"It isn't dead yet," Long Zhanye said gravely.
Her golden slit pupils were piercing as she keenly watched the Winged Azure Wolf for signs of life.
"I'm only at the Intermediate Level, after all. It's normal that I couldn't kill it." Lu Ling sat cross-legged on the Heavenly Star White Dragon, panting heavily.
The instant he had fired that arrow, all the cold he had previously borne for Mu Ningxue had surged up at once, as though it had accumulated for years.
Fortunately, he could withstand it.
"Give it a blast of dragon breath. I'll amplify it!"
"All right!"
"Are those reinforcements?" Only after drawing closer on his Wind Wings did Zhan Kong notice a white-haired young man standing on that enormous white dragon.
"What terrifying Ice Magic. It actually froze the Commander Level Winged Azure Wolf solid in a single strike, leaving it unable to move?"
Before Zhan Kong could recover from his shock, he saw the white dragon beneath the white-haired young man release a blast of dragon breath, melting through the ice and burning the Winged Azure Wolf's head straight into charcoal!
"Just who in the world is this person!"
"..."
It was dead. The Winged Azure Wolf had died at Long Zhanye's hands.
This Ice Bow actually couldn't instantly kill a Commander Level beast at full strength. Lu Ling couldn't understand it.
The white dragon circled high above Bo City, its terrifying aura sending every Giant-Eyed Rat and One-Eyed Demon Wolf fleeing in panic.
Demon Beasts would flee from the Heavenly Star White Dragon's aura, but humans wouldn't.
After circling once, Lu Ling killed several black-robed and gray-robed members of the Black Vatican in succession. Unfortunately, he hadn't found Mu He.
He had probably sensed something was wrong the moment the rain stopped and left Bo City ahead of time. Lu Ling had focused on the rainmaker Wu Ku and hadn't had much energy to spare for the lesser Chief Deacon Hu Jin.
Once he confirmed that the Military Mages and hunters could handle things, Lu Ling landed at the Mu Family Manor.
Most of the people in the manor were ordinary people, and the sight of the enormous Heavenly Star White Dragon gave them quite a fright.
"Everyone, don't panic. It's me."
The Heavenly Star White Dragon dissolved into light, and Lu Ling hurried forward to reassure everyone.
"Young Master Lu Ling!"
Almost everyone in the Mu Family Manor knew Lu Ling. Once they saw that it was him, they relaxed.
"What is everyone doing right now?"
"It's a Crimson Alert. We were just about to evacuate to the Safe Barrier." Mu Zhuoyun came forward from behind the crowd.
"There's no need to leave. Everyone, go back inside. The Demon Beasts have mostly been killed," Lu Ling said.
"Young Master Lu Ling, that white dragon just now was..." Mu Zhuoyun probed.
"My Summoned Beast."
"A Summoned Beast! To think you already possess such fighting strength at your age!" Mu Zhuoyun was overjoyed.
A Super Level mage's student, with such terrifying talent as well!
There was no need to curry favor with the Super Level mage behind Lu Ling. He could simply curry favor with Lu Ling himself! He had seen it just now-that white dragon had killed the Winged Azure Wolf!
Whoosh!
With a powerful rush of air, Zhan Kong landed in front of them and searched through the crowd, until he spotted the white-haired Lu Ling.
He was startled. He hadn't expected the person who had saved Bo City to be so young.
"Senior, thank you for saving Bo City from disaster," Zhan Kong said, stepping forward to express his gratitude.
"It was only right. I... count as someone from Bo City too, I suppose." Lu Ling nodded.
Lu Ling had bona fide Bo City household registration, and Mu Zhuoyun had personally helped him obtain it! After all, his master had picked him up, and he had been unregistered for a long time before that.
"You're from Bo City, Senior?!" Zhan Kong looked astonished. He had never known Bo City had a third Advanced Level mage, let alone one so young!
