CHAPTER 131

Before ten minutes had passed, a commotion arose outside the library pavilion. Su Bei moved to a small window, no larger than a hand’s width, and peered out. There he saw the guests who had drunk red wine gathered together, frantically confronting Jiang Tianming and his group opposite them.

At the forefront stood a calm white-haired middle-aged man, who bore a striking resemblance to Feng Ling, though his visage was that of a classic villain. He was likely Feng Lan's uncle.

With a face full of smugness, the uncle raised his voice and said, "I admit you're impressive, managing to disrupt our plans so swiftly. But so what? Isn't our most crucial person still in our hands?"

He was naturally referring to the guests, who were completely under their control. When they heard his words, not only did the guests fail to show any anger, they appeared fanatical, as though they couldn't comprehend what the uncle was saying and just supported him unconditionally.

One of them even chimed in, "Exactly, you should know we have many tools at our disposal. You can't possibly win against us. You'd best surrender quickly. If you do, you can join us and enjoy this wonderful world."

This persuasion evidently pleased the uncle, who nodded in satisfaction. "If you don't want something to happen to them, with the blame falling on you, you should surrender now and hand over Feng Lan. Rest assured, I wouldn’t harm any of you."

Hearing the phrase "blame falling on you," the crowd felt a chill in their hearts. If they thought about it even a little, it was clear that this scenario was entirely feasible.

If their non-compliance led to the deaths of these prominent people, even if the truth eventually came out, the powers behind them would definitely lay the blame on them. Reason alone would absolve them, but when has reality ever been about reason?

It was like when they encountered Sun Ming's parents at the start of last semester. They knew the real murderer of Sun Ming, but being unable to deal with him, they pinned the responsibility stubbornly on them.

The situation now was similar. They couldn't handle the "Black Flash" organization, but dealing with a bunch of students was entirely within their realm. Who could guarantee everyone would be reasonable?

Moreover, judging by the uncle’s previous words, the truth might never come out. Who knows if the "Black Flash" organization could manipulate reality?

But if they surrendered now, it would be different. Firstly, the blame wouldn't be on them, and Su Bei had already gone for help. Although he never did well in minor matters, he never failed in major ones. If there were no surprises, the reinforcements would definitely arrive, turning the matter over to the teachers.

And honestly, what that guest said wasn't wrong. They certainly had plenty of defensive tools, so they might not even be able to win the fight.

For a moment, everyone was wavering, unsure of what choice to make.

Except for Jiang Tianming.

He was evidently unmoved, and upon noticing everyone’s hesitation, he answered without a second thought, "Don't delude yourself! When you say you won't harm us, you must mean physical harm only, right? We’d end up like those behind you, with no freedom to speak of. Moreover, if you could truly deal with us, why haven’t you acted?"

His last line was like a wake-up call for the others, leaving them stunned. Yes, if they could really use those tools, they'd have caught them already—why waste time talking?

These weren’t necessarily powerful ability users, but likely sat in high positions due to status, having countless tools on them. Generally speaking, handling a few ability users wouldn't be difficult.

So, what's going on? Si Zhaohua furrowed his brow, "Can't you use your tools anymore?"

The person who had spoken earlier realized they couldn't easily fool them any longer and turned to the uncle. The uncle hadn’t expected them to catch on so quickly, his expression turning sour, "So what? As long as they’re in my hands, won't you have to refrain from acting rashly?"

He was right, and everyone found themselves in a dilemma once more. But Su Bei, from his high vantage point, could clearly see that the situation wasn't developing as the uncle imagined.

Although the uncle believed he had successfully threatened Jiang Tianming and others, he failed to notice the ropes slithering along the ground in places he couldn’t see—hidden spots distant from everyone's feet, chaotically scattered.

Meanwhile, in the distance, flames gradually rose, positioning to surround them.

Next to him, Wu Jin also noticed these small maneuvers. After closely observing for a while, he exclaimed in surprise, "Jiang Tianming and the others have earpieces!"

Su Bei also noticed the earpieces and, after a brief thought, confirmed, "Feng Lan gave them."

