High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 943: Chapter 5: Seeing Deng Xiaoxian Again

”Pan Lv Er, if Old Manager Deng knew you were in touch with your friends, he’d break all three of your legs!”

Zheng Qing, as if grasping some significant leverage, stretched his hand in front of the young manager of Spring Reviving Hall and squinted, ”The usual rules, you know.”

Speaking of usual rules, it was actually just a euphemistic way of blackmail.

Since Old Manager Deng strictly forbade Deng Xiaoxian from adventuring outside, San You Bookstore became the hiding place for Deng Xiaoxian’s foreign parcels and letters for a while. However, every time he asked Zheng Qing for help, he would always give the boy something in return.

Sometimes it was an old copper coin, sometimes a beautiful piece of scale armor, and other times, some strangely shaped little bugs, such as two-headed mosquitoes, palm-sized fly skins, bees encased in amber, and so on.

This give-and-take had cultivated a habit in Zheng Qing: before keeping a secret for Deng Xiaoxian, he would ask for a little favor.

Even now, in the largest box made of poplar wood in Zheng Qing’s grey cloth bag, there were many small items that Deng Xiaoxian had given him.

Upon hearing Zheng Qing’s words, the young manager of Spring Reviving Hall raised his arm and slapped down Zheng Qing’s outstretched hand, ”The usual rules, the usual rules, your usual big headed ghost... Seriously, if you used such crude methods with your classmates at school, it wouldn’t take a month before the student council blacklisted you.”

”From this, are you saying there are more sophisticated ways when you extort?” Zheng Qing said with a hollow gaze, looking at the tall, thin warlock before him.

”Extortion? What are you talking about!” Deng Xiaoxian blew a breath of air, sending the lock of hair on his forehead fluttering, ”I have people in Danghag... Your nonsense talk, be careful I sue you for defamation!”

After half a year of university life, Zheng Qing was no longer the ignorant bookstore apprentice he used to be.

He had heard Xiao Xiao talk about Danghag more than once, so upon receiving Deng Xiaoxian’s ’threat,’ he immediately threw up his hands in surrender—though that didn’t mean he believed what Deng Xiaoxian said, only that he thought it was time to put an end to this atmospheric joke.

”I was actually planning to bring in some fireflies from the school.” Zheng Qing smoothly changed the subject, while patting the grey cloth bag at his waist, ”After all, I do have a shop on Pedestrian Street...ouch...”

Before he could finish, his head was struck by a thread-bound book.

”Such a young age, acting all big brotherly!” Deng Xiaoxian blew hair out of his face and glared at Zheng Qing, full of surprise, ”Half a year no see, and you’ve really grown in stature... Before, a few words would make you blush!”

Zheng Qing rolled his eyes, pretending not to hear Deng Xiaoxian’s mockery.

Instead, he continued, ”...After seeing Great Ming Pavilion and Beta Town Pedestrian Street, you realize how outdated Hui Zi Ji is. So, I was thinking, when I come back, I should change the signs for our neighbors... Their shop signs are too old, and they don’t use any modern promotional magic at all. It completely goes against the basic principles of business operation.”

With that, he began to chatter nonstop about his renovation ideas, pointing at Bai Cao Tang behind Deng Xiaoxian, suggesting here to place an alchemy puppet, there to raise a group of sprites, and so on.”

Throughout his rambling, the young manager of Spring Reviving Hall said nothing, just casually flipping through a medical book.

Only when Zheng Qing got tired of talking and decided to drink some water did Deng Xiaoxian calmly raise a finger, ”How to renovate is your business... It’s your skill if you can pull even one copper from the old man’s pocket.”

”These old men and women in the street, they don’t have any other habits, but are stronger than anyone else when it comes to being thrifty.”

Hearing this, Zheng Qing stretched out his legs and sat down on the threshold, no longer wanting to get up.

Before him, in the sky above Hui Zi Ji Street, the brocaded rooster that had been flying around suddenly spread its wings, revealing a segment of music:

”... Old Jack was spinning his compass, his spurs clicking, his left eye squinting slightly, his right hand resting on the Law book at his waist...”

Listening to this familiar song, Zheng Qing couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows, but still did not move.

He didn’t want to move, yet Deng Xiaoxian grew more interested.

This young assistant from Spring Reviving Hall put down the book in his hand, stood up, took a couple of sliding steps to the music played by the brocaded rooster in midair, then twisted his hip, sometimes even blowing on his hair, making the long strands in front of his forehead flutter, adopting what he thought was a dashing pose.

It must be admitted, this guy had a perfect sense of rhythm.

”You know this song too?!”

A hint of interest appeared on Zheng Qing’s face – the most common expression when finding a common topic in conversation. At the same time, he immediately explained, ”The shop I run on the university’s Pedestrian Street plays this song often...”

”A classic hunting tune, what wizard doesn’t know it,” Deng Xiaoxian was unimpressed with his astonishment.

This made Zheng Qing somewhat indignant.

”Do you know who Old Jack is?” he asked challengingly.

”Nothing more than some western mage who made a mark during the era of westward demon hunting,” Deng Xiaoxian exhaled, letting the long strand of hair on his forehead flutter freely, then naturally shifted the topic, ”Speaking of demon hunting... Xiaojian told me that your team did pretty well this year, even won a trophy?”

The Xiaojian he mentioned was Deng Xiaojian, a hunter from the Judgement Hunting Team of First University, who had once helped train the Absolution Hunting Team.

Mentioning this, Zheng Qing had to thank this young assistant from Spring Reviving Hall.

”Newcomer’s competition champion... Actually, our hunting team isn’t that impressive,” Zheng Qing’s attitude had taken a 180-degree turn from before, becoming much friendlier and more submissive.

”Your hunting team isn’t that impressive... so you mean, you are, right?” Deng Xiaoxian glanced skeptically at the young wizard, teasing, ”Haven’t seen you in half a year, and your skin has gotten much thicker... indeed, living independently is the best way to train oneself.”

Immediately after, he sighed in a tone mixed with regret and nostalgia, ”That naive and kind young man... he has finally died.”

”Back off!” Zheng Qing’s grateful demeanor instantly vanished.

He grabbed a copy of ”Hold the bottle” in front of him and threw it at Deng Xiaoxian, laughing and cursing, ”You’re the one who’s dead! I’m alive and well... It’s the New Year, can’t you say something auspicious!”

”Smack!” The young wizard’s head got hit by another book.

”Spouting nonsense again,” Deng Xiaoxian put away ”Hold the bottle,” giving the young wizard a sideways glance, lecturing, ”At such a young age, playing big shot – not a small boast, huh.”

”Tsk,” Zheng Qing, clutching his head, annoyed, said, ”Can you not always hit the head? I am a cost student at First University, my brain is quite valuable!”