Full-Time Magister: Dark Throne

Chapter 45 The Night Banquet

Yu Yun, now dressed in a simple white dress, led He An and Lingling through the winding stone path to the largest villa in the area.

Built against the mountainside, the villa's blend of Chinese and Western styles from decades ago exudes a refined elegance in the twilight. Two Western-style palace lanterns are already lit in front of the door, reflecting off the white porcelain on the steps, making them appear as warm and lustrous as jade.

"So it's Miss Yu Yun who has graced us with her presence. We apologize for not welcoming you sooner. Please come in." A middle-aged butler in a sharp suit walked out of the villa and greeted Yu Yun with a smile.

Behind him, six waiters in uniform shirts and vests filed out and bowed to Yu Yun in unison, their movements precise and standardized, suggesting they had rehearsed countless times.

It seems that the family of the young lady they hitched a ride with is quite influential among ordinary people.

"Who are these two?" The middle-aged male butler turned his gaze to He An and Lingling, who were standing next to Yu Yun.

His smile remained, but his eyes held a scrutinizing gaze.

He knew all about the upper echelons of Shanghai, except for those esteemed mages, but he had never heard of these two people.

The young man had a relaxed and open demeanor, while the girl was lively and spirited. Although their clothes were not particularly luxurious or expensive, they possessed an extraordinary air about them, unlike those of ordinary people.

Although it was brought by Miss Yu Yun, the situation here is special, and we must be cautious.

"These two are guests from the ancient capital, who have come to listen to Master Lu's lectures out of admiration." Yu Yun's lips curved into a slight smile as she took He An's arm and explained.

"I see." The butler looked at He An, whose arm was linked with his, with a hint of envy.

Miss Yu Yun was the goddess in the hearts of many rich young men, but unexpectedly, she was snatched away by a guy from out of town.

"Distinguished guests from the ancient capital, while Shanghai may not have the same long history as the ancient capital, it boasts many magnificent sights that cannot be found in the ancient capital, being the most prosperous magical city in China. Master Lu's lecture tonight will surely give you a unique understanding of Shanghai. My name is Hart, and I am the butler here. If you need anything, please feel free to call the waiters, and they will take care of it for you." The butler, Hart, bowed to He An and Lingling before gracefully exiting the stage.

"Let's go." Yu Yun was still holding He An's arm. Judging from her expression, she probably didn't plan to separate from He An tonight.

"Brother, I need to go to the toilet." Lingling suddenly clutched her stomach, her little face scrunched up, pretending to have a stomachache.

"Let the waiter take you there. The restroom is at the end of the corridor outside," Yu Yun said softly, waving to call the waiter over.

"No, I want my brother to take me." Lingling pouted, grabbed He An's hand, and said in a slightly coquettish tone.

Yu Yun hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided it was not good to argue with a young girl, so she had to abandon her prepared plan, let go of He An's arm, and said, "Then you go ahead, I'll wait for you in the lobby."

He An led Lingling through the corridor, turned through a moon gate, and stopped outside a secluded restroom.

"Go in."

He An pushed Lingling into the restroom, then stood against the wall in the corridor, his figure enveloped in the building's shadow, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings discreetly.

This position allows you to see both directions at the same time, so you can detect anyone approaching immediately.

Lingling entered the bathroom and opened a program on her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she typed something.

A moment later, a string of complex data appeared on the computer screen, eventually converging into a short text summary.

After coming out of the restroom, Lingling didn't walk out immediately. Instead, she gently tugged at He An's sleeve, signaling him to squat down.

"Lingling, have you discovered anything?" He An leaned down and asked in a low voice.

"When I entered this villa area, I noticed something strange about a certain patch of grass. The appearance of that patch of grass was somewhat similar to a case I had seen before. This apprentice blue-robed butler must be in possession of some kind of poisonous substance," Lingling said softly.

"And another thing." Lingling suddenly remembered something and took out a small, bluish-black scale from her backpack. "I found this in Yu Yun's villa. According to the software's rough calculations, it should belong to some kind of parasitic demon scale."

"This demon might be related to her, but she doesn't seem to know anything about it. Our clues are limited, so please be careful." Lingling stared intently at He An; she didn't want her new partner to disappear again.

Parasitic demon? Could it be the Scaled Demon Mother who appears a year later in the original story? Is this also the work of the Black Vatican?

He An responded to Lingling, while turning his gaze to the blue-clad man who was walking in through the main gate of the manor. He was being escorted by more than a dozen social elites as he headed towards the villa.

It seems that this harvest will be greater than he imagined.

Master Lu, dressed in blue, stood on the stage that had been set up. His dark blue robe seemed to ripple like water under the lights.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said slowly, his gaze sweeping across the room, "do you—believe in God?"

"Master Lu, what are you saying? Aren't those mages beings comparable to gods?" A portly middle-aged businessman stood up and laughed.

"Although I, Lao Liu, don't have much magical talent, I was fortunate enough to witness a high-ranking mage casting a spell. The thunderclouds filling the sky were truly a miracle!" He recalled the scene with some emotion.

"iONiON iON," Master Lu raised a finger and shook it, beginning his speech in a highly infectious and crazy tone.

"Even the great masters you speak of cannot escape death. Even if they cultivate to a level as profound as forbidden spells, their lifespan is only a short hundred years."

"The god I'm talking about is Death!"

"grim Reaper?"

The wealthy businessmen below the stage looked at each other in bewilderment. They were just ordinary people who had not awakened magic and did not understand what kind of death god Master Lu was talking about.

Yu Yun didn't listen to Master Lu's speech; instead, her eyes kept searching for He An's figure in the room.

"There is only one God, and that is Death! No one in this world can escape the clutches of Death, not even God himself! The realm of death is the true paradise for mankind, the real land of eternal life. While alive, contribute more to Death's incarnation on earth, and you will become a superior being in the eternal realm of death! Death can guarantee you glory and authority! Death can ensure that you are not enslaved when you fall into death!"

Master Lu ignored the confusion of the audience and slowly spread his arms, bathed in the stage lights, as if he were reciting a hymn from the church!

"He An, come to the restroom here." A clear voice suddenly came from the communicator in He An's right ear.

Dark purple light trembled around him, and He An instantly disappeared into the interwoven light and shadow of the banquet.