Chapter 22 – A Sparring Match with Tang Yue

Nighttime, at the boys' dormitory of Tianlan Magic High School.

Jing Wuji slowly woke up after sleeping straight into the evening. Beside him sat Mo Fan, who was meditating.

Shaking his head, Jing Wuji glanced around the room, as if searching for something.

"You're hungry, right? Here, I saved this cup of instant noodles for you."

Mo Fan noticed Jing Wuji had woken up, ended his meditation, and handed over the prepared cup noodles.

Taking the noodles, Jing Wuji quickly tore off the plastic film, skillfully opened the package, poured in hot water, sealed the lid, and waited for them to cook.

Seeing that Jing Wuji had paused, Mo Fan cautiously asked, "Yesterday… that person was you, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, that was me. But you must be Fan Mo, right?" Jing Wuji replied.

"Man, you're so edgy!" Mo Fan chuckled.

"You looked like you'd been abducted to Africa to mine coal!" Jing Wuji shot back, annoyed.

"Alright, alright, no more jokes. Your injuries… are you okay?" Mo Fan asked, his expression turning serious.

"It's nothing too bad, I've got a handle on it. Just gonna hurt for a while," Jing Wuji shook his head. "But you, joining the City Monster-Hunting Team without saying a word—impressive."

"Not really, you're the impressive one. Already able to take down a servant-level demon on your own," Mo Fan scratched his head and grinned, clearly proud of joining the team.

"Uh… just be careful. Bo City hasn't been very peaceful lately…"

After sensing the surroundings and confirming their neighbors were asleep, Jing Wuji whispered,

"I've discovered traces of the Black Vatican in Bo City!"

"What?!"

Mo Fan's voice rose sharply, loud enough to wake someone in the neighboring room, who groggily cursed before turning over to sleep again.

"Shh! Keep it down! That's all I can say. Just stay alert and don't draw too much attention to yourself, or you might get targeted," Jing Wuji warned.

"But…"

Mo Fan wanted to say more, but Jing Wuji made a hush gesture, ending the conversation.

"Enough talk. Time to eat."

The smell of the noodles had wafted over. Like a true foodie, Jing Wuji immediately dropped everything and dug in with a reverent slurp, the scent so enticing that Mo Fan started to feel hungry too.

Tianlan Magic High School Training Grounds.

Jing Wuji was currently sparring with Tang Yue.

On the field, Tang Yue stood alone, while Jing Wuji hid within the shadows, ready to strike at any moment.

This kid's abilities are too tricky, Tang Yue thought. There's no trace of magical energy, not even I can sense him.

She wanted to outright scold him—vanishing into shadows right at the start, attacking once to decide the whole match. So annoying!

Jing Wuji, watching the motionless Tang Yue, was also feeling the pressure. She hadn't shown a single opening, and the entire field was within her spiritual sensing range. The moment he stepped out of stealth, she'd detect him.

No choice but to go for it!

Jing Wuji threw a dagger infused with shadow energy, aiming straight at Tang Yue.

At the same time, he moved into her shadow, coordinating his attack with the dagger.

A longsword rapidly formed in his hand as he leaped out from stealth, aiming to strike Tang Yue.

"Shadow Step: Phase!"

Just as the dagger and sword approached from front and back, Tang Yue activated her magic.

She vanished into the shadows in an instant, shattering Jing Wuji's ambush.

Damn it!

Jing Wuji retrieved his dagger, then immediately melted back into the shadows, unwilling to remain on the field for even a second.

Tang Yue reappeared at another location, smiling as she praised, "Well done. You forced me to use my second element."

This kid's combat instincts are scary. After just a few fights, he's already managed to make me reveal my Shadow Element. If I hadn't reacted in time, I'd have lost already.

Yes, when the dagger was flying toward her, Tang Yue had initially thought it was the main attack and was preparing to block it with fire magic—until her spiritual senses picked up a pitch-black sword behind her. Thanks to her battle experience, she immediately linked her shadow element stars into a star path and activated Shadow Step just in time.

Had she been a moment slower, Jing Wuji would have landed the hit.

Jing Wuji just wanted to curse—was this the combat power of an ordinary mid-tier mage? None of the other practical course instructors had ever put this much pressure on him. Even when those other instructors used spiritual force to cover the field, they still couldn't avoid his attacks. But this beautiful teacher gave him a feeling of having no way in—completely impenetrable.

Jing Wuji continued to silently observe Tang Yue, without the slightest hint of impatience in his heart.

As an assassin, patience was a basic requirement.

Tang Yue hadn't expected Jing Wuji to be this patient either. He was waiting for her to show a weakness.

The two remained in a stalemate for a long time, but eventually, it was Jing Wuji who made the first move. After all, Tang Yue hadn't shown any opening the entire time she stood there. And this wasn't a life-or-death duel—it was just training. There was no need to wait for a perfect opportunity. As long as he attacked, the teacher could point out his flaws.

Still… he didn't want to lose to this beautiful teacher.

Mind's Eye—activate!

A flood of information from the surrounding environment surged into Jing Wuji's mind, which he rapidly processed, filtering out the useful bits.

He didn't sit still either—emerging from Tang Yue's shadow, the two were now incredibly close. Jing Wuji could even catch the faint fragrance of her hair.

Tang Yue also noticed him and darted forward to create distance, a ball of flame appearing in her hand, ready to be unleashed.

But under the enhanced perception of the Mind's Eye, every movement and reaction of Tang Yue was crystal clear to Jing Wuji. His dagger slashed toward her flawless, fair neck in an impossibly precise motion.

"Teacher, you've lost," Jing Wuji said calmly.

His dagger stopped just a few centimeters from Tang Yue's neck. With the slightest force, it would have left a bloody mark on her smooth, pale skin.

"I did lose," Tang Yue said, a bit dejected.

As a mid-tier mage, being defeated by a novice-tier student was more than a little embarrassing—especially since that student was her own. Although she hadn't gone all out to guide him, it still stung to lose.

"But seriously, you're too much of a freak!" Tang Yue shot him a glare, full of teasing charm.

She and Jing Wuji were already quite familiar. She usually interacted with him in the role of an older sister, so their conversations were always casual and filled with playful banter—none of that serious teacher-student atmosphere.

"Oh please! You're the one making me doubt whether you're even a teacher. You left me with no openings at all. That other practical instructor? I beat him clean even after he used both of his elements. But you? You used only one element and still forced me to use every trick I had." Jing Wuji replied with frustration.

"That's a secret~ But for now, I am your teacher, no doubt about that," Tang Yue said in her mature, seductive tone, which Jing Wuji found quite pleasing to the ear.

Since she didn't intend to explain further, Jing Wuji didn't press the matter.

Tang Yue then began giving him detailed feedback on his performance during the fight.