It was evident from their actions that someone was controlling things from behind the scenes. With all other S-class members accounted for, the one orchestrating must be Feng Lan.

"Did he not give you an earpiece?" Su Bei turned to Wu Jin.

Wu Jin shook his head, indicating no. Due to the urgency of the situation, and lacking strong self-defense capabilities, he was the first to leave and was unaware of when Feng Lan distributed the earpieces to the others.

Upon hearing this, Su Bei adopted a thoughtful expression, considering the purpose behind the placement of the ropes and contemplating whether this matter concerned him.

Logically, Feng Lan not giving Wu Jin an earpiece implied no intent to communicate with him. However, not intending to communicate didn't mean there wasn't a task for him, especially since Feng Lan possessed foresight abilities and believed Su Bei's were quite similar.

The intent behind the flames was rather straightforward: they were to trap everyone there. Once actions commenced and panic ensued, no one would escape the encirclement. 

Wait...

Escape?!

Suddenly, Su Bei's pupils contracted, and enlightenment struck—he understood the purpose of the ropes and what he needed to do.

"So that's it!" Upon understanding, he couldn't help but praise. Feng Lan had calculated so precisely that even if he hadn’t fully grasped the intent, the plan would continue unhindered. Understanding it clearly now would only ensure a smoother process.

Hearing this, Wu Jin looked surprised, "You figured it out?"

Su Bei nodded, speaking smoothly, "No rush, just wait a bit longer; the time is almost upon us."

Since Su Bei had said so, Wu Jin naturally had no objections. By nature, he wasn't an impatient person, so he quietly accompanied Su Bei, waiting there.

When the ten minutes were up, the teleportation array Su Bei had set up suddenly lit up, and a large group appeared in the library.

It wasn’t just the teachers and the principal of the "Endless Academy of Abilities," but also people Su Bei hadn’t seen before. If he wasn't mistaken, these were likely government officials and those from the guests' families.

The newly arrived group scanned their surroundings. Upon spotting Su Bei, Wu Di swiftly approached, first giving his son a look before turning his somewhat amiable attention to Su Bei, "You're Su Bei, right? What's the current situation?"

As he spoke, Wu Di also caught sight of the standoff below through the small window, and his brows tightened, "So many people are under control?"

Seeing Su Bei nod, the group behind him became anxious. Those under control were significant figures; if they all defected to the "Black Flash" organization, it would spell disaster.

"What should we do, Principal Wu?" one of them asked anxiously, wiping sweat from their brow. "Even though we have some control-type ability users here, those individuals likely have tools to resist such abilities."

Wu Di looked at Su Bei, "Do you have a plan? If not, I'm ready to act."

Upon saying this, Wu Jin subtly tugged at Su Bei's sleeve, signaling him to try and prevent Wu Di from taking action if possible. As his son, he knew his father well: if Wu Di made a move, it'd be violent. Whether they could save the people was another matter, but his father would certainly face criticism afterward.

"We do have a plan," Su Bei said confidently, "Please, just head downstairs towards their location now; no need to take action, just show up."

Seeing Su Bei so assured, even those who didn't fully trust him went along with his suggestion. It was just going downstairs, after all, no great effort.

Though it might alarm the enemies, the simplicity of the request indicated even a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old would know the risk. Since Su Bei suggested it, there must be some logic behind it.

After they left, Su Bei used his mental power to sense the movements at the library entrance. As they were about to arrive, he suddenly shouted, "Our reinforcements are here! Don’t run! Surrender now!"

Because he represented the opposing faction to the guests, they instinctively did the opposite of what he said. So, when Su Bei shouted "Don't run away," that group reflexively started escaping.

Unlike the guests, who were muddle-headed due to the wine, the uncle remained clear-headed. He knew that losing composure now was a mistake and that staying together was their best bet to make the government hesitate.

He quickly raised his voice to stop them: "Don’t run! Together we can—"

Before he could finish, Feng Ling, who had been standing beside him with a low presence, suddenly sprang into action. She tackled her father, covering his mouth to prevent him from speaking further.

Without interference from the uncle, the guests fled wildly. However, nearly all of them were swiftly ensnared by the Immobilizing Ropes strategically placed along their escape route.

