"Brother Bing, I—I really know I was wrong. Please don't kill me!"
Mu Yuang fell to his knees before Mu Nianbing without hesitation, trembling as he begged for mercy.
"Brother Bing, they forced me to do this!"
He tried to sound pitiful and innocent.
But before he could finish, Mu Nianbing kicked him to the ground with a sharp crack.
Others might have fallen for Mu Yuang's act, but Mu Nianbing knew him too well.
This man had once transformed his own parents into Black Beasts. Calling him worse than a beast was almost too kind.
"Once a lackey of the Black Vatican," Mu Nianbing said coldly, "always a lackey."
His voice was as frigid as his magic, and the killing intent in his eyes sent a chill straight into Mu Yuang's soul.
"Swish!"
Mu Yuang tried to scramble to his feet and flee—but before he could move two steps, a pair of ice chains burst from the ground, piercing straight through his legs.
"Ahhhh!!" The scream tore through the night.
Mu Yuang's face twisted in agony as he glared at Mu Nianbing with venomous hate.
Before he could curse, more ice chains followed—tearing through his body one after another.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
The cries echoed through the frozen street. Even Lin Yuxin, a trained military mage, had to avert her eyes.
But she didn't intervene. In this world, mercy to the enemy was cruelty to oneself.
When the last scream faded, Mu Yuang's body slumped lifelessly against the icy ground.
Mu Nianbing turned back toward Lin Yuxin.
"Mu Yuang was an undercover agent for the Black Vatican. He almost got away with the Holy Spring."
Lin Yuxin's face paled. The thought sent shivers down her spine.
If Mu Yuang had defeated Mo Fan, the Earth Holy Spring would have fallen into the Black Vatican's hands—and the consequences would've been unimaginable.
"Besides Mu Yuang, there should be more undercover agents," Mu Nianbing said calmly.
"Whether it's Mu Yuang or Bai Yang, they're all just pawns the Black Vatican planted. And I'm sure there are others still hiding among us."
Half an hour later, the two finally arrived outside Mo Qing's home.
"The door's still intact. Xinxia should be fine," Mu Nianbing said, relief softening his voice.
He turned to Lin Yuxin. "Xinxia can't move easily. I'll go in and get her."
Lin Yuxin nodded.
With a glance at the half-open window, Mu Nianbing activated the Demonic Meteorite Boots, his figure blurring into a shadow as he leapt inside.
Upstairs, Mo Qing and Ye Xinxia were huddled together in a closet.
Hearing footsteps below, their hearts immediately tensed.
"Those sound like human steps… could it be help?" Mo Qing whispered uncertainly.
"Could it be Brother Nian…?" Xinxia's voice trembled, soft and hopeful.
"Even now, you're still thinking about your Brother Nian." Mo Qing sighed helplessly.
Though she had always supported Mu Nianbing and Xinxia's bond, she doubted what a high school boy could really do in such chaos.
The footsteps grew closer and closer—until the door creaked open.
Their hearts pounded. Even if it was a person, good and evil were decided in a heartbeat these days.
Mu Nianbing scanned the room quickly. His eyes fell on a wheelchair beside the wardrobe.
He strode over and opened the closet door.
The two hiding inside gasped—but when they saw Mu Nianbing's familiar face, relief washed over them.
"Mu Nianbing?"
"Brother Nian!!"
Xinxia threw herself into his arms, trembling with emotion.
Though her legs were weak, she could still stand for short moments—and right now, she didn't care.
"Xinxia, I'm here to take you away."
Mu Nianbing smiled softly, pinching her tear-streaked cheek like he always did.
When Xinxia noticed the dried blood on his body, her heart clenched.
She could imagine the danger he must have faced along the way. Tears spilled down again, one after another.
Mo Qing smiled faintly from the side, watching the two. Her worry finally eased.
After a few minutes, Xinxia calmed down.
"Aunt Mo, Xinxia—it's too dangerous here. I'll take you to safety," Mu Nianbing said, lifting Xinxia into his arms.
They went downstairs to regroup with Lin Yuxin. Together, the four hurried toward the barrier.
Meanwhile, on another street—
"Mo Fan, is the Earth Holy Spring in your hands?" Bai Yang's tone was falsely casual, but his eyes gleamed with greed.
"This thing's too valuable for a student. Let me safeguard it for you."
To ensure the Spring's capture, the Black Vatican had dispatched agents to both sides.
Mo Fan kept his distance and said flatly, "Instructor Bai Yang, how could something that precious possibly be in my hands?"
Before parting earlier, Mu Nianbing had warned Mo Fan that something was off about Bai Yang.
At first, Mo Fan had only half believed it—but now, seeing Bai Yang's behavior, he was certain.
"Then go to hell!"
Bai Yang's expression twisted hideously, his eyes bloodshot.
He waved his hand, and his Phantom Wolf Beast lunged forward with blinding speed.
Mo Fan had already backed away, but the beast was too fast—it was on him in seconds.
"Fire Burst — Explosion!"
Mo Fan hurled a fiery orb that detonated midair, engulfing the Phantom Wolf in flames.
The blast sent the beast tumbling several meters away, its body scorched and howling.
Even among slave-level creatures, the Phantom Wolf Beast was powerful—but it still couldn't withstand a third-level Fire Burst.
Bai Yang's face twisted in fury.
"Come on—kill him!"
Two black beasts hidden nearby burst from the shadows, charging at Mo Fan alongside the wounded wolf.
Mo Fan's expression darkened. Three monsters at once—there was no way he could handle that alone.
The other students stood frozen in fear, unable to move.
Only Mu Bai dashed forward with his magic weapon, but he was too far away to make it in time.
"Swish!"
Suddenly, three gleaming ice chains shot through the air, wrapping tightly around the beasts and binding them in place.
"Mo Fan," a calm young voice called out behind him, "you owe me your life now."
Everyone turned.
Standing there was Mu Nianbing, flanked by Lin Yuxin, Mo Qing, and Xinxia.
Mu Nianbing had guessed Bai Yang would try to intercept Mo Fan—and his timing couldn't have been better.
"Intermediate magic?" Bai Yang's face turned pale as he recognized the strength of the spell.
Against a mid-level mage, he didn't stand a chance.
"Mu Nianbing! Why are you here?!" Bai Yang tried to stall for time. If the Phantom Wolf broke free, he might still escape.
But Mu Nianbing's cold eyes gave him no mercy.
An ice chain pierced the air and drove straight through Bai Yang's throat.
"I'm too lazy to argue with you," Mu Nianbing said indifferently. "You don't deserve my words."
...
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