High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1988: Chapter 209: Mid-Autumn Festival

”Just the literal meaning.”

Xiao Xiao lowered his eyelids and replied lazily, ”The tricked people have learned to wear masks; and the wizards who sent out the ’doll in women’s clothes’ aren’t satisfied just seeing warlocks in women’s clothes... According to my predictions, soon, you’ll see warlocks strutting around in miniskirts, see-through clothes, and even lingerie.”

Zheng Qing shivered instinctively at the thought of such a horrifying scene.

Then, he realized a small detail and belatedly looked at the short warlock beside him: ”Speaking of which... why are you so familiar with this?”

”I got full marks in Divination class.” Doctor Xiao answered with a straight face.

Zheng Qing also scored full marks in Divination class—though he took some shortcuts—but he knew little about the dolls in women’s clothes and had never thought of divining about the witch doll or predicting that warlocks in miniskirts would appear on campus.

But looking at the doctor’s expression, the young cost student wisely kept his mouth shut and didn’t discuss this topic further. He couldn’t exactly grab Xiao Xiao by the collar and force him to confess whether Teacher Sima made him accept a doll in women’s clothes.

That would be too cruel.

If a person involved was determined not to speak, even if Zheng Qing burned a pound of beast bones and turtle shells, he couldn’t predict any possibilities.

Especially when a diviner is intent on hiding something, unless the inquirer becomes a big wizard or even a legend, breaking free from the binds of destiny, can they possibly glimpse the truth behind the mist.

In silence, the two had already walked past the lakeside, entering the shaded path paved with blue stone slabs between the middle and back courtyard.

As October set in, the weather was getting cooler.

On their way back to the dorms, the sycamore leaves fluttered and fell all over the ground, rustling underfoot, stirring a bit of reluctant empathy—though everyone knew these leaves were lifeless, the wizards’ strong empathy always made them agonize over such tiny details.

”We should suggest to the School Works Committee to clean up these fallen leaves.”

Zheng Qing mumbled as he walked behind the doctor, apologizing to the leaves in his heart, yet stepping over them without mercy: ”...The night patrol team could easily handle this.”

”You weren’t this proactive when you were on patrol.” Xiao Xiao walked ahead of Zheng Qing, not turning back, and unceremoniously criticized the boastful, inconsistent warlock.

Zheng Qing felt that Xiao Xiao was still brooding over his earlier ’unintentional words.’

He thought he had the responsibility to improve this subtle atmosphere, so he looked around, trying to find a lighter topic: ”Hmm... there’re a lot of people outside today, usually at this time it doesn’t feel like this. It reminds me of a view, that when you look up on the path you usually walk, you’ll find a whole new world.”

Xiao Xiao finally turned back, silently glanced at him, his gaze full of concern.

Zheng Qing felt a bit uncomfortable all over from Xiao Xiao’s look.

”The number of people today has nothing to do with whether you look up or not.” The absolution diviner’s tone softened a bit: ”It’s just because it’s Saturday.”

”Time flies by so fast.” Zheng Qing smacked his lips at how quickly the days had passed like water, sighed deeply, and perked up a bit: ”What’s the hunting team training plan for today? Still Second Rank Father Bo battle array?”

Xiao Xiao stopped in his tracks and looked at him in surprise.

”Is there training today?” His face showed clear confusion: ”Don’t you have any other plans?”

”Why would I have other plans?” Zheng Qing obviously didn’t grasp the point of the conversation, looking equally confused: ”Since it’s Saturday, everyone is free anyway... The school hunting competition is coming soon... We haven’t even determined the candidate for our selection task’s guiding teacher... Ugh, it’s really headache-inducing.”

Xiao Xiao finally confirmed that the warlock beside him completely lacked a sense of time.

”Today’s the 15th.” The absolution diviner continued walking forwards, speaking calmly: ”I’m meeting Sima at the Osmanthus Garden tonight... Probably won’t have time for your impromptu training.”

He emphasized the word ’impromptu’ heavily.

”Fifteenth?”

Zheng Qing was stunned for a moment, not quite catching up: ”No, isn’t today October third... third... August 15th? Mid-Autumn Festival? Damn! I just knew I was forgetting something... and have been feeling a bit uneasy all this while!”

The warlock squawked, instinctively looking up at the sky.

In the evening, the sun hadn’t fully set, and the moon might have risen but was hiding behind the pale daylight, not yet showing its bright and round figure.

”Why didn’t anyone remind me? It’s August 15th today!” The young cost student muttered, following behind the doctor, babbling along the way: ”...Why didn’t anyone remind me... I didn’t even buy mooncakes... The cafeteria didn’t even sell mooncakes today? It really feels like being a stranger in a foreign land...”

At the dormitory entrance, Xiao Xiao finally couldn’t help but interrupt the warlock croaking non-stop like a frog after the rain, reminding him: ”It’s not too late for you to know now... The moon hasn’t even risen yet?”

The moon indeed hadn’t risen yet.

Zheng Qing finally shut his mouth.

Differing from before enrolling in university, the wizards paid much more attention to the Three Prime Festivals rather than the Mid-Autumn Festival, to the point that there wasn’t a separate holiday for it on First University’s schedule.

Just like last year, because the Mid-Autumn Festival was on the second weekend after school started, Zheng Qing’s mind was filled with the new world around him, and information about the terrifying night patrol, and by the time he realized it, the first semester was almost over.

But not valuing it doesn’t mean completely ignoring it.

On Mid-Autumn Festival, many wizards have the habit of gathering to worship the moon, admire osmanthus, and enjoy the moonlight. Especially for young wizard couples in love, any day that allows them to be together is worth celebrating.

”Where are you and Sima going to admire osmanthus?” The young cost student looked eagerly at the short warlock.

Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses and said a very philosophical piece of nonsense: ”Every wizard has their osmanthus tree, you should find your tree and not keep staring at others’ trees.”

Since ’finding your tree’ was mentioned, Zheng Qing immediately thought of the Cat Fruit Tree.

His eyes lit up, suddenly feeling that admiring the moon on the Cat Fruit Tree seemed like a great idea—imagine, under the moonlight, no reunion with last year’s people, only today’s cats.

Thinking of this, he pushed aside the doctor and rushed into the dormitory first.

He needed a feather pen to jot down the lines that just flashed through his mind, then open the window and release a paper crane carrying his thoughts.

Xiao Xiao originally wanted to remind Zheng Qing that Jiang Yu was most likely still in the library, but after adjusting his crooked glasses, the absolution diviner ultimately decided to stay silent.