Still the Last Time! (Seeking Follow-ups, Seeking Collections)

[The assessment has concluded. Congratulations to student Lan Yu for securing first place!]

When the notification popped up from the Pearl Academy academic office, everyone was stunned.

No way, are you kidding me?!

"Bastard! You bastard!" Shen Mingxiao was instantly overcome with rage.

They had gone to such great lengths to capture the Shadow Beast, only for it to vanish while they were out grabbing a meal.

Luo Song was even more incensed. "Damn it! I'm going to bind him up like a rice dumpling with Ice Lock and toss him into the river to feed the fish!"

As soon as the assessment results were announced, the students who had been wandering aimlessly began beating their chests in frustration.

Everyone rushed toward the Beast Taming Cage, desperate to confirm if the notification was actually true.

What if it was a mistake? What if the academic office had messed up?

Clinging to this sliver of hope, the crowd of students quickly arrived at the Beast Taming Cage.

Sure enough, the sky had fallen.

The Shadow Beast was indeed inside the Beast Taming Cage, and sitting on the steps in front of it was Lan Yu.

Seeing so many people arrive, Lan Yu asked with genuine curiosity, "Oh? You're all here? Do you want to go inside the cage and keep the Shadow Beast company?"

Pfft—

Hearing Lan Yu's words, everyone felt like they were about to cough up blood.

Do you even hear yourself?

What do you mean, "keep the Shadow Beast company"?

Damn it!

How is it that this guy is even more annoying than that big devil Mo Fan?

Shen Mingxiao and Luo Song were so angry their lungs felt like they were about to explode.

This detestable scoundrel, acting innocent after reaping all the benefits—he's practically asking for a death sentence!

"Sister Mu, this Lan Yu really knows how to make a fortune in silence. He caught the Shadow Beast without a word and shoved it straight into the Beast Taming Cage."

At the front of the crowd, Ai Tutu leaned over and whispered to Mu Nujiao.

"The wood is already carved into a boat; no matter how unwilling we are, the grand prize belongs to him," Mu Nujiao sighed.

"It's so infuriating!" Ai Tutu huffed. "Everyone else was working so hard to find the Shadow Beast, but he just caught it in one go. I have a feeling this guy took a shortcut!"

What a beast!

A damn beast!!

At this moment, Mo Fan felt his heart bleeding.

Why on earth did that little girl Lingling have to tell this guy about the Shadow Beast first?!

It's infuriating!

No!!!!

My Three-Step Tower!!!!

(Snow~ flakes~ drifting~♪ The north~ wind~ whistling~♪)

"Who are you people? What are you doing?"

Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the crowd.

Everyone turned to look and saw Jia Wenqing, Han Luo, Fu Tianming, and others being restrained by a group of strangers.

"Judgment Court official business, clear the area immediately!"

Tang Yue, leading the group, revealed her identity as an adjudicator.

The students had never seen such a scene before and retreated three miles back, keeping their distance from Jia Wenqing and his group.

The Judgment Court?!!

The moment they saw Tang Yue reveal her identity, the hearts of Jia Wenqing and the other Black Vatican members hiding within Pearl Academy turned cold.

"Your Blue Deacon has already been captured; now it's your turn!" Tang Yue said coldly.

Hearing Tang Yue's words, their already cold hearts died completely.

Any attempt at an excuse was useless now. The Blue Deacon held the list of all the Black Cleric members, and the Black Cleric members held the lists of all the Grey Cultist members.

Once the Blue Deacon was caught, none of his subordinates could hope to escape.

"May I ask, which one of you is Lan Yu?"

After seeing the Black Vatican members locked in specialized magic shackles, Tang Yue finally asked.

"Over here, over here." Lan Yu, still sitting on the steps, raised his hand.

Tang Yue turned to look at Lan Yu, her stern expression immediately softening into a gratified smile. "Well done. If not for you, it would have been difficult for us to root out the Black Vatican threat hidden within the Magic City."

"Just a stroke of luck," Lan Yu waved his hand and said, "If I hadn't happened to pass by and save those two students, I really wouldn't have been able to follow the trail to the source."

Tang Yue knew exactly who the two students Lan Yu mentioned were, and she stated that there would definitely be compensation for them.

For some reason, Lan Yu felt an inexplicable sense of disgust when he heard the word "compensation."

Could it be that he had read too much Naruto fanfiction?

He remembered that in many Naruto fanfics, the old Third Hokage was always talking about compensation, and Lan Yu had developed a physiological aversion to the word.

"Student Lan Yu, you helped our Judgment Court eliminate a major threat, and you possess extraordinary courage and outstanding strength. Why not join the Judgment Court after graduation? We can start you off as an intern judge, and when the time is right, you can be promoted to a full member..."

Lan Yu's performance had truly delighted her, and Tang Yue couldn't help but extend an invitation.

With the Black Vatican currently stirring and orchestrating various terrorist attacks across different regions, all the judges of the Judgment Court were essentially on standby, and the Chief Judge was already planning to recruit fresh blood.

Upon hearing Tang Yue's invitation to join the Judgment Court, Lan Yu declined politely.

Everyone knew the Judgment Court was like S.H.I.E.L.D.; if he went there, he feared he wouldn't even know how he died when his time came.

When they heard Lan Yu turn down Tang Yue's offer, many people were left dumbfounded.

Seriously, brother? You just rejected it like that? And it was an invitation from a beautiful judge, too!

That was the Judgment Court! Countless people would break their heads just to become a judge, yet he had turned it down...

Truly, the well-fed have no idea how the hungry suffer!

Just then, the school leadership received word from the Judgment Court and rushed to the scene.

When they saw that some of the faces among the Pearl Academy students were actually members of the Black Vatican, they were so furious they beat their chests and stamped their feet.

They declared one after another that these students must be nailed to the pillar of shame for the entire faculty and student body to spit upon and as a warning to the whole school.

It just so happened that this matter could be emphasized during the all-school assembly next month.

The night was already deep.

Upon returning to the apartment, Lan Yu was inevitably met with cold glares from Ding Yumian:

"Lan Yu, you've grown quite capable, haven't you!"

To this, Lan Yu could only begin his performance: "Sigh~ your little brother is working so hard to contribute to society, yet you, my dear sister, are so harsh on me~"

Ding Yumian couldn't help but roll her beautiful eyes, "Alright, alright, there's a time and place for clowning around."

Ai Tutu & Mu Nujiao: ...

Who bought green tea? Why is there such a strong smell of tea in here?

"Forget it, I can't be bothered to say anything else." Ding Yumian sighed, "Your rebellious phase really came early."

Hearing Ding Yumian say this, Lan Yu knew her anger had subsided.

"Don't worry, Sister Yumian, if I encounter such dangerous situations in the future, I will be extremely careful and will absolutely not put myself in harm's way," Lan Yu promised, patting his chest.

Ding Yumian pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling quite a headache; she remembered that the last time he said something similar was, well, the last time.