Invincible Snake Emperor

Chapter 419: Chapter 415: The Vice-Dean’s Appearance

Tu Xiao’an fixed his eyes on the middle-aged man and said in a cold, flat voice, ”Those are your words. I hope you don’t regret them.”

”Haha... I don’t even know the meaning of the word regret.” As the director of the Demon Management Bureau, he was effectively the most powerful expert in Wencheng.

He stood amidst the ruins, a picture of perfect composure. Although he wasn’t emitting a terrifying aura, his very presence was enough to inspire awe and fear.

Tu Xiao’an’s expression grew cold and impassive. His thoughts turned, and he prepared to use the unconditional subjugation ability granted by his system. But just then...

A ripple went through the space beside him, and an old man with an extraordinary air suddenly materialized before his eyes. The old man immediately moved to shield Tu Xiao’an, the Purple Gold Snake, and said in a weary voice, ”Old Wu, can you do me a favor and let this Snake Spirit go?”

Huh...?

’The Vice Dean? What’s he doing here?’ Tu Xiao’an recognized him at once, completely caught off guard.

’Did he really show up just to save me?’

Tu Xiao’an was almost moved. But then he remembered: if he were taken to the Demon Management Bureau, there would be no one to save the old man’s granddaughter.

Seeing the old man appear, the Old Monster wore the same surprised expression as Tu Xiao’an. Then he chuckled and said, ”Well, I was wondering who it was. Turns out it’s Old Su. Shouldn’t you be at the Ancient Academy? What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you know this snake?”

”This snake and I share a bit of a connection. I was wondering if you could make an exception just this once,” the Vice Dean said, stroking his beard as he faced the other man.

The Old Monster’s eyes flickered for a moment before he shook his head. ”Old Su, it’s not that I’m unwilling to do you this favor. But this Snake Spirit’s sins are far too grave. He must be taken to the Demon Management Bureau.”

The Vice Dean hadn’t expected to be rejected so bluntly, and his expression stiffened. ”Just what grave evil has this snake committed that you would refuse me even this small favor?”

They were both major figures in Wencheng who ran in the same circles and had a reasonably friendly relationship.

”He killed two of my Bureau’s team leaders. You tell me, is that not a grave sin?” the Old Monster said grimly.

The moment he said this, both the Vice Dean and Tu Xiao’an were stunned. Tu Xiao’an’s shock was for a different reason: ’Could it be this Old Monster even knows I killed Leng Shuang?’

The Vice Dean, on the other hand, was shocked into disbelief. A team leader from the Demon Management Bureau was no ordinary person; their status was significant, and the death of even one was a major incident.

’And two of them died at once?’

He turned slightly to look at the levitating Purple Gold Snake behind him, his gaze asking if what the Director had said was true.

Tu Xiao’an blinked his Snake Gaze but didn’t speak, which was a tacit admission of guilt.

”You bastard! You’ve got some nerve!” The Vice Dean trembled with anger. ”If you’ve really done something like this, I’m afraid even I can’t protect you now.” He had never imagined this was the reason.

Before he had appeared, he’d been wondering why a mere Snake Spirit who hadn’t even attained its Dao would warrant the personal attention of the esteemed Director of the Demon Management Bureau. It had seemed like a gross overreaction.

Now, he understood completely. This snake had truly committed an unforgivable crime.

Dying ten times over wouldn’t be enough to atone for this. No Spirit Monster, perhaps not even a Demon Spirit, had ever dared to cause such trouble in Wencheng.

This was tantamount to openly challenging the entire country.

”I never asked you to protect me, old man,” Tu Xiao’an said, sounding perfectly innocent. ’You’re just getting in my way. I was about to turn this Old Monster into my War Servant.’

He truly had never expected the Vice Dean to appear. It was completely unforeseen.

”If it weren’t for the fact that my granddaughter needs you to save her, I’d slap you dead right here and now!” The Vice Dean was livid with the snake. Its audacity was boundless.

If he had known that this Snake Spirit had killed two team leaders from the Demon Management Bureau, forcing the Director himself to intervene, he wouldn’t have appeared for anything in the world.

After committing such a crime, it wouldn’t matter who came to plead his case. No one could save him.

But he was already here. He couldn’t just tuck his tail and leave; he had his own reputation to consider.

Although he and the director of the Demon Management Bureau weren’t especially close, they were both among the most prominent figures in Wencheng, both serving in official capacities.

One was in charge of Wencheng’s security, while the other cultivated future talent for the nation. Both possessed unfathomable power.

”Old Wu, I think there must be a misunderstanding here,” the Vice Dean could only steel himself and continue pleading. ”I know a little about this Snake Spirit. He’s what you might call a True Snake and has even helped maintain peace in the region. Please, make an exception and let me take him. I promise I will discipline him properly.”

A mocking expression crossed the Old Monster’s face. He clicked his tongue and smirked. ”Since when did the Ancient Academy stop educating humans and start educating snakes? Isn’t that overstepping your bounds a little?”

”You...”

The Vice Dean was furious. His face went pale, and the very air around him grew turbulent.

”Old Su, for the sake of what little friendship we’ve had, I’ll pretend you never appeared today. For the esteemed Vice Dean of the Ancient Academy to come out and protect a deeply sinful Snake Spirit... well, it gives me ample reason to suspect you of human-demon collusion.”

”Hmph...”

”Director Wu,” the Vice Dean bit out with a cold snort, ”don’t make such inflammatory accusations. I cannot bear the weight of such a crime.”

The accusation of human-demon collusion was too severe, a charge he couldn’t afford to bear. After a moment of silent contemplation, he turned to glance at the Purple Gold Snake and let out a deep sigh.

The Vice Dean spoke with deep disappointment, ”You... you’ve really dug your own grave. Of all the people to provoke, you had to pick a fight with the Demon Management Bureau. And you even killed two of their team leaders. I am powerless to help now. You’re on your own.”

Tu Xiao’an just smiled. ”Don’t worry, old man. I will definitely go to the Yaoling Mountain Range and rescue your granddaughter.”

”Hmph. Worry about saving your own life first.”

The Vice Dean had already concluded that the snake was finished. No one could save it, and it certainly couldn’t save itself. Their strengths were on completely different levels.

As for saving his granddaughter, he was afraid he would have to find someone new for the job.

”Director Wu, I won’t hinder your investigation any further.” Seething with frustration at having failed to protect the snake and nearly ruining his own reputation in the process, the Vice Dean’s figure flickered and vanished without a trace.

It was a brief interlude. The Vice Dean had come and gone as quietly as the wind, not leaving so much as a ripple behind.

Watching the Vice Dean vanish, Tu Xiao’an actually felt a flicker of gratitude. After all, the old man had tried to save him.

Regardless of his true motives.

It was just that this Old Monster’s status was immense. Even the esteemed Vice Dean of the Ancient Academy was powerless against him and, in fact, had to defer to him.

”Snake Spirit, was that Old Su your ace in the hole? If so, you should understand your predicament by now. In Wencheng, when I decide to catch a criminal, not even the Celestial King himself could stop me.”

The Old Monster turned his gaze back to the Purple Gold Snake and let out a sinister laugh.