High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 257: Chapter 181: A Headache-Inducing Meeting_1

”Ding Dong, Ding Dong...”

The wind chimes hanging on the window sill were still swaying slightly under the influence of inertia, emitting a delightful and pleasant tremor.

These bell-shaped pendants looked like bronze, turning green all over and seemingly made of bronze, covered with traces of corrosion, they exuded an air of antiquity from head to toe.

The surface of the bells crisscrossed with lines of different lengths and widths. In the sunlight, runes the size of rice grains flowed slowly on these lines, flickering with dazzling, multicolored lights.

Each bell had a copper ring hanging above and a thin black thread dangling below.

At the end of each thread, peach wood talisman boards as thick as thin paper were hanging, their surfaces carved with fierce-looking god images in various forms. With the gentle ringing of the wind chimes, these god images slowly rotated, scrutinizing the noisy classroom.

These bells had been hung on the window by Class President Tang Dun before the class.

It was said that he had bought this warning amulet from a wandering wizard at a hefty price, which could cover a range of several hundred square meters. Any abnormal movements inside the protected area of the rune array would trigger the array on the bells, emitting a demon-suppressing sound to ward off enemies.

Of course, the ringing of these wind chimes at this moment was not due to the detection of demons.

It was merely because of the gentle breeze brought up by Li Meng running around in the classroom.

”Your cousin?” Zheng Qing paused, his gaze involuntarily falling behind Li Meng.

Not far away, Jiang Yu was running towards them with a stern face.

She was wearing a bright red robe with a cloud-luan-pattern step-ban hanging around her waist, the sound of jade ringing and red sleeves fluttering as she hurriedly walked, making her exceptionally charming.

”You’re causing trouble again!” As soon as she arrived at their side, Jiang Yu unceremoniously grabbed Li Meng’s ear with two slender fingers and twisted it softly.

”It’s a misunderstanding...” Squirming, the little spiritual wizard protested,” Ask him... I just came to give you a heads up that you needed him!”

Seeing Jiang Yu’s gaze, Zheng Qing hesitated and finally nodded his head.

As expected, I am still kind-hearted.

The scholarship student comforted himself with a smirk.

Jiang Yu let go of her hand, Li Meng snorted, then turned around and gave a push with her foot on the leg of Xin Fat Man who was a step away.

The chubby guy gave her a bewildered look and moved a bit further awkwardly.

”What’s up?” Looking at the pretty girl standing in front of him, Zheng Qing’s heart tightened.

He didn’t know if it was just his imagination, but ever since he started helping Elena with her homework, Jiang Yu had been giving him the cold shoulder.

The two hadn’t spoken privately for nearly a week.

”I’ll be busy this Saturday afternoon so I can’t accompany you to see Doctor Du Zemu.” Jiang Yu looked at Zheng Qing apologetically, her gaze drifting uncertainly towards the window,” You know where to find... the doctor knows you.”

”Oh, it’s okay... I can go by myself.” Zheng Qing, not knowing what to do, rubbed his hands together and chuckled,” Thanks for your help before... if possible, I’d like to treat you to a meal on the pedestrian street... as a token of my gratitude.”

”I want to go too, I want to go too!” Li Meng raised her arm high and waved it.

The golden copper bells on her wrist jingled delightfully.

Jiang Yu, unable to stop her in time, could only flash an apologetic smile.

”I’m afraid that might not be convenient.” She suggested, her tone somewhat hesitant.

”No problem, no problem... it wouldn’t be inconvenient.” Zheng Qing laughed and nodded repeatedly, feeling surprisingly relieved inside.

But one sentence from the headmaster shattered his newfound calm.

”Miss Jones wouldn’t mind, would she?” She tilted her chin slightly, her eyes filled with amusement, ”If I were to go to the pedestrian street for a meal with her boyfriend... would she mind?”

Elena’s maiden name was Jones, but few people in the class addressed her by that name.

So, it took Zheng Qing several seconds to understand what Jiang Yu meant.

