Tang Yue's Identity

"What did you say?! How many people did you just kill?" The moment Tang Yue answered the phone, Lin Lan told her that he had killed people in the wilderness. Her mind was still a little foggy, but she asked again:

"Where are you, Lin Lan? Killing people could land you in prison for years and waste the best years of your life."

"Send me your location. I'll come over right away." Tang Yue was also curious. A student who dared to venture into the wilderness—and even dared to kill there—was unusual. Her investigation had hit a dead end, so perhaps this incident was connected.

"Teacher Tang Yue, I'm at Xuefeng Mountain Post Station. But don't worry, the people I killed didn't look like good people," Lin Lan said gravely. He had a purpose in calling Tang Yue over. First, if the Black Vatican retaliated, Tang Yue could serve as a useful connection. Second, he could profit from this in the long run; the rewards for killing Black Vatican members were substantial.

Tang Yue was a member of the Lingyin Arbitration Council and the guardian of the Totem Mysterious Snake. She had come to Bocheng specifically to investigate the Black Vatican, and being a teacher was merely a cover identity. There was nothing wrong with finding himself a powerful backer first.

Lin Lan waited by the roadside. A car drove over from not far away, and it turned out to be a BMW. The door opened, and someone stepped out in business attire, a hip-hugging skirt, black stockings wrapped around her legs—and before her feet even touched the ground, her chest made its entrance.

"Mmm~ Big." Lin Lan's eyes widened as he could not help sighing. Teacher Tang Yue really was still so alluring~ There was even a slogan in the top class: make money~ cultivate~ marry Tang Yue. It wasn't without reason.

"Teacher Tang Yue, over here." Lin Lan came back to his senses and greeted her.

Tang Yue saw Lin Lan and walked straight over.

"Where are the people you killed, Lin Lan? Don't tell me you lured your teacher into the wilderness just to mess with me." Tang Yue's tone was teasing, though she was also puzzled. Lin Lan looked rather serious, so he probably would not trick her into coming here to do anything improper.

"Teacher Tang Yue, those two are out in the wilderness. There's also a huge hole there. I wouldn't dare fool you—I'm a model student. I'll lead the way." With that, Lin Lan led Tang Yue toward the place where he had killed the Black Vatican members.

In an open area not far from Bocheng, there was a large hole in the ground. Beside it lay several piles of rotten mud, while two Giant-Eyed Stinky Rats gnawed on corpses.

Lin Lan was just about to fire off a Lightning Seal when Tang Yue stopped him.

"Your Lightning Seal isn't enough to instantly kill Giant-Eyed Stinky Rats. These creatures are naturally timid; once startled, they'll run away. Let me do it." A crimson gleam flashed in Tang Yue's eyes as she unleashed Fire Magic.

"Fiery Fist—Exploding Heavens!" A blazing torrent shot directly at the two Giant-Eyed Stinky Rats. The rats were struck and reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye.

"Wow~ So this is Intermediate Level Magic."

"Such a wide range and such powerful destructive force. You're amazing, Teacher Tang Yue." Lin Lan clicked his tongue. Even without a Spirit Seed, Intermediate Level Magic could kill servant-class demon beasts as easily as play. Was she looking down on him by stepping in so directly?

"Alright, they're thoroughly dead. Let's go take a look." Tang Yue's expression did not change as she led Lin Lan forward to investigate.

The two Black Vatican members had had their intestines ripped out by the Giant-Eyed Stinky Rats, blood spilling all over the ground. Half their faces had been eaten away as well. The sight was grotesque and horrifying.

Teacher Tang Yue frowned slightly and began examining the blackened, foul-smelling piles of rotten mud.

"Did you do all this?" Tang Yue turned to look at Lin Lan, her eyes filled with scrutiny.

"Yeah. I just made a slight move."

Tang Yue's gaze was sharp, while Lin Lan remained perfectly composed. Her tone was calm as well. "With your strength, it would already be impressive if you went into the wilderness without being eaten by demon beasts. And you killed two Black Beast Demons plus two beginner-level mages? Do you think I'd believe that?"

Tang Yue clearly did not believe Lin Lan's words. Her phoenix eyes fixed on him, wanting him to give a reasonable explanation.

"Teacher Tang Yue, look."

Tang Yue began carefully watching Lin Lan's movements.

"Sky Flash—Lightning Seal—Frenzied Charge." Lin Lan did not waste words. He fired a Lightning Seal directly at a large tree. This lightning was unusual—it was brilliant white, thicker than ordinary lightning, and possessed greater destructive and piercing power.

Boom. The tree was severed in half by the lightning, while the Lightning Elements in the air crackled and hissed.

"A Spirit Seed!"

"A rare Lightning Element Spirit Seed—and one of the best among Spirit Seeds." Shock filled Tang Yue's eyes. Her tone was astonished as she began pondering. "A level-two Lightning Seal at this age, and with a Spirit Seed... either he's a monster, or he was raised by a powerful clan."

"He's unlikely to be a Black Vatican member, considering he killed those two himself. Still, I need to investigate his identity carefully after we return."

Seeing that Tang Yue seemed lost in thought, Lin Lan put on a puzzled expression and said, "I don't know what this is either. I had it as soon as I awakened."

Lin Lan spoke with confusion, his face displaying complete bewilderment, as though he truly knew nothing.

"A natural-born Spirit Seed! Then why didn't you use it during the annual assessment?"

"And why did you come out into the wilderness?" Tang Yue could not help still doubting Lin Lan's words. She wanted to get to the bottom of things and verify his identity.

"Teacher Tang Yue, I understand the saying: the tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be destroyed by the wind."

"I came into the wilderness because I wanted to improve my strength. Who knew I'd run into them?" Lin Lan remained as calm as ever, not the least bit flustered.

"Alright, that explanation is fairly reasonable. But the people you dealt with were no ordinary people."

"They were Black Vatican members. Be careful they don't discover you and seek revenge." After thinking it over, Tang Yue concluded that a student like Lin Lan probably had nothing to hide, so she accepted his story for now. Still, she would have to investigate him. A Lightning Element alone could not have killed these people.

"What should I do, then? Teacher Tang Yue, you have to protect your helpless student." Looking utterly panicked and regretful, Lin Lan immediately hugged Tang Yue's long black-stockinged leg.

"Enough, enough. I'm a member of the Arbitration Council. Naturally, I won't stand by and do nothing." Tang Yue shoved Lin Lan away and walked over to inspect the large hole dug by the Giant-Eyed Stinky Rat.

"The Black Vatican has indeed begun moving again..." Tang Yue said in a low voice as she stared at the hole.

"Teacher Tang Yue, don't you get rewards for killing Black Vatican members?" Lin Lan asked Tang Yue eagerly.

"Yes. Gray-robed Cultists are worth 150,000, Black-robed Scholars are worth 1,000,000, and Blue-robed members are worth 90,000,000." Tang Yue gave Lin Lan a charming smile.

"As long as there are rewards, that's fine. Killing Black Vatican members is contributing to society. I don't care how much the money is."

The fight scenes from the previous chapter have been added. Dear readers, remember to take a look.