With all the guests subdued, the uncle had no choice but to surrender.

Throughout the entire ordeal, the uncle did not struggle. When everyone was finally restrained, he furiously questioned Feng Ling: "Why betray me? We are father and daughter! I did all of this for you! Clearly, you also possess prophetic abilities; you were meant to be the next head of the family. Then Feng Lan suddenly becomes head upon waking up—why him? Don't you feel resentful?"

He wore the expression of a father who desperately fought for his daughter, and those around couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity. He intended to elevate his daughter, yet in the end, it was she who betrayed him.

Though betraying one’s family for the greater good is theoretically righteous, emotionally, it's hard to accept. The murmur of whispered conversations became conspicuous in the silence.

However, Feng Ling, despite her slightly reddened eyes, remained composed—or rather, emotionless. Her calm reply left everyone, including her father, speechless.

"I saw you drink the red wine."

Ordinarily, red wine is just a beverage, but not in this context. Before this mission, everyone was briefed on the drug-lacing of the wine—a substance designed to induce addiction.

Since the uncle drank it, he might have long been under the control of the "Black Flash" organization. His actions likely weren't for Feng Ling's sake, but to serve "Black Flash" in exchange for more wine.

"You… wasn't I always against it?" he pleaded defensively. "I only drank after negotiating with 'Black Flash,' to gain their trust. Can't you see my struggle?"

But no one is foolish—seeing his evasive eyes and feigned indignation, it was obvious he was lying.

His excuses elicited disdain. Admitting he was under control would garner sympathy, but using his daughter as a shield was utterly despicable.

Finally, tears she had been holding back streamed down Feng Ling's face. She wiped them away harshly and took a deep breath. "The wine probably alters personalities. Normally, my dad wouldn’t act like this."

Truthfully, Su Bei believed her. Given Feng Ling's demeanor, she must have grown up in a loving environment.

Sighing, Wu Di gently ruffled her hair. "Don't worry; we're working on an antidote. We'll develop one soon."

Feng Ling nodded vigorously, accepting a tissue from a nearby woman to quietly wipe her tears.

At this moment, Feng Lan, who had been absent throughout, finally approached from a distance. Still in his suit from the morning, he looked pristine, having orchestrated from behind the scenes rather than facing the chaos directly.

With a courteous bow, he addressed everyone. "On behalf of the Feng family, I thank you all for your assistance. Please follow me to the hall and rest. You'll also witness the aftermath of this incident."

As his words faded, a group of elderly men emerged. Judging by their attire and demeanor, they were decidedly linked to the Feng family, if not part of its main line.

Notably, within this group, Su Bei spotted Si Zhaohua’s father. He realized why the man hadn’t appeared before: he'd wisely hidden himself in advance.

Seeing his father safe and sound, Si Zhaohua felt an excitement he did not express, merely exchanging a reassuring glance and staying with the group.

The moment this group appeared, the uncle’s expression darkened. A mix of terror and resigned realization crossed his face as he glared at Feng Lan venomously. "I knew you spirited them away! You moved them early on to guard against me!"

"Hmph!" The leading elder snorted, stepping forward. "Guarding against you was a must. Your actions disgrace the family, colluding with 'Black Flash.' If not for the current head's prophecy, predicting your betrayal, you might have doomed us all!"

He seized the chance to emphasize the value of the prophecy ability, subtly advertising to maintain trust in their family despite the situation.

Su Bei had no interest in the uncle's judgment. He signaled to Feng Lan from afar and discreetly slipped away.

Not long after, Wu Jin followed. Su Bei, surprised, inquired, "Aren’t you sticking with the principal?"

Wu Jin shook his head. "Dad’s dealing with official matters—I’d just be in the way. Heading to the library, right? I haven’t finished a book there—might as well take this time to read more."

Su Bei indeed planned to visit the library. Although he had already uncovered what he sought, his interests weren’t purely task-driven. The library's riches were an opportunity he wouldn't miss.

For the world, he wished to understand the birth of Nightmare Beasts. For himself, he was keen to explore the mysteries of superpowers.

