Chapter 43: The Lotus Burner

"What exactly is a Lotus Burner?" Guan Xinyue could not hide her curiosity. "Can I ask?"

Jin Yu gave her a weak look, then listlessly turned her gaze away, indifferent to her question.

Guan Xinyue looked back and forth between the two of them several times. She truly could not understand why such a name had to exist, nor could she guess what kind of factional strife could exist among Mages. Could they really be divided into Battle Mages and ranged healers like in games? But that was impossible; Mages in games were mostly unable to fight in melee, yet from her distant observations, Du Zhengyi himself was very fond of melee combat.

She waited for a while without getting an answer, suddenly thinking that Luo Qi's method could really be tried at this moment. Every time he couldn't get a response from Du Zhengyi, he could rely on his big mouth to annoy Du Zhengyi to death, eventually forcing an answer out of him.

Just as Guan Xinyue took a deep breath and organized her words, intending to voice this deduction from the game, Du Zhengyi suddenly spoke up and asked, "Do you know the story of the Lotus Eaters?"

"The story of... the broken-hearted?" Guan Xinyue was stunned for a moment and said, "There are many of those."

"The *Odyssey* records a story," Du Zhengyi explained. "The hero Odysseus encountered a great storm for nine days on the sea while returning home. On the tenth day, when the storm subsided, a strange island appeared. Odysseus docked the ship and sent sailors to the island, where they discovered the islanders ate lotus flowers and lived without a care all day. Odysseus's sailors ate the lotus, forgot their homeland, and no longer thought of returning. The hero Odysseus had no choice but to order them to be tied to the ship and set sail rapidly, only then managing to return to his native land," Du Zhengyi said.

"So it's Lotus Eaters." Guan Xinyue realized with a start and repeated it. After thinking about it carefully, her expression could not help but become somewhat solemn. "You all care very much about this story?"

"Even I cannot help but have some reflections," Du Zhengyi said. "We originally lived among nature. We are different from humans; our innate abilities are enough to survive in nature. We do not need to develop industry, and we have no great interest in science. In the golden age of the past, humans had many names for us: immortals in caves, spirits in the woods, gods on the mountains. But it is ridiculous that the immortals, spirits, and gods gradually lost themselves in the comfortable life created by human technology. We became Mages in the city. Life in human cities is truly easy; the magical instincts we once relied on for survival seem increasingly unimportant. Sometimes, even we ourselves no longer think about magic. The traces of our existence are like morning dew, disappearing in the space of a breath. The homeland has long since drifted away, and the Other Shore is hard to return to."

Guan Xinyue was dazed for a while. Du Zhengyi rarely revealed his emotions. He narrated very calmly, just speaking with more gravity, lacking his usual impatience, which brought a trace of imperceptible sorrow. On the contrary, Jin Yu, as a Lotus Burner, remained indifferent, frowning absent-mindedly and subconsciously picking at her fingernails.

Guan Xinyue could not bear to see others in pain, and hearing this made her feel very uncomfortable. However, after ruminating on it for a moment, she suddenly realized there was a fatal problem here. "You... you mean to say that the intention of the Lotus Burners is completely opposite to the Lotus Eaters, right? They think the way to continue your race's independence is to burn the lotus? To destroy our world?"

"That's about it," Du Zhengyi said, coming back to his senses. "These ideas of the Lotus Burners were initially just radical thoughts proposed by a small group of students decades ago. They only spread among students, and no one really paid attention. In my view, not many decent Mages would take these ideas seriously. It wasn't until about three years ago that the Mage Supreme Committee realized they were truly putting them into action. By the time it was discovered, it was already a bit late. Their organizational scale is astonishing, and they have infiltrated many fields."

Guan Xinyue suddenly felt she had no energy to pity the fate of others. If Mages decided to wipe out human civilization, regardless of whether the goal could be perfectly achieved, it would inevitably lead to bloodshed. Countless humans who hadn't figured out the situation would be crushed like ants. Just thinking about that scenario was like a horror movie. "Can't we find a way to coexist? Our family is a positive example. We all know that half the people in our family are Mages, and they certainly know we are humans, what we like, and what we will do. Yet we still live very well. Why must you hope that everyone is exactly the same?"

