Chapter 369: Chapter 331: School Ban

"What do you mean? We’re not allowed to go out tonight?"

Evening.

In the cafeteria of Zone 1’s dormitory.

Wei Nan, Lin Yi, and Wei Shang had just received the news.

Tonight, all students were strictly forbidden from going out.

No one was allowed to leave the school for any reason.

And there would be serious consequences for doing so.

Any student who left without permission would be expelled.

The moment this order was announced, the students were in an uproar.

Lin Yi’s brow furrowed deeply as well.

"Something big is definitely going to happen!"

"Otherwise, the school wouldn’t have suddenly announced such a strict order with such severe consequences!"

Wei Shang said, his brows knitted.

The others exchanged a look, but no one spoke.

The school wouldn’t issue an order like this out of nowhere.

But the reason hadn’t been made clear.

Lin Yi looked out the cafeteria window and murmured, "Have you guys noticed? Since this afternoon, the number of Xingwu Guards on campus has more than doubled compared to this morning!"

"I suspect this sudden increase in the Xingwu Guard is related to the lockdown!"

At these words, Wei Shang sucked in a sharp breath.

"Are you saying demon beasts are going to attack the school tonight?"

"Not necessarily just demon beasts. It could also be those men in black..."

Lin Yi said with a nod.

Instantly, the expressions on Wei Nan and the others grew solemn.

This was especially true for Wei Shang and Feng Lei.

For some time now, they had been leading the Right Guard on security missions in various cities.

They knew a thing or two about those men in black.

After all, they had crossed paths with them several times.

The men in black were generally around the 1-star or 2-star level.

Occasionally, there would be a 3-star or 4-star minor leader.

Although their cultivation levels weren’t that high, their combat coordination was surprisingly seamless.

Otherwise, not so many Demon Hunting Squads would have been ambushed.

Some squads were even completely wiped out.

"I already went through this once back on Dragon Tiger Mountain!"

"They took advantage of the Elder Celestial Master’s absence to launch an attack on Dragon Tiger Mountain!"

"Based on my few encounters with these men in black, they know the situation at every university and every department like the back of their hand!"

"This means there’s a traitor in our midst, just like what happened at the Demon Hunting Institute last night!"

"A few demon beasts managed to break in, acting as if they knew Captain Chu and the others weren’t there!"

"They seized that opportunity to invade the Demon Hunting Institute!"

"Nothing like this ever happened when Captain Chu and his team were still in Songshan City!"

"If those demon beasts, or the men in black, are really targeting Xingwu University tonight..."

"...I bet there’s an inside man at the university, too!"

After Lin Yi finished speaking,

Wei Nan frowned and fell into deep thought.

Meanwhile, Wei Shang and Feng Lei were carefully mulling over Lin Yi’s words.

After a long moment, Wei Shang finally asked, "Then what’s their goal in attacking Xingwu University?"

Lin Yi took a bite of Demon Beast Meat and glanced up at Wei Shang.

He chuckled lightly. "Is it possible their operation tonight isn’t just about attacking Xingwu University?"

"What do you mean?"

Wei Shang’s expression grew even more grave. He didn’t seem to understand.

Lin Yi shook his head. "We’ve already figured out about seventy or eighty percent of the men in black’s true objective, haven’t we?"

"Their intention is to destroy, or control, the New District!"

"And their targets are very specific, not random. They’re being methodical!"

"For example, they’re targeting the Martial Arts geniuses from every school!"

"These students are the future, the very foundation!"

"I think their primary targets are these students!"

"On top of that, they attack the Demon Hunting Bureau and the Town Martial Department to eliminate anyone who stands in their way!"

"But their real targets are still the students!"

"Let’s assume they’re going to launch an attack on Xingwu University tonight.

The first thing they’ll have to do is tie up the local Demon Hunting Institute, the Left Guard, and the Public Security Bureau!"

"Wage an all-out war to achieve their true objective!"

After Lin Yi finished, Wei Shang frowned and pondered for a moment.

"You’re saying that if the school is attacked today, then Songshan City’s Demon Hunting Institute and the Left Guard will also be tied up?"

Lin Yi nodded and continued eating.

"But Captain Chu and his team aren’t here right now. There’s no one at the Demon Hunting Institute who can stop them..."

"Exactly. That’s why they chose this moment to attack!"

"But everything I’ve said is just speculation."

"Let’s just hope nothing happens tonight!"

After speaking, Lin Yi glanced back at the Xingwu Guards outside the window.

Only ten-odd minutes had passed.

’It looks like the number of Xingwu Guards has doubled again?’

Now, Xingwu Guards could be seen everywhere on the school’s athletic field.

They were all wearing their distinctive Xingwu Guard uniforms, carrying shields and weapons.

Squad after squad marched across the field.

Each squad had 10 to 15 members.

In just that short time, more than a dozen squads had already passed by.

And they were all different people.

Wei Shang had no appetite to continue eating. If everything Lin Yi said was true,

Songshan City would probably become incredibly dangerous tonight.

Not just Xingwu University, but even the Demon Hunting Institute, the Left Guard, and the Public Security Bureau would suffer a severe blow.

He took out his phone and said, "I’m going to call Old He and report what’s happening here!"

"That way, the Songshan City Left Guard can prepare in advance!"

Lin Yi nodded, letting Wei Shang and the others leave to make the call.

After they left, Wei Nan’s gaze remained fixed on the field outside.

Lin Yi glanced at him, asking curiously, "What are you staring at? Your eyes are glued."

