Chapter 592: Boring
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 592: Boring
Spellbooks dissipate. A spellbook without a host will gradually fade away—this was common knowledge.
As the crowd stared at the spellbook lying on the ground, a chill ran down their spines.
The spellbook... had been blasted out of her body in a single strike!
How was that possible?
Nothing like this had ever happened; they had never even heard of such a thing! A spellbook could not be forced out of the body.
Even if the body suffered a mortal wound, it was impossible!
This was because a spellbook wasn't stored in a specific physical organ, but rather anchored upon one's own Ley Line Shackles.
This was a truth known only to a few.
Even though the onlookers were teaching assistants, many of them truly didn't know this fact until they had cause to wonder or ask about it.
But they did know that even if a body was run through, or even if the entire physical form was annihilated, the spellbook would not be expelled. Even in death, one could not simply reach into a corpse and pull it out.
Looking at the spellbook on the ground and then at Liliana’s reaction, the crowd instantly realized what that book under the girl's foot was.
It was Liliana’s famous, high-consumption spellbook: Thunderous Heavenly Punishment. As a lightning-type Evocation spell, it was the absolute ceiling for offensive power.
Yet, at this moment, the other girl looked at it as if it were trash. She had declared that the spellbook should simply dissipate, and no one dared to question her.
A spellbook like that would be fought over anywhere. If it were them, they would have snatched it up immediately. Who would waste such a treasure just to humiliate someone?
Meanwhile, Liliana felt as if she had been struck by lightning herself. Without Thunderous Heavenly Punishment, she could already foresee her future: she would be nothing more than an above-average practitioner.
She would no longer have the means to contend with her former enemies, and her backers would surely abandon her.
The value, fame, and power of that spellbook... were worth far more than her own life.
She couldn't lose it. She absolutely couldn't!
For this, she was willing to cast aside all dignity. She would do whatever it took to retrieve that object from beside the girl's feet.
She tried to stand, but her spine felt as if it had been crushed; she couldn't straighten up. Instead, she hunched her body and scrambled forward like a dog, desperate to reach it.
Though the distance was short, Liliana felt that crawling across it was more arduous than her entire stumbling journey from enrollment to her current position. Countless eyes were fixed on her—a shame far greater than her first defeat in the Arena.
"You really did crawl all the way to my feet."
This time, it was my turn to look down at her, but my eyes held nothing but pity.
So this is what Teacher Ji Niang meant by a "slave to power." What has happened to the Witch Academy? Even the teaching assistants have become like this. What will become of the students who look up to them?
"I... that... the spellbook..." Liliana reached me, trying to speak, but the words caught in her throat, unintelligible.
She was trembling with agitation, her expression one of frantic pleading.
"Do you know you were wrong, or do you just know how to be afraid?" I leaned down halfway, looking at the wretched Liliana, and asked softly.
"I was wrong... I know I was wrong... Give me a chance, I'll change, I'll make it right..."
A tearful apology. This was the first time they had seen Liliana like this, and it was also the first time they had witnessed this side of Yang Yuehan.
They had all become witnesses—witnesses to a monster within the Witch Academy finally baring its fangs, as if mocking them all.
Liliana’s previous petty schemes were utterly useless in the face of absolute power and methodology.
As for the earlier question of whether they had the "right" to be there, I hadn't answered with words. Instead, I had shown everyone through action that I indeed held that right.
I hadn't said it out loud because there was no need to tear off the mask completely; at least this way, everyone could save a bit of face.
However, I had used my domain to trap all these spectators. Those who noticed first had tried to leave immediately, only to discover that even "escaping" had become a luxury.
They hadn't actively come to enjoy the show; they had been forced into the role of the audience.
If you can't even run away from a confrontation, how can you talk about defeating your opponent?
At this moment, everyone’s gaze was fixed on me, as if waiting to see if I was satisfied with her answer. They waited to see what my next move would be—how I would continue to humiliate Liliana.
"Boring."
I straightened up, my expression devoid of much emotion.
There was no amusement from the spectacle, no thrill of revenge, no joy of victory, and no satisfaction in humiliation.
It was like crushing an ant; after seeing the corpse stop moving, I simply spat out those two words and turned to leave.
