Chapter 431: The Real Spy

The three girls were shocked when they recognized the unremarkable man’s face. It was actually Fang Baicheng! He was one of the instructors at Eastern Blue-Robe House.

He was a quiet, diligent man, who taught his classes with a sincere attitude. He was also well known for his kindness, since he had never been to quarrel with anyone. Most astonishing of all, Fang Baicheng was a genuine graduate of White Deer Academy. His excellent grades had led to an offer of a teaching position upon graduation. His background was spotless.

He had shown no suspicious signs prior to this. Yet this modest, seemingly perfect man was the brutal, ruthless silver-masked figure?

"So, the day has finally come," Fang Baicheng murmured, his expression now calm.

It was as if a weight had been lifted from him.

“Instructor Fang, are you a spy for Mechanical Eternity, or were you coerced and modified?” Su Wanqing asked.

Fang Baicheng didn’t respond.

Instead, he looked at Li Xiaofei. “When did the Dragon Group start producing monsters like you? You’ve even mastered the Dual Saint Body of Blade and Sword. Are you one of the Dragon Group’s Saints-in-Training?”

Li Xiaofei was a bit surprised. The fact that Fang Baicheng knew about the Dual Saint Body of Blade and Sword hinted at a deeper understanding of the Dragon Group by Mechanical Eternity than he’d initially suspected. But he had no intention of answering Fang Baicheng’s question.

Turning to Su Wanqing, Li Xiaofei asked, “What should we do with him?”

Su Wanqing replied, “Ideally, we should keep him alive. The Dragon Group has a specialized interrogation team that could extract valuable informati-”

Before she could finish, sparks appeared in Fang Baicheng’s left eye. It began to fizz like a lit sparkler, reminiscent of New Year’s festivities. Moments later, his head started to melt away.

Li Xiaofei was taken aback. His experience dealing with New Martial Art cultivators was limited, and he hadn’t anticipated that his freezing inner qi would fail to immobilize all the metal components in Fang Baicheng’s body and give him the chance to self-destruct.

Any data in his implanted light core had likely been completely erased. It was a minor misstep, but it was inconsequential to the larger mission. With Fang Baicheng’s death, the Mechanical Eternity cult’s infiltration of White Deer Academy was effectively exposed. They no longer had sufficient strength to attempt a second ambush.

Unless they somehow breached White Deer Academy’s barrier, sneaking back in would be impossible. Thus, Li Xiaofei’s mission to protect Su Wanqing was nearly complete.

"Let’s go," Li Xiaofei said, turning to the three girls.

“You really are the Jade Emperor, aren’t you...” Lin Wan stepped forward, excitement lighting up her face. But after a few steps, she hesitated, stopping shyly. “Thank you, Senior, for saving us once again.”

Li Xiaofei waved it off casually. “We’re classmates. No need for the senior bit; it only makes me sound ancient.”

“Oh, right... Li... Junior Brother Li,” Lin Wan stammered, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

She couldn’t help but recall the time they’d flown together outside the city. She had clung tightly to Li Xiaofei’s back, thinking her mysterious rescuer was a much older man. At the time, she hadn’t felt much beyond respect and awe.

Now that she knew his true identity, a ripple of something more stirred in the heart of the academy’s belle.

“How are you so powerful?” Ding Rong chimed in, stepping closer.

The noble young lady, with her blond hair tied in a high ponytail, radiated a refreshing boldness and confidence rare among girls her age.

Her bright almond eyes scrutinized Li Xiaofei from head to toe. “The old principal, our so-called Human Genius Detector, must have been way off this time. How could he miss someone like you? Come on, what realm are you really in?”

Li Xiaofei responded with a smirk, “Saint Realm.”

"You're lying," Ding Rong scoffed, "Be serious."

Li Xiaofei chuckled. “My situation is complicated; it’s not something I can explain quickly.”

“Fine, be stingy about it.” Ding Rong huffed, but then softened, adding, “Anyway, thanks for saving me. I’ll definitely find a way to repay you.”

