"The Master Diviner's side has made its move. We need to hurry!" Welt stated decisively.
Wende and Stelle cleared the path ahead, Welt brought up the rear, while March 7th and Tingyun remained in the center of the formation.
Visibility within the fog was extremely low, and many disciples of the Sanctus Medicus were hidden within. Although the commotion created by the Cloud Knights had drawn most of them away, the abominations tasked with guarding the alchemy furnaces were still lurking about.
"Heh heh... those Cloud Knights are really overestimating themselves. This fog seeps in everywhere. How much longer can they last? In the end, they will all return to the embrace of the 'Plaguesoother'!" one of the abominations sneered.
"But I heard there's a doctor on their side named Wende who can remove the Plaguesoother's blessing..." another abomination whispered, glancing around cautiously at the arrogant fool beside him.
"Haha, you actually believe the rumors from those Reign Bow worshipers? That Wende is just a charlatan with a death wish! It's nothing but a lie the Reign Bow followers tell themselves. They want to sever the gift of the Merciful Medicus? In their dreams!"
The fiend was still cursing Wende and the Xianzhou when he suddenly found himself staring into a pair of merciless golden eyes.
Splurt...
A single lance instantly skewered the two chattering abominations, chilling them to the core. Before they could even cry for help, Wende froze their movements and simultaneously eliminated the Mara from their bodies.
Stelle pulled out her lance and spat on the ground in disgust at the two rapidly aging figures.
"Stelle, good children don't spit on the ground."
"Oh..."
"How... how is this possible..."
The abomination who had just been arrogantly discussing the situation stared at Wende in disbelief, before his entire body disintegrated into a cloud of ash.
"Jeez, how long did that guy live?" March 7th said with disgust, covering her nose as she dodged the cloud of ash.
"No matter how many times I see it, I still feel that benefactor Wende's powers are truly vast and profound~" Tingyun, who had also stepped aside, kept her beautiful eyes fixed on Wende as he and Stelle shut down a nearby furnace, the anticipation in her gaze nearly overflowing.
"Hmph hmph, of course!" March 7th said with a proud, smug look, as if the praise for Wende was directed at her.
Up ahead, Wende overheard the conversation between March and Tingyun and frowned imperceptibly, but he quickly refocused his attention on the furnace before him.
Shutting this thing down would inevitably attract the attention of the other Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. He hoped the big fish wouldn't get away... or rather, he hoped that big fish wasn't right behind him.
Wende thought silently, feeling the aura full of Yang energy at his back.
"Are you ready?" Wende asked Stelle.
"Mhm!" Stelle nodded, her expression grim as she held her lance horizontally, protecting Wende.
"Alright, I'm shutting down the first furnace."
Wende's expression was serious. He used the talisman on the furnace to deactivate it.
The moment it was shut down, the dense fog in the vicinity began to thin noticeably. It wouldn't be long before the mist here dispersed completely.
"Uncle Yang, inform the Master Diviner. The Cloud Knights can withdraw," Wende said immediately to Welt.
"Understood. The Master Diviner has already replied. The Cloud Knights are pulling back. Most of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus were drawn away by them. She is leading another team of knights toward our position now," Welt said to the group after putting away his phone.
---o---
"Whew! Hah... first time fighting while holding my breath, I almost suffocated!"
"Yeah, but it was so damn satisfying! Seeing the dumbfounded looks on those fiends' faces was awesome!"
"You might have awakened a strange fetish. I suggest you see a doctor."
"Hiss... I think it's best not to trouble Doctor Wende."
Fu Xuan watched as all the Cloud Knights withdrew from the fog, nodding in satisfaction.
Since the others had succeeded, there was no need to trouble them with the cleanup.
"Cloud Knights, hear my command! Follow me to support our allies from the Astral Express!"
"Yes!!!"
---o---
"Euaarghhh!"
A Disciple of Sanctus Medicus, having been struck by four or five lightning needles, broke into a convulsive dance of agony before his form twisted and he collapsed weakly to the ground.
"ROAR!!!"
CRACK!
"Awooo~~"
Retracting her baseball bat, Stelle leaped right over the fallen Alchemy Beast and continued forward to engage the next enemy.
Fu Xuan was right. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had few members; most of their fighting strength came from the alchemy beasts they tamed. If not for the fear of Mara, any ordinary army could have suppressed them on the spot, preventing such chaos.
"Sigh, longevity," Wende shook his head as he shut down the last of the smaller furnaces. He looked up at the largest one, which bore a slight resemblance to the Artisanship Commission's Creation Furnace.
"Is that the last one? That was pretty easy! Not at all what I imagined!" March 7th said, holding her bow with a relaxed and cheerful expression.
"Hmm, I seem to recall it was me and Wende at the front, right? Wasn't March... slacking off?" Stelle said with a smile.
"Wha-! What are you talking about! I was working very hard putting shields on you! Miss Tingyun can vouch for me!"
"That's right Little March was trying her very best"
"Hey! What's with that tone like you're talking to a kid!"
Bringing up the rear, Welt watched the lighthearted group, a flicker of worry passing through his eyes as he looked at Stelle and March.
"Alright! The ringleader of this mess should be up there. Let's go! Time to meet that bad woman who tricked Stelle," March 7th said, pulling Tingyun's hand.
"Yeah, there's definitely a score to settle," Wende nodded in agreement. He hadn't forgotten that the woman named Danshu had drugged Stelle.
"In that case, let's go!"
Stelle's expression became complicated when she thought of Danshu, but a glance at Wende solidified her resolve, and she nodded decisively.
"Oh, right!"
March 7th stepped forward and grabbed Stelle's hands, placing them on her arms. With a completely serious expression that left Stelle bewildered, she said, "This time... you must, you absolutely must not get tricked by a pretty big sister again!"
March's tone was earnest and full of heartfelt advice.
"Don't worry... I won't," Stelle replied with a helpless smile. How could she fall for the same trick a second time?
"..."
Beside them, Wende fell into deep, silent thought...
Stelle won't, but the players might... In that case... when we meet her, we shouldn't waste time with pointless talk. We'll just start fighting immediately!
As for me, Wende... it's time to protect my kid!