She stomped her foot, and a wave of thunder energy shot out, breaking the illusion for a second.
Zhao Lili launched another water attack, this time shaped like a sharp spear.
The assassin followed, his shadow blade glowing with deadly light.
She jumped, spun in the air, and sent out a wave of fire. The fire melted the water spear and burned away the shadows chasing her.
But the assassin was still behind her, fast like lightning.
A sharp ringing sound blasted in her ear again. She winced but didn’t stop.
She snapped her fingers, and her undead warrior appeared again, rising from the ground like a ghost.
The undead blocked the assassin’s next strike with its arm. Shadow clashed with dark fire, the air bursting with sparks.
Gu Jin raised both hands now.
One hand glowed green and purple—poison vines.
The other hand sparked with lightning, crackling and wild.
She spun in place, sending both elements flying.
Zhao Lili raised a wall of earth to block the vines, but the poison leaked through, burning the edges of the stone.
The assassin dodged the lightning, but barely.
He growled. "She’s too strong..."
Zhao Lili gritted her teeth. "Shut up and keep fighting!"
Water rose behind her again, turning into a wave, ready to crash down.
The assassin disappeared into the shadows, reappearing right beside Gu Jin. His blade aimed straight at her chest.
Gu Jin’s eyes flashed.
She raised her hand, and the air around the assassin twisted.
His shadow magic stopped working.
It was her chaos element.
The assassin froze just long enough for Gu Jin to strike.
A burst of thunder slammed into his chest, sending him flying.
Zhao Lili’s wave crashed down, but Gu Jin raised a wall of fire. The water turned to steam with a loud hiss.
"You attacked first," Gu Jin said calmly, stepping forward through the smoke. "I would like to see how you are going to explain everything to the instructor."
Zhao Lili’s lips trembled, her hands shaking.
The assassin coughed from where he lay on the ground.
She stood tall, eyes glowing faintly, surrounded by lightning, poison mist, and quiet flames. Her undead warrior stood behind her like a shadow.
With a wave of her hand, a vine rose, and she dragged both Zhao Lili and the assassin to the administrative office.
Instructor Luo was having a meeting with other instructors, and seeing Gu Jin at the doorstep, he raised an eyebrow.
Gu Jin smiled and side-stepped, causing Zhao Lili and the assassin to come into full view of Instructor Luo.
The amused smile on Instructor Luo’s face vanished, and he massaged his temple as he asked,
"What do you mean by this, Jin?"
Gu Jin bowed slightly and said in a calm voice,
"Instructor Luo, I caught an assassin in my room. Zhao Lili tried to stop me from reporting it... Then she attacked me too."
Zhao Lili’s eyes went wide. "That’s not true! She’s lying!"
Gu Jin didn’t even look at her. She pointed at the man on the floor.
"He used shadow, sound, and psychic magic. He was hiding in my room and tried to stab me in the back."
The instructors behind Instructor Luo stood up, shocked.
Instructor Luo frowned. "You’re sure?"
The assassin didn’t say a word. He kept his head down, still weak from Gu Jin’s thunder strike.
Zhao Lili looked nervous. "It was a misunderstanding! He is my shadow bodyguard, not some assassin. I can explain."
Instructor Luo raised his hand to quiet everyone. "Enough. Zhao Lili, I’ll give you one chance. Explain your side of the story."
Zhao Lili took a deep breath, putting on a scared and innocent face. She even wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
"Yes, Instructor. Thank you..." she said in a shaky voice.
She pointed at the tied-up assassin.
Instructor Luo gave a slow nod. "Continue."
Zhao Lili sniffled and looked at Gu Jin.
"I went looking for my bodyguard when I realized he hadn’t checked in. That’s when I found Gu Jin... torturing him."
Gu Jin narrowed her eyes, but didn’t speak.
Zhao Lili kept going. Her voice was louder now, more confident.
