Chapter 239: Last Meal

The final night arrived as scheduled.The prison cell door opened once again.

A Supervision Department member with an expressionless face stood there.

He held a tray with several exquisite dishes and even a small pot of wine.

The aroma of the food clashed sharply with the cold atmosphere of the prison cell.

The member placed the tray on the floor before Su Zhan:

"Commander Qin sent this last meal. He said you should eat well one last time. After midnight tonight, it will be time for you to go."

After speaking, he couldn't be bothered to look at Su Zhan any longer, turned and left, the metal door closing once again.

Su Zhan looked at the steaming hot food.

The colors were enticing, the aroma fragrant, completely different from the prison food he had been eating these past days.

A plate of glossy, fragrant braised beef.

A bowl of mushroom chicken soup.

Two bowls of green vegetables.

A large bowl of white rice.

Accompanied by a small pot of warm, heated wine.

Last meal...

Heh heh heh...

Qin Bai certainly knows how to be proper.

Su Zhan reached out, picked up the chopsticks, first picked up a piece of tender, stewed beef and put it in his mouth, the meat melting on his tongue.

Then he scooped a spoonful of chicken soup.

After that, he picked up the cup of warm wine, tilted his head back and took a sip.

The spicy sensation burned his esophagus.

Su Zhan wasn't afraid of poison.

First, Qin Bai still needed to extract secrets and accomplices from him, so he wouldn't let him die now.

Second... he actually wished there really was poison in it.

To die like this would spare him the unimaginable torture that would follow.

Unfortunately, he knew this was impossible.

Qin Bai wouldn't grant him such mercy.

So, eat, drink.

Su Zhan chewed.

But this was indeed the final meal.

After tonight, when the clock strikes midnight.

It would be time to go.

...

The main cafeteria of Vermilion Bird Academy reached late-night snack time, with quite a few students still eating or chatting sparsely scattered around.

In a corner by the window.

Liu Ziming, Xu Hao, and Feng Jue sat around a table together.

The table had a few simple dishes, but more prominently, several pots of strong white liquor already half empty.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Liu Ziming gulped down a large mouthful of wine, slamming the cup heavily on the table with a dull thud that drew sidelong glances from nearby tables.

His eyes were somewhat red, whether from the alcohol or something else:

"Damn it! What kind of situation is this! No news at all from Su Zhan, that bastard Qin Bai has everything locked down tight! Teacher Wang isn't saying anything either!"

Xu Hao also drank gloomily, echoing: "Frustrating! So damn frustrating!"

Feng Jue also had a wine cup in front of him.

He rarely drank, but tonight he made an exception.

His brows were tightly furrowed: "Right now I'm only worried about how deeply involved Su Zhan... has gotten in whatever this is. The more I think about Teacher Wang's 'top secret' comment, the more scared I feel."

"Top secret? What could be so top secret?"

Liu Ziming took another gulp of wine: "It's just that bastard Qin Bai using his position for personal revenge! Damn it, when I get powerful later, I'll take him down first!"

Xu Hao still pulled at him: "Liu Ziming, keep your voice down... don't cause more trouble."

"Trouble? Am I afraid of trouble?"

Liu Ziming stiffened his neck, but his voice ultimately lowered somewhat.

The three of them drank their gloomy wine like this, intermittently cursing Qin Bai.

Worrying about Su Zhan, yet unable to make any sense of the situation.

Their moods were low, but they didn't notice...

Outside the window, gray-white mist emerged from all directions.

Rolling as if possessing life, instantly swallowing the entire Vermilion Bird Academy.

Even the sky was completely covered by thick mist, like a giant gray bowl turned upside down, cutting off the sun, moon, and stars.

"Mist incident!?"

Someone in the cafeteria exclaimed.

"But this is inside Vermilion Bird Academy!"

"It's the Transcendence Society! It must be those Transcendence Society maniacs!"

"How dare they? How dare they attack here directly?"

Everyone knew what this mist meant.

But no one could have imagined that the other side would be so insane as to directly choose Vermilion Bird Academy, one of Daxia's five top institutions, as their target!

