Time flew by.
That day, the heavy alloy door of the laboratory slowly slid open to both sides.
Jie Ming thought it was the Black Giant Priests responsible for logistics delivering a new batch of plane origin essence transfer lists. Without looking up, his gaze remained fixed on the floating light screen, his fingers constantly adjusting the last few redundant structures of the formation before him.
One after another, rune trajectories split and recombined with his movements, like countless glowing star trails interweaving and extending through the air. Just then.
A crisp and rapid sound of high heels broke the laboratory's usual silence.
Tap, tap, tap...
The footsteps grew faster, almost as if running.
Before Jie Ming could react, a slender, fair hand slammed down on the experimental table with a "smack," right on top of the rune curve he was about to modify.
The sudden interruption caused the entire light screen to freeze.
Immersed in his research, Jie Ming couldn't help but frown.
"The old man is getting married."
The voice came abruptly, even with a hint of suppressed urgency.
Hearing this, Jie Ming finally looked up.
There were only two people who could freely enter and exit his laboratory. Without a doubt, standing on the other side of the experimental table was Viola. Today, her silvery-gray hair was unusually not tied up high as usual, but casually draped over her shoulders, with a few strands slightly messy from rushing over.
Clearly, she had come the moment she got the news, even her robe collar was crooked, and she hadn't had time to tidy up.
But what truly surprised Jie Ming was her expression.
Viola usually always appeared composed, enjoying teasing others and watching them get flustered.
A faint, elusive smile often hung at the corner of her mouth, as if nothing could truly affect her mood.
But now, a complex expression Jie Ming had never seen before churned in her eyes.
It looked somewhat chaotic, like a tranquil lake suddenly struck by a massive stone.
"Who?" Jie Ming was taken aback.
"Who else could it be?" Viola rolled her eyes at him. "Of course, the old man!"
"What?!" Jie Ming stood up in shock.
Hearing this, Jie Ming's first reaction was to check if the Xuan Gang Red Dust Barrier beside him was intact.
"Hiss... It wasn't breached? Then what I just heard wasn't an illusion?!" Jie Ming couldn't help but suck in a breath.
"Could the world be ending?!"
It wasn't that Jie Ming overreacted. After all, this was about that mentor Clark!
Calling him cold was a compliment to that wizard. If he could use one word, he'd never use two.
Although it wasn't appropriate for a student to speak of their mentor this way, Jie Ming still felt that Clark and the word "marriage" were two parallel lines that could never intersect!
Seeing Jie Ming's reaction, Viola's lips couldn't help but curl up. Clearly, Jie Ming's reaction satisfied her.
But since there was serious business, Viola had to reluctantly interrupt Jie Ming's reverie:
"How could it be impossible? Don't forget, there's also Master Castilio, the seventh-level witch from the Crimson Court who specializes in the Law of Life." Jie Ming was stunned for a moment, then understood: "So it's her. No wonder, no wonder."
He certainly knew Castilio.
A seventh-level life wizard from the Crimson Court and an old friend of Mentor Clark for tens of thousands of years.
The two could be said to be childhood sweethearts, and their relationship was undoubtedly good.
After all, the only ordinary item Mentor Clark carried was a metal bracelet that Master Castilio had given him.
Back when they first met on the parallel plane, he had already understood that there was a very obvious "affair" between them.
But... Jie Ming really hadn't expected it to suddenly progress to marriage.
"When was it decided?"
Jie Ming asked with great interest as he waved his hand to shut down the experimental light screen.
"I'm not sure of the specifics. I only got the news today." Viola let out a long breath.
"To be precise, just now."
She walked around the experimental table and sat down familiarly on the chair next to it.
Her long legs crossed naturally, one hand propping up her chin, while the other unconsciously twirled a strand of silver hair on her shoulder.
"Master Castilio personally sent me the message. The old man didn't tell me himself."
She raised the Magic Net terminal in her hand.
"She said that she and the old man have already discussed it. Once their current research is wrapped up, they will officially hold the wedding and want us to prepare in advance."
"Since Master Castilio doesn't have your contact info, she asked me to notify you."
Jie Ming couldn't help but smile: "That really does seem like something that wizard would do."
Although he hadn't known Master Castilio for long, Jie Ming understood her personality well.
