Ch. 04

The wolf emerged from the water and growled at He Yu who was sprawled on the ground frozen in fear. A geared Xiaohou swiftly manage to take He Yu away from danger "I thought I was gonna die" He Ye had gotten teary "Go and find a place to hide" he told her.

The wolf looked at the gathered students who were crouched down, walking closer to them as if trying to pick who to attack first "Stop trembling you guys sheesh learn how to breath" Shengsi shook her head in disapproval "And here I thought Kunsan is a useful lackey"

Shengsi detached her pendant from the necklace "Wuyan" the pendant quickly turned into a marvelous battle lance. The wolf tried to jump on some students but she quickly made a wall of water over them "Come play fetch with me boy!"

Shengsi leaps and started slicing and stabbing the wolf, fending it off from the other students' safe zone.

_~_

"She has a weapon equipment?!" Xue Musheng was bewildered and the others were surprised to say the least. Seeing how the girl was light and quick on her feet trying to force the wolf back into the cave.

"That weapon she has, Sir Zhan.."

"I know... it belonged to Zhao Yan" He was impressed to see the daughter of his late friend "Wuyan disappeared from his care years ago. So, he passed it on to his daughter" Tang Yue and Xue Musheng were intrigued by what Zhan Kong said "She was only a little kid back then, now look at her giving commands and fighting, just like her mother and father. I didn't even recognize her, I'm sure they're proud of her"

_~_

The wolf successfully got back in the cave with the help of Xiaohou but Mo Fan was almost attacked, luckily he dodged and hid behind a rock "If this continued, everyone might get killed. The capable one they're...Shengsi!" He tries to look over for her but the wolf was ready to pounce. Xiaohou pulled Mo Fan with him to safety.

"I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT MYSELF! CALM DOWN! BREATH! FOCUS!" Shengsi rarely raised her voice but the authority it holds made the students listen "Earth Mages make pedestals! Water Mages stay alert and always be ready to cast a barrier! Light Mages if the beast comes out blind it all together! Wind Mages gather vines so if that happens while the wolf is blinded, be quick on working together and bind it! So please don't worry! We won't let anything happen to you" The students felt a small hope and inspiration with her command and tried their best to help each other "Lunli! Wenyi! Keep everyone in check! Escape once the pedestals are done"

Shengsi ran in to be united with Zhou Min and He Yu "They're bound to get killed by that one-eyed wolf if they went inside the cave" Zhou Min stated "In order to save us, they..." He Yu sobs "We shouldn't let down their sacrifice! Come on!" A student yells from the cave's entrance "What are you saying?!" Zhou Min glares at them "We can't just leave them behind! They'll die!" He Yu yelled "Zhou Min, He Yu, follow them. The others will explain the plan. I'm going after those two" Shengsi pushed the two they hesitated before they saw the look on Shengsi's face, it was scary. They followed her order and went their seperate ways.

'They couldn't have gotten far. Please don't let me be caught' she then used shadow element and stabbed the wolf from the shadow "Flowing Fire" she mumbled and it burned the wolf's right paw.

"You guys!" They looked up to see Shengsi jumped beside them "What are you doing here?! You should've escaped with the others!" Mo Fan yelled.

The wolf showed up and roared at them, Shengsi lodged her weapon on the ground quickly pulling in the two before creating a water dome "Zhao-jie~~" she dispersed the dome "No time to be all emotianal. Get moving" she pushed the two away and pulled up her weapon stopping the claws from tearing her "Shengsi!" the girl laughs "Can't right now, I'm a little busy"

"Water Waves: Ripple!" The wolf was blasted off her and she jumped beside Xiaohou "That's a novice tier level 3 magic!" the two boys exclaimed.

Shengsi tossed Xiaohou to Mo Fan before blocking the wolf's advance threw her on the cave wall but she shifted her wait making her feet land on the wall "So we going to kill it or not?" She used the wall, pushing herself to the wolf slicing it while using her water magic defense. She continued cutting the wolf but a brief miscalculation led it's claw to nick her shoulder.

