Chapter 7: The Revelation of Identity (Part One)

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the cracks in the curtains, casting dappled patterns on the dormitory floor.

I had just finished an urgent phone call, hastily threw on my coat, and hurried out of the room. The door closed softly behind me, leaving a tranquil silence in my wake.

Wang Qing and Zhou Jie were startled awake by the sound of the door closing. They exchanged curious glances, slipped out of bed, put on their shoes, and whispered to each other, soon deciding to go out and investigate as well.

Only Feng Danyan remained in bed, breathing evenly and deeply, as if the whole world had nothing to do with her. A sweet smile lingered at the corner of her lips, lost in a blissful dream.

I made my way to a secluded corner not far from the school gate. There, under the morning sun, stood Dr. Li Feng from the institute, clad in a long trench coat, his face grave and focused.

I approached briskly and took out a small sealed vial from my pocket. Inside was the strange, faintly blue-glowing slime I had collected during the last tomb-raiding expedition. I handed it carefully to Dr. Li, lowering my voice, “This is something special. It’s best if you analyze it using the new high-sensitivity detector I developed.”

“At once,” Dr. Li replied steadily. No sooner had he spoken than I heard the faintest footsteps approaching from the shadows.

Wang Qing and Zhou Jie were hiding under the trees, eyes wide with astonishment as they watched us, barely daring to breathe.

But I had already sensed something amiss and walked in their direction. Quick-witted, Wang Qing and Zhou Jie darted into a nearby restaurant. When I rounded the corner, I found nothing but a stray cat rummaging through a kitchen waste bin. Had I imagined those footsteps? Perhaps it was for the best, I mused inwardly.

Just then, another call came through. It was from the country’s top hacker team—America was mounting a powerful cyberattack against our defense systems.

Alarmed, I hurried into the underground garage adjacent to the school. Zhou Jie and Wang Qing followed. In a dim corner, I tapped out a code—beep, beep, beep—a hidden door slid open. Without hesitation, I entered, unlocked a key cabinet with a password, grabbed a random car key, and sped off to the designated location.

The destination was a sparsely populated suburban area, unlikely to attract attention—perfect for deploying such a team.

Seeing the situation turn dangerous, Wang Qing and Zhou Jie quickly left the garage, hailed a taxi, and told the driver to follow my car. After a few intersections, I soon noticed their pursuit.

Realizing the taxi was tailing me, I felt a chill, then let out a cold, knowing smile.

With an advanced professional racing license, how could I be easily followed? I slammed down the accelerator, and the car shot forward like an arrow. The tires screeched against the pavement as I expertly maneuvered the steering wheel, drifting through narrow streets, the car’s body nearly scraping the walls, leaving behind thrilling arcs.

The taxi was quickly left far behind, its tail lights flickering faintly in the distance before vanishing among the labyrinthine alleyways.

Soon I arrived at my destination, parked, and locked the car. At the entrance, a sequence of codes, fingerprints, and facial scans granted me access. Inside, I went straight to my private office, donned black rubber gloves and a long black cloak, and strode into the central hall.

The moment I entered, the high-tech lights inside flared to life, in stark contrast to the dimness outside.

I moved swiftly to a computer, every step exuding decisive authority. Meanwhile, in the taxi, Wang Qing and Zhou Jie’s eyes shone with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Guided by keen senses and sharp memories, they navigated the city’s complex veins, finally stopping before a concealed and imposing building.

In the twilight, the building’s outline was veiled, surrounded by advanced surveillance equipment, emanating an indescribable aura of power that made them hold their breath, hearts pounding as if stepping into unknown peril.

“I told you, Lin Xuan isn’t ordinary,” Zhou Jie said gravely.

“Indeed, and her abilities are formidable,” Wang Qing added. Not wanting to raise suspicion, the two hid among the trees, ready to wait and see.

Inside the central hall, every hacker was a highly trained professional, but this time, America’s assault was serious enough to warrant their call for my help—a testament to the opponent’s strength.

“This American offensive…” began Sun Changan, captain of the hacker unit, briefing me on the situation. I had taught him several of my tricks, yet even he, leading the entire base, had been unable to hold the line—enough to pique my curiosity.

I took over the main computer, my ten fingers flying across the keys. Every three minutes, the virus-infected screens were wiped clean, as good as new. Around me, the others cast looks of admiration and awe, but above all, there was cheering.

Once the crisis was resolved, I left the base and, just as I emerged, locked eyes with Wang Qing and Zhou Jie, who were still hiding among the trees. My pupils widened in alarm—this was bad. How had they followed me here? Before I could think further, they were already heading in my direction.

Sensing trouble, I jumped into my car and sped away, while they, having no vehicle, could only watch helplessly from the roadside, sprinting after me and shouting, “One day, we’ll find out who you really are!”

Unease stirred in my heart.

Not long after, I returned to the dormitory. Feng Danyan had just awoken, her hair messy and her eyes still hazy with sleep, completely lacking her usual aristocratic poise.

“Where did you go, Xuanxuan?” she asked, yawning.

“Nowhere, just took a walk outside for some fresh morning air,” I replied, feigning innocence. Feng Danyan didn’t press further.

“Oh, by the way, where are Wang Qing and Zhou Jie?” she asked, glancing around and noticing their absence.

Just then, Wang Qing and Zhou Jie burst breathlessly into the room, clearly having run all the way back, making me suspect they must have tapped into their adrenaline reserves.

Feng Danyan, a pure and innocent girl, was oblivious to the tension among the three of us. Wang Qing and Zhou Jie softened their tone considerably, simply telling her they had gone out for a run—never breathing a word about what had really happened that day.