Chapter 231: Three in the Morning

3:00 AM.Complete silence enveloped everything.

The dormitory area was plunged in darkness.

Su Zhan remained wide awake, his eyes open, sleep completely eluding him.

The deeper he pondered, the more a chilling sensation shot straight to the top of his head.

Qin Bai... had come with people from the Supervision Department.

What did that signify?

It meant Qin Bai was no longer suspecting him on a personal level;he had already initiated official procedures, submitting concerns about him as a formal report.

This matter had likely already reached the ears of Daxia's higher echelons.

Su Zhan's heart contracted violently.

He understood the sensitivity of the secrets he carried.

The identities of Awakened individuals and Aberrants were absolutely opposed;this was the cornerstone of Daxia's societal trust system.

Once the existence of his dual identity was confirmed, or even just widely suspected, the resulting shockwaves would be catastrophic!

Public trust in Awakened individuals would collapse, internal suspicion and panic would spread... No one in the higher echelons could bear such a cost!

So, what would those lofty, powerful figures do when faced with such a potential risk capable of shaking the nation's foundations?

It didn't take a genius to figure it out!

Better to mistakenly kill than to let anyone slip away!

Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand possibility, they would never take the risk!

An individual's life and grievances were utterly insignificant when weighed against the bigger picture!

"Hiss..."

Su Zhan drew a sharp, cold breath, and cold sweat instantly drenched his entire body.

He had previously clung to a sliver of hope, thinking the academy would protect him, believing that careful concealment would see him through this crisis.

But now, it seemed he had been far too naive.

Qin Bai's actions were a crystal-clear signal.

The higher-ups had already noticed him, and they had likely reached some form of consensus.

The time left for him... was probably truly running out.

He had to act immediately!

He needed to leave Vermilion Bird Academy as soon as possible!

Not just leave, but vanish completely, evading pursuit from Qin Bai and the authorities.

Make sure they couldn't find him!

Survive! Survive at any cost!

Su Zhan abruptly sat up in bed and began planning every detail.

How to avoid surveillance cameras?

How to choose his route?

How to handle potential interrogations and pursuit?

And most importantly... how to change his appearance and obtain a new identity?

Every step was fraught with immense risk, but he had no way back.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The silence of the early morning hours was abruptly shattered by the sound of knocking.

Su Zhan jerked upright from the bed, his heart leaping into his throat, every muscle in his body instinctively tensing.

Who could it be at such a late hour?

Qin Bai's cold, grim face instantly flashed across his mind.

Had Qin Bai grown impatient, deciding to make his move overnight?

An overwhelming sense of crisis made him as jumpy as a startled bird.

Su Zhan held his breath, silently moved behind the door, and cautiously peered through the peephole.

The motion-activated light in the corridor outside was on.

In the dim, yellowish light, the face reflected wasn't the detestable one he had anticipated.

Instead, it was...

Teacher Wang Mingyuan!?

Su Zhan froze, his mind swirling with shock and confusion.

Why would Teacher Wang come looking for him at this hour?

Regardless, seeing it was Wang Mingyuan, the tightly wound nerves in his body relaxed just a fraction.

He slowly opened the door.

Seeing him open the door, Wang Mingyuan also seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He cast an extremely wary glance down both sides of the corridor.

After confirming it was completely empty, he swiftly slipped into the room, gently closing the door behind him and turning the lock.

Seeing this, Su Zhan's heart immediately grew uneasy.

Something that required Wang Mingyuan to be this cautious...

Meant something major had definitely happened.

Once inside the room, Wang Mingyuan waved his hand. A gentle wave of spiritual energy spread out, instantly forming a spiritual energy soundproof barrier that completely isolated the entire room from the outside world.

Only after completing this did Wang Mingyuan turn around. His expression was grave, his gaze complex as he looked at Su Zhan. He opened his mouth as if unsure how to begin.

"Teacher Wang, what... what exactly has happened?" Su Zhan asked nervously.

His voice was laced with fear, because... it was likely about him.

Wang Mingyuan hesitated no longer. Lowering his voice, he spoke rapidly yet clearly, laying out everything he had just learned from Ye Hongyu.

The high-level meeting, the one-week deadline, the Aberrant Purge Division's decision, Qin Bai taking charge of the execution...

Su Zhan's face visibly paled. His body swayed slightly, forcing him to reach out and support himself against the nearby wall to stay upright.

His heart grew icy cold.

His last shred of wishful thinking was utterly shattered.

His suspicions were all true.

He had already been sentenced to death, with only a one-week stay of execution!

He had never felt such despair before.

The last time he felt despair was because of the Calamity-level Abyssal Colossus.

This time, it was even more despair-inducing than the Abyssal Colossus.

The Abyssal Colossus, Calamity-level, was indeed immensely powerful;Su Zhan was like an ant before it.

But the Abyssal Colossus's target wasn't him alone, but the entire South Cang Fortress.

But this time?

A plan resulting from a secret meeting of Daxia's highest echelons.

These high-level figures, if not entirely representing Daxia, at least represented over 50% of it.

And the plan was targeted solely at him.

What had he done to deserve such treatment from Daxia's top brass?

Su Zhan's heart sank to the depths. He looked at Wang Mingyuan, and a thought flashed through his mind.

Since Teacher Wang could know about such a confidential high-level decision and come to inform him at this hour...

Did that mean...

He and Dean Ye had likely long suspected, or even... known his biggest secret?

Su Zhan tentatively asked, "Teacher, do... do you believe me?"

Wang Mingyuan met his gaze without the slightest evasion. "If I didn't believe you, I wouldn't be here right now."

Su Zhan nodded, but his long-standing disguise and vigilance made him retain a sliver of doubt deep down.

Wang Mingyuan looked at him, his tone utterly sincere, and said, "I believe you. I believe you will not harm Daxia."

Su Zhan was completely stunned.

*I believe you will not harm Daxia...*

The subtext of these words was far too obvious.

What Wang Mingyuan knew wasn't merely suspicions.

He clearly knew Su Zhan's identity, yet he still chose to believe him.

The two of them locked eyes.

All Su Zhan saw in Wang Mingyuan's gaze was concern and complete candor.

He understood.

Teacher Wang had known all along.

He had known his secret as an Aberrant for a long time.

Yet, not only had he not reported it, not eliminated him, but he had instead been observing him covertly, protecting him.

And at this critical moment of life and death, he was taking an enormous risk to warn him!

Wang Mingyuan clearly understood better than anyone the terrifying consequences if this secret were exposed, yet he still chose to believe in him, still chose to help him!

Su Zhan's heart was filled with complex emotions, and he was deeply moved.

All his suspicions vanished completely.

To hell with testing!

To hell with pretexts!

Since he was doomed either way, he might as well gamble!

Gamble on Teacher Wang's genuine sincerity!

Su Zhan shed all pretense. His voice carried a tone of relief as he asked, "Teacher, how... how did you find out?"

Seeing Su Zhan finally let down all his defenses, a flicker of relief passed through Wang Mingyuan's eyes.

He briefly summarized his previous observations, suspicions, and... the evidence.

After listening, Su Zhan fully understood.

So, the teacher had known all along, yet had kept it hidden for him until now.

And he had thought no one knew.

No wall is completely airtight.

He had still been ridiculous, still too naive.

The last trace of barrier between them disappeared.

At this moment, they seemed to trust each other completely.