59: Raging Sonic Mantis

The Supersonic Mantis swung its arm, a flash of blade light passing by. With a 'thwack', it wasn't Lan Yu's head that fell.

At the critical moment, the Heavenly Star Bird rushed over, blocking the blade for its master. Half of its wing was severed and fell to the ground. It didn't resist, but collapsed, pleading with the Supersonic Mantis.

This sudden scene stunned the people and beasts alike.

Xie Ning's injury completely enraged the Supersonic Mantis and the Poison Flame White Wolf.

"Roar..."

The Poison Flame White Wolf, arriving by Xie Ning's side, let out a low growl. Its flames of fury surged violently, and the pupils of its crimson wolf eyes shrank to the size of needles—a precursor to its attack.

The Supersonic Mantis was right next to Lan Yu. Ignoring the Heavenly Star Bird's pleas, in its rage, it raised its blade-arm again, energy surging as it slashed down fiercely.

Its speed was something Lu Bingyun and Qi Xiaoya couldn't possibly react to, let alone stop. But just then, Xie Ning shouted:

"Stop!"

Xie Ning's voice made the Supersonic Mantis's blade-arm freeze, suspended less than two centimeters from Lan Yu's neck. The two beasts looked at Xie Ning in confusion.

On the other side, Lu Bingyun and Qi Xiaoya barely managed to snap out of it. Their Demon Tamers Beast looked on in confusion; they couldn't understand why people who were fine just a moment ago would suddenly start fighting. All they could do was stand guard in front of their masters.

At this moment, the Supersonic Mantis and the Poison Flame White Wolf filled them with apprehension.

Xie Ning climbed up from the ground, wiped the blood from his back, and frowned. "Why did you try to kill me?" he asked.

Lan Yu: "...Kill Xie Ning."

"Are you Lan Yu?"

Lan Yu: "...Yes, kill Xie Ning."

"I saved you, and yet you want to kill me?"

Lan Yu: "...Yes, kill Xie Ning."

At this moment, not just Xie Ning, but even Lu Bingyun and Qi Xiaoya realized something was wrong.

Lan Yu no longer had her usual reserved and proper posture. She stood loosely, expressionless, her eyes dull, only repeating the four words: "Kill Xie Ning."

Lu Bingyun suddenly thought of something and exclaimed to Xie Ning, "Isn't this what happened to you back then..."

Xie Ning nodded slightly, confirming her suspicion. Then he began to laugh, a laugh filled with helplessness.

"I was still a bit too careless... No wonder there was no action for so long; they were all here... waiting for me."

Xie Ning brushed the dirt off his clothes. Although his face was somewhat pale, he felt more relaxed than before. That's how people are: when the unknown is still ahead, they are filled with unease. Once it arrives, even if it's bad or painful, it allows them to breathe a sigh of relief and let go of the heavy burden on their hearts.

He looked toward the direction the flames had come from and smiled. "Since you're here, show yourself. Or do I have to invite you out? Uncle Wang."

Clap clap clap clap~

In the forest, the sound of clapping rang out, getting closer and closer. Then, four people emerged from the woods.

Leading them was indeed Lame Uncle Wang. Standing to his left and right were three others: a Scarred Man with broad shoulders wearing a tank top, a Fat Man as round as a ball with squinted eyes, and a skeletal young man with flamboyant mannerisms.

Lame Uncle Wang clapped as he walked out of the forest. Looking at Xie Ning, there wasn't a trace of his past kindness on his face. His sun-blackened face bore a sinister expression; the smile on his lips was chilling, and those honest-looking reading glasses had long since disappeared.

"It seems Little Ning understands my hypnosis after all. Oh, that's right. If you didn't, how could you have pretended to be hypnotized back at school? Am I right?" Lame Uncle Wang shook his head and sighed, then continued with a playful smile without waiting for Xie Ning's answer, "Little Ning, tell me, how did you discover the tricks I played?"

"Among the people I know, only you have a Hypnosis Doll. It would be quite difficult not to suspect you. Don't you think?"

After Xie Ning finished speaking, he stopped looking at Lame Uncle Wang's group. Instead, he walked over to Lan Yu, dodged her attack, snatched the dagger, and sheathed it. Ignoring her resistance, he took out a spirit awakening pill purchased from the Demon Tamers Beast Guild and gave it to Lan Yu. While waiting for the medicine to take effect, he fed a bottle of intermediate energy potion to the Heavenly Star Bird and patted its head to comfort it.

