Spring Has Arrived

In the sparse woods, the distant calls of unknown birds drifted over from time to time. The evening glow fell across the ground, and wild grass that reached past the ankles was crushed beneath a black boot.

Bai Mo bent down and reached out with his fair, slender hand, plucking a palm-sized cyan-white flower beside the trampled grass.

Wind Spirit Flowers were green flowers.

They grew widely around Dinghu and were one of the Swiftwind Wolf packs' favorite foods during their breeding season. Bai Mo did not really understand why Swiftwind Wolves liked eating them during that period. Maybe they enhanced virility?

If it had not been listed among the materials, Bai Mo truly would not have known that this kind of plant was also needed for forging equipment.

Just as he bent down, a swift white shadow pounced viciously at his side.

"Buzzzzzzz!"

The previously tranquil space suddenly trembled. Facing the Swiftwind Wolf as it opened its jaws to bite at his waist, Bai Mo merely raised a hand and gave a light push.

The Swiftwind Wolf, more than twice the size of a motorcycle, did not even have time to cry out before it was struck as though by a sports car at full speed, sent flying heavily away even faster than it had come.

It smashed through two thick trees before crashing hard onto the ground. Its entire body twitched. After struggling a few times, it was clear that countless bones had been broken. It could no longer get up.

Bai Mo stood and stored the Wind Spirit Flower in his spatial storage.

He then touched the tiny earring clipped to his ear. It was a Sound Element detection magic tool, given to him by his mom, Zhuang Xingyan, after hearing that he was going out to hunt Demon Beasts.

With this thing, he could detect the movements of all living creatures within a hundred meters, almost as though he could predict the future.

Anything beyond a hundred meters was out of reach. It was only a magic tool, after all, and could not replace a Sound Element Mage's detection abilities.

Looking at the Swiftwind Wolf lying in the distance, unable to rise again, Bai Mo did not care whether it was faking it like the last one. He simply raised his hand.

A faint silver light glimmered in his eyes. A spatial hand gripped the Swiftwind Wolf's head and twisted hard, wrenching the wolf's head straight off.

He then collected the heart's essence blood. That was also listed among the required materials. He really could not understand why forging equipment needed such things.

Although Wind Spirit Flowers were widespread, they did not grow in clusters. There were at most ten within fifty meters. He had already picked all of them in this area and still needed twenty more.

After walking another hundred meters and picking another Wind Spirit Flower, Bai Mo frowned and quietly left the area.

He had heard human voices. They seemed to be gathering Wind Spirit Flowers as well.

"Boss, what do we need this stuff for? These flowers are useless to humans."

"Lord Four said they're the Swiftwind Wolves' favorite food during breeding season. They can draw the wolves' attention."

"What do we need to draw their attention for?"

"It's Swiftwind Wolf breeding season right now. There are quite a few wolf pups."

As their footsteps faded, so did their voices. Bai Mo silently considered their conversation. It seemed they intended to capture Swiftwind Wolf cubs, though perhaps they were after the cubs of the higher-ranked Shadow Wolves instead.

The two species came from the same lineage, so their breeding periods were probably similar.

Shadow Wolf cubs could be used by some Summoners as Contracted Beasts. Swiftwind Wolves, meanwhile, made excellent tamed beasts—reliable combat partners for the Security Bureau and pets favored by some wealthy people.

At the same time, some people bought Swiftwind Wolf meat, believing that feeding it to their pet dogs would make them stronger.

But that had nothing to do with him. He had already collected half the items on the materials list, and night was about to fall.

Even in daylight, the wilderness not far from Modu was filled with so many Demon Beasts. Once night came, it would become even more dangerous. Bai Mo decided to call it a day.

Bai Family residence, Qingyuan District.

After completing his daily card draw and pulling an Infant Stage Wind Element Commander, Bai Mo planned to relax for a while.

He opened Feixin. There had been a message notification earlier, but he had been busy drawing cards and had not checked it. Looking now, he saw that it was from Ding Yumian.

Ever since they had added each other on Feixin last time, they occasionally chatted.

