Chapter 383: Meteor That Broke Through Defense

"Ruyue Xian Tairan……" Yezujian Youzi's fear disappeared cleanly along with the pain arising on her body.

This fear comes from humanity's imagination of the unknown, but once exposed to sunlight, it emits a beauty like winter sunshine; at least Yezujian Youzi feels that way.

"Well, from now on we're friends." Ruyue Xian Tairan smiled, canceled his transformation, and actively reached out to help Yezujian Youzi, who was trying to stand up, to steady her.

"Um, thanks. But I didn't expect the Kamen Rider from urban legends to actually exist; my luck is really good, hehe." The Yezujian Youzi who had stood up lowered her head and emitted a dark, low laugh.

She is a shrine maiden; the supernatural and curses are her privileges. Her current appearance imitates those witch who, according to the descriptions in those horror novels, silently brew magic potions in some kind of stone cave while exuding a terrifying aura.

She was merely very interested in astrology divination, so she completed the copying that left teachers unable to find fault at breakneck speed and came here, always hiding nearby to secretly observe; she never expected to witness such a horrifying scene.

"Looks like it's fine." Jiang Xia stood up, "Ruyue, you take responsibility for sending her back."

The fractured part of the girl dressed in thick attire has already healed; she was merely dragged into this, and beneath Yezujian Youzi's gloomy exterior she is just a fan who likes Kamen Rider and various curse rituals.

Someone who likes Kamen Rider can't be a bad kid.

"I guarantee to complete the mission, teacher." Ruyue Xian Tairan gave his assurance.

……

"We have failed, Lord Wo Wang Guangming." Libra panicked anxiously.

"Libra, the awakening of the Cancer disciple is thanks to you." Wo Wang Guangming crossed his hands on his legs, sitting comfortably and leisurely in the chair.

The awakening of Cancer proves that even if Kyoto's barrier remains unbroken, his disciples can still be born in a short time.

Hayami Kohei let out a breath. Now he at least confirms that this failure will not affect his image in the chairman's mind; even if he has the ability to find the Twelve Constellations, people will eventually gather them all, and then he would completely lose value to the chairman, which he cannot accept, so he needs to prepare in advance.

"This way, you are officially among the Twelve Palaces." Wo Wang Guangming looked at the newly joined disciple with a smile and red eyes, "Congratulations, Cancer."

"Yes, Chairman Lord, I will certainly devote myself and never disappoint your expectations." Cancer bowed slightly.

"I look forward to your performance." Wo Wang Guangming had a hidden meaning.

"I will make them pay a proper price." Cancer said.

"However, fate is indeed wonderfully mysterious; I didn't expect the principal to also be part of the Twelve Constellations, my choice was indeed correct."

Cancer's switch turned off; Guidao, wearing a red sleeveless jacket and holding a fan, turned his head to look at Libra beside him, likewise wearing a smile, truly unbelievable—the birth of monsters was actually promoted by the principal.

"Distributing switches in this school and seeking the Twelve Disciples is our mission; we serve the chairman." Hayami Kohei sized up the still-student Guidao, "I am looking for the next disciple; you are now like Scorpio, first assist me in my work and learn well from me."

He wants to properly mentor this Guidao whom he pulled up, to make him understand that even though they are both officials, there is still a hierarchy.

"Is there something that shouldn't be said?" Guidao looked at Hayami Kohei, whose tone seemed gentle but whose bones constantly revealed an educational nature, and confronted him face to face.

"What?"

"I am also an official; the Twelve Constellations have no superior-inferior distinction, meaning we are peers," Guidao adjusted his collar awkwardly: "So can you stop giving me orders?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Hayami Kohei's face, which he claimed was that of an educator, turned a little pale, and the smile on his face vanished instantly.

Put plainly, what seniority are you claiming? We are peers; don't play that seniority-ranking game; your seniority here is useless, and you almost had the words "relying on seniority to assert dominance" thrown in your face.

Of course, in front of a real superior, some respect is still needed, so we save face.

"You!" Hayami Kohei momentarily choked.

"Hahaha, Libra, you lost this round." Wo Wang Guangming burst out laughing upon hearing Guidao's words; this is a lack of vigor, a situation of forcibly reclaiming subordinates.

He has little interest in fighting for authority over subordinates, especially at this time.

Dreams are already within reach; as a tiny being of this world, can one glimpse the truth of this world?

