Messenger Horseface

I watched as Lin Wan rushed alone toward the school gate. I wanted to hurry after her, but Zhang Yisheng blocked my way.

With an awkward smile, Zhang Yisheng said, “Hey, Brother Zijian, where are you off to?”

“Bait only needs one person. Don’t make things more complicated,” I replied, barely keeping my temper in check as I stepped aside, watching two men dash out of the security office dressed in campus police uniforms.

Sure enough, these two were different from the ordinary people we'd seen before—one had the head of an ox, the other the face of a horse. The sight was absurdly comical.

Yet their speed was extraordinary, able to keep pace with Lin Wan, who had activated her “acceleration” ability.

While the campus police were drawn away by Lin Wan, Zhang Yisheng seized the moment, sprinting out as his scalpel shot forth like an arrow loosed from its bow.

Su Mu pressed the four of spades against the ground. “Grow!”

The ancient tree’s “life” ability was instantly triggered; a seed planted by Su Mu began to sprout rapidly, catalyzed by the “life” power, spreading from beneath the earth.

“What kind of seed is that?” Han Xue asked, her curiosity piqued by Su Mu’s ability to control plant growth.

Su Mu was momentarily stunned by her question. In the agricultural college, this bespectacled, awkward youth was utterly ignored—not only by beauties like Han Xue and Lin Xiaoyue, but even ordinary girls dismissed him out of hand.

Now, confronted by Han Xue, Su Mu felt a sudden chance to redeem himself. He quickly adopted a gentlemanly air, hoping to leave a good impression.

“It’s a climbing ivy seed.”

Han Xue’s expression remained neutral as she saw Su Mu’s change in demeanor, but inwardly she felt only disgust; she had not forgotten the ugly attitude Su Mu displayed during the earlier debate about the plan.

She smiled faintly and continued the conversation. “Climbing ivy isn’t exactly aggressive. I wonder what Brother Su Mu intends to do with it?”

That “Brother Su Mu” nearly melted him on the spot. Seeing Su Mu’s reaction, Lin Xiaoyue glanced over with a sneer, “As expected, a hopeless loser.”

Su Mu, seeing Han Xue’s expectant gaze, quickly collected himself. “True, climbing ivy isn’t much for offense. But it’s more than enough to deal with the cameras.”

Under Su Mu’s control, the ivy broke through the corner of the wall, swiftly climbed up, and enveloped the surveillance camera in its leafy embrace.

“As long as it’s covered, there’s no need for brute destruction,” Su Mu said with satisfaction, glancing over at Zhang Yisheng struggling to attack another camera with his scalpel, hoping for Han Xue’s praise.

But Han Xue merely smiled faintly and walked toward me.

“Zijian, shall we check on Lin Wan? I’m still worried about them.”

At her words, Chen Hao stood up and joined us, saying, “If we’re rescuing Lin Wan, count me in.”

“Hey, Han Xue, the main gate’s about to open. Isn’t it a bit foolish to leave now?” Su Mu called after her. Meanwhile, Zhang Yisheng had finished destroying the second camera, and Lin Xiaoyue and Hu Xing’er had begun working on the iron gate. After his transformation, Wang Yan crouched on all fours and started ramming the gate.

Hu Xing’er used the five of hearts to manipulate the air, attempting to leap over the iron gate. But as soon as she rose a few feet, she hit something hard. Heart racing, she dropped back down, and with a loud crack, several arcs of electricity surged where she’d just been.

Cold sweat broke out on Hu Xing’er’s forehead. Seeing this, Lin Xiaoyue abandoned the idea of flying over and instead used the seven of hearts’ “gravity” ability to attack the gate, hoping to reshape it and create an escape hole.

But Lin Xiaoyue felt an indescribable weight. Even with her ability to lighten it, the gate was far heavier than she could handle.

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Lin Xiaoyue frowned. “So heavy?”

Seeing Lin Xiaoyue and Hu Xing’er stymied by the gate, Zhang Yisheng and Su Mu hurried over. With the cameras destroyed, the school authorities would send someone in about ten minutes. If they didn’t escape in that window, the opportunity would be wasted, and security would be tighter than ever next time.

Zhang Yisheng pulled out a scalpel. “Sharpest edge!”

Activating the “sharpness” effect, he tried to cut through the gate, but an invisible force stopped the blade cold—it couldn’t advance an inch.

Seeing the four of them at a loss, I led Han Xue and Chen Hao toward where Lin Wan had escaped.

I muttered to myself, “Lin Wan, don’t let anything happen to you.”

Han Xue, being a girl, couldn’t run very fast, so I had Chen Hao carry her. With the enhancement of the diamond card, Han Xue’s weight was nothing to him.

As we hurried forward, we finally found Lin Wan by the lake beside the school building.

Lin Wan didn’t look good. Her clothes were torn, several wounds still bleeding. Yet she made no effort to treat them, letting blood stain her clothes.

I rushed over without a word and slapped her hard. Perhaps I used too much force, or Lin Wan was simply too frail—she collapsed to the ground.

“Zijian!” Han Xue shouted, but Chen Hao held her back; he knew only I could help Lin Wan recover.

I squatted down, seized Lin Wan’s collar, and hauled her upright.

Lin Wan turned her head away, but I forced her to face me.

“Look into my eyes.”

Lin Wan struggled, turning away again, but I used brute strength to make her look at me.

“Look at me!”

This time, she finally stopped evading, though her gaze remained unfocused.

I ignored everything else and lowered my head.

“Lu Ling is dead. I know you’re heartbroken.”

“But what good does giving up do? If you want to keep acting like this and follow Lu Ling into the grave, go ahead!”

With that, I threw Lin Wan down hard. She groaned softly.

I said nothing more, pulling the three of diamonds from my pocket—the card that represented Lu Ling—and tossed it beside Lin Wan.

“If you want to die, then do it.”

“But if you’re our brother, wipe those tears and stand up like a man.”

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Lin Wan trembled after hearing my words.

I didn’t bother with her any further. I’d said what needed to be said; there was nothing more.

Taking Han Xue, I headed back toward the school gate.

“Are we just leaving her?” Han Xue asked, gently tugging my sleeve.

I forced a smile and replied, “She has to get through this herself.”

“There’s nothing more we can say.”

“Oh.” Han Xue nodded.

“Let’s go, Chen Hao.”

Chen Hao sighed and trotted up to join us.

But we had barely taken a few steps when a chill wind swept past my ear. A strong sense of danger surged through me, and I instinctively shoved Han Xue aside, grabbing Chen Hao and pulling him to the ground.

A pitch-black iron claw, trailing a dark chain, slashed through the spot where we had just stood.

I shuddered with fear—almost skewered like a candied fruit.

“Heh heh.”

“Trying to leave?”

I followed the chain with my eyes; at its end stood the horse-faced man I’d seen before.

His eyes were blood-red, exactly like a legendary demon. He yanked the chain, which rattled back into his hand.

He spoke, his voice eerily human. “Who said you could leave?”

We were utterly confused. “Excuse me, you are…?”

I knew fighting was pointless—we weren’t his match. Better to be humble and hope for a chance.

Seeing my sudden respectful attitude, the horse-faced man adopted an official tone.

“You brat, you don’t know who I am?”

“I am the Horse-faced Messenger, one half of the Ox-head and Horse-face duo.”

“You may address me as Lord Ma.”

Hearing his introduction, my confusion only deepened.

“Are you one of the club card holders?”

The Horse-faced Messenger didn’t answer. Suddenly, a heavy blow struck the back of my head. Before I lost consciousness, I saw Teacher Wang appear before the Horse-faced Messenger.

Then everything went black.

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