Invasion and defense are two entirely different matters.
After arriving in Bai Town, Tang Yue learned of the current situation and found herself a bit lost.
That night, the two of them rested in a small shop, with Tang Yue leaning into Mo Fan's arms. She whispered, "What if..."
"Stop worrying. The Xuan Serpent is clearly being framed. It's not its first molting period. If its molting had truly caused an infection among the populace, how could Hangzhou still be filled with so many people?" Mo Fan gently lifted Tang Yue's chin, making her look at him as he spoke.
He wasn't just offering comforting words; this was the truth.
In short, this whole disaster was the result of an ambitious person with selfish desires. All Mo Fan could do now was to minimize the damage.
This world was truly remarkable. Even though it was already teetering on the edge of survival amidst monsters, internal strife never ceased.
After resting for a day, Mo Fan and Tang Yue left Bai Town. Staying any longer wouldn't benefit the Xuan Serpent or Hangzhou.
Meanwhile, back in town, the first three infected patients had died. This event caused a major uproar in the medical community. Many experts gathered at the Magic Association Hospital, all wearing protective gear, looking in shock at the severely corroded bodies.
"Mr. Lu, what do you think?" Zhu Meng asked with a calm tone.
Mr. Lu signaled the nurses to cover the corpses. Even for a seasoned veteran like him, the sight was hard to bear.
"This plague is the most terrifying thing I've seen in my ten-plus years of practice. We've done the math. From infection to full-blown illness and then death, it only takes seven days. Seven days! That gives us so little time!" Lu's voice carried the weight of his position as both a leading healer and an expert mage. Even he could only describe this plague with one word: terrifying!
"Judging from this, do you still think it's my doing?" Zhu Meng turned to Judicator Tang Zhong. "Do you think I would stoop to such petty tricks when people's lives are at stake?"
Tang Zhong remained silent, reflecting on Zhu Meng's character. While he knew Zhu Meng harbored resentment toward the Xuan Serpent, risking civilian lives didn't align with his methods. It left Tang Zhong with doubts about the situation.
After Mo Fan and Tang Yue arrived at Bai Mountain, Mo Fan suggested she return to contact Lingling for help in uncovering the truth. He planned to gather a special herb, one that had saved his life in the past.
"What herb is it?" Tang Yue asked.
"I don't know its name, but I can recognize it." Mo Fan replied casually.
The truth was, Mo Fan knew it would be nearly impossible to harvest the herb—called Red Eagle Grass—without triggering the White Feather Eagles, the fierce creatures guarding the area. Even with skilled mages, attempting to collect it would result in heavy casualties.
Tang Yue looked concerned, but Mo Fan reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I have to come back to you."
With that, they parted ways, and Mo Fan ventured deeper into the mountains, heading west toward the Bai Mountain range, where the White Feather Eagles resided. These eagles were known for their ferocity and territorial nature. Anything flying into their airspace, even a powerful creature like the Xuan Serpent, would be attacked.
The eagles hadn't posed a threat to humanity because they never left their territory, but now they were stirred.
Taking advantage of their distraction near Hangzhou, Mo Fan infiltrated the eagles' domain and successfully harvested the Red Eagle Grass. Even though he encountered several White Feather Eagles, he managed to fend them off with ease due to his strength, as long as he avoided their leaders.
With enough Red Eagle Grass in hand, Mo Fan returned to the safe zone and sought out Lingling, a brilliant young investigator.
Upon his return, however, Mo Fan discovered a heartbreaking scene. Tang Yue, having been convinced by Zhu Meng and the others, had brought the Xuan Serpent back to Hangzhou.
As soon as the Xuan Serpent appeared, a tremendous surge of lightning magic descended from the sky. A massive star chart materialized in the heavens, with radiant star connections forming constellations and then vast palaces of stars.
In an instant, nine enormous spears of lightning, towering like celestial pillars, pinned the Xuan Serpent in place. The immense power paralyzed the majestic creature.
The entire city of Hangzhou seemed to unite in responding to Zhu Meng's call, supporting his assault on the Xuan Snake.
Tang Yue was in tears, completely helpless, as the lightning struck down the Xuan Snake. No one paid any attention to her grief.
Mo Fan approached her, pulling her close, and gently said, "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to it."
Tang Yue, vulnerable and childlike in her sorrow, whimpered, "Am I really so stupid?"
The Xuan Snake, sensing her sadness, struggled against the lightning's paralysis, lowering its massive head in an attempt to comfort her.
Seeing this, Mo Fan cast a cold glance toward Luo Mian, one of the main instigators of the attack. Sensing Mo Fan's gaze, Luo Mian sneered in return, as if mocking him for daring to challenge someone of his stature.
If he wasn't in a good mood, Luo Mian could easily crush Mo Fan with a snap of his fingers.
(End of Chapter)