National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

"Could they have already found this institute’s secret? Or is there something else going on?"

Dean asked.

Before stepping into the Rainbow Welfare Institute, they had already observed its exterior.

Although it covered a large area,

it wasn’t so large that that many Martial Artists could enter and immediately vanish without a trace.

"Color is a major factor that influences people’s psychology and emotions.

A normal welfare institute’s design should pay close attention to color schemes to create a warm and comfortable atmosphere. They should use soft tones.

But the architecture here is primarily black, white, and gray. It’s so cold that even I feel extremely uncomfortable.

And do you smell that? The air is thick with the stench of disinfectant.

Could this smell be left over from long ago?

Or is it a product of the Mysterious Power?"

Anna said, tossing the map in her hand aside.

"What did you just throw away?" Chu He asked.

"Just the institute’s blueprints. I realized they don’t match this place at all. They’re worthless, so what’s the point in keeping them?"

Anna answered honestly.

"The blueprints are gone," Galava exclaimed.

Everyone looked at the ground.

The Rainbow Welfare Institute blueprints that Anna had just casually tossed aside had vanished without a trace.

And no one had noticed how it disappeared.

"Interesting."

Chu He’s Primordial Spirit Power silently spread out.

The institute blueprints Anna had thrown away were truly gone, and they weren’t on any of them.

’But what could have possibly evaded my senses and taken the blueprints?’

"Everyone, don’t be nervous. It’s not surprising for strange things to happen in a strange place like this.

This isn’t the first time any of us have been to a place like this. For now, let’s focus on finding the Rainbow Welfare Institute’s true, core secret.

If we run into a danger we can’t handle, we’ll just retreat immediately."

Galava seemed to be the team’s leader.

The team members, including Anna and Dean, all nodded and followed closely behind Galava.

Galava picked up the pace. "In my experience, we should first find the director’s office. That’s likely where the entire institute’s biggest secrets are hidden."

...

「Several days later.」

Shang Yifei, Qu Chengping, and Yu Qianqian’s convoy finally made it out of the Black Continent Grassland, shaken but unharmed.

A few days after that, they finally returned safely to the Xingzhou Empire.

"I have to get home, take a long bath, eat a huge meal, and then sleep for a year."

Qu Chengping finally relaxed. "What about you two? What are your plans?" he asked.

"I’m going home to get some rest, too. The Black Continent Grassland was way too dangerous. If I’d known, I never would have gone.

But it wasn’t a total loss. I got to meet my idol, Chu He."

A blissful smile spread across Yu Qianqian’s face.

Qu Chengping was speechless.

"I’m also going home to rest."

Shang Yifei got into her private car and told the driver to leave quickly.

"Have you noticed? Yifei seems a little different ever since she met Chu He."

Yu Qianqian watched the car drive away.

"I have. You don’t think Yifei likes Chu He, too?" Qu Chengping guessed.

"I don’t know."

Yu Qianqian shook her head. She’d had the same suspicion, but she felt there was more to it than just that.

...

In the Xingzhou Empire, Shang Yifei’s true identity was that of a noble princess.

When she returned home, her mother was relaxing in the courtyard, sunbathing. Seeing her daughter return, she quickly rose from her chair.

"Mother, please don’t say anything just yet. Let me finish. I’ve decided to give up my claim to the throne."

Shang Yifei said softly, sitting down in the chair next to her.

The few servants standing nearby quickly bowed and then turned to leave.

The word "throne," and anything related to it, was not something they were qualified to hear. Eavesdropping could get them killed.

"What nonsense are you talking about?

Royal families have always been ruthless. You’re considered the strongest contender for the throne of the Xingzhou Empire.

If you fail to win it, your fate will be a terrible one.

Besides, didn’t you say you wanted to model yourself after Lu Yinxing of the Great Xia Empire?"

The middle-aged woman was completely baffled. She didn’t understand why Shang Yifei had changed her mind after just one trip.

Shang Yifei was only one of the children of the King of the Xingzhou Empire.

The King had many wives.

This middle-aged woman was merely one of those many wives.

"Ever since the Evil Spirits invaded Blue Star, our Xingzhou Empire hasn’t been spared.

In the face of the Evil Spirit invasion, the royal family of the Xingzhou Empire has shown nothing but helplessness, which has sparked a crisis of public trust.

Inflation is soaring, the population is aging, more and more people are single and unwilling to have children,

we’re facing a food crisis, sea levels are constantly rising due to the Mysterious Power, and neighboring empires are watching us like hungry tigers...

The Xingzhou Empire is already on the verge of collapse.

I just took a trip to the Black Continent Grassland, and what I saw there was truly terrifying.

And do you know who I met?

I met Chu He.

Based on what he said, I can already see that the entire Blue Star will likely face an even more terrifying and destructive Evil Spirit outbreak in the future."

Shang Yifei said, her voice heavy with worry.

"You trust Chu He that much?"

Her mother asked after a few seconds of silence.

"I haven’t had much contact with Chu He. It’s less about trusting him and more about trusting Lu Yinxing.

I decided to fight for the throne and made Lu Yinxing my role model because I’d had dealings with her before.

She is an exceptionally intelligent woman.

Everyone in the world now knows that Ji Shengyue of the Great Jing Empire has run her entire empire into the ground with one blunder after another.

And the root of it all was her initial decision to frame and exile Chu He.

Now look at the Great Xia Empire. Ever since Chu He joined them... or rather, made his triumphant return, everything in the Great Xia Empire has been getting better and better."

Shang Yifei said.

"So what do you plan to do?" her mother asked.

"I’m moving to the Great Xia Empire," Shang Yifei stated, her decision firm.

...

「In the Lighthouse Empire, a new student orientation ceremony was underway.」

Onstage,

a young man from the Great Xia Empire

stood at the podium for the international student representative. He wore a Leland Academy uniform, his face glowing with excitement. "Hello, everyone. I’m from the Great Xia Empire.

I’m sure some of you here are familiar with me.

I used to attend the National Road Academy in the Great Xia Empire,

but I was expelled simply for questioning its headmaster, Chu He.

I was devastated, but then, to my surprise, I received an invitation from Leland Academy in the Lighthouse Empire.

I came to the Lighthouse Empire with a heavy heart, only to discover that this might be the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me.

When I stepped off the plane, I was amazed to find the air in the Lighthouse Empire was so sweet and fresh. It had a strange, luxurious quality. I was completely shocked.

To be honest, I even prepared five face masks before I came.

But when I went to put one on, I breathed in the incredibly fresh air of the Lighthouse Empire instead."

[Fourth update~ This Chapter is an extra sponsored by Boss Jiu’an 04’s 20,000 Book Coin donation. Thank you for your incredible support, Boss!!! Wishing Boss Jiu’an 04 wealth, prosperity, and may all your dreams come true!!]