High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1191: Chapter 253 Between Men and Women

In the shadow, an undercurrent surged; under the sunshine, everything was harmonious.

Conversations in front of the teaching building under the moonlight, secret transactions in a bar far beyond the academy’s walls—all these were outside the purview of the young state-sponsored student.

At least in Zheng Qing’s world, during the eleventh week of the second semester, everything was so normal, not much different from any other day.

The endless homework was still unwritten, Elena continued to be elusive as a divine dragon, Li Meng kept her consistent love for stirring up trouble, and Mr. Sima Yangyun’s attitude toward Doctor Xiao remained as cold as ever.

”As the saying goes, ’There is no overnight feud between husband and wife; they argue at the head of the bed and make up at the foot.’ You two have been at odds for so long, you must both be tired,” Zheng Qing mumbled while biting the bamboo shaft of his brush.

Wednesday morning was a history class, and throughout the entire lesson, Sima Yangyun didn’t glance once at the small group where Zheng Qing and his friends sat—ever since realizing that calling on Xiao Xiao to answer questions in class not only failed to embarrass him but also allowed him to earn many academic points, the young female lecturer chose to completely ignore this corner.

This situation drew a growing resentment from the male wizards sitting around Doctor Xiao. It was because history was one of the few subjects with a lower barrier, where everyone could score some points in class with serious reading, memorization, and analysis. Now, the conflict between Xiao Xiao and Sima Yangyun had caused Zheng Qing and others to miss out on academic points for two consecutive history classes.

Blocking one’s wealth was akin to killing one’s parents. In First University, academic points were the hardest currency. The ’conflict’ between Xiao Xiao and the lecturer had caused a tangible loss to the male wizards, and their previously teasing attitude now had to turn serious as they strove to bridge the rift between the two.

”We’ve never fought in bed,” Doctor Xiao corrected Zheng Qing’s improper words with firmness.

”Cough cough,” Xin Fat Man coughed twice to interrupt, ”It’s just a metaphor, and as someone who’s been through it, I want to advise you...”

”Been through what? Where have you come from?” Xiao Xiao raised an eyebrow curiously, looking at the fat man and effectively choking off what he was about to say.

The fat man’s face turned red, veins on his forehead throbbed, his mouth twitched for a moment, and finally, he muttered, ”Hopeless, truly hopeless... Such wood cannot be carved!”

Different from Zheng Qing and Xin Fat Man, Zhang Ji Xin kept silent on the matter. It wasn’t that he agreed with Xiao Xiao’s behavior, but rather he had little interest in witches’ trivial affairs and earning points by answering questions in class.

In the words of Red-faced Male Wizard, the only true academic points for a wizard were those earned with fists in the Hunting Ground. Earning points by answering questions was for sissies.

This attitude further convinced Zheng Qing that there must be a glitch in the nominal roll of First University’s branch schools.

As the male wizards whispered amongst themselves, a faint fragrance suddenly filled Zheng Qing’s nostrils. He turned abruptly, and as expected, a Gypsy witch stood beside him, smiling.

”What are you guys talking about? You seem very engaged,” the witch greeted the boys with a smile.

”Just some study-related stuff, Brother Qing is a good student, as you know.” At this critical moment, Xin Fat Man was quick-witted, promptly praised Zheng Qing, and then began packing up his books, while muttering, ”Ah, I almost forgot about a meeting at the office building, I need to run...”

With that, he nudged Zhang Ji Xin.

”Didn’t you say your brother called you to train at the Hunting Ground?” He cocked his head and made a face at the Red-faced Male Wizard.

Zhang Ji Xin looked at him in bewilderment, then glanced at Zheng Qing and Elena, as if understanding, ”Oh, right, seems like it...”

”Pfft...” The clumsy act of the male wizards elicited a light laugh from the Gypsy witch and also caused Zheng Qing to feel a bit embarrassed. Of course, faced with such situations now, he was much more natural than when he first started. At least now, he wouldn’t turn red and steam at the drop of a hat.

”You don’t need to rush, wait for Zheng Qing to go to the office building as well, he has to go there too,” Elena said to Xin Fat Man, then turned her head towards Zheng Qing with a slight smile, ”Sister Korma from the student council notified me to tell you to go to the academic building, to participate in an informal hearing organized by the student council... She knows I’m acquainted with you, so she asked me to pass on the message.”

”An informal hearing?” Zheng Qing blinked, his first thought surprisingly returning to the incident of Li Meng fainting on Monday night, ”Isn’t Li Meng in good health? The school infirmary also said she was most likely sleepwalking... Why would there need to be a hearing?”

”It has nothing to do with Li Meng, it’s about your last conflict with Sepulano,” the Gypsy witch rolled her eyes, unexpectedly revealing a bit of playfulness, ”Although the school already has a preliminary handling of the matter, nothing is set in stone yet, there’s still a chance to struggle. On this matter, the student council will ensure students’ legal rights are protected to the greatest extent.”

”But don’t get your hopes up too high about it,” Xiao Xiao suddenly spoke up, warning him, ”This so-called informal hearing is really just the student council gathering some student representatives to sit together, to listen to your accounts, to hear everyone’s opinions. It’s just a meeting to guide public opinion.”

”Then can I choose not to attend?” Zheng Qing sighed, currently very annoyed with this kind of formalism.

”If you go, you can still express your own opinions, if you don’t, then you completely lose that possibility,” the Gypsy witch advised gently, yet clearly.

Zheng Qing sighed heavily again, packed up his books, and called out to Xin Fat Man, who had already walked past the podium, ”Wait for me!”

Then, hesitating, he turned his head and glanced at Elena, ”Are you going to the library to do homework tonight?”

Hope flickered in his eyes.

The witch lowered her eyelids, fingers twirling a strand of hair falling by her temple, softly replied, ”I have some things to help Sister Korma with, I might not have time...”

Zheng Qing had expected this answer, but still couldn’t help the disappointment that welled up inside him.

”Oh, it’s okay, the student council matters are important,” he said with a forced smile.

Beside them, Doctor Xiao adjusted his glasses, his face expressing speechlessness, and muttered under his breath, ”With that level of persuasion, he still tries to advise me?”

Zheng Qing ignored the doctor’s sarcastic comment.

Elena’s curious gaze wandered between the two, wondering what kind of cryptic message they were exchanging.

”Oh, right, you asked me about the ’Locking Luo Gate’ information, I’ve put it in your dorm’s drawer, just go back and look at it yourself,” Xiao Xiao seemed to remember something and called out.

Zheng Qing’s body jolted with a shudder.

”Okay, okay,” he mumbled an acknowledgement and took off running.

Behind him, Elena pensively observed his retreating figure, a faint smile on her lips, the last shred of doubt in her mind completely dispelled.

”Why run off so quickly?” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses, somewhat displeased, ”I haven’t even told him that there are a few books on that list that he doesn’t need to read... After all the trouble I went through to find them!”

”Probably feeling guilty,” Elena said with a smile, twirling a lock of hair around her finger.

Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses again, glanced at the witch, then at the rapidly departing warlock, and decisively kept his mouth shut.