"Instructor Zhan Kong, he really is a child who grew up in Bo City. His name is Lu Ling, and he only returned from his training journey recently!" Mu Zhuoyun said.
"Hahahaha, wonderful! To think our Bo City has someone as extraordinary as you! Everyone, you must remember this. Lu Ling killed the Winged Azure Wolf and saved us!" Zhan Kong suddenly burst into laughter.
"Lu Ling is a hero!" As Bo City's strongest combatant, Zhan Kong commanded immense prestige there. The moment he spoke, everyone broke into a chorus of flattery.
"..."
How awkward.
Was something wrong with Zhan Kong?! Did he have to put it like that!
"Ahem, let's not keep bringing up this little matter. I also have some people to hand over to you, Zhan Kong." Lu Ling interrupted them and looked at Zhan Kong.
"What people?"
Lu Ling waved his arm. A Silver Vortex beside him slowly expanded, and several corpses fell out of it.
"Members of the Black Vatican."
"The Black Vatican?!" A chill gripped everyone's hearts.
"Isn't that Yu Ang?"
"Bai Yang from the Military Department?!"
"Yu Ang?! That bastard was actually a member of the Black Vatican?!" Mu Zhuoyun flew into a rage, filled with bitter regret!
He had held such high hopes for Yu Ang before, only to be told now that Yu Ang belonged to the Black Vatican?!
Zhan Kong looked at Bai Yang, his expression icy. He was no stranger to the aura of Black Beast Demons.
Every one of these people belonged to the Black Vatican!
"Lu Ling, thank you!" Zhan Kong solemnly bowed to Lu Ling!
"Mm."
"Heroes must be remembered. I'll make sure every person in Bo City understands. I'll personally bring you the reward for killing these Black Vatican members later!" With that, Zhan Kong left the Mu Family Manor with the corpses of the Black Vatican members.
"Uncle Mu, prepare something to eat." Lu Ling waved his hand and headed straight into the villa!
"Of course! Did everyone hear that?! Put down whatever you're doing and prepare the most sumptuous feast for our hero!" Mu Zhuoyun quickly shook off his anger over Yu Ang and loudly called out to the Mu Clan's servants.
"..."
Something was wrong with Mu Zhuoyun too.
Inside the room, the two girls were already waiting for him.
"You're back, great hero?" Mu Ningxue smiled faintly.
Despite all her longing, when she actually saw Lu Ling, she felt inexplicably reserved.
"Mm, I'm back." Lu Ling smiled. "Are you cold?"
"No."
"Really?" Amusement shone in Lu Ling's eyes as he opened his arms.
"Yes!" Mu Ningxue's pretty face flushed as she slowly stepped into his embrace. It was their first embrace after two years apart. She pressed her whole body against Lu Ling, listening to his strong heartbeat.
"Brother, I'm cold too!" Ye Xin Xia protested.
Neither of them paid her any attention.
"Hmph!" Ye Xin Xia folded her arms and turned her head away, puffing out her cheeks as she sulked.
Only when Lu Ling quietly reached out to pat her head did much of her anger subside.
"I felt it just now. You seem to know how to use my bow." Only after a long time did Mu Ningxue reluctantly raise her head. "It was after that that I felt less cold."
"That's because I'm bearing it for you." Lu Ling pinched Mu Ningxue's soft cheek, showing no sign of strain whatsoever.
"What?! You're bearing it for me... Then before, too..."
Only now did Mu Ningxue understand why Lu Ling had once told her to come to him whenever she felt cold.
Even her mother had suffered so much because of this Ice Bow before she passed away. How could Mu Ningxue possibly have been completely unaffected?!
Those side effects had only slowly emerged over the two years since Lu Ling left, yet she had been so foolish and had never noticed.
Lu Ling gently wiped the corners of Mu Ningxue's eyes. He hadn't expected the girl to be so moved that she cried.
"It's all right. It's a breeze for me."