High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 929: Chapter 277: The Gentleman and the Cat

”Everyone has their own ideas, and every organization has its own goals,”

”That is their freedom,”

”But as the saying goes at Alpha Academy... freedom means learning to let go. Trying to grasp everything at once, in the end, you only grasp a handful of air. That isn’t freedom. That is emptiness.”

Mr. Wu lay back on a spacious reclining chair, cradling a copy of ”The Book of Changes” in his hands, speaking leisurely to the rhythm of the chair’s gentle rocking.

Approaching evening, there was not a single customer in San You Bookstore, only a Yellow Flowered Cat squatting on the counter next to the gentleman, meticulously licking the cream from a small porcelain bowl.

The cold wind pattered against the glass windows while the interior remained as warm as spring, complemented by the orange glow of the lamps, creating a cozy and comfortable atmosphere.

After hearing Mr. Wu’s words, the Yellow Flowered Cat lifted its head, licked the fur around its mouth, and grumbled displeasedly in its throat.

”I’m talking about serious matters here... all you do is ramble on about this and that,” the Flower Cat said, devoid of the aloofness it showed to strangers, appearing somewhat casual and a bit verbose: ”I just want to ask you one thing, are you going to deal with First University’s mess or not?!”

”Not dealing with it!” Mr. Wu answered decisively, while he reached for the purple clay teapot beside him, took a sip of tea from the spout, and then sighed contentedly.

”You’re not dealing with the Xuanhuang Wood in the Black Prison? The loosening of the alien god’s seal in the academy? What about the overt and covert struggle between Shi Hui and the old man If Foolish? You’re not dealing with that either?” the Yellow Flowered Cat asked consecutively, its voice getting louder.

”Not dealing with it,” Mr. Wu shook his head. ”Everyone has the right to choose... Eventually, this world must continue based on their decisions.”

”You’re not dealing with that kid Zheng Qing either?” the Yellow Flowered Cat’s tail thumped on the wooden counter, making a dong dong sound.

This time, Mr. Wu hesitated for a few seconds.

Seeing Mr. Wu’s attitude slightly soften, the Yellow Flowered Cat immediately began to analyze hurriedly:

”You were on Buji Island two days ago, so you know the current situation at the school... This year happens to mark the 24,000th birthday of the Xuanhuang Wood, blooming exceptionally beautiful flowers. If nothing goes wrong, the fruits borne by that old tree this year could enhance those Demon Kings further... They haven’t shown themselves yet because they’re letting the other great demons scout ahead.”

”In the past half-year, the school has been increasing manpower in Black Prison, setting up various defensive, concealment, and offensive formations... Even so, it’s still not entirely guaranteed that those fruits will be safe.”

”Do you think the great demons will attack Black Prison in a few months and Zheng Qing will be safe staying at the school?”

”Also, that newly formed Dark Council and the ’Forbidden Curse Faction’ of the Moon Council are colluding, constantly eyeing Zheng Qing... Do they know something?”

At the mention of the Moon Council, the Yellow Flowered Cat’s temper grew even worse: ”The guys from the Moon Council are becoming increasingly unreasonable, an Upper House Member, about to be a Big Wizard Vampire, bullying a freshman?! Going public with it isn’t even shameful. It simply brings shame to old man John.”

Naturally, it was referring to the incident where Duke Milton caused a scene at the opening of D&K.

”They are all young people, and it is because of a girl that they are a bit impulsive... wasn’t it in the end without any terrible consequences? Letting those kids see more of the world isn’t a bad thing,” Mr. Wu gravely reassured the Flower Cat.

The Yellow Flowered Cat scoffed at Mr. Wu’s response: ”’They are all young people’?”

It growled in a coarse voice, imitating Mr. Wu’s tone as it repeated the phrase before bursting into a roar, ”Do you think everyone is like you, immortal, seeing everyone as children? Duke Milton, a several-hundred-year-old fellow, and young Zheng Qing, a teenager, how could they be the same?”

”Cough, cough, manners, manners.” Mr. Wu coughed heavily twice.

The Yellow Flowered Cat’s fur, which had puffed up, suddenly smoothed down, stretching out its pink tongue to lick its nose, emitting a disdainful sound: ”Tsk...”

The bookstore suddenly fell into silence.

It wasn’t until the Yellow Flowered Cat spotted a newspaper peeking out from under the counter, noticing the headline—”The Beginning of the Wand’s Fall—Incorporating the Eighteen-Year-Old Young Wizard into the Great Arcana Sequence!”

It reached out its paw, pulled the newspaper onto the table, and then swiftly skimmed through the main content of the article.

”Smack!” The Yellow Flowered Cat slammed its paw down on the article’s accompanying photo, scaring the young wizard holding the Merlin Medal into fleeing haphazardly.

”Those guys at the school aren’t fools... You don’t plan to meddle in those matters, but you should at least look after Zheng Qing, right?” the Yellow Flowered Cat said in a mocking tone, ”Now, they’ve put Zheng Qing out in the open, making him this year’s ’World’ of the Great Arcana. How long do you think you can stay in this bookstore?”

The rocking chair that had been creaking back and forth finally came to a stop.

The ”Book of Changes”, which had always been held in his hands, was closed again.

Mr. Wu sighed deeply, ”It’s really a case of wanting peace but the wind won’t stop...”

”Forbidden Curse is the ultimate, purest power in this universe.”

”It’s the manifestation of truth.”

”It’s also the key to maintaining balance between different powers in this world... Letting him become ’The World’ is quite fitting. After several years, the school’s people have become quite precise in judging characters.”

”Is this the key, Meow?” The Yellow Flowered Cat raised its tail, speaking with an involuntary hint of a cat-like tone, ”It was you who said he should take the exam, to get a glimpse of the world... Now, leaving him alone in such a dangerous place, shouldn’t you take responsibility? Or are you changing your original plan, intending to let the lunatics from the Moon Council or Dark Council seize control of the Forbidden Curse?”

Mr. Wu stood up and shook his head repeatedly.

”The non-proliferation principle of the Forbidden Curse is the cornerstone of stability in this world; it cannot be changed.” He tucked the ”Book of Changes” into the bookshelf, then draped a black cloak over his robe, turning his gaze towards the Yellow Flowered Cat, ”I’m going to visit those places and probably won’t be back until after the New Year... Take extra care, don’t let the kid lose control of his emotions... How has he been recently?”

The Yellow Flowered Cat lazily lay on the counter, smirking, ”How else? The same as always... But I don’t know if it’s because of the final exams, he hasn’t been sleeping well lately, often having nightmares. Do you have any remedies?”

”What else can be done? If the Sleep Talisman doesn’t help, why not try stuffing a rabbit’s paw under his pillow?” Mr. Wu answered.

”Are rabbit paws effective?” the Yellow Flowered Cat was highly skeptical.

”Never underestimate those magics that have stood the test of time... They always make the academically inclined wizards look foolish.” Mr. Wu laughed heartily, his figure dispersing, and in the blink of an eye, he had vanished from the bookstore without a trace.