"Boss, didn't you say earlier that this kid's strength wasn't worth worrying about?" Hong Tao shouted.
Fengling staggered to her feet after being thrown several meters. The smugness from earlier was long gone, replaced by gritted teeth and growing frustration.
Back in Xuan Yue, she had tried to seize the Moon Saint's proof during the Lunar Eclipse. But Mo Yan and the others had disrupted her plans. After the Moon Festival, everything had returned to normal—at least on the surface. Her spies in the city had reported that the Moon Saint's contract had become unstable due to overexertion.
Now, with the moon hanging high, the contract had apparently resonated with its celestial source, empowering Tianlang beyond their expectations. Fengling understood: that resonance was the reason he could suddenly resist the three of them.
"Looks like we'll have to delay our plans to seize the Moon Saint and Evilbane's proofs…"
She glanced up at the pale moon hanging in the sky.
If Tianlang's temporary boost came from the resonance between the moonlight and the Moon Contract, then once the sun rose again, the boost would naturally fade. Still, only two hours had passed since the moon rose. She needed a plan to buy more time.
Just then, her eyes drifted toward Zhao Heng—who was still receiving treatment from Zixuan, with Yaohui beside him, unconscious.
"Heh heh… got it."
She smiled coldly, and with a wave of her hand, summoned a swarm of dream-butterflies to obscure Tianlang's vision.
The moment the butterflies parted, Hong Tao suddenly appeared in front of Zhao Heng and Zixuan.
"Don't move, now…"
He grinned, raising his war axe to strike down.
Zhao Heng barely had time to react. Gritting his teeth, he shoved Zixuan out of the way and instinctively grabbed Yaohui's heavy cross-bladed sword to shield himself.
At that moment, a strange light flared.
The Evilbane Proof—embedded in the blade—glowed with a malevolent purple light. The Evil Contract shimmered.
A rush of vitality surged through Zhao Heng's body. Strength flooded in.
With a roar, he swung the massive sword and sent Hong Tao flying ten meters back in a single strike!
"What?! The Evil Contract just… accepted a new master?"
Hong Tao staggered to his feet, utterly dumbfounded.
Even Zhao Heng was stunned. He hefted the sword, amazed at how light it felt now.
"Why could Zhao Heng see Evilbane and Wilaniel's memories?"
"Maybe... he has an unexpected affinity with the Evil-type Contract," Tianlang had once said on Mount Evilwolf.
Now it seemed destiny had taken hold.
Standing tall, Zhao Heng pointed the glowing blade at Hong Tao. With the Evilbane's strength flowing through him, he radiated confidence.
"What kind of mess is this?!" Fengling cursed, biting her lip.
"Unbelievable! Nothing's gone right today!"
"So, what now?" Madblade asked from the side.
"What do you think?" Fengling growled.
"We haven't retrieved the proofs the Demon Lord wants. What face do we have to—"
She froze mid-sentence.
And then, suddenly, her demeanor changed. Calm. Respectful. She lowered her head.
"We obey your command..."
Everyone around her looked puzzled—until they saw her bowing low to someone unseen.
Fengling straightened and looked seriously at Hong Tao and Madblade.
"We're retreating."
"What? Retreat? But you just said—" Madblade looked stunned.
"It's the Demon Lord's order," she said firmly.
She turned to face the five standing before her.
"Count yourselves lucky. The Lord just gave us a new directive. But don't think this is over. As long as you carry those Guardian proofs, the Fallen God Brigade will come again."
"Not if I can help it!" Tianlang growled.
A teleportation circle lit up beneath Fengling, Hong Tao, and Madblade. Dark light flared.
Tianlang lunged forward, but an invisible force blocked his path.
In the next moment, the three enemies vanished before their eyes.
"Tch. They still got away." Tianlang clenched his fists and stabbed his scythe into the ground.
"Hey, quit pouting and check on Yaohui!" Kailin called. Tianlang snapped out of it and rushed over to his unconscious friend.
Tianmo Mountain – Base of the Fallen God Brigade
In the heart of the dark mountain, Fengling, Madblade, and Hong Tao reappeared amidst the assembled mercenaries.
There were no greetings. No warm reunions. Just scowls and finger-pointing.
"I can't believe how many things went wrong on this mission," Fengling muttered, arms crossed, frustration bubbling.
"Things went wrong? Or was it someone's lack of planning?" Madblade sneered.
"Oh? Got a problem with my command now?"
"Just pointing out facts. From Xuan Yue's lunar blackout to the baiting scheme in the Black Domain—every plan you swore would succeed failed. No Moon Saint. No Evilbane. And we almost lost our heads."
"Oh, and I suppose you weren't the one who got tossed like garbage?" Fengling snapped.
"Let's not even talk about your failure to handle a scrawny kid who's practically still teething!"
The two glared at each other, tempers flaring.
Hong Tao stood awkwardly between them, cringing.
Then—
A deep voice echoed from the darkened hall.
"Enough."
Immediately, both fell silent.
"Demon Lord!"
Fengling and Madblade straightened at once, joining Hong Tao as they stepped into the dark inner chamber.
Their boots clanked on the steel floor, the echo loud in the vast space.
High above, upon a throne engraved with skulls, sat a shadowy figure.
The three knelt in unison.
"Dream Immortal. Wind Ancestor. Rock Lord. We greet the Demon Lord. May the Fallen God Contract sweep through Dreamsky. Our oath shall forever bind us to it."
A faint shimmer coalesced on the throne—an aged man in a dark robe, radiating dread.
"I have reviewed your actions. You have worked hard."
Fengling bowed lower.
"We dare not claim merit. We failed to retrieve the Moon Saint and Evilbane proofs."
"No matter," said the Demon Lord, voice calm.
He turned to Madblade.
"Wind Ancestor. I heard what you said. Do you take issue with my decisions?"
Madblade panicked.
"Not at all! I was merely voicing concern over Dream Immortal's repeated failed operations!"
"I've reviewed Dream Immortal's plans. They were sound," the Demon Lord said.
"Had unforeseen variables not occurred, her strategy would've succeeded."
"Thank you for the praise, Lord. But I still failed to meet your expectations." Fengling bowed deeper.
"No need. We shall recover the Guardian proofs in time. Rather than brood over failure—look ahead to the next target. Are you prepared for Red City?"
Fengling hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes. I've already planted my agents within the Blood Empress's dominion. Say the word, and they'll act."
"Good."
"As for these unexpected obstacles… I will assign you an additional helper."
He clapped twice.
"Come in."
"Helper?" Fengling looked confused.
Footsteps echoed in the hall.
A man emerged—dressed in futuristic punk-tech gear, eyes glinting with mischief and intellect.
"Greetings, everyone. My name is Yite. I come from another world. Starting today, I'll be your companion… though you may also call me—Doctor."
He adjusted his glasses with a grin.
(Contract Mission: Arc of Evil — Act I: End.)
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