High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 82: Chapter 6 Two State-funded Students_1

”The First University is a great academy.”

”Its greatness lies in its long and storied history, its alumni roster that includes over a hundred grand wizards; it is projected through standards and norms the wizarding world agrees upon, and in the school’s relentless pursuit of truth. Most importantly, its greatness is reflected in you: young, vibrant students.”

”It is a university, and moreover, it is the core of the wizarding world.”

”Here, you ought to be cautious and learn humility.”

”Every member of the staff is not just here for your service; every senior has something to teach you. Each professor is a valuable asset in the wizarding world. How much you can learn from them depends on your willingness to embrace the unknown.”

”Who are you? Why are you at this university? This is the first question you need to reflect on.”

”In your first semester, you need to establish your own beliefs, build your own worldview. Solidify your thoughts so you won’t lose yourself or feel lost in your future studies.”

”In the near future, you will find that losing your way emotionally is a horror more despairing than death itself.”

”You can learn a lot here.”

”For instance, how to cast spells faster, how to cast more powerful spells, how to mix magical potions, how to draw an all-powerful Rune Array, and even to pierce through the fog of time to touch the unknown world. If you’re lucky, you can even communicate with the River of Destiny to uncover truths within your capabilities.”

The classroom was quiet without a hint of sound.

Everyone savored Professor Yao’s impassioned speech with reverent expressions.

On the podium,

Professor Yao looked contentedly at the seated freshmen and retrieved a folder from his bag:

”Now, let’s have a roll call to familiarize myself with your cute little faces. After that, you will introduce yourselves, doing so will expedite the process of getting acquainted with each other.”

He paused momentarily, swept one authoritative glance around the room, opened the roster, and lifted a pair of black-framed glasses.

”Liu Feifei!” Glancing at his list, Old Yao called out powerfully.

A slim-chinned girl in the first row carefully stood up.

”Come forward, come forward.” Old Yao, with a warm smile, moved aside from the podium and signaled, ”Don’t be nervous. Come here and say a few words.”

Liu Feifei held onto the desk as if she might fall at any moment.

She stood behind the podium, her face flushing red.

”Hello, everyone!” She bowed deeply but misjudged the height of the podium and bumped her head as she rose.

Laughter broke out in the classroom.

”My name is Liu Feifei, and I come from Huaxia Qingzhou. I like to read books. I have a pet snake that is very gentle, and I hope you’ll all like it.”

At this point, she took a hesitant glance at Old Yao, intending to leave the podium.

”Is that it?” Professor Yao seemed surprised, ”Can you think of anything else to share?”

A lightbulb moment hit Liu Feifei, she bowed deeply again, saying loudly:

”I am eager to make friends with everyone, please guide me in the future!”

Finished with her words, she straightened up and gazed seriously at everyone.

Gradually, applause resonated in the classroom.

Old Yao cleared his throat and waved his hand to signal for the applause to stop.

”Is there anything else you want to share?” he prompted, ”Like your high school grades, subjects you excel at, etc.”

Liu Feifei, who had just regained her composure, flushed red again, appearing like a boiled shrimp.

”I’m sorry.” The young girl took another bow, stuttering, ”I like to read history books and often help my grandmother with making potions. I don’t really excel at anything in particular.”

”What about your high school scores?” Old Yao emphasized again.

”Scores?” Liu Feifei looked at the professor in confusion, ”I don’t know.”

A wave of laughter went through the classroom.

”I really don’t know,” Liu Feifei looked a bit anxious as she glanced at the crowd, then at Professor Yao.

”Didn’t your interviewer mention it?” The professor asked with a puzzled look, scanning the classroom sternly at the same time.

The classroom instantly fell quiet.

”I was helping my grandma collect herbs on the mountain when the interviewer visited. The acceptance letter came through my grandmother.”

”I see.” Professor Yao flipped through his attendance book and shook his head, ”Your high school score is five hundred. A perfect score. That’s easy to remember. It’s a score to be proud of, and I hope you continue to work hard.”

A series of gasps arose in the classroom.

Everyone was looking at the slender, pointed-chinned girl on the podium in disbelief.

The hum of discussion erupted almost instantly; even the stern gaze of Old Yao couldn’t stop it.

”Is she the one who ranked first and got state-funded?”

”Wasn’t it supposed to be a boy?”

”There must have been some mistake!”

”She is so ordinary!”

”I knew it, my grandmother didn’t miscalculate!” Li Mengxing excitedly waved at Liu Feifei from the first row: ”She had already told me that I would meet the state-funded student on the private jet.”

Zheng Qing was just as shocked, to the point where he didn’t hear Professor Yao call his name twice.

”Zheng Qing!”

”Zheng Qing?!”

”Zheng Qing, he’s calling you!” Zhang Ji Xin beside him pushed him hard.

Zheng Qing somewhat unsteadily walked onto the podium.

Looking at the sea of heads below, he felt a bit dizzy.

”Hello everyone, I’m Zheng Qing, from Huaxia Pingyang Prefecture. I like practicing calligraphy and sleeping, and I have a pet fox.”

At this point, he guilty glanced at Li Meng’s seat.

Li Meng was still enthusiastically having a whispered conversation with Liu Feifei.

It was Jiang Yu at the side, squinting her eyes and looking at Zheng Qing on the podium with a profound smile on her face.

”My final exam score was 480.” Zheng Qing’s voice was very low when he finished his introduction.

”How much?” Xin Fat Man yelled from the last row.

The classroom quieted down a bit, with other students looking at him curiously.

Zheng Qing took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and said loudly, ”480 points!”

After finishing, he ran off the podium like a bolt and hid back at his seat.

”Liar!” Li Meng’s angry voice rang out behind him.

He saw a host of astonished faces in front.

Zheng Qing didn’t dare to look back.

In the last row, he was met with a group of smirking faces.

”You’ve hidden this well, Mr. Genius.” Xin Fat Man slapped Zheng Qing’s shoulder with no attempt to conceal his jealousy.

”You guys never asked.” Zheng Qing rubbed his shoulders, muttering.

”I’ll take the blame for you.” Xiao Xiao closed his notebook heavily.

”Li Meng got me into this.” Zheng Qing lowered his voice.

”You should treat us.” Zhang Ji Xin nodded sagely beside him.

”But I’m really poor.” Zheng Qing appealed weakly.

No one cared about his protest.

”Quiet!” Old Yao snapped his fingers by the window.

A series of loud noises vibrated everyone’s ears.

”Discuss anything else after class, let’s continue now!”

With that, he signaled Jiang Yu, who had just stepped onto the podium, to continue her self-introduction.

”He did it on purpose for sure.” Zheng Qing slumped his head on the table, thinking listlessly.

He needed a good rest now.

Maybe after class, he would have to face an unavoidable duel.

Sighing, he looked at the poised third-placer on the podium and felt utterly hopeless.