Rescued Again, Vanguard Squad

The monkey-faced mutant monster was terrifyingly fast, closing the gap in an instant to catch up with the fleeing cream-uniformed female mage.

"Shwa!"

The air split with a sharp sound.

Lin Yu Xin looked back instinctively, only to find a blade inches from her face.

"Extreme Cold—Ice Lock—Ice Chain!"

At that moment, several linked ice chains flew over, binding the blade tightly.

"Crack, crack!"

Fearsome cold climbed along the chains, freezing the Black Beast Demon into an ice sculpture in mere moments.

Lin Yu Xin turned again, only to see another Black Beast Demon also frozen solid, now shattered into pieces scattered here and there.

"Are you alright?"

A familiar, warm voice like polished jade reached her ears.

Lin Yu Xin looked over, her haggard expression unconsciously relaxing, but soon shifting to shock as she said, "You're already an Intermediate Level mage!"

"Mm."

Qin Yuan gave a slight nod, dismounted from the Blaze Wolf, and walked up to Lin Yu Xin, asking, "Is that wound of yours anything serious?"

"It's nothing." Lin Yu Xin shook her head, then revealed a faint, enigmatic smile. "Qin Yuan, you've saved me again."

"Again?"

Qin Yuan was taken aback at her words.

Lin Yu Xin just smiled without explaining.

She looked at the Black Beast Demon shattered on the ground and said, "They're Black Beast Demons, the dark creatures the Black Vatican loves to command."

"This disaster in Bocheng was caused by the Black Vatican."

"Mm, I already know." Qin Yuan nodded in response.

Seeing this.

Lin Yu Xin was surprised but didn't press further.

"I'm heading to Tianlan Magic High School. Are you going to the Safe Barrier alone, or coming with me?" Qin Yuan asked.

"...I'll go with you."

"The Black Vatican's target is the Earth Sacred Spring. I handed it over to Mo Fan earlier to draw their attention."

"But the Black Vatican has special means to track the Earth Sacred Spring. Once they realized it wasn't on me, they sent Black Beast Demons to hunt me down."

"They've probably already tracked it to Mo Fan by now."

Lin Yu Xin explained.

As the Deputy Guard Leader, she had to protect the Earth Sacred Spring and ensure it didn't fall into the Black Vatican's hands.

"Your arm..."

Qin Yuan pointed at her injured arm.

Lin Yu Xin shook her head, though, and said, "Just a flesh wound, didn't hit the bone. It's not a big deal."

With that, Lin Yu Xin gave herself a quick bandage.

Though she was a woman, she acted decisively, without any hesitation or excessive sentimentality.

"Alright then, let Xiao Yan carry you."

Qin Yuan waved his hand, signaling the Blaze Wolf to crouch down.

Lin Yu Xin instinctively raised a hand to refuse, quickly saying, "No... no need, I can—"

Before she could finish.

Qin Yuan grabbed her other uninjured arm and pulled her onto the Blaze Wolf's back.

She thought Qin Yuan would sit behind her.

But instead, a pair of silver-black Winged Magic Tools spread open from his back.

"Shwa!"

Qin Yuan soared into the air, darting off into the distance.

"Awoo!"

The Blaze Wolf roared and followed close behind.

Lin Yu Xin instinctively clutched a tuft of fur on the Blaze Wolf, her eyes fixed on the figure flying through the sky.

For so long, she had been buried in work, with no trace of romance.

But now, it seemed she had found it. She could finally understand what those young people called that 'strange feeling' really was.

"Sigh."

Lin Yu Xin sighed and shook her head, casting aside the 'fantasy' in her mind.

For now, the Earth Sacred Spring was more important.

Yet, even as she thought this, her gaze remained fixed on that figure.

"Splash, splash, splash..."

The heavy rain mixed with the Fountain of Ferocity had fallen for nearly an hour, gradually tapering off. The roads became slick, with puddles of standing water everywhere.

"Awoo!"

"Grrr, grrr!"

"Gugu gugu!"

Even though military mages had sealed off several Demon Caves in certain areas, there were still undiscovered Demon Caves within Bocheng.

Countless demons poured into Bocheng through these caves.

Though the Blood Alert had been sounded in time, many people still found themselves outside the Safe Barrier.

These people would become a 'self-service feast' for the demons.

The streets were a mess, countless vehicles overturned, and shops on both sides were shattered, as if looted clean.

"Hum."

A faint ripple of magic passed by, and a shadowy figure darted quickly into a corner.

Behind the corner, a group of young mages crouched low. Their faces were still youthful, but their eyes were unwaveringly resolute, devoid of any fear.

Mo Fan, Mu Bai, Zhou Min, Zhang Xiaohou, Xu Zhaoting, Wang San Pang... all were magical prodigies from the Elite Class, each at least mastering Elementary Level Two magic.

They were the Vanguard Squad of Tianlan Magic High School, their main task to help the thousand-strong team behind them find a safe route to the barrier.

The darkness stirred, and Tang Yue slowly materialized.

"Teacher Tang Yue, what's the situation ahead?" Xue Musheng asked softly.

"No demons for now." Tang Yue shook her head, her brow still furrowed, and added, "But the main street is too open, with little cover. It's very easy to expose our position."

"Our small group can slip through smoothly, but the thousand-man team behind us is very likely to run into trouble. One misstep could attract a swarm of demons."

The dozen or so members of the squad moved quietly and quickly, facing no major issues.

But a thousand-man team had too many unstable factors. Maintaining absolute silence was nearly impossible, and the chance of an accident was far too high.

If it were just one or two demons, it wouldn't be a big deal—the Main Force had teachers protecting them. But the fear was attracting a horde of demons.

At that point, the so-called 'Main Force' would become a 'self-service buffet' for the demons.

Hearing Tang Yue's account, everyone frowned.

As the Vanguard Squad, they had to consider things from the Main Force's perspective.

"For this situation, there are only two options."

"One: have the Main Force wait here while we reach the Safe Barrier and request reinforcements from the military mages to escort them. But during that waiting period, the Main Force could be attacked by demons."

"Two: have the Main Force risk crossing, which also carries the risk of demon attack. And if they are attacked, it could easily draw a large number of demons."

After laying out the two plans, Tang Yue looked at Teacher Xue and said, "Teacher Xue, pass these two choices to the Main Force behind us. Let them decide."

"As for us, we'll cross this street quickly first."

"Mm, that's the only way for now." Xue Musheng nodded.

Under Tang Yue's protection and scouting, the Vanguard Squad and the Main Force had encountered no danger so far. But how could smooth sailing last forever?

Now, the Main Force faced a tough decision.

All the Vanguard Squad could do was reach the Safe Barrier quickly and request reinforcements from the military mages.

"Everyone remember: maintain absolute silence. No matter what you see or hear, do not leave the formation out of curiosity."

Tang Yue gave one more instruction.

After receiving their affirmations, with Xue Musheng and Mo Fan taking the lead, the squad began to cross the street slowly.

Tang Yue stayed at the rear of the formation, keeping a constant watch on their surroundings.