Full-Time Magister: The Ruler of Wind and Rain

ten.

One hundred.

Two hundred.

………………

Over the course of several days, Wang Yu had found more than 270 low-level water elemental absorption arrays around Bo City. These arrays all supplied energy to the next level of arrays. He only carefully explored one second-level array, not because he didn't want to, but because sentries had begun to appear around it. Some of these sentries, who appeared to be of higher status and wore gray robes, were likely gray-robed cultists from the Black Church. The one Wang Yu explored was probably understaffed or had an empty post. In any case, after observing for a long time and concluding he hadn't been discovered, he cautiously examined it. The energy contained in this second-level array was roughly equivalent to the magical energy of five mid-level mages.

More importantly, the second-level array is not the end point for these resentful elemental energies; the second level is still supplying energy to the magic array above it.

Although he couldn't thoroughly examine most of the second-tier magic arrays, Wang Yu was able to deduce the location of the third-tier magic array—the Mu Manor—by following their general energy transmission direction and arrangement.

In the original story, Mu Zhuoyun's younger brother, Mu He, is the Tiger Deacon of the Black Vatican, but Wang Yu felt it was still necessary to investigate and confirm, just in case his arrival brought about some butterfly effect to this world.

The Mu family manor is quite large, with thousands of workers and servants serving them. However, these people know each other well, and Wang Yu's aimless wandering around the manor, even in the non-core areas where the servants live, easily arouses suspicion.

Hmm, in order to legitimately go in and take a look around, it seems necessary to make use of the student connections at Tianlan Magic High School.

Wang Yu took out his phone and first sent a message to Mo Fan and Zhang Xiaohou saying "I'm back." Then he opened Mu Bai's contact information, edited, and sent: "Mu Bai, I'd like to know more about the Mu family. Would it be convenient for us to meet up tonight to talk?"

When Mu He awakened his magic, he brought Mu Bai along to recruit Wang Yu. Wang Yu thought, surely Mu Bai, as a member of the family, wouldn't miss such an obvious hint?

As expected, Mu Bai replied quickly, and the two agreed to meet at a restaurant in the Mu family manor. After meeting, Wang Yu first greeted him politely, and then quickly steered the conversation to the high cost of living in Shanghai, the difficulty of cultivation, the fierce competition in the preparatory class of Pearl Academy, and the scarcity of resources, intentionally or unintentionally guiding Mu Bai to say something about recruiting him.

Mu Bai was indeed a bit naive. Recalling the scene when he and his uncle Mu He went to recruit Wang Yu to join the Mu family, and considering that Wang Yu was currently in the preparatory class of the Magic City Academy and would probably be an outstanding mage in the future, he couldn't help but say, "Wang Yu, why don't you just join our Mu family? Uncle Zhuo Yun will definitely welcome you. The Mu family will definitely provide a lot of resources."

"Oh? Why don't we go downstairs for a walk to digest our food? I'd like to hear your detailed explanation." Wang Yu put on a very business-like expression of interest, but his real purpose was to have Mu Bai show him around the manor.

Mu Bai took the bait and led Wang Yu on a tour of the entire perimeter of the Mu Family Manor. During this process, Wang Yu focused one-tenth of his attention on listening and nine-tenths on carefully sensing the flow of the surrounding water elements. Ultimately, he roughly sensed that these water elements, imbued with resentment and fear, seemed to be subtly converging on the highest villas atop the hill within the Mu Family Manor.

He pointed to those places and asked, "Hey Mu Bai, who in the Mu family lives in these houses? They look very luxurious; they must be the residence of the family head, Uncle Zhuo Yun?"

Hearing Wang Yu also call him Uncle Zhuo Yun in a friendly manner, Mu Bai felt even more confident in winning Wang Yu over. He introduced Wang Yu, saying, "That's Uncle Zhuo Yun's house at the highest point. A little lower is Uncle He's house. This villa below is currently vacant and may be allocated to Uncle Zhuo Yun's adopted son, Yu Ang, in the future. But if you join, you might have a chance to compete for it."

Wang Yu made polite remarks, but his senses were constantly working. It seemed that the water element was converging towards the second or third house. It looked like he would have to find an opportunity to visit Mu He's house.

