099 Goodbye, Professor D

“The strongest of the Spades.”

“Two of the seven top experts from the Antiquities faction have actually shown up. Seems I’m quite important after all,” Dan Feng muttered with a self-deprecating smile, his expression gradually calming. Yet the arrival of Midnight and Li Xinxin together still shook him significantly.

“Midnight,” I murmured.

“So you’re someone with a purpose too,” I thought. Not only was my old comrade Xinxin involved, but even Midnight, whom I had met before, turned out to be a covert figure with a hidden identity.

I sensed that our meeting had never been mere coincidence. I was merely a stepping stone, a bridge through which he and Li Ergou could meet in a plausible way.

Midnight seemed to notice the twisted look on my face and smiled gently.

“I deceived you. I’ve known Miss Li Xinxin for a long time. She’s my partner on a special mission in the Tianshan Mountains,” he revealed.

“But when you reach our level of ability, you’ll understand—some things are better left unknown for now.” With that, he swung his golden spear, unleashing a spatial shockwave that shattered Dan Feng’s infant spirit seal.

Instantly freed, I dashed behind them both. Lin Xiayue, clearly frustrated, retreated with a scowl.

Facing such an opponent without any chance to fight back was a severe blow for Lin Xiayue. Wang Yan shouted from the side,

“If you’ve got the guts, come at me!” Li Ergou directly confronted Dan Feng. Midnight flashed me a knowing smile and hurled his ancient spear through the air again, smashing the enormous floating hands surrounding us.

Li Ergou wielded a bronze fan with great force; the powerful gust pushed the three of us back. I knew I couldn’t participate in this battle any longer.

Even after being ejected from the battlefield, I didn’t idle. I immediately contacted Chen Hao and Han Xue. We learned that the psychic-type spirits had left the Forbidden Forest, and surprisingly, those who had been controlled were not abducted but had returned to their original state.

Another wave of powerful reinforcements had returned. Hu Xing’er promptly informed everyone of the news, though not all chose to believe us.

The main combat faction, led by Zhang Yisheng and Zheng Wei, remained steadfastly opposed to everyone from D University. Following the sudden disappearance of the psychic spirits, this faction grew particularly restless, blocking the school administration building’s entrance, demanding their release.

Meanwhile, the friendly faction, led by myself, Han Xue, and Chen Hao, formed a cooperative alliance with teachers like Wang Chen. Since the Contractors’ abilities surpassed those of the teachers, we undertook temporary protective duties.

Yet this made us seem like traitors, mere lackeys of D University. No matter how we explained ourselves, Zhang Yisheng’s faction harbored deep prejudice against us.

Five days after Dan Feng, Li Ergou, and Midnight vanished, D University finally brought new news.

All Contractors would be released in five days—a piece of great news for most.

However, our friendly faction received a secret tip from Wang Chen.

“The Contractor trials at D University cannot continue,” said the now white-haired, elderly Wang Chen, whose hair had seemingly turned gray overnight.

When I asked why, Wang Chen explained that the trials had lasted many years; they could only continue because of the presence of the principal, who had now departed.

“Lin Zijian, although you’ll be able to leave D University in five days, this does not mean the trials are over,” Wang Chen said with the last of his strength.

I listened quietly by his bedside, hearing the final words from this once ruthless and decisive teacher.

“D University is a crucial place. It is one of the seals of North City, which explains the many supernatural incidents here.”

“Because of the seal, the powers of unawakened Contractors multiply greatly within this place.” I looked at him puzzled, unable to grasp the full meaning.

Wang Chen struggled to stand, coughing weakly, his frail body flickering like a candle in the wind.

“In other words, once you leave D University, you won’t be able to use your full power. Without D University’s natural environment that enhances abilities, your strength will revert to its original baseline.”

“Only through awakening can you truly master the power of a Contractor.”

“Of course, there’s another way—to enter other ability-enhancing environments,” Wang Chen said clearly this time. Our powers can only be fully unleashed in such environments.

