4 Crimson Heart

A small window on the steel door was pulled open, and a pair of ice-cold yet clear eyes looked out and looked Gao Xuan up and down.

The person on the other side was silent for a moment before they opened the steel door.

The heavy steel door let out a dry, screeching sound that echoed down the corridor.

"You look reluctant. What, you don't want to receive a guest?" Gao Xuan arrogantly walked into the room. "Let me tell you. Even though you're the best lady here, you're not allowed to act like the boss."

There was a shocked look in 33's eyes. 088 was usually very talkative, but today he seemed stranger than normal.

First, he was wearing a pair of sunglasses, and his eyes were closed. Also, his eyebrows were arched arrogantly.

All of the students lived cautiously within the base, as all of the students who'd lived carefree had died.

More importantly, even the pair of sunglasses on his face couldn't disguise the arrogant curve of his eyebrows. It was as if he felt like he were in control of everything.

He was like a servant who had suddenly become a master. He hadn't changed, but his aura had.

088's transformation caused 33 to feel a little uncomfortable.

In this competitive environment, many students were wary of each other and saw each other as enemies.

However, her relationship with 088 was different.

While they seemed to belittle each other and even view each other as enemies on the surface, they were actually partners and friends in battle. They were brothers who would die for each other.

"Look at how lost you look. Don't be afraid. I haven't gone insane," Gao Xuan said with incredible arrogance. "Today, we'll kill off everyone who's ever humiliated us. We'll seek a great justice for ourselves and get our freedom back!"

Gao Xuan took a deep breath, looking a little intoxicated. "Freedom tastes sweet indeed."

33 fell silent for a moment before saying, "What's your plan?"

"I like how you're so calm and meticulous, scheming and submissive!" Gao Xuan was very happy. 33 didn't ask him why he'd become insane like a fool, nor did she show any hesitation. Instead, she immediately asked him for his plan.

This decisiveness represented the confidence she had in him.

33's brow furrowed slightly. "Don't waste time."

Students were forbidden to have any personal relations, even if they'd already passed Hell's Training and were about to leave the base.

This rule was still in effect.

There were security cameras all around the corridor. Gao Xuan's movements definitely would've alerted a few guards.

According to 33's estimates, the guards would arrive within ten minutes. No matter what 088 wanted to do, they had to hurry.

33 was extremely beautiful, but she had a purple-red scar that ran diagonally across her entire face. Because the scar had shrunk, it made her whole face look a little ferocious.

Because of the scar, one of her eyebrows rested higher than the other when she furrowed her brows. Fortunately, her clear bright eyes saved her appearance. It made her look exceptionally soulful.

Gao Xuan knew that the scar was something 33 had done to herself. It was to prevent others from eyeing her beauty and to reduce any potential troubles.

It was much harder for female students to survive in this underground base than male students.

"Don't be anxious. We have more than enough time." Gao Xuan reached out his hand and leveled 33's knitted brows. Her eyebrows were dark and slender and naturally curved. They were exceptionally beautiful.

33 wasn't used to this kind of physical contact. She clenched her fist tightly. All of her muscles were tensed up and ready to go.

She was only acting this way because it was Gao Xuan. If it'd been anyone else, 33 would have punched their face a long time ago.

Gao Xuan could understand why 33 was nervous. He consoled her, "What are you nervous about? You're not even as good looking as me. If I'm a 100 in looks, you're only a 10."

33 slowly relaxed. She thought about it seriously, then said, "A two."

"Hahaha. You don't have to be so humble." Gao Xuan smiled and said, "Before we take action and revolt, there's something important that we have to do first."

33 didn't speak. She simply looked at Gao Xuan and signaled for him to continue.

"We're people, not machines. We have to have names, not a serial number to represent ourselves." Gao Xuan told 33 seriously, "Remember, my name is Gao Xuan, not 088."

33 seemed to barely understand him. She'd grown up at the base, and all she'd learned was fighting and killing. She had no concept of names.

Gao Xuan, 088. There wasn't really a difference to her between the two.

Gao Xuan didn't care if 33 understood or not. He forcefully grabbed 33's shoulders and said, "I remember that your surname is Yun. From today on, your name will be Yun Qingshang. Yun, as in the 'Yun' in clouds, Qing, as in the 'Qing' in clear waters, and Shang, as in the 'Shang' from clothes. Do you remember?"

Yun Qingshang hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Yun, Qingshang!"

Gao Xuan nodded and smiled approvingly. "Good, Comrade Yun Qingshang. Let's make it big!"

Yun Qingshang didn't say anything, but he could see an intense inner battle in her bright, clear eyes.

The ritual-like name wasn't important to her. What was important was being able to battle alongside Gao Xuan.

Gao Xuan asked out of curiosity, "You're not afraid?"

He wasn't afraid, as he'd been reborn. He had ample confidence, as everything was under control.

However, Yun Qingshang didn't know any of this, yet she was willing to revolt with him. In terms of their strength, their effort would be like throwing eggs against a rock.

Yun Qingshang said calmly, "It's only death."

Gao Xuan was a little touched. "A true man! Exceptional!"

Then, he consoled her, "Don't worry, I'll take you to the skies!"

The students at the base in the icy plains had all entered this place when they were six or seven.

The students were all brainwashed when they were young, and they were required to pledge their loyalty to the organization.

