was little, there was a time he didn’t know hunger from fullness and often overate. Grandma used to say raising him was like raising a fish. Fortunately, he had a robust constitution. Although he often stuffed himself, he never had any issues.
Luo Shizhen “ate” earnestly, his eyes seemingly seeing only the black mist.
Tasty, tasty, tasty.
It’s okay, Luo Shizhen. Just overeating. At least these things are tasty. Eating tasty things and protecting Chu Xiaoâwhat a great deal.
Luo Shizhen stubbornly continued “eating” the black mist from Chu Xiao, then suddenly seemed to hear a clang.
His “stomach” seemed to have gotten bigger.
Luo Shizhen’s vision cleared, feeling suddenly sharp-eared and keen-eyed. He could even hear Chu Xiao’s rapid heartbeat.
“Shizhen…”
Chu Xiao was calling him.
Luo Shizhen came back to his senses, looking at him in surprise. “Chu Xiao! You’re cured!”
Lin Qi looked at the halted numbers. “35%. Holy crap, is this really something a rookie Purifier can do?”
Sui An slowly walked to his side. “He advanced in rank. Just now.”
Lin Qi: “!”
He even forgot to maintain his strict persona.
“Such strong talent. I remember he awakened less than a month ago, right?!”
Chen He’an looked at Chu Xiao’s expression. “Why does Chu Xiao look a bit off?”
Sui An chuckled. “Saved by forcible purification during mutation, his spirit was pulled by both sides. He needs a good sleep to recover.”
Seeing the student saved, Sui An’s mood improved significantly, quickly switching to spectator mode.
“He’ll fall asleep soon. Before that, he’ll be like an ordinary person under general anesthesia.”
“Hmm… he should reveal his truest inner thoughts.”
Sui An was intrigued, even lowering his voice specifically. “Watch and see what he says.”
Chen He’an: …Understood.
He instantly thought of his second uncle who, after waking from general anesthesia, babbled about transforming into Ultraman to save the earth.
Luo Shizhen didn’t notice the teachers.
He was focused on checking if Chu Xiao felt uncomfortable anywhere.
Everything was fine.
It was just that Chu Xiao’s eyes were strangeâvery soft, like ice melting into water.
“You used Purification on me too.”
Chu Xiao murmured, eyes filled with surprise and disbelief.
“I thought you were tricked by Xiao Shan.”
Xiao Shan rolled his eyes in the background.
Chu Xiao, still held in Luo Shizhen’s arms, suddenly grabbed Luo Shizhen’s hand.
“Shizhen, I didn’t expect you could really save me with Purification…”
He hesitated, then his eyes became determined as he said reluctantly:
“Xiao Shan… it’s okay. I don’t mind him. If you like him, I can accept it.”
Xiao Shan rolled his eyes again.
Luo Shizhen was frightened.
He squeezed Chu Xiao’s hand tightly in return.
“Okay, okay, the three of us will be good friends together. Chu Xiao, are you okay? How did you get polluted? Why didn’t I notice before? You must tell me if you feel uncomfortable anywhere in the future. I’ll purify you properly. You must be well, okay? We have to graduate together, become Guardians together, and fight Anomalies together. You must hold on.”
He tried hard to encourage Chu Xiao:
“When I get married and have children later, you still have to be the godfather to my kids!”
Chu Xiao fell silent.
Then he slowly, slowly closed his eyes.
Luo Shizhen panicked.
“Chu Xiao? Chu Xiao?!”
“Teacher!! Chu Xiao fainted!!”
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