In the days that followed Jin Huang's great debut in the arena, talk of his strength spread like wildfire.
It was the most discussed topic among the first, second and third-year students, and was steadily working its way into the circles of the fourth and fifth-years.
Jin Huang. The Fourteenth Unteachable Student. The Most Powerful.
Every aspect of Jin Huang's life in the academy was brought up.
When he had arrived, where he came from, what his initial assessment had revealed- even the building he stayed in.
Some students boasted that they had seen Jin Huang's gluttony firsthand- others that they lived in the same building as Jin Huang.
Eventually, the topic of the Stamp of Approval came up, and it hijacked the whole conversation.
"How could we have ignored that?"
"A foolish oversight."
"A schoolboy error."
"Of course we should have known Jin Huang would be amazing. He was approved by someone from above. Someone who is at least a Celestial."
"It all makes sense now. He's got to be from the Heavenly realm!"
"He's a plant! A spy! A secret immortal sent here to blend in!"
"You idiot! He's standing out far too much to be anything like that!"
"Oh yeah, you're right, Boss Kang."
"Boss is wise."
"Boss is insightful."
"Boss is truly Boss."
So on and so forth; the discussions and borederline-conspiratorial conversations ran rampant.
As for Jin Huang, he had been taken to the nurse by Hei Shisan, where he was still resting three days after.
The injuries he had suffered, though major, were nothing too serious. His body was already repairing itself, but slowly.
The nurse had pointed out, after examining him, that the energy imbued in Lu Chen's attacks had an unusual effect. It lingered in his body and made the healing process that much harder.
Hei Shisan and Xu Ye, along with Shen Wuyou and Qin Shuyue, had been present to hear this. In their hearts, an intense hatred for Lu Chen manifested, but the fear remained.
Later, Dao Yuan and Li Qingyu had stopped by to see how Jin Huang was doing, and even Mr. Nagira came by.
After the third day, only Hei Shisan, Xu Ye, Qin Shuyue and Shen Wuyou were there with him, sitting or standing around his bedside.
Jin Huang slept, his body still riddled with bruises and abrasions, his face swollen in several areas.
"I just don't get it," Qin Shuyue frowned. "What's someone like that even doing here? Why did Mr. Nagira not do anything to stop him?"
Xu Ye sighed, Shen Wuyou put a hand on her shoulder. Hei Shisan stood near Jin Huang, unmoving, expression sunken.
"I don't know, Shuyue. I-" Shen Wuyou started, fumbling his speech halfway through.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," Xu Ye muttered as he stared at his hands. "Something changed. Something was altered. Jin Huang wasn't supposed to suffer like that."
Qin Shuyue turned, one hand still on the bed, gripping the sheet tightly. "You're damn right he wasn't! That was a fight between students!"
"I meant- I mean-" Xu Ye tried to explain himself, but he sighed and chose to stay quiet.
Shen Wuyou gazed at Hei Shisan, and soon Qin Shuyue's attention turned to him as well.
"You were the one that started all this, weren't you? Jin Huang wasn't the best student, but he tried everyday. He did what he could, and was fine. Then he joins your stupid club, and all of a sudden he declares himself unteachable?"
Hei Shisan stiffened. Shen Wuyou tried to butt in, but Qin Shuyue wouldn't let him.
"Don't even try to defend him. You and I both know Jin Huang never cared about anything more than good food. It's been so long since I saw him at Madame Cho's."
Shen Wuyou could only quiet himself, and silently agree.
"Jin Huang... he never cared about fame, did he? About being recognized? Seen? Was he always that way? Did I just not see it? Or was it you... You, Hei Shisan! Was it you that filled his head with that bullshit!"
Qin Shuyue turned, looking directly at Hei Shisan. "You! Don't you have anything to say?"
Xu Ye and Shen Wuyou gazed at Hei Shisan, who was currently leaning over on the bed, both his hands resting on Jin Huang's arm.
"I couldn't..." Hei Shisan started, his breath hitching before he could even finish his sentence.
"It's no one's fault."
An older female voice invited itself into the atmosphere, surprising them all. Stepping into the space, Cho Yanshi greeted them with a thin smile.
"Madame Cho," Qin Shuyue suddenly let go of the sheet she was gripping, bowing slightly.
They all mirrored her action, except Hei Shisan who was far too out of it.
"Jin Huang is..." she bit her lower lip, the words needing to come out, but resisting her efforts all the same.
"Madame Cho?" Shen Wuyou probed, seeing her struggling. "You said it wasn't anyone's fault. Does this have to do with what Mr. Nagira was talking about before? Something Jin Huang needed to learn?"
Cho Yanshi nodded, "Yes. I know it doesn't make any sense to you all right now, but you must know that this was no one's fault."
Qin Shuyue's lip quivered, "But how can you say that? How can you say that when you clearly saw what happened?"
Cho Yanshi sighed, "You all do not understand. Jin Huang is... special... and-"
Qin Shuyue scoffed, shaking her head. "I know he's special. Which is precisely why I would have stepped in to protect him if I could. Why didn't you, if he's so special?"
Her words were sharp and dipped in venom. Worst of all, she was right, in a sense.
Cho Yanshi clasped her hands, her fingers moving frantically as she tried to find the words.
