The Bet with Mu Ningxue

"Impure cultivation?" Mu Ningxue asked with slight confusion.

"Yeah, maybe his growth in cultivation isn't just from hard work alone." Chen Lang nodded.

"Are you saying he's been tainted by the Vatican?"

In this world, when a Beginner Mage advanced too quickly, it wasn't always talent. There was another possibility.

Being tainted by the Vatican!

The Black Vatican didn't have the ability to boost someone's talent, but they did have ways to make a Beginner Mage grow fast.

The discarded pawns of villains didn't need a stable foundation.

"I can't be sure either. I've never seen what a Black Vatican member looks like."

"I'll have my father keep an eye on him later."

Chen Lang didn't press further and changed the subject. "Did your father agree to what I mentioned?"

Mu Ningxue recalled Mu Zhuoyun's earlier expression and said, "I can agree to your terms, but only after you deliver on what you promised."

There wasn't much genuine affection between them.

It was essentially a transaction, so Chen Lang didn't mind Mu Ningxue negotiating.

"Naturally. Once you've been at the Intermediate level for a while, I'll help awaken your Soul Seed. As for your family matters, I'll arrange them as soon as I return."

Mu Ningxue nodded but hesitated slightly.

"What's wrong?" Chen Lang asked, seeing her reluctance to speak.

"I plan to meet someone." Mu Ningxue thought it over and decided to be honest.

"Can't take me along?"

"No, it's not that..."

After a pause, she briefly explained her childhood situation.

"Don't... misunderstand. There's no romantic feelings between us. But back then, my actions caused considerable harm to his family. Tomorrow's duel is actually related to me..."

Hearing Mu Ningxue's explanation, Chen Lang shrugged it off. "I'm not that petty. And honestly, if anything, I'm the one who stole you away."

Mu Ningxue didn't explain further, seeing that Chen Lang showed no displeasure.

She led him to a windy terrace, where a figure stood.

Mu Ningxue and Chen Lang walked a few steps until they were behind the boy. She spoke first. "I asked Xin Xia. She said you'd be here."

"Looking for me this late? I can't carry you and run this time." Mo Fan didn't turn around. He grabbed a newspaper used to wrap peanuts and patted the spot beside him, signaling her to sit.

"Pretty considerate." Chen Lang spoke up.

Hearing the voice, Mo Fan was startled!

He turned to find that Mu Ningxue wasn't alone.

Mo Fan stared blankly at Chen Lang standing beside her. "Who's he?"

"Chen Lang, my... my fiancé."

With anyone else, Mu Ningxue might not have introduced him that way.

But she had some understanding of Mo Fan.

So she brought Chen Lang here—not just to warn him not to throw his life away, but also to snuff out any hopes Mo Fan might have.

Hearing Mu Ningxue's introduction, Mo Fan felt a twinge of disappointment, but it wasn't unbearable.

"I came to tell you not to go tomorrow. Yu Ang will go all out against you. He follows my father's orders blindly. Anyone who even slightly offends my father—even a single insult—he'll hunt down to the death." Mu Ningxue didn't step closer, just stood there speaking to Mo Fan.

Mu Ningxue saw Yu Ang as Mu Zhuoyun's dog.

But in Chen Lang's eyes, that was just Yu Ang's true nature.

Still, he didn't interrupt. He could tell Mu Ningxue truly had no romantic feelings for Mo Fan.

Maybe she was just the kind of person who was cold on the outside but warm inside. She felt some guilt toward Mo Fan, but mostly they were just childhood friends.

"Your dad really raised a good dog. In Bocheng, he probably bites whoever he's told to." Mo Fan had zero fondness for Yu Ang.

"But even so, I'll still go tomorrow and beat him until he's picking his teeth off the ground."

Seeing Mo Fan wouldn't listen, Mu Ningxue lost patience. "Hopeless. Let's go."

In her eyes, Mo Fan had no idea what losing this match would cost him...

On the way back, Chen Lang casually remarked, "You seem pretty sure that guy just now will lose?"

Mu Ningxue thought it was pointless to discuss, but since Chen Lang asked, she replied, "They're both Beginner Mages, but Yu Ang has all the magic tools my father prepared for him and has trained for years. There's no way he can win."

"That kid isn't as simple as you think. In my opinion, Yu Ang will lose tomorrow."

Mu Ningxue felt she couldn't understand Chen Lang. As a scion of a noble family, didn't he know the difference between a commoner's son and a clan's heir?

Even if Mo Fan was somewhat outstanding, these gaps were still very real.

Chen Lang seemed to think of something and quickly said, "Want to make a bet?"

"Boring."

Mu Ningxue had no interest in that.

"So you believe me?"

Mu Ningxue actually found this kind of thing quite tiresome, but she couldn't stand Chen Lang using such a dull provocation.

She asked, "What do you want to bet?"

"If that kid wins tomorrow, let me taste your lips."

Chen Lang wanted to bet bigger, but some things were better not rushed.

"And if you lose?"

"Whatever you want me to do, or whatever condition you want me to meet, it's all fine."

At this moment, Mu Ningxue didn't understand. Was Chen Lang so confident that Mo Fan could win?

She naturally didn't believe it, so she agreed, "Fine, I'll take that bet!"

The next afternoon.

Before the sky had fully darkened, the Mu Clan Manor was already brightly lit with lanterns and decorations.

It was clear that Mu Zhuoyun had put a lot of thought into today's arrangements. Of course, it wasn't just to target Mo Fan.

As for the current Mo Fan, in his eyes, he was nothing more than an ant that could be crushed with a flick of a finger.

To put it bluntly, he simply wanted to use this duel to make Tianlan Magic High School, this commoner academy, understand one thing.

Even if some commoner youths had a bit of talent, they were still no match for clan children.

Bocheng was still ruled by nobles like them.

The commoner students of the academy could only serve as sparring partners, or even just stepping stones.

People were coming and going in the Mu Clan Manor. Chen Lang also spotted the mature and charming Tang Yue and the stubbly Zhan Kong.

Though he had never met them before, he recognized them at a glance.

Chen Lang didn't take the initiative to strike up a conversation with them. Instead, he followed Mu Ningxue to a seat that Mu Zhuoyun had arranged and sat down to wait for the match to begin...