High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 996: Chapter 58: Escape Back

When two wizards cloaked in black robes were discussing at a secret location on the edge of Silent Forest whether the breach in the magic circle at the North Beita Town Forest Goods Market could be expanded, the Absolution Hunting Team stationed at the breach was also discussing a related topic.

”This matter is clear at a glance...the Houdou are the culprits that breached the magic circle.” Xin Fat Man insisted on his view of who had broken the barrier, ”At the scene, apart from those Houdou, can we find any other perpetrators, or say, any entities similar to perpetrators?”

Zheng Qing shook his head, indeed there were no other perpetrators in sight.

But he did not agree with the journalist student’s assertion that ’the Houdou broke the wall’.

”I know you want to write your article quickly, but you can’t just make things up,” the young state-funded student tried to salvage what was left of Xin Student’s conscience, ”Those dogs, their claws not even three inches out, the fireballs they spit can’t even destroy a one-foot-thick concrete pier, how did you deduce they broke the wall?”

What he said were facts.

From entering the Forest Goods Market, through the chaotic scene, to the wall’s breach, Zheng Qing observed the group of Houdou chasing the vendors around the market and noticed that, from start to finish, aside from a poor wretch whose hair the Houdou’s fireball scorched off, lighting up a few piles of skins, the entire market suffered no other damage.

Xiao Xiao also agreed with Zheng Qing’s view.

”Those Houdou really don’t have that kind of ability,” Xiao Xiao sat cross-legged behind the group, a small pile of dry Cao Herb lit in front of her, gently stirring it while patiently observing the shapes in the blue smoke, and analyzed, ”Those Houdou, although they are a modified breed from Buji Island, lack the size at less than two zhang tall, armorless, hornless, merely ejecting a few fireballs, it would be impressive if they could get a magic circle to show a red-level state... Let alone breaking these magic circles.”

”From what you both are saying, are there wizards assisting these creatures?” Xin Fat Man scoffed repeatedly, ”Would you dare to appear in my article by name... something like ’Xin Student from First University, a famous winner of the Merlin Medal and the 09 Great Arcana ’World’ holder, believes the magic circle accident in the North District Forest Goods Market was caused by so-and-so’...”

At this, Zheng Qing’s face turned white.

”Don’t write nonsense; I didn’t say that. Can’t I take my words back?” he smiled bitterly, waving his hand repeatedly, ”It’s just a guess, just a private discussion, why take it so seriously...”

The fat man lifted his chin smugly, a puff of white air spraying from his nose, ”I was just saying... Look how scared I’ve made you; you’re more timid than a quail.”

Zheng Qing ignored the fat man’s provocation, holding the Remington Symbol Gun in both hands, he turned to look beyond the breach—the Colt Python was already hanging by his side. Since the team was in a defensive position, naturally, a symbol gun with a longer range was more appropriate.

Robert Lee did not stay with the young wizards behind the wall.

After arranging for three of them to guard the breach, he leaped over the wall, entering the quiet buffer zone. Outside the wall was a narrow buffer zone, less than two hundred meters wide, beyond which lay the broad Silent River Main Channel, and across the river bank was the actual Silent Forest.

There were not really any trees in the buffer zone, only a not-so-sparse bushland primarily composed of red mangrove, boxwood, and sea trumpet trees, etc. Underneath the bushes, many hidden nodes of the magic circle and magic traps were placed to prevent magical creatures from crawling out of Silent River.

Normally, Beita Town’s patrol team would clean these magic traps every three months and reinforce the nodes of the magic circle. But now, with a large hole blasted in the wall, the actual state of the external magic circle, and whether it could still be repaired, required the inspection of a professional familiar with the situation to draw an accurate conclusion.

As the sheriff of Beita Town, Robert Lee had an inescapable responsibility.

At this moment, everything was quiet on the buffer zone outside the wall, with Robert’s figure hidden in the bushes for nearly a quarter of an hour. Zheng Qing and the others didn’t know what the situation outside was nor whether they should continue to wait, so they could only alleviate their anxiety by chatting aimlessly.

”Doctor, how is your Cao Herb burning? What does the divination say?” Zheng Qing, staring at the world outside the wall without turning his head, asked Xiao Xiao.

In the darkest times, Divination was the most comforting option for wizards.

”The smoke gathers but does not disperse, forming mountain-like shapes with white lines winding through them like a treacherous, winding path, signifying a challenging journey,” Xiao Xiao solemnly analyzed the smoke in front of him.

”I don’t believe you,” Xin Fat Man grumbled, eyeing the small cluster of flames in front of Xiao Xiao with skepticism. ”I’ve never heard of using burning Cao Herbs for divination... Shouldn’t it be Divination Skill?”

The distant treetops seemed to sway slightly.

Zheng Qing’s ears twitched.

Since he had gotten used to transforming into a cat, his hearing had somewhat strengthened. Whether it was an illusion or not, he faintly heard some sounds coming from the distant woods.

”...Speaking of which, when I just said ’Demon-Breaking smashes the walls,’ I didn’t mean I agreed with that, just that based on the resources available at the scene, those Demon-Breakings were the most likely suspects,” Xin Fat Man commented after discussing the Doctor’s Divination Skill, continuing his previous incessant topic. ”I am a Journalist, I have to speak with facts... How could I write something in my articles without evidence? Don’t you think...”

Zheng Qing raised his arm, stopping Xin Fat Man’s babbling.

”Did any of you hear that?” He squinted his eyes, looking out towards the world beyond the wall.

Unfortunately, the dense bushes coupled with mysterious water vapors swirling about, and the interference from the light flowing through the Magic Circle, severely limited their vision, making it difficult to see anything specific beyond thirty to fifty meters away.

Upon receiving Zheng Qing’s instruction, Xin Fat Man immediately shut his mouth.

Fooling around was acceptable at times, but it was necessary to adhere to rules when real issues arose. This was a basic rule clearly understood by every Hunting Team and Hunter.

Absolute quiet surrounded the breach as Zheng Qing leaned closer, listening intently.

Then, his eyes widened.

”Battle stations!!!”

The captain of the Absolution Hunting Team roared, yanked out the Colt Silver Python from his waist, flicked the magazine, and then, pointing the gun diagonally outside, fired a shot.

”Bang!”

A milky white beam of light burst from the muzzle, tracing a beautiful arc that landed behind the dense shrubs. In the blink of an eye, a tremendous flash of light passed, and the previously hazy world in everyone’s view suddenly became clear.

”Mad Hunt! Fifty meters behind!!!”

Robert Lee shouted frantically as he raced towards the wall breach. His originally intact robe was torn and ragged from the bushes, his face smeared with blood, and the Law Book he had been carrying was nowhere to be seen.

Zheng Qing took a deep breath, raised the Remington level, and aimed it at the direction behind the sheriff who was running towards them.

Xin Fat Man was already grunting, transformed into a towering Blue Giant, holding a wrought iron rod, ready to strike.