High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1864: Chapter 85: Uniquely Sharp

The topic of Qixi Festival was quickly drowned out by the increasingly vibrant atmosphere of the new semester once they entered the campus.

After all, teasing has its limits. Clearly, the companions noticed Zheng Qing’s low spirits and distraction, and they all unconsciously changed the topic to tonight’s class meeting.

The hottest topic of discussion was whether Old Yao would appear at tonight’s class meeting.

”Didn’t Tang Dun say last time at the class meeting that Professor Yao would come?” Zhang Ji Xin seemed indifferent to his companions’ debate.

”That’s not necessarily true,” Xin Fat Man said, shaking a thick stack of newspapers in his hand with a rustling sound. He’d just grabbed them from a newsstand on the pedestrian street.

”What?”

The other young wizards immediately focused their attention on him.

”A few days ago, on the day we started the trial, the First University discovered a secret laboratory deep in the Silent Forest.”

At this point, the Fat Wizard cleared his throat and recited in a serious tone: ”Uncontrolled research, uncontrolled education, uncontrolled schools... This is the headline article written by Ms. Pulitzer for the Beta Town Post.”

”I can tell with my toes the quality of her article,” Zheng Qing muttered, scooping up the suddenly leaping Furry Bean into his arms and scratching its ears.

The gray-skinned Gouzi purred comfortably.

Lin Guo was immediately drawn to the unique dog, joining in to pet it a few times. Seeing his interest, Zheng Qing simply handed Furry Bean to Lin Guo to keep him from getting bored.

”The Beta Town Post is considered an influential newspaper. Although the articles have a certain bias, they’re still ’fairly standard.’”

Xin Fat Man shook his head, tossing out another newspaper: ”Like this one, an article by Eddie, a special correspondent for the Herald Daily—howling spirits—it’s about professors at the First University using their positions to lure innocent wizards into illegal human experiments. The entire article is full of ’speculations,’ ’should,’ ’perhaps,’ and ’roughly.’ If I weren’t a student at the First University, I might think this is a specialized university for black wizards focusing on necromancy and anatomy, where every student has a big human-shaped scar on their chest.”

”I can prove you’re still alive,” Zheng Qing said earnestly, holding up three fingers to the Fat Wizard.

”I find it hard to prove myself,” Dylan sighed sadly.

The Fat Wizard glared at both of them.

”No, no, no, you didn’t understand what I meant to express,” he said, putting away the Herald Daily, shoving it to the bottom of the stack, and then spoke slowly, continuing:

”...Generally, the purpose of our newspapers is first to cause a sensation and to pander, not to pursue the truth. Only when the two seem to align does the pursuit of truth get considered. Newspapers with ordinary insights don’t gain the public’s trust—no matter how well-founded their insights are—in the public’s eyes, only being distinctively sharp counts as profound.”

”Wow, that sounds pretty good, with a uniquely sharp feel,” Zheng Qing clicked his tongue in admiration.

The Fat Man shot him a glance, ”Those words aren’t mine; they’re Edgar Allan Poe’s.”

”So, what does this have to do with Professor Yao coming to the class meeting tonight?” the Red-faced Male Wizard finally couldn’t hold back, impatiently interrupting his companions’ chit-chat.

He was never patient with discussions that seemed empty and dull.

”Oh, we digressed... Look at this one, an article from the campus newspaper.”

With that, the Fat Wizard pulled out another newspaper:

”It features the follow-up treatment of the surprise action by the school... It’s the usual stuff, basically about strengthening school spirit and conduct, solidifying the moral bottom line of teaching and research staff, strictly enforcing the Wizard’s Codex, raising the awareness of compliance among registered wizards and on-campus faculty and staff, and so on.”

”The last paragraph of the article mentions that on August 31st, which is today, at three o’clock in the afternoon, the 20090831st Professor Joint Meeting will be held in the main conference room of the office building for further examination of this surprise action, chaired by Dean of Jiuyou College, Legendary Wizard Professor Yao Xiaomi...”

Zhang Ji Xin finally caught up with Xin Fat Man’s train of thought and interrupted, ”Are you suggesting that Professor Yao might not be able to attend our class meeting because she’s chairing this meeting?”

”That’s a very reasonable assumption,” the Fat Man said, rolling up the newspaper in his hand, putting it away, and shrugging.

...

...

Xin’s speculation will ultimately need time to verify.

After the young wizards of the Atonement Hunting Team parted ways on campus, Zhang Ji Xin went to the office building to gather news from Lei Zhe, his newly appointed brother; Lin Guo reluctantly returned Furry Bean to Zheng Qing and headed back to Alpha Fortress.

The remaining three warlocks lost interest in strolling and headed straight back to dorm 403, drawing curtains and shrouds over their coffins, and each buried their heads in sleep.

The seven-day trial had left everyone physically and mentally exhausted.

Although the school had given these young people appropriate breaks during the trials, much like sitting on a train for a long journey, even if you sit all the way, the cramped seats and oppressive environment can leave you physically and mentally worn out.

Zheng Qing slept straight from morning to afternoon.

He was awakened by a soft rustling sound.

Opening his eyes in a daze, his little sprites were piled up haphazardly at the edge of his pillow, holding hands and feet, with their translucent wings wrapped together, sleeping soundly.

Carefully, Zheng Qing shifted his body, fearing he might wake the little creatures slumbering. He lifted the shroud with an arm; the room was dimly lit, perfect for continuing to sleep.

The warlock squinted his eyes, quickly adapting to the dark environment.

Then he found the source of the rustling—Xin Fat Man was sitting on his bed eating, with Tuan Tuan perched on his pillow, nibbling on jerky and purring contentedly. And there was Furry Bean, panting with its tongue out, standing eagerly at the edge of the Fat Man’s bed, its tail spinning like a windmill.

Occasionally, a small piece of jerky fell down, and amidst the rustling in the room, there would be an almost inaudible sound of chewing.

As Zheng Qing lifted the shroud, the chewing sound abruptly stopped. Like a gust of wind, Furry Bean dashed over to Zheng Qing, its tail spinning even more joyfully.

The warlock quickly raised a finger, silently shushing it, signaling for it to keep quiet.

Gouzi clicked its tongue, obediently sitting to the side, but a second later, it couldn’t help but look back at a distant bed filled with enticing aromas.

”Awake?” the Fat Wizard finally noticed the movement in the corner and mumbled a question.

”Hmm,” Zheng Qing replied, feeling his mouth dry. After a pause, he asked, ”What time is it? Where’s Dylan? Did Xiao Xiao come back?”