[Unlock condition: Met.]
[Unlocking…]
[Obtained Wings of Thunderbolt.]
"Wing-type Magic Tool?"
Zhou Haoyu's mouth twitched. After all the effort he spent escorting so many people into Safe Zone, and all he got was a single wing-type magic tool?
Forget it he'd find some time later to open Zhang Xiaohou's treasure chest.
"Young Master Zhou, thank you so much for escorting us all this way. If not for you, I wouldn't have been able to protect so many students on my own."
After settling the students, Principal Zhu came over personally to thank Zhou Haoyu.
"It was my duty. It's just… after going through this ordeal, they won't be able to take the Magic High Exam anymore," Zhou Haoyu said.
"Indeed. Not only can they not participate in the exam, but who knows how many people died in this disaster…" Principal Zhu wore a deeply troubled expression.
While the two were talking, Zhang Xiaohou and He Yu came running over in a panic.
[Unlock condition: Met.]
[Unlocking...]
[Obtained Azure Luan Divine Feather.]
"Azure Luan Divine Feather?"
Zhou Haoyu perked up. Could this be… a Totem Vessel?
"Principal! Mo Fan went out with the City Hunter Squad!" He Yu said anxiously.
"What?! Is he out of his mind?!"
Principal Zhu's eyes widened in disbelief. They had just managed to make it into Safe Zone, and now Mo Fan had actually chosen to go back out?
Elsewhere, Zhou Haoyu gently patted the head of the Flame Scorpion Tiger. "Good job. I'll give you an extra meal when we get back."
"Roar~!" the Flame Scorpion Tiger growled excitedly.
"Principal Zhu, I still have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave," Zhou Haoyu said, looking toward Principal Zhu.
As for Mo Fan leaving Safe Zone Zhou Haoyu had no intention of helping. If he really died out there, then that just wouldn't be Mo Fan.
Principal Zhu wanted to ask Zhou Haoyu to rescue Mo Fan, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to say it. That really was asking too much.
"Tianlan High School will never forget what you've done for us," Principal Zhu said solemnly.
Zhou Haoyu simply shrugged, then mounted the Flame Scorpion Tiger and gradually disappeared from view.
Following directions from a few strangers, Zhou Haoyu soon found the new location of the Mu Family several temporary tents hastily set up.
"Young Master Zhou?!" A slightly thin young man spotted Zhou Haoyu and instantly lit up with joy.
Zhou Haoyu recognized the man. He was one of the few true talents of the Mu Family Mu Linsheng.
Although Mu Linsheng's magical talent wasn't particularly outstanding, he had a knack for management. Unfortunately, the small Mu Family had no way to fully utilize his capabilities.
"What's wrong? Surprised to see me?" Zhou Haoyu asked with a puzzled look.
"Uncle thought you were still outside of Safe Zone. He's been worried sick," Mu Linsheng explained.
If anything had happened to Zhou Haoyu, the Mu Family wouldn't have been able to find peace again.
"Cough, that was my oversight. Where is Uncle now?" Zhou Haoyu asked.
"In the innermost tent." Mu Linsheng pointed toward a tent in the back.
"Thanks."
Without delay, Zhou Haoyu walked straight into the tent. The first thing he saw was Mu Zhuoyun pacing anxiously and Mu Ningxue calmly sitting in a chair.
The moment Mu Zhuoyun saw Zhou Haoyu, he froze.
"Dear nephew, where have you been?" Mu Zhuoyun asked urgently.
"When the Blood Alert broke out, I just happened to be at Tianlan High. Principal Zhu asked me to help escort the students to Safe Zone, so I was delayed a bit," Zhou Haoyu replied, mixing truth with fiction.
"Just surviving under the Blood Alert is already a blessing in itself—who would've had the luxury to worry about others? Good thing you're alright. Otherwise, I would've gone straight to Old Zhu to settle accounts," Mu Zhuoyun said angrily.
Compared to the flustered Mu Zhuoyun, a strange light flickered in Mu Ningxue's beautiful eyes.
Mu Ningxue knew that Zhou Haoyu's strength was far from what he appeared to show, but for him to be willing to escort a group of unrelated students it came as a surprise to her.
Although it was indeed a mage's duty to combat demons and protect the weak, those who truly lived up to that ideal were few and far between.
"Bo City has now completely fallen. It won't recover anytime soon. Uncle, what are your plans?" Zhou Haoyu asked.
"There's no choice but to relocate to the Imperial Capital now."
Mu Zhuoyun looked helpless. He had always regarded Bo City as his rear stronghold. Even though he'd faced many obstacles in the Imperial Capital, at least in Bo City he had a solid foundation.
But this sudden disaster had swept all of that away there wasn't even a chance to rebuild.
In this situation, Mu Zhuoyun could only move the entire Mu Family to the Imperial Capital.
"If anything causes you trouble, Uncle, you can always come to the Zhou Family. After all, we're family," Zhou Haoyu said solemnly.
Hearing this, Mu Zhuoyun immediately smiled. With the Zhou Family's support, establishing the Mu Family in the Imperial Capital wouldn't be difficult.
"Once we return to the Imperial Capital, I'll speak with Mr. Zhou about your marriage with Ningxue," Mu Zhuoyun said with a laugh.
Although the Mu Family had suffered a major setback, at least they had Zhou Haoyu an exceptional young man in every regard as their future son-in-law.
Zhou Haoyu smiled slightly, then gently pinched Mu Ningxue's soft, delicate hand. It was icy cold to the touch—absolutely exquisite.
After a night passed, rescue forces finally arrived with the dawn. This marked the official end of Bo City's calamity.
Early in the morning, Mu Zhuoyun brought Zhou Haoyu, Mu Ningxue, and the rest of the family to the train station perhaps wanting to finalize the marriage as soon as possible.
As soon as they arrived in the Imperial Capital, Zhou Haoyu received a barrage of calls from his grandfather and father.
Zhou Haoyu quickly answered his father's call and hastily explained, "Dad, the disaster broke out suddenly, but Ningxue and I are both fine."
"You just took one trip to Bo City and ran into this mess. It's a miracle you're still this calm. Now hurry back to the clan estate. Your grandfather was about to head to Bo City himself to find you."
Hearing the worry in his father's voice, Zhou Haoyu felt a wave of warmth in his heart.
If Grandpa had really gone to Bo City, that Winged Wolf might've been ground into dust.
After a few quick words with his father, Zhou Haoyu turned to Mu Zhuoyun and said, "Uncle, why don't you all come to our estate first? We can discuss a few things there."
Mu Zhuoyun thought for a moment and agreed. It was a good chance to set a date for the wedding.
As soon as Zhou Haoyu returned to the estate, he saw his grandfather, father, and a group of elders coming out to greet him.
Zhou Xian grabbed both of Zhou Haoyu's arms and carefully checked him from top to bottom. Only after confirming there were no injuries did he finally relax.
Looking at the growing crowd encircling him, Zhou Haoyu said helplessly, "Grandpa, Dad, wasn't it a bit much to bring so many people?"
"Do you have any idea how worried we were? We only heard this morning that Bo City had fallen. Your grandfather immediately called an emergency family meeting. If you hadn't picked up your phone, we would've already set out."
Zhou Hong spoke in a disgruntled tone.
Zhou Haoyu gave an awkward smile he hadn't expected to alarm so many people.