Only Human Here 18

Betrayal?

How is that possible…?

Wei Huan couldn't comprehend the notion of betrayal.

He avoided Yang Sheng's gaze, his head hung low, and he attempted to suppress the shivers that he couldn't allow Yang Sheng to witness. He dared not let his disbelief show.

This was Nine Feng, a savior on the battlefield! How could Nine Feng betray?

Wei Huan had initially received orders from Shanhai to go to the Border Canyon, where he and tens of thousands of human enemy soldiers fought valiantly to the death. He couldn't make sense of it.

"Are you seeking his name because he saved you?" Yang Sheng's words reached Wei Huan, but he had no strength to respond.

Yang continued, "He always had a penchant for saving people in battle as if he were the sole soul in the world who cared for humans." His tone grew progressively colder, to the point where Wei Huan almost couldn't recognize the person in front of him. "I can't say for certain whether he betrayed or not. Perhaps you humans know better than I do."

"But my father perished because of him."

What?

Wei Huan had been too preoccupied with finding his own name and hadn't noticed the others. In shock, he looked up at the Heroes' Monument, and there it was, Yang Sheng's father's name, prominently inscribed among the sacrifices, his two large characters: Yang Zheng.

"He doesn't deserve to have his name here. He's not worthy."

Before Wei Huan could react, Yang Sheng spread his wings and departed, devoid of nostalgia.

He was left standing alone.

Yang Instructor, his death due to…

Jing Yun approached him in silence. "Ah Heng, you might not fully grasp the situation here. Seven years ago, during that counterattack, Nine Feng Wei Huan infiltrated the battlefield on his own, feigned entrapment, and sent out a distress signal. In attempting to save him, Yang Sheng's father ended up ensnared by enemy forces and met his demise in the Border Canyon."

Infiltrated the battlefield on his own?

He had received explicit orders from Shanhai to go as a special envoy!

Wei Huan fought to maintain his composure, his fists clenched, and he almost gritted his teeth as he forced out his words. "What happened afterward?"

"Later… later, Nine Feng was captured." Jing Yun took out the smartphone provided by the academy, pressed a button, and a holographic display materialized in front of them. "This is publicly released by the enemy, a video recording of him post-capture."

Recalling the last time Wei Huan spoke of Nine Feng as his idol, Jing Yun added with caution, "I can somewhat understand it. He endured so much in there, and ultimately, passing on the battle emblem was likely his sole means of escape."

As Wei Huan gazed at the blurry surveillance footage, he felt a chill engulf him. This was entirely untrue. He knew more than anyone that he hadn't surrendered the battle emblem, let alone committed any act of desertion. He fought until the very end, until his death, with honor.

But the figure in the video undeniably resembled him, or at least an identical copy, down to the injuries.

He was trapped in an unfamiliar place, with faint electrical currents flickering in the air, a barrier yet not quite, more like a visible magnetic field.

The Wei Huan in the surveillance footage bore numerous injuries, his wings in tatters, and he lay motionless amid a pool of dried blood. His head hung low, lifeless, like an irredeemable and indisputable failure.

It wasn't like this…

Jing Yun pocketed the phone and, with hesitation, began to speak. "Actually, when you mentioned Nine Feng the last time, I found it quite perplexing. I'm unsure how humans view him but in the demon realm…"

He sighed. "To be honest, we can't say for certain if he truly betrayed, but he did relinquish the battle emblem. It remains in the possession of the human government's military, and he also assisted in luring Yang Instructor's father into an ambush. Were it not for the destruction of his memorial tablet, people might still question whether he genuinely faked his death to join the enemy."

Faked death, and joined the enemy.

Such notions in connection with Nine Feng were unfathomable.

Wei Huan didn't wish to accept any of the words emerging from Jing Yun's mouth, but since they came from Jing Yun, he had no choice but to believe them.

"Is that so? I never expected this," Wei Huan forced a smile, rallying the last vestiges of his strength. "The truth is, I admired him for his strength. I never thought… never imagined he would be like this."

Taking a deep breath, Wei Huan smiled, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm sorry, I'm just a human, and there's much I don't understand. This situation caught me off guard."

"Ah Heng…"

"I'm feeling somewhat uneasy. I think I'll return to Yansui."

After parting ways with Jing Yun, Wei Huan walked as if he were a lifeless body, his mind filled with countless shattered images.