Vermilion Bird Academy has experts as numerous as clouds...

How dare the Transcendence Society do this?

Liu Ziming and the other two instantly sobered up considerably upon hearing this.

"Holy shit!"

Liu Ziming stood up abruptly, looking at the apocalyptic scene outside the window: "Mist? How the hell could this appear inside the academy!?"

Xu Hao shot to his feet: "Have those Transcendence Society bastards gone mad? Daring to strike here?"

Feng Jue's eyes were filled with disbelief: "This is too insane."

War had actually descended upon what they thought was their safest stronghold without any warning.

But Vermilion Bird Academy was ultimately Vermilion Bird Academy.

After brief commotion, powerful emergency mechanisms immediately activated.

"Woo—Woo—Woo—"

Ancient spiritual energy horn sounds resounded throughout the academy.

Because electronic equipment including surveillance had all failed the moment the mist descended.

This was specifically used to replace the failed broadcast system.

Countless powerful auras instantly erupted from various locations throughout the academy.

Teachers' voices amplified by spiritual energy:

"All students! Do not panic! Immediately follow emergency drill protocols and assemble at the central underground shelter!"

"Class advisors responsible for guiding their own class students! Combat personnel to your positions!"

"Repeat! All students assemble at the central underground shelter! Maintain order!"

With the command given, the well-trained students demonstrated the quality of top institution students, quickly and orderly rushing out of cafeterias, dormitories, and teaching buildings.

"Let's go!"

Feng Jue was the first to react: "Don't just stand there! Follow the main group!"

Liu Ziming and Xu Hao also snapped back to awareness.

The three immediately rushed out of the cafeteria with the surging crowd.

Outside had already become a scene of tense yet orderly evacuation.

Countless students moved toward the same direction.

Class advisors and senior student cadres shouted loudly to maintain order.

Along both sides of the road.

The usual teaching instructors stood with surging spiritual energy, vigilantly watching the rolling mist.

Ready at any moment to deal with possible attacks emerging from the fog, protecting and escorting the evacuating students.

Under the guidance and protection of their respective instructors.

Everyone surged toward the giant underground shelter buried deep at the academy center.

But Liu Ziming and the other two had other thoughts in their hearts.

The academy in chaos... did this mean that the Hunting Team side... would also be in chaos?

But at this moment, they could do nothing.

They could only follow the crowd, running toward the shelter's direction.

"Where's Teacher Wang Mingyuan? I haven't seen him?"

Xu Hao searched for Wang Mingyuan's figure for a long time but still couldn't find him, so he asked.

"Probably..."

Feng Jue looked toward the Hunting Team building: "Gone to find Su Zhan."

...

Vermilion Bird Academy Hunting Team building.

The thick special metal walls were extremely soundproof.

But when the massive commotion outside enough to sweep through the entire academy occurred.

It still faintly transmitted into the prison cell.

Su Zhan was numbly awaiting his final moment when he suddenly lifted his head.

Outside... something happened?

And definitely not something small!

Commotion of this scale, those ancient spiritual energy horns that only sounded during the highest level alerts... could it be...?

Mist? War?

Yes!

Only an attack of this scale could cause such massive chaos!

Could it be... that those Transcendence Society maniacs... actually dared to directly attack Vermilion Bird Academy?

Su Zhan's despairing heart suddenly ignited with hope.

Chaos!

Meant tight security would develop loopholes!

Everyone's attention would be drawn to the greater crisis!

Meant... he might have a chance.

The desire to survive once again occupied his entire being.

Su Zhan jumped down from the hard plank bed, rushed to the cold metal door, pressed his ear tightly against it, held his breath, and strained to capture every subtle sound from outside.

Shouts? Running footsteps? Spiritual energy collision sounds?

Although vague and unclear, they were enough to prove that the situation outside had completely spiraled out of control.

Opportunity.

This might be the only opportunity!

Had to do something!

Had to take action now!

Su Zhan suddenly turned back, his gaze like the hungriest wild beast, frantically scanning the prison cell that contained nothing but a bed and toilet.

His brain operated at an unprecedented speed.