Tang Yue's beautiful eyes were tightly shut. She had resigned herself to death, but her body suddenly floated and fell into a warm and solid embrace. She smelled a strong masculine scent of hormones.
In a flash, she opened her eyes in astonishment. Her delicate head tilted slightly downwards, and Lu Jun's cold, rugged face was right before her, carrying a calm and steady aura.
The two were extremely close, their breaths brushing against each other's faces, allowing them to clearly see every detail of one another.
At that moment, time seemed to freeze for Tang Yue. Her beautiful eyes gradually turned dazed as Lu Jun's image filled her entire heart.
She had been all alone, with no one willing to believe her. Even she had started to doubt herself. Just as everything was about to collapse, someone had stood up for her. The emotional impact was overwhelming.
Tang Yue's inner vulnerability was about to be exposed. Her arms subconsciously wrapped around Lu Jun's neck as she bit her lip and said in a tearful voice, "Why did you come?"
To be fair, Lu Jun's high-level Commander-tier aura was within the sensing range of the Totem Black Serpent, and even though he had locked onto the general area of Bai Mountain, it was still difficult to pinpoint the exact location.
Thankfully, the Judgement Court had obstructed Tang Yue with a grand spell that soared into the sky. Visible from a hundred kilometers away, that was how he managed to find her.
Lu Jun felt the voluptuous and flexible yet warm jade-like body in his arms. Looking up, he saw a stunningly beautiful face, phoenix eyes slightly red, hair disheveled startlingly captivating and stirring pity. His heart trembled inexplicably.
At that moment, a surge of impulse rose within Lu Jun. He wanted to kiss her, but he suppressed it. It would've been inappropriate and taking advantage of her in a moment of vulnerability.
In the dark night, a mighty Night Thunder Dream Beast stood proudly on the hillside. On its back, a man and a woman embraced. The beauty sat sideways with arms wrapped around him. Under the moonlight, they looked like a celestial couple, the atmosphere tranquil and comforting.
Unfortunately, many unwelcome figures were approaching from all directions.
In the sky, Wu Pingjing bore six snow-white wings on his back, resembling a Judgement Angel. His solemn and awe-inspiring presence made people tremble in fear.
He clearly saw the newcomer it was someone he recognized, a genius highly valued and admired by Councilman Zhu Meng.
Wu Pingjing frowned and sternly shouted, "Lu Jun, don't ruin yourself. You're interfering with the Judgement Court's matters. Step aside now!"
At those words, Tang Yue's body tensed up, signaling for Lu Jun to quickly leave.
"Captain Wu, please wait. Let me say one thing." Lu Jun came back to his senses, patted Tang Yue's jade-like back to comfort her, and said firmly, "There is another source behind the plague. Give me three days, and I'll give you an answer."
Upon hearing this, Wu Pingjing didn't trust just one person's words. Moreover, he deeply understood Councilman Zhu Meng's philosophy and goal to eliminate major hidden threats within the nation. The Totem Black Serpent must be purged.
A beast like that roaming freely in the core human territory, the most prosperous region, was far too dangerous. No one could guarantee it wouldn't lose control and rampage. That would be irresponsible to the lives and property of the people.
Therefore, he remained firm in his stance, but his tone softened slightly, "Hand over the Black Serpent first, and everything can be discussed."
Lu Jun naturally knew Zhu Meng's real intention and rejected flatly, "Impossible."
In the original agreement, they had promised not to harm the Black Serpent and allowed it to return to West Lake. But under Luo Mian's instigation, Zhu Meng still broke that promise and made a move.
"So your mind is made up?" Wu Pingjing's face turned cold. "I'll count to three. If you don't step aside, we'll take you down too. Think carefully. Don't ruin your own future."
The atmosphere in the forest suddenly grew tense.
"Heh." Lu Jun let out a cold laugh in his rage. He had already kept calm. Tang Yue, who was deeply connected to him, had been hunted down, and even though he knew the true cause didn't lie with the members of the Judgement Court, he hadn't taken it out on them.
And yet, what he got in return was authoritarian oppression.
The main issue was the huge difference in perspective between the two sides neither was wrong. It was like facing a trolley problem.
