Chapter 154 – Of Course We Should All Go Together

Night fell.

As darkness descended and the flow of people in Longyao City gradually dwindled, Su Ming emerged from the Demon Hunter Academy.

Standing on the road, he gazed at the desolate surroundings and couldn’t help but sigh.

“Nowadays, nights are even more deserted.”

Due to Phantom Demons’ craving for blood and flesh, they are drawn to places with higher human traffic, making night-time a Domain most humans prefer to avoid.

After the Huaming Campaign, this phenomenon had become even more pronounced.

“After all, during the Huaming Campaign, not all of them were contained within the Defense Line,” Su Ming muttered under his breath.

Although the vast majority of Phantom Demons were eliminated during the Huaming Campaign, a very small number managed to slip through the multiple layers of the Defense Line, escaping beyond Huaming District and infiltrating the urban areas of Longyao City.

This was unavoidable.

Once the Spirit Demon Abyss Entrance opened, countless Phantom Demons emerged into the present world.

Even though Longyao City had done its utmost to confine all Phantom Demons within Huaming District, it was impossible to prevent some from slipping through the cracks.

Because of this, Longyao City had become considerably more dangerous recently. Signs of Phantom Demon activity were far more frequent than before the war, and victims were reported daily, causing panic in some areas.

Thus, nights in Longyao City had almost become a no-man’s land. Aside from bold Professionals and certain special groups, no one was willing to step out of their homes and onto the streets.

“Still, Longyao City should be taking action soon, right?” Su Ming thought.

With the war over and various tasks nearing completion, the Professionals in Longyao City would likely spring into action, starting to clear those stragglers that had infiltrated the city.

“I wonder if the Academy will also take action regarding this?”

Su Ming had a feeling that his leisurely days might soon come to an end.

If the Academy responded to Longyao City’s measures and launched related operations, students would probably have to take on numerous subjugation missions, hunting Phantom Demons throughout the city.

“Is hellish make-up classes what follows the vacation?”Su Ming couldn’t help but complain.” “It has a bit of that heavenly dynasty education system flavor.As he complained, Su Ming took out the invitation.

The invitation clearly stated the address and even thoughtfully included a map. After studying it for a moment, Su Ming prepared to summon his Dragon, intending to ride his beloved motorcycle to attend the family banquet hosted by the Xu Family.

However, just as Su Ming was about to release the Dragon stored in his backpack, a luxurious stretch limousine suddenly pulled up and stopped right in front of him.

Before Su Ming could react, the car door opened.

From within, a slightly seductive laugh emerged.

“Need a ride? My great benefactor?”

Hearing that voice, Su Ming instantly understood what was happening.

Reflexively, Su Ming turned to flee.

But almost simultaneously, a figure silently appeared behind him, blocking his escape route.

It was an elderly man.A man of exceptionally burly build, standing a full two heads taller than Su Ming, appeared remarkably hale and hearty despite his long beard, graying hair, and deeply wrinkled face.

“Long time no see, Young Master Su.”

The old man blocked Su Ming’s path while greeting him in a booming voice.

His voice was so thunderously loud that it left Su Ming’s ears ringing, forcing him to retreat two steps involuntarily.

“Uncle Wu?”

Su Ming recognized the man, his eyelids twitching violently.

There was no helping it.

Among all the people Su Ming had encountered so far, this was the one who made him feel the most powerless.

“What… what are you doing here?”

Su Ming asked with a twitching corner of his mouth.

This old man before him was no ordinary person, nor someone who could be casually encountered. He wouldn’t normally appear on the streets like this, remaining instead by Yun Langyue’s mother’s side to protect her closely.

Yet now, this formidable figure whose mere public appearance could send tremors through Longyao City’s professional circles stood before Su Ming.

Though Su Ming could somewhat guess the reason, he couldn’t help but voice the question.

And as expected, the response didn’t surprise him.

“Madam asked me to accompany the Young Miss,” Uncle Wu said with a beaming smile. “At this late hour, visiting a place like the Xu Family whose intentions remain unclear – given Madam’s devotion to the Young Miss, she naturally couldn’t rest easy letting her go alone.”

“Heh heh.” Su Ming forced out an awkward laugh.

So it was indeed that arrangement made by the daughter-obsessed mother?

This was practically bringing out the nuclear option. If the Xu Family learned about this, many among them would likely be unable to sit still.

Unfortunately, this Uncle Wu seemed completely unaware of Su Ming’s current feelings, merely maintaining his cheerful expression while making an inviting gesture.

“Please get in the car, Young Master Su. The Young Miss is still waiting for you.”

The posture clearly indicated he had no intention of letting Su Ming escape.

Su Ming also felt it impossible to run away from this seemingly kind and amiable but actually terrifying old man, so he could only wear a pained expression as he got into the luxury vehicle under Uncle Wu’s cheerful gaze.

“Welcome.”