Children have no concept of good and evil, nor do they have the ability to differentiate between right and wrong.

The brainwashing worked extremely well. The students remained abnormally loyal to the organization even though they could be killed during training.

However, there were always a few people who thought of rebelling.

Children don't know how to contain themselves. The students who had the will to rebel were quickly eliminated, and their corpses were even fed to the sharks.

The brainwashing, coupled with the cold, cruel, and high-pressure methods of training, shaped the students into what the organization desired.

Gao Xuan and Yun Qingshang were the exceptions. The two of them had always had an unusual hatred for the base. However, because they didn't have the strength to revolt, they'd had no choice but to bitterly tolerate it.

If Gao Xuan hadn't been reborn, the two of them would've successfully left the base and worked for the Blood Deity Association in the outside world.

And, a few years later, Yun Qingshang would die pathetically in battle to save him.

Gao Xuan would be fortunate enough to escape, and he'd hide bitterly in the shadows while waiting for an opportunity to exact revenge.

However, even after one hundred years and the near-extinction of humans, he'd still be unable to find out who the true mastermind of the Blood Deity Association was.

But, in the end, a catastrophic explosion of planetary proportions had sent Gao Xuan back to when he was eighteen and given him another chance at life.

This point in time was perfect.

The underground base in the Beikun Icy Plains was a tiny project of the Blood Deity Association.

The students were about to go through their graduation ceremony, and Zhou Lang would be at the base for the next few days.

Zhou Lang was much more powerful than the old and frail Xu Hui. He'd never expect there to be a student who could kill him!

Just based on this alone, Gao Xuan was confident that he could win.

Yun Qingshang was also a loyal soldier who had withstood the test of time. She could be trusted.

Gao Xuan took out a ruby brooch from within his robes, then said to Yun Qingshang, "This is called the Crimson Heart. It randomly produces a tattoo every day and gives the wearer long periods of intense pain. After you wear it, pain and suffering will accompany you your entire life."

"Cough, cough…" Gao Xuan then said, a little awkwardly, "You'll also bleed at random. But you ladies are experienced with that. Just prepare a few more sanitary pads…"

"What use does it have?"

The Crimson Heart was extremely beautiful and had strange negative side effects. However, Yun Qingshang only cared about how useful it was.

"It's a Silver Grade Miracle Item. It can change its host's appearance according to the host's will. It also possesses exceptional defensive capabilities and can enhance the host's speed and response time. It's one of the Silver Grade Miracle Items that's more suited for battle.

"You can understand it as a high-level biological armor. It was lucky that I managed to find it in the underground treasury."

Gao Xuan was a little emotional. Being able to obtain the Crimson Heart was an unexpected surprise.

In its current state, the Crimson Heart was as strong as the God Slaying Sword, and its usefulness was several times better than that of the God Slaying Sword's.

The Crimson Heart could shapeshift at will. That meant that not only could it become a piece of protective battle armor, but it could also transform into weapons or change a person's appearance. It was almost unnaturally powerful.

"Great stuff."

Having passed Hell's Training, Yun Qingshang had long gotten used to pain. To her, the negative side effects of the Crimson Heart weren't that much of a problem.

"Why don't you ask me why I'm willing to let you use the Crimson Heart?"

Yun Qingshang countered, "Is there a need for that?"

She didn't like to do pointless tasks or say pointless things. Since Gao Xuan was handing the Crimson Heart over to her, she didn't have to be polite and reject the offer.

In the beginning, she'd been saved from her immense despair by Gao Xuan.

From then on, Gao Xuan had become a ray of light in her soul, dispelling the endless darkness, coldness, and cruelty.

Gao Xuan was her only ally in this cold world. Only with Gao Xuan around could she figure out her place in this world and her reason for living.

She was willing to trust Gao Xuan, and even follow Gao Xuan, unconditionally.

Thus, when Gao Xuan had sought her out and asked her to rebel, she'd agreed without hesitation.

Even though she hated the base, she'd never thought about retaliating against it. The difference in power between the two factions was simply too great. Revolting was asking for death.

However, since Gao Xuan wanted to revolt and battle, she'd follow Gao Xuan with determination.

But she'd never tell Gao Xuan this. There was no reason to.

Gao Xuan sighed. "All right. I'm a little touched that you trust me this much."

He explained, "Actually, the Crimson Heart can only be worn by a beautiful and pure lady, so I wouldn't be able to use it even if I underwent surgery."

"Oh."

Yun Qingshang's indifferent reply made Gao Xuan feel that explaining the Crimson Heart had been a complete waste of his time.

"Are you ready?" he asked. "It's going to be a little painful, but I believe you'll be able to handle it. 1, 2…"

Gao Xuan pierced the Crimson Heart into Yun Qingshang's heart at the second count. The item needed to establish a close connection deep within the host's heart in order for it to be effective.

Even though Gao Xuan had his eyes closed, he could clearly see Yun Qingshang's pained expression. She was trembling, and he could see the small beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead, neck, and back. Her face was pale as a sheet.

Yun Qingshang usually had a high tolerance for pain, so the Crimson Heart must be extremely devastating for her to be reduced to such a state.

Gao Xuan said, "Recite it with me. Under the crimson sky, pain is the only reality."

"Under the crimson sky, pain is the only reality."