A weak existence born in the vast universe will crave light at all costs; even if it burns up like a moth flying into flame, he also wants to meet the wise sentient beings that represent the universe, as a human.

Heavenly River, Monday, a morning full of sunshine.

In the newly renovated counseling room, the school's highly favored psychological teacher Jiang Xia was leisurely eating breakfast, which he himself made; he had spent a quite interesting weekend and also gained the strength he needed, making the wasted bit of time well worth it.

After he swallowed the last bite of the fried egg he had cut into cubes, he sat contentedly in the chair, looking at the sunlight streaming through the window.

The 6:30 a. m. sunlight is indeed nice; times are peaceful, the air fresh, and if possible he would now like to go out for a stroll to experience youthful vigor.

Unfortunately, now is not the time; he must start work.

With the crisp sound of the doorbell ringing, today's protagonist makes his official entrance.

Jiang Xia gazed at the student pushing the door open and said: "Not bad; you're neither early nor late, as a student you are indeed different from Xian Tairan and the others, completely lacking youthful vigor, only having vigilance and distrust toward everything around."

He said: "I don't have their carefree nature; I have a goal that must be achieved; the word 'youth' doesn't suit me."

Jiang Xia took from the desk the file and data that Jiangben had passed over, which also included a picture of him wearing a black long kung fu outfit, practicing martial arts:

"Shuotian Liuxing, as a transfer student, your psychological appointment time is only two hours; however, as a member of the Anti-Star Disciple Alliance, your appointment time here has no limit, and regarding the fee, they have already paid it on your behalf."

That evening, Jiangben sent Shuotian Liuxing's data to him, though he estimated Jiangben would definitely strictly investigate the cause of his own exposure; as an undercover identity it is absolutely confidential, but his own data leaked out for some unknown reason.

However, Jiangben is destined to never find the cause of exposure, because he also cannot realize that someone could use a god's-eye view to query the information he needs.

"I actually don't need this much psychological counseling time; my only goal is to awaken Erlang, and can you now tell me why the likes of Ruyue and company would know the information about Star Disciple evolution?" Shuotian Liuxing stood before the desk, scrutinizing this teacher.

Mr. Lihua had already told him that he would no longer continue as an undercover, but instead openly communicate with the superiors of the Kamen Rider Club, and the way to communicate well is to complete the psychological counseling on time.

Jiang Xia tapped the table to indicate sitting down, and said: "Actually the answer is very obvious; you could figure it out yourself, but you simply haven't realized it, and your psychological issue is the same—completely lacking awareness."

Shuotian Liuxing also did not refute, merely sitting silently with arms crossed over his chest. Jiang Xia picked up his pen and said: "All your goals are to find Aries and save your friend; that reason is very reasonable. How do you feel about this job? I mean, as an undercover, your first reaction upon being in the classroom."

"Equivalent exchange: I tell you the method, you tell me your truest feelings."

Shuotian Liuxing lightly pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and said: "It's just an ordinary classroom; without Ruyue Xian Tairan, it's no different from regular schooling."

"What are your feelings toward Ruyue Xian Tairan?" Jiang Xia asked.

"He's an overfamiliar idiot who calls people by name right after meeting them, and his way of making friends makes me very unaccustomed; in the cafeteria, the way he treats good friends is to confirm each time that utterly foolish gesture, I wonder how he grew up to have such an illogical dream and way of getting along."

Jiang Xia nodded:

"I very much agree with your view; that guy is just an idiot, but in just one day his habits and knowledge completely clash with your way of getting along, and since you came here with a mission, you must disguise yourself, so do you feel very much in pain?"

"Not pain, but incomprehension—I cannot comprehend Ruyue Xian Tairan's actions, which are utterly illogical!" Shuotian Liuxing raised his voice slightly.

After hearing Shuotian Liuxing's answer, Jiang Xia also roughly understood, and said:

"You possess a precious friendship, but it vanished due to an accident; when you try desperately to salvage that friendship, you can only hide your identity as an undercover and carry out day-after-day training, solely to save people."

"And when you disguise your identity, hide your inner self, and take part in a task you fundamentally don't want to join, you discover there is someone who has super many friends; wherever he goes, there are people willing to make those gestures that you see as foolish."

Shuotian Liuxing was somewhat silent, the hands originally clasped before his chest also quietly lowered; he could not rebut, nor did he know what to say, at which point Jiang Xia said:

I know where your problem lies; next, answer one very important question of mine. This question depends on my evaluation of you, and whether you can actually get the answer you want—don't lie, lies are useless to me and meaningless at the same time.

