Chapter Fifty-Two: Falling into Darkness

After her time training in the Twilight Forest, Ling Xiao Lei had grown accustomed to various perils. Even when facing opponents stronger than herself, she could maintain her composure in moments of crisis. Now, her response was even more steady and swift.

She whispered a spell under her breath, and chains—much faster than before—shot out. Each interlocking ring precisely caught the sharp tips at the ends of the monster’s tentacles.

The chains twisted; in an instant, they had dragged the spikes aside and, spiraling upward, coiled around each tentacle. They wound and knotted them, drawing ever closer to the creature’s body.

“Binding Chains—Entangle!”

The tentacles on the right, caught in her attack, were immobilized, while the left ones, stretching toward Ling Meng, hesitated and were driven back by a burst of flame from Yixin. At that moment, a surge of mud suddenly erupted from the ground.

“Earth Magic—Mudslide, Encase!”

The mire gaped open like a bloodthirsty beast, enveloping half of the creature’s body. All its tentacles were trapped within, and as the mud pressed against its flesh, it solidified, becoming unbreakable. Meanwhile, Ling Xiao Lei’s chains further wound around the limbs, twisting them into braids before binding the monster securely.

Working together, they subdued the creature within a matter of breaths.

“Should I add a bit more fire?” Yixin asked, flames dancing in her hand.

“There’s no need,” Teacher Shi interjected, raising his hand. “He’s been corrupted by a demon. Let’s see if we can purify him first.”

With that, he strode forward, and the others followed. The monster was now fully immobilized, able only to writhe and howl.

Teacher Shi approached, observing it closely.

“It really is the form of a human boy. What a pity he’s turned into such a monster. Ling Meng, try your purification magic.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Ling Meng stepped forward. At her approach, the monster abruptly ceased its howling, as if understanding their conversation. It quieted, and when it heard itself called a monster, a trace of human sorrow flickered in its eyes.

Ling Meng’s slender, elegant hand rested gently on the boy’s chest, and a warm, pale yellow light blossomed beneath her palm. The boy’s gaze turned vacant, staring numbly upward, while the spider-like limbs on his back slowly withdrew and faded away.

Hei Yu had heard before that demons harbored dark power within them, and those attacked by such creatures could also be consumed by this darkness and ultimately fall into corruption.

At this thought, he quietly hid his right hand behind his back.

“So this is why my adoptive father forbade me from using dark magic… This is the harm darkness can cause…”

As the light expanded, the blackened skin on one side of the boy’s body peeled away in patches, revealing his original fair complexion. His bestial frenzy faded, replaced by calm. Yet on his face, one eye remained bright and clear, while the other was an inky void.

Suddenly, from that black hole, an eyeball twitched. A ghostly green pupil swiveled into view and snapped open, dark energy surging over the boy’s face as if vying for control of his body.

Ling Meng poured more power into her spell, her purifying light growing ever brighter, but the darkness could not be held back. The boy’s body began to turn black once more.

“Teacher, I’ve done all I can. His left eye is completely overtaken by the demon. I can’t purify him…”

Teacher Shi Fangcheng sighed. “What a tragedy. Who knows whose child he was? Once corrupted by a demon, a person loses all reason and is nearly impossible to save. It seems there’s no choice but to end his suffering.”

Everyone felt a wave of sadness. Ling Meng’s eyes brimmed with grief as she pressed her hand to her chest.

“In the Divine Realm, there are many who’ve fallen to darkness. Among them are our kin, our friends.”

Hei Yu remained silent, finally understanding the depth of people’s hatred for demons, for the demon race, and for dark power itself. Born with darkness within him, he wondered if there was any place for him in such a world.

“You all go on ahead. I’ll handle this,” Teacher Shi said heavily, having made his decision. He didn’t want his students to witness the boy’s death and urged them to leave.

Fortunately, the boy was calm from the purification and no longer resisted. Teacher Shi dispelled the three stone walls enclosing the hall; the massive rocks dissolved into nothingness, revealing the pitch-black forest behind and a bleak, pale full moon overhead.

Desolate moonlight spilled in, casting its cold glow across the boy’s face.

Hei Yu, feelings in turmoil, retreated with the others but glanced back one last time. The boy’s face stirred a sense of familiarity.

“Wait…” He stopped, wanting to be sure.

“That boy… he looks like Xiaoyu.” The thought flashed through his mind but was quickly dismissed. Though Xiaoyu had looked like a child back then, ten years had passed. Even if Xiaoyu were still alive, he’d be the same age as Hei Yu now.

Besides, most of the boy’s features were lost beneath the demon’s corruption. Only his soft, light-blue hair bore any resemblance, enough to evoke the illusion.

“Hurry, get out!” Teacher Shi urged again. He had already begun to raise the thick mud, slowly submerging the boy’s body. The rising muck crept up his neck, soon to cover his face and suffocate him.

Hei Yu hesitated, as if his feelings for Xiaoyu were inexplicably reflected onto this boy—or perhaps he simply couldn’t bring himself to watch the child die.

“Wait!” Hei Yu started forward to stop them.

Suddenly, a fierce gale swept overhead, swift as lightning, sharp as a blade. With a rush, everyone felt a chill at their napes as their mage robes fluttered in the wind.

A figure landed between the boy and Teacher Shi, shattering the mud and stone with the sheer force of his arrival—not magic, but pure physical might. He quickly scooped the boy into his arms and leaped to the broken wall.

His entire form was wrapped in a jet-black mage’s cloak, the hood obscuring his face, his aura completely hidden—no hint of his magical prowess could be sensed.

While everyone was stunned, the cloaked stranger did not pause. In a flash, he darted into the forest beyond.

Hei Yu was the first to give chase. Teacher Shi recovered and rushed after him, the others following close behind.