Or perhaps, becoming a complete Contractor like Midnight would allow one to draw power directly from their contracted object, independent of the geographical environment.

I shared this information only with our small team. Han Xue said she would follow me no matter what I decided. Chen Hao agreed, adding that he wasn’t afraid of D University—at least he still had his fists.

The team of tall-legged beauty Lin Xiayue and Hu Xing’er frowned upon hearing the news but informed us that they planned to leave as well.

It seemed as if someone beyond fate was calling those two, perhaps from the Spades faction.

The day before leaving D University, I received a message from Tan Tou. Phones had fully recovered, and the school’s signal blockade was lifted.

“I’ve informed my family faction; we’re ready to move out anytime.” Tan Tou had clearly spent much effort persuading his family, taking a long time to secure their support.

But now, it was no longer necessary. I quickly replied, explaining the situation at D University.

Tan Tou’s brief response was,

“I’m coming to find you.”

Then silence.

The fifth day finally arrived. The main gate of D University was blasted open by Contractors’ powers. A massive crowd surged out, faces alight with overwhelming joy—a feeling of surviving a catastrophe, a rebirth.

At last, they’d endured to the end, surviving the brutal life-or-death trial where only a handful survived. Some knelt and wept openly, others ran off in fear of being dragged back.

Even formidable figures like Zhang Yisheng and Zheng Wei glanced back at D University for a long moment before quietly leaving.

Pang Dongqiang and Li Yuan departed together; Xia Qingqiu and Wu Mingran paired off. Zhou Zitong approached me quietly.

“Looking forward to seeing you again,” she whispered.

Qian Pangzi vanished in a flash without even a farewell.

Lin Xiayue and Hu Xing’er’s group disappeared from sight, the numbers thinning until only a few of us remained:

Myself, Chen Hao, Han Xue, the tomboy Sun Xiaoxiao, Wen Lingyu, and the frail woman Xue Ning we had saved.

“What are your plans?” I asked the three of them.

Sun Xiaoxiao waved her hand.

“Midnight’s nowhere to be found. You’re the only one I know. I’ll follow you.”

Blushing, Xue Ning said,

“All my friends didn’t survive. Can I follow you?” She lowered her head, still only a half-awakened Contractor.

Han Xue grabbed the shy Wu Yuwei.

“Ningning, come with me. I’ll protect you.”

Wen Lingyu had her own goal.

“I want to visit Ghost City.”

“Won’t you come with us?” Chen Hao asked quickly upon hearing this.

Wen Lingyu took out her deck of playing cards.

“I’m the Joker. To awaken, I need to make a trip to Luoyang.”

“Will you… come back?” Chen Hao asked shyly.

“Don’t worry. I will.” Wen Lingyu hugged Chen Hao tightly.

Chen Hao blushed.

“Then… come back soon.”

“Mm, next time we meet, I’ll protect you.” Wen Lingyu smiled and waved goodbye to our small D University group.

After leaving D University, only Han Xue could truly use her abilities. The rest of us would lose our powers completely that very night. Our playing cards would become tokens sealed within us, until we either awakened or reached another ability-enhancing environment, when the Contractors’ cards would manifest again.

“Well, shall we head to Foreign Language High School?”

“I remember I have a junior studying there,” I said.

By the time we left D University, we had changed into our own clothes and grabbed some money from the school convenience store.

After all, we still had to live; money was necessary.

As the last few of us stepped out the school gate, D University vanished like a mirage, as if it had never existed.

Much later, I learned that Vice Principal Dan Feng was merely a small pawn on a vast chessboard, barely even a piece. The Director of Instruction was just a minor avatar of a powerful figure.

Something had forcibly been pulled from my mind. A dizzy, hallucinatory sensation overwhelmed me. When I finally woke, I found myself in a new classroom.

The teacher was writing on the blackboard with chalk. Around me, some students listened attentively, others secretly played on their phones. The round-faced boy beside me was grinning foolishly.

“Brother Zijian, were you daydreaming again? You even drooled.”