She then jumped beside Mo Fan, both of them looked up and nod to each other "Come on Xiaohou" she grabbed him and started running to where they came from "What about Mo Fan! We can't leave him!" He yells "I know. I'm his best bet on defense so stay here okay?" She set him down behind a rock "We're minimizing damage so stay put, that's an order" he nods and when he turned his back for a second, she was already gone.

"Woah there!" She made a water wall giving Mo Fan time to back away "Xiaohou's safe" he nods and struck the wolf with lightning, making it paralyzed but it was still able to move a bit "Dancing Flames" Shengsi drew a circle around the wolf with her battle lance and tall flame surrounded it, blocking the wolf's path as if it's dancing 'Was that the doing of her weapon?' Mo Fan marveled at her before focusing on the trapped beast.

"You think we can't kill you?!" Mo Fan aimed at a dripstone just above the wolf and shot a fire ball. It broke and stabbed the wolf in the stomach, killing it.

"Fan-ge! Zhao-jie! Are you guys alright?"

"Xiaohou!" Shensi gave him a look.

"Why'd you come back?" Mo Fan felt a little nervous 'What if he saw my lightning element'

"I was getting really worried!"

"Look we already handled the beast" Mo Fan gestured at the dead wolf.

"Wow you guys are amazing!"

"Let's head out before we chitchat" Shengsi pouted.

"Zhao-jie! Your shoulder!"

"Huh? Oh yeah, forgot about that hehe" the two stood on each side, subtly assisting her.

"Mo Fan! Zhang Xiaohou! Zhao Shengsi! Thank goodness! You three are alright!" Zhaoting ran up to them "Mu Bai and I were going to help, but we ran on the instructor and his team on our way here...What happened to the beast?"

"Fan-ge and Si-jie already took care of it" Xiaohou bragged.

"What kind of joke is that?! I summoned that beast myself! How could it be defeated by these measly puny rascals" Bai Yang fumed

"What's with the temper! You can go see it for yourself! And more importangly that beast injured Shengsi" Xiaohou yelled

"You!" Before Bai Yang can even step forward, Shengsi had her weapon pointing at his chest "Don't tempt me" her voice was stern and cold, most of them were shock. He chuckles "You think, you scare me?" He stepped forward and Shengsi didn't think twice on moving her weapon and pricking his neck "Think I can't take you on?"

"That's enough! Bai Yang take them to the Medical Team" Zhan Kong interfered 'Yan, Xun, just how strong have your daughter become?' He hid his proud smile as he looks at the three who were being assisted out.

>>

"Sir, we've confirmed that there were no casualties. Apart from Zhao Shengsi's injury, most of the students only sustained minor bruises" the medic staff infroms Zhan Kong "Understood, that's all I need to know for now" he glanced at Shengsi who had an arm sling and was accompanied by Mo Fan while Xue Musheng was checking up on them.

"Tell us, what happened to the beast?" Tang Yue asked "Well..." Mo Fan glanced at Shengsi who only nods "I took care of it"

"Miss Tang, you should've seen how heroic they were! It was unbelievable! All I heard was- Woosh! Bang! Boom! And soon after that, the beast was dead" everyone sweatdrops at the way he narrated it.

"Zhao Shengsi, you should apologize to inspector Bai Yang for what you did earlier" Xue Musheng scolded her 'Let's see, what will Xiao Si do' Zhan Kong looked at the girl.

"Why should I? Shouldn't it be the other way around?" Zhan Kong smiled 'This girl! Hahaha she's still as sassy as she was from years ago'

"Zhao Shengsi!"

"Listen Mr. Xue, his summoning was the reason as to why the students were in danger and also the cause of my injury. Arriving at the scene, Xiaohou informed him of my situation yet he whined like a baby and threatened Xiaohou, so I had to step in" She pointed out "So no, I'm not going to apologize" her classmates were shock tho they had to admit even if it was a practice training that turned real, the inspector was at fault.

"Let her be Mr. Xue, she's right" Zhan Kong pats her head "Still have a sharp tongue I see" Shengsi smiled "Still aging, Ol' Zhan. Can't even remember me, hmp" She pouted.

