High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2256: Chapter 477: Three Witches, Three Dances, and Three Conversations (Part 4)

Four green fox tails gently spiraled into existence.

The Upper House Member of the Moon Council transformed into a hazy green light on the spot, disappearing into the night. Zheng Qing had no idea where she went; perhaps back to the lab to check materials, maybe to the lounge for tea, or possibly she was just invisibly standing right there.

In any case, as she had emphasized before, she ’left first’.

No one would consider her actions impolite. As the most honored and attention-gathering guest at the event, she had the privilege and freedom to act with such whimsy.

Now, only the young cost student was left to face the heavy pressure descending from all directions at the ball—of course, this was also his due—for even though there was little commotion, the departure of the Owner of Qingqiu Mansion still drew many curious gazes.

This was a ball, not an unrestricted ring at Starry Sky Academy, so no one would brashly rush up to grab the young man’s collar and question if he had upset Su Councilor. All the guests whispered among themselves, with polite and reserved glances, discreetly observing a certain warlock standing alone.

One sheep, two sheep, three sheep.

As per Su Shijun’s instructions before she left, Zheng Qing silently counted a hundred sheep in his mind. Indeed, as time passed, those sneaky glances finally stopped prying into him. Although Su Shijun’s presence was indeed much anticipated, the titles ’Upper House Member’, ’Big Wizard’, ’Number One Beauty’ were like slabs of stone pressing on everyone’s hearts, making it difficult for these young wizards to truly open up for dance and socializing. With Su Shijun’s departure, gradually, more and more people focused on the dance floor, where the atmosphere became more and more lively.

Only then did the young cost student quietly slip toward where Jiang Yu stood.

If today’s Su Shijun, descending from the moon, looked as though she was draped in a magnificent heavenly river, Jiang Yu standing in the corner of the ball was like a stubborn little flame.

The bright red evening dress looked particularly inconspicuous in the dark, with a semi-transparent scarf like flickering tongues of fire rising and falling gently in the night breeze. Today, her hair was styled in a high updo, and she wasn’t wearing glasses. The last time he had seen a similar look was at last year’s Hunting Competition ball.

The warlock jogged over, finally standing before the witch.

Whether it was a misperception or not, he felt as though the surrounding music quietened, and that feeling of being watched surged back from all directions, but he no longer cared—already prepared to take a hit, what did it matter if others had a few more looks? If worst came to worst, he would just tuck a few more Nightmare Dolls under his pillow before sleeping tonight.

With that determination, he took a deep breath, opened his mouth, but his mind suddenly went blank, not knowing what to say. Jiang Yu quietly looked at him, and after a moment, she spoke first:

”You came?”

The young cost student bobbed his head like a pecking chick: ”Uh-huh, I came.”

The girl sighed slightly: ”You shouldn’t have come.”

A very peculiar thought flickered across Zheng Qing’s mind—he suddenly felt that the dialogue should have been reversed, with him saying the first and third lines.

But immediately, he shook his head, discarding that slightly amusing thought, simultaneously showing an uncharacteristic trace of firmness: ”No, I had to come...”

Jiang Yu raised a finger, wiggling it to interrupt the boy’s words.

”Are you ready?” She asked in a rather unspecific manner.

Zheng Qing felt a tad uncertain but still returned a round-about gesture: ”Without a doubt.”

”Then, close your eyes,” Jiang Yu softly instructed, letting her eyelids fall.

Feeling a little helpless, the young cost student looked around, and in the night, those prying glances retreated like startled rabbits.

He withdrew his gaze, only to feel that his brain was slightly underpowered. Since that momentary brain freeze, he had been struggling to keep up with the pace of conversation with the witch.

”Isn’t it a bit too fast?” The young cost student mumbled, licking his dry lips, once again feeling that their conversation should have been switched.

Despite that, he obediently closed his eyes.

Even holding his breath.

The witch in front likely made some gesture, for he vaguely heard distant, indistinct gasps—a level of surprise quite unbecoming for Moonlight Ball guests.

He couldn’t help but slightly lift a corner of his eyelid.

Immediately, his eyelid twitched fiercely.

Amazingly, standing before him, Jiang Yu had somehow produced a huge hammer, gripping the long handle with both hands, lightly judging the hammer’s weight.

Perhaps sensing his faint gaze.

A radiant, apologetic smile suddenly appeared on her face.

Bang!

Amid the undisguised gasps all around, Jiang Yu swung the hammer with both hands, giving Zheng Qing a solid hit—the warlock was unsure if the hammer swung up from below, from the side, or came smashing down. He just felt as if his head collided head-on with a speeding train, buzzing as his whole being did.

Fortunately, this hammer seemed made of bread or some very soft wood because after taking a hardcore strike, Zheng Qing’s forehead remained smooth, unbroken.

Nonetheless, it still hurt quite a bit!

The young cost student clutched his face—feeling like half his head had swollen—to watery eyes at the composed girl leisurely putting away the hammer, unsure how to respond.

”Don’t blame me,” she said, ”you walked right into it.”

Jiang Yu calmly clapped her hands as if knocking off dirt from swinging the hammer, then glanced at the warlock standing before her: ”Earlier, before coming to the ball, I chatted with my Elderly Ancestor, and she helped me divine a lot...”

In Zheng Qing’s mind, the image of a kind-looking old lady leaning on a dragon-headed cane immediately surfaced. The last time he saw her projection, she had snapped two fang off from her cane to use as fu bullets.

”...The Elderly Ancestor said that if I came today, it posed no risk, but as for you, if you wanted to talk to me, I had to hit you once first, otherwise, it would bring you bad luck...” the witch leaned slightly forward, explaining in all seriousness with hands behind her back.

Rubbing his swollen head and Half-Face, Zheng Qing suddenly thought of Su Shijun’s parting words, helplessly glancing over at the distant, empty platform—he’d never thought taking a hit would come in such a quirky way, but upon reflection, it seemed like the perfect solution.

If taking a hit today could prevent being blindsided later, Zheng Qing would gladly take one each morning.

Ow!!

He couldn’t help but tap his skull, feeling something seemed off.

”Ready?”

The witch across cheerfully held out both hands, signaling the young man that they could dance now.