Inside the car, a young woman dressed in ocean-blue formal attire, resembling an aristocratic young lady, watched Su Ming enter as if she had been waiting for a long time, similarly wearing a cheerful smile.

Who else could it be but Yun Langyue?

“What are you doing here?”

Su Ming’s face grew even more pained.

“To pick you up,” Yun Langyue stated matter-of-factly. “We’re both invited, so of course we should go together properly, right?”

“Do you even know in what context the phrase ‘properly together’ should be used?”

Su Ming really didn’t want to nitpick, but he couldn’t help himself.

Yun Langyue ignored Su Ming’s remark, patting the seat beside her – the meaning was perfectly clear.

As a man of unyielding integrity, Su Ming naturally wouldn’t simply obey orders.

He immediately moved to sit opposite Yun Langyue.

Ahem.

Just then, a deliberately conspicuous cough sounded from behind Su Ming.

“……”

Su Ming froze, not daring to move an inch.He could only turn his head to look at Uncle Wu standing behind him, his eyes clearly conveying words like, “Really? Even this is being controlled?”

In response, the smiling Uncle Wu only said one sentence.

“Young Miss’s wishes override everything.”

This clearly indicated he would remain loyal to the end.

“Is this really appropriate?” Su Ming made a final resistance, saying: “That daughter-obsessed old mother probably really doesn’t want to see me getting close to your Young Miss, right?”

“Indeed so.” Uncle Wu nodded deeply in agreement, but then his tone suddenly shifted: “But I think Madam would dislike someone rejecting Young Miss even more. Young Master Su, you should just comply with Young Miss.”

These words practically amounted to forcing a good person into wrongdoing.

To make matters worse, Yun Langyue acted as if she hadn’t witnessed any of this, still smiling cheerfully at Su Ming while patting the spot beside her, as if nothing had happened at all.

“Sigh…”

Su Ming surrendered, could only heave a sigh, put on a stern face, and sat down beside Yun Langyue.

Only then did Uncle Wu get in the car, sitting opposite the two of them.

What was frightening was that Su Ming hadn’t seen clearly at all how this old man had entered the vehicle.

He only felt his vision blur, and the old man was already sitting in front of him, as if he had been there from the beginning.

(Even though my current strength is completely incomparable to before…)

Su Ming glanced at this scene, his heart slightly tightening.

But he could understand this.

Even though he had never seen Uncle Wu take action, based on the stories he had heard, this old man’s strength should be quite terrifying.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be Madam’s most capable assistant, nor would he be the Yun Family Estate’s greatest reliance.

While thinking such thoughts, Su Ming didn’t show it outwardly, instead turning to Yun Langyue.

“I really didn’t expect you to accept Xu Yongfeng’s invitation,” Su Ming said somewhat irritably. “Don’t you usually avoid attending these kinds of private banquets?”

In response to Su Ming’s irritable words, Yun Langyue tilted her head.

“To be precise, I don’t even want to attend public banquets,” Yun Langyue said with feigned helplessness. “Unfortunately, there are some occasions I simply must attend, otherwise Mother would probably cry.”

“Heh heh.” Su Ming forced a smile before saying: “Then why did you accept the invitation this time?”

“Because you’re here,” Yun Langyue said without hesitation. “Besides, I also wanted to see Xu Qianqian.”

“Why do you want to see Xu Qianqian?” Su Ming immediately became alert. “You’re not planning something bad again, are you?”

“How could that be?” Yun Langyue looked utterly innocent. “I just want to see what charm the Xu Family’s Young Miss possesses, who made my great benefactor break his usual principles and personally step in to save her.”

Clearly, Yun Langyue already knew the entire process of how Su Ming had helped Xu Qianqian overcome her calamity.

This was only to be expected.

If others didn’t know, how could Yun Langyue not know that she had never sent anyone to rescue Xu Qianqian?

Xu Yongfeng thought Su Ming had sought help from Yun Langyue, but the moment Yun Langyue learned about this matter, she instantly guessed what had actually happened.

With this in mind, Yun Langyue looked at Su Ming with a somewhat meaningful gaze.

“You’ve really given me quite a surprise.”Yun Langyue was naturally referring to Su Ming’s ability to repel Gao Xu.

One must understand that Gao Xu was not merely an Upper-Rank Professional, but a rather renowned one at that.

Although Gao Xu was only a Four-Star Hunter—undoubtedly the lowest rank among Upper-Rank Professionals—the title “Qilin Blade” was by no means unearned.

With a alchemical weapon like the Qilin Blade and a Blade Art so masterful it stood out even among Upper-Rank Professionals, Gao Xu could hold his own against a Five-Star Hunter without much apprehension.

Even if he couldn’t defeat them, withdrawing unscathed would be effortless for Gao Xu.

Yet such an expert had been repelled by Su Ming.

This, indeed, filled Yun Langyue with immense surprise and delight.

(End of Chapter)