If—I mean, if—one day you truly find the White Sheep, and it offers to save your friend in exchange for killing a completely unrelated person, would you do it?

There's a precondition: as long as you finish this, your friend will definitely be able to be awakened from their long sleep.

This choice is a bit difficult, but you can think it over slowly; there's plenty of time. Jiang Xia leaned back in the chair, hands crossed and hanging down, waiting patiently.

After listening to Jiang Xia's question, Shuotian Liuxing fell silent; he watched the incessantly flowing sand in the hourglass on the table, until the last tiny grain of sand fell, then he opened his eyes and firmly answered:

Yes, I will do that; as long as I can save Er Lang, I will do anything.

Infants, children, adolescents, youths, middle-aged, elderly—would all of them work? Jiang Xia straightened his body and asked.

A healthy infant just born in the hospital ward, full of future, and your friend lying unconscious but still alive on the hospital bed—you choose.

Oh, I forgot—no need for all those definitions; it's just the infant and Er Lang, with nothing extra, placed before you—choose.

I think, based on your answer just now, the answer shouldn't be hard; just say it out, after all this isn't a fact—it's merely a hypothesis. Jiang Xia watched the nervous Shuotian Liuxing, leisurely turning the pen in his hand, not in a hurry.

A hypothesis is a hypothesis, but whether it's sincere or not is another matter; only oneself knows what one truly thinks.

A long, long time later.

I…", Shuotian Liuxing suddenly gave a bitter laugh, "I can't make a decision, I also have no right to decide; I want to save Er Lang, if it's sacrificing myself, I would certainly do so without hesitation, but if that situation truly arose, I might give up.

Give up what? Jiang Xia asked.

Give up saving Er Lang.

What about an old person?

Just an ordinary old man; you can imagine him making a living by chopping firewood, having done nothing heinous his whole life—using him in the exchange, anyway he hasn't many good years left.

Jiang Xia stared into Shuotian Liuxing's eyes and said seriously: 'As long as you strike his heart with your inch punch, causing his heart to stop and die, no one will know.'

You can bury him on the spot, or disguise it as death from heart disease, then go find the White Sheep to awaken your friend from their deep sleep; I think at that moment you'll be very happy.

After completing the mission, you can abandon your undercover identity, return to your own place, be with your friend, and you can keep this secret hidden until death—would you accept such an outcome?

Jiang Xia maintained the elegance of a psychologist, wearing a clean white coat and tie, speaking in a slightly encouraging tone about what would happen in the future.

A teenager in high school has a bright future, life is still very long. You can choose to graduate with your classmates, then marry and have your own children.

Your children will also have their own friends, and you will at some point think of the friends of your own generation.

Finally, until you become a feeble old man unable to move, having lived out this life—how about it, my suggestion isn't bad, right?

When the words ended, Shuotian Liuxing supported his body with an almost powerless hand; he didn't even have the strength to stand up and speak loudly.

He didn't understand why his body suddenly went weak, like a puppet whose support had been pulled away, swaying; he struggled to lift his eyes to look at Jiang Xia before him, the blood in his pupils filling the whole pupil, as if about to suddenly bleed.

His lips twitched, he weakly opened his mouth: 'No… don't say any more.'

The voice was so faint that the little path could hardly hear it, but Jiang Xia could hear it; no sound could escape this body with extraordinary senses.

Why, isn't this what you expected? Using an old person whose life is about to end to exchange for awakening a vegetative person—isn't that a great deal?

What's wrong? The infant disagrees, the old man also disagrees—do you want a teenager, or a youth, or someone about your age, a high school student? Anyway this is a school, you can casually pick anyone; there are many monsters here, strange people often appear, as long as you lightly push your chosen target, they'll die—it's simple; otherwise I'll teach you. Jiang Xia's words were like a demon's temptation, full of allure.

No… Shuotian Liuxing whispered.

Again, 'don't say any more'? My suggestion is really not bad. Jiang Xia blinked.

No! I won't make any exchange! Shuotian Liuxing, not knowing where the strength came from, sprang to his feet with a fierce look, directly overturning the desk in front of Jiang Xia.

The computer on the desk, various documents, teacup, and some office supplies, like trash, clattered all over the floor.

A freshly renovated office. Jiang Xia helplessly rubbed his forehead.

(End of chapter)