Zhu Meng wasn't wrong; he was standing from the perspective of the people. But Lu Jun wasn't wrong either; with a god-like perspective, he knew the Totem Black Serpent wouldn't betray them and understood its true significance.
Thus, his expression turned calm. "It seems strength will have to do the talking."
"There's no need for this. Young people must learn to distinguish right from wrong."
Wu Pingjing sighed and began rapidly drawing constellations. A chilling icy-blue stream gathered around him like a snowstorm swirling upward, and an Ice Mountain Coffin once again took form.
On the ground, Lu Jun had already anticipated this and took control of a high-tier Water spell. A Water Avoidance Pearl spun above his head, and a Heavenly Water Curtain descended from the sky.
Boom—! The two spells collided once more, and just like before, the water curtain hardened into ice crystals, which were then shattered by the sheer weight and power of the Ice Mountain Coffin.
Fortunately, the Night Thunder Dream Beast carried the two of them and easily evaded the strike.
Lu Jun's brows furrowed slightly. Ice countered water, rendering the trait of "supreme goodness like water" ineffective. Moreover, Wu Pingjing was one level above him and had a Minor Ice Soul Seed, naturally resulting in this situation.
In midair, Wu Pingjing was astonished. Only now did he realize the extent of Lu Jun's power
Commander-level Summoned Beast + High-tier Water Element!
Even he would need considerable effort to take Lu Jun down.
On the other side, Lu Jun whispered to the woman in his arms, "You go first. I'll hold them off here."
He remained clear-headed. His top priority was buying time letting Tang Yue take the Black Serpent deep into the Baishan Mountains to hide, while also creating an opening for Leng Qing and Lu Mei to gather the needed evidence.
Tang Yue bit her lip. There was no time for romance. She decisively pulled herself away from Lu Jun's embrace. As she looked back with a bright smile, she suddenly said, "You'd better not regret not kissing me just now there might not be another chance later."
"But wait for me. When I come back, I'm going to kiss you to death, you coward!"
With that, her graceful figure dimmed, vanished into the shadows, and darted toward the mountains.
Lu Jun's heart trembled. Her fragrance still seemed to linger at the tip of his nose.
Nearby, a few mid-tier enforcers prepared to give chase.
But with a sharp clang, a platinum sword light tore through the void, whistling past the crowd with unstoppable force, forcing everyone to retreat. It carved a crescent arc into the earth ahead.
One sword's cold gleam shines across the nine provinces.
"None shall pass today!"
Lu Jun's gaze swept over the crowd as he raised his left hand, manipulating the Black Gold Dragon-Patterned Sword, his voice indifferent yet filled with overwhelming aura. He stood tall a single man holding the line, unstoppable even by ten thousand!
In the crowd, Dongfang Ming met Lu Jun's eyes and felt a chill in his heart. Recalling all of Lu Jun's terrifying feats and past glories, his expression shifted.
Abruptly, he retreated. As he soared away along a Wind Track, he quickly called out, "Captain Wu, I'm sorry. Lu Jun is my friend. I can't raise my hand against him. I voluntarily forfeit the Judgement Enforcer exam."
Dongfang Ming's withdrawal triggered a ripple others began to waver.
Most of the trainee enforcers present were students, and many had heard of Lu Jun's legendary reputation. They began to hesitate.
Seeing this, Wu Pingjing was filled with fury and disappointment. He charged forward and shouted angrily, "What are you afraid of? Attack together! What, does he have three heads and six arms?!"
Whoosh! His aura exploded. Six wind-feathered wings spread out from his back as howling gales surged. The wings crossed downward like six heavenly wind blades. A Level-3 High-tier Wind Spell—Judgement Slash descended, aiming to slice Lu Jun to pieces.
Lu Jun activated his Star map with a thought—Level-4 Psychic Control Field, Spatial Rhythm – Time Delay, Black Tortoise Shell Evasion, Level-5 Water Defence – Mystic Flood Dragon, Heavenly Water Curtain—layer upon layer of defenses stacked together.
In an instant, blue and silver brilliance intertwined and shimmered around him, dazzling and radiant. His magical energy surged, rising higher and higher.
A great battle was about to erupt!