# 61
**Chapter 61: The True Form**
"Do you guys think... what the hell were those things?"
"No idea, but I’m pretty sure they’ll haunt my nightmares for the next ten years."
"Ten years? You really think we’ll live that long?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if these monsters didn’t just appear in our school... but all across Great Xia?"
"Like a zombie outbreak in the movies?"
"Yeah, exactly."
"Come on, Lin Qiye just said it’s only happening here. Once we’re rescued, we’ll be safe."
"Lin Qiye... who exactly is he?"
"..."
The once-empty auditorium was now half-filled with students rescued from the sophomore building. All exits were guarded by the Axe Squad—it should be the safest place.
Inside, crying, comforting, arguing, and whispering never ceased. Despite efforts to maintain order, the noise refused to die down.
An Qingyu sat quietly behind the door, eyes closed, lost in thought.
*Knock knock knock—!*
Three raps—two long, one short. The Axe Squad members at the door brightened and hurried to move the barricade.
"It’s Li Yifei back."
An Qingyu opened his eyes and turned.
Li Yifei stumbled in, panting like he’d just run eight hundred meters, drenched in sweat.
"Well? All the other students evacuated?" An Qingyu stood and asked.
"All gone. I ran half the school in one go. Besides here, not a single student left. Damn, I’m beat..." Li Yifei collapsed onto a chair, wiping his forehead.
"Good." An Qingyu nodded.
"Oh, and when I passed the field, I heard a huge crash from the arts building—sounded like a building collapsed," Li Yifei added, remembering.
"That serious?"
"Probably means they found the monster’s real body and started fighting." Li Yifei slumped back, sighing. "If I didn’t have to keep searching, I’d have gone to watch."
"Gods fighting—better keep your distance."
"Yeah, true."
"What’s the name of Lin Qiye’s organization again?" An Qingyu asked suddenly.
"Night Watch."
The moment he said it, Li Yifei slapped a hand over his mouth, then lowered it. "Whatever, doesn’t matter. Everyone here will have their memories wiped anyway."
"Memory wipe?"
"Yeah. They’ve got something that can erase memories on a large scale. Too many people saw the monsters. If word got out, it’d be trouble."
"What about you?"
"Not me." Li Yifei grinned, leaning in to whisper, "Honestly, after this, I think I’ll be joining them."
An Qingyu nodded. "Any requirements?"
"Thinking of applying? Not easy. Their standards are sky-high." Li Yifei waved. "Either you awaken like Lin Qiye, or you prove your worth."
"You awakened?"
"Nope. I showed my value." He smiled.
An Qingyu’s gaze was calm as still water. "Fair. Your performance was... outstanding. If I were them, I’d take you too."
While they talked, another knock came—this time irregular.
The Axe Squad tensed. Li Yifei stood, eyes fixed on the door.
"Who?"
"Me. Lin Qiye."
At his name, everyone relaxed. They opened the door; Lin Qiye stepped in, blade strapped to his back.
"Well?" Li Yifei hurried forward.
"Success." Lin Qiye nodded. "We killed the Nanda Serpent’s true form."
Li Yifei exhaled in relief, laughing as he clapped Lin Qiye’s shoulder. "Hell yeah, Qiye! You actually did it—we’re saved!"
The auditorium erupted in cheers. Students who’d walked the edge of death could finally leave this nightmare behind.
Even the Axe Squad tossed their axes aside, hugging in celebration.
Li Yifei winked and whispered to Lin Qiye:
"So, with my huge contribution, I’m definitely getting into Night Watch, right? I really don’t want my brain washed..."
Lin Qiye stood silent. After a long moment, he said quietly:
"Maybe."
Li Yifei froze.
Behind him, An Qingyu silently drew a pistol from his pocket.
The black barrel pressed to the back of Li Yifei’s head.
Under the stunned gaze of the Axe Squad, he pulled the trigger.
*BANG! BANG! BANG!!*
Three thunderous shots split the air. Cheers died instantly. The auditorium plunged into dead silence.
Joy froze on every face. Heads turned in disbelief toward the exit.
Li Yifei turned, stunned. An Qingyu stood calm, gun smoking in hand.
Seconds passed. Li Yifei finally spoke, bewildered:
"An Qingyu? Why... why did you shoot?"
An Qingyu said nothing.
Only then did Li Yifei reach back...
*Clink.*
Shell casings hit the floor, ringing clear.
Three shallow dents in his scalp healed before their eyes. A few drops of blood—wiped away—left no trace.
He stared at the blood on his fingers, muttering:
"I was shot... why am I not dead?"
He looked up at Lin Qiye, trembling hand outstretched.
"Hey, Qiye, look—why didn’t I die? Did I... awaken?"
Lin Qiye’s face was unreadable. At last, he shook his head.
"You didn’t awaken...
You *are* the Nanda Serpent."
Li Yifei’s pupils shrank. He staggered back, shaking his head.
"Impossible. What are you saying? I’m Li Yifei!"
Lin Qiye stepped forward and tore Li Yifei’s uniform open.
*Rip!*
The zipper snapped, baring his chest—where a faint bullet scar lay like a brand.
"You’re the Nanda Serpent—or rather, a part of it.
Your shed skin fooled everyone else,
but not me."