52 Chapter 51: Abduction (1/2)
”Teacher Jiao…has Fei Wu not returned yet?”
Jiao Shi's brow furrowed when he heard that question. He turned to look at Tang Qi Hong's worried expression.
Tang Qi Hong wasn't alone. Lian Rou was beside her, and the two girls were surrounded by Ban Zhang, Zhu Jiao and Tong Xue.
”It's been more than a week since Fei Wu has left the academy,” Tong Xue informed Jiao Shi. ”And he still isn't back yet.”
”I know.”
Jiao Shi wasn't sure how else to answer. He was aware of Fei Wu's disappearance, probably more so than they were.
”Permission to go out and look for him!” Zhu Jiao demanded, raising his hand. Jiao Shi glanced at him, then shook his head.
”I'll put in a word with the Imperial Guard and request for them to keep an eye out.”
”Will they really accept your request?” Ban Zhang asked suspiciously. Jiao Shi had to admit that the class representative had a point. The Imperial Guard had more important matters to tend to than searching for a single kid.
”Even so, it's best to leave it to them. I won't allow you to go to Chun Ling region. I warned Fei Wu about the dangers, about the presence of demonic sects, and he went ahead. I will not lose any more students.”
”But Fei Wu went alone,” Zhu Jiao protested. ”If a whole group of us go together, it'll be a lot safer!”
”Yeah!” Tang Qi Hong agreed. ”Please, Teacher Jiao! Grant us permission to go look for Fei Wu! Otherwise it'll be too late!”
I fear that it's already too late, Jiao Shi thought, but he wisely didn't say anything that would trigger his students into breaking the rules and searching for Fei Wu alone. It was better to keep them under his supervision and safe from danger. He had heard that the demonic sects had risen in activity recently, and would loathe to lose any of his students to them.
Sighing, he shook his head.
”Leave it to the adults. Even if you go, what good can you do against demonic sects? The Imperial Guard can handle it. They have the training and the experience.”
”We have one sexagenary of artificial qi!” Zhu Jiao argued stubbornly. ”Most martial artists won't be a match for us!”
Jiao Shi glared at him. ”I think you overestimate what the quantity of your qi can do for you. It's not about having more qi or not. Many of the demonic sect leaders and elders have been cultivating for decades and have just as much qi, if not more than you. Furthermore, they possess vast amounts of experience – something you lack severely. You'll just get yourselves killed and the Imperial Guard will have to work hard to save you.”
The students glanced at each other momentarily, not knowing how to respond. They knew that Jiao Shi was right, and couldn't muster a retort or counter.
”I'll update you guys when I receive news of Fei Wu. Until then, the only thing we can do is wait.” Jiao Shi patted Zhu Jiao's shoulder. ”I'm just as worried as you are, trust me. But I know Fei Wu is a tough guy. He can take care of himself. He survived the abyss of Sen Lin Forest before, on his own. For a few months at that. If there's anyone who can survive, it'll be him.”
Besides, I had plot armor, but unfortunately I wasn't there to break the fourth wall in person.
Anyway, Jiao Shi truly believed what he said. He knew there was something unusual about Fei Wu, and that the supposedly one-star constitution student had been creating one miracle after another. He knew intuitively that his fate wouldn't end here.
”Now go back to your sects and train. One day we'll be counting on you future martial artists to take on these missions to rescue young students and disciples from the monstrous clutches of these despicable demonic sects.”
”Yes!”
That did the trick. The students all straightened up instinctively and complied. They turned around obediently and left, heading in the direction of wherever their respective sects were. As he watched them go, Jiao Shi breathed a sigh of relief.
I hope they won't do anything too reckless or impulsive.
Even as he thought that, Jiao Shi admitted to himself that he couldn't blame them. When he was their age, he was equally rash, rushing headlong into danger without listening to the advice of his seniors and teachers.
More than once he had gotten into trouble and barely survived. After those couple of times where he found himself right on the verge of danger, and saw how his parents were so worried, he vowed to never put them through such a traumatic experience again. He restrained himself and learned to maintain his calm and composure.
They really remind me of myself when I was their age…
Shaking his head with a bitter smile and wondering where all those youthful days went, Jiao Shi turned and headed back toward his office.
As he did so, one of the administrative staff suddenly ran up to him.
”Jiao Shi! There you are!”
”What's the matter? Were you looking for me?”
The clerk, Shu Ji, nodded. ”I've been looking all over for you!”
”Sorry, I was in class. My lesson just ended, though. What do you need me for?”
”Well…not me exactly.” Shi Ji nodded understandingly, aware of how busy the teachers were. ”There's a group of people looking for you. They claim that they know a student named Fei Wu. I looked at the records and saw that you're his homeroom teacher, so…”
”I understand. I'll go see them immediately.” Jiao Shi didn't wait for Shu Ji to finish her sentence. ”Where are they?”