'C-Cute' all of them thought since it wasn't everyday you see her act like a child.

"What can I say you're no longer the Xiao Si who would sneak in and do something mischievous"

"Old Zhan~~" Shengsi blushed in embarrassment 'Sneak in?..mischiveous things? Here at the post?' Were the curious thoughts of the students.

"I'm sure your parents would be proud" He smiled at her "They better be, I didn't train to be a pushover" she huffs.

>>

"In this training, everyone has demostrated both competence and bravery. Keeping my end of the deal, every student here will recieve an A except for Mo Fan and Zhao Shengsi, they get S" the students cheered

"I heard this was all thanks to Mo Fan and Zhao Shengsi"

"They were so calm and manage to release magic"

"Yeah yeah, we were saved by Zhao Shengsi"

"She was so awesome, I've never seen a girl so brave and fearless"

"Mo Fan managed to burn the monster"

"Let's team up with them on the next activity"

Mo Fan walked up to Zhan Kong "About the deal, you weren't lying were you? I heard that inspector was a man of his words" the man grew annoyed "Who's lying about what? Here take it" he handed him the equipment "And look after Xiao Si for me. If you want to join my army after you graduate, I'll be sure to look after you and ensure everything that you ask for - you name it"

"Uhh inspector, are you a soldier or a bandit..? Why do you sound so experienced in this trade?"

"Who cares? You joining or nah?" Mo Fan laughed nervouly.

"I think I'm better off as a student. Thank you"

"Oi, ol' Zhan stop scaring Mo Fan" Shengsi chuckled at the sight of the two "What were you guys talking about?"

"Xiao Si just in time, are you joining the army?"

"I'll think about it, maybe in the future. Who knows" she shrugs.

"Shengsi? You're considering it?"

"Yeah, given that it's like my family's line of work"

"Sir Zhan Kong, we've detected traces of skeleton wolves towards west direction!" Bai Yang informs him "What?! Those filthy monsters thinking they could enter my territory. Grab your weapons and prepare to head out" Zhan Kong commanded. Bai Yang glares at Mo Fan and Shengsi "What's with that look. Even if I'm injuried, I can turn you black and blue." Mo Fan holds back the smirking Shengsi "Heh! How arrogant, when all you did is assist" Bai Yang mutters "Ol' Zhan tell him how I can beat him into a pulp" Zhan Kong only chuckles at her behavior and stopped the arguement

>>

They were on the bus on their way back, most of the students were already sleeping except for Mo Fan, Shengsi, Zhou Min, Zhaoting, and Mu Bai who sat in a group at the back.

"Shengsi, how did you meet sir Zhan Kong?" Zhaoting asked.

"My parents were in the military"

"Oh yeah, I remember you said earlier that being in the army is your family's line of work" Mo Fan pointed out

"Yep, they often left for missions and such"

"I didn't see them at the medical station earlier, if they knew you were injuried they'll probably rush in" Zhaoting said.

"They might be in a mission" Zhou Min assumed.

"Nope, my parents died 7 years ago. That's why I live with the Wei family, a very close family friend." there was an uncomfortable silence "Don't worry I'm sure they're somewhere peaceful" she smiled.

"Hey, what was that spear thing you had against inspector Bai Yang" Mu Bai changed the subject to also feed his curiosity "Oh this?" Shengsi pulled up the pendant in front of her face "This was my father's weapon equipment, he had fire affinity while my mother had water. It's more compatible with fire mages. If it were any other element, it's just a really strong battle lance that you can use for combat" she explained and dropped the necklace on her chest 'Then earlier- the fire circle- does that mean she's also a dual element like me?' Mo Fan had a thoughtful look and Shengsi knew she'll need to tell him.

"You move with ease while using it, you were really good" Mu Bai shyly praised her.

"Thanks, it's because I've trained a lot in using it. Mhh since Mo Fan and Zhou Min are fire element, I can show you how to use it some times"

"Really? Thank you Zhao-jie"

"Can you show me when we get back?"

"Idiot, can't you see she's injured"

They continued to talk -as if they hadn't face the spirit wolf from earlier- until they all fell asleep