Chapter Fifty: The Official Showdown

A ship carrying the bodies of several Oracles was caught in a violent typhoon. The storm was so fierce that it blew the vessel far across the sea, eventually bringing it to the waters beside a massive island. This island once bore a beautiful name: the Land of Sakura.

The ship had not drifted for long before several bizarre creatures leapt aboard. They were elders with the heads of serpents and the bodies of fish, grotesque and uncanny. Upon seeing the delicious bodies of the Oracles, they immediately began to feast.

These strange beings were the result of the self-destructive actions of the Land of Sakura, leading to mutated species. The island behind them had already become a living hell.

Once, the island was covered in blooming cherry blossoms, from which it earned its name. Now, it was nothing but ruined buildings, shattered roads, and corpses strewn everywhere.

In an underground shelter, a handful of survivors from the Land of Sakura clustered around a radio, listening intently. It was their only form of entertainment.

“What? The resurgence of the uncanny has begun everywhere? Does that mean our country was destroyed before it even started?” One of them stood up, furious at the reality that their nation was so weak.

The others remained silent. If what the radio said was true, things would only get worse. The weight of that thought made them lower their heads even further.

“It’s time for our medicine.” One person rose, fetched a few capsules from a cabinet, and addressed the group.

The pills were necessary to control their fear. In order to survive here, such medicine was indispensable.

They were Spirit Tamers; only Spirit Tamers had managed to survive in this environment. There used to be Onmyoji, but those people were too weak, having learned merely a superficial touch of the Daoist arts from the Celestial Empire. They were quickly eliminated.

A somber man in black took his medicine and murmured, “I’m going to the restroom.”

No one replied; everyone was busy taking their own pills.

But he did not return for a long time. Worried, someone went to check and found that the man had neatly folded his clothes beside him, slain the uncanny creature he had tamed and laid it in front, and then he himself had been pierced through by a samurai’s blade.

Upon witnessing this, the observer showed no emotion, but quietly delivered the corpse to a cold storage room, where many bodies were kept. These would be their food if they ever reached the end of the road.

Returning to the radio, no one asked any questions. Everyone understood—everything was understood.

“As long as someone among us reaches the S-rank, we still have hope!” a man shouted as loudly as he could.

The others glanced at him, then turned their heads away, lost in thought.

Time passed, heavy and oppressive.

Back to Feng Tianlin’s side, they were sitting in a car, chatting.

“Wang Hui, I didn’t expect you to have such a nice car at your age,” Nuan Miao said, touching the steering wheel, full of envy.

“It... it belongs to my master,” Wang Hui replied, lowering his head.

“Your master? Where is he? I haven’t seen him.” Nuan Miao looked around as if searching for Wang Hui’s master.

“He... died inside.” Wang Hui’s voice was barely audible.

“Ah?” Nuan Miao tensed, realizing she’d said the wrong thing. “Sorry.”

Wang Hui shook his head, indicating it was fine.

At this moment, Feng Tianlin finally spoke: “Do either of you know how to drive?”

He looked at Wang Hui, who waved his hand. “I just came of age.”

He looked at Nuan Miao, who shook her head. “I just graduated.”

So much for reliable help.

Feng Tianlin jumped onto Nuan Miao’s shoulder. “Carry me to the steering wheel. I’ll handle the steering. You can manage the ignition and brakes, right?”

This time, Nuan Miao nodded. “Yeah, I can do that.”

Thus, the two worked together to get the car on the road.

On the way, Nuan Miao kept up the conversation with Feng Tianlin. “Where are we going?”

“Find a hotel. Rest first.”

“Did I just do something big? That red orb seemed pretty powerful.”

“Yes. You may have changed the world.”

“How are you so amazing? You can drive, too?”

“I studied human culture before.”

“Really?”

“Should I recite some classical poetry for you?”

“No need.”

“...”

They soon arrived at the hotel. They booked a room with two beds. At the desk, the receptionist reminded them, “The beds in this room are separate. Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?”

Wang Hui wanted to explain, but Nuan Miao grabbed him by the ear and dragged him upstairs.

The receptionist whispered, “So that’s what they’re into. I thought young people lacked experience.”

Inside the room, Wang Hui was visibly restless.

“Wang Hui, what’s wrong?” Feng Tianlin asked impatiently.

Wang Hui’s face was flushed; he stammered without saying much.

“You’re not shy, are you, little brother?” Seeing his behavior, Nuan Miao flashed a mischievous smile.

Actually, both were nervous. It was the first time either had stayed in a hotel with the opposite sex, even if it was just separate beds—it still felt awkward.

Wang Hui, as a man, refused to admit it. “Who says so? I’m just bored. I need something to do.”

He pulled out his phone and started playing; that was his idea of keeping busy.

But the moment he turned on his phone, he cried out in surprise, “The Celestial Empire’s authorities have exposed the uncanny creatures!”

“What!” Feng Tianlin and Nuan Miao were stunned and leaned in to look.

The phone was flooded with emergency notifications. The authorities had revealed everything about the uncanny creatures and were now recruiting ordinary people for talent testing, encouraging them to become Spirit Tamers or Warriors.

The Daoists had organized, and were being summoned in large numbers. It seemed the Daoist Alliance was under strict national control, with mandatory participation.

This was precisely what Feng Tianlin had hoped to see. He asked Wang Hui, “Do you want to join this Daoist Alliance?”

Wang Hui looked at the message, then at Feng Tianlin, thinking he didn’t want him to join. He shook his head. “I... won’t go.”

Feng Tianlin slapped Wang Hui’s head with his small hand. “Why do you think I made you my little brother? You go to the Daoist Alliance right now, and you’d better mix in well. My future world domination depends on you.”

“Huh?” Wang Hui was stunned. World domination? He swallowed nervously. “You mean you want me to be an undercover agent?”

Feng Tianlin looked at the young man before him. Though he was his human servant, he was more like a little brother now. The boy wouldn’t defy his orders, but sending such a young man to be a mole, betraying his fellow Daoists...

Wasn’t that a bit cruel?

But the next moment, Wang Hui’s face lit up with excitement. “Wow! That’s so cool and thrilling! You want me to be a spy and help you conquer the world? Awesome!”

He pounded his chest with his fist. “I promise to complete the mission.”

Then, with a raised eyebrow at Nuan Miao, he said, “Sister, just wait for me to rise in the Daoist Alliance. I’ll treat you to the finest food and drink.”

He flung open the door and dashed off, his joyous shout echoing down the hallway: “Great! Joining the Daoist Alliance means I don’t have to go to school! To hell with the college entrance exam! Oh yeah!”

Feng Tianlin was speechless.