Chapter One: The Principal's Decision

"Teacher Song, Teacher Song, Han Tianyue, Feng Shang, and Fang Zhe are missing!" Wen Ping burst into Teacher Song's office, shouting.

"Teacher Song, Mao Xuanzi has disappeared!" Another student cried out.

"What? All four of them are gone?" Like a thunderbolt on a clear day, Teacher Song shot up from his seat. "Could they really have taken the Golden Path?"

Though he could scarcely believe it, Teacher Song reported the disappearance of Han Tianyue and the others.

The principal, upon hearing the news, nodded and said, "You may go back now."

Teacher Song had no choice but to turn and leave.

"The fact that Mao Xuanzi and Mao Taizi are the children of the Fire God cannot be mistaken. As for Han Tianyue, that little rascal’s origins remain a mystery. No matter what, I must keep the Fire God’s daughter firmly within my grasp!" The principal called out, "Director of Academic Affairs, come to my office immediately!"

At this summons, the office door swung open, and a hunched old man entered, bowing obsequiously. "Principal, what are your instructions?"

"Did you know that yet another student has run away?" The principal snorted coldly, and the director broke out in a cold sweat.

"P-principal, I—"

"Enough. Go fetch Boka, An, Money, and call for Serpent as well!" The principal lit a cigarette, took a drag, and added, "And be sure to bring Serpent!"

"Serpent?" The director’s face turned pale.

"Did you not hear me?" The principal rose from his seat.

"I heard, I heard!" The director scrambled out of the office, nearly tripping over himself.

Less than ten minutes later, Boka was the first to enter the principal’s office. "Principal, what do you need me for?"

The principal said nothing.

Boka stood aside to wait.

Soon after, An and Money arrived together. "Good day, Principal!"

The principal did not reply.

An and Money took their place beside Boka, waiting.

"Principal, if you have something to say, hurry up—I’m busy!" The voice of a young woman came from just outside the office door before she even entered.

The principal remained silent.

In walked a girl whose outfit left little to the imagination. Her chest rose like twin peaks, her waist was willow-thin, and her hair was perfectly straight. She had a sweet face—this was Serpent.

"Alright, the four of you are here. I have a task for you," the principal turned his chair to face Boka, An, Money, and Serpent.

"Oh, let's hear it," Serpent spoke brazenly.

"Find four people for me," the principal said with utmost seriousness.

"I’m not going," Serpent refused outright.

"Insolence!" The principal thundered.

Serpent finally quieted down.

Boka stepped forward. "Principal, who exactly do you want us to find?"

The principal continued, "Mao Xuanzi, Han Tianyue, Fang Zhe, Feng Shang!"

"What!" An, Money, and Serpent were shocked upon hearing these names.

Boka, however, was not surprised. He already knew the four were bound to leave the school, though he hadn’t expected them to depart so soon.

"You must remember this: no matter what methods you use, bring them back. By any means necessary!" the principal emphasized again and again.

"Yes!" Boka, An, Money, and Serpent answered in unison.

"Good. Here are four cloth bags, one for each of you. Inside are medicines and charms for survival. When you need them, open the bags—they’ll help you overcome some hardships," the principal tossed each of them a cloth bag.

Boka, An, Money, and Serpent picked up their bags and turned to leave.

"Boka!" the principal called out one last time. "You must bring them back to me!"

"Yes!" Boka nodded, then followed An, Money, and Serpent out of the school.

Seeking gold medals, seeking favorites, seeking recommendations, seeking clicks, seeking comments, seeking red envelopes, seeking gifts—seeking everything! Whatever you have, throw it all my way!