In his previous life, the idea of dying on the battlefield had never crossed his mind. Yet, he couldn't have imagined that his death would be so disgraceful.

The news struck him like a heavy blow, shattering his inherent pride, and tearing apart his self-esteem and past glory.

Leaning against the shadow wood tree, he repeatedly watched the video, each viewing reinforcing the painful reality. He searched for any evidence in the footage that might prove the captive in the video wasn't him.

But with each careful review, the grim truth emerged again and again. It was a fact that didn't align with his memories, yet it was documented as real.

The surveillance was brief, only a minute, but for Wei Huan, it felt like an eternity of excruciating torture with every passing second.

The irony cut deep. Over the past seven years, he had believed he left the world as a hero, even in death. Now, he realized it was all a deception. He was forced to wear the dirtiest, most false shroud, trampled by the words of countless people. The sacrifices and contributions of the Nine Feng clan had been erased because of his death.

The person who cared most about the name Nine Feng was him. The one who threw that name into the mud to be trampled upon was also him.

He wandered aimlessly for days, unable to awaken from the lie of betrayal. One morning, he noticed a faint bluish color on his fingers, and his organs caused mild discomfort when in motion. His second death was not far away.

It was as if fate had brought him back to experience the agony of false accusations.

During a practical training session, the assistant instructor ordered everyone to form groups and train freely. Yang Ling, who usually headed straight for Yanshan Yue, halted on her way and glanced at the silent Wei Huan. She shouted from a few meters away, "Stupid human! Go find a partner!"

Wei Huan remained silent, his eyes vacant.

Yang Ling bit her lip. For some reason, he had been different lately, and she was hesitant to approach him. She remained tongue-tied, unable to muster the courage to ask.

"I'll ignore you. Don't come looking for us to spar later, or I'll smash your head." Yang Ling clenched her fist and ran over to Yanshan Yue.

Wei Huan still didn't speak. As the others began teaming up, he stood alone, his head down under the scorching sun.

"Why don't you pair up with that human? You two are always together."

"I don't want to. What if he holds me back during a fight?"

"Seriously, why did they let this burden into our class? Such a nuisance."

Wei Huan had grown accustomed to such judgments. Since his rebirth, he had faced constant scrutiny. He was forever the one looked down upon, all because of his human identity. Whether among humans or supernatural beings, he felt like a failure.

Suddenly, Wei Huan sensed a familiar presence and instinctively looked up.

Yun Yongzhuo appeared before him, folding away his dazzling white feathers, approaching step by step. The scene felt somewhat surreal. Wei Huan squinted to confirm that this person was indeed approaching.

The assistant instructor saw Yun Yongzhuo and immediately blew a whistle, calling the first-year class one students to assemble.

Everyone gathered in a small formation. Wei Huan stood in the last row, gazing at Yun Yongzhuo from a distance through the students in front of him.

Yun Yongzhuo still bore that cold expression, deepening Wei Huan's despondency. An overpowering curiosity surged in him, a desire to know how this person viewed him.

His heart began to race, the poison's grip always ready to tighten its hold.

He had forgotten that in his past life, Yun Yongzhuo harbored a strong aversion toward him. Upon learning of Wei Huan's supposed desertion, Yun Yongzhuo likely considered it natural, perhaps incapable of feeling even stronger aversion.

"You."

A flame ignited in Yun Yongzhuo's eyes as he spoke to Wei Huan.

"At attention."

The students in the front row made way for him, while some whispered among themselves, speculating about Yun Yongzhuo's intentions. "Is Instructor Yun going to discipline this human student?"

"Who knows, but he's been a nuisance for a while."

Wei Huan felt a lump in his chest and promptly stood at attention.

Yun Yongzhuo handed him a close-quarters dagger. "Take it and stand on the other side."

Wei Huan was momentarily puzzled but accepted the dagger. Was Yun Yongzhuo planning to demonstrate a mock battle with him for the class to witness?

Before he could fully grasp the situation, Yun Yongzhuo moved with astonishing speed. He grabbed Wei Huan's hand, causing him to involuntarily release the dagger. The weapon fell to the ground, but Wei Huan's quick reflexes allowed him to catch it with his left hand at the last moment. He prepared to thrust it toward Yun Yongzhuo's arm but was effortlessly avoided.

