"So that's how it is."
The moment Jiang Yuan heard the words "Xishui Town," a guess arose in his heart.
Rose Flame was in Xishui Town. Could it be related to the Rose Flame mission?
Modu was not far from Hangzhou. Should he go over and confirm it?
But what reason could he use to go there? He couldn't exactly say he was going for a Fire Spirit Seed. Should he say he was going sightseeing?
As he was thinking, Tang Yue's voice came through again:
"I heard from the students that you were going to Pearl Institute in Modu for further studies. Where are you now?"
"I've actually already enrolled. I'm at Pearl Institute now," Jiang Yuan answered honestly.
"Haha, that's great. Modu isn't far from Hangzhou either. Do you want to come visit your teacher for a few days? I can take you out for some training while you're here." Tang Yue warmly invited him.
He had been worrying about not having a reason to go, yet Tang Yue had taken the initiative to invite him. It was like being handed a pillow just as he was getting sleepy.
"Sure, Teacher. I'd be rude to refuse. I'll set off right away," Jiang Yuan agreed without hesitation.
If he left now, he could arrive that afternoon.
Xishui Town, Hangzhou.
The town was a rather famous attraction in Hangzhou, but due to its recent water shortage, very few people came to visit anymore.
The moment Jiang Yuan arrived in Xishui Town, the dry air practically scorched his throat. He immediately bought a bottle of water from a nearby convenience store and chugged it down.
As he drank and looked around, he saw cracked earth everywhere in town. It was as though all moisture in the air had evaporated, making the place extremely uncomfortable.
At once, Jiang Yuan understood.
The Fire Spirit Seed in Xishui Town had not yet been taken.
Following the address Tang Yue had given him, Jiang Yuan found an inn called Youjian Inn among Xishui Town's many guesthouses.
Upon learning of his arrival, Tang Yue came out to greet him with a smile.
Her bright eyes, like autumn water, looked at Jiang Yuan. "Welcome to Hangzhou."
"Teacher, you're as young and beautiful as ever. You'll definitely become an outstanding mage in the country someday," Jiang Yuan praised.
Tang Yue smiled. "I'm only a few years older than you. Isn't it normal for me to be young? Speaking of magic, Xu Zhaoting told me you've already advanced to an intermediate mage?"
"Becoming an intermediate mage at your age makes you an absolute prodigy among all the major factions. Maybe you'll even take part in the National Prefecture War someday and bring glory to the country."
Jiang Yuan did not remember telling Xu Zhaoting that he had advanced to intermediate mage. Only Mo Fan had witnessed it firsthand.
Tang Yue seemed to notice his confusion and said, "During the Bocheng Disaster, you dealt with more than twenty One-eyed Magic Wolves by yourself, along with two Three-eyed Magic Wolves. Your teacher knows."
It was no wonder she knew. After all, so many students had seen it.
It was just that those results were too shocking. An intermediate mage taking down over twenty One-eyed Magic Wolves was understandable, but those two Warrior-level Three-eyed Magic Wolves were truly extraordinary.
Tang Yue was very curious about how Jiang Yuan had dealt with so many demon beasts alone.
But she did not ask, nor did she intend to pry.
He was her student, not a criminal. Why ask so many questions?
As long as he did not do bad things, that was enough.
Jiang Yuan had never acted arrogant and tyrannical just because he was a mage, and he also helped his classmates.
Many mages were outright scum—some even worse than scum. Even the Black Vatican seemed more human than those mages.
Yet Jiang Yuan had gained power and still protected his classmates, keeping those around him from falling into danger.
Who wouldn't praise him for that?
Although Tang Yue did not intend to ask, Jiang Yuan did not plan to hide too much either. He simply told her about his Innate Talent in the Water element.
It was practically public knowledge already. As long as he did not reveal his secret of possessing an Innate Talent in every element, it was no big deal.
"So that's how it is. Your Innate Talent allows you to use Ice element magic, and with even greater power."
Tang Yue was astonished.
Innate Talents were things one could only encounter by chance. This student of hers had limitless potential!
"You know about the Judgment Society of the Magic Association, right?" Tang Yue suddenly asked.
Jiang Yuan nodded. "I read about it in books. It's a law enforcement department specifically established to arrest mages who violate the laws and regulations issued by the Magic Association."
"Actually, I'm a member of the Judgment Society. I became a teacher at Tianlan High School to carry out a mission. In truth, the Bocheng Disaster was not a natural disaster. It was man-made."
Tang Yue began telling him about the Black Vatican in Bocheng.
Jiang Yuan made appropriate expressions in response, but internally, he thought of the Bocheng Disaster from the original timeline.
The Judgment Society was truly too stupid. They knew the Black Vatican had plans in Bocheng, and that even the Cardinal Salang was involved, yet they had sent so few Judgment Society members.
Their strength had even been pitifully low.
He had no idea what kind of nonsense the Judgment Society had fed Tang Yue, or whether their beautiful, sexy, charming teacher was genuinely too foolish.
To think she could really restrain Salang.
Jiang Yuan's gaze toward Tang Yue became somewhat strange, but Tang Yue did not notice and continued her story.
"...Sigh. If only they had sent more reinforcements, the Military Department wouldn't have lost so many people." Tang Yue let out a long sigh, her expression slightly desolate.
She remembered the military mages outside the city walls, swallowed by the beast tide.
And the lightning that pierced heaven and earth, illuminating the rainy night.
A powerful Lightning mage must have made a move. Otherwise, the losses would have been even greater.
"If you can become a powerful mage like that Lightning mage, you'll definitely be able to protect a region of the country in the future. You'll even be able to find a girl prettier than your teacher to marry," Tang Yue said.
This was the time to be modest.
Jiang Yuan smiled. "Becoming a powerful mage is still far off. As for finding a wife, I'd be more than satisfied if I could find someone as beautiful as you, Teacher."
Tang Yue shot Jiang Yuan a seductive glance. "You can find a wife, but you can't marry your teacher. Ethics won't allow it."
Jiang Yuan: "?"
Had Tang Yue misunderstood something? Was his sentence really that ambiguous?
Jiang Yuan recalled what he had just said and realized that it did have the slightest bit of ambiguity.
But he searched his conscience—he truly had not meant it that way.
Jiang Yuan could not explain himself. He could not refute her now either, or it would make Tang Yue seem narcissistic.
That would be far too embarrassing.
He could only change the subject. "Teacher, isn't there something wrong with Xishui Town? It's far too dry. This place shouldn't be like this, should it?"
"You're quite observant. Something has indeed happened in this town. I've been investigating everywhere these past few days, and the drought here is extremely unusual." Tang Yue's expression turned serious.
"Is it demon beasts, or...?" Jiang Yuan asked despite knowing the answer.
"I don't know. You'll need to come with me for a thorough field investigation, but I suspect human involvement. I've already identified one person. My identity is sensitive and I could easily be noticed, so you'll track them for me."
Jiang Yuan nodded. "Alright."
Tang Yue was somewhat surprised. "You aren't even going to ask whether it's dangerous?"
"I trust you!" Jiang Yuan said without blushing or missing a beat.
To be honest, Tang Yue was not even stronger than he was.
If he had not known exactly who was plotting to seize the Fire Spirit Seed, he would never have stepped into this mess so easily.
Before you continue