Chapter 13: Blood-red Eyes

March 24, 2024, afternoon, en route to Ting’an City.

Xueqiu stared at Xia Yin, his casual suggestion to drop the “Senior” title catching her off guard. It felt like a shift, as if he was trying to close the distance between them, but she wasn’t sure why. Her mind was still tangled in the chaos of the tunnel incident—the crimson sky, the shattered highway, the buzzing in her ears. None of it felt real, yet it was.

“Alright… Xia Yin,” she said softly, testing the name. It felt strange on her tongue, like calling a teacher by their first name.

“Good, good. No need for all that formal stuff. We’re gonna be stuck together for a while anyway,” Xia Yin said, leaning back with a grin. His white shirt, still smudged with black stains, crinkled as he stretched. The blade, which he called “Mist Cutter,” now rested across his lap, its dark surface absorbing the light rather than reflecting it.

Xueqiu glanced at Carlos, who remained focused on the road. The lemon scent in the van was fading, replaced by a faint metallic tang, maybe from Xia Yin’s blade or the lingering adrenaline of the chase. She wanted to ask more—about Youdu, domains, Contracts—but the words felt stuck, like they’d unravel something she wasn’t ready for.

“So, uh, Xueqiu,” Xia Yin broke the silence, twirling a strand of his messy hair. “You’re probably wondering what the hell just happened back there, right? Don’t worry, I’m not gonna dodge it. Ask away.”

She hesitated. Every question felt like stepping into deeper water. Finally, she settled on one. “What’s Youdu?”

Xia Yin’s grin faded slightly, and he exchanged a quick glance with Carlos through the rearview mirror. “Youdu’s… tricky to explain. Think of it like a shadow world. A place where Shadow Ghosts come from. It’s not exactly here—like, not in the real world—but it’s connected. Sometimes it bleeds into our reality, like what just happened. That’s a domain—a pocket of Youdu pulled into our world by a Contract.”

“By someone’s Contract,” Carlos added without turning, his voice steady. “Number 137, Lízhū, manipulates space. It’s rare and dangerous. Whoever used it wanted us gone.”

Xueqiu’s fingers tightened around the edge of her hoodie. “Why? Why us?”

“Could be a lot of reasons,” Xia Yin said, shrugging. “Maybe someone doesn’t want you at the Academy. Maybe it’s personal. Or maybe it’s just bad luck. Happens when you’ve got Shadow Ghost blood—makes you a target.”

“Shadow Ghost blood…” Xueqiu repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. She thought of her unscathed hand after Xia Yin shot her, her survival against the tentacle monster. “Is that why I… changed?”

Xia Yin’s dead-fish eyes softened for a moment. “Yeah, probably. Your Contract’s tied to that blood. It’s what makes us different. Why you didn’t die that night. Why you’re… well, you now.”

“But why a girl?” Xueqiu pressed, her voice sharper than she intended. “Why this body?”

Carlos spoke up. “Contracts manifest differently. Yours seems to have altered your physical form. It’s not unheard of, but it’s rare. The Academy will help you understand it.”

“Help me understand…” Xueqiu trailed off, staring at her pale hands. She didn’t feel like herself, but she didn’t know who “herself” was anymore. “And if I don’t want to understand? If I just want to go back?”

Xia Yin snorted, but there was no malice in it. “Go back to what? Qingtan? Your old life? You saw what happened in that tunnel. You think you can just walk away from this? Shadow Ghosts don’t stop coming. And normal people…” He gestured vaguely. “They won’t get it. You’re not one of them anymore.”

The words stung, but Xueqiu couldn’t argue. She’d felt it—the disconnect, the strangeness. Jiang Cheng not recognizing her. The mirror showing a stranger.

“Besides,” Xia Yin continued, “the Academy’s not so bad. You’ll learn to control your Contract. Maybe even like it. I mean, look at me—kicking ass with a cool blade. Not a bad deal.”

Xueqiu didn’t smile. She wasn’t sure she could. “And if I fail? You said something about an E rank…”

“Oh, that.” Xia Yin waved a hand. “The ranking exam’s just to gauge your Contract’s strength. S is top-tier, E’s the bottom. Most people land in the middle—B or C. If you get E, yeah, they might send you packing, but it’s rare. Professor Chen picked you for a reason. You’re not gonna flop that bad.”

“Enough, Xia Yin,” Carlos said, his tone firm. “She’ll learn the details at the Academy. Let’s not overwhelm her.”

“Fine, fine,” Xia Yin muttered, rolling his eyes. “Just trying to help my junior sister out.”

The van fell silent again, the hum of the engine and the faint buzz of tires on the highway filling the space. Xueqiu looked out the window, watching the world blur by. The blue sky and passing cars felt deceptively normal, as if the tunnel incident had been a dream. But the weight of Xia Yin’s blade on his lap and the memory of those black shapes chasing them anchored her to this new reality.

“Xueqiu,” Carlos said suddenly, breaking her thoughts. “When we arrive, you’ll meet Professor Chen. He’ll explain everything—your Contract, the Academy, Youdu. Trust him.”

She nodded, though trust felt like a fragile thing. She didn’t know these people, not really. But what choice did she have? Her old life was gone—her grandma, her friends, her identity. All she had now was this van, these strange boys, and a destination she couldn’t even picture.

“Hey,” Xia Yin said, nudging her arm lightly. “Don’t look so gloomy. You’re about to join the coolest school ever. Beats cramming for exams, right?”

Xueqiu managed a small nod, but her heart wasn’t in it. As the van sped toward Ting’an, she felt like she was hurtling toward something bigger than herself—something that would either save her or swallow her whole.

The Wuling Hongguang pulled into Ting’an City by early afternoon. The convenience store at Ping’an Street, 369, was a nondescript building with a faded sign and a flickering neon light. It looked like any other corner shop, but the way Carlos parked with precision and Xia Yin’s sudden alertness told Xueqiu this was no ordinary stop.

“Welcome to the gateway,” Xia Yin said, hopping out and grabbing her suitcase from the trunk. “Doesn’t look like much, but trust me, it’s more than it seems.”

Xueqiu stepped out, her legs stiff from the long drive. The two men in black trench coats from earlier were nowhere to be seen, but their absence didn’t ease her nerves. She clutched her hoodie’s sleeves, scanning the quiet street.

Carlos led the way inside. The store clerk, a bored-looking woman in her thirties, barely glanced up from her phone as they entered. “Back room,” she muttered, jerking her thumb toward a door behind the counter.

Xueqiu followed, her suitcase wheels squeaking on the linoleum floor. The back room was cramped, stacked with boxes of snacks and drinks, but Carlos moved straight to a metal door in the corner. He pressed his hand against it, and a faint blue glow pulsed under his palm.

“Biometric lock,” Xia Yin whispered to Xueqiu. “Fancy, right?”

The door clicked open, revealing a staircase descending into darkness. A cold draft wafted up, carrying a faint hum, like the buzzing from the tunnel.

“Down we go,” Xia Yin said, gesturing for her to follow. “Welcome to the Spiritual Academy, Xueqiu.”

She took a deep breath, her heart pounding, and stepped into the unknown.

ps: Thanks for the votes and support! I’ll keep the gratitude here in the notes. Let’s see if we can hit a recommendation spot soon! (crossed out)*