49 Apocalypse Rules

In the training room.

Yelena’s long, light-gold hair was tied up in a high bun. Her small, fair face was tense, her purple eyes fixed forward as she concentrated all her attention on the sensations in her body and the manipulation of her Psychic Power.

Attacks came from all directions, washing over her like a tide. She calmly mobilized her Psychic Power, defending based on the intensity of the impact on different parts of her body.

She flawlessly defended against wave after wave of attacks.

She didn’t let her guard down for a moment, not until her Psychic Power was completely depleted.

In fact, she was so focused that she didn’t even realize her Psychic Power had run out and failed to signal her opponent to stop.

As a result, when the next attack came, she was stunned to find her Psychic Power exhausted.

Fortunately, the attacker quickly assessed the situation and withdrew most of the assault.

"Very good." Guan Tong’s voice rang out. "Your performance in this final training session was perfect. You didn’t miss a single attack."

Yelena’s heart leaped with joy at the praise. She wanted to look up and say something, but a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. Her vision went black, and the world began to spin.

"Student Stasia?"

Just as Yelena’s body tilted backward, she felt a pair of hands catch her.

Guan Tong supported the back of her head with one hand and placed the other on her shoulder, steadying her.

"Are you all right?"

"...I’m sorry. I’m fine."

Yelena quickly took a few deep breaths to compose herself. In the last forty-plus minutes, she had been so focused, and with her Psychic Power completely drained, she had actually become momentarily hypoxic.

"I’ve been meaning to say this for a while, but you don’t need to squeeze out every last drop of Psychic Power in every session," Guan Tong said. "I just didn’t want to discourage you. Since this is the last training session, it doesn’t matter now."

Yelena nodded.

Today was September 26th, the tail end of the month.

She and Sikokun had to return to Sisiya before the next rule was announced—that is, before October 1st. Today was their last training session.

She was quite satisfied with herself. After nearly a month of diligent daily training, she hadn’t faltered in her final session. Her performance had been perfect, earning Guan Tong’s approval. That was very important to her.

"At your current level, you should be able to easily defend against ordinary sneak attacks and assaults. Combined with your other abilities and items, your combat power should be quite formidable."

Guan Tong instructed, "However, the upper limit of your Psychic Power is fundamental. If your limit isn’t high, no matter how good your technique is, you’ll face situations where enemies use brute force to shatter your skill. No matter how exquisite a miniature temple is, it can’t compare to a grand courtyard. So when you go back, besides technique, you need to spend more time finding ways to raise your Psychic Power’s upper limit."

"I understand. Thank you, Teacher."

"Don’t mention it. Well, I wish you a safe journey."

As Guan Tong was about to leave, Yelena couldn’t help but say, "Teacher, before I go, can we have a proper farewell?"

"A farewell?"

Guan Tong had thought their previous words counted as a farewell, but seeing Yelena’s expression, it seemed she didn’t want it to be so casual. She wanted something more formal.

He didn’t think it was necessary, but then he considered that in this era of Apocalypse Rules, life and death were beyond one’s control. A parting like this could very well be their last... So he nodded in agreement.

"All right. When? Should I ask a few other students to come?"

Yelena shook her head.

It was a bit regrettable, but in the less than three months she had been at the academy, she hadn’t made friends with any of the other students.

The only person she knew in the entire academy was Guan Tong.

She suggested ten o’clock tomorrow morning, then left the academy and returned to her residence.

When she got back, her guard and butler, Sikokun, had already finished packing.

"Princess, are we leaving now?"

"No, we’ll leave tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

Sikokun was a little surprised. Just that morning, the two had agreed to leave after the last class of the day. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have packed their luggage today.

’Why the sudden change of plans?’

Facing Sikokun’s questioning gaze, Yelena paused before explaining, "I want to have a formal farewell with my teacher."

"Just a farewell?"

"Yes."

"Very well." Sikokun looked at Yelena and said, "In that case, please allow me to accompany you."

"...Mm."

「The next day.」

Guan Tong arrived at the academy gate at ten in the morning. He had just gotten there when he saw Yelena standing with another tall woman under a tree across the street.

Unlike the simple outfits she had worn for the past few days, today Yelena was dressed in a magnificent ensemble, just like on her first day at the academy.

The tall, middle-aged woman standing beside her wore a black pantsuit and held a suitcase. She looked unremarkable, but she gave Guan Tong the impression of being a ’stone-cold killer’.

Perhaps because of all he had experienced, he had developed a certain sensitivity to ineffable things like "killing intent," and there was no doubt that the woman in the suit exuded such an aura.

He strode over. Seeing him, Yelena nodded slightly. "Teacher, you’re here."

"Mm. And this is?"

"Hello, I am Sikokun, our young lady’s butler."

"Hello, I’m Guan Tong, a lecturer at the academy."

Sikokun sized up Guan Tong. She had actually investigated him in secret and knew some basic information about him.

Now, seeing him in person, her eyes slowly narrowed.

Just as Guan Tong could faintly sense the killing intent on her, she could likewise sense the hostile aura on Guan Tong.

Although Guan Tong had delicate features and didn’t look like a killer, Sikokun knew with just one glance that this Guan Tong was far from a simple academy teacher. He must have taken many lives with his own hands; otherwise, he wouldn’t possess such an air about him.

"Teacher, we are departing for Sisiya today," Yelena said solemnly. "Thank you for your guidance these past days. I have benefited greatly."

