Chapter 335  : War

“The Black Willow Institute is going to be invaded?”

Xu Ning was shocked when he heard that.

The resources of arcanists in the Arcanist World were extremely scarce, and fights usually broke out between arcanist institutions because of these resources.

There were times when friction was fierce, and there were also instances of arcanist institutions being destroyed.

“Who did you hear that from?”

Xu Ning’s expression was a little serious.

“When I went out to deliver supplies to Instructor Zhen today, I heard disciples talking about it in the courtyard…”

Zhuang Hu said, “Apparently, all of the arcanists who were traveling outside the Black Willow Institute have been gathered back and are ready for the invasion at any time.”

“Is that so…”

Xu Ning had a pondering gaze in his eyes.

Over the past few days, Xu Ning had been staying in the courtyard, waiting for the arcane plants to mature, so he did not go out and inquire about any news.

But after thinking about the abnormal reactions of Zhen Tu and the other two over the past few days, Xu Ning felt that what Zhuang Hu said should be true.

“Brother Xu, should…”

Zhuang Hu looked at Xu Ning with fear in his eyes.

Once a mortal was involved in a battle between arcanists, they would definitely die.

“Should we run away?”

Zhuang Hu asked Xu Ning.

Xu Ning usually took good care of him. He knew that Xu Ning’s character was trustworthy, so after hearing this news, Zhuang Hu first told Xu Ning.

One part of the reason for this was to calm the panic in his heart, and the other part of the reason was to ask Xu Ning for an idea.

“Run away?”

Xu Ning frowned.

For Xu Ning, escaping was a good choice.

Moreover, with his current strength, it was not difficult for him to escape. He could even take Zhuang Hu with him.

However, Xu Ning realized that this might be his opportunity.

If he was involved in the arcanist battle, he might be able to gain some benefits.

“Mmm…”

Xu Ning glanced at Zhuang Hu. “You want to escape?”

Xu Ning had decided not to leave, but if Zhuang Hu wanted to leave, he was willing to help.

“Yes.”

Zhuang Hu nodded.

“In that case, I will help you leave the Black Willow Institute.”

Xu Ning said.

In the Black Willow Institute, servants were not allowed to enter and leave the institute without permission.

If any servants wanted to leave this place successfully, they had to avoid the guards.

Otherwise, once they were caught, the punishment would be unbearable.

“Brother Xu, you’re not leaving?”

Zhuang Hu was a little surprised.

“I won’t leave for now.”

Xu Ning said, “But I can find a way to help you distract the guards.”

“Brother Xu…”

When Zhuang Hu heard this, he was a little touched. “Luring the guards away is very dangerous…”

“It’s okay, I have a way to protect myself.”

Xu Ning said.

He gritted his teeth. “In that case, thank you, Brother Xu.”

The next day.

Early morning.

Xu Ning followed the plan discussed with Zhuang Hu last night and protected Zhuang Hu as he left the Black Willow Institute.

After half a day, Zhen Tu heard about the disappearance of Zhuang Hu.

“It seems that the news that the Black Willow Institute is about to be invaded has spread to the servants.”

Zhen Tu was a middle-aged man in his forties.

He was sitting on a chair in the room, with Guan Yue and Shen Hexin sitting on both sides.

“Master, are we just going to sit here and wait for death?”

Shen Hexin asked.

Shen Hexin had only been in the Black Willow Institute for less than two years, and he was still a rank one arcanist.

He was worried that he would encounter an accident in this battle.

“We won’t be sitting around and waiting for our death, but we can’t avoid the chaos…”

Zhen Tu was a little helpless.

He was an instructor of the Black Willow Institute, so he would be the main force in the upcoming turmoil.

Zhen Tu couldn’t even guarantee his own safety.

“You should seize the time you have left and master your arcane technique more skillfully. Only by doing this, when the crisis comes, will the probability of you surviving will be higher.”

Zhen Tu said.

“Yes, Master.”

Guan Yue and Shen Hexin responded.

“Also…”

Zhen Tu paused for a moment. “Keep an eye on the servants. Don’t let them escape again. If they all escape, there will be no more people to serve us.”

“Understood, Master.”

Shen Hexin said, “I will discipline those servants well. I can’t let their sloppy behavior stir the hearts of the people.”

Guan Yue frowned slightly.

She originally wanted to suggest to Zhen Tu to let these servants go.

In Guan Yue’s opinion, it would be difficult for these servants to survive in the ensuing chaos, so they might as well let them go, allowing a few of them to live.

But after seeing Zhen Tu and Shen Hexin like this, she didn’t say anything else.

After all, in the eyes of most arcanists, the lives of ordinary mortals were not worth mentioning.

…

Another half a month went by.

Over the past half month, the atmosphere in the Black Willow Institute had become more oppressive.

Almost everyone was under tremendous psychological pressure.

‘The war will probably start in the next two days…’

Xu Ning thought as he took care of the arcane plants in the backyard.

‘Apparently, the two forces that the Black Willow Institute has offended are not simple characters. The other party has the intention to completely destroy the Black Willow Institute and take over…’

This was what Xu Ning had recently learned.

‘As long as I don’t fight a rank four arcanist head-on, I don’t have to worry about my safety…’

Xu Ning was one of the few calm people in the Black Willow Institute.

He had previously used these arcane plants to concoct an Aura Restraining Pill. With an Aura Restraining Pill, his true strength would be hidden. When the war really began, no one would pay attention to a mortal.

Boom!

As soon as Xu Ning walked out of the backyard, an explosion suddenly occurred at the gates of the Black Willow Institute.

Immediately afterwards, Xu Ning heard a lot of noise.

“The enemy is finally attacking!”

Xu Ning’s pupils contracted.

“Servants fall in!”

Right at this moment, Shen Hexin’s voice came from the front yard.

Xu Ning thought about it and still rushed over.

Shen Hexin gathered all the servants in the courtyard.

“When the chaos erupts, all of you stay in the courtyard. If you dare to escape during the chaos and are discovered, I will kill you.”

Shen Hexin threatened.

A large part of the reason why Shen Hexin was so strict with these servants was because of psychological imbalances.

In fact, Shen Hexin also wanted to secretly leave the Black Willow Institute.

But his master Zhen Tu had told him that everyone in the Black Willow Institute had already been marked by the enemy. Even if they escaped during the war, they would be hunted down.

Moreover, the Black Willow Institute itself would pursue the matter if one of them escaped in the midst of a battle.

All these factors cause Shen Hexin to feel that he couldn’t let these servants feel comfortable.

After scolding the servants, Shen Hexin left.

After being taught a lesson by Shen Hexin, the servants who wanted to escape were shocked. They looked at each other and returned to their respective rooms, hoping that they would not be affected by the war.

Only Xu Ning secretly sneaked out and went to where the commotion was after returning to his room.