Visiting the home of a high deacon of the Black Vatican sounds terrifying, but there are still more than ten days until the disaster strikes Bo City. As long as the Black Vatican isn't prepared to act prematurely, Wang Yu is safe, relying on his status as a rising star among Bo City's mages. Besides, even if a conflict does break out, Bo City doesn't have any high-level mages on the surface, and Mu He himself is only an ordinary mid-level mage; Wang Yu isn't afraid of him.

In short, after making his decision, Wang Yu pretended to remind Mu Bai before parting ways that he should mention to Mu He and even Mu Zhuoyun that he intended to join the Mu family, so as to lay the groundwork for his next step of investigation.

Sure enough, the next morning, Mu Bai came to deliver a message: Mu Zhuoyun wanted to invite him to the family dinner that evening.

Wang Yu accepted the invitation. Night fell quickly, and on this occasion, Mu Bai became the welcoming boy. He led Wang Yu through the entrance to the core area of ​​the Mu Family Manor, the actual residence of the Mu family members.

Wang Yu followed Mu Bai along the manor path paved with bluestone slabs, surrounded by meticulously trimmed bushes.

He walked very slowly. His gaze swept over the precious flowers and plants, and a very faint blue appeared deep in his pupils, as his sense of water element silently spread into the distance.

The wind here is heavy, and the air carries a damp, earthy smell.

Wang Yu's nose twitched slightly. He smelled it. It was a special scent produced by the excessive accumulation of water elements, exactly the same scent he had smelled in the abandoned mine in the suburbs, only it was masked by the scent of expensive perfumes in the manor.

Mu Bai took a few steps ahead, turned around, and said with undisguised pride, "How about it? The environment of our Mu family manor is not bad, is it?" He pointed to the brightly lit villa in the distance, "This is the most magnificent villa in Bocheng. Uncle Zhuo Yun and Uncle He are waiting for you inside."

Wang Yu nodded, a wide smile spreading across his face.

"It's really impressive. I've never seen such a luxurious place in Shanghai."

The main gate of the Mu family manor villa opens to both sides.

The enormous crystal chandelier overhead cast a blinding light onto the gleaming marble floor. Wang Yu, carrying two beautifully wrapped gift boxes, followed Mu Bai across the threshold.

A long, rectangular mahogany dining table is placed in the center of the dining room.

Mu Zhuoyun sat in the main seat. He held a lit cigar in his hand, the bluish-gray smoke swirling in the air. This local tyrant of Bo City made no move to rise and greet him, merely glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.

Mu He sat on the right side of the long table, his face bearing that signature amiable smile.

"Uncle Zhuo Yun, Uncle He, this is Wang Yu, whom I introduced before." Mu Bai walked up quickly, his tone filled with undisguised flattery.

"Patriarch Mu, School Director Mu. I apologize for bothering you, but I brought some local specialties from Shanghai. I hope you like them."

Mu Zhuoyun exhaled a smoke ring, slightly raised his chin, and pointed to the empty seat on his left.

"Please sit down. You are a top student in the preparatory class of Pearl Academy and a future genius mage. Your time is precious, and it is not easy for you to do me the honor of having a meal."

These words carried a barb. Wang Yu pulled out a pure white high-backed chair, sat down, and gave a perfectly timed wry smile.

"Patriarch Mu is joking. What high-achieving student? In a place like Shanghai, he's just a poor student."

Mu He picked up the glass of red wine in front of him and took a sip.

"Oh? I heard you really shone in the preparatory class selection competition and won first place. Why didn't Pearl Academy give you a scholarship?"

Wang Yu leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

"Of course there are, but Patriarch Mu's cultivation is also superb. You must have experienced just as much how difficult the path of magic cultivation is. A magic tool costs millions, but killing a demon with your life on the line only earns you tens of thousands. Sigh, tell me, isn't magic really hard to cultivate?"

He portrayed the character of a penniless, ambitious but penniless commoner genius with remarkable depth and real skill.

After listening, Mu Zhuoyun exchanged a glance with Mu He, who immediately understood and picked up his wine glass to stand up.

"Young man Wang Yu, you're being too polite."

Mu He walked over to Wang Yu and patted him on the shoulder: "How can the Mu family ignore a genius from our Bo City?"