"She said he was spying on her, but he wasn’t doing anything wrong! She attacked him without warning and summoned her undead! I tried to stop her, I begged her to stop, but she turned on me too!"
One of the other instructors frowned. "That doesn’t sound like Gu Jin..."
Zhao Lili quickly added,
"I know it doesn’t! That’s why I didn’t want to say anything! But she was using so many dangerous elements.
My bodyguard couldn’t fight back. I thought she was going to kill him!"
She turned back to Instructor Luo, her eyes wide.
"That’s when I used my water and earth to protect us! But it wasn’t enough. She’s too powerful..."
Gu Jin finally spoke, her voice cold. "You’re twisting the truth."
Zhao Lili shook her head. "I’m just telling you what I saw."
She looked down and said in a small voice,
"I really admired Gu Jin... She’s so talented. I never wanted to go against her. But... after today... I’m scared of her.
Though I am a backup student, I think she did so much just to get me kicked out of the team.
She must have the rumors of backup being able to perform while the real winners have to step back, because that was what she was muttering the entire time."
A few instructors whispered among themselves.
Instructor Luo didn’t speak for a while. He looked at Gu Jin, then at the silent assassin on the ground.
"Miss Gu," he said slowly, "do you have any proof that he was trying to kill you?"
Gu Jin didn’t flinch. "No proof. Only my words and the battle wounds."
Zhao Lili jumped in quickly,
"And the room was a mess, but that’s because she
Gu Jin folded her arms. "Why was he hiding behind my curtain?"
Zhao Lili gave a helpless shrug. "Maybe he was following the wrong person. He’s not very smart..."
Some instructors chuckled quietly.
Instructor Luo raised his hand again. "Enough."
He looked tired now. He rubbed his forehead for a moment, then said,
"We will hold a full investigation. Until then, Zhao Lili and Gu Jin, you are both under supervision. You will not attend classes or leave your rooms without permission. As for this man..."
He looked at the bodyguard. "He’ll be taken for questioning and tested for truth magic. If he lies, we’ll know."
Zhao Lili’s face turned pale again at that part, but she nodded quickly. "Yes, Instructor."
Gu Jin just said, "Understood."
Two guards came in and took the assassin away.
Instructor Luo sighed.
"You are both very talented. I don’t want to see either of you fall into trouble. But if lies are found, there will be punishment."
Zhao Lili lowered her head. "I understand."
Gu Jin simply turned and walked out of the office, silent.
Zhao Lili watched her leave, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
But Gu Jin didn’t look back.
Either way...she wasn’t the one who would die in the end.
When everyone returned, they heard everything from Zhao Lili.
Zhao Lili expected everyone to sympathize with her, and Han Xiaoyu did,
"Lili, it’s pretty hard on you. You have to endure the tyranny of that evil person. I could understand you. It was just about a few injuries, and yet she attacked your bodyguards....it is truly detestable."
However, others didn’t rush to comfort Lili; instead muttered among themselves,
"Gu Jin isn’t like that." Bai Yu said firmly.
"Indeed. She is more talented than anyone. Why would she want you to be kicked out?" Lin Yue asked.
"Not to mention, not once have I seen her make any decision which were incorrect." Zhou Lei said.
"No, we need to make everything clear with Gu Jin and hear her side of the story, too! Only then can we know who was telling the truth and who was lying." Meng Hao’s words carried a hint of suspicion.
"I agree." Qiao Feng nodded, Yun Qing nodded too.
All of them left one by one, ignoring Zhao Lili whose face had turned black.
She glared at the back of the group and turned toward Han Xiaoyu,
"Why is third following them too? Shouldn’t third try and convince others that I am telling truth?"
"Third is a internal spy." Han Xiaoyu reminded with a hint of chiding in her voice.
Zhao Lili nodded. Internal spy can’t side with the main spy group till they complete the competition.
"Hmph! With third, lets see if anyone belive that Gu Jin’s words!"