Only Human Here 17

This sudden kneel took Yanshan Yue by surprise, causing her to step back. Wei Huan leaned forward as if reaching for something but then realized she was wearing a school uniform skirt. He promptly stepped back and gazed up with a pitiful expression, saying, 

"I'm just a human, and whenever I step out, disaster befalls me. I've been poisoned by a Hook Kisser demon, and my days are numbered."

Yanshan Yue seemed to wear an expression that said, "This might be a scam," and continued to move back, with Wei Huan inching forward persistently. 

"Please, little fairy, or rather, little demon, no, wait, beautiful lady, could you grant me the Resurrection Fruit from your reward? I promise I won't freeload! I will definitely repay you!" His expression dimmed, 

"Although I don't have anything valuable right now, I swear I'll repay you!"

His appeal didn't appear very convincing, and Wei Huan had no other tricks up his sleeve. He tried hard to muster his emotions, preparing to burst into tears.

Yanshan Yue's response was direct, 

"No."

Wei Huan, unable to cry, simply choked a bit, 

"Huh?"

"I have no reason to waste a Resurrection Fruit on a human."

Wei Huan sniffled and stood up, "How is saving a life a waste? I…"

The illusion faded, and the noisy classroom sounds rushed back in. They were back in the original space. Yanshan Yue sat at her desk, not looking at him. 

"You may leave."

Wei Huan understood the situation was difficult. He had no leverage, and he wasn't acquainted with the Nine-Tails. It was evident that she wouldn't easily part with something as precious as the Resurrection Fruit.

"Sorry." Wei Huan pondered a plan as he walked back. Giving up wasn't an option. Where there's a will, there's a way. Since fate had allowed him to return to life, it wouldn't let him die so easily again.

"What did you do to Sister Shan Yue just now?" Yang Ling saw Wei Huan returning and grabbed his arm. "She used an illusion just now!"

She was quite perceptive.

"Are you trying to woo my Sister Shan Yue?"

…

Wei Huan's mouth twitched twice as he whispered, 

"Who's wooing whom? She's the fox here…"

They bickered for a while, but then the classroom door swung open. Wei Huan was startled and, when he turned around, he saw a tall, fiery-haired man walking in with flames atop his head, illuminating the room.

"Sit down or leave!" He slapped his palm on a desk, creating a few sparks. A boy with curly hair in the front row had his hair tips ignited, causing them to explode with a bang. His alarmed deskmate took refuge behind the teacher's desk, conjuring a fiery shield.

"What are you all doing?" The counselor raised an eyebrow and seemed on the verge of breathing fire.

The curly-haired boy kept apologizing, 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, teacher. My hair tends to explode, so…"

The flames on the counselor's head burned even brighter. He kicked the boy hiding behind the fiery shield on the backside. 

"Go back; even the courage of a hamster demon surpasses yours."

Indeed, the Firekind Academy was a highly combustible and explosive place. At this moment, Wei Huan deeply missed the wonderful time he spent studying at Fuyao.

"Where's that human student?"

Wei Huan, lost in his thoughts, didn't immediately realize that the teacher was referring to him or whether he should respond. It wasn't until a burst of flames suddenly surged in front of him that Wei Huan snapped back, 

"Here!"

The counselor walked slowly from the podium to Wei Huan. He snapped his fingers loudly, 

"Don't assume that merely entering Shanhai makes you part of it."

His eyes had a fiery orange glow, and he pressed Wei Huan's shoulder firmly with one hand, enunciating each word, 

"This place doesn't welcome or acknowledge the weak."

Wei Huan had never been a serious person and didn't take others' words to heart. Even when everyone looked down on him as a "human" in the dueling arena, it didn't affect him. But this was different.

He could accept disdain when others couldn't see the truth, but he couldn't accept anyone doubting his abilities.

Glancing at the hand on his shoulder, Wei Huan smiled with confidence. 

"Thank you, teacher. You'll welcome me."

His eyes still shone with the same radiance as a decade ago, just like the youth he used to be.

The counselor stared at him for a moment, and a barely noticeable smile curved at the corner of his mouth. Then, he turned around, saying, 

"Very well. Listen carefully, everyone." 

He returned to the podium and swiped his hand through the air, igniting two fiery letters – "Xing Yan." 

"This is my name. Congratulations on successfully enrolling in Shanhai University," he looked at all the students in the room. They were all winners who had gone through rigorous screening, their eyes gleaming with joy. But Xing Yan's expression turned serious in the next moment, 

"Do you think I would say that?"

The room fell into a profound silence, so quiet that the sound of a heartbeat would have been audible.

"This is just the beginning; don't celebrate too soon. And don't assume you're superior here. In this place, bloodlines don't matter, and there are no family privileges. Whether you come from Kunlun Void or a small, unknown town, whether you possess extraordinary talent or are entirely obscure, in my eyes, you're all blank slates with no experience. In the future, who becomes a symbol of success and who becomes a source of disgrace, no one can predict."

"Now, let's commence with the first roll call."

It was indeed a new lease on life, and now Wei Huan didn't have to ponder various uncertainties. Since his rebirth, at least this fact had been confirmed.

The sun's brightness was almost blinding.

Wei Huan lowered his head and exited the room.

At lunchtime, he met with Jing Yun at their agreed-upon spot. Jing Yun appeared much more upbeat than when he first arrived, though a hint of shyness remained. Whenever he talked about Fuyao, he radiated joy and excitement. This mixture of emotions made Wei Huan both envious and content.

"Are you in the War Preparedness Division too?" Jing Yun was so elated that he grasped the table, and his extraordinary strength nearly overturned it. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" He quickly released the table, looking apologetic and speaking in a much softer tone, "That's great, even though we're not in the same college, we'll still have the opportunity to go on missions together."

