Versatile Mage: Starting with the White Tiger Pendant

In the blink of an eye, a month of winter break had passed.

Although it was the southern region, the park's bare trees made it look as desolate as the north.

"Esteemed Mage… Ah, many people have complained about this park. There's nothing more we can do. How about you train at another venue? I can provide you with a designated training ground," a middle-aged man in a police uniform said, bowing respectfully.

"It's fine," Lu Mei replied with a smile, understanding his concerns. "We've finished our training here."

"Ah, haha, that's great! I'll leave you to it then."

The man sighed in relief and walked away.

Lu Mei turned to look at Lu Jun, who was lying on the ground, gasping for air. His entire body was filthy, and his skin was covered in bruises.

Her heart ached with both pity and pride. Over the past month, her brother's progress had been astounding.

He had completely adapted to the sudden shifts of Wind Path · Flash Step and the ghostly agility of Drifting Shadows. He even reached the level where he could hit falling leaves with a wooden stick.

For most mages, adapting to magic didn't take long. Once they grew accustomed to it and calmed their minds, they could adjust quickly.

However, Lu Jun's relentless efforts were irreplaceable. Every day, he drained her Wind Element stardust to its limit before he was satisfied.

This intense training had also significantly improved her mastery over Wind Element magic. She had reached a flawless command of the elementary Wind Path spell.

Struggling to his feet, Lu Jun pulled out some healing ointment and asked, "Was that the urban management? Is it a big issue?"

"Yes, but don't move. Let me handle it," Lu Mei interrupted.

She knelt down in front of him, pulled him into her embrace, and snatched the ointment from his hand. Gently, she applied the ointment to his bruises with her slender fingers.

Caught off guard, Lu Jun found himself enveloped in her warm and soft embrace. The faint fragrance on her body filled his senses. His face pressed against her, and as he looked up slightly, he saw her gentle expression.

Months of accumulated fatigue washed over him. His eyelids drooped, and he drifted between wakefulness and slumber. His heart raced with emotion, yet he felt an unparalleled sense of peace.

Lu Mei finished applying the ointment but didn't wake him up. She simply held him quietly.

Her gaze softened as she looked down. She knew her brother was carrying many burdens, as if shouldering some invisible weight. This was her way of providing comfort.

After a while, her communication device in her pocket flashed. Frowning, she checked the message.

Startled awake, Lu Jun sat up and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's time," Lu Mei said, her eyebrows raised slightly. "The City Demon Hunting Team is active. Your internship opportunity has arrived."

Hearing this, excitement ignited in Lu Jun's heart. His spirit lifted, his energy renewed. Everything he had trained for—slaying demons—was finally within reach.

"This is it. The Swiftblade Swordsman takes the stage!"

Lu Mei calmly said, "Follow instructions during the operation. Prepare your Metal Element weapons in advance. If anyone asks, just say I gave you demon-slaying tools. With their knowledge, they won't be able to tell it's a new magic system."

The Metal Element had the advantage of being easily disguised as magical equipment, unlike Mo Fan's Lightning Element, which immediately exposed his dual-element nature. Only when Mo Fan awakened the Shadow Element at the intermediate level could he conceal it somewhat, though not for long.

Additionally, Metal Element magic could be pre-summoned, eliminating the need to hastily align stars in close combat. Its drawback, however, was its limited duration. With Lu Jun's elementary-level Stardust, he could maintain it for about ten minutes.

For training, Lu Jun used a wooden sword for practice.

The siblings didn't linger. Delaying the City Demon Hunting Team's response would only increase the danger to civilians. Lu Mei used Wind Path to speed through the streets and alleys, drawing the astonished gazes of countless passersby.

Lu Jun was in good condition. His two magic systems were nearly fully charged. Minor cuts and bruises were insignificant, and with Water Element magic healing his skin, he wouldn't even be left with calluses or scars.

In just a few minutes, they arrived at the scene—a relatively quiet commercial street. Although not crowded, there had been frequent reports of strange chewing noises coming from the sewers, accompanied by a foul stench.

The police had investigated several times but couldn't find the source of the problem. Believing it to be harmless, they left it alone. That was until a few days ago when seven or eight stray dogs were found dead in the nearby alley, their bodies mutilated and chewed to the bone. A passerby reported the gruesome sight, prompting the police to hand the case over to the City Demon Hunting Team.

"It's most likely a Giant-Eyed Ratts. Fortunately, it was discovered early before anyone got hurt," Lu Mei said, explaining the situation to Lu Jun as they hurried to the scene.

Before they could act, three other members of the City Demon Hunting Team arrived—a man and two women.

The man looked honest and dependable. One woman was short with a round face and a gentle appearance, while the other was tall, strikingly beautiful, and exuded a fiery charm with her red-dyed hair.

"You're just in time. This is my brother, a Water Element mage who has mastered the elementary Water Defense," Lu Mei introduced her teammates.

She pointed to each one: "The male mage is Xu Yan, an elementary-level Earth Element mage. The round-faced one is Mu Yuan, a side-branch member of the Mu family in Bo City, and an elementary-level Ice Element mage. The tall one is Li Xia, an elementary-level Fire Element mage and our team's main offensive power."

Lu Jun observed the three and noted their roles. He didn't recognize any of them, likely because they weren't part of the team Mo Fan would later join.

This made sense. A city with a population of over a million couldn't rely on just a few elementary-level mages. Each district had its own team.

His sudden addition to the team drew no objections. After all, his sister was a mid-level mage, a prominent figure in Bo City.

City Demon Hunting Teams typically consisted of elementary-level mages. Mid-level mages wouldn't stay in such a small team when they could earn far more in a large city or join a wilderness hunting group to advance quickly.

Lu Mei was at a transitional stage. The limited resources of a small city couldn't sustain her growth indefinitely. She'd eventually have to move to a larger city, which explained why she wasn't mentioned in the original story.

As Li Xia sauntered up to Lu Jun with exaggerated charm, she teased, "Captain Lu, this is your little brother? A sixteen-year-old boy? I like him."

Immediately, Lu Mei stepped between them, her posture protective. "Don't even think about it. He's underage, and that's illegal, you know?"

The red-haired woman chuckled, amused, but remained undeterred. She didn't believe any young man could resist her allure—it was just a matter of time.

Meanwhile, Mu Yuan shyly remained silent, lacking the air of someone from a prominent family. Xu Yan gave a friendly nod and said, "Hello."

Lu Jun greeted them all politely. The atmosphere was relaxed. Civilians had already been evacuated, and with a mid-level mage present, even ten low-level servants wouldn't pose a threat.

Let alone a low-level Giant-Eyed Ratts.

Lu Jun, who had studied demonology, knew this creature lived in soil and was skilled at digging. They thrived in city sewers and other hidden places. Their necks could extend, and their eyes emitted penetrating beams of crimson light.

These demons reproduced rapidly and survived almost anywhere. Most scavenged human leftovers, only attacking people when starving. Though weak and cowardly, they were everywhere—an ever-present nuisance.

This was why Lu Mei's first assumption about the case had been correct: Giant-Eyed Ratts.