Dark Moon Era

It was said that the clock in Glory Square was never wrong.

So, when its hands precisely pointed at 3.50 p.m., Tang Ling had completed his exam.

However, the strange thing was that the bell that represented victory did not ring even though the time was up. It was as if the person ringing the bell had forgotten to celebrate Tang Ling’s victory.

Therefore, the instructor’s mood sank and he sat there evenly, not having the intention to tell the warriors to unlock the gate.

The warrior guarding the gate was a little confused too. When he looked at the instructor for orders, all he got was a slight shake of the head.

“Strange. The time is up.” Orston stood up straight and took a step forward, but he quickly retracted it because he saw the instructor, Instructor Lionel, and then related his thoughts to Agnes’s family, so he decided to hold his thought and observe the situation.

“Hmm,” Yu grunted confusingly as he then took a small item out from his pocket and hid deeper in the shadows in the corner. One could hear him muttering to the little item from time to time.

A warrior moved closer to Lionel’s ear and whispered, “My respectful Instructor Lionel, the deputy speaker said that this reserved warrior must live.”

Lionel raised a brow and his ears broadened as he gaped at the warrior in utter surprise. “I can’t hear what you’re talking about. Maybe because Grandfather scolded me too loudly this morning, my ears are buzzing.”

The innocent warrior was stunned on the spot.

Instructor Lionel definitely heard him, but when he mentioned his grandfather, Clyne Agnes, the chieftain of the Agnes family, did it mean that it was the chieftain’s idea to do this to a little reserved warrior?

With that thought in mind, the innocent warrior panicked slightly. He was in no position to endure the wrath of the Agnes family and the deputy speaker. He only had a single option which was to report to the deputy speaker honestly. Therefore, the warrior turned around and left in a hurry.

Following his footsteps, a discussion from the crowd exploded.

“Am I seeing it wrong? The time’s up.”

“Although he isn’t as good as Orton and Yu, this young man lasted ten minutes in his own way. Why isn’t it over yet?”

“Is it because he tried to trick his way out, hence the extension of time?”

Lionel’s mood and expression sank deeper hearing the discussion, but he still was not moved and turned a deaf ear to the heated exchanges.

So what if he was doing this for his own personal reasons? Who would dare to be calculative with him over a mere reserved warrior? The deputy speaker? No, not even the speaker himself, except for the Castellan, but it was impossible.

“What’s Lionel doing?” Back in the Purple Moon headquarters, Alan frowned for the first time as his mood turned foul.

“How dare he openly challenge me?!” The deputy speaker slammed his hand on the back of the sofa with a thud. He was furious not because of Tang Ling’s life-and-death situation, but because Lionel had disobeyed his orders.

As a matter of fact, the deputy speaker felt uncertain. While he was not really on friendly terms with the Agnes family, there was not any resentment between them either, so why would Lionel pick such a way to disrespect him?

Fei Long crossed his arms and chuckled. “Idiot, you’re destroying the sector’s reputation just because of your personal grudge.” As he spoke, he strode towards the door with a sigh in his heart. Ah, I hope it’s not too late!

Tang Ling’s situation was anything but positive. The repeated injuries made him look like he would be dead at any moment.

The deputy speaker looked at Fei Long’s departing figure and asked concernedly, “What personal grudge?” He was wondering if he somehow got on the bad side of the Agnes family and did not know about it.

“Lionel and Su Yao’s personal grudge. It’s only normal for him since he isn’t exactly a person who forgives easily.” Fei Long pushed the gate open and strode away.

For the sake of the sector’s reputation, he must stop Lionel. In fact, if he were not afraid that his actions would attract unwanted discussion and suspicion, he would have jumped down from Glory Hall’s roof to save time.

As a Purple Moon Warrior, he could easily do it.

However, Lionel would use his action against him, accusing him of tipping the scale. Who knew that Lionel would be willing to offend Su Yao to this extent just because of some personal grudge?

Fei Long’s heart was filled with doubts, but none of them were answered.

******

Tang Ling understood that there was darkness in people, and sometimes darkness would cause one to become shameless, but not to this extent.

Disregarding his position and identity beneath this many pairs of eyes was an obvious move, telling Tang Ling to go to hell.

As a matter of fact, was Tang Ling a threatening presence to the instructor? He could not wrap his head around it. At least, from his perspective, he was just an unimportant reserved warrior, yet he was being targeted to such an extent that he was obviously not given a way out of this.

The internal injuries on his abdomen did not drag him down, and waiting for a few hours did not wear his stamina out either. Tang Ling had given his best when facing the wicked bear in his imperfect state.

Because of his principle of trust, he chose to hurt himself to keep his secret, yet he was slapped in the face by reality. As a result, his actions were deemed foolish.

Even if the various injuries on him were not lethal, the excessive bleeding would kill him.

Then, he could not rely on the previous method anymore since his body could not keep up with his Precise Instinct. Then, was his Precise Instinct even meaningful in such a situation?

Moreover, the power had reached its limit. Under such a desperate situation, where was his savior?

Tang Ling puckered his lips as the rising sorrow from his heart enveloped him whole.

There was a split second when he wanted to let go and simply give up, but his life was toppled upside down on that rainy night. He did not even have the right to give up his own life.

He recalled his grandmother, who let go of his hand, his sister’s helpless dying gaze, and that call of “Brother” in her mellow voice that was still ringing in his ears.

Pain was like the sharpest nail that hammered straight into Tang Ling’s heart. The bloody stimulation allowed him to suppress the sorrow deep down in his heart.

Since he must save himself, he would be his own savior!

Therefore, exposing himself a little would not cause any problems, would it? Under the influence of his anger, the pang of hunger came from his chest again.

‘It’ had appeared!

Tang Ling did not know how to summon it and control it. The only clue he got was that ‘it’ would only appear under extreme stimulation.

Then…

Tang Ling cocked his head backward and dodged the brandishing bear paw. He shook his wrist slightly and a palm-sized Level 3 vicious beast meat appeared in his hand.

It was his most precious property. How could he not have brought it with him? How could he not be anxious enough to put it inside his backpack?

In fact, when he entered the examination venue, his backpack was temporarily confiscated. He was thankful that he kept the vicious beast meat separately on several parts of his body. There were two chunks in each of his sleeve.

Earlier during the examination, he never thought that the piece of vicious beast meat would become the only thing that could save his life.

If so, why not do it?

Time did not let him hesitate. Risking it, he extended his left hand that was clenching the level 3 vicious beast meat, and he lifted it up.