Despite whatever Mo Fan said, Tang Zhong still insisted he accompany him back to his office. Now, Mo Fan sat in front of him, looking unusually calm, like a well-behaved kid caught in mischief.
Across from him, Tang Zhong silently played the CCTV footage of the West Lake incident on a screen.
The footage showed Mo Fan approaching the lake, just as he'd claimed. There were no signs of provocation, no spellcasting, no aggressive movements—just a boy walking too close to the Black Totem Snake's lair. Yet, the beast had reacted with uncharacteristic hostility.
Tang Zhong sighed deeply, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
"Did you know about the 'Big Guy'?" Tang Zhong asked, his piercing gaze fixed on Mo Fan.
"No, I didn't!" Mo Fan immediately protested. "If I'd known there was a terrifying creature lurking in the lake, I would've never gone near the park!"
Tang Zhong's eyes narrowed. "Then why do you think it went berserk? That creature has been there for centuries! It's a guardian of the lake, practically a legend in the city! It doesn't attack without reason."
Mo Fan shrugged, playing the part of the innocent. "How am I supposed to know? I didn't do anything!"
Tang Zhong paused, rubbing his chin.
"R-right... How are you supposed to know about that..." he calmed himself and thought rationally.
Mo Fan wasn't lying, at least not about this. Everything pointed to the fact that the Black Totem Snake had reacted inexplicably—and violently.
If Tang Zhong hadn't intervened when he did, not only would Mo Fan be dead, but the iconic West Lake park would've been destroyed along with him. The consequences would have been disastrous.
Sigh...
Tang Zhong sighed again, leaning back in his chair, his fingers pressing against his temples. His mind churned with conflicting thoughts.
The situation had spiralled out of control, and there was no simple way to explain it.
_The people under Lei Chen won't stay quiet about this..._ Tang Zhong thought bitterly. _Now that the Black Totem Snake has acted so aggressively, especially towards a teenager, Lei Chen's faction will use this as the perfect opportunity to challenge the snake's existence. They'll argue it's a threat to public safety. This incident just handed them the leverage they needed on a silver platter..._
The Tang Clan had been the Black Totem Snake's protectors for generations. There had been incidents in the past, true, but nothing this public, nothing this severe.
The previous generation had dealt with such matters swiftly, using power and influence to quell any concerns before they could grow.
But times had changed.
Tang Zhong couldn't simply rely on raw strength and his position anymore. Politics had crept in, and now the chairman had to navigate public interests, pressure groups, and appearances.
If the Black Totem Snake, a creature revered as a protector, was now seen as a threat to innocent people—especially to a youth like Mo Fan—Tang Zhong's hands would be tied.
He could stall for time, sure, but he couldn't protect the snake forever if public opinion turned against it. The snake's outburst had put them all in a precarious position.
The dilemma weighed heavily on him.
He sighed one last time, looking across the desk at Mo Fan, who was still playing dumb but watching him carefully.
Tang Zhong knew this kid had secrets—big ones—but he couldn't let his suspicions interfere right now. Mo Fan was the victim in this incident, and if Tang Zhong wasn't careful, the situation could escalate even further.
"Listen," Tang Zhong said, his voice measured. "A big mess has been created because of you... I'll handle it, but I need you to stay low for now. And if you know anything—anything—about why the Black Totem Snake reacted the way it did, you need to tell me. We can't afford another incident like this. Also, if people approach you regarding today's incident, it is my humble request that you please turn them away." Tang Zhong said, while pleading him.
Mo Fan nodded, his expression serious for once. "Understood, Chairman."
Tang Zhong leaned back in his chair, watching Mo Fan closely. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story than either of them was letting on.
...
After being escorted out of the Enforcement Union HQ, Mo Fan wasted no time. The moment he was free, he headed straight for the airport. There was no stopping, no looking back.
His instincts told him to leave Hangzhou as fast as possible. He had learned a long time ago that survival often depended on speed and stealth.
With Hongqiao Airport flights fully booked, he reluctantly settled for Pudong International Airport in Shanghai.
The moment the plane ascended into the skies, Mo Fan finally allowed himself to relax. He leaned back in his seat, exhaling deeply, as if the weight of Black Totem Snake's gaze was still pressing down on him.
"Damn," Mo Fan muttered under his breath. "Big Guy's sharp... way sharper than I thought. I didn't expect him to sense the Sacred Evil God's energy lingering inside me."
He rubbed his temples, replaying the chaotic scene in his mind. The Black Totem Snake had nearly killed him. If Tang Zhong hadn't shown up when he did, Mo Fan wasn't sure how he would have survived.
Sure, he had a few tricks up his sleeve, but not enough to fend off a Ruler-level beast like that.
"Tang Zhong..." Mo Fan whispered, reflecting on the chairman's sheer dominance over the situation. "He's nothing like the Tang Zhong I knew. To overpower the Black Totem Snake so easily? That wasn't normal."
In Mo Fan's original world, Tang Zhong had been merely the President of the Lingyin Enforcement Union branch—a respected Super Mage, but nowhere near as formidable as the man he just encountered.
He was not used to this new Tang Zhong, he didn't knew how he should treat him...
Not to mention, the Tang Zhong of his world looked far older, with a decade's difference between them in appearance.
_My old world..._ Mo Fan thought bitterly. There were so many subtle differences between the two worlds—changes that, if ignored, could lead to fatal consequences.
This world wasn't the one he knew, and he couldn't afford to assume anything anymore. His every move had to be calculated, every step toward survival and protecting those he cared about.
The cabin's soft hum buzzed in the background, but Mo Fan's mind was far from quiet. His thoughts churned.
He needed a plan—In this world, he had to be stronger, smarter, more ruthless if necessary.
_A different world means different threats. No one will protect the people I care about but me. I need to be prepared... for anything._
The thought of what lay ahead filled Mo Fan with both determination and dread. This wasn't the world he'd grown up in. The rules had shifted, and the enemies he might face here could be far more dangerous than anything he'd encountered before.
And then, as he stared out the window at the endless expanse of clouds, a painful memory cut through his resolve like a jagged blade.
His father...
The image of his father's face flickered in his mind, a face filled with warmth and love—now gone forever. The Bo City calamity had claimed his life, and Mo Fan had never forgiven himself for it. His hands clenched into fists as a dull ache settled in his chest.
"Ugh..." Mo Fan winced...
He had been careless. He had been reckless. And in doing so, he had failed his father. If he had been stronger, more prepared, maybe—just maybe—his father would still be alive today. But that was the kind of wishful thinking that would tear him apart if he let it fester.
No, he couldn't afford to fall into that trap. Not now.
His father's death would haunt him for the rest of his life, but he wouldn't let it paralyze him. He had too much to protect—too many people relying on him. He wouldn't let anyone else die because of his mistakes.
Mo Fan's eyes narrowed, a cold determination settling over him. His father may be gone, but the rest of his loved ones still lived. He would protect them at all costs. Wallowing in self-pity was a luxury he couldn't afford.
"I won't fail again," he whispered to himself, his grip tightening around the armrest. "I'll make sure of it."
The flight continued on, but Mo Fan's mind was already far ahead, plotting his next move, preparing for the inevitable battles to come.