"Is this all you've got?" Yun Yongzhuo's voice was low, clear, and cold, his indifferent eyes locked onto Wei Huan.

This gaze felt like a sharp blade, piercing Wei Huan's chest. All his pent-up frustration, disappointment, and resentment surged forth. 

Wei Huan clenched the dagger, his gaze sharp. "I'm not someone you can underestimate."

"Prove it to me."

The entire class watched as the two engaged in a battle that grew increasingly intense. Wei Huan, fueled by a desire to prove himself, attacked with determination. He targeted various vulnerable points on Yun Yongzhuo's body, ignoring any resemblance to the deceased and the past, focusing only on the present.

Their swift exchanges left the supernatural students in astonishment. They had regarded Wei Huan as an easily exploitable human, but here he was, holding his own against the legendary chosen one.

"He's surprisingly fast…"

The two sparred with heightened intensity. Wei Huan attacked without hesitation, aiming for weak spots on Yun Yongzhuo's body. He didn't care if Yun Yongzhuo exploited his past; he just needed to release his pent-up emotions.

He felt Yun Yongzhuo's fist brush against his temple, causing a dull, prolonged pain. This pain reminded Wei Huan that he was alive. Wei Huan evaded a strike, maneuvering around Yun Yongzhuo to attack from an advantageous angle. He aimed for Yun Yongzhuo's neck with the dagger.

As Wei Huan moved to strike, Yun Yongzhuo noticed the flame pattern on Wei Huan's forehead and his amber eyes. In that brief moment, Wei Huan's hand trembled. He felt a sudden, stabbing pain in his chest, but it passed quickly. He attributed it to the venom spreading due to exertion.

The dagger slipped from his hand, but Wei Huan adeptly caught it with his left hand, taking a step back in silence.

He expected Yun Yongzhuo to taunt him, to mock him as he had in the past. However, what he heard was the sound of the timer being turned off.

"Three minutes and forty-two seconds," Yun Yongzhuo announced, his demeanor still cold. He surveyed the other students. "Is there anyone who can spar with me longer? Step forward."

The other students exchanged uncertain glances but remained in place.

"Since there are no takers," Yun Yongzhuo handed the timer back to the vice instructor. "Continue your training in silence."

"Don't overestimate yourself," Yun Yongzhuo's voice was frigid, and his black instructor's uniform emphasized his coldness. His powerful physique and stern demeanor left a strong impression. "Someone will eventually find a way to end your life before your Rune Spirit does."

As he spoke these words, the training ground fell into a profound silence. 

The vice instructor resumed the training, and Yun Yongzhuo turned to look at Wei Huan, who had remained silent throughout the exchange. He extended his scarred hand towards Wei Huan. 

Wei Huan, momentarily bewildered, realized he still held Yun Yongzhuo's dagger. He swiftly spun the gleaming weapon in his hand and handed it back to Yun Yongzhuo, who took it without a word.

Two individuals, one knife, and a handshake that rekindled closeness after seven years of separation.

"You can't afford to be absent-minded in front of an opponent," Yun Yongzhuo said, his gaze sharper than the gleam of a blade. "Unless you want to hand your life over to me."

Wei Huan pursed his lips and released the dagger, allowing Yun Yongzhuo to reclaim it and sheath it at his waist. He turned away, his expression turning cold.

Unwilling.

This high-intensity emotion, which had been brewing over several days of melancholy, surged forth once again, and, surprisingly, it was Yun Yongzhuo who had ignited it.

Wei Huan couldn't help but force a bitter smile. This feeling of unwillingness was all too familiar, whether in his previous life when he was filled with ambition or in his current miserable circumstances. Whenever he encountered Yun Yongzhuo, that strong sense of unwillingness resurfaced. He didn't want to be underestimated, especially by Yun Yongzhuo, and he certainly didn't want to die with uncertainty shrouding his name.

[Prove it to me.]

He replayed Yun Yongzhuo's words in his mind.

Yes, he did long to prove himself. Even without Jiufeng's supernatural powers or the body of Jiufeng, he still aspired to demonstrate his worth to this perfect imaginary adversary he had been separated from for years.

He had already borne the weight of guilt and false infamy and died once. He couldn't, under any circumstances, allow it to happen again.

Wei Huan's fist, hanging at his side, couldn't help but clench. His gaze remained fixed on the black figure of Yun Yongzhuo.

He had to survive.

To clear his name for his sake.