Chapter 29

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 29: This Is A Setup!

“A warning from ‘Uphold Justice on Behalf of Heaven’ (Tian Xing Dao) to the police.”

On screen, the black-clad figure spoke in a voice eerily similar to Mi Xiaoliu’s tone, though it was clearly altered by a voice changer—it was a woman’s voice, not something added in post-production.

The video was quickly followed by a wave of other related clips, all about Tian Xing Dao or copycat organizations: a domestic abuser executed at home, a cheating woman disfigured, a cyberbully getting their hands chopped off…

“In Area A—more than thirty ability users and they still couldn’t catch her. Terrifying,” said Jim, holding up his phone to show the video to Mi Xiaoliu.

“Terrifying,” Mi Xiaoliu echoed with a nod.

The video was a live report from the female journalist. This time, she wisely refrained from criticizing the police and instead described the black-clad vigilante’s show of force with a neutral tone.

She wasn’t reporting to attack the police—it was all for views. Recently, the public’s interest in the enhanced police had waned compared to Tian Xing Dao. With fans and haters split evenly, the reporter dared not take sides.

Still, her wording subtly conveyed admiration for the black-clad figure.

“Putting the actions aside, I think the black-clad person is kind of cool. What do you think, Old Liu?”

“The clothes are weird,” Mi Xiaoliu replied.

Hearing that, Lu Mingxue, who was sitting behind, opened her mouth as if to speak, but in the end said nothing.

She wanted to laugh—but didn’t dare.

“Speaking of which, we’ve got physical check-ups this afternoon. You can take off your chest badge, Old Liu,” Jim said as he put away his Durian 14 gaming console, a pitiful look on his face. “We’ve got the 1,000-meter run again. Let’s die together.”

Back in middle school, he could still manage a run. But now in high school, it is getting tough. In college, he figured he’d need to be carried off the track afterward.

“Physical check-up? Already?” Yiwen said in surprise.

No wonder the contact yesterday said they’d be able to tell if something was up with Mi Xiaoliu today…

Mi Xiaoliu turned to look at her.

Jim quickly turned her head back. “We’re not like him. He’s the kind who can laugh like a dark wizard while doing a handstand sprint.”

“Who would even do that…”

But Yiwen didn’t smile. She just slumped over her desk, cheeks puffed out in frustration.

Her period hadn’t completely ended yet—how was she supposed to run a long-distance race like this? It was almost over, sure, but still. She could probably tough it out, just not win any ranking.

Her vanity couldn’t be satisfied. Damn it.

A physical check-up wasn’t just about endurance, of course—it also included controllability and strength of abilities. Blood tests, height and weight, waist and chest circumference, heart rate… a whole list of exhausting tests.

They’d probably be at it until nightfall.

Anyone who’s watched a drama or anime knows how much of a nightmare physical exams are for a girl pretending to be a boy… She might not have seen it, but Mi Xiaoliu probably had at least a small chest—like little soup dumplings.

She’d have to find someone to cover for her again.

“This time, you’d better cooperate properly. The school and the law won’t tolerate another abuse of privilege,” Yiwen said with a smile to Mi Xiaoliu.

Mi Xiaoliu didn’t understand—just like she didn’t know what a “physical check-up” really meant.

It wasn’t until the boys’ 1,000-meter race that afternoon, when she took just a few steps and felt physical discomfort, that she realized how bad it was.

The first-place speedster lapped the track in three seconds, making Mi Xiaoliu look like a joke. Some even started wondering if her power was actually turtle-speed.

Mi Xiaoliu didn’t get it. Why did simply changing her clothes make her so weak?

After one lap, Yiwen—barely even sweating—gave her a confused look. She had seen Mi Xiaoliu start with enthusiasm for about three meters before giving up and dragging her feet—barely even walking properly.

To be honest, Yiwen didn’t like this kind of behavior. Not trying at all, giving up with a “whatever” attitude before even testing her limits—it made it clear she didn’t believe in herself at all.

Yiwen hated that. Absolutely hated it.

At least struggle a bit before giving up—then you can say you tried.

