Love, death, and false man

Chapter 51. The Ascetic Order

"What a strange question, you actually believe in this urban legend?"

"The urban legend is true. On the 29th, you weren't at school. I saw a transformed monster with my own eyes, but everyone else forgot, only I remember! Ever since then, I've been restless. Someone has been following and monitoring me until yesterday, when they kidnapped me. I don't know who to ask for help now. No one can deal with them; they can erase memories..."

Xiao Long lowered his head, his voice trembling.

Fang Yan took a drag of his cigarette, his hand resting on the gun, ready to draw it and fire at any moment.

Why do you think I am?

"You don't come to school half the time, you don't attend evening self-study sessions, yet your grades are still excellent. And there are strange rumors about you. Aren't you supposed to be the ultimate rumored boyfriend? You seem so strong... I'm the weak one."

Xiao Long's mind had completely collapsed. He lifted his shirt, revealing a dense array of dagger cuts. These cuts were not intended to kill him, but purely for sadistic purposes. Upon closer inspection, the dagger cuts were not random, but rather formed obscure geometric patterns resembling the Ж symbol, a religious totem.

He no longer knew who he could rely on, and slowly walked towards Fang Yan.

"Don't come any closer!"

Fang Yan pulled out his pistol, pointed it at Xiao Long, and looked at the shocking wounds. He realized that this idiot wasn't talking nonsense. He had pretty much figured out the game. Xiao Long was worthless and was just bait to catch fish.

The lesson I learned from Xia Bing is that bait is difficult to handle; you can choose to ignore it, but you must make sure it's properly disguised.

If they are discovered by the bait, it is best to extract all information through torture before killing them. They will be completely controlled and have no way to survive. Death would be an early release for them.

He looked so pitiful that Fang Yan hesitated to make a move. This guy had already broken down mentally. He was really unlucky to be entangled with this kind of guy. Did he really have to torture him to extract information?

Upon seeing the pistol, Xiao Long immediately knelt down, choking back tears. Indeed, he had guessed correctly.

Seeing his expression, Fang Yan knew something was wrong. He had no experience dealing with bait and always relied on brute force. Taking out a gun had exposed him immediately.

“I can tell you their information, where they are, and how many of them are in No. 6 Middle School. You can kill me if you want, but I really don’t want to go back there anymore.”

Xiao Long put his hand in his pocket, as if trying to take something out.

boom!
Fang Yan fired directly, the muzzle flashing with fire. The bullet pierced Xiao Long's right forearm, and due to the impact, Xiao Long was thrown backward. Blood gushed from the wound, but he seemed numb to the pain. It was nothing to him, and he didn't shout or scream.

"I just wanted to take the gun out for you to prove that I have no ill intentions towards you, okay? I'll hold the barrel and slowly take it out. Otherwise, you could just blow my head off with one shot."

He spoke with tears streaming down his face, as if he had grasped at a lifeline, ignoring the blood flowing from his hands.

"Fuck you..."

Fang Yan kept a close eye on it, ready to shoot the head off at the slightest sign of trouble.

"All right."

As he had said, Xiao Long slowly placed his pistol on the ground, stood up, kicked it in front of Fang Yan, and then raised his hands.

Fang Yan was filled with thoughts. What did this mean? Was it a more complex and roundabout trap, an attempt to gain his trust and sympathy? Given that his thoughts could not be read, was this two-dimensional persona, disguised as a pitiful figure, actually an extremely despicable and monstrous one who wanted to kill him?
There must be people watching Xiao Long's actions now. Killing him would also risk exposing him, but if we don't kill him, even if what he said is true, is it really normal for someone like him to be able to find anyone to help him?

This is probably what Xia Bing often refers to as the recruit state: when under pressure, one's mind breaks down and one is capable of doing anything. At first, my mind was also a mess, but thankfully I managed to get through it after a while.

But with this kind of irrational behavior, aren't you afraid you'll kill yourself? This isn't some role-playing game where you kill every enemy you see.

Tell me what you know, and I'll think about it.

“It’s the Ascetic Order, that’s what they call themselves. Their headquarters are in the West End, in a place called Emmanuel Monastery. There are two of their members in the senior class at the school; they’re the two who kidnapped me.” “Who are they?”

Fang Yan raised an eyebrow. He was originally going to kill him, but he actually said it?
“A boy and a girl, both from Class 6 of the third year of high school. I came to the school secretly to find you, hoping to seek help… I could only do this today, when they were most relaxed, thinking I wouldn’t do anything reckless. I went to the police, but they all thought I was crazy. I can’t tell my family either, those people…” Xiao Long’s voice choked up, and in the end he could only think of two words to describe it, “Too evil.”

"You're so stupid. They know your real-time location, and they might even be watching you right now. You can't escape."

Fang Yan opened his mouth, wanting to add something, but didn't say it.

No one had a choice. If Xiao Long wanted to survive, he could only try to become a member of this ascetic monastic society, no matter how terrifying the organization was. There was no other way.

He chose the most irrational path, seeking help from hostile forces... No matter which way he went, this path would lead to hell.

Don't blame me, this is how we survive, and I've done my best.

Am I that conspicuous? No, it's probably because Xiao Long is in the same class as me, and we see each other all the time. The most likely person he can think of is me.

Fang Yan has already developed a sense of territory; this is how the game works under the [Fortress Protocol]: psychological pressure and territorial battles.

Other places don't matter, we can take our time, but Class 2 of Grade 11 is my own office.

Dare to plant your flag on my turf?

"Here's a compromise: I can't be sure of the authenticity of your information either."

Fang Yan kicked Xiao Long's pistol back to his front.

"Don't say I didn't give you a chance. I'll shoot you again next. Then... I want you to lure those two people over and tell them you encountered the enemy on the roof of the stadium, but you shot me in the knee and I can't move. And you're too afraid to fight anymore."

If you do this, I'll at least protect you while you're at school. After a while... I'll go to that Emmanuel Monastery you mentioned, wipe out their stronghold, and you'll be able to escape."

Fang Yan said this, but in reality, he had no intention of destroying the old nest.

The Papacy's overall war strategy differs from that of the Legion Soul Master. There must be a big guy in that stronghold, and they are not afraid of being exposed. They are strongmen who are firmly stationed there by their own strength. Unless a large group of people are organized to surround and kill them, it is probably impossible to take them down.

Fang Yan wasn't reckless enough to commit suicide by helping a complete stranger.

Let's deal with those two charlatans in the senior year first. Whether it's my death or theirs, in any case, No. 6 Middle School will be closed for the holidays again today.

"Would you...kill them?"

The torture he endured last night was still fresh in his mind; it was impossible for him not to feel any resentment towards those who had taken him there.

"Of course, this is a different game now, Xiao Long. You've chosen a different hell. We're now caught in a roundabout chain of suspicion. You're just a tool I'm using. If you don't do as I say, the one who dies... might not just be you. Think about your family and friends. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Fang Yan spoke in a deliberately cruel tone, though of course he wasn't that ruthless.

Although Xia Bing told me that the Vatican's recruitment standards were outrageously low, today was quite an eye-opener.

Unlike the Barrett rifle, the machete is much more portable and lighter than an anti-materiel sniper rifle, but it still has a length limitation. However, Fang Yan found a way to carry the machete without attracting attention at school.

That's an umbrella cover specifically designed to store non-extendable umbrellas.

You think I carry an umbrella because I'm afraid of getting a tan, but actually I have to start tearing you to pieces right now.

(End of this chapter)