Chapter 61: The True Form

 "What do you think... those things are?" 

 "No idea, but I bet they'll haunt my nightmares for the next decade." 

 "A decade? Do you really think we'll live that long?" 

 "What do you mean?" 

 "Think about it. What if these monsters aren't just confined to our school... but are all over the country?" 

 "Like a zombie outbreak in the movies?" 

 "Exactly." 

 "Come on. Lin QiYe said it himself—this is only happening at our school. Once we're rescued, we'll be safe." 

 "Lin QiYe... who is he, really?" 

 "..." 

 The vast auditorium was now half-filled with people. The students rescued from the second-floor classrooms had all been gathered here. The only entrance and exit were guarded by the Axe Squad, making it the safest place around. 

 Inside, the air buzzed with crying, comforting words, heated discussions, and occasional arguments. Despite ongoing efforts to maintain order, the cacophony was unstoppable. 

 An Qingyu sat quietly near the door, eyes closed, lost in thought. 

 **Knock, knock, knock—!** 

 Three knocks, two long and one short, echoed against the door. The Axe Squad members stationed nearby exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up as they hurriedly moved the barricades aside. 

 "It's Li Yifei. He's back." 

 An Qingyu opened his eyes, turning to face the door. 

 Li Yifei stumbled in, panting heavily, drenched in sweat as if he'd just run a marathon. 

 "How's it going? Have all the other students been evacuated?" An Qingyu stood up, addressing him directly. 

 "They're all out. I ran through half the campus and didn't see a single soul left. Damn, I'm exhausted..." Li Yifei collapsed into a chair, wiping the sweat off his forehead. 

 "Good," An Qingyu nodded. 

 "Let me tell you, though. When I passed the sports field, I heard a massive crash from the art building. Sounded like a whole floor collapsed." Li Yifei's tone grew urgent as he recalled the scene. 

 "That bad?" 

 "Must've been a fight with the monster's true form." Li Yifei leaned back, letting out a long sigh. "If I hadn't been busy searching for survivors, I'd have gone over for a look." 

 "Watching gods battle? Better to stay far away." 

 "Yeah, you're right." 

 "By the way, what's Lin QiYe's organization called again?" An Qingyu suddenly asked. 

 "The Nightwatchers." 

 The moment the words left his mouth, Li Yifei clamped a hand over it, hesitated, then shrugged. "Ah, forget it. Doesn't matter if I tell you. Everyone here is getting their memories wiped anyway." 

 "Memory wiped?" 

 "Yeah. They've got a tool that can erase memories on a large scale. Too many people saw those monsters. If word got out, it'd cause chaos." 

 "And you? Will they erase yours too?" 

 "Not me." Li Yifei grinned slyly and leaned in close, whispering, "Between you and me, after this incident, I might get to join them." 

 An Qingyu nodded slightly. "What are the requirements to join?" 

 "Thinking of signing up too? It's not that easy. Their standards are super high," Li Yifei said with a wave. "You either awaken abilities like Lin QiYe, or prove your value to them." 

 "So, you've proven your value?" 

 "Exactly." Li Yifei smirked. 

 An Qingyu's gaze deepened, his expression calm as still water. "Well, you've certainly stood out this time. If I were them, I'd recruit you too." 

 Before Li Yifei could reply, a knock came from the door again—this time, without any particular rhythm. 

 The Axe Squad members tensed up instantly, while Li Yifei stood, eyes locked on the entrance. 

 "Who's there?" 

 "It's me, Lin QiYe." 

 At the sound of Lin QiYe's name, the tension melted away. Everyone visibly relaxed as they opened the door. Lin QiYe, with a sword strapped to his back, stepped inside. 

 "How'd it go?" Li Yifei quickly approached, eager for an update. 

 "It's done." Lin QiYe nodded. "We've killed the true form of the Nanda Serpent Demon." 

 Li Yifei let out a long breath of relief, laughing as he clapped Lin QiYe on the shoulder. "You're amazing, QiYe! You guys actually did it. Everyone's safe now." 

 The students erupted into cheers, the relief palpable. Having escaped death's grasp, their joy was overwhelming. Even the Axe Squad members threw their weapons aside and embraced each other in celebration. 

 Li Yifei leaned close to Lin QiYe, grinning. 

 "Hey, do you think I've earned my place in the Nightwatchers? I really don't want to get my memory wiped..." 

 Lin QiYe stood silent, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he finally spoke. 

 "Maybe." 

 Li Yifei froze. 

 Suddenly, behind him, An Qingyu pulled a handgun from his pocket. 

 The pitch-black barrel aimed straight at the back of Li Yifei's head. 

 Amid the Axe Squad's stunned silence— 

 **Bang! Bang! Bang!** 

 Three gunshots shattered the air like thunder. The celebratory clamor in the auditorium instantly died, replaced by an eerie stillness. 

 Everyone froze, their joy replaced by shock as they turned toward the door, disbelief etched on their faces. 

 Li Yifei turned around slowly, eyes wide with confusion. 

 "An Qingyu? Why did you shoot?" 

 An Qingyu said nothing, his face impassive. 

 After a moment, Li Yifei lifted a trembling hand to the back of his head. 

 **Clink!** 

 Spent bullet casings hit the ground, the sound sharp and jarring. 

 Three shallow craters on the back of his head were already closing, leaving only faint traces of blood. With a swipe of his hand, even that vanished. 

 Li Yifei stared at his palm, then at Lin QiYe, his voice trembling. 

 "I got shot... Why am I not dead?" 

 He extended his blood-streaked hand toward Lin QiYe, his pupils quivering. 

 "QiYe, look at me. Why am I not dead? Did I... awaken an ability?" 

 Lin QiYe met his gaze, a complex expression on his face. After a long silence, he shook his head. 

 "No, you didn't awaken an ability... 

 You, are the Nanda Serpent Demon." 

 Li Yifei's eyes widened in terror as he stumbled back, shaking his head violently. 

 "No! That's impossible! What are you talking about? I'm Li Yifei!" 

 Lin QiYe stepped forward, gripping Li Yifei's collar, and with one swift motion— 

 **Rip!** 

 The zipper of his uniform tore apart, revealing his chest. There, a faint gunshot scar lay like a brand. 

 "You are the Nanda Serpent Demon—or rather, a part of it. 

 The remains you left behind may have fooled others, 

 but not me."