”No, no... wait, no!” He suddenly came to his senses, waving his hands frantically, his face flushed red, ”That’s not... you’ve got it all wrong... we’re not like that, I’m just helping her with her homework.”

But then he wondered, why was he explaining to Jiang Yu in the first place?

Hadn’t a sense of relief just emerged in his heart?

Thus, his swinging arm unwittingly stopped, his head involuntarily turned in the direction of Elena’s seat.

The Gypsy witch seemed completely oblivious to the movement in this corner, propping her chin with one hand while browsing the textbook on the table. Her wine-red curly hair fell down, concealing her face and making it impossible to discern her expression.

After dazing for a few seconds, Zheng Qing remembered Jiang Yu who was standing in front of him.

When he turned his head back around, she had already left.

Leaving only the little spiritual wizard, who lifted her leg and kicked Zheng Qing again.

”Jiuyou is truly full of bookworms!” she complained angrily, running away before Zheng Qing had the chance to get angry.

Zheng Qing let out a sigh and sat back down, his mood inexplicably downcast.

Even he could not articulate what he was truly feeling deep inside.

”Are you going alone tonight?” Xiao Xiao suddenly raised her head from her notebook and glanced at him.

”Hmm?” Zheng’s gaze swept between the beautiful figures in the classroom as he noncommittally replied, ”It’s just dinner, I can go alone.”

”Inviting for dinner?” Xiao Xiao’s brows furrowed, her eyes portraying evident confusion. ”Isn’t it just a simple meeting? You’re inviting Augustus for dinner? Did he agree?”

Zheng Qing was stunned, then suddenly realized the confusion.

They were not talking about the same thing.

His mind was still engrossed in the conversation he’d had with Jiang Yu and had completely overlooked who had asked the question.

Xiao Xiao had been asking about Zheng Qing’s meeting with Augustus.

After hesitating for a night, and following a lengthy all-member discussion in dorm room 403, Zheng Qing finally decided not to attend the Blood Comrades’ welcome banquet.

This was a matter of attitude.

Of course, his refusal had to be tactful. According to Dylan’s suggestion, it was best to have a suitable reason. And he had to meet Augustus in person to return his invitation.

This wasn’t something easy to handle.

Fortunately, Augustus didn’t seem intent on making it difficult for him. After Zheng Qing proposed a meeting, he promptly received a response, agreeing to have tea with him Thursday evening.

”Ahem,” Zheng Qing cleared his throat, rapidly responding, ”No, no, no, it’s just a simple meeting, no need for dinner... The phrase I just used was common vernacular among mundanes.”

Xiao Xiao adjusted her glasses, casting him a suspicious glance.

Zheng Qing touched his slightly warm ear, striving to present a casual expression.

”Have you made an appointment for the time?” Xiao Xiao returned her gaze to her notebook.

”Five-thirty in the afternoon,” Zheng Qing touched the pocket watch in his pocket and answered softly, ”I remember that this afternoon’s life class is practice-based, seems like we are supposed to practice the ’Ablution Spell’. I should be able to make it on time.”

Xiao Xiao tilted her head and didn’t speak.

As it turned out, a plan that was solely based on speculation without any support from divination was highly likely to go awry.

During the afternoon life class, students were indeed required to practice ablution magic.

But Zheng had overlooked the fact that unintended accidents frequently occur when novices used magic.

Some people washed their hair away, ending up looking like Teacher Qi Yu; some used too much force when air-drying and nearly turned into dried meat; others didn’t apply waterproof grease to their law books, leading their recorded spells to turn into ink smudges in the mist.

When the messy class ended, it was already five o’clock in the afternoon.

Zheng Qing even had to skip dinner and hurried towards Lin Zhong Lake.

After passing through the vine-enshrouded long corridor, crossing the round door guarded by a stone golem, and ignoring the provocative words of the aged ghosts along the castle corridors, Zheng Qing finally arrived at the location he had previously agreed on with Augustus.

In the depths of Alpha castle.

The Blood Comrades’ lounge.