Chapter 52

The sound of pages turning and whispers mingled in the air.

Sunlight filtered through the windows and doors, casting a warm glow. Occasionally, footsteps stirred, and tiny specks of dust danced and floated in the air, like stars in the night sky.

"Do you know? When faced with harsh realities, many people choose to escape because they can't bear the cruelty of the truth. Once a glimmer of侥幸 (侥幸 means侥幸, but in this context, it means '侥幸' or '侥幸') arises in their hearts, it becomes their weakness and excuse."

An Manta flipped through the pages, murmuring to himself.

"Perhaps they all understand, but they dare not face the outcome. Some want to resist but are powerless, some are侥幸 but uneasy, and others, they firmly believe in their own conclusions, while I choose to face the worst outcome."

People always wander in contradictions and complexities.

"Thank you for your expectations and attention, but I may not have the abilities you imagine," Xia Lan said calmly.

"A person who falls into the water will desperately grab onto anything that can save them, even if it's just a withered blade of grass," An Manta said with a self-deprecating smile.

Closing the book and placing it back on the shelf, Xia Lan walked to a remote corner of the bookshelf, as if looking for other books of interest.

An Manta followed closely, having his own way to avoid arousing suspicion from the monitors.

"What's your plan?"

Faced with the persistent trouble, Xia Lan pretended to search for books and asked.

"Do you agree?" An Manta maintained his smile.

"I can't guarantee your safety."

"Accidents are inevitable on the path to escape death."

"What's your plan?"

"What about your abilities?"

"They are no match for me."

As he spoke, Xia Lan casually glanced at the monitoring students.

An Manta nodded and said, "Can you take care of them without making a sound?"

Xia Lan replied, "It depends on the situation."

"What if they are all around you?"

"I can."

An Manta, somewhat satisfied, said, "I will pretend to have a seizure. I'm sure they will come to check. Then you can take care of them, change into their clothes, and perhaps escape smoothly."

Xia Lan frowned and said, "Please forgive my impertinence, but your plan seems flawed."

An Manta lowered his head and closed the book, saying, "It may seem foolish, but the simplest plans often achieve their goals. The outcome depends on the person."

"What about them?"

Them, the other nobles under surveillance.

If simply taking down the monitoring students wasn't a problem, the issue was that the other nobles might become the key to failure.

"Don't worry, I have a plan," An Manta said confidently. "I know them, and I believe I can handle them."

"However, it's rare to see a student of your age in the academy," Xia Lan shook his head.

An Manta understood his meaning. Even if the plan succeeded, his appearance would be a critical point of failure if he pretended to be a student.

"Everything has a turning point, it's just a matter of seizing it," An Manta said optimistically.

"Then, I hope your good luck brings you success," Xia Lan said.

An Manta didn't respond. His figure began to move away from Xia Lan, heading towards the other nobles.

He started to act.

An older person, especially one who has long been in the noble circles, has enough acting skills to deceive, a crucial ability for survival.

Deception and intrigue, without sufficient wisdom, they wouldn't be qualified as nobles.

His eyes occasionally turned towards An Manta, whose negotiations seemed to go smoothly, as he saw agreement on the faces of every noble he spoke to.

What did he say? He didn't know, he only cared about the result.

His figure, like a lost insect, moved aimlessly, each place a potential end, yet each a brief stop.

When he finished his rounds, his life seemed to reach its end as he suddenly collapsed, his heavy body stirring up dust and falling to the ground.

Tsk, no wonder the nobles are naturally talented actors.

Xia Lan thought, his expression changing. He had to play along with the drama.

An Manta's sudden collapse drew attention. The nobles, who had already conspired, quickly rushed to his side, anxiously shouting, "Lord Viscount! Lord Viscount!"

Seeing An Manta unresponsive, one of the nobles angrily glared at the monitoring students, "What did you do to Lord An Manta?"

The naked accusation made the five monitoring students immediately rush over.

"Back off! All of you, back off!"

The students pointed their swords at the approaching nobles, one of them stepping forward with a serious expression, "What happened?"

"Are you blind? Lord An Manta is dead!" the noble said angrily.

"What? Dead?"

The moment the noble spoke, everyone's gaze focused on An Manta, stunned.

But Xia Lan didn't, because the opportunity he created had arrived.

Moving closer, with a sword pointed at him, Xia Lan, as the others' attention shifted, quickly stepped forward, his hand forming a blade and swiftly striking the other's neck.

He didn't give the other any chance to react. His speed was explosive, and his hand blade precisely hit each monitoring member's neck, knocking them unconscious.

The nobles watching seemed to blink, and the once arrogant students lay on the ground.

"Lord An Manta, time is running out, quickly change into their clothes."

Xia Lan chose a student of similar build and began to undress him.

An Manta opened his eyes, shook his head, and stood up, looking at him, "That's quite surprising."

He then turned to the nobles, "Choose a few of you to exchange clothes with them. If you encounter patrols, you can temporarily deceive them."

