Conflict Reignites

On the dueling stage, the radiant Lockhart was greeting the young wizards. "Gather 'round, gather 'round, can everyone see me? Can everyone hear me? Wonderful."

He controlled the lights to focus on himself and said animatedly, "In light of the series of terrifying events that have occurred these past few weeks, Dumbledore has permitted me to start this dueling club. This is to fully train you, so that one day when you need to defend yourselves, you can protect yourselves in the manner I have used countless times. For more details—please refer to my published books."

Bing Huan's eyebrows rose and fell as he looked at Lockhart strangely. "Excuse me, if I recall correctly, Professor Dumbledore asked me to host this club."

Exposed, Lockhart didn't get angry. His emotional control was always on point, at least he always appeared with a smile in front of his fans. "That's right, Mr. Bing Huan initiated the club, and he chose me—the most qualified person in this school to educate everyone."

"No." (Expressionless) "I only invited Professor Snape; you shamelessly forced your way in."

"Ahem..." Lockhart gave a couple of dry coughs. "Let us welcome my assistant, Professor Snape. As far as I know, he also knows a thing or two about dueling. He generously agreed to assist me in a small demonstration before class. Of course, don't worry, I'll return your Potions professor to you completely unharmed."

Bing Huan looked up at Snape and said quietly, "How about giving him a taste of Sectumsempra?"

Snape glanced at Bing Huan expressionlessly. "How about I give you one first?"

The two adult males walked onto the stage and faced each other, holding their wands like swords before their chests. After the formalities, they moved to opposite sides of the stage, assuming their stances.

"One, two, three!"

"Expelliarmus!"

A dazzling red light flashed on the stage. Considering the students below, Snape pronounced the spell standardly and clearly. Of course, pronouncing it this way would be considerably slower than in a real fight, but Lockhart still didn't react in time.

The star teacher was violently thrown backward off the stage, crashing into the wall.

Bing Huan: "Beautiful!"

Harry: "Brilliant!"

Ron: "I'm starting to like Snape."

Draco: "As expected of Professor Snape!"

Lockhart shakily stood up, walked back onto the stage, shaking his head, and smiling as he walked toward the center. "Professor Snape demonstrating this move to them was indeed good. But if you'll forgive my saying so, your intention was too obvious and easily seen through. If I had intended to stop you, it would have been too simple."

Harry had a constipated expression. "Why didn't Snape hit harder?"

Bing Huan flicked Harry's forehead and said irritably, "What are you thinking, Harry? Snape said it like that to demonstrate for us. His silent casting is quite skilled. If he really wanted to deal with Lockhart, we wouldn't have Dark Arts Defense class for a week."

Harry and Ron, who had always been afraid of Snape, looked at Bing Huan in surprise. "I always thought he was just fierce, I didn't expect him to be so powerful."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Come on, he's the Head of our Slytherin House."

Not wanting to get hit again, Lockhart fast-forwarded the proceedings to duels between students. Perhaps he heard the cheers from below when he was sent flying, Lockhart decided to split up the Gryffindor trio (Bing Huan, as a professor's assistant, wasn't participating in the duels).

"Weasley, you can pair up with Finnegan." He then stopped Harry, who was approaching Hermione. "Harry, you'll go with Malfoy. As for Miss Granger, you can be paired with Miss Sprout."

Hermione's opponent was a Slytherin girl who was tall and sturdy, with a thick chin jutting forward aggressively. Bing Huan felt an urge to hit her. Hermione managed a strained smile at her, but the girl ignored her.

Hmm, I want to hit her even more. For some reason, I always see a shadow of Marcus on her. Bing Huan hoped it was his own lack of manners, that he was seeing people through tinted glasses.

"Bow to your partner!" Lockhart shouted loudly. "Raise your wands, get ready. Cast a spell to disarm your opponent when I count to three. Note! Only disarm your opponent."

Harry and Draco stared intently at each other. "This should be our first formal magic lesson, Potter. I'll go easy on you."

"You too, don't beg for mercy in a moment, Draco."

"Potter, let's just go all out, not like what that guy said."