Wei Huan hadn't expected to be placed in the War Preparedness Division either. He had speculated that someone like him, a human with no demon powers, might at most be assigned to a department unrelated to core combat, similar to Administration. After all, apart from his close combat skills carried over from his previous life, he had no other combat abilities. Moreover, with the current tense relationship between humans and demons, his status as a human entering Shanhai made him appear suspicious. Yet, Shanhai's branch had placed him in the War Preparedness Division, and Yunyang wouldn't deceive him. This only left Wei Huan more puzzled.

How could he have fire abilities? He didn't even know fire magic in his previous life.

"I'm a human; they surely won't send me on missions," Wei Huan remarked, eyeing the insect hotpot rice on Jing Yun's plate, his appetite somewhat diminished.

"It can't be…," Jing Yun pouted. 

"But actually, I don't know what the War Preparedness Division really does. I just heard that everyone wants to join it."

Wei Huan reflected for a moment, set down his chopsticks, and patiently explained, 

"The War Preparedness Division is a common department across all four colleges, and it's the most unique department at Shanhai. Yes, just as you mentioned, the War Preparedness Division is highly sought after because Shanhai isn't an ordinary comprehensive university; it's more like an independent military force separate from the government's army." Observing the quizzical expression on Jing Yun's face, Wei Huan continued, 

"In other words, Shanhai has its own independent squad, and the War Preparedness Division serves as the reserve force for this squad."

Jing Yun was taken aback, "An independent squad?! So, this also…"

Wei Huan shook his head, "You're overthinking it. While it's an independent military force in terms of rank structure, it's not independent in terms of authority. If you want to participate in combat missions, you still require government approval. However, these days, many officers in the government's army are elite members of the old Shanhai squad. That's why so many people aspire to join the War Preparedness Division."

"Because the War Preparedness Division is the breeding ground for government army officers!" Jing Yun enthusiastically raised his chopsticks to answer.

Wei Huan picked up his chopsticks and playfully clinked them with Jing Yun's. 

"Precisely. The daily tasks for War Preparedness Division students aren't as glamorous as you may think. It often involves various dirty and exhausting jobs. One moment there's a demon rebellion, the next a demon going berserk, and it's never anything pleasant. And when the situation requires, all members of the Shanhai squad must go to the battlefield without hesitation."

"The battlefield…" Jing Yun's expression suddenly grew serious. 

"By the way, on my way here, I saw the Memorial Monument of Valor at Fuyao College."

Wei Huan paused, his fingers momentarily stiffening. Inopportunely, his mind was flooded with chaotic and gruesome images from the battlefield.

"According to a senior, no new names have been added to the monument for about six or seven years," Jing Yun said, lowering his head. "I hope that trend continues."

Wei Huan suddenly remarked, "I'd like to go see it."

Jing Yun looked concerned, "But you're a human…"

Right, right. Wei Huan hung his head; he was a human now. Most of the names on the Monument of Valor had perished on the battlefield, in the struggle against humans.

Seeing Wei Huan like this, Jing Yun felt uneasy, 

"How about we try?"

As Wei Huan reached the Monument of Valor, he noticed significant changes since his last visit. The monument, once freely accessible, was now enclosed, allowing entry only for college students.

Both he and Jing Yun stood before the barrier. While Jing Yun passed through effortlessly, Wei Huan's attempt to touch the faint blue barrier resulted in a sharp, painful recoil.

"I can't enter," Wei Huan admitted, gazing at the towering monument from a distance, the thought of his name etched upon it stirring complex emotions.

"Do you want to go in?" A familiar voice emerged from behind. Wei Huan turned to find an old friend, Yang. He tried to conceal his emotions with a forced chuckle. 

"Yang? What a coincidence."

Awkwardly, he turned back to the barrier. 

"I just wanted to take a look, that's all."

Yang joined him and created an oval-shaped opening in the barrier, accommodating his height. "Go on, take a look."

Wei Huan was about to express his gratitude when he was suddenly reminded of his identity.

"Are you showing me how many demons have perished in battles against humans?" he inquired.

Yang gently shook his head. "You're overthinking it. My intention isn't for you to feel remorse. Whether human or demon, most were innocent sacrifices. It's not your fault."

Wei Huan observed Yang, feeling as though he was the same friend he knew from years ago, yet somehow not quite. It was as if something had fundamentally changed within the depths of their shared destiny.

Jing Yun beckoned to him as he stood by the monument. Wei Huan hurried over and looked up at the Heroes' Monument, which bore the names and passing dates of the deceased. His eyes followed the years down, searching for the period of the war. His name filled his thoughts, aligning with the engraved lines.

What was happening?

Furrowing his brows, Wei Huan checked repeatedly, but he couldn't locate the two familiar words from that time on the list of the fallen.

How could this be? It seemed impossible.

He longed to approach the monument for a closer look, but he lacked the wings to do so.

As he examined each stroke and line on the monument, a chilling sensation ran through him.

Sensing Wei Huan's trembling shoulders, Jing Yun inquired, 

"Ah Heng, are you looking for something?"

Wei Huan turned around, attempting to appear nonchalant, and met the gaze of his old friend.

"I've heard people from our hometown say that Nine Feng also perished in battle seven years ago." He smiled, appearing puzzled. "It's strange that his name isn't here."

Yang Sheng's expression remained as placid as ever, but there was a sudden chill in the air the moment Wei Huan mentioned Nine Feng.

A tense silence enveloped them, leaving Wei Huan with the unsettling impression that the Yang Sheng before him was a stranger when it came to discussions about Nine Feng.

It was as though he were anticipating some form of judgment.

"Because he betrayed before his death."