In the next instant, the domain quietly dissipated. Those who realized it swallowed hard and silently fled the scene. Before leaving, however, they cast a lingering look at my retreating back, as if etching into their minds that I was someone never to be provoked.
"Boring." Those two words again.
This was the second time Liliana had heard them in a short span, and to hear them this second time, she had paid a far more agonizing price.
She picked up the spellbook from the ground, but no matter what method she tried, she couldn't wipe away the rune ritual wrapped around it.
She tried to pull it back into her body. There was no resistance. She felt a subconscious tremor of relief—the sound of a weight falling off her heart.
But when she tried to control the spellbook as she had before... the smile vanished from her face.
The spellbook was like a stubborn rock; her mental power could not interface with it. At that moment, she finally understood what that thing on the spellbook was.
It was a seal!
Had she gotten the spellbook back? Yes.
But could she still use it? No.
Yet, she couldn't tell anyone!
At least in the eyes of the others, she had retrieved the book. She was still the same Liliana. As long as she held that spellbook, her strength appeared intact. No one knew she could no longer use it.
Before the truth was exposed, she had to find every possible way to break the seal!
Liliana propped herself up against a nearby wall. She had to leave this place immediately.
But as she watched the figure walking away, she felt as though she couldn't straighten her back as long as that person was still in sight.
Only when the figure had completely vanished did her emotions finally spiral out of control. Facing the crowd that hadn't yet dispersed, she roared in fury.
"Go! What are you all still looking at!"
She couldn't beat Yang Yuehan, but a significant portion of these spectators were people she had defeated before.
"Tsk, tsk... why take your anger out on us?"
"Heh, talk about a perfect performance of bullying the weak while fearing the strong, Liliana."
"Let's go, let's go. It's over. Otherwise, the mad dog might start biting."
At that moment, the spectators' mockery finally arrived.
The onlookers left in a hurry because they knew the winds were changing in the Witch Academy. A person who could not be provoked had appeared.
She possessed power they couldn't comprehend; no one could guarantee they could win against her.
And those confident enough to fight her weren't as brainless as Liliana. They knew that if they faced Yang Yuehan and won, they would simply maintain the status quo. What fame or victory was there to be had? Their opponent was just a kid who hadn't even been in the academy for a year.
But what if they lost?
They would lose everything!
Even if she didn't care about an over-consumption spellbook, could they guarantee that after provoking her, they would still receive a simple "Boring" and have their spellbooks returned?
Yang Yuehan’s move to "kill the chicken to warn the monkeys" was incredibly ruthless.
Liliana was the slaughtered chicken, and the spectators had become the warned monkeys.
It was foreseeable that if this display of dominance didn't achieve the desired effect, she would strike even harder next time.
Until... no one dared to touch her.
* * *
"Phew..."
After leaving that place, I walked along the roadside and let out a long, deep breath.
Despite how I had just intimidated all those people, acting was honestly exhausting.
Yes, acting.
With a protagonist and an audience, what was that farce if not a performance?
At least I should have established my authority.
Though, this was the first time I'd really done it this way. Well... the second time, actually, but the first time at the hotel didn't seem to have much of an effect.
Even those who experience something firsthand can forget the pain once the wound heals, let alone those who are just watching a show.
And this time, I had hit the same person again. I have to admit, it was quite theatrical.
But my goal was achieved.
Furthermore... Liliana seemed to have taught me something new: how to blast someone's spellbook out of them.
This trick only works on students who haven't ascended to Transcendent status yet, but it's enough to ensure no one in the Witch Academy dares to mess with me.
Did Liliana really know she was wrong?
I never believe that someone who forgets the pain once the scar heals truly understands what "wrong" means. In that case, I'll just make her afraid. As long as she leads the way in taking a detour whenever she sees me, that's enough.
As for what I'll do if Liliana happens to ascend to a Transcendent Witch?
She'll have to leave the Main World. Without a recommendation letter from the Dean, how could she possibly return quickly? By relying on her clumsy methods of just reaching out and firing off spells?
Besides... if she could turn her grief and indignation into the power to ascend, I might actually respect her a little more. But it's far more likely she'll just waste her life away in the academy.
