"Is there a healing mage! Is there a healing mage! Get a healing mage!"
"Boom~ boom~"
"Bang~ bang~"
The explosions were deafening, the battle raged, the ground was littered with corpses, and screams made one's heart pound.
Su Ming scanned his surroundings, blood trickling from his forehead, staining half his face.
"Old Ghost, hold on. Once this battle is over, we'll be victorious." Su Ming looked at the heavily wounded middle-aged man on the ground and shouted to those around him, "Is there a healing mage? There's an injured person here."
The man clutched his chest, which had been pierced, and shook his head. "Little Liu Zi, it's no use. Take care of my daughter."
Su Ming shook his head, his hands trembling uncontrollably. "No, no, Old Ghost, you can definitely pull through."
From the walkie-talkie, a man's voice came through. "The magic array is set up. Everyone retreat immediately. I'll say it again, the magic array is set up. Everyone retreat immediately..."
Hearing the news from the walkie-talkie on his chest, Su Ming exclaimed excitedly, "Old Ghost, our mission is complete. I'll take you away."
The man on the ground showed no reaction.
Su Ming couldn't believe it. He shook the middle-aged man. "Old Ghost, stop joking. Open your eyes. I'll take you away."
A man ran towards Su Ming. "Little Liu Zi, the demonic beasts are counterattacking. Our mission is complete. Hurry and retreat."
Su Ming ignored him, squatting in place, muttering, "Old Ghost, he..."
"Little Liu Zi, be careful!"
From the sky, a ball of fire hurtled towards him.
Su Ming only reacted when the flames were less than a meter away.
The man condensed a magic disk in his left hand and shot an arc of electricity towards the flames.
The flames exploded, dyeing the surrounding night sky red.
"Bang!"
Su Ming woke up from his dream, his back drenched in cold sweat. He clutched his forehead and muttered to himself.
"It's been over a year, why am I still having these dreams?"
He glanced at the Rolex he had bought for nine块九 from Pinxixi.
Six-thirty. He should get up and make breakfast.
Su Ming walked from his room to the living room, glanced at the closed door opposite, and went to the bathroom to tidy up.
After tidying up, Su Ming began preparing breakfast.
As Su Ming was making breakfast, the door to the room opened, and Li Ya walked out, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
Seeing Li Ya emerge, Su Ming flipped the fried egg in the pan.
"Hurry up and clean up. Breakfast is almost ready."
Li Ya nodded obediently and went into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth.
When Li Ya came out after finishing, Su Ming had already brought breakfast to the living room.
Li Ya took a sip of milk, then picked up a fried egg and took a bite. "Ah Su, have my clothes dried?"
Su Ming, while gnawing on a steamed bun and putting pickled vegetables in his mouth, replied, "They're already in your closet."
Su Ming took out fifty yuan from his pocket and placed it on the table. "Take a taxi to school later."
Li Ya shook her head, pouting. "I want you to take me."
"Bang~ bang~ bang."
Before Su Ming could speak, there was a knock on the door.
Li Ya looked at the door that was being knocked on and said a little petulantly, "It must be that landlady again. She always comes to collect rent at this time. Once I awaken my magic and earn money, I'll move out immediately."
As she spoke, Li Ya's face turned sad again, and she sighed. "I'm already in my second year of high school. If I can't awaken my magic today, I really won't be able to become a mage."
Su Ming patted Li Ya's head. "Don't be nervous. Believe in yourself. You'll definitely make it."
With that, he got up to open the door.
Outside the door, a woman in her early thirties saw Su Ming at the door, and the anger on her face lessened considerably.
"Little Su, you're already three months behind on rent. It's difficult for me too."
Su Ming looked troubled, as he was truly out of money.
"Sister Tai, can you give me a few more days?"
Being called "Sister Tai" by Su Ming pleased Tai Xue, and a smile appeared on her face.
She didn't actually want to drive Su Ming away. After all, he still helped her with some small chores every month.
"Little Su, Sister Tai isn't unreasonable."
Saying that, she slowly reached out and pinched Su Ming's backside hard.
"Then I'll give you a few more days."
Su Ming suppressed his anger and forced a smile. "Thank you, Sister Tai."
Su Ming felt speechless.
Taking advantage of the fact that he owed her two months' rent, she was blackmailing him into helping her clear the drains and move things.
Every time, she had to take advantage of him.
He, a dignified seventh-tier mage, would be laughed out of his mind if this got out. What would his old comrades think if they knew?
Li Ya, watching all this from inside, was furious.
This wasn't someone coming to collect debt, it was clearly someone coming to take advantage of Ah Su.
That shameless old hag.
After Su Ming praised her a few more times, Tai Xue left, satisfied.
Su Ming sat down on the chair in the living room and saw Li Ya looking at him with a serious expression.
"What's wrong? Is the breakfast not good?"
Li Ya shook her head, her expression solemn. "Ah Su, you're 19 now. You need to learn to protect yourself."
Su Ming picked up his steamed bun and continued eating, replying perfunctorily, "I know. Eat quickly, or we'll be late."
After breakfast, Su Ming rode his second-hand bicycle to the school gate to drop Li Ya off.
"Yo, isn't that Li Ya? The guy next to her is quite handsome. Could he be Li Ya's boyfriend?" A female classmate of Li Ya's looked towards Su Ming.
Another female classmate next to her snorted. "What's the use of being handsome? If you're not a mage, you won't achieve anything significant. You'll just be a wage slave your whole life."
The girl's voice was quite loud. Li Ya, standing nearby, heard it clearly and clenched her fists, ready to confront them.
Su Ming, overhearing their conversation, didn't stop Li Ya, who was about to step forward. "It's okay, there's no need to be angry. I don't care anyway."
Su Ming felt helpless. Were all young people these days so snobbish?
Times had changed.
However, Su Ming didn't care about this. As a dignified sixth-tier mage, why should he bicker with these brats?
Seeing Su Ming's indifferent expression, Li Ya snorted, somewhat indignantly. "When I awaken my magic, I'll tear their mouths apart."
Su Ming patted Li Ya's head. "Alright, alright, I know. Hurry up and go to school."
Li Ya then put on her backpack and walked towards the school. After watching Li Ya enter the school, Su Ming rode his bicycle back.
Returning to the seventy-square-meter rented apartment, Su Ming had just lain down on the sofa when the phone suddenly rang.
Su Ming took out his phone, checked the caller ID, and answered. "Second Brother, how is it?"
From the phone, a man's somewhat reprimanding voice came through.
"I don't know what you, Little Liu Zi, were thinking. You could have had a high official position and salary, so why did you choose to become a mere teacher?"
Su Ming listened to the voice on the phone, recalling his time in the army. "Second Brother, you know I didn't want to stay in the army."
The voice on the other end was silent for a moment before replying, "Are you still thinking about Old Ghost?"