Chapter 61: Hurry Away

Wang Ling could no longer restrain himself. He stood up, grabbed Wei Zi by the arm, and attempted to drag her away.

However, the moment of physical contact caused Wei Zi to snap back to a slight awareness. She finally realized what was happening to her!

"Wang... Ling, how could you...!!!" Wei Zi ground out through clenched teeth. She was completely drained of strength, and uttering these few syllables was already extremely difficult, but she knew she absolutely could not afford to lose consciousness again.

At this thought, Wei Zi snapped her eyes shut, mobilizing the mystic energy within her body to spur her mystic core!

Buzz...

In an instant, the drowsy numbness was chased away by a surging chill from within. Wei Zi swung her hand and dealt Wang Ling a fierce slap.

This single blow directly knocked out two of Wang Ling's blood-stained teeth. One could only imagine how much force Wei Zi had put into it.

Yet, while this retaliation brought revenge, it caused the drug's influence—previously temporarily suppressed—to break free from its shackles and surge upward once more. Wei Zi's body fell backward uncontrollably, looking as though she was about to crash straight to the floor!

Right at that critical moment, a figure rushed forward and caught Wei Zi in his arms.

"Careful! Wei Zi, are you alright?" A voice echoed. Wei Zi raised her hazy gaze, catching sight of only a handsome, sun-kissed face.

"Chen... Ziming?"

"It's me, Wei Zi. Were you drugged?" Chen Ziming's gaze dropped to the glass of water in front of Wei Zi's seat. Having frequented aristocratic circles for years, how could he fail to recognize this staple tool of pampered young scions?

"Bastard!" From the other side, a young man shouted angrily. He lunged forward directly and delivered another heavy punch to the already dazed Wang Ling. This single blow made Wang Ling feel as though his stomach had been pierced through, and he instantly vomited the coffee he had just consumed.

"Quick, take me... away!" Wei Zi gasped, her whole body slumping backward as Chen Ziming hurriedly steadied her.

"Haozi, come over and help!" Chen Ziming shouted, finding himself barely able to support Wei Zi's weight alone.

Zheng Hao kicked Wang Ling away, still looking deeply unsatisfied, but he had no choice but to let the wretch go. He rushed over, and together they hoisted Wei Zi, each supporting one of her arms. At that very moment, the door of the coffee shop was pushed open, and a vigorous-looking Sheng Yanan, followed by a breathless Zhou Xiaoya, finally charged inside.

"A-Zi, A-Zi, what's wrong with you?" Zhou Xiaoya cried out in alarm. Originally, they had been hiding outside to observe the situation inside. Who could have expected that Wei Zi would suddenly become delirious, that Wang Ling would step forward to support her, and that Wei Zi would end up striking him across the face?

Faced with the chaotic scene inside the café, the attendants began to shriek in panic. Of course, because today was merely the orientation military training for the Mystic Arts Department, only idle individuals like Chen Ziming and Zheng Hao would spend their time lingering in a coffee shop!

"Let's move!" Sheng Yanan said. Having spent years in military service, her mind was exceptionally sharp. That Wang Ling was merely a small fry, completely unworthy of fear, but she had been watching the entire exchange between the two. Clearly, Wang Ling was not the one who had drugged Wei Zi's water; thus, it was highly likely that other parties were involved.

Remaining here completely in the dark regarding the enemy would be far too dangerous.

"I've got her!" Sheng Yanan half-crouched in front of Wei Zi. Chen Ziming and Wu Hao hurriedly hoisted Wei Zi onto her back. Although they did not know who Sheng Yanan was, since she came with Zhou Xiaoya, she should not be an enemy.

Sheng Yanan possessed immense strength. Fortunately, although Wei Zi lacked all physical strength, she still had enough sense to wrap her arms around Sheng Yanan's neck, allowing Sheng Yanan to easily lift her onto her back.

The five of them quickened their pace and bolted from the coffee shop. Yet at that exact moment, in the distance, several burly men clearly attired in suits strode forward with purposeful strides to intercept them.

The newcomers numbered as many as eight!

They were Li Meiyu's bodyguards.

Meanwhile, Li Meiyu, concealed in the shadows, let a terrifying light flash in her eyes. She was determined to ruin Wei Zi today; otherwise, no further opportunity would ever arise!

At the same time, hidden in the shadows much like Li Meiyu and tasked with the covert protection of Wei Zi, General Xing's bodyguard Zhao Liang was holding a cup of milk tea, sipping it with great relish. Upon witnessing this scene, he abruptly spat out several soft tapioca pearls, his expression shifting drastically. He quickly switched his military comms channel to contact Xing Haotian, instantly shedding his previous leisurely demeanor.

"Chief, the mission target has fallen into a Grade-G hazardous situation. Requesting authorization to open fire and neutralize the enemy from the shadows!" Zhao Liang's voice was crisp and decisive. The modular firearm between his hands had already been assembled with a crisp click; the moment Xing Haotian gave the command, he could wipe out those eight individuals in an instant.

Therefore, he had categorized these eight bodyguards merely under Grade-G risks.

"What?! Who dares touch Wei Zi?!" An immensely furious voice, resembling an erupting volcano, blasted through the comms, causing even Zhao Liang to tremble involuntarily.

Yet Xing Haotian quickly regained his composure. Being classified as a Grade-G hazard by Zhao Liang meant there was likely no fatal threat. Given Wei Zi's current strength, she should be fully capable of handling it—after all, she had undergone his training, and she even possessed two techniques: the First-Layer Cold Domain and the First-Layer Ice Body, which were more than enough for her to deal with danger.

"Assess the situation and strike when necessary. I'll be right there!" Xing Haotian issued his command, rapidly firing up the Azure Dragon Battle Chariot. A dragon roar erupted from the puppet beast at the front of the chariot, and with a thunderous rumble, it surged forward at top speed.

At that moment, a thrilling siege was unfolding right at the gates of First Academy.

"Drop her!" One of the bodyguards barked coldly, closing in swiftly to surround them.

"Damn it, do you take your old man for a vegetarian? You say drop her and I just drop her?" Zheng Hao roared angrily, pulling a metal cylinder from the back of his waistband with a swish. With a fierce flick, a staff one and a half meters long materialized in his hand.

The metal staff appeared pitch-black, yet under the sunlight, it emanated a golden radiance, with faint, incomplete runes flickering across its surface. Evidently, it was a weapon meant exclusively for practitioners of the mystic arts.

"A top-grade spiritual treasure!" The bodyguard's gaze flickered, and he instinctively took a half-step back.

"Who are you people? What do you want?" Chen Ziming also took the initiative to speak forcefully, primarily hoping to make these men hesitant and buy some time. This was First Academy; blocking someone right at the gates would soon draw the attention of others, and once that happened, they would be saved.

"Buzz!" Chen Ziming brushed the belt at his waist, producing a crisp click. A snow-white, three-foot-long soft sword was drawn from his belt, its icy glare radiating an oppressive aura of slaughter.

If the iron staff had not been enough to rattle them, the chilling lethality of this soft sword made them genuinely feel they were dealing with a thorny situation.

Seeing this scene, the leader cast a cautious glance toward the direction of a certain battle chariot, gritted his teeth, and ordered: "Attack!"