The Heavenly Star Bird didn't dodge or resist; it obediently drank the energy potion. Soon after, the severed part of its wing began to grow back slowly.

"Hmph! It's all because of you that my leg was broken again and I almost lost my life!" Lame Uncle Wang squeezed these words out through gritted teeth, his fists clenched tight. His anger made his entire body tremble involuntarily.

At this moment, Lame Uncle Wang looked like a raving lunatic, startling everyone.

"Xie Ning, wh-what... what is going on?" Lu Bingyun frowned, while Qi Xiaoya beside her also looked at Xie Ning anxiously.

"As you can see, we've been ambushed. Don't blame Lan Yu for what just happened; she was simply hypnotized," Xie Ning replied.

Lame Uncle Wang also replied with a smile, "He's right. But it doesn't matter whether you know or not, because you'll all be dead soon."

"Xie Ning, Lu Bingyun, Lan Yu, Qi Xiaoya—finding four top students at once," the Scarred Man beside Lame Uncle Wang muttered as he scanned the group. "Excellent, this saves us a lot of trouble."

Xie Ning ignored the Scarred Man's words and looked at Lame Uncle Wang. "Since there aren't many people here and the outside world can't see, I might as well ask you... You had a hand in my parents' deaths back then, didn't you?"

By the time he finished, Xie Ning's expression had turned icy.

"Smart! Truly smart! To avoid suspicion, I played the part of a good uncle for so many years. I thought my acting was perfect, but I didn't expect to lose to you." Lame Uncle Wang's tone became grim, filled with resentment. "I did have a hand in what happened back then, but they got what they deserved! If my legs hadn't been broken, how would I have ended up in this state?"

"Hmph! Colluding with Fallen Demon Tamers and causing so many deaths! My father sparing your life was already an act of excessive mercy. I didn't expect... you're truly ungrateful and heartless."

"I'm ungrateful and heartless? Hahaha~" Lame Uncle Wang laughed maniacally, his body shaking. After a while, he said, "So what if I am? At least they're dead, and I'm the winner! Is being Gold Rank so great? No matter how strong they were, they still lost their lives to a single dose of my medicine. I didn't even need to lift a finger; there were plenty of Fallen Demon Tamers who wanted him dead!"

The truth of the matter had finally come to light.

Xie Ning had never understood why his parents, both of whom were elites among the Gold Rank, had perished together in a Gold-rank Beast Tide. It seemed that it wasn't just the beast tide and that mysterious Black-Robed Person who killed them, but also this bastard in front of him!

Xie Ning's whole body trembled. His bloodshot eyes were filled with veins, his brow furrowed, and a tangible killing intent locked onto Lame Uncle Wang.

"Don't be so excited. You'll be joining them soon."

With that, Lame Uncle Wang summoned his Demon Tamers Beast: a translucent Silver Rank 6 Hypnosis Doll, a Bronze Rank 5 Iron-backed Dire Wolf, and a Bronze Rank 3 Charm Fox.

With a point of his finger, the three beasts charged at Xie Ning.

"He's mine!"

Seeing Lu Bingyun preparing to attack, Xie Ning shouted. Then, he condensed a Beast Taming Skill in each hand, casting them onto the Supersonic Mantis and the Poison Flame White Wolf. While the two beasts didn't show any outward change, two waves of energy fluctuated around Xie Ning.

Xie Ning led his two Demon Tamers Beast and charged out.

"Xie Ning!"

Seeing him personally join the fray, Lu Bingyun and Qi Xiaoya were startled. But they soon saw raging flames erupting from Xie Ning's body as his speed soared.

"This..." The two looked at each other, and Lu Bingyun said helplessly, "Fine, let's listen to him. We'll hold off the other three. Lan Yu should wake up soon."

Qi Xiaoya also knew this was no time for jokes and nodded solemnly. "Alright."

After telling the Heavenly Star Bird to look after Lan Yu, the Flowing Fire Ice Lion and the Thunderclap Rabbit rushed forward, each finding their own opponents.

The Flowing Fire Ice Lion faced the Scarred Man and the Fat Man. The Scarred Man's Demon Tamers Beast were a Bronze Rank 7 Tyrant Dragon Crocodile and a Bronze Rank 3 Ice Ghost, while the Fat Man had only one defensive-type beast, a Bronze Rank 5 Mountain Wind Wild Boar.

The Thunderclap Rabbit faced the Flamboyant Man's Bronze Rank 3 Thunder Dragonfly, which was also of the lightning element.

Just as the two Demon Tamers Beast rushed over, Xie Ning's battle had already begun.