My Avatar Is Becoming the Final Boss-Chapter 45: The Mask

Ji Minghuan asked, “Why did the Headmaster turn himself in?”
The Instructor said, “Either that girl is on the brink of death and urgently needs medical treatment, so your old Headmaster panicked... or he suddenly had a change of heart, felt guilty for what he did all these years, and decided to hang himself—or maybe both.”
Ji Minghuan was silent for a moment. “Xu Keyin was my friend when I was little. Back then everyone said she went missing. I asked the Headmaster so many times where she went, and he always brushed me off. Later, everyone forgot about her, and I didn’t feel right bringing her up again.”
He paused, his tone turning cold. “I used to think the Headmaster was just stupid, not evil. But now I know I was wrong... he’s a f**king animal.”
“What a pity...” The Instructor glanced at Ji Minghuan’s expression and said quietly, “When we went to the orphanage to find you, we actually didn’t notice this. Otherwise, we definitely would’ve gotten that girl out. She wouldn’t have had to suffer over a month more.”
“That’s hilarious. How would you have noticed anything? From the start, all you people ever saw was me.”
“True enough.”
Surprisingly, the Instructor didn’t deny it.
“Forget it... I’m not interested in that stuff. That old Headmaster could die a thousand or ten thousand times and it’d have nothing to do with me.”
With that, Ji Minghuan got out of bed and sat across from the Instructor. “...Why don’t we talk about Exorcists now? Didn’t you say you were going to tell me?”
The Instructor took a sip of tea from his thermos, let out a slow breath, then screwed the lid back on.
A little later, he talked to Ji Minghuan about things like the definition of “Tianqu Power” and “Exorcists.” Ji Minghuan already knew all that, so he pretended to be confused, rested his chin in his hand, and faked curiosity. It all went in one ear and out the other.
“How come I’ve never seen a Demon?” Ji Minghuan asked. “I haven’t even heard of it in the news.”
The Instructor explained calmly, “China has a team of Exorcists recognized as the strongest in the world. They’re called—‘Lake Hunters.’ This team is so powerful it’s ridiculous. They’ve scared Demons across the nation into hiding deep in remote mountains, completely avoiding the human world.”
“That extreme?”
“Yes, exactly that extreme. Every generation of Lake Hunters is made up of four people. Behind each of them is an ancient, incredibly powerful family... and each member of the team is selected by the heads of the Four Great Families from the strongest Exorcists of their generation.”
“So who’s on the current Lake Hunter team?”
“This generation’s captain is named Lin Xingshi. He’s from a lion dance family in Hubei. In the Exorcist world, his codename is also ‘Lion Dancer.’ It’s a name passed down through generations.”
“So that makes him the top Exorcist in the world?”
“That’s right, at least officially.”
“What’s his Tianqu Power?”
“His Tianqu is the ‘Southern Fire Qilin Head.’ It’s said to be a lion’s head forged from the keel of a shipwreck in the South China Sea and volcanic crystal, with seventy-two fire-purification talismans embedded inside.”
“Just hearing that sounds way more impressive than things like ‘glasses’ or ‘cameras.’ Tianqu Powers clearly come in different tiers. No wonder he’s the head of the world’s strongest Exorcist team,” Ji Minghuan said. “So, who else is in the Lake Hunters?”
The Instructor smiled. “There’s another famous one, a descendant of the Zhuge family—‘Zhuge Hui.’ His codename in the Exorcist world is ‘Daoist of Secrets.’ The Zhuge family has always been a powerful Exorcist bloodline. Their techniques have been passed down to this day.”
Ji Minghuan raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you’re going to say Zhuge Liang from history was an Exorcist too?”
“Back then, Exorcists weren’t called ‘Exorcists,’” the Instructor said slowly, “but historically, Zhuge Liang really did possess a Tianqu Power. It was the well-known ‘Seven-Star Lamp’... It’s worth mentioning—unlike Espers, Exorcists don’t appear in public view. They hide their powers, stay out of worldly affairs, and only act against Demons that emerge in the world, or to punish Exorcists who break the rules. That’s a code they’ve upheld across countless generations.”
