249: Chapter 246 The Mountain Gate Squad Arrives, the Confused Trio

Today, for all the people of Ying Country who were watching the news or had been called by their relatives to watch together, it was an extremely surreal day.

It all started with turning on the TV in the early morning.

As everyone knows, in any work containing a story, a villain must exist.

It doesn't necessarily refer to a specific person; it can be an illusory abstract concept, such as the hardships of life, a disease that tortures the body, or even an ill-timed torrential rain.

But in most cases, the villain in a story is a tangible object, like a soul-seducing devil, a sinister enemy, or that neighbor upstairs who always loves to dance in high heels.

Readers hate demons who wreak havoc on the world for no reason, but few people truly think they could encounter one nearby.

If someone were to nag him gloomily all day, "Maybe tomorrow a Godzilla will fall from the sky, smash our house, and take our family's lives, just like in the movies."

Then he would surely burst into the harshest laughter, "Please, that's a work of fiction, a product of fantasy."

But this morning, seeing a rock giant on the lit-up screen, so massive that even the towering mountains could only serve as a backdrop to its majestic stature.

He could no longer laugh.

Immediately, he reached out and pinched his own thigh; the piercing pain confirmed he wasn't in a dream.

Then, through multiple channels—the internet, television, etc.—he confirmed that the news station belonged to the Kingdom's official authorities, rather than some unknown self-media from a corner.

After these actions, he likely accepted reality and shouted frantically for his family, watching together as the rock giant stood among the mountains on the TV.

This scene was also happening, or had already happened, in the vast majority of Ying Country households.

The perspective of filming the giant was looking down from the sky; there was the roar of propellers outside the lens. The host gripped the edge of the door with one hand, mouth close to the microphone held in the other, passionately recounting the giant's origin.

Mountain Rock Giant—this was the name of the big rock fellow the citizens heard from the host.

At this moment, it seemed to be confronting a certain existence; the deep blue flames in its hollow eye sockets and the heavy sense of pressure radiating outward could still be clearly felt by the audience, even through the television.

The host was still reporting the specific situation.

They learned that the standing big fellow was not friendly.

It landed at midnight yesterday and leveled the coastal Pasha City with one punch.

When the camera timely panned to the deep crater on the other side, the viewers who thought "leveled" was just an exaggeration realized the host's wording was actually conservative.

Seeing this, the viewers in front of the TV all wondered why the Kingdom didn't deploy the army.

Humans have been at the top of the food chain for so long that they subconsciously believe no creature on Planet Blue can rival them.

Even if the opponent's size was as towering as a mountain range—it's just a mountain, right? It's not like humans can't blow it to bits.

However, their confusion was soon answered.

The live broadcast on the TV screen switched to a video over two minutes long. The content was simple and crude: a joint fleet composed of three aircraft carrier battle groups was swept into the seabed by the big fellow like trash, using its arm.

Meanwhile, various missiles launched by humans didn't even scratch the other's skin.

When the Mountain Rock Giant appeared on the screen again, the audience finally had a concrete concept of it—not a burly, honest big baby, but a terrifying monster capable of annihilating the Kingdom.

Looking at the Mountain Rock Giant standing still, a new question naturally surfaced for the audience: why was it standing still?

Hogwarts had been announced in Ying Country for some time. Although citizens who had close contact with mages were rare, they ultimately had a concept of their existence.

So they quickly reached an answer—mages were dealing with it.

As if to verify the guess, the TV screen panned left and fixed on a mountain peak.

The distance was somewhat far, and it was impossible to see clearly what exactly was on the mountain peak covered with dense trees.

Fortunately, the staff member carrying the camera was eager for a chicken leg for dinner and sensibly zoomed the lens forward.

As the mountaintop gradually enlarged and became clear in the line of sight, everyone saw a white-bearded old man dressed familiarly, standing atop the treetops.

The difference in size between the two was like heaven and earth, yet it was such a tiny old man who made the Mountain Rock Giant, which looked like a pillar supporting the sky, afraid to take a step forward.

The host began to recount the detailed process.

Last night, the Mountain Rock Giant landed and destroyed Pasha City. About half an hour later, Headmaster Dumbledore of Hogwarts arrived, followed by the current stalemate.

As for why the two sides were just staring at each other, even for a whole night, no one knew.

“Boom—”

The Mountain Rock Giant's legs moved slightly, and an ear-splitting boom came from the TV.

The audience couldn't help but clench their fists, nervously staring at the two figures approaching each other.

“Are they going to fight? Dad, who will win?” a child asked his father.