”Uh…they're in the reception room.” Shu Ji was taken aback by Jiao Shi's sudden aggressiveness.
”Understood. I'll be seeing them immediately.” Without wasting any time, Jiao Shi headed to the reception room. He turned away from the staff room, proceeded down the corridor and swung around a corner. Fortunately, the reception room wasn't too far away from the staff room – the teachers had to deal with visitors on a daily basis – and he reached there in a few minutes. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside the room.
A group of battered villagers were seated on the couch, exhausted. They were wearing nothing but rags. One of them looked like he was in terrible condition, bandaged heavily with blood leaking through the white gauze.
Jiao Shi stopped for a while, then turned around.
”Shu Ji!” he called out. ”Get Yi Liao here!”
”Understood.”
The clerk, who was following him, nodded and quickly spun away in the direction of the infirmary. As she briskly strode off, Jiao Shi turned back to the men and entered the room. He took a seat on the couch opposite them.
”I understand you were looking for Fei Wu?”
”No, that's not right,” one of the villagers corrected. He was an old man, ancient by most standards, and had an air of wisdom about him. ”We're here to ask you to rescue Fei Wu.”
A chill ran down Jiao Shi's spine, but he clamped it down. On the other hand, he felt some relief. That meant Fei Wu was still alive. Otherwise he would be beyond saving.
”What happened? Tell me in more detail.”
The old man took a deep breath, and then began his story.
”We're from Xiang Chun Village. About a week ago, we came under attack from a demonic sect. Fei Wu, who was staying with us for the night, remained to hold them back for as long as we could. He never returned.”
”He's not dead. One of the villagers saw the demonic martial artists take him away.” The heavily injured guy turned to look at one of the women, who nodded.
”Please! You've to save him!”
Jiao Shi clenched his fists and exhaled, then he nodded. ”I'll talk to the principal about this, and put in a request for the Imperial Guard.”
”Thank you!”
”Don't thank me just yet.” Jiao Shi wondered what Fei Wu's relationship with these villagers were. He guessed that it was simple gratitude. Then he recalled the report that Fei Wu submitted after his stint in the abyss of Sen Lin Forest.
Ah…so this is the village he ended up in, the one that saved him last year…
”After the attack, we spent a wee journeying here. Moving through the forest and trying to avoid getting caught by the demonic sect.”
”It's my fault,” the heavily injured guy said miserably. ”I was holding everyone back.”
”Nonsense,” the old man rebuked him. ”We either escape together, or none of us get out at all. We're not leaving you behind. Besides, an old man like me wouldn't have been much faster anyway. Stop blaming yourself.”
”…”
Jiao Shi glanced from one villager to another, and then stood up.
”I'll contact the principal, and then I'll have to trouble you guys with providing more details later. I hope you don't mind waiting for a bit.”
One of the villagers barked out in harsh laughter.
”Dude, we just spent a week running away in a forest filled with dangerous magical beasts, hunted by demonic martial artists. What makes you think we mind waiting for a bit in safety? As long as you don't kick us back out into the hell out there, we don't care what you do.”
Jiao Shi was silent for a moment, and then he nodded. The villagers must have been through a lot. Pushing the door open, he bowed his head one last time before departing for the principal's office.
A student being abducted. I'm sure Principal Xiao won't stand for this…especially since the other party is the demonic sect.
Having heard of rumors regarding Xiao Zhang's participation in the last war, Jiao Shi shuddered to think how he would react to one of his students being taken by the demonic sects he loathed so much and dedicated his life to exterminate.
He actually felt sorry for the demonic sect who had inadvertently incurred the wrath of the legendary Wise Saint, Xiao Zhang.
*
Bam!
I woke up in a jolt when someone threw me into the ground. Grunting in pain, I tried to get up, only to find myself wrapped inside darkness. Panicking for a second, I fought for a moment, trying to tear myself free, but I wasn't able to.
Then I realized I was being cocooned in some sort of fabric. A…body bag or something?
That's right. Qi Fu Ren told Ba Yun to put me in a body bag. That bastard…
Taking a deep breath, I focused some qi into my hands. Using a basic form of Ghost Shadow Sword, I cut my way out of the body bag and emerged back into the open.
Wham!
”Gah!”
I doubled over as someone hit me the moment I tasted freedom, clutching my midriff and dropping to my knees.
”Who gave you permission to get out?” Qi Fu Ren sneered as he looked down on me. He kicked me again, sending me sprawling on the ground.
”Now, now,” another of the demonic martial artists drawled. ”It is fine, isn't it? We're already back in base, after all.”
Back in base?