High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2237: Chapter 458: Not a Good Fruit

The owner of the Greenhill Mansion seemed to have a thousand questions for the young cost student to answer.

Zheng Qing wore a stiff smile on his face, trailing beside her as if guiding the guests. Meanwhile, he sharply sensed another gaze from a corner of the room, like a wispy chill from outside the house, swirling around the back of his neck, trickling down his collar, chilling the sweat-dampened skin of his back.

Su Shijun seemed to have noticed this ’chill’ as well.

”Hmm? Your Monitor is heading this way.”

Her attention was immediately caught by another witch approaching leisurely. While she nodded indifferently at the Wandering Wizard, she eagerly whispered in Zheng Qing’s ear: ”...She’s pretending to get wine, but I can tell her destination is right here with us... hmm, with three people in between... I must say, her dress is quite lovely today, seems to be last month’s high couture from Ground Brush... two people... the wine she picked has a nice aroma too, there’s a hint of citrus, lemon, white peach, and even orchid... just one person left...”

The whispers in his ears were like the murmurs of a demon, making Zheng Qing feel as if hundreds of tiny bugs were crawling across his back, every move a prick against his skin—while he was worried that Su Shijun might clash with the Wandering Wizard over the recent ’party crasher’ incident, it seemed that exchanges among Big Wizards always had a higher ’tolerance level’. It was himself he should be worried about.

Zheng Qing began to seriously consider the possibility of slipping away.

Just like desert tribes evolved long eyelashes to ward off sand, and high-latitude people developed narrow nasal passages to preheat cold air, people who work outdoors regularly might find their skin becoming rough and toughened by the elements, and so on; seeking advantage and avoiding harm is the most primitive instinct of life, and a talent that drives the evolution of life.

And harsh environments greatly accelerate this evolutionary process.

Just like Zheng Qing.

Before entering university, he would blush when speaking to others, but after only a year and a half, he was able to handle interactions with several witches with ease—for some reason, he thought of ”The Red and the Black,” where Julien Sorel, a carpenter’s son, easily won the hearts of two ladies, and so on, no, this example wasn’t suitable, Zheng Qing felt he was not as ambitious as Julien.

His thoughts shifted to ”Eugenie Grandet,” where Eugenie’s cousin Charles went from naive and innocent to venomously greedy in just a few short years, with a once-vibrant heart that shriveled and dried.

No, no, my heart is still vibrant.

The young cost student instinctively raised his hand, touching his chest, trying hard to contain the myriad thoughts in his mind. Unfortunately, the opportunity to slip away was fleeting, as the active and chaotic thoughts in his mind significantly interfered with the warlock’s decision.

”I’m glad you could attend the D&K first-anniversary celebration,”

Jiang Yu’s cheerful voice reached the warlock’s ears as she greeted the owner of Greenhill Mansion: ”The development of D&K wouldn’t have been possible without the help of friends like the Greenhill Mansion and Lin Zhong Lake...”

”The help from the Greenhill Mansion isn’t for friendship,”

Su Shijun unhurriedly interrupted Jiang Yu’s pleasantries, ”After all, in the near future, Poseidon might inherit this shop... not exactly a dowry, but it’s good for a little pocket money.”

”I wouldn’t recommend mentioning Poseidon in the shop.”

The Monitor of the Atonement Hunting Team casually reminded: ”Besides Linda Barnes, that Crystal Granny was also an excellent journalist who worked at the Beta Town Post for a long time... uh, try this, I just saw it in the little sprites’ tray and it looked very nice.”

The last sentence was directed at Zheng Qing.

As she spoke, she held a small silver tray under the warlock’s nose, on which lay two pale red fruits, about the size of hazelnuts, with translucent skin and enticing color.

Zheng Qing felt a little uneasy as he cleared his throat, his eyes honestly fixed on the fruit, and he muttered a faint thank you:

”Tha-thank you...”

Then he cautiously reached out with two fingers, picked up one fruit, and tossed it into his mouth.

For a moment, the warlock felt as if he had bitten into a lump of concentrated sulfuric acid.

It was difficult to describe in words the intensely sour and spicy sensation, as if mixed with spicy millet pepper dipped in vinegar, yet without the deliciousness of actual food. The thin flesh exploded in his mouth, and Zheng Qing felt as though every taste bud on his tongue was desperately crying for help.

Yet, for the sake of his manly dignity, he had to put on an unaffected and indifferent demeanor.

”How does it taste?” the Monitor asked with a smile.

The taste was absolutely astonishing.

This was what Zheng Qing was going to say, but as he struggled to move his tongue, he sorrowfully realized that it seemed numb.

So, he could only tearily give a thumbs-up.

”Why is he making that face?” Jiang Yu seemed to just notice the warlock’s oddity.

Su Shijun examined the remaining fruit on the tray carefully.

”I guess he ate an unripe River plum,” said the owner of the Greenhill Mansion, whose knowledge as a Big Wizard was quite vast; she quickly made a judgment. ”A ripe River plum is undoubtedly a rare delicacy, but these two...”

Her slender white fingers picked up the other fruit, showing the small green speck on its belly to the two wizards.

”Such unripe River plum has an extremely strong stimulating effect.” As she spoke, she tossed the fruit back onto the silver tray and looked at the warlock with a sense of pity: ”...I remember Su Ya once accidentally ate one, and her tongue swelled for a week, and since it wasn’t poisoning, antidotes didn’t help... for half a month, she became exceptionally quiet.”

”Uh, I’m really sorry.” Jiang Yu gave the warlock an apologetic look. ”Since you’re not in a position to speak right now...”

”Then we won’t disturb you.” Su Shijun waved goodbye with a cheerful smile.

Zheng Qing felt her fox ears were happily twitching in her coiffure.

He watched as the two witches walked away arm in arm.

The young cost student finally found the chance to gulp down a mouthful of overly sweet orange juice, trying to wash away the nearly-deadly stimulating taste on his tongue.

”If I were you, I’d spend the day in the campus hospital,”

Xiao Xiao’s whispery voice emerged behind him. Zheng Qing turned around only to see the short warlock amicably heading toward Andrew Taylor, as if it wasn’t him who had just spoken.

Andrew was holding a glass of blue Sea Monster Langmu, talking incessantly to Nicholas, with a carefree demeanor. His short, spiky hair was sharply distinct, exuding a sharp and intense aura.

Perhaps due to the ’victorious escape’ during the Winter Hunting, his eyes now oozed a confidence unlike before, and the ten magic rings adorning his hands, no longer carried the aura of a nouveau riche, instead emanating a stable and impressive temperament.