High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 303: Chapter 227 All are Illusions_1

Even with numerous customers, there was no long line at the front desk of Green Xifang.

Zheng Qing noticed that each customer in line at the front desk completes their transaction within a few seconds, then returns to the showroom with a satisfied smile.

This aroused his great interest.

”I thought the clerk at the front desk was from the multi-arm race,” Zheng Qing tiptoed slightly and exclaimed, ”I can’t believe it’s just an old woman... how does she do it!”

”What?” Jiang Yu, who was staring at a slowly passing fashion model not far away, didn’t notice Zheng Qing’s confusion.

”Did you notice how quickly the front desk is processing transactions?” Zheng Qing excitedly watched the old woman’s move and shook his head, ”Unbelievable, just looking at her actions, her behavior is not any different from ours.”

”Oh, that,” Jiang Yu finally came back to his senses and smiled, ”Green Xifang is also one of the initiators of the ’TC2000 Standard Protocol’. The Wizard Alliance allows them to alter the flow of time in their own shops to provide better service for customers. This includes Shangyuan Bookstore, Cloud Think Boutique, Bai Cao Tang, Three Flavor Bookstore, etc., most of the old brands choose to participate in this protocol.”

”If you observe carefully, you will notice that the shadow cast by that date-red wooden bar counter on the floor is extremely dark, and the edge of the shadow shows clear black stripes... that is the trace of different timelines intersecting in the same plane under the influence of ’Gaia’.”

Zheng Qing wore a stiff smile on his face.

He understood about a third of what Jiang Da Headmaster just said.

”You’re amazing!” He sincerely admired, ”I have absolutely no idea about what you just said.”

”It’s actually just a stolen explanation.” Jiang Yu smiled slightly and modestly said, ”These examples are all from Steven Hankins’ ’Dimensional Theory Analysis’. I just borrowed them. When we were young, my grandmother loved to use these story-based examples to explain various complex magical theories to us.”

”That’s terrifying,” Zheng Qing exhaled deeply, and sighed, ”Now I finally understand the gap Mister Sima mentioned before between civilian wizards and aristocratic wizards... It cannot be measured.”

While they were talking, they had already moved up to the front of the line.

After the witch with long golden hair left in front of them, Zheng Qing stared at the uneven shadow under his feet and carefully stepped over the thin black ripple.

He felt no difference at all.

Even the light and darkness of the Luminous Pearls overhead didn’t change at all.

Zheng Qing turned around and saw that the guests in the exhibition hall seemed to have become stiff and dull ink paintings.

”Don’t look back for a long time,” Jiang Yu tugged at his sleeve and said softly, ”We are standing at the most turbulent place where the River of Time turns. Looking back can easily cause dizziness... You just recovered from your headache.”

Zheng Qing agreed and immediately turned back.

At this point, the old woman at the front desk had just looked up from the account book, revealing her white hair and a pair of bright eyes.

”Why does it happen that when we stand at the end of the line and look here, we blend in with the surroundings... But from here looking back, we can clearly see the time difference?” Zheng Qing couldn’t help his confusion, and continued to whisper to Jiang Yu.

Perhaps because their distance was slightly close, Jiang Yu’s ears turned pink.

”It’s an illusion.” The witch pursed her lips, her face slightly unnatural.

”Good afternoon.” The elderly woman at the front desk greeted the two young wizards with a smile, ”The weather is nice today.”

”Yes, good afternoon.” Jiang Yu nodded politely.

Zheng Qing smiled shyly without speaking.

”If I’m not mistaken, it’s your first time visiting our store.” Then she adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose, her gaze lingered for a moment on Zheng Qing’s red robe.

”Ah...Cloud Think Boutique’s uniforms, made from vintage cold silkworm silk, are very particular about the stitching.” The old lady squinted, her face a picture of nostalgia. ”Old Emma wouldn’t exert such efforts on ordinary school uniforms... You must be Jiuyou’s state-funded student this year?”

Although it was a question, the old lady’s tone was very affirming.

Zheng Qing widened his eyes in surprise.

”The wizarding world is vast, so vast that you might never find its boundaries; but it is also very small, so small that walking down the street, you might often run into familiar faces.” The old lady smiled wryly, her face wrinkling like a chrysanthemum blossom. ”According to tradition, state-funded students can get a 10% discount at Green Xifang.”

”Oh!” Zheng Qing finally caught on. ”Aren’t you worried that I’m not a state-funded student?”

”Well, when you pay, you’ll have to use your student card, won’t you?” The old lady winked, her face revealing a triumphant smile. ”I remember that ten years ago, the school unified the payment methods across the campus.”

Zheng Qing raised his hand in acknowledgment.

”What kind of clothes would you two like to buy?” The old lady resumed her kind expression, and her voice was very gentle. ”Autumn couple outfits are selling hot, and if you two can leave a kissing picture, Green Xifang can give you an additional 20% discount... This offer is only for young wizards from University One.”

”Oh no, not... We are not... It’s not like you think.” Zheng Qing had just come to his senses and was nearly frightened out of them again.

He looked horrified at the shopkeeper, stuttering a bit in his explanation: ”We are just classmates.”

Jiang Yu gave him a teasing glance.

”I see.” The old lady languidly drew out her words, a bright smile on her face. ”This is University One... everyone is classmates.”

”You don’t understand.” Zheng Qing denied, shaking his head vigorously.

He felt the old lady’s laughing face held a profound meaning, even though some erroneous details were mixed in.

Jiang Yu seemed to find the scene interesting and watched amusedly, without saying a word.

”Oh?!” The old lady’s voice stretched out in agreement, then she leaned close to the two of them, whispering with a low laugh: ”Don’t be nervous, young man. I’ve been young too. In my day that old coot was even shyer than you... The school doesn’t prohibit early love now, you can be more open about it.”

Zheng Qing looked embarrassedly at the old lady, his face turning beet red.

He didn’t even dare to look at the witch standing beside him.

”By your meaning, we can get as much as a 30% discount.” Jiang Yu’s voice echoed from the side, stopping Zheng Qing’s futile attempts to deny the misunderstanding. Her tone light-hearted, she said: ”Let’s go with that for now... if possible, we’d like to see the style templates first.”

Zheng Qing opened his mouth, then reluctantly closed it, not continuing to argue.

They had time, and there was room for private negotiation on this matter.

Plus, he didn’t think that Headmaster Jiang Da would take advantage of him just for a 30% discount.

Even more importantly, he didn’t want to get his leg broken just to get a 30% discount.

He’d heard from Yiliana, among the Gypsy witches who came to school this year, a few were admitted by the Starry Sky Academy.

”Here are this quarter’s new styles. You can point to a design and the models backstage will put on the corresponding outfit and show it... You can see how it looks.”

The old lady took a thick book of samples from under the table and handed it to Jiang Yu, her face full of mischief. ”You and your non-boyfriend can go watch at the right side of the runway, the light there is gentle.”

”Thank you so much!” Jiang Yu pulled Zheng Qing towards the observation area.

”It’s an absolute disaster.” Zheng Qing could feel his back breaking into a cold sweat. With a dejected tone, he admitted: ”It’s even worse than I expected.”