"I could tell you were extraordinary during the awakening ceremony."

"Here, let me offer you a toast."

Wang Yu quickly stood up and picked up the juice in front of him.

"Uncle He, you're too kind. I'm still a student and can't drink alcohol, so I'll have juice instead. Please sit down, this is my toast to you."

The two clinked glasses.

The glass made a crisp sound, and just as the glasses clashed, Wang Yu's finger trembled slightly, causing a drop of juice to splash onto the table. Using this action, he channeled a wisp of water-based magical energy into the glass, probing under the table and even into the ground.

Perception spread underground like tendrils. At that moment, Wang Yu was looking down at the steak on his plate, pretending to be unaccustomed to using a steak knife, clumsily cutting back and forth as if sawing wood. Mu Zhuoyun and Mu He were happy to see him make a fool of himself and didn't interrupt, unaware that the information in Wang Yu's mind was gradually taking shape.

The underground structure of Mu Zhuoyun's villa is very deep.

The sensory tentacles continued to probe downwards, and soon encountered an invisible barrier.

It's cold.

Pure, bone-chilling ice energy. This was an ice-based energy-gathering array that Mu Zhuoyun had set up in the basement of the villa to aid his cultivation.

Wang Yu manipulated the wind element, carefully bypassing the ice barrier, and circled the villa's foundation.

Clean.

It was very clean. Apart from ice magic, there was no abnormal accumulation of water element, nor any of that nauseating resentment or bloody smell.

Mu Zhuoyun's villa was ruled out.

Although this old guy was used to being the local tyrant of Bo City and was extremely arrogant, he was actually just a pitiful bastard who was kept in the dark by the Black Vatican.

What's even more pitiful is that the people who deceived him were his dearest relatives and friends, his own brothers.

Mu Zhuoyun took a sip of red wine and said, "Even geniuses need material support. Without enough resources, no matter how talented you are, you won't go far."

Wang Yu raised his head, feigning a docile and slightly ingratiating demeanor: "Patriarch Mu is right. I was too young and ignorant before. Only after hitting a wall in the last year or two have I realized the importance of having a powerful backer."

"So, you've come back this time because you've seen the light?" Mu He interjected at the opportune moment, his eyes filled with scrutiny, but he didn't show it on his lips: "The identity card I gave you back then is still valid, and the Mu family's doors are always open for you."

Wang Yu put down his cup and met Mu He's gaze. He knew that at this crucial juncture for the Black Vatican, if he were too enthusiastic, it would arouse the suspicion of this Grand Deacon of Tiger Province.

"Uncle He, let's be frank. Pearl Academy will have an assessment in a month, and those who perform well will have the opportunity to cultivate in the Three-Step Tower of Treasure Land. I want to further improve my cultivation before the assessment begins. If the Mu family is willing to provide some substantial assistance..."

He deliberately left his words unsaid, but his meaning was clear: he didn't want to join the Mu family now, but hoped that the Mu family would invest in him, and he would definitely repay them in the future.

Mu He visibly breathed a sigh of relief, while Mu Zhuoyun burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the empty restaurant.

"Good! A wise man submits to circumstances. Mu Bai, go to the wine cellar and bring out my treasured 94 Romanée-Conti. Today, I'm going to have a drink with the future bigwigs of our Bo City."

Mu Bai responded excitedly and turned to walk towards the wine cellar.

Wang Yu's fingers touched the tabletop again.

After ruling out Mu Zhuoyun's villa, there is only one target left.

Deep underground.

A wisp of water element perception, carrying the essence of the senses, extended outwards along the cold metal water pipe.

The closer you get to Muhe's villa, the more moisture there is in the surrounding soil.

Soon, Wang Yu's senses collided with an extremely large energy vortex.

That's not a normal magic circle.

It was a giant, blood-sucking beast lurking underground.

It is cold, damp, and sticky.

Countless tiny water elemental currents converged from all directions outside Bo City, eventually pouring into the massive array eye located beneath the Muhe Villa.

What made Wang Yu even more nauseous were the things mixed in with those water elements.

fear.

despair.

The smell of blood was so strong it was almost tangible.

This is the third-level water element absorption array. It is frantically devouring energy, making its final preparations for the impending torrential rain of blood.

