High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 992: Chapter 54: A Song of Ice and Fire

Zheng Qing had never expected to find himself involved in the troubles of the Forest Goods Market in such a way.

When the security officer from North Beta Town asked if there were any registered hunters in the shop, Zheng Qing was pondering whether to head straight back to school or take a detour to Beta Town Pedestrian Street to check out Valentine’s Day gifts at Linjinghua or Shepherdess.

After all, with such a major incident occurring at the Forest Goods Market, it would likely take a while to resolve, and their original plans to continue shopping that afternoon were definitely ruined.

However, amidst all his considerations, he had overlooked the presence of a school newspaper journalist among his companions who was extremely career-oriented — a little earlier, in the Forest Goods Market, if not for Zheng Qing and Xiao Xiao desperately holding him back, Xin Fat Man would have already followed Commissioner Three-pronged Sword Andrew for an interview.

As Xin Fat Man aspired to win the ’Golden Feather Pen,’ seeing the opportunity to be involved in this major news about extraterrestrial envoys, he was definitely not going to let it pass.

Outside the window, the intense magic fluctuations became more and more apparent.

In the restaurant, male and female wizards stared at each other until their gazes eventually converged on the table where Xin Fat Man and his companions sat.

Zheng Qing’s mouth twitched, staring fixedly at Xin in front of him, and in his mind, he had already fried, stir-fried, and stewed Xin a hundred times. He believed that Xiao Xiao, silently packing up his notebook beside him, shared the same thoughts.

Xin Fat Man chuckled, winked at Zheng Qing, and raised his arm with no intention of backing down.

”Can a prospective hunter do?” he asked with a brave and fearless expression, looking at the security officer standing at the bar, ”Although our Absolution Hunting Team isn’t officially registered yet, it’s just a matter of time. Guarding the safety of the Wizard World is the duty of every student at First University!”

His words were forceful and righteous.

If Zheng Qing hadn’t known about Fat Man’s intentions, he might have almost believed him.

”Ah! Absolution! I know them, they were the first-place winners in last year’s university cup freshmen competition!” a girl by the window suddenly exclaimed, ”Their captain has been admitted into the Great Arcana this year as the ’World’ holder!”

This somewhat abrupt explanation attracted even more glances at the three young wizards.

Xin Fat Man stood up, belly protruding, and tried to show a modest smile while pointing at Zheng Qing and Xiao Xiao, introducing, ”Although our hunting team’s lineup isn’t complete, having our most powerful team captain, the most formidable diviner, and me, an ordinary auxiliary hunter, is enough to form a small search team.”

Zheng Qing felt like his ears were about to catch fire.

Without the need for furtive glances, just with his not very sensitive ears, he could catch a wave of very interested whispers. He forced a stern face, lifted his head, and looked at the chin of the security captain.

Loose and scruffy, without much beard.

Since he had already been dragged into this by Fat Man, he had to bring out the aura of the Great Arcana; continuing to shrink back would only show lack of responsibility.

”If you need our help, it’s our unavoidable responsibility.” The young government-cost student stood up, bowed slightly, and spoke in a polite tone.

”Very well,” the security officer seemed very interested, giving him a few more glances, then turned to the small shop’s proprietress and instructed, ”Put their expenses on my account... we’ll settle them together later.”

Then he waved at the three young wizards, ”Come with me... take out your Law books, you might need them in a bit.”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qing immediately pulled out his own Law book, clutching it in his hand.

After walking a few steps, and after hesitating for a moment, he reached into his grey cloth bag and pulled out his Colt Silver Python. If any sudden situations arose, firing a gun was always faster than flipping through a book.

Xiao Xiao lagged one step behind Zheng Qing, closely following him. Instead of taking out a law book as requested by the sheriff, he pulled out a dried turtle shell and held it in front of him. The shell was covered with golden charm, trickling slowly between the fingers of the warlock.

Xin Fat Man trailed behind the three of them—mainly because packing the remaining fried chicken and stewed meat had taken some of his time. As he passed the front desk on his way out, he still shamelessly asked the landlady for a few pieces of mint candy and a wet wipe.

”Sss...I thought fire would be hot!” Xin exclaimed as he stepped outside and immediately shivered, handing a piece of mint candy to each of his companions, ”Why is it so cold?!”

Zheng Qing frowned as he accepted the mint candy and nodded, ”Indeed, it’s a bit unusual.”

The outside temperature was unexpectedly cold, lacking the heat expected after a fire, and instead felt like the aftermath of a snowstorm. Every breath they took sent out a puff of white mist.

Zheng Qing looked up at the sky.

The winter sun was never particularly warm, but now it was especially cold. If it weren’t for the clock time and the brightness around them reminding him, Zheng Qing had every reason to believe that what hung above them was a moon, not the sun.

”Huuh...” The sheriff breathed out deeply, his breath like an arrow, leaving a profound mark in the air, ”Let it not be the Mad Hunt.”

Robert also looked up, glanced at the cold sun, and murmured to himself.

Then, he braced himself, turned to look at the boys behind him, ”Can you handle the Four Image Array? I’ll take the Yang position and lead; the diviner, the Old Yin at the back to support; Fat man, the Lesser Yin on the left... and World, you take the Lesser Yang, on the side to restrain.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Zheng Qing’s charm gun, adding with a smile, ”Nice weapon, perfect for restraint.”

The three boys from the Absolution Hunting team nervously nodded their heads, without objection.

Though the conversation was brief, the sheriff of Beta Town had very reasonably arranged the tactics and positions, truly speaking from experience.

As for the positions and movements of the Four Image Array, the Absolution Hunting Team had practiced a lot last semester under the supervision of Deng Xiaojian, and they were quite familiar with it.

The diamond-shaped battle formation wrapped in a pale yellow guardian halo swayed left and right as they rushed into the Forest Goods Market.

Just as they crossed the market’s gate, the extreme cold sensation suddenly vanished, turning into a sweltering heat. In an instant, it felt as if they had stepped from lava into a frozen sea, the magic protection light around them wildly flickering, nearly snuffed out.

At the same time, the noise, disturbance, and alarm sounds, previously muffled by the Guardian’s Array of the Forest Goods Market, burst into everyone’s ears.

What Zheng Qing saw was a scene of chaos.

Dozens of Houdou creatures, towering several meters tall with black backs and forked tails, scampered everywhere in the market, engulfing it in black smoke and fiery red flames, flipping countless stalls, igniting numerous buildings, sending the market vendors and patrons into panicked, desperate escapes.

A bit further away, guests from the Duoni People were collaborating with Trident Sword officials to suppress this frustrating scene.

Even further, at the end of the Forest Goods Market near the Silent River, a huge gap had appeared in the side wall.

The origin of the Houdou creatures was clear at a glance.

”Grabbed a handful of Mist grass,” the sheriff cursed under his breath, ”indeed there’s no worse, only worse yet to come.”