“No need to offer yourself up as a reward; I’m not interested,” Li Xiaofei grinned back.

“In your dreams!” Ding Rong shot back, grabbing Lin Wan’s arm. “But I could help you chase after Lin Wan. Let me tell you, her skin is super fair, soft, and smooth...”

“Stop it!” Lin Wan blushed furiously as she slapped a hand over her friend’s mouth.

The two girls started playfully bickering.

Meanwhile, Su Wanqing examined the remains of the cyborgs, carefully inspecting the remnants and then examining Fang Baicheng’s body. She retrieved a few mechanical components.

“Let’s go,” Li Xiaofei said.

Su Wanqing nodded, and the group began searching for an exit.

As they moved, Su Wanqing suddenly spoke up. “I have a question.”

Curious, Ding Rong asked, “What’s the question?”

Su Wanqing turned to her. “Ding Rong, where exactly were you when the Mechanical Eternity people captured you?”

“In my dorm,” Ding Rong replied.

Su Wanqing then turned to Lin Wan.

Lin Wan quickly responded, “I was just outside the library.”

“Then here’s the question,” Su Wanqing said slowly. “The reason Mechanical Eternity brought Lin Wan here was likely because she was one of the three students who went missing during the trial, making her suspicious enough to serve as both a potential threat and a convenient hostage. But why did they go out of their way to kidnap you as well, Ding Rong?”

As she spoke, Su Wanqing’s gaze stayed fixed on Ding Rong.

Ding Rong hesitated. “Maybe... it’s because I’m close to Lin Wan, and they needed more hostages?”

“That’s unlikely,” Su Wanqing replied, shaking her head. “From what I understand, the Mechanical Special Forces plan their operations meticulously, with clear targets in mind. They wouldn’t bother with an unrelated person, especially within White Deer Academy, where every additional hostage increases the risk of exposure. Unless someone, like Li Xiaofei, happened to be at the scene, they would avoid unnecessary risks.”

Ding Rong’s expression faltered. “Senior Su... what are you trying to say?”

Su Wanqing looked at her in silence.

Turning slightly, she noticed that at some point, Li Xiaofei had taken hold of Lin Wan’s hand, positioning her protectively behind him.

Ding Rong forced a smile. “Senior, Junior Brother Li, you...”

But before she finished her sentence, a power pistol slipped into her hand.

Bang.

The energy bullet shot toward Su Wanqing. But she had been ready; the moment Ding Rong raised her arm, Su Wanqing had rolled to the side to dodge.

With Li Xiaofei there, Ding Rong had no chance to fire a second shot. Sword light flashed as the hand holding the gun, along with the weapon itself, fell to the ground.

Ding Rong’s face twisted in agony, her scream echoing through the room like a slaughtered animal. Her true strength was pitifully weak. She bore no mechanical modifications on her body.

Her only asset had been that specially-designed mini power pistol, capable of killing a Five Spirits Realm expert. But now all hope was lost with her single failed attempt.

Lin Wan stared at the scene in shock. She could hardly process that her close friend, with whom she had spent so many days, was actually a planted agent of the Mechanical Eternity cult within White Deer Academy.

Li Xiaofei glanced at Su Wanqing.

This girl, though possessing only moderate strength, is strikingly beautiful and has a rare, meticulous mind. She had actually noticed the subtle flaw in Ding Rong’s behavior, exposing this deeply embedded spy within White Deer Academy.

Before Su Wanqing’s probing questions, even Li Xiaofei hadn’t detected any suspicious signs from Ding Rong. As expected, there were no weaklings in the Dragon Group.

He applied pressure to Ding Rong’s acupoints to stop the bleeding, ensuring she was taken alive.

“Looks like we have a live one,” Su Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Wan stared at her former close friend in stunned silence. After a moment’s hesitation, she picked up the severed hand and the gun from the ground. She handed the gun to Li Xiaofei.

Now that Ding Rong was subdued, the group quickly located an exit. When they stepped outside, they found themselves still within White Deer Academy. They had been in a secluded natural cave on the academy’s remote back mountain, well-hidden from view.