Found it! It's confirmed that at least the Black Vatican in Bo City is still part of the story he knows!

Wang Yu's fingers tightened around the teacup, his knuckles turning white from the tension. He knew that the direct instigator of the Bo City bloodbath was Wu Ku, the leader of the Black Church, who used the method of summoning rain to merge the Frenzy Spring into the rainwater, sprinkling it all over Bo City. The water element absorption array in Mu He's house was most likely for Wu Ku's use. That was a super-level mage, someone Wang Yu was far beyond his current level to deal with. Once Wang Yu's spying was discovered, he would almost certainly die.

Wang Yu was terrified by his own recklessness. Fortunately, Wu Ku might not have arrived in the city yet, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to save himself even if he had several lives.

Just then, Mu Bai returned with a glass of red wine. The dark red liquid was poured into a stemmed glass.

Mu He picked up his wine glass and raised it towards Wang Yu.

"Wang Yu, we're very pleased that you have this thought. The Mu family never mistreats its own people. What you lack most right now, is it resources or magical tools?"

Wang Yu picked up his wine glass, stood up, and bowed slightly.

"Uncle He, to be honest, I'm currently trying to break through the mid-level barrier. If I had a bottle of Star Essence, my success rate would be much higher."

He was asking for an exorbitant price. Star Liquid is hard to come by in Bo City; even in Shanghai, it costs four or five million a bottle.

Mu Zhuoyun frowned slightly, clearly feeling that the request was a bit excessive, but Mu He smiled.

"Star Elixir is hard to find in a small place like Bocheng. This contains five million. Consider it a small investment from me. You can go to Shanghai and buy a bottle of Star Elixir to use for your breakthrough. Once you graduate from the preparatory course and officially sign a contract with the Mu family, you'll naturally have access to plenty of resources."

Old fox.

Buying a genius's future for five million is an incredibly good deal. Moreover, the money comes from Mu He's own pocket, essentially building a faction within the Mu family. From a normal person's perspective, this is a very lucrative deal for Mu He.

Standing in the shadows, Wang Yu felt as if he had been paid five million to get out of Shanghai and stay away from the Mu Family Manor, lest he disturb the sacred plans of the Grand Steward of Hujin.

Facing the old fox, Wang Yu naturally had to put on an act. He reached out, clenched the card in his palm, put it in his pocket, and pretended to be breathing rapidly.

"Thank you, Uncle He. Thank you, Patriarch Mu. Consider this money a loan. I will definitely repay the Mu family with interest after graduation."

This statement was perfectly worded. It demonstrated loyalty while retaining a touch of genius-level arrogance.

Mu Zhuoyun was very satisfied with Wang Yu's attitude and picked up his wine glass to drink it all in one gulp.

The family dinner proceeded in an extremely hypocritical yet harmonious atmosphere. Wang Yu dealt with the two old foxes' interrogation, fabricating seven parts truth and three parts falsehood about his experiences in Shanghai.

Nine o'clock in the evening.

Wang Yu glanced at his phone and stood up.

"Elders, it's getting late. I have to rush back to Shanghai early tomorrow morning to intensify my cultivation, hoping to bring honor to the Mu family in the future. I won't bother you any longer."

Mu Zhuoyun waved his hand.

"Go ahead. Studies are the priority. My adopted son, Yu'ang, is in seclusion and didn't come for dinner today. Next time we return to Bocheng, you two can have a good spar. Mu Bai, see Wang Yu off for us."

Mu He also stood up, walked to Wang Yu, and extended his right hand.

"Have a safe journey. Bocheng will always be your home."

Wang Yu reached out and shook hands with Mu He.

The other person's palms were dry and warm. Who could have imagined that these seemingly ordinary hands would, in just over ten days, topple the dominoes that would destroy the entire city?

"Thank you for He Shuji's kind words."

Wang Yu withdrew his hand, turned around, and walked outside.

Stepping out of the gates of the Mu family manor, a night breeze blew in, carrying a hint of coolness from the mountains and forests.

Wang Yu stopped and looked back at the slightly shorter Villa No. 2.

The windows were dark, without any lights on, like a pair of evil eyes forever watching over the world.

Wang Yu twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a cold smile.

He turned around and strode into the night.