"Of course, who would listen to him."

"Cheering Charm."

"Tarantallegra."

The two cast simultaneously, their spells colliding and canceling each other out in the air. An evenly matched duel always taught a lot. Harry and Draco's spells became increasingly proficient. Although both were sweating profusely, excitement flashed in their eyes.

"Ah!"

A scream of pain suddenly came from Hermione's side. Millicent seemed to have no intention of using magic, using her physical advantage to pin Hermione's head. Bing Huan wanted to go save her but was blocked by a tall figure—it was Marcus.

A face that resembled a troll's broke into a smile. "Don't be nervous. What Millicent is doing, how is it different from you barbaric Easterners?"

Bing Huan sneered. "So that's why I felt like hitting him when I saw him. It was your doing. Move aside!"

He directly pushed Marcus aside and, disregarding the fact that she was a girl, punched Millicent in the face. "Are you alright?" He was carefully checking Hermione for any injuries and was about to comfort her when Marcus's enraged voice came from behind.

"Dare you have a match with me? Using only magic."

Bing Huan settled Hermione down, turned back, and stared at Marcus. After a long pause, he suddenly burst out laughing, a particularly bright laugh. "Pfft, ha, hahahahaha~ So, you think I'm not good at magic, that's why I'm fighting you?"

Marcus drew his wand. "It's obvious. Anyone who knows noble magic wouldn't resort to vulgar physical violence."

"Magic is noble, and physical fighting is vulgar, right? If you said that in Huaxia, and managed to get out of the country in one piece, I'd say my countrymen have good hearts."

Bing Huan sized Marcus up as if he were prey, then jumped onto the stage, drew his wand, and rubbed his left hand.

"Shush shush shush~"

Hermione's brows were tightly furrowed. Bing Huan was still smiling, but his eyes now were even more terrifying than what she had seen in the Pensieve.

Lockhart felt he should do something and quickly stepped forward to intervene. "Wait, wait, no matter what, a sixth-year student fighting a second-year student is too unreasonable!"

"It's fine~" Bing Huan said nonchalantly. "A waste, even if they're a few years older, is still just a big waste. No difference."

"You'll pay for this. Reducto!"

"Put that thing down, you bastard!"

The red and white lights did not clash as everyone expected; Marcus was instantly sent flying. Bing Huan leisurely picked the most unpalatable healing medicine from his storage space and threw it into his mouth.

The pill melted upon entering his mouth, its extreme bitterness waking Marcus, who had been on the verge of passing out. "Don't be nervous! It's just a healing medicine, it's just a bit bitter. Come back and continue if you've recovered, or are you not coming? Then I'll come over~"

Bing Huan stomped his right foot, and several pebbles sprang from the floor. Oppugno!

Marcus could only curl up in the corner, trying to minimize the damage the pebbles were causing him.

"Finite Incantatem!"

Snape still intervened.

"You're going to stop me? Professor Snape."

Snape walked up to Bing Huan. "You've gone too far."

"Who was it that provoked trouble time and again?"

"I will give you an explanation for this matter, but you cannot cross the line."

Bing Huan met Snape's gaze fearlessly. "Then I must teach him a lesson myself?"

"If Mr. Bing Huan insists on spilling sweat on the dueling platform, I can show a bit of my true ability and accompany you."

"Bing Huan!" Although she hadn't "seen" it before, she could sense that Bing Huan had murderous intent. If he took someone's life due to hatred, there would be no turning back. Hermione was so anxious that tears were about to fall. "Don't... please..."

"... I will await your explanation." With that, Bing Huan left the stage without looking back. Snape secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If Hermione hadn't stopped him, he couldn't guarantee he could subdue Bing Huan safely without harming him.

Unfortunately, some people are just born bad. Marcus, taking advantage of everyone's inattention, quietly pulled out his wand.

"Snake Summons Spell!"

A long black snake suddenly appeared and flew towards Bing Huan, who was comforting someone. However, due to miscalculating the distance while lying down, it landed in front of Harry.

"Don't move, Potter, let me handle it." Snape walked over, intending to deal with the venomous snake.