“Of course it's Headmaster Dumbledore; he is the guardian deity of the Kingdom.” The father smiled, comforting the somewhat terrified child with a lie he didn't even believe himself.

...

“Are they going to start?!”

By the side of the deep crater, Leon, who had stayed up all night and was now drowsy, was startled awake by the tremors of the earth. Seeing the Mountain Rock Giant moving toward the Headmaster, he immediately grabbed Toby's arm and asked.

“I think it should...” Just as the words left his mouth, the big fellow suddenly stopped again. Toby shrugged, “It should still be a while.”

“What are they waiting for?”

“Who knows? Maybe like in novels, experts need to concentrate and adjust their physical and mental states to the optimum.”

“Toby, could you please read fewer Wuxia novels in the future?”

“Why do you know about Wuxia novels?”

“Uh...” Leon was choked for a moment and naturally changed the subject, “Should we retreat a bit? The battle between the Headmaster and it might accidentally injure us.”

“Uncle Toby, Brother Leon is right.” Misha, who was dozing in Toby's arms, suddenly looked up and said.

“Alright, then we... Oh shit, look!”

Above the two figures facing each other from afar, a large fish dived out of the clouds, swimming and circling in the sky.

Its vast figure was not at all inferior to the Mountain Rock Giant; the sunlight cast a shadow of its body, as if shrouding the entire earth and mountains within it.

“I remember it's called Kunpeng. Toby, I won't remember it wrong.” Leon recalled the video given by the Queen a few days ago and said with certainty.

“Yes, that's the name Her Majesty the Queen used.” Toby looked up at the figure that seemed to come from ancient times, “It's the Mountain Gate's pet. Why would... Are the people from the Mountain Gate here?”

“Really? Are they here to help us?”

Watching the Kunpeng leisurely circling at high altitude, his expression turned grim: “Hard to say.”

“Uh, they wouldn't come to help the giant, would they?”

“Of course not, but... they show no signs of taking action.”

Leon scratched his head and was about to ask again when he suddenly noticed several more helicopters flying over in the distance.

The logos painted on the side of the fuselages indicated they were also news company staff, but they didn't belong to the Kingdom.

Because Leon was certain there was no news company by that name in the country, let alone the fact that the domestic live broadcast helicopters couldn't possibly take off from the direction across the sea.

Toby also saw the seven or eight helicopters flying in one after another.

“Reporters from other countries?”

“There's no other possibility.”

“This time, the calamity is really...”

“Seeing Xu and not fleeing, have you had a fortuitous encounter in the depths of the sea?”

A gentle tone drifted down from the sky. The helicopters, which were already moving toward the Kunpeng, sped up a bit more.

The three also looked up.

As if receiving an instruction, the Kunpeng flapped its fins and hovered in the sky. Then, a white-robed figure flew out into the air, standing in front of the Kunpeng's head.

“Show yourself, stop playing petty tricks.”

On the ground, Leon rubbed his neck, which was a bit sore from looking up for so long, and asked, “What is he saying?”

“I don't know Chinese, but...” Toby patted the back of his head, “You'd better be more respectful. I've heard that Chinese Immortals dislike rudeness the most.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“Novels.”

“I...”

“That big brother in white asked the Mountain Rock Giant why it didn't run away upon seeing him, and if it was because it found some treasure under the sea,” Misha said softly.

The two looked at her curiously: “You understand Chinese?”

“A little bit.”

“Hahaha...”

Wild laughter interrupted their questioning. They hurriedly looked toward the mountains.

On the shoulder of the Mountain Rock Giant, a young man slowly emerged.

He was still in that sitting posture—left leg straight, right arm resting on his bent knee.

“The old guy was waiting for you to come, and so was I.” He lifted his head, looking up at Xu, who was standing in the air.

“Hehe, Solon, in terms of age, you are a cycle older than me.”

“I don't have white hair.”

“Gentlemen.” Xu's expression was calm, “You were both waiting for Xu. Now that Xu has arrived, let's not delay.”

“Well said!”

Solon shouted explosively. The Mountain Rock Giant took large strides, bending over and ramming into the mountain peak sideways.

“A sneak attack is not behavior a gentleman should have.”

The mountain crumbled into pieces, and dust filled the sky. Just as everyone around was worried about Dumbledore's safety, his figure had somehow risen high into the air.

He didn't look injured; after all, he still had the leisure to tease the guy called Solon.

“Mr. Xu, I'll leave it to you.”

The old man looked into the distance. Xu nodded slightly and waved his fingers in a sword gesture repeatedly. The shooting sword qi pulverized the rocks smashing toward the helicopters and the people on the ground.

