Lu Zhi knew, of course.
It was a symbol of the power bestowed upon him after being chosen by a deity.
If he told Shen Qi that he knew nothing, would he believe him?
The answer came with Shen Qi’s seemingly all-knowing gaze. Lu Zhi gave up, sighed, and said, "I do have a secret, but I can swear to the heavens that it poses no threat to the school. As for what you call the divine imprint, if you mean this..."
Lu Zhi placed his palm over his heart and said slowly, "I don't know, nor do I understand."
He truly didn't know if it was a divine imprint. Though he had inklings, he dared not confirm. The only certainty was its connection to the deity with whom he had made a pact. Even now, he was unclear about the exact nature of the power the deity had granted him, so he wasn't lying, and he feared no scrutiny from Shen Qi.
"Tell me what happened in the ruins," Shen Qi said, his placid face betraying no emotion.
Lu Zhi knew too little about Shen Qi to guess his thoughts. However, the events in the clock tower were vivid in his mind, making him acutely aware that beneath Shen Qi's seemingly indifferent exterior lay a volatile madman.
"I don't remember." The moment Lu Zhi finished speaking, he met Shen Qi's suspicious gaze. Feigning ignorance, he turned to look out the window and said calmly, "I imagine you’ve investigated me. You also know I was forced into the ruins."
Lu Zhi recounted everything he knew, including how those people went mad in the divine tower, slaughtering each other, and how he, an innocent guide, was pinned to the altar with a broken sword, nearly dying.
"You made a wish," Shen Qi stated with certainty.
Lu Zhi withdrew his gaze from the window and met Shen Qi's eyes, saying earnestly, "No one wants to die, and neither do I." He again placed his hand over his heart's meridian, sighing softly, "When I woke up, this place had what you call... the divine imprint."
Shen Qi neither confirmed nor denied. For a moment, neither spoke, the room falling into a profound silence, the atmosphere indescribably... uncanny.
Lu Zhi, outwardly calm, was a bundle of nerves inside, his dark eyes furtively darting towards Shen Qi.
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Suddenly, several kingfishers flew by, pecking at the glass window. Startled, Lu Zhi whipped his head around and immediately winced, his refined face contorting into a grimace. He had somehow twisted his neck, and right under Shen Qi's nose! It was like admitting guilt, inviting all sorts of errors.
Before Lu Zhi could compose his embarrassed expression, a cool fragrance wafted near. His chin was once again grasped by Shen Qi, but this time, Shen Qi's touch was gentler, not the forceful grip from the clock tower.
*Why does he always like to grab my chin?* Lu Zhi grumbled inwardly.
"Are you guilty?" Shen Qi's hand naturally moved to his neck, applying gentle pressure.
"Ow! I'm not," Lu Zhi instinctively recoiled from the pain.
"Don't move."
Lu Zhi dared not move. He could clearly feel the fingers on his neck, their temperature changing. What had started as slightly cool was now gradually growing icy, permeating the thin skin and flowing into his meridians. It traced its way along his strained neck like a trickling stream, and the pain vanished in an instant.
A flicker of surprise flashed across Lu Zhi’s eyes. Was Shen Qi… healing him? Wasn't that an overkill? No, the more important point was, Shen Qi could heal? Was his ability the extremely rare healing type?
Lu Zhi's eyes revealed suspicion and curiosity, making them exceptionally bright and clear.
Shen Qi's gaze shifted. He released Lu Zhi's chin, his fingertip lightly brushing his skin as if savoring the texture. He created distance between them again and returned to his chair, saying, "I'll believe you for now."
Lu Zhi wasn’t sure whether to thank him, but he was certain that Shen Qi wouldn’t press him further about his secret anytime soon. This also brought Lu Zhi considerable relief, as Shen Qi might know how to use the power within the divine imprint.
Lu Zhi looked at him hesitantly.
Shen Qi raised his eyes. "Do you want to know the difference between a divine imprint and a divine mark?"
Lu Zhi's eyes widened slightly. He subconsciously raised a hand to touch his face and asked, "Is it that obvious?" So it wasn't unjust that Lu Chengxuan had seen through him back then.
Shen Qi lowered his gaze, twirling the silver ring on his index finger. Lu Zhi saw tiny white light streams flickering on the ring's surface. A transparent light screen abruptly appeared before him, mesmerizing the little country bumpkin, Lu Zhi.
If one were to compare the technological development of Lu Zhi's world, it lagged decades behind what was depicted in novels.
Shen Qi’s fingers glided across the blue light screen, and two intricate crests appeared: one green and shaped like a willow leaf, the other red and circular. Next to each crest, the holder's name was displayed.
"A divine mark, as the name suggests, is a symbol of divine power granted to humans," Shen Qi said, swiping his finger across the screen. A figure entirely shrouded in a black cloak appeared. "The mark is affixed to the surface of the skin, akin to a tattoo. However, if the skin where the crest is located is removed, the crest quickly disappears."
"To date, only two holders of divine marks have been discovered in China, and three abroad. The number of people nationwide possessing divine imprints is zero." The screen's brightness reflected in Shen Qi's eyes, giving them a glazed, almost robotic quality.
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi immediately grasped the crux of the matter. "Then how are you so sure I have a divine imprint? Also, after all this talk, you still haven't explained the difference between an imprint and a mark, or which is stronger. Can you just get to the point?"
Shen Qi looked up at him. "Do you still want to listen?"
Lu Zhi scratched his nose with his index finger, forcing a smile. "Yes, yes, please continue."
He muttered inwardly, *He's got a bit of a temper.*
Unexpectedly, Shen Qi twisted his ring, and the light screen vanished completely. Lu Zhi stared blankly for a few seconds. Shen Qi resumed his conversational posture, legs crossed, hands resting on his knees, and smiled, "On second thought, I have no obligation to tell you this."
Lu Zhi was bewildered. "You're an instructor, how can you have no obligation?"
Shen Qi feigned realization, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Didn't you just call me by my name earlier?"
Lu Zhi: *Damn it, I only called him that once when I was talking to Lan Yushan. Was this guy eavesdropping?*
"Teacher Shen, this is all a misunderstanding. Once a teacher, always a father. I am very respectful of my elders. Please, be magnanimous and forgive your student this time?" Lu Zhi gave him a fawning smile.
*Be flexible. Who cares about you tomorrow after today?*
Shen Qi’s silver-gray eyes flickered. He curved his fingers to gently cover his slightly upturned lips and said slowly, "I don't want to be your father."
Lu Zhi, having been suppressed by Shen Qi multiple times, felt a simmering resentment finally boil over. He retorted, "It's not impossible for you to be the mother."
Shen Qi's gaze darkened.
Lu Zhi's heart skipped a beat. *It's over.*
Shen Qi suddenly stood up. His 1.9-meter frame towered over Lu Zhi, his formidable aura making Lu Zhi's scalp tingle. Yet, with a hint of defiance, his eyes remained fixed on Shen Qi's approaching face. Lu Zhi's body instinctively leaned back, and with a thud, he landed on the hospital bed.
Shen Qi leaned in, one hand propping up the pillow beside Lu Zhi's head, further cornering him. Terrified, Lu Zhi could only widen his dark eyes. Finally, he caved and closed his eyes, catching Shen Qi's emanating scent even more clearly.
Just as Lu Zhi decided to muster the courage to push him away, his nose was tickled by strands of hair. Shen Qi leaned close to his ear and whispered something. The hot breath sprayed out like fire, scorching his ears. His voice was deep and enticing, "Actually, I’d rather be your boyfriend."