High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1944: Chapter 165: At the River Bend

Outside the Hunting Ground.

Downstream of the Silent River surrounding the Hunting Ground, by a secluded water bay.

A lean warlock standing on the shore suddenly turned his head, his vacant gaze directed towards the Hunting Ground, his expression a bit stern. He wore a black robe, his face delicate, with deep brown hair underneath the hood, streaked with gray, looking prematurely aged.

His companion immediately noticed the warlock’s actions.

”Amber, did you discover something?” a short and stout warlock asked in a low voice, extending his hand from wide sleeves, fingers spread, adorned with rings of various colors.

At this moment, the gemstones on those rings were emitting a faint cold light.

”Over there,” the diviner of the Ouroboros hunting team gestured faintly, pointing towards the direction of the Hunting Ground: ”There are very conspicuous cause and effect lines entangled... a very intense magical fluctuation just broke out.”

”Why didn’t I feel it.” The small-framed wandering hunter Omega leapt onto a nearby boulder, full of doubt, eyes wide open towards the depths of the Silent River, as if this could help him see the lines the diviner mentioned.

”Because you’re not good at divination.” Julian, with black hair and narrow eyes, responded gently: ”Besides, in the direction Amber pointed, there’s a half-abandoned hunting ground... maybe there’s a hunting team preparing for next month’s competition, no need to be too tense.”

”Can I not be tense,” Omega muttered under his breath, instinctively shrinking his neck: ”If the academy finds out about this, we’ll definitely be punished... my dad would break my legs.”

At this mutter, the waterside immediately fell into an unsettling silence.

The hunters of the Ouroboros hunting team exchanged glances, ultimately directing their gaze towards their team leader, Andrew Taylor.

The stout hunting team leader waved his large hand dismissively, unconcerned: ”What are you afraid of! This was instructed personally by His Excellency Augustus, there won’t be any problems... and the counterpart is also a member of our hunting team, this counts as internal team trade!”

This explanation was quite convincing, making the companions slightly more assured.

Crash.

Splash.

In the water bay, the originally calm water surface suddenly stirred with ripples, the waves lapping, hitting the pebble and branch-lined shore with a faint but continuous knocking sound.

The four hunters of the Ouroboros hunting team all quickly became vigilant.

Diviner Amber stepped back a few paces, standing behind his team leader; Andrew tightened his fist, the gemstones on his ten rings all flickered with faint light, while his pupils shrank to a line, his gaze revealing a hint of menace.

Julian flipped open the law book in his hand, his lips moving, silently activating a pre-prepared array; while Omega, who had just been perched on the boulder, leapt back, disappearing into the dark night within the blink of an eye, nowhere to be seen.

Crash crash crash!

The sound of water hitting the riverbank grew louder, Andrew’s little finger trembled slightly, and the ring set with moonstone on it instantly burst with a series of varying sized light orbs, ascending into the air.

Those orbs seemed alive, circling the pitch-black river bay before ultimately hovering above the water bay, illuminating the flowing waters of the Silent River brightly.

The four warlocks standing by the shore immediately noticed several obscure shadows in the river.

”Is it them?” Julian licked his dry lips, turning his head, looking uneasily at his team leader.

Andrew Taylor did not answer, but focused intently on those dark shadows, and after a moment, nodded slightly, answering in a low voice: ”Mm... inform that newcomer, the guests have arrived.”

Julian immediately flipped through the law book, whispering incantations: ”Birdsong murmuring, seeking its friend’s voice!”

Invisible magical fluctuations spread in all directions centered on his law book, the insects that had been vigorously bustling in the thickets seemed suddenly choked, falling silent, the world instantly became tranquil.

Splash! Splash!

The sound of water in the bay peaked, several dark shadows broke free of the river’s bind, striding towards the shore, the splashing, the thudding heavy footsteps, the heavy breathing, all intertwined, making the quiet night suddenly noisy.

Julian watched the familiar figure leading the group, immediately letting out a breath of relief, though his hands gripping the law book didn’t relax in the slightest.

Andrew Taylor strode forward, quickly reaching the guests, extending his hand, grasping the arm of the leader, shaking it vigorously: ”Iseni... you’re slightly late today.”

The young Fishman grinned, exposing a row of sharp teeth.

”Encountered a slight mishap... hiss.”

Perhaps because he had just emerged from the water, his voice carried a heavy frothy texture: ”Just as we came out, hiss, there was a little skirmish between a Fishman and a land warlock in the lake, hiss hiss, related to the longevity tortoise in the eastern mudpond... hiss hiss but it’s no big deal, the problem is resolved, hiss!”

Andrew patted its arm again, concerned: ”Need any help? You know, we still have some influence at the academy...”

”No, no need, hiss!” the young Fishman leader immediately shook his head, its cheeks, and dorsal fins slightly puffing up, a glimmer of fierceness flashing in its somewhat dazed gaze: ”This small problem, hiss, the lake can handle it personally, hiss!”

Andrew was merely being polite, hearing this, he immediately sang praises: ”That’s what I said, Fishman matters should be resolved by Fishmen themselves, warlocks, especially those red robed ones from Jiuyou Academy, meddling in Lin Zhong Lake’s affairs, are fundamentally wrong.”

Iseni nodded in agreement, the bristling dorsal fins immediately relaxing.

”So, did you bring everything?” the leader of the Ouroboros hunting team stretched his neck, looking past the tall figure of the Fishman, towards what lay behind it.

”Brought them.”

Iseni gestured to the companions behind him, his voice sounding increasingly fluent: ”Bring everything up here... mm, one hundred and twenty discarded spell books, mostly intact, basically usable as is; three bags of assorted gemstones, varied in size but exquisite, no problem whether for enchantment or medicine; other items like Fish bone wood, Siren scales, Fish scale grass, dried Fish Wives, Red carp skull, Chinese perch blood, and so on, everything listed on your list, they’re all there, take your time to check.”

As he spoke, several tall Fishmen dragged three heavy wooden boxes, slowly stepping onto the shore.

Bang!

The boxes fell onto the pinkish stone slab on the shore, emitting a heavy thud. As the sound echoed, the box lids sprang open in unison, revealing the chaotic contents inside.

No directive was needed from the team leader.

Julian immediately pulled out a monocle bordered with brass, holding it up in front of his face, carefully examining the assorted goods within the boxes.