In the remaining time of the summer break, Mo Fan kept on cultivating.
The City Hunter Team wasn’t exactly a very busy job; most of the time, he was just adjusting his life.
After Mo Fan finished two more Bounty missions with the City Hunter Team, he finally left the realm of a rookie. He was able to stay even calmer as he cast his spells when faced with a Magical Beast.
Advancing his battle experience along with his cultivation, Mo Fan unexpectedly discovered that his Stardust’s growth was even faster.
As his Stardust grew, the usable stars were naturally also transforming. On the day he started his third year of high school, Mo Fan had successfully transformed the Lightning stars.
They had turned increasingly bright, and the radiating stars were able to conduct increasingly stronger Lightning Magic. Thus, his spells naturally changed as well.
_Next time when I go out on a mission with the City Hunter Team, they will surely be surprised._ Mo Fan was sitting in class, he felt particularly happy.
Currently, his Lightning Strike and Fire Burst had both achieved the second stage. This advancement speed far exceeded his peers. If he was able to reach the third stage by his graduation, then that would be even more perfect!
It was said that when one’s stars transformed into the third stage, then one would be rather close to breaking through to Intermediate level Mage.
Mo Fan had no idea on when he would reach the Intermediate level. However, he would definitely exhaust all methods to make himself stronger!
School life was still just like that. After going through the Practicals, the students’ attitudes had clear transformations. On top of that, the Magic entrance exams were near. In particular, those students who were usually slacking were giving their best as they frequently appeared on the training grounds.
Mo Fan himself didn’t go to the training grounds.
What was the use of hitting a wooden puppet? He had directly changed these meaningless practices and exercises into real combat, real combat against Magical Beasts! His kind of progress was many times more effective than hitting the wooden puppets at the school training grounds!
“Brother Fan, did you realize it? Ever since Practicals, the arrogant Class Representative, Zhoumin has been treating you really well,” Zhang Xiaohou whispered into Mo Fan’s ear.
“Really?” Mo Fan asked as he raised his eyebrows.
“Of course, sometimes, she will even sneakily glance over here.”
“Isn’t it because I’m handsome?”
“If you put it like that, then I can’t do anything about it. However, if it was because you’re handsome, then she wouldn’t have been so harsh on you when school began. She is harsh on every single person except when it comes to you, and then her entire person changes; she becomes like a next-door little sister, cute and obedient,” Zhang Xiaohou stated.
Presently, Mo Fan went to class in the morning and cultivated in the afternoon. At night, he had to wear a uniform to protect the peace of the city. How could he have time to care about a young girl’s heart? Moreover, he already had a heroic spirit that would save thousands of girls from their suffering, thus, occasionally obtaining a few girls’ affections… Wasn’t that a common thing?
“See, see. She’s coming over here to find you… Tsk tsk, Brother Fan, I’ll retreat first.” Zhang Xiaohou was indeed a qualified friend. There were certain friends who were as stupid as pigs, they just loved being a Light Mage!
(TL Note: This basically means Lightbulb, which also means a third wheel.)
Mo Fan raised his head, and saw that Zhoumin really was coming his way.
Seeing her appearance, embarrassed yet excited, it truly made one pity her.
Zhoumin looked quite elegant, with squeaky clean black hair over her shoulders, and a delicate face that carried the arrogance of many young girls. Normally, they naturally treated boys like devils and so they kept their distance. However, the truth was, it was just impossible for them to conceal their warm hearts.
“Mo Fan… Do you have time tonight?” Zhoumin whispered after she walked over.
Tonight?
He still had to consolidate the level two spell of Lightning Strike.
_Zhoumin, oh, Zhoumin. As the Class Representative, you should be wholeheartedly focusing on your studies, how could you let your heart focus on the mundane things. We are third year high schoolers who are about to become University students. This year is extremely important, it will affect the future. If you were to let your heart distract you this early, then it will bring nothing good for anyone!_
Nevertheless, Mo Fan nodded as he said, “I’m available!” to Zhoumin.
Zhoumin immediately opened her eyes wide and said, “Wait for me after school, I need to tell you something really important.”
“No problem.” Mo Fan nodded, he was wondering if he should have Zhang Xiaohou go and prepare a small umbrella, just in case he needed it.
_(TL. Note: A small umbrella is slang for a condom.)_
——
After school ended, a large crowd of students rushed toward the exit.
Zhoumin was indeed true to her words; she was waiting for Mo Fan at the back gate of the school.
Mo Fan walked over and as he was about to open his mouth, Zhoumin mysteriously said, “Mo Fan, I’m not sure if I should be telling you about this matter, but I also don’t know anyone who is more suitable.”
As Mo Fan heard this, he suddenly had no idea what to expect.
“It’s like this; my grandma’s house is on Rongshu Street. It is an old district that is going to be rebuilt into a new one. During the summer break, I went back to live with my grandmother, and then I frequently felt trembling sounds from the construction site next door. It seemed like there were construction workers doing their jobs. However, I asked some people and they all said that they don’t do construction work at night… My grandma always said that the large old district that is about be razed has something living there. I tried to get my grandmother to move away, but she refused to leave the place. Therefore, I was hoping you would come with me and see what exactly is happening. Or else, I won’t feel safe leaving my grandmother there alone, I’d feel scared at night,” Zhoumin told Mo Fan sincerely.
After hearing Zhoumin’s words, Mo Fan couldn’t help but feel shocked.
Construction site trembling?
Shit, last time there was a cafeteria, and this time, there’s a construction site trembling. This Bo City was getting toyed with too much!
“Don’t tell me it’s another Colossal-eyed Ape Rat?” Mo Fan thought aloud.
“Colossal-eyed Ape Rat? That’s a Magical Beast, Bo City shouldn’t have those kind of things, right?” Zhoumin blurted out in shock.
Zhoumin still had lingering fears from the last time she faced a dreaded Magical Beast.
“That’s not a strange thing at all. The news from the Hunter’s Union states that during this period of time, the Colossal-eyed Ape Rats are acting like they’re entering the mating season, and there are frequent cases of them popping out from dark corners.” Mo Fan was already used to seeing strange things.
If he spent his time just lingering around school, Mo Fan would be the same as Zhoumin; thinking that Bo City was one hundred perfect safe and that there would not be any Magical Beasts appearing.
However, being in the City Hunter Team, Mo Fan could count as having experience and knowledge.
_How do you say this…_
_Little classmate, Zhoumin, you really found the right person! This brother’s other identity is an officer of Bo City, and because we only clean the Magical Beasts within the Bo City, we are definitely more specialized!_
_Sigh, I won’t be able to receive a commission this time. However, getting a girl’s affection isn’t exactly a bad thing either, let’s go and take a look!_
——
Arriving at the old district, it was just as Zhoumin had described. This part of the city had already been demolished, it looked as though it had just experienced a severe earthquake.
Dust pervaded the demolished district, and there were temporary walls and holes all over the construction sites. A half-demolished house was just left there, it affected the appearance of the area as they erected another unfinished tower nearby.
_I heard that the old Rongshu district is going to be rebuilt into a new commercial district. In the end, there was a severe shortage in the investments, and so they left behind its remains. Even the government doesn’t know how to deal with it._
Most of the people had already moved away from this district. There were wanderers and vagrants who decided to stay here temporarily due to difficulties. The remaining ones who stayed behind were the old people who refused to move away, like Zhoumin’s old grandmother.
____________________
Translator: Tofu
Editor: RED
*[Long Taos]: side characters in Chinese operas who perform acrobatics and fight scenes
*[12.47 to 13.07]: don’t ask me about the tree sap