After receiving Lu Ling's confirmation, countless medical personnel immediately rushed past the cordon to examine and treat everyone who had fallen unconscious on-site.
The Hunter Union's people also surged into the stadium, with the Hunter King's enormous azure-eyed beast overlooking everything directly from the entrance to the gymnasium.
Because the number of unconscious people in the gymnasium reached several thousand, the hospitals simply could not accommodate them, leaving no choice but to treat them on-site.
At the center of the stadium.
Silver light flashed, and Netherworld appeared silently beside Lu Ling.
"It's so stuffy in there. I don't want to stay inside!" Netherworld puffed out her cheeks and glared angrily at Lu Ling, looking every bit like a resentful little wife.
"Your aura is too powerful for ordinary demon beasts. You'll scare off the prey, so just bear with it a little." Lu Ling was helpless.
The place Netherworld called "inside" was naturally the Contract Space!
Lu Ling found it strange, too. He clearly had not used the Summoning System to form a contract with Netherworld, yet she could enter and leave his Contract Space at will.
"Hmph!"
"...I'll take you out for a feast in a bit."
"Okay!"
At those words, Netherworld's expression immediately changed.
She danced happily and excitedly off to the side, the strips of her red skirt fanning out. Her entire being was the embodiment of the other shore.
She was just like a child. Lu Ling could not help smiling.
How long? How long had Netherworld been imprisoned there?
In any case, it must have been a very, very long time, making her intensely dislike staying in the Contract Space.
"Lu Ling." Ling Ling jogged over and looked him up and down.
"How are you?"
"Do I look like someone who'd get hurt?! It was only warrior level!" Lu Ling said.
"Pfft, if you died, nobody would even collect your corpse!"
Netherworld took both of Ling Ling's hands and had her join in the spinning.
"We're going out for a feast~~~"
"What are you going crazy for, you old hag?!" Feeling herself flying into the air, Ling Ling immediately shouted.
"Put me down!"
"Hehe... a feast~~~"
"..."
"So you must be the partner Ling Ling mentioned."
Just then, a flamboyant man wearing tight leather clothing approached them.
"Hmm?"
"Yes." Lu Ling nodded.
"Uh..." Demon Man was embarrassed. Their conversation had ended almost as soon as it began. This young man really did not know how to hold a conversation! Though neither did he!
Ling Ling, the only one capable of easing the atmosphere, was currently far too occupied herself.
"Thank you for saving everyone in this gymnasium." A burly middle-aged man descended from above the dome and looked at Lu Ling with a solemn expression.
Hunter King Du Xiao.
"How did the Hunter Union let parasitic demon beasts invade the Safe Zone?" Lu Ling asked.
"..."
Du Xiao's gaze sharpened, and he stared deep into Lu Ling's eyes, only to last less than a second!
"Hmm?" Netherworld cast a faint glance his way, and the aura of death instantly rushed into his face.
The Hunter King's eyes widened, his gaze settling on the beauty beside them whose presence had been barely noticeable.
Her red dress was so otherworldly, yet her entire body brimmed with the aura of death. In the instant of that glance, it felt as though he had already died thousands upon thousands of times!
Who was this woman?
Standing suspended in midair... such profound Space Magic!
"Ah, ah, ah, Lu Ling, let me introduce you." Having long since noticed something was wrong with the atmosphere, Ling Ling hurried over to smooth things out.
"This is Demon Man. He's from the Hunter Union."
"This is Hunter King Du Xiao."
"Got it." Lu Ling shielded Netherworld behind him. That glance had indeed been unexpected. He had never imagined Netherworld could intimidate a Super Level mage so easily.
"The Hunter Union does bear significant responsibility for this demon beast invasion. On behalf of the Hunter Union, I will provide these students with appropriate compensation," the Hunter King said sincerely.
"That would be best. Not only that, you should also strengthen your precautions and develop some magic equipment specifically for detecting parasitic demon beasts."
"You have a point. After this incident, the entire Hunter Union will take it seriously." The Hunter King nodded.
A single warrior-level parasitic demon beast had nearly taken seven thousand lives. How could they possibly not take it seriously?
"One more thing. I saved so many people. Is there a corresponding reward?"
"..." The Hunter King fell silent.
A reward? There ought to be one! But who should pay?
"Lu Ling, is this really the time to talk about that?" Ling Ling tugged at the hem of Lu Ling's clothes and asked quietly.
"Obviously. The two of us saved all these people. That went far beyond the scope of the commission. I can't be bothered with meaningless prestige."
"Yes, yes, yes! Of course there is!"
More people came forward. They were several directors in charge of student management at the Green Campus.
"Lu Ling, I never imagined you were the one who saved so many of our students. Thank you so much. I'll definitely ask Dean Xiao to grant you generous cultivation resources!" After realizing it was Lu Ling, Jiang Yunming spoke with excitement written all over his face.
"Teacher Jiang, long time no see." Lu Ling raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.
"Haha, it really has been a long time since we last met after you entered the Main Campus."
"You're actually still a student?" Demon Man was somewhat surprised. He had thought Ling Ling's partner was someone his own age.
Looking at him now... that face really was young.
"Yes. If I remember correctly, Lu Ling is the same age as this year's new students. He just enrolled earlier." Jiang Yunming had a deep impression of Lu Ling, the sole new student from the year before last. Seeing Demon Man's surprise, he offered a casual explanation.
"Hahahaha!"
The Hunter King suddenly laughed and said, "Young and accomplished! The Hunter Union's reward won't be lacking either!"
His gaze was firm. This was his personal promise. Even if the Hunter Union would not pay, he would simply pay it himself!
"Thanks. Send it to the Azure Sky Hunter Agency." Lu Ling stood on no ceremony at all, taking Ling Ling with him and leaving straight away.
On the way.
"Lu Ling... that was the Hunter King. Aren't you going to properly expand your connections?" Ling Ling asked.
"He's just a Super Level mage. He isn't much use to me. Besides, who knows? They might end up relying on me in the future instead." Lu Ling's expression was utterly indifferent, as though he did not take the so-called Hunter King seriously at all.
Hunter King Du Xiao? What use was he?
None at all. In the original worldline, the Hunter King had not helped Mo Fan with anything either.
"Why are you so extreme?!" Ling Ling said.
"I'm just telling the truth. Don't set your sights so low."
"Tch, arrogant and conceited. Let's see how far you get!" Ling Ling pursed her lips and muttered quietly.
"Ah!" Ling Ling suddenly shrieked, flailing her hands wildly and beating Lu Ling's back.
"You're asking for a beating!" Lu Ling slung the little loli over his shoulder and pinned her legs with one hand.
"Let go of me! You damn pervert!"
"...Netherworld, you do the spanking!"
"Sure!"
"Let go of me... ***old**hag*"
Smack!
"..."
Only after taking a dazed Ling Ling and an excited Netherworld out for a sumptuous dinner did Lu Ling return home.
During that very meal, the look Ling Ling gave Lu Ling had been nine-tenths wrong out of ten. Lu Ling ignored it completely, treating it as nothing more than a child sulking. She would get over it in a few days.
The rewards from the Hunter Union and Pearl Academy also arrived in the Azure Sky Hunter Agency's account a few days later. The bounty totaled only forty million. Averaged out per person, it was not even ten thousand per life, but it was better than nothing.