Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

The battle inside the alley is nearing its end.

As the last Shadow Assassin collapsed, coughing up blood, under the combined attack of Shen Lian and Chu Yunhe, the alley returned to silence.

A group of men in black lay sprawled on the ground, most unconscious, a few groaning in pain.

Under Mr. Mo's powerful domain energy, these assassins couldn't even commit suicide and could only close their eyes in despair.

"We won?" Wu Yu leaned on the ground with his knife, panting heavily. There was a faint bloodstain on his face, but his eyes were full of excitement.

"We won! We took them all down!"

Jin Duoduo excitedly waved the rope in his hand, his chubby face covered in soot, but he couldn't hide his smug expression.

Yu Ling'er wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at Li Yuan with concern. The latter nodded to her, indicating that he was alright.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief, and a bright smile appeared on her face.

Liu Hongyan smiled slightly: "Clean up the battlefield and check the injuries."

"yes!"

The trainees immediately sprang into action. Some reconfirmed the prisoners, some collected the scattered weapons, and others treated each other's wounds, while Shadow kept watch on the perimeter.

"Instructor Liu, what exactly is going on?" Chen Shuo stepped forward, his brows furrowed. "The Dark Pavilion actually sent so many people to infiltrate Chang'an and assassinate the academy's freshmen?"

Liu Hongyan said calmly, "A tree that stands out in the forest will surely be felled by the wind."

She didn't say it explicitly, but Chen Shuo immediately understood, and glanced at Li Yuan, who was inspecting the prisoners, with a complicated expression.

A level nine talent is indeed worth the Dark Pavilion's great efforts.

"Hey, Brother Li, how exactly did you find that out?"

While having Zhou Mo bandage her arm, Wu Yu looked at Li Yuan with curiosity.

Li Yuan smiled and said, "Not only me, but Shen Lian and You Ying also noticed it. At Hongxiuzhao, the few of us secretly exchanged opinions."

"At the time, we were unsure of the other party's strength and dared not make a fuss rashly, for fear of alerting them and implicating innocent people. So we sent Youying to inform Instructor Liu."

"I see."

Everyone then realized that it was all planned.

"Good lad!" Chen Shuo couldn't help but praise, his gaze towards Li Yuan and the others now showing more appreciation.

Remaining calm in the face of danger, turning the tables on others, and working together to devise a plan—this composure and courage are more worthy of admiration than any level nine talent.

"Cough cough..."

Mr. Mo took a sip of his drink and slowly began, "In this battle, the students of the Tian Shu Class detected the enemy's situation in a timely manner and successfully assisted the academy's instructors in eliminating the enemy, which is commendable."

"Each person will be awarded 200 credits."

Another 200 credits!

With the assessment bonuses included, each person earned a total of 500 credits in that single day.

The crowd was stunned for a moment, then burst into suppressed cheers, as if all the fatigue from the fierce battles had been swept away.

"Alright, we shouldn't linger here." Liu Hongyan waved her hand. "Captain Chen, these assassins are to be dealt with by the Demon Suppression Division."

"It's my duty." Chen Shuo nodded and waved for the soldiers of the Demon Suppression Division to step forward.

"You!" Liu Hongyan looked at the students of the Tian Shu class, "Return home immediately and do not linger outside. The Demon Suppression Division will escort you separately."

"During your annual leave, try to minimize going out alone unless absolutely necessary."

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

"Li Yuan!" Liu Hongyan looked at Li Yuan, her tone softening slightly, "You performed the best tonight, but the Dark Pavilion failed this time, and there's no guarantee there won't be a next time."

"From today until the end of your annual leave, you will be with Mr. Mo."

Following Mr. Mo?

Li Yuan was taken aback and looked up at the roof. Mr. Mo raised his wine gourd to him as a greeting.

Liu Hongyan took two steps closer and lowered her voice: "Ever since you were diagnosed with a level nine talent, Mr. Mo has been secretly protecting you on the orders of the dean."

"Even if you don't realize it tonight, with Mr. Mo here, your life is safe."

Li Yuan was shocked. He suddenly looked up at the roof again, his eyes filled with complex emotions. It turned out that this unfathomable master had been protecting him in secret all along.

No wonder he was able to get away with it before entering school, and he always thought it was because he was careful enough. Now it seems that he was too naive.

Thinking of this, he felt a surge of gratitude, but also a sense of... indescribable heaviness.

This protection is not only a sign of the college's emphasis on it, but also a heavy responsibility. I am not worthy of it, and how can I repay it?

He had originally planned to return to Changning Lane to cultivate himself during his annual leave, but now it seems that the academy is probably the safest place.

"Student...I am very grateful for Mr. Mo's protection, and for the Dean and Instructor Liu's care."

Li Yuan suppressed the turmoil in his heart and bowed deeply to Mr. Mo and Instructor Liu.

Liu Hongyan nodded to Chen Shuo, gave Yu Ling'er and the others a few more instructions, and then signaled the soldiers of the Demon Suppression Division to escort the students away.

"Let's go too." Mr. Mo floated down from the rooftop, patted Li Yuan on the shoulder, and said, "Kid, come with me."

Without further hesitation, Li Yuan followed Mr. Mo through the streets and alleys, heading towards the Shenwu Academy.

……

At this moment, in the cellar of a secluded residence in the West Market.

The dim light of the oil lamp illuminated a pale, pretty face—the female member of the Shadow Assassins who had retreated ahead of time, codenamed Shadow Thirteen.

She had changed out of her night clothes and was wearing a plain coarse cloth dress, but the lingering fear in her eyes had not yet dissipated.

"All lost?"

From the shadows, a hoarse voice rang out, "The Shadow Phantoms were completely wiped out, not even a hair on that kid's head was left?"

"Yes...yes, sir."

The woman's voice trembled, "We were ambushed. It was a trap from beginning to end, and Liu Hongyan and Mo Wentian were both there."

"Mo Wentian!"

The voice from the shadows suddenly rose, filled with resentment, "The Divine Martial Academy actually sent this fiend to protect that kid."

"It seems that the importance attached to him far exceeds our expectations."

"My lord, what should we do now?" the woman asked in a panic.

After a long silence in the shadows, the hoarse voice rang out again, "If brute force doesn't work, we'll use strategy. That kid can't stay holed up in the academy forever, hiding behind Mo Wentian, can he?"

"As long as he is human, he has desires and weaknesses..."

Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in the woman's eyes. She hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "My lord, I... have an idea."

"explain."

The woman leaned closer and quickly revealed her plan in a low voice. The person in the shadows listened quietly, occasionally letting out a cold snort that was unclear in meaning.

A brief silence fell over the cellar after a moment.

"That's interesting..."

The voice from the shadows finally rang out again, this time with a chilling laugh, "Do as you say. Use whatever manpower and resources you need."

"Remember, this time, success is the only option; failure is not an option!"

"Understood, Your Excellency. I will not fail in your trust." Shadow Thirteen's spirits lifted, and he bowed to accept the order. When he looked up again, a cold light rekindled in his eyes.

……

Deep within the Shenwu Academy, beside a secluded bamboo grove, lies a simple and clean courtyard. The courtyard contains only three rooms, furnished with extremely simple items. Only the wine pot and two ceramic bowls always kept on the stone table in the courtyard hint at a touch of everyday life.

"The east wing is yours. Tidy it up yourself. Take care of your own cultivation and meals. The academy canteen will continue to provide meals as usual."

"Don't leave this courtyard unless necessary, and you must not leave the academy." Mr. Mo led Li Yuan into the courtyard, gave him a few simple instructions, and then, carrying his wine gourd, went into the main house.