The sudden voice sent a chill down Huang the Butcher’s spine, but it also ignited his anger. He turned around, cursing, “Damn it, let’s see which bastard dares interrupt my fun!”
But when he saw Mo Fan’s current form, he let out a terrified scream, stumbling back two steps.
“Demon… demon!” Huang the Butcher shouted in fear.
Before him stood a demon with an ugly toad head.
“You deserve to die,” Mo Fan said coldly, opening his gaping maw and swallowing Huang whole in one gulp.
“Ah!” The horrifying scene made the woman on the counter scream.
But she quickly covered her mouth, trembling as she stared at the toad demon before her.
Looking at her familiar face, Mo Fan fell silent.
The woman was none other than Fang Ru, who had once taught him for a month in Pingyao Town.
Mo Fan had thought their connection was over, never expecting to see her again in this place.
But now, Fang Ru was gripped by fear, lying on the counter, her face filled with helplessness and despair.
Mo Fan opened his mouth but said nothing. He had acted quickly to save her and hadn’t had time to revert to his spirit form, so revealing his identity now wasn’t wise.
Noticing Fang Ru’s exposed figure, Mo Fan couldn’t help but ask with concern, “Are you alright?”
At his words, Fang Ru froze, staring at Mo Fan for a long moment before shaking her head.
“Great King!” Black Robe entered, glancing at the woman on the counter and instantly understanding what had happened.
Though the events had occurred inside the room, their cultivation allowed them to perceive everything clearly.
“You’ve come at the right time. Help her get dressed and have her come with us,” Mo Fan said, tossing down one of his robes before leaving the house.
As he stepped outside, several lesser demons hurried toward him.
“Scram!” Mo Fan growled. The demons, sensing his terrifying aura, scattered obediently in fear.
Sweeping his gaze around, Mo Fan noticed the street was now empty, the earlier commotion having scared everyone away.
Moments later, Black Robe emerged from the hole in the house with Fang Ru, now fully dressed.
“Thank you,” Fang Ru said, her mood slightly improved, perhaps because she sensed Black Robe wasn’t a demon.
Though she still looked at Mo Fan with fear, it was much less than before.
“No need to thank me,” Mo Fan turned to her, asking calmly, “What’s your name?”
“I… I’m Fang Ru,” she replied nervously, then added in a trembling voice, “Can I take some things back first? Then you can do whatever you want with me.”
Looking at Fang Ru’s fearful, dirt-streaked face, Mo Fan sighed inwardly and asked curiously, “What things?”
“Some food. I have to take it back, or the children will starve,” Fang Ru said, pulling a few blackened steamed buns from her sleeve, looking at Mo Fan anxiously.
This sight silenced Mo Fan again.
If she were a stranger, he could remain unaffected, but this was Fang Ru.
The scholar who once yearned for freedom, likening herself to a caged bird.
Seeing her now, Mo Fan’s mind flashed back to the Fang Ru he’d met in Pingyao Town.
Back then, despite her hidden ailment, she was a refined young lady, exuding scholarly grace.
The contrast between then and now was stark.
Mo Fan couldn’t fathom what horrors could turn a woman full of ideals into this.
“Can I take the food back?” Fang Ru asked cautiously again, seeing his silence.
“Of course,” Mo Fan snapped back to reality, nodding. “Where are the children? I’ll take you there. It’ll be faster.”
“No need,” Fang Ru’s brow furrowed. Pointing to Black Robe, she said earnestly, “If you’re worried, you can have this lady come with me. I won’t run. Where could I even escape to here?”
Mo Fan couldn’t help but chuckle at her words. Clearly, Fang Ru feared he might harm the children.
“Fine,” Mo Fan nodded, turning to Black Robe. “Go with her.”
“Yes,” Black Robe agreed, letting Fang Ru point the way. With a surge of demonic power, the two vanished.
Mo Fan followed their demonic aura.
Though the eastern district was vast, Black Robe’s speed made it trivial. They soon arrived at a dilapidated mansion.
Despite its ruin, the two massive stone lions and heavy red gate hinted at its former grandeur.
“This was once an academy, a place Song Kingdom scholars aspired to. Now it’s been ruined by you lot,” Fang Ru said through gritted teeth, then approached the gate and knocked rhythmically with the door ring.
“Creak.”
The gate opened a crack, and two white-haired elders peeked out. Seeing Fang Ru, they sighed in relief, but their brows furrowed upon noticing Black Robe.
“Grand Tutor Zhang, Teacher Wang, I’m back,” Fang Ru called, forcing a smile.
“Good to have you back,” Grand Tutor Zhang nodded, then looked at Black Robe. “Little Ru, who’s this young lady?”
“She… she’s an old friend I didn’t expect to meet here, so I brought her along,” Fang Ru explained.
“Good to have you back,” Grand Tutor Zhang repeated, and together with Teacher Wang, they opened the gate to let the two women in.
“Children, Teacher Fang is back, and she’s brought food,” Grand Tutor Zhang called out.
At his words, the children in the academy rushed over, their eyes full of longing as they looked at Fang Ru.
Seeing over a hundred children, Black Robe frowned, glancing at Fang Ru.
Fang Ru’s face showed her own difficulty.
“Teacher Fang, did you really find food?”
“Teacher Fang, what did you bring today?”
“Teacher Fang, we’re so hungry…”
Hearing the children’s weak voices and seeing their hopeful gazes, Fang Ru gripped the steamed buns tightly, her heart aching.
“So these are the children you mentioned?” a voice suddenly said beside her, startling Fang Ru.
But when she turned and saw the speaker, she froze.
“I’ve thought long and hard, and I’ve decided to tell you the truth. Actually… I’m Mo Fan,” Mo Fan’s voice reached her ears, and he smiled at the children. “Don’t worry, kids. Teacher Fang has brought you something good to eat this time.”