Time passed slowly. Xia Lan tidied his clothes, took the long sword, and looked around.

The unconscious students were now dressed in noble attire, lying on the ground in a dejected manner. The other nobles, now dressed as students, stood by the door, pretending to monitor.

"Don't worry, they will cover for us here," An Manta, now dressed, whispered to Xia Lan. "So don't worry about them following us."

"Will they give up the chance to escape?" Xia Lan asked softly.

"Ha ha—" An Manta chuckled, "With the right conditions, they won't refuse, and I'm confident they will comply."

Xia Lan nodded, "We shouldn't delay. I think we should leave now."

"Wait a moment, I need to give them some instructions," An Manta said.

At the door, Xia Lan cautiously looked outside and quickly retreated.

The corridor outside was patrolled by many students, making it a big problem to deceive them.

After talking with the nobles, An Manta came to his side and whispered, "What happened?"

"There are people in the corridor. If I were alone, it might not be a problem, but—" Xia Lan looked at him, hesitating.

"I've thought about this. If we want to avoid recognition, there's only one way."

An Manta sighed, looking at the puzzled Xia Lan, "If I make my face unrecognizable, there's only one way."

"What way?"

"Beating my face until it's bruised and swollen would be a good way."

Hearing this, Xia Lan couldn't help but smile. It was indeed a good plan.

An Manta smiled bitterly, "I hope you have a way to make it less painful."

"Have you given them their instructions?" Xia Lan glanced at the nobles.

"Don't worry, everything that needed to be said has been said," An Manta said.

"Then, I apologize."

After a short while, An Manta's face, if not examined closely, would be unrecognizable even to his closest friends.

His eyes were black and blue, his mouth swollen and red, his cheeks puffed up.

No matter how you looked at it, it was a comical sight, and he could hear the suppressed laughter of the nobles.

"Let's go. Now my identity is a student who had a conflict with the nobles and was beaten. Our goal is to seek treatment, and you are helping me."

To escape, even dignity had to be abandoned. An Manta had no intention of staying.

Xia Lan nodded, supporting his shoulder and slowly walking out the door.

He had memorized the route in and out when he was brought here. This was the highest floor of the building, and the path to the exit was fraught with potential trouble. They could only hope for a smooth journey.

Jumping out the window might have been a good choice, but on the way in, he had noticed the building was surrounded by patrolling students, making it a tightly guarded prison.

He didn't want to cause a commotion, he didn't want to attract mysterious upper-class swordsmen, and he didn't want to expose his identity.

Moreover, he was now carrying a burden, a liability.

As they approached a patrol team, the footsteps seemed to echo in their hearts, making Xia Lan feel the trembling of the silent An Manta on his shoulder.

"What happened?"

As they approached, the patrol leader frowned and asked.

Xia Lan feigned distress, "My friend has a rather aggressive personality. We had an argument while monitoring those dirty, despicable nobles. We tried to mediate, but the nobles attacked. Although we eventually subdued them, my friend was injured. I want to take him to get treatment. Where should we go?"

Xia Lan's face was unfamiliar to the patrol leader, but this wasn't strange, as the operation involved members from the Royal Military Academy, many of whom might not know each other, but shared a common ideal and were friends.

"Shi Ke, hold on!"

Xia Lan called out a fake name and shook An Manta.

An Manta slowly lifted his head, his swollen face appearing before the patrol team.

After a moment, a hearty laugh echoed.

"I'm sorry for your friend's misfortune. Please forgive my and my team's rudeness," the patrol leader, suppressing his laughter, coughed a few times.

"However, if you need treatment, you should go to the medical room in the academy. Many injured students are being treated there."

"Being treated? What happened?" Xia Lan asked, puzzled.

"Didn't you know?" the patrol leader asked, surprised.

"Sorry, my friend and I have been at the square, so we didn't hear what happened," Xia Lan shook his head.

"I see."

The student nodded, his voice filled with regret, "The nobles' guards stormed the academy to interfere with our operations. They clashed with the members blocking the path. Although the situation was resolved, many were injured, and some even lost their lives."

"Really?" Xia Lan widened his eyes in shock.

"I have no reason to lie to you."

The patrol leader sighed, "You should hurry. I'm sure your friend can't wait for treatment."

"Thank you," Xia Lan said gratefully.

Passing the patrol team, Xia Lan and An Manta seemed to be blessed with luck. They successfully evaded several patrols.

Exiting the white "prison," their figures gradually disappeared down a road.

"Phew—"

An Manta leaned against a tree, panting heavily, as if all his energy had been drained.

"Finally out of that hellish place! Young man, thank you so much this time."

"No need, I also need to thank you."

An Manta felt something strange, as the young man's voice suddenly turned cold.

"What's wrong with you?"

As An Manta looked up, he saw a flash of silver before his eyes.

He felt a chill on his neck.

"I said, I can't guarantee your safety."

An Manta's eyes showed disbelief as he fell to the ground, blood gushing from his neck.

The fake death became real.

The page turns to the start of the AD.

The page turns to the end of the AD.