Even without her period being over, Yiwen had managed to finish her run. As someone with self-healing abilities, Mi Xiaoliu should’ve had better endurance than a regular person.

Slack off now and your composite evaluation could suffer. The record-keeping teacher might even write down “side effects of ability” in her report. That kind of note could stay in her file for life—impacting her future and job prospects.

So this wasn’t just about attitude—it was a disregard for her future. Maybe she didn’t realize it as someone with a defective ability, but she’d regret it later when it was too late.

“Can’t run anymore? I’ll run with you—at least see how far we can go,” Yiwen said, grabbing her hand and slowing her pace.

It was the first time she’d held a boy’s hand, other than her little brother’s. It felt like something a girl would do.

Holding hands doesn’t make it physically easier—it might even make you fall. But it gives you the subconscious sense of “I can keep going.” It gives emotional support, and it makes you too embarrassed to keep slacking off.

But Mi Xiaoliu didn’t move.

Yiwen stopped and considered another possibility. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“Unwell.” Mi Xiaoliu shook off her hand.

That auntie had said yesterday that she was unwell. Even with self-healing, her body still felt bad. Was it because her ability level was low? Or another defect?

“Can you still walk?” Yiwen asked, reaching out to touch her forehead.

Mi Xiaoliu shook her head. She felt like she was leaking blood.

Her movements at the starting line had been too exaggerated, and the pads Heli had given her weren’t high-quality.

“I’ll carry you,” Yiwen said, squatting down and hoisting her up, shielding her chest to avoid any awkward contact.

“Is this the boys’ 1,000-meter event?” A female teacher from the infirmary walked over and frowned at the track.

“Yes. Have the girls’ group do something else first—we’ll be using the track for a while,” said Teacher Ziyan, who was in charge of recording the boys’ results, to Heli, who was in charge of the girls.

Heli frowned—she’d been frowning a lot these days.

Why would a girl who could look pretty all dressed up insist on looking like a boy? Why run with older boys in the boys’ 1,000-meter event right after suffering from cramps?

“What’s with that kid?” Heli asked, pointing at the stopped Mi Xiaoliu.

“You recommended him—shouldn’t you know better than me?” 

Ziyan didn’t look up as he continued recording the laps of the speedster. 

“Extremely uncooperative—when we tried to draw blood, he grabbed the needle and aimed it at my eye. Refused chest, waist, weight measurements. If others are dangerous because of their abilities, he’s dangerous because of who he is. I don’t understand why you brought him here. Arkham would be more suitable.”

Refused chest and waist measurements—probably didn’t want to reveal she was a girl? She always seemed so obedient… how could she hurt someone? Heli thought.

By then, Yiwen had already helped Mi Xiaoliu over. Her face tensed slightly when she saw Heli.

“Teacher, Mi Xiaoliu is not feeling well.”

“I’ll take over her records. The director will approve,” Heli said emotionlessly, pulling Mi Xiaoliu behind her.

She had already noticed the blood had soaked through to the outer clothing. Today’s outfit was thin due to good weather—thankfully, the dark red color disguised it a bit.

Though when Yiwen carried her, it had probably gotten on her pants.

Sure enough, when Yiwen went back to re-run her race, the blonde glasses girl who was helping the teacher record data stared, confused, at Yiwen’s butt. From that distance, the bloodstain on the white track pants was quite noticeable.

She quickly ran over and tied a jacket around Yiwen’s waist.

She glanced at Jim, the only other person besides Yiwen who hadn’t finished running—panting like a dog, tongue out as he trailed behind her. Who knows if he saw anything.

So the glasses girl deliberately raised her voice so Jim could hear: “Yiwen! Your hemorrhoids exploded!”

Yiwen: “???”

She froze for two seconds, then realized what had happened.

What the hell?! When?! What kind of trash pad was that?? I shouldn’t have run today at all!

Jim, exhausted and clueless until now, suddenly perked up in shock, staring at Yiwen who had stopped in her tracks.

“Don’t say a word!” Yiwen turned and glared at him, her angelic face slightly twisted.

“Relax, I’m tight-lipped like a safe,” Jim replied, giving her an ‘OK’ gesture.