Versatile Mage: Shadow Assassin

"You're trustworthy, right?" Jing Wuji suddenly asked after Tang Yue finished her lesson.

"Oh? You don't even trust me now?" Tang Yue raised an elegant brow.

"It's not that… it's just—you're with the Judgment Council, aren't you?"

Jing Wuji had already been suspicious of Tang Yue's identity. After this battle, he could tell she had extensive combat experience against mages.

In this country, anyone experienced in fighting mages who wasn't a wanted criminal was likely either with the military or the Judgment Council. But the military wouldn't send a mid-tier mage to infiltrate a high school, which left only one possibility—the Judgment Council.

Combined with the clues he'd found pointing to the Black Vatican, he was now certain: Tang Yue was with the Judgment Council.

"How did you know?"

Tang Yue's expression turned serious in an instant, her brow furrowed. She had no idea how she'd been exposed.

"I guessed. Your combat ability doesn't match that of an ordinary high school teacher. Plus, I connected the dots with some of the clues I've found," Jing Wuji explained.

"Well, since you're with the Judgment Council, I'll share what I discovered."

Not giving her a chance to interrupt, he continued,

"I found a demon in the kitchen of Mingwen Girls' School cafeteria. It was a Giant-Eyed Blood Rat. If you follow the tunnel it dug, you'll find traces of the Black Vatican."

"Are you serious?"

Tang Yue hadn't expected her student to uncover a lead she had missed for years.

"Don't investigate any further. Those people are lunatics."

"Understood. But… I have one more question."

Jing Wuji hesitated before asking something that had been bothering him for a long time.

"I've reached Level 3 in Shadowmeld. Why can I still strengthen my stars?"

"Your talent is exceptional. After you graduate, come work with us at the Judgment Council. I'll have your back," Tang Yue smiled.

"There are things not recorded in textbooks. For example, once you reach Level 3 in a magic element, your stars can be further enhanced, greatly increasing their power. This is common knowledge among the major families and factions. Normally, people need demon essences to enhance their stars, but it looks like you can do it directly. That saves a lot of money."

"I see now."

Jing Wuji suddenly understood. He had thought it was unique to him, but it turned out that anyone could enhance their stars—he just had a rare shortcut.

"Alright, go practice on your own. I need to report this matter."

Tang Yue waved him off, turning and walking away from the training grounds.

Time flew by. Over the year, Jing Wuji trained diligently and hunted demons, amassing around 500,000 yuan in savings.

Ye Xinxia also awakened her magic during this time. She awakened the Healing Element under the White Magic system. She said that from now on if Jing Wuji or Mo Fan got injured, she'd be able to heal them—no longer the little girl struggling to keep up.

After Tang Yue reported the clues Jing Wuji had given her, she went to investigate—but found nothing. The place had been cleared out. Apart from signs that some Black Vatican creatures had been there, there was nothing left. The Black Vatican had once again vanished without a trace.

Jing Wuji's Shadow Element also progressed to Level 5—Ghoststep—just one star enhancement away from the next stage.

The duel between Mo Fan and Mu He's adopted son, Mu Yuyang, was also approaching. Jing Wuji had already learned of the bet between Mo Fan and Mu He, and could only laugh—it was another one of those times Mo Fan would get to crush the weak.

But the real focus was the upcoming Magic High School Entrance Exam in ten days. Still, Jing Wuji felt no pressure at all.

The dormitory was empty. Mo Fan had already left to prepare for the duel, leaving Jing Wuji alone.

Seeing it was almost time, Jing Wuji ended his meditation and left the dorm.

The campus felt deserted. Most students had gone home to prepare for the exam.

Gazing up at the blue sky, a sense of unease stirred in Jing Wuji's heart.

The Black Vatican had been silent for too long. No one had figured out what they were up to.

"Feels like a storm is coming…"

He murmured to himself, or maybe to someone else—though there was no one around him.

"I alone am enough."

A cold, emotionless voice echoed in Jing Wuji's spiritual universe.

At the Mu Family Estate, the place was bustling with guests and excitement. Servants bustled about the banquet hall, anxious not to neglect anyone.

It was Mu Yuyang's coming-of-age ceremony, and Mu Zhuoyun had gone to great lengths to orchestrate this grand event.

And at this celebration, there would be a magic duel—the real reason for the crowd.

After all, the love of spectacle is a well-known Chinese trait, and a magic duel was an especially rare show.

Mu Ningxue had also been invited back by her father to witness the duel.

Of course, Mu Zhuoyun's real aim was to make her give up on Mo Fan once and for all.

Out on the terrace, Mo Fan sat drinking beer, looking out over the scene with a bold, spirited air.

The duel hadn't started yet—he was just waiting.

From the stairwell behind him, soft, rhythmic footsteps approached, gradually drawing closer.

Mo Fan didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"I asked Jing Wuji and Xinxia. They said you're usually here,"

a girl's crisp, airy voice came, clear and melodious—like silver bells in a snowy field if only it weren't so cold.

"Coming to find me this late? I'm not dragging you along if we have to run this time,"

Mo Fan said, pulling out a newspaper wrapper from his pocket and spreading it beside him.

"Sit."

Seeing this familiar motion, Mu Ningxue felt something stir in her heart.

"Don't go tomorrow. Mu Yuyang is going to come at you hard," Mu Ningxue said, standing in place without approaching.

Mo Fan didn't accept her concern, and the two of them quickly got into an argument. Eventually, when Mu Ningxue realized she couldn't persuade him, she turned and left.

Mo Fan shook his head and continued to gaze out at the scenery of Bo City, the beer bottle still firmly in his hand.

"What's this? You two fought?"

Jing Wuji's voice suddenly rang out.

Startled, Mo Fan choked on his beer and coughed a few times before turning around to glare resentfully at Jing Wuji, who was pushing a wheelchair.

"Wuji-ge, stop scaring Fan-ge like that," Ye Xinxia said with a hint of annoyance after seeing Mo Fan's reaction.

"Alright, alright," Jing Wuji replied with a doting smile.

"Hey! Can you guys at least consider my feelings? And when did you two come up here? Why didn't I hear anything or sense a thing?"

Mo Fan was annoyed by their public display of affection.

"I carried Xinxia's wheelchair up, and I wrapped my feet with Shadowmeld," Jing Wuji said casually, not the least bit worried about Mo Fan losing the upcoming magic duel.

"Fine, fine. So, why'd you come up here?"

"Xinxia said she wanted to check on you, so I brought her. You think I don't know your strength and would be worried?"

"There's no need to worry. Fighting him will be like playing house with a toddler,"

Mo Fan said as he turned to look down over Bo City again.

"It's just… now that she's back, I feel like the distance between us has grown again…"

"Then try even harder," Ye Xinxia said gently, trying to comfort him.

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