High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 122: Chapter 46: The Use of Firefly_1

A plump firefly pulled out its sharp proboscis from the vine bark.

A stream of bright red fluid seeped out slowly from the wound in the vine part, quickly coagulating into a gel upon contact with the air.

The overweight firefly lifted its carapace, sticking out a pair of wings thin as a cicada’s, shaking them vigorously.

Feeling its body lightly floating, it hummed satisfactorily several times.

The Dragonblood vine beneath its feet could no longer provide it with enough vine juice; it needed to embark on a new journey.

Its antennae searching in the moist air detected a peculiar scent, a scent that made it dreamy.

Perhaps, only a powerful firefly like itself could sense that drool-inducing call.

With its wings vibrating, the plump firefly detached from the Dragonblood vine and drifted up.

Those weak companions around it were still druggingly suckling from the residual, faint liquid inside the vine part. They seemed very pleased about the departure of a formidable competitor.

These fools.

Buzzing with a mocking tone, this large firefly, somewhat scornfully, left the vine part it had clung onto almost its whole life.

”In every group, there are always some non-conformists.”

”They could either be lunatics or geniuses, pioneers or martyrs. Some may even make history—for instance, the great dean of our university; others may end up being the butt of jokes—for instance, the chief editor of ’Gentlemen and Ladies.’”

”Regardless, they always stand out... like this firefly.”

The Wandering Wizard raised the glass bottle in his hand with a smile, in which a noticeably larger firefly compared to its companions was struggling in the honey pot.

But this sweet trap was much stickier than it had anticipated.

When it managed to pull out one thin leg from the honey, three other legs got lodged deeper; when it managed to lick clean the nectar on its wings, it found its carapace thickly coated with new spoils of war.

”Fireflies from different regions have different characteristics.”

”For instance, the cast-off cuticle of the Long Shang Firefly after autumn is an excellent remedy for dispelling wind and relieving pain; the larva of the Amazon Firefly soaked in water for over three years can be used as bait for demon hunting... many demons cannot distinguish them from the taste of a wizard’s brain. Then there’s the Pyrenees Firefly, which, when soaked in saline water and lightly fried in boiling oil, becomes a delightful snack.”

Zheng Qing noticed Xin Fat Man’s Adam’s apple twitched slightly.

He had never noticed before that you could actually see this fat man’s Adam’s apple!

The Wandering Wizard swayed the glass bottle in his hand, the sticky liquid surging and rolling from all directions, completely submerging the struggling plump firefly.

”The insects in my shop come from Suffolk County.”

”They are excellent neutralisers during medicinal liquor preparation.”

”Fed with Dragonblood vine juice and brewed in the queen bee’s royal jelly of the Green Tail bees for thirty-six days, and then soaked in the Amber Light with tuber fleeceflower root, durian, nutmeg, and toad cinnabar. It is sealed, kept away from light, and buried underground in a shady place for over a year, and there you have this colorful, infinitely tasteful drink.”

The Wandering Wizard raised the transparent liquid in his hand and toasted to the several young wizards:

”This is a private drink. I call it ’Time of Flowing Gold’.”

In his cup, those golden sparkles still floated around like a living creature, casting heavy ripples.

Zheng Qing looked at the honey jar next to the Wandering Wizard.

In the jar, the plump firefly was sinking deeper into the honey.

Like a little bug stuck in amber, it occasionally struggled like an electric shock.

Its belly was still spraying the silvery afterglow, and across the orange syrup, it looked like a gleaming diamond.

”Do you still plan to be a maverick student?” The Wandering Wizard asked leisurely, in a gentle tone.

”No.” Zheng Qing decisively refused, looking at the smile flourishing at the corner of the Wandering wizard’s mouth, he added, ”I do not plan to think highly of myself as unique like this bug i, to end up falling into a honey pot, all my life trapped within.”

The smile at the corner of the Wandering Wizard’s mouth slowly receded.

Finally, he raised his head, adjusting his wide-brimmed hat to reveal a pair of pitch-black eyes, without a hint of white:

”Very wise.”

”But also very foolish.”

”In my long life, if there is a bit of gain, that would be indifference. If you want to live compassionately, you should be prepared to shed tears.”

”When I was a child, my greatest dream was to sit quietly in the underground tomb of the dispelling monastery after death, waiting for the coming of heaven with other devout mummies. When I grew up, I walked far along the Nile River, and the mummies buried deep in the desert told me that even gods occasionally fall.”

”The First University is not the Garden of Eden.”

”This is a hunting ground for wizards.”

The atmosphere in the private room was a bit oppressive.

The fireflies perched on the Dragonblood Vine keenly perceived this. Therefore, they retracted their bellies and converged the scattered glow.

The room became a bit darker still.

”We indeed don’t need those things related to dark magic.” Xiao Xiao suddenly spoke from aside.

Kneeling in front of the glass coffee table, he examined the red-painted boxes carefully. Looking up at Zheng Qing, he said, ”You really don’t need those dark magics ... it will degrade your status gratuitously. But you shouldn’t mind carrying a few protective items in school.”

”In the wizarding world, there is never a surplus of amulets.” Zhang Ji Xin added from the side.

His drunkenness seemed to have subsided somewhat, and his eyes didn’t look bloodshot anymore.

His face, however, was as red as ever, strikingly so.

Zheng Qing hesitated a bit, then nodded, ”Let’s pick an amulet then.”

Since both friends insisted, it would be best to accept.

He was very self-aware, understanding that his understanding of the wizarding world was equivalent to a three-year-old child.

At such times, it’s very beneficial to consider others’ advice appropriately.

”I want one too!” Xin Fat Man eagerly gulped down his snack, raising his hand enthusiastically.

”Very wise.” The Wandering Wizard repeated these words again. He nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand to put away those frightening dark magic tools.

Only a row of protective items emitting a soft color was left on the coffee table.

”This is a black donkey’s hoof produced in Jiao Zhou, from an eighty-year-old donkey that died of old age. He contributed four hooves, two of which were bought by Trident Sword, and one was taken by someone from the Qingqiu Su Family.” The Wandering Wizard pointed to the grey, cup-like thing in the red-painted box and reminded, ”If I were you, I would choose it...To my knowledge, there is a third-year student named Commander among Sir Friedman’s friends who has the Drought bloodline and is a newly awakened zombie.”

Zheng Qing’s face showed disbelief, ”There are zombies in the school?”

”To be accurate, they are zombie students. Since there can be vampires and werewolves, why not zombies?” Zhang Ji Xin grabbed the black donkey’s hoof and stuffed it into his arms, smilingly patting Zheng Qing’s shoulder, ”You said you’d give us gifts, so I choose this one!”

Zheng Qing nodded in a daze, feeling that something was wrong.