“So China’s Demon-free because its Exorcist families are just too strong and have too much reach?”
“Exactly.” The Instructor nodded. “If there’s still debate over Anecdote Envoys and Espers, then when it comes to ‘Exorcists,’ there’s no doubt China is number one in the world.”
Ji Minghuan thought for a moment. “Actually, I’m a bit curious. Theoretically, between Exorcists, Espers, and Anecdote Envoys, which superhuman species has the most potential?”
The Instructor answered without hesitation. “In the past, we would’ve said ‘Anecdote Envoys.’”
He folded his fingers together. “Because, theoretically: if an Anecdote Envoy is lucky enough to be chosen by a ‘Mythic-level Anecdote,’ they essentially gain a portion of a god’s power... That kind of potential is far beyond the other two species.”
“What about now?” Ji Minghuan asked.
“Now... because of you, the answer isn’t so clear anymore,” the Instructor said. “If you’re an Exorcist, then Exorcists are the top species. If you’re an Anecdote Envoy, then Anecdote Envoys are. Same goes for if you turn out to be an Esper, like the prophecy says—then Espers become the highest-tier species so far.”
He adjusted his glasses. “Simply put... your existence directly defines what the most powerful superhuman species looks like.”
“You guys really think too highly of me.”
Ji Minghuan said, head lowered, on the verge of tears—but in his heart, he thought: But I’m an Esper, and an Exorcist, and I could be an Anecdote Envoy too. When you all find out, how are you going to define me then?
The Instructor sipped some bitter tea.
“If I really am an Exorcist, then what could my Tianqu Power be?” Ji Minghuan asked.
“I’ve said before, the form of a Tianqu is shaped by the Exorcist’s inner self... For example, the current world’s top Exorcist, Lin Xingshi—he grew up learning the lion dance with his elders, year after year, day after day, until it became his entire focus. That level of devotion made his Tianqu naturally take the shape of a lion’s head. Because in his subconscious... once he puts on the lion head, he becomes himself.”
“Then what’s my Tianqu? A dog head?” Ji Minghuan tilted his head.
“A mask.”
Ji Minghuan felt like he was being mocked but had no proof, so he just stared at him silently.
“Someone who learned to disguise himself from a young age—his inner self will, over time, take the shape of a mask.”
“You think you’re funny?”
The Instructor smiled and screwed the lid back on his thermos. “That’s enough for today. In a couple of days, I’ll arrange for you to meet Kong Youling and the other kids.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
【Key intel about the 'Exorcist' worldview obtained.】
【Worldview progress for the ‘Exorcist’ storyline has increased: 30% → 55%】
【Worldview reward acquired: 1 Split Point (Current progress: 3 out of 9 Split Points for creating a new character)】
“Getting Split Points for unlocking worldviews—then I better find a chance to learn the rest too,” Ji Minghuan thought.
“Get some sleep.” With that, the Instructor stood up from the table and walked away.
The lights went out one by one, and the holding room was once again shrouded in darkness.
He lay back down without a care, closed his eyes, and his consciousness immediately left the cold confinement room.
At the same time, in Guyimai Neighborhood, Lijing, China.
Ji Minghuan opened his eyes, looked up at the wall clock—it was 3:30 in the afternoon. The heavy rain had stopped.
When he left the house this morning, Gu Qiye had messaged the family group chat saying he’d be home to cook lunch, but he still hadn’t shown up. Most likely, Comrade Blue Arc was still busy dealing with all the aftermath from the orphanage incident.
After all, the Headmaster had been considered “highly respected” locally, so this was bound to have a big impact.
Ji Minghuan reached for his phone beside the pillow, powered it on, and a WeChat message popped up on the lock screen.
【Li Qingping: Wanna hang out? What’s up with you lately? Ignoring your best bro like that.】
“Perfect timing. I was just wondering what kind of monster you really are.”
Ji Minghuan muttered to himself, then opened the Main Quest Log for a look.
【Main Quest 4: Uncover the secret your best bro ‘Li Qingping’ is hiding.】