Seeing her speak so earnestly, Guan Tong found it a bit dramatic, but he still smiled. "My contribution wasn’t much; your own effort was what mattered most. I wish you a safe journey. If you have the chance in the future, you can visit North Star again."

Hearing this, Yelena blurted out, "Teacher, after Lecturer Jingyi returns to the academy, you won’t be a lecturer anymore, right? Would you be willing to come to Sisiya then?"

Both Guan Tong and Sikokun looked surprised to hear such an invitation.

After she spoke, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Yelena’s eyes, but it quickly steadied. She continued, "If you’re willing to come, Teacher, you can teach classes in Sisiya. I will guarantee you the best possible compensation."

Sikokun watched Yelena, remaining silent.

Meeting Yelena’s somewhat expectant gaze, Guan Tong shook his head slightly. "I’m sorry, Student Stasia. I have no such plans at the moment."

Yelena’s expression fell. "Is that so."

"I will go to Sisiya one day, but not to be a lecturer," Guan Tong said. "As for why... I think you know."

Yelena shuddered.

She remembered Guan Tong had once said he wouldn’t let her brother off. How could she not understand what he meant by that?

"Alright, a farewell isn’t a final goodbye. No need to make the atmosphere so heavy," Guan Tong said with a laugh.

"...Mm."

Yelena nodded. Then, her eyes gazed into the empty space before her and she raised her palm slightly, as if opening her Terminal Panel.

The next moment, a small hourglass appeared on her snow-white palm.

As soon as the hourglass appeared, before Yelena could speak, the expression on Sikokun’s face changed slightly. She whispered, "This item—"

Yelena frowned slightly, and Sikokun immediately stopped talking, though her expression clearly showed her reluctance.

Yelena moved her hand in front of Guan Tong. "Teacher, I’d like to give you this item as a parting gift."

From Sikokun’s reaction, Guan Tong could tell this item was likely quite valuable. He shook his head. "I can’t accept a reward I haven’t earned. I haven’t done anything beyond my duties as a teacher. You should take the item back."

"No, I hope you will accept it, Teacher," Yelena said stubbornly.

Seeing that she wouldn’t leave unless he accepted, Guan Tong felt a bit helpless.

He thought for a moment and said with resignation, "Alright, I can accept it. But since it’s a parting gift, if you give me one, I should give you one in return."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and retrieved an item from his storage.

The next moment, something that looked like an Energy Bar appeared on his palm.

It was the [Bystander Transformation Device] he had bought on the market as a bargain to hide his identity in the past.

The value of this item was hard to say. If one had no need to hide their identity, it was worthless. But if there was a need, or if one had to temporarily change their appearance to evade pursuit or assassination, then its value could be astonishingly high.

Guan Tong gave this item to Yelena partly because he didn’t have much use for it himself anymore. With his Shadow Armor and large-scale Shadow Realm coverage, he rarely needed to disguise himself as a bystander.

But Yelena was different.

Although she had never said it, it was clear from every angle that her status was extraordinary. This meant that she was likely watched by many people in Sisiya, a focal point for a whole group. In that case, this transformation device might just come in handy.

When Yelena saw that Guan Tong was also offering an item as a gift, a faint smile appeared on her face, and she accepted it gladly.

Guan Tong looked at the smiling Yelena and thought, ’Compared to me, a nickname like "Ye Buxiao" would suit her better. This seems to be the first time I’ve seen her smile in months.’

Sikokun was also watching Yelena at that moment. Seeing the smile on her face, she felt a complex mix of emotions.

After receiving the hourglass item, Guan Tong didn’t immediately check its effects but put it away in his storage. Yelena did the same.

"Well then, we’ll be on our way."

"Safe travels."

"Goodbye."

Yelena gave Guan Tong a slight bow, then walked with Sikokun in the direction of the city exit.

Guan Tong watched them in silence for a moment from behind. After they disappeared from his sight, he let out a soft sigh.

People aren’t unfeeling. He and Yelena had known each other for several months, and he had trained her regularly; they were certainly acquaintances. And for someone like him, who didn’t have many acquaintances, he paid special attention to each one.

Just like with Xu Xiaotian and the mother-daughter pair, Wang Yan and Chen Na. Even if they couldn’t offer him much help in terms of benefits, simply because he knew them, Guan Tong was willing to lend a hand in a critical moment.

But Yelena’s situation was more complicated.

Because sooner or later, Guan Tong would go to settle the score with her brother. When that time came, how would Yelena act? Would she stand by and watch her relative get hurt just because they were rivals? It was hard to say.

"I just hope we aren’t enemies the next time we meet."

After whispering this, Guan Tong turned and went back to the academy.

Meanwhile, as Sikokun and Yelena walked down the road, the former couldn’t help but say, "Princess, you must realize you’re being a bit sentimental. Setting aside your invitation for him to come to Sisiya, the item you gave him is very precious. And what your teacher gave you is definitely not as valuable."

"Is the point of exchanging gifts to ensure equal value?" Yelena asked.

"Yes," Sikokun said without hesitation. "Because in this era, a precious item can save a life in a critical moment. And what you gave away, Princess, was exactly that kind of item."

"..."

"Princess, take a look at what he gave you."

Yelena opened her storage and looked at the details of the [Bystander Transformation Device] that Guan Tong had given her.

After reading it, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Sikokun asked, puzzled, "What is it?"

Yelena showed her the item’s details. "Take a look. I think this item can also save a life in a critical moment."

Sikokun looked at the item’s effects dubiously. After reading, she was stunned for a moment, then frowned. "If this is its effect, then perhaps it really is quite useful for you, Princess."