"Don't you understand yet? In their eyes, the Guan Family Mages are Lotus Eaters. Mages who are extremely addicted to human civilization, and even intermarry with humans," Du Zhengyi said in a low voice. "And those Mages who have no Magic Ability and want to survive in human society, like Luo Qi, are also viewed as Lotus Eaters."

"You mean..." Guan Xinyue felt she couldn't speak. She began to feel a sense of vertigo, and her breathing tightened.

"I'm not sure," Du Zhengyi said, his attitude still matter-of-fact. "Murdering Guan Yushan was not easy. Since it was already accomplished, there was no need to continue laying out plans nearby and inviting trouble."

His gaze turned to Jin Yu. She was lost in thought, looking back at Du Zhengyi belatedly, and immediately shook her head as if struck by electricity. "I don't know, I really don't know."

"Is Li Xu a Mind Mage?" Du Zhengyi took a deep breath, stood up, and walked forward a few steps. Now all the pieces were about to be put together; he could almost glimpse the full picture of the matter, although he didn't want to see this whole thing at all.

Jin Yu became nervous, staring at Du Zhengyi defensively. "I don't know."

"Luo Qi only had no reaction to mind contact, and you could feel it, yet you can't figure out if Li Xu is a Telepath?" His words were stinging, and his eyes were sharp and piercing.

Jin Yu groaned in despair. "I don't know. That person Li Xu has always hidden very deeply. I don't know who would dare to say they can see him clearly."

Du Zhengyi looked at her deeply, finally seeming to agree with what she said, and tucked the Bone-Hilt Knife in his hand into the inner pocket of his suit jacket.

Jin Yu's eyes rolled, having guessed that their conversation had ended, and she hurriedly shouted, "You promised to let me go!"

"You are much smarter than Guan Xinyue," Du Zhengyi said, seeming to have finally made up his mind. "Wait here; someone will come to find you. I won't hand you over to the Qionglin, nor will I hand you over to the Lotus Burners, because I don't want to startle the snake."

He stared at the female Mage's petite face. She kept her mouth shut and did not refute his decision, her face hanging with heavy frustration and full of resentment, just like an ordinary girl who had walked ten kilometers on an empty stomach and still hadn't caught a taxi.

Guan Xinyue rolled her eyes and walked to his side. Even though she was emotionally tense and in a bad mood, hearing that she wasn't smart enough, she could at least roll her eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then finally turned back to Jin Yu and said, "Being able to live is not an ordinary thing; there is really no need to go looking for other thrills."

Jin Yu buried her face and did not answer his words. Guan Xinyue stared at him curiously. His expression was calm, and he turned and took a step toward the center of the classroom. Guan Xinyue hurriedly followed, and Du Zhengyi grabbed her arm. The classroom disappeared from their side, and they stood in the teahouse's employee parking lot full of broken bricks.

"Go quickly!" Du Zhengyi stepped out, his expression changed, and he rushed toward the back door of the parking lot.

It was the first time Guan Xinyue had seen Du Zhengyi so anxious. The words she wanted to ask were swallowed back. Just with that delay, Du Zhengyi's long legs had already strode far away. Guan Xinyue trotted to catch up, and Du Zhengyi grabbed her arm casually, looking back to survey the situation. Guan Xinyue only had time to let out a low cry, and in a dizzying trance, they were already standing next to Du Zhengyi's Ford Mustang.

"Next time..." Guan Xinyue swallowed. "Before you Teleport next time, you must tell me! I am a human, a human! It's impossible to get used to these ways of yours!"

"Get in," Du Zhengyi said concisely. "You're fine; you're already much stronger than Luo Qi."

Guan Xinyue was quite satisfied with this compliment. Without any delay, she ran around to the other side of the car, sat directly inside, and moved to pull the seatbelt to strap herself in. "Where to?"

"The location of the Mage Supreme Committee, Qionglin," Du Zhengyi started the engine, and the Mustang roared and rushed out violently. "I need to save energy, so we'll go this way. First, go to the Pendragon Orbital Hub, and after getting off at the nearest hub station, we'll Teleport over."