Yumian: Do you know about the Modu All-Magic High School Tournament? Yumian: Went to draw cards again? /confused/confused Bai Mo: Yeah Bai Mo: The tournament? I know. I've already signed up. Yumian: How was the haul from your card draw? Bai Mo: Didn't get what I wanted. Are you competing? Yumian: No. Bai Mo: /confused Yumian: Last time, you said senior-year classes were kind of boring and you were too lazy to attend, so I thought I'd remind you. Yumian: If you win the tournament and get specially recruited, you won't need to attend classes anymore. Bai Mo: Little Shark Stopped Thinking.JPG Bai Mo: How about we start over? I'll pretend I didn't know. Yumian: . Yumian: /eye-roll I'm going to cultivate now. Bai Mo: Okay.

Sensing movement nearby, Bai Mo put away his phone and looked up toward Zhuang Xingyan, who had silently appeared not far from him using Shadow Magic.

"Mom, what are you standing there for?!"

"Looking at my future daughter-in-law." Zhuang Xingyan smiled brightly at Bai Mo. "Your brother is as dense as a block of wood. Our family line is counting on you."

Bai Mo rolled his eyes. "Why don't you set Bai Hanxing up on a blind date? I'm not even an adult yet."

"It's fine. Your mother isn't old-fashioned. I don't object to puppy love."

"Mom, you should go play mahjong. That'd be more practical."

Bai Mo raised a hand and turned off Light Shadow Armor on the TV before getting up and returning to his room.

"Bzz, bzz."

His phone vibrated. A Feixin message had arrived.

Leng Qing has requested to add you as a friend.

He tapped it and accepted.

Leng Qing: Tomorrow morning at six. Lanting Hotel. Use your Space Element to collect a sand sculpture from the rooftop and bring it to the Qingtian Hunter's Association.

Bai Mo: A sand sculpture?

Leng Qing: A sculpture made of sand and stone.

Leng Qing: This is a new mission. You can get one hundred thousand.

Bai Mo: Okay.

After replying, Bai Mo felt rather speechless. He really was just doing odd jobs. He was basically a human tool.

Time passed quickly. Last month, spring had still carried a lingering chill, with drizzling rain. This month, the spring breeze had turned gentle and the days warm.

After being a human tool for a month, the fifteen million he had gained from Huo Tuo was still there, but the nine million he had saved up had been spent clean over the past thirty days.

And aside from having him transport a few artworks that had been turned into sculptures during her battles, Leng Qing had not assigned him any more missions.

Looking at the sour pickled radish old duck soup that had just been served, Bai Mo said to Ding Yumian, who sat across from him, "Have you been to this restaurant before? It's very close to Pearl Institute."

"No."

"The sour pickled radish old duck soup here is delicious. Give it a try." Bai Mo ladled himself a bowl of soup, then ladled one for her as well and placed it before her.

"Mm." Ding Yumian gazed at the soup in her bowl. Its light fragrance carried a faint sourness that made one's mouth water.

She cradled the bowl and took a small sip. Bai Mo watched as the somewhat oversized bowl covered part of her face, then glanced at the porcelain-white soup spoon resting nearby.

He suddenly laughed.

"Modu News: With the arrival of spring, the Swiftwind Wolf pack of Ding Mountain has entered a restless period. In recent days, there have been signs of encroachment toward Qingyuan District. Bai Changjun, commander of the Qingyuan District guards, has issued instructions—"

"What are you laughing at?"

The sound of the news from the television in the dining hall reached his ears together with Ding Yumian's mildly warm voice.

Bai Mo lifted his own bowl and took a sip, then glanced at her lips, glossy with soup, and shook his head.

"I wasn't laughing."

"I'm a Mind Element mage."

Bai Mo froze. He had forgotten about that. Seeing that he could not dodge the question, he said seriously, "I thought it was kind of cute that you drank straight from the bowl instead of using the spoon."

Ding Yumian glanced at the clean white spoon on the plate beside her, nodded, and said calmly, "I learned it from you."

"Really? When?"

"Last time at our school, when we drank clay pot soup. You said drinking it like that felt more authentic." As she spoke, Ding Yumian gave him a faint glance.

"Um... are you an idiot? I was talking about clay pot soup, not everything else."

"Watch your language."

Bai Mo spread his hands and said with complete indifference, "I have no manners."

"..." Ding Yumian was somewhat speechless. She had always been good at controlling her emotions, so why did they keep fluctuating whenever she encountered this person?

After the meal, Bai Mo arrived at the Qingtian Hunter's Association. Leng Qing had just sent him a message saying she had a mission for him.

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