Seeing this, he withdrew his gaze with peace of mind: “Well then, Mr. Solon, with Mr. Xu present, we don't have to worry about accidentally injuring others.”

“Where does all this nonsense come from!”

Solon slapped the shoulder he was sitting on hard. The Mountain Rock Giant seemed to sense its master's displeasure; the flames in its eye sockets leaped faster, and its fist smashed toward the old man above.

“You shouldn't have come out.” Dumbledore held his teaching rod staff, a smile on his face, “Sandstorm.”

The clear sky suddenly darkened, as if a boundless palm had covered the sunlight.

Then, it started raining sand.

Grit, overwhelming grit, as if a god in a hall was scattering a handful of sand toward the world.

Toby and the others noticed the yellow sand fluttering down. Their skin was scraped with fine bloodstains, and they fled the center of the battle in terror.

But facing such a wide-ranging Sandstorm, their speed was clearly not enough to escape.

The dust submerged them; the coarse sand hit their faces, making them unable to open their eyes, let alone see the path clearly.

They tried their best to close their eyes and cover their mouths and noses, but they still couldn't stop the yellow sand from intruding.

“I said we should have retreated,” Leon felt he was about to suffocate, complaining in his heart.

Just as the three were about to be choked to death by the grit, their bodies suddenly felt light. Their feet floated off the ground, and they rose rapidly, soon escaping the devastation of the Sandstorm.

After rubbing and patting for a while, Toby finally cleaned the yellow sand from his eyes and nose. His vision returned, and he hurriedly looked around.

He was floating in mid-air, with Leon and Misha on his left and right. The helicopters of various TV stations were all floating not far away.

They didn't do this voluntarily; it was as if they were held by a giant hand. The fuselages didn't even have the normal shaking of flight.

Looking down.

The original mountains were already completely shrouded by the Sandstorm. The yellow sand didn't drift with the wind but gathered as if it had life, then washed over the center.

Toby couldn't see what was happening inside; he could only see the aggregated sand clusters suddenly explode.

“Leon, where's the Headmaster?”

After a long time without a response, he turned his head strangely: “What's wrong with you? Did sand get stuck in your throat?”

For some reason, Leon's features were tightly tensed, as if he were meeting his girlfriend's parents for the first time.

Turning his head to the other side, Toby was stunned to see that Misha, who was usually lively and active, actually had the same expression.

You should know that this little girl had the courage to play on a seesaw with the Mountain Rock Giant when they first met.

What could make her so nervous?

He soon thought of something and slowly turned around.

Standing behind him was a young-looking man with a white robe and silver hair. Toby had met him once and remembered his name was “Xu.”

Now, Xu noticed him looking over, and his eyes, as quiet and deep as stagnant water, met his gaze: “What is it?”

In an instant, Toby felt as if his mind and consciousness had been struck hard by a heavy punch, and his whole person became muddled and dazed.

“Don't look into Mr. Xu's eyes!”

Leon and Misha, who were facing away from him, hurriedly turned him back.

After an unknown amount of time, Toby slowly regained consciousness and shook his head hard several times: “What was... that?”

“Something like mental intimidation?” Misha answered hesitantly.

“Uh, is he that petty? Making things difficult for us three academy freshmen?” Leon muttered.

“Well... it's possible, but I guess it's more likely because Mr. Xu's strength is too terrifying.”

“It's like a child can't bear the force of an adult's high-five greeting; even a very weak force will knock the child down,” she added.

“Little girl, Xu understands. Xu knows that you also understand.”

A voice came from behind. Misha's whole body stiffened. Toby and Leon saw this and asked strangely, “Misha, what's wrong?”

“I...” Her mouth stuttered, and she only managed to say one word for a long time.

It was the first time they had seen the little girl show a terrified expression, and they were both a bit panicked.

“Xu would not go so far as to make things difficult for three juniors.” This sentence was in English.

They understood, and they also knew where Misha's stiffness came from.

Thinking about how they had speculated about a “mage” of the same level as their Headmaster to his face, the two of them also stiffened.

Xu's voice was somewhat helpless: “Children's words carry no harm; do not panic.”

The three kept their mouths shut, not daring to respond. Xu didn't continue to comfort them, and for a moment, the air became quiet.

Finally, it was Misha who spoke first to break the deadlock: “Big Brother, where did the Headmaster go?”

She widened her eyes and searched for a long time, but the thick Sandstorm made it impossible to see even the Mountain Rock Giant's figure, so naturally, the Headmaster couldn't be found.

“Over there.”

Xu took a step in front of them and waved his right hand. The Sandstorm was immediately blown away in an area, revealing the Mountain Rock Giant and Dumbledore inside.