Hei Shisan looked up from Jin Huang's injured face for the first time. "I know what you want to say. I can assure you that there's no one Jin Huang trusts more than the people in this room."
Cho Yanshi sighed, "Even so, some things- some secrets- they are far too dangerous-"
Hei Shisan exhaled, "Jin Huang possesses something called the Supreme Immortal Body. Did I get that right?"
They all froze, eyes widening.
Qin Shuyue and Shen Wuyou were more confused than shocked, but Xu Ye was more more mortified than anything else, instantly breaking out into a cold sweat.
Cho Yanshi gasped, "He... knows? He told you? All of you?"
While the others shook their heads, Xu Ye was unresponsive. No one noticed him, though, since Hei Shisan started talking at the same time.
"After he went to the Abyssal Demonic Star System for the first time, he came back with something. He didn't get the chance to show it to you all before we were dragged to detention."
Cho Yanshi took a step forward, "This something. What was it?"
Hei Shisan took a breath, straightening. "The Supreme Immortal Journal. I have no idea where he got it, though. He left that part out."
Cho Yanshi recalled Yao Lingzi's recount of Jin Huang's first trip to the Abyss, and how she had been unable to see him for a time.
That had to have been when it happened- whatever it was.
"What else do you know?" Cho Yanshi asked and all eyes were suddenly on Hei Shisan.
At some point, Xu Ye had gotten calm, the endless night in his eyes glittering.
"Not much. He said something about the person who wrote the Journal being him from the future... or the past... I don't know. It was what he used to figure out how to cultivate, which is why we went back to Obsidian City."
Hei Shisan lightly tapped Jin Huang's shoulder, "There's still a lot I don't know, but that's his business."
Cho Yanshi frowned, "I wish it were that simple. The Supreme Immortal Body is everyone's business... Everyone's..."
Cho Yanshi felt a sudden shift, but as soon as she noticed it, it vanished from her senses. However, just that initial feeling was enough to bring something to her attention.
Xu Ye. His eyes. She had seen those eyes before.
"Excuse me, but, who are you?"
Xu Ye said nothing, he just stared in silence. Then, Hei Shisan spoke, "That's Xu Ye. He's the son of some god. Tell her, Xu Ye."
Cho Yanshi's eyes widened in fear, her jaw agape. "Oh no."
Hei Shisan frowned; Qin Shuyue glanced between the three of them, confused. Shen Wuyou was much the same.
Suddenly, space folded and unfolded near Xu Ye's seat, a figure materializing and attacking at the same time. They struck Xu Ye behind the neck, knocking him out instantly.
"Lu Chen," Hei Shisan stiffened.
"You," Qin Shuyue glared, "What the hell are you doing!?"
Shen Wuyou's eyes were practically spinning. He had no idea what was going on- none of the students did.
Cho Yanshi rushed past them, catching Xu Ye from falling over and bringing his face into view. Lu Chen stood back, folding his arms and saying nothing.
"His eyes... good, they're dormant. He's unconscious." Cho Yanshi reported.
"I know," Lu Chen stated, simply.
"How long have you even been here," Qin Shuyue said to him, sniffling.
Lu Chen said nothing.
"Hello!? Why did he do that!?" She pressed further.
Hei Shisan was quiet, silently thinking while observing.
Cho Yanshi left Xu Ye to sleep on the chair, fear in her eyes. "Xu Ye... the son of Xu Lan. I had never seen him before. Forgive me."
Her fearful eyes found Lu Chen's, and she took a deep breath. Resolve settled in her gaze, circumventing the fear.
"Listen to me," she said as she looked away from him.
"Jin Huang's body- The Supreme Immortal Body- is not permitted to exist by decree of the Heavenly Daos. Over eons, it has appeared and been hunted by the entirety of the Earthly and Heavenly Realms."
Hei Shisan's frown deepened, a solemn expression washing over his face. He had been trying to put the pieces together, and had considered that possibility.
"What, are you saying Xu Ye was going to do something to Jin Huang?" Shen Wuyou asked, on his feet now.
"Not him. His mother. Their eyes are linked somehow- some kind of ocular divinity that I don't properly understand-"
Lu Chen snorted, "Doesn't matter. We're already running out of time. We have to operate under the assumption that she knows."
Cho Yanshi pressed a hand onto Jin Huang's body, a bright green sphere appearing and encasing him within as it hovered, taking him with it before it shrunk down to the size of a ball.
Of course, Jin Huang shrunk with it, and Cho Yanshi grabbed it up.
"You all have to decide now. Will you stay here, and risk having your memories invaded, or will you come with us?"
Hei Shisan and Qin Shuyue were the first to sign on, with Shen Wuyou lagging behind as he tried to piece the information together.
"Then follow me. Leave everything you don't already have on you. Escaping with our lives alone will require more luck than any of us have." Cho Yanshi said, rushing out of the room while tucking the green sphere- with Jin Huang inside- into a pouch.
Lu Chen was right behind her, then Hei Shisan, Qin Shuyue and Shen Wuyou.
After they left, Xu Ye, who was supposed to be unconscious, suddenly opened his eyes. He spoke, and a woman's voice- Xu Lan's voice- spoke as well, an eery superimposition.
"So it wasn't a false alarm this time..."
"The Supreme Immortal Body... is back."
...
End of Volume One.