High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1532: Chapter 276: The Way to Return

”This world is full of dangers.”

”There are some gifts we can’t accept, not even if it kills us.”

”Just like there are caves we shouldn’t enter because there’s a sign at the entrance saying ’Dragon Inside’... Of course, I know that not all caves with signs actually have dragons in them. Or maybe, even if there is really a dragon inside, you wouldn’t be afraid.”

”But that’s not a valid reason for you to enter that cave.”

”You can choose not to go in.”

Xiao Xiao sounded like a nagging old aunt or one of those retired school janitors as he endlessly droned on about how dangerous Zheng Qing’s decisions were.

Zheng Qing stretched out a finger and rubbed his ear.

”But I didn’t have a choice.” He spread his hands and flicked the earwax he’d just dug out at Doctor Xiao: ”The cave is right in front of me. If I choose not to enter, the old dragon inside will stretch out its neck, stick its head out of the cave, and swallow me whole... If I choose to enter, maybe the dragon will show some mercy, letting me write a will or take a bath before it bites down.”

”Your standards are really low!” Blue Fatty mocked from the side.

”So what’s your plan now?” Xiao Xiao stared at Zheng Qing. ”You’ve entered the cave. We’ll keep your will safe for you. What’s next on your agenda?”

Although it was a metaphor, Zheng Qing couldn’t help but feel there was something odd about Xiao Xiao’s phrasing.

”Let’s go home... We already found Zhu Si.” He eventually decided not to dwell on the doctor’s choice of words, instead turning to glance at Zhu Si—at the moment, Jiang Yu was holding Zhu Si in her arms, combing her hair—then turning again to let his gaze linger briefly on the other ”Zhu Si”: ”We also found the Faceless Demon.”

Like Nikita, the Little Female Demon also had a sealing talisman attached to her, but this talisman didn’t block her ability to speak.

Hearing the Warlock’s wording, she raised her hand and protested indignantly, ”I have a name. I’m Zhu Zhu now!”

Zheng Qing shot her a brief glance without responding to her objection—he always felt this little demon’s mental development was somewhat immature, as if she hadn’t fully grasped the situation.

The Warlock turned his head back to Xiao Xiao, exhaling softly as he summarized, ”...In any case, our objectives in entering the Dreamland have all been achieved. So now my only plan is to hurry back to school and wrap these matters up.”

He found himself missing Dorm Room 403.

Missing the snoring Fat Cat, his soft bed, and his little Sprites. He wondered if those little ones were still hanging obediently from his canopy, sleeping soundly—or whether Tuan Tuan’s snores had woken them up.

”How do we get back, then?” Zhang Ji Xin glanced around as if hoping a glowing portal would appear behind some tree, beckoning for him to step through.

Naturally, that was impossible.

”We return the way we came... retracing our steps is the safest method.” Xiao Xiao closed his notebook, letting his gaze sweep over the group before finally pausing on the two Female Demons. ”As for these two, following us should be manageable.”

”Should be.” Zheng Qing muttered the word under his breath, feeling like it was rife with uncertainty.

”After all, this is my first time in the Dreamland too.” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses. ”Books about this world are scant, and those accessible to us are even fewer.”

”Retracing our path seems a bit tricky.” Zhang Ji Xin exchanged uncertain glances with Xin Fat Man, nervously tugging at his gloves. ”We kind of... fell from the sky. Do we have to fly back?”

”I really can’t fly.” Xin Fat Man pulled at his belt, sighing. ”Especially with my body type—it’s not suited for learning such skills.”

”We’re in a tough spot too.” Jiang Yu held Zhu Si close, standing behind Zheng Qing as she pointed to the scorched area not far away. ”Zheng Qing and I fell out of the hollow of an old oak tree... but I’ve already checked—the tree was burned down.”

”Is... Is that so?” Zheng Qing stammered slightly, craning his neck to look at the charred plain as if trying to verify the Witch’s statement. ”The tree hole is gone?”

No matter how hard he strained his eyes, he couldn’t spot the old oak tree anymore. All he saw was the desolate forest blanketed in black ash, each heap reeking of the same scorched stench.

He never imagined the single shot he fired would lead to such consequences.

Could this be considered burning bridges?

The idiom popped up in his mind, though he felt it didn’t quite fit the situation.

Nikita had her head bowed, her shoulders lightly trembling as she seemed to struggle to contain her laughter.

”Be serious!” Zheng Qing glared at the Female Demon.

”I am serious... I’m reflecting.” The Female Demon raised her head, smiling slyly at the Warlock with an expression devoid of seriousness or contemplation. ”My passage here was also through a tree hole... doing some reflecting just now, and turns out your shot destroyed ours too.”

”Ah!!” The Little Female Demon shrieked energetically, ”We can’t go back either, huh? Does that mean we’re stuck in this bizarre world forever? And it’s all because of this unlucky face!”

”Shut up!” Zheng Qing smacked the Little Female Demon’s noggin to stop her nonsense.

The Little Female Demon clutched her head, her eyes welling up with mock tears.

Frustrated, Zheng Qing turned away, refusing to look at her anymore. Ever since morphing into Zhu Si’s appearance, this Faceless Demon even seemed to mimic the Little Witch’s personality. He wasn’t sure if it was just their nature.

It left him with the occasional illusion that he was facing the real Zhu Si.

As for Nikita’s words.

He didn’t know how much truth was in what the Female Demon had said. He didn’t trust her—yet even if she was lying and their tree hole still existed, Zheng Qing wouldn’t dare let his Hunting Team risk crawling into the tree hole of the Demons.

Who knows whether there’d be a crowd of Demons on the other side, holding plates and knives while drooling at the chance to drop their guests straight into a boiling pot of stew.

The mere thought of it sent shivers down his spine.

Evidently, Xiao Xiao hadn’t expected this twist either. Even a skillful Diviner couldn’t spend every moment gazing into a Crystal Ball or burning turtle shells.

He stood in place, dazed for a moment.

”We can’t go back at all?” He mumbled nervously, rubbing his hands together. ”Then... maybe everyone should try the path I took to get here?”

”How did you get here?”

”Came out of the water... That Skye River, the big river between the Enchanted Forest and Wusa City.”

”Out of the water?” Zheng Qing stroked his chin and nodded. ”I still have a few water-repelling talismans left. Even if people can’t swim, it shouldn’t be a problem.”