Power that doesn't match one's cognition will eventually destroy its wielder. If she sees the sights beyond the world and still can't let go of the pain I caused her, then I can only say she's nothing special. Even if she becomes a Transcendent Witch, I'll still look down on her.
I hadn't walked far when several figures appeared in my field of vision.
"Hello, Teacher Lina... and... hello, Mentors." Seeing the three of them, I greeted them politely.
From the look of things, they hadn't left earlier because they were busy; they had been watching the commotion the whole time.
"Xiao Han really is quite cute," one of the mentors remarked.
After watching everything I just did, she could still call me "cute." I suppose only she would say that.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mentor."
"Call me 'Big Sister.' You call those other girls 'Big Sister' easily enough, don't you? Why so formal with me?"
"No, of course not. Um... thank you for the compliment, Big Sister," I corrected myself immediately. "So... are you three waiting here because there's something else you wanted to say?"
"We saw everything you did just now, Xiao Han."
"So, does Big Sister think I went too far?"
"Too far? I think you weren't ruthless enough."
"Don't feel any psychological burden. With corresponding strength comes corresponding respect. I don't see anything wrong with choosing that moment to establish your authority," Teacher Lina said from the side.
"Is that so? So that's what Big Sister Lina thinks. In that case, you must have something else to tell me, right?"
"Hehe~" One of the other sisters let out a light chuckle at my words. "Just as I heard, Xiao Han isn't very good at small talk. Since you like getting straight to the point, let's skip the pleasantries. After all, Xiao Han is a busy person now."
"I'm actually quite free at the moment, yes."
"It's fine, she's just teasing you," Lina said with a smile. "What do you think about this whole situation? The matter with Ninglan New City."
"What do I think... are you asking for my feelings?" I asked, puzzled.
"Just speak your mind. We want to hear your thoughts."
"Speak my mind... well, if I had to say, I think it's moving very fast. I vaguely remember Dean Mei telling me it would take several years..."
"Dean Mei told you that? You really were kept in the dark... your Qi Observation Art isn't just for show."
"I knew the Qi Observation Art seemed to help; after all, I was involved in the tuning work... but I didn't pay much attention to what happened afterward. I'm mostly just surprised," I explained. "But... is it really a good idea to open the expansion realm so urgently?"
"What's wrong with it? A newly restored expansion realm is a treasure trove waiting to be developed. Don't tell me that out of all the good things I mentioned, not a single one caught your eye?" Lina asked with a smile.
"There are indeed some tempting things, but... Big Sister Lina, the way you spoke at the meeting made it sound like you're sending us in to help those people rebuild their civilization, rather than letting a pack of robbers loose... Is there some deeper meaning behind this?"
"What deep meaning could there be? You are whatever you choose to be. If you don't want to be a robber, then be a guide. There's no need for so much worry. So... what choice will you make?"
"I... I won't be a robber, at least." I thought about it and finally gave that answer. I didn't say I would become a guide for their reconstruction, but I wouldn't choose to be a robber either.
"It seems you have your answer. Then I hope you have fun there."
"I suppose... then thank you for the blessing, Big Sister Lina," I replied with a smile, no longer dwelling on the question.
Just as Big Sister Lina said, what "deep meaning" could there be? If every choice in life required a profound meaning to support it, life would be incredibly exhausting, wouldn't it?
Looking at it from another perspective...
This is an obsession unique to short-lived species. They must make the most meaningful choices within their limited lifespans to avoid regret.
But long-lived species can experience countless choices and have endless time and opportunities to make up for regrets.
However... until I ascend to a Transcendent Witch, I am still a short-lived species. This obsession and the shift in mindset might only be fully resolved once I achieve that rank.
For now... I just need to work hard at being myself.
After finishing that topic, Big Sister Lina brought up some lighter subjects.
After all, she hadn't come over to give Xiao Han another boring lecture. They were truly just curious about her and wanted to walk with her, while also casually asking about the research progress on the Great Knowledge Seed.
Gossip and enjoying a good spectacle are, after all, part of a witch's nature.
In the distance, the crowd watched as I walked and laughed with three witch mentors. It was a sight that shocked many—especially those who had just witnessed the incident with Liliana.