C47 Ta Er Was both Sad and Angry

Early the next morning, students from each grade smartly dressed and made their way to their classes. A female student, while carelessly tossing a milk bottle into the garbage bin, let out a piercing scream. Her classmates turned to look in her direction.

"There's a pig head bleeding in there! It's horrifying!" she exclaimed, pointing at the trash can, her face ashen and her voice quivering with fear.

A pig head?

Some of the braver boys approached.

"Indeed, come take a look! I have no idea who threw it, but it sure looks frightening!"

A crowd of students gathered around, peering into the bin.

"That's really creepy!"

"How odd, why would the cafeteria throw out a pig head?"

"I know, right? I love eating pig ears and pig face!"

"Wait a minute, that pig head looks like it's moving."

One of the boys picked up a clod of dirt and lobbed it at the pig head, which moved in response.

"It's alive. Could it be a pig demon?" someone gasped.

At that, the students hastily backed away.

"Look, the pig demon is getting up!"

"Run for it!"

The students quickly retreated, stopping about ten meters away to continue watching from a safe distance. Soon enough, the pig demon wobbled to its feet. The sight of it standing caused the students to nearly topple over in shock.

This was no pig demon; it was clearly a human being! But his identity was a mystery, his black clothes hanging in tatters.

From a distance, Tina had spotted the commotion. Why were these students gathered here instead of in class? Driven by curiosity, she approached and was taken aback to find a person standing amidst the trash.

Who could this be? And who would do such a thing to him?

His pitiful condition was on par with Glen's.

Regardless of his identity, he needed her help. Tina's hands flew through several intricate gestures with lightning speed. A sacred aura enveloped her, and from her palms emerged a gentle, pure light sphere which she hurled towards the injured figure.

The sphere of light enveloped the man's head, its healing energy visibly penetrating his skin. Within moments, the swelling began to subside. After a brief ten seconds, he had recovered significantly, his face finally becoming recognizable.

Tina felt a jolt in her heart. Ta Er?

Many students recognized him, murmuring and snickering among themselves.

"How could it be Instructor Ta Er?"

"He looks like he's been beaten up. Poor guy!"

"Who knows? The affairs of the instructors are beyond what we students can understand."

Cliff, amidst the crowd, stared in astonishment. What in the world was happening?

He was unaware that Ta Er was acting on orders.

He hadn't had the heart to deal with Family matters these past few days.

The two mage guards his father had assigned to him had disappeared.

He hadn't yet mustered the courage to inform his family.

Perhaps the guards had urgent business, which was why they had been away for a few days. But previously, they would have always informed him beforehand.

He had spent the last couple of days in anxious unrest, sending out his subordinates to gather news whenever he found the chance.

Seeing Ta Er in such a state, and recalling his second brother's beating, Cliff was struck by an ominous feeling.

He didn't dare to ponder it further. He resolved to question Ta Er about the incident once they were alone.

Ta Er regained consciousness, his gaze clouded with bewilderment.

He vigorously shook his head, trying to coax the memories back into focus.

A sharp pain shot through his heart, and through clenched teeth, he spat out a name.

"Zhang Xing!"