The latter, unlike the former, wasn't as heavily guarded and wasn’t hidden. Wu Jin had already found related books, and Su Bei planned to follow his guidance to seek them out.

“Hey! Su Bei, Wu Jin!” Jiang Tianming’s voice called from behind, with hurried steps following.

Turning, they saw the remaining S-class members—save for Feng Lan and Si Zhaohua’s group—coming towards them.

Mo Xiaotian, leading the charge, remarked cheerfully yet smugly, “I didn’t want to stay for their meeting. As soon as I saw you two sneak out, I joined right in!”

“Why didn’t you invite us for your stroll?” Wu Mingbai smiled gently, but his words bore a teasing undertone. “Didn’t plan on leaving us behind, did you?”

Wu Mingbai continued, “Can't be intentional, right? Probably just forgot us.”

Once again, these two stirred the pot, and the others watched, amused, waiting for Su Bei and Wu Jin to explain themselves.

Unlike Su Bei, who could maintain composure in the spotlight, Wu Jin, who preferred to be inconspicuous, quietly explained, "We just wanted to read… thought you might not be interested."

"We also enjoy reading," Jiang Tianming said with a smile, easing Wu Jin’s discomfort. "Headed to the library, right? Heard Feng Lan mention it once—didn’t think much of it, but it sounds intriguing now."

As he spoke the last sentence, Jiang Tianming's gaze rested on Su Bei, clearly aware—or having guessed—that Su Bei had spent the whole day in the library.

"Books hold golden houses," Su Bei calmly replied, unperturbed by his look, signaling Wu Jin to take note—not to shy away next time.

In the library, everyone quietly sought out books of interest. While no one might have had the time earlier due to tasks involving Feng Lan’s family affairs, now they could delve into reading.

Su Bei searched for a book exploring superpowers, a common topic found in schools or any ability-related bookstores. Yet the simplest things often concealed the deepest secrets. Knowing Nightmare Beasts form from human grudges, Su Bei was now curious about how superpowers came to be.

He selected a book titled "Exploration of Superpowers," its cover hinting at age. Though it might not satisfy his curiosity entirely, Su Bei remained intrigued.

Given that there wouldn't be ample time to read thoroughly, Su Bei approached this book differently than the previous one. Instead of meticulous reading, he skimmed through the table of contents and quickly jumped to the sections that piqued his interest.

Initially, superpowers were thought to originate from mental energy, and only those with mental energy could awaken such powers. However, further studies revealed that ordinary people also possess mental energy. Consequently, it was believed that only individuals with high mental energy could awaken superpowers.

But as with all academic research, the truth was repeatedly misunderstood until eventually, it emerged. The previous conclusion was mistaken as well: in a certain year, it was discovered that a non-powered person had mental energy levels far exceeding those of the current F-class ability users, yet without awakening any abilities.

This information was known to Su Bei since it's recorded in textbooks as part of the historical backdrop of the superpower community. However, the subsequent content was new to him.

Someone had proposed that whether one could awaken abilities and the strength of these abilities were unrelated to mental energy. More precisely, mental energy and abilities were just like the relationship between a battery and a tool. The battery’s charge capacity determined the tool’s usage time, and nothing more.

However, as this idea conflicted with mainstream beliefs, it was suppressed at the time and received no further coverage. The author of this book was aware of it only because they descended from the originator of this theory.

The author strongly agreed with their ancestor's perspective and pursued further research to explore what truly constitutes superpowers if not mental energy.

Drawing from a common observation — that ability users tend to see a decline in their powers as they age — the author speculated that there must be a secret to the origins of superpowers within this phenomenon.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of support and insufficient funding, the author couldn’t reach a definitive conclusion. They only proposed several possibilities regarding the formation of abilities: life force, emotions, and vitality.

After reading, Su Bei felt he had gained a wealth of knowledge. He also believed the author's ancestor’s idea was correct; superpowers likely aren’t formed from mental energy. The three proposed origins—life force, emotions, and vitality—seemed plausible to him.

If he could truly understand how superpowers are formed, perhaps he could harness that knowledge to enhance his own abilities.