Chapter 44 - Whisked away

Like a little baby, Aaron carried him in his arms and flew around. At first, the height made him fear it but later on; he started to enjoy it a lot.

The feeling of cool wind on his face, the feeling of warm body hugging him was contrasting, but both of them gave him immense comfort that he never experienced before.

He snuggled into the crook of his neck and laid there.

'I have to try to run away. The academy must be well protected inside and outside. Escaping from a thousand heroes will be hard... but I hope it's not impossible. If I don't meet up with Gwyn, he will definitely start searching for me and cause havoc.'

Once he accidentally did not attend his brother's call because he was in the loo. That crazy man broke into his room so easily and was fractionally searching for him under the bed.

'It's going to happen again. My poor brother is going to search for me like a lost puppy. This time I don't even have a phone. How can I console him... what do I tell him?'

He gently tapped on Aaron's back. "Umm... can I make a phone call?"

"To your family? Yes, but you can't tell them you are going to the academy. And phones are not allowed in the academy so come up with a good reason." Aaron set him down onto another terrace.

Zhu Kang sat down and thought for a bit. A small thought of running away came to his mind but glancing up at Aaron he looked like he was ready to give chase with the stiff way he was standing.

"Phone please,"

Aaron handed him his phone.

"Um is it okay if I make a call? Your number will get released to my family. It's okay right?"

"It's untraceable. Don't worry," Aaron assured him.

"Great great," Kang silently typed in the familiar number. The call connected and a gruff voice answered.

"brother?"

"ZhuZhu? Is that you? Why are you calling from an unknown number? Did you lose your phone again? Wait I'll buy you one and drop it off at your dorm..."

"wait, wait..." he stopped his brother's chatter. "Brother.. I have to tell you something...."

He glanced up hesitantly. Aaron's sharp eyes were always on him.

"what is it Zhuzhu? Are you in trouble? Your voice sounds like you cried... I'm coming for you just hang tight,"

"no, Gwyn, listen to me. I am not in trouble... kind of am.... I... I'm an addict!"

"What?!"

"I have been an addict for a while... that's why I have been having memory problems. I'm going t get it treated... I'm going into rehab."

"Wait Zhuzhu what are you talking about? Drugs don't work on us. What's going on?!" he could hear the panic in his brother's voice.

Kang panicked even more. "It's a special drug. I am an addict, okay. And I need help. I'm going in and I won't tell you where. I'm safe and I will return in a while. Don't search for me.... brother I will come back a changed man. I swear.... I love you..."

"Zhu Kang wait! What are you.."

He cut the call and closed his eyes tightly. His lies were not that believable but this was the only reason he could think of.

"Thanks," he handed the phone back to him.

Aaron sat down next to him, slightly hugging his shoulders. "Your family will understand."

"No he will not... he will not Aaron. I hate this. Do I really have to go to this academy? Because I don't want to leave my brother. I don't want to be stuck in a place with so many strangers. I hate the thought of it..." tears started to roll down.

He glanced up at the bright sky, hoping the tears will stop but they did not.

"I don't want this...."

Aaron silently sat next to him while he shed his tears.

The entire day they just sat there while Kang cried his heart out.

The sun went down and soon the sky turned a deep shade of red and purple.

"We should go," Aaron stood up.

Zhu knag gulped softly. 'Life has many ups and downs... I guess this is one of my downs. I hope I get through it without any trouble.'

A sudden beeping sound disrupted his sad thoughts.

{System 202 initiating....

Upload percentage 50%

Integrating into the new host, name: *******

Level: novice

Coin balance: 0}

He just blinked at this. This notification bar was only visible to him. There was something weird about it. His name was completely hidden.

'My real name? What is it? System, can't you reveal it?'

{higher authorization required. Please refrain from asking until you have reached the advance levels,}

The system answered in a robotic tone.

'Fuck, what levels? Why haven't I heard of those? I worked for a system for so many years why didn't I know they had levels! Oh my god, what is going on!!'

"Kang?" Aaron held out a hand.

Unhesitant, Zhu Kang took hold of his. The awakening of the system interface gave him a small feeling of relief.

'If I have my system, then I would have my system store. I can find something that can help me escape the academy and the heroes' clutches. System open the system store,'

{Access denied. Coin balance is insignificant.}

Coin balance… It was the currency of the reincarnation system. Every host has an opportunity to earn a certain amount of coins by performing a few tasks.

Overall the tasks were very boring and annoyingly romantic. He never paid much attention to it.

It only issues stupid tasks like. 'Capture the target's heart. Kiss under the sunset.. some bull crap like that. Also, there are insignificant tasks like. Get up early, exercise...'

'I can do the latter tasks as for the former I don't think I have a target character to woo.'

Aaron lifted him up like a baby koala and hid his face with his cape. "Hold me close,"

Kang was still distracted thinking about the system. 'wait... the last time system awoke because of emotional distraught from the target character. Then... I have a target? Fuck it's Altren! He was the only one close by when the system awakened. It must be him!'

He tightly gripped onto Aaron's cape. "Hey, can I ask you favor?"

"hmm..."

"Can you make sure that I'm never alone with Altren?"

"Why?"

"Just because."

"Okay, I'll do that,"

Kang finally let out a sigh of relief. 'I don't want to get involved with the target character.'

This reincarnation system will only cause chaos when the host finally wins over the target charter's heart. Just like the time the entire world ended up as a KFC fries right after Altren and Jake got together.

He did not want history to repeat itself.

'I just want a peaceful life. That's all..'