"Are you going to report the latest situation, or are you planning to go help Luo Qi?" Guan Xinyue seemed to have anticipated that Du Zhengyi would crazily change lanes and overtake, so she reached out to brace herself in advance to make herself sit more comfortably.

Du Zhengyi glanced at her. "Luo Qi is particularly fussy when riding in my car. You're much stronger than him. Does your grandfather drive like this too?"

"My grandfather is a law-abiding good citizen," Guan Xinyue said, sticking out her tongue. "But I grew up playing with my sister, so I know how good your reaction speed and dynamic vision are."

Du Zhengyi nodded and answered her previous question. "I at least have to confirm that Luo Qi is not in trouble first. I have a bad premonition."

"Li Xu?" Guan Xinyue asked, shivering. "I don't like him either. Just seeing him makes me feel creeped out."

"He is a bit too targeted toward Luo Qi. I originally thought he would have some scruples in Qionglin, but now that it's confirmed he is a Lotus Burner, then nothing is certain," Du Zhengyi said, suddenly hesitating. "Can you..."

"What?" Guan Xinyue was listening intently, and suddenly hearing Du Zhengyi's tone turn into a request, and only saying half of it, she was startled.

"When I brought Luo Qi over, he... he..." Du Zhengyi pressed the horn fiercely in annoyance. "He seems to be able to see where the road is congested on his phone. Can you..."

"No need to say more, I understand." Guan Xinyue made a face and reached out to touch her phone. "Finally, there is something we can do that you can't. What's the destination? I'll look at the Gaode map, you keep talking."

Du Zhengyi reported the name of a shopping mall, helplessly watching the traffic gradually slow down. No matter how fast his reaction speed was, he couldn't fly over. He had to use this time to continue. "I've been thinking about what kind of identity Li Xu has in this matter. At first, I thought he was an official investigator with very long hands. Now it seems that might be correct. Otherwise, many things don't make sense, especially since they didn't need to leak the matter of Lu Jinfeng to me."

"Do you mean to say that Li Xu represents both the Supreme Committee and the Lotus Burners, and you and Luo Qi represent the non-Lotus Burner forces in the Supreme Committee? But there is another force, which is those strange temples. You and the Lotus Burners were both attracted by this force of the temples?" Guan Xinyue handed him the phone to show the map at a red light. "Can I ask, you and Luo Qi are clearly still students, yet you were sent out. Is it because your Supreme Committee has already started to have no one to trust? Actually, the whole thing has nothing to do with the ghost stories I posted, right?"

"You gave us a good reason to cover our tracks," Du Zhengyi said. "We gained some surprise advantages."

Guan Xinyue nodded solemnly, feeling some comfort.

Du Zhengyi drove off the overpass and turned into a small road. "You already know more than Luo Qi; he doesn't know these things yet." He paused and suddenly said, "Perhaps he already knows."

"Qi Yue was killed by Li Xu and the others; it has nothing to do with Luo Qi," Guan Xinyue said stubbornly again, but even she could hear that there was still room for doubt in her words.

Du Zhengyi took over her words. "The problem is how Luo Qi managed to tell that story."

There was a long silence in the car. Finally, Guan Xinyue squeezed out a sentence. "Do you Mages have the ability to predict the future?"

"That kind of ability belongs to the blind people setting up stalls to tell fortunes at the temple entrance," Du Zhengyi said impatiently.

Guan Xinyue hurriedly shouted, "Turn right at the next intersection," fearing that he would drive past it in his irritation.

"I have a guess," Du Zhengyi turned right directly from the straight lane in irritation, "but that doesn't matter anymore. Li Xu is too crazy. I have to get Luo Qi out first. I can't just leave you anywhere now. Since you're involved with the Lotus Burners, all risks must be re-evaluated."

"It's okay," Guan Xinyue said easily. "To tell you the truth, I've long been used to fear."

Du Zhengyi turned his head and looked at her seriously.

"Luo Qi will be fine too," she said, as if to comfort him.

This girl was really still very young, only sixteen, and she was a human. And he couldn't even say she was a calm and steady girl; she was both prone to going crazy and somewhat neurotic. She was just so stubborn, even paranoid, but that paranoia was also a powerful willpower. He had nothing to say.