This was the outskirts, far from the city center.

Tonight was the first day of the lunar month—the new moon. After sunset, this remote area plunged into pitch darkness.

Cool breezes swept through, stars twinkled fiercely above, yet a suffocating dark force filled the air.

Legends say demons always emerge on dark and windy nights. As if to confirm it, a woman’s scream pierced the night sky.

A sixteen-year-old girl dashed out of an abandoned park, fleeing along the riverside path. Two men chased her from behind.

She was in utter panic, her body swaying violently. Her left foot wore a sandal; the right one was missing.

Though her expression was hidden in darkness, her ragged breathing revealed her terror.

Clearly familiar with the path, she ran smoothly even in total blackness. Her pursuers, however, seemed lost. One tripped hard and fell.

“Don’t mind me! Catch her—we’ll have fun tonight!” the fallen man urged, his tone lewd. His slovenly clothes, messy hair, and stubble marked them as troublemakers, likely from a nearby slum.

“Heh heh, got it!” His companion didn’t pause, closing in fast.

The girl gritted her teeth, sprinting toward the city lights. She thought safety lay in crowded streets.

But no matter how well she knew the route or how desperately she ran, her pursuer’s footsteps grew louder. The lights ahead seemed so close!

Panic bred mistakes. Her bare right foot stepped on a small stone—normally trivial, but agonizing now.

Sharp pain made her stumble. Her pursuer seized the chance and grabbed her.

“Help—” She tried to scream, but a hand clamped tightly over her mouth.

As her vision blurred, despair consumed her.

“Heh heh, little girl, why run? Come play with us…” Cruel whispers echoed in her ear. She regretted coming alone to the park—it was her only refuge.

The fallen man caught up, grinning wickedly at his partner’s success.

“Don’t be scared. Playing with us will bring endless joy.”

They neared the city center. Streetlights pushed back the dark, revealing the men’s ugly faces to the girl. They saw her pale cheeks too but showed no mercy, only growing bolder.

“Who knew she’d be so pretty? We hit the jackpot.” Her hands were pinned behind her back, chest forced forward. The men laughed lewdly.

Just as they planned to drag her back, a voice interrupted.

“Let her go.”

Both men whirled around but saw no one.

“Who’s there? Show yourself, coward!”

“Yah…”

“Ah…”

Two screams echoed. The hand over her mouth loosened. She stared blankly at the groaning men on the ground.

“It’s over. Don’t be afraid.”

She looked up. A figure stood atop the streetlight! The glare obscured his face.

“Who are you?” she asked weakly.

“Who am I? Hmm… just a passing Mage.” He leaped down, floating slowly from four meters high. It took three seconds to land lightly on his toes.

“!”

Seeing him fully, she gaped in shock. On his head—was that underwear?! Yes, women’s black lace underwear, worn upside-down, revealing stern, righteous eyes. A heroic entrance ruined entirely by the panties.

No time to process. The men stood, faces twisted, pulling knives from their pockets. The girl hid aside but stayed close. They ignored her, glaring at the Mage.

“Surrender quietly at the police station. It’ll save me trouble and spare you pain.” He fixed them with a noble gaze—but the lace underwear destroyed his dignity.

Not underestimating him, the thugs exchanged a glance.

“Fuck you!” They hurled their knives and turned to flee.

The girl closed her eyes in fear.

“Ow, ow, ow…”

“Spare us…”

Screams sounded—not the Mage’s. She opened her eyes. The knives hung frozen a meter before him. The thugs floated mid-air, bruised and battered.

“Sorry, we were wrong! Please let us go!”

“My bones are broken—it hurts!”

“I can’t breathe—I’m dying!”

Watching them whimper, the Mage said calmly, “I didn’t hit hard. Stop faking. I’m taking you to the station. Or keep whining, and I’ll silence you permanently.”

They fell silent instantly, eyes darting for escape.

“Alright, it’s late. Go home, student. It’s dangerous for a girl to wander alone at night. You were lucky this time. Don’t do it again.” He prepared to leave, leaping up while muttering, “Dragging these guys to the station is such a hassle.”

“You’re Yan Lingxuan… right?”

Mid-air, he shuddered and stiffly turned.

“Student, what? You think I’m your classmate?”

Seizing his slip, her eyes grew certain. “I’m not mistaken. Those pants are our ‘No. 2 High’ uniform. Those sneakers match Yan Lingxuan’s exactly. Same height, same voice—it’s you.”

Her name was Su Fangwen, a first-year at City No. 2 High and class monitor in Yan Lingxuan’s class.

“Student, go home. Sleep well. You have school tomorrow.” He deepened his voice too late.

“Hey, Yan Lingxuan, why wear underwear on your head? That’s so perverted.”

Though stung, he feared entanglement. He vanished with the thugs.

Watching his fading silhouette, Su Fangwen felt inexplicable excitement. Her fear had vanished completely.