"Huh? Oh, nothing. I was just wondering, do you think there are any students mixed in with the Xingwu Guard?

I thought I saw a few familiar faces just now, like some of the upperclassmen from our school!"

After Wei Nan finished, Lin Yi also turned his head to look outside.

Just then, a squad was walking toward the window.

And as it happened, Lin Yi immediately spotted an acquaintance in the ranks.

"Is that Xu Tai?"

"Who? Xu Tai?"

Wei Nan’s expression changed, and he quickly took a closer look.

Sure enough, right there in the Xingwu Guard squad was none other than Xu Tai.

Ever since he had injured Zhou Qi and been injured in turn by Lin Yi,

he had returned to his old self, no longer so unhinged.

He had never challenged anyone to a marksmanship contest again.

That one shot from Lin Yi seemed to have shocked him back to reality.

He had kept a low profile at school ever since.

Who would have thought that, after just a few months, the next time they saw him, he would have joined the Xingwu Guard?

Wei Nan said with a sneer, "He’s been behaving himself ever since you sent him to the School Medical Bureau!"

"I heard he was only in the School Medical Bureau for three days before his Xu Family came and took him away!"

"I think he was gone for over a month before he came back!"

"He’s been a lot more subdued since then, all the fight beaten out of him!"

"But how did he end up in the Xingwu Guard?"

Lin Yi didn’t say anything, his gaze simply fixed on Xu Tai.

He only looked away after Xu Tai’s squad had moved on.

He retracted his gaze and lowered his head to continue eating.

"Since the school won’t let us out, let’s just get a good night’s rest in the dorm!"

"I figure Old Wei and the others won’t be able to stay put today. After they finish their call, they’ll have to leave!"

Hearing this, Wei Nan was taken aback.

"Didn’t they say they were staying the night in the dorm?"

"Those two aren’t like us. They have official duties. If something really does happen tonight, do you think they could just sit tight at the school?"

Wei Nan nodded. "True. Well, after we finish eating, let’s go visit Sun Tao at the School Medical Bureau."

"We can head back to the dorm before it gets dark?"

"Yeah, that works!" Lin Yi agreed.

A short while later, just as Lin Yi had predicted,

Wei Shang and Feng Lei both left.

They didn’t even say goodbye in person, just sent Lin Yi a message.

They didn’t give a specific reason, only saying that the department had called them back.

After reading the message, Lin Yi smiled at Wei Nan. "Old Wei and his partner left."

"Are you done eating? Once you’re finished, let’s go hang out with Sun Tao!"

"All done! Let’s go, let’s go!"

Wei Nan quickly stuffed two more pieces of meat into his mouth, then hurriedly got up and followed Lin Yi out of the cafeteria.

However, just as the two of them left,

a few other students who had been eating in the cafeteria

all turned their gazes onto Lin Yi and his companion.

When they saw Lin Yi and Wei Nan walk out, they also got up and followed them one after another.

When they arrived at the School Medical Bureau, they found Zhou Qi there, keeping Sun Tao company.

There were two beds in the room. Sun Tao was lying in one.

Zhou Qi was lying in the other.

When they saw Lin Yi and Wei Nan arrive, they both quickly sat up.

"Is something happening at the school tonight?"

After they had chatted for a bit, Zhou Qi brought up the topic.

Lin Yi and Wei Nan were both startled for a second, then they smiled. "You noticed too?"

Zhou Qi nodded. "The number of Xingwu Guards downstairs is several times higher than usual!"

"Who would believe that nothing’s going on?"

Lin Yi smiled at him. "Just stay here tonight and keep Sun Tao company, alright?"

"No matter what happens, don’t you two leave this place!"

"I’m sure the school has already made arrangements and forbidden students from leaving tonight!"

"The number of Xingwu Guards has increased several times over!"

"You two just stay here and don’t go anywhere!"

Zhou Qi nodded, while Sun Tao sighed with a hint of regret.

"Sigh, if only my injuries weren’t still healing!"

"I could be fighting alongside you all tonight!"

"Instead, I’ve become a burden to you..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Qi and Wei Nan both shot him a glare.

They strongly rebuked him for what he had just said.

Lin Yi smiled at them and walked over to the window by himself.

He watched the situation below.

Squads of Xingwu Guards marched across the field below.

At the main school gate, in particular, no fewer than a hundred Xingwu Guard members had gathered.

Some students who walked up to the gate were quickly persuaded to turn back.

Not a single student was able to leave the school.

Even those returning from outside had to undergo a strict inspection before being allowed in.

For a time, a sense of panic spread throughout the school.

Every student could feel the change on campus.

And they all guessed that something big might happen tonight.

Some students hid in their dorms, shivering with fear.

Others, however, were rubbing their hands together, eager for a fight.

They were looking forward to a big battle tonight.

「Night fell.」

Darkness enveloped all of Songshan City. The streets were sparsely populated.

Cars sped along like lightning, heading for their respective homes.

Gusts of cold wind added a chill to the night.

Even the starlight and moonlight were obscured by thick clouds.

The entire city fell silent.

Yet it was a suffocating, empty kind of silence.

Dim yellow streetlights stood alone, pushing back the surrounding darkness.

A gust of wind blew past, sending a plastic bag flying into the air.

It swayed in mid-air, "fleeing" into the distance.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH—

「Late into the night.」

Black shadows flitted through every corner of the city.

They merged with the darkness, disappearing into the night...

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