Compared to Mentor Clark, who could barely say a few words a day, Castilio was gentle and cheerful, amiable, and very straightforward in her actions. Of course, that referred to daily life. If it came to a fight, she would probably become a completely different person.
But regardless, Castilio never liked to hide her decisions.
On the other hand, Mentor Clark...
"Quietly smug!" Jie Ming pouted inwardly.
His mentor probably wouldn't even tell anyone until the day of the wedding.
Thinking of this, the corners of Jie Ming's mouth lifted slightly.
After all, this was something worth celebrating.
But when he looked back at Viola, his smile gradually faded.
Because her state... was clearly off.
Logically, in the entire Noren Workshop, the one who usually teased Mentor Clark the most was Viola.
She was also the one who most liked to yell at that research maniac to spend less time in the lab and socialize more.
Now that she finally heard the mentor was getting married, she should be the happiest.
But although a smile hung on her lips, there was a lingering gravity between her brows that couldn't be dispelled.
Even that strand of originally smooth silver hair had almost been twisted into a knot.
Jie Ming looked at her for a moment: "What's wrong?"
Viola didn't answer immediately, just kept twirling her hair, lost in thought.
Jie Ming didn't press, only waited quietly.
The laboratory fell silent again, with only the faint hum of alchemical devices echoing in the air.
After about ten seconds of silence, she finally released the now wrinkled strand of hair and gently rubbed her temples.
"Jie Ming," she suddenly asked. "Do you think the marriage of two seventh-level wizards is just about the two of them?"
Jie Ming didn't answer, just looked at her calmly as if she were an idiot.
Viola angrily chopped down on Jie Ming's puppet head with a hand blade, denting it.
"Right, we high-level wizards often represent more than just ourselves."
She leaned back slightly, looking at the laboratory's white ceiling, her voice dropping a few notes.
"The old man represents Noren Workshop. Castilio represents one of the major wizard factions within the Crimson Court: the Crimson Nest."
"A cross-faction marriage between two seventh-level wizards means resource sharing, technical exchange, interest restructuring, and could even affect future faction configurations."
She tapped the experimental table lightly:
"The interests involved are huge enough to fill dozens of standard contracts. So... now it's not just about who likes whom."
Jie Ming frowned slightly, understanding what Viola meant.
"Someone opposes?"
"Of course," Viola nodded. "And it's the most troublesome kind."
She waved her hand to open a data light screen, and the image of a middle-aged wizard in a dark red robe slowly emerged.
The man had a calm expression and handsome features, but his gray eyes seemed capable of devouring life itself.
Even just an image gave off an indescribable aura of decay.
"Azrael, a peak seventh-level wizard, specializing in the Law of Decay."
"Law of Decay... huh?" Jie Ming stroked his chin, beginning to understand the situation.
Viola nodded helplessly: "Yes, life and decay are one of the most recognized compatible Law combinations in Wizard Civilization. If they perform long-term Law Resonance, their research efficiency would greatly improve."
"Azrael has been researching this system for thousands of years. And Castilio is the only life Law controller he has found who perfectly matches him."
"Over the years, he has always hoped that Castilio would establish a long-term Law Resonance research partnership with him."
"In his view, this is his only chance to advance to the eighth-level."
Jie Ming felt his teeth ache: "So, if Castilio marries the mentor..."
"His research path is cut off," Viola shook her head gently.
"Or rather, the door to the eighth-level has been artificially blocked."
The lab fell silent again.
After a moment, Jie Ming spoke slowly:
"Then... does this Azrael love Castilio?"
Viola shook her head without hesitation.
"No! Quite the opposite. He doesn't love her at all."
She looked at Azrael's impassive image with complex eyes.
"There's no doubt that guy is a standard wizard, acting entirely from reason."
"He has no romantic feelings or possessiveness toward Castilio. In his eyes, Castilio is just the most critical and irreplaceable piece of the puzzle on his path to the eighth-level."
She let out a soft sigh: "That's precisely why this guy is the most dangerous."
Jie Ming narrowed his eyes, agreeing with Viola:
"This is troublesome. If it were just an emotional issue, we could find a way. But this guy is completely rational. So as long as he deduces that stopping this wedding is the option with the highest payoff..."
"Then..." Viola raised her head, meeting Jie Ming's gaze, her voice slow and low.
"He will do it without hesitation!"