High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 146: Chapter 70 Abnormal Life Research Institute_1

The doctor Jiang Yu introduced to Zheng Qing was a private researcher living in the pedestrian street of Beta Town.

Due to the prolonged delay by the lake, the two arrived at the pedestrian street around noon.

The sun was still hiding behind the heavy cloud.

Compared with the cold campus, the pedestrian street was more vibrant at this time.

Couples strolled aimlessly, adding some warmth to the chilly weather.

They did not linger on the street for long.

Jiang Yu quickly led Zheng Qing away from the bustling crowd and into a narrow alley next to the pedestrian street.

The alley was narrow and deep, bordered by a tall brick wall on one side and a dilapidated three-story building on the other.

The dark alley twisted and turned, extending deeper, seemingly without end.

Green moss spread across the damp corners of the walls, a few mice scurrying across their surfaces. From the cracks in the cobblestone road under their feet, the rustle of insects occasionally echoed.

The clamor of the pedestrian street seemed to be swallowed at the entrance of the alley, sounding distant and ethereal.

Zheng Qing felt as if he had entered a different world in an instant.

”Ahem.” He couldn’t help but cough lightly, trying to make some conversation with Jiang Yu to distract her from her sorrow: ”This alley seems to have some history.”

Jiang Yu glanced back at him.

Zheng Qing quietly swallowed his saliva.

The quiet environment made the atmosphere in the alley somewhat oppressive.

Perhaps successfully distracting Jiang Yu’s attention, after a moment of silence, she began to explain the layout of the residential area to him:

”Beta Town was built around Alpha Castle, with a relatively simple layout. Along the central axes of the castle’s four gates, it is divided into four administrative districts.”

”The North District is home to the largest group of tricksters in the wizarding world. Since they hardly can use spells, it’s also known as the Silent Area; students and professional wizards rarely enter this quiet land unless necessary.”

”The South District abuts the Silent River, has several docks, and is where some petty traders and low-level wizards gather for livelihood. From the viewpoint of some aristocratic wizards, the wizards there are too vulgar and insincere, utterly a disgrace to professional wizards. But I don’t think so - because the South District is the only place in the wizarding world that formally employs tricksters.”

”The West District houses several wizards’ towers of famous wizards outside the school, some extraterrestrial race’s embassies, and some private residences of school professors. There are not many residents, the environment is quiet, but ordinary people have difficulty moving freely there.”

”The East Zone corresponds to the castle gate that is open all year round, and there are lots of students coming in and out. Also, as the pedestrian street is located here, many businesses in the wizarding world have established their headquarters here, so it is relatively lively.”

”The students of the school simply summarize these four districts as ’East rich, West noble, South poor, North cheap.’”

”The residential area we are visiting belongs to the East Zone of Beta town. It is one of the oldest settlements in Beta Town, and many old school workers have set up their properties here.”

”There are also some down-and-out noble families here, who have obtained a bit of security by relying on their remaining connections with the university. They can’t enter the West District and despise the South and North Districts, so they can only seek some psychological comfort in the East District.”

”In general, the people living in this old district are neither fish nor fowl.”

After she had spoken, Jiang Yu seemed much less sobered.

In the meantime, they had arrived at an iron gate at the end of the alley.

The green-black walls on either side of the gate were covered with ivy. Occasionally a couple of grass spirits would lift up the broad leaves of the ivy, staring with their small black eyes at the long-lost visitors.

The iron gate was somewhat worn. Perhaps because it had not been wiped for a long time, the gate had patches of rust and a lot of unidentifiable stains.

The Door God talisman hanging on the left and right of the doorframe was empty. The Shen Tu and Yu Lei that were supposed to be lingering in it were long gone, leaving only two weathered blank wooden boards and a bunch of holes from bugs.

The only thing with color at the entrance was a long, white doorplate hanging on the doorframe.

On the sign were eight gold-plated large characters: ’Abnormal Life Research Institute.’

However, due to lack of attention, the gold foil on the large characters had faded a lot and looked like a patient with vitiligo.

”There are usually few visitors here.” Jiang Yu apologized with a smile to Zheng Qing. It was clear she was a bit embarrassed: ”Doctor Duzem is very talented, he’s just a little untidy in his daily life.”

Zheng Qing nodded in agreement, indicating it was no problem.

However, it was obvious that he had lost a lot of confidence in this unfamiliar doctor.

As expected, the bell on the gate had become merely a decoration.

With just a gentle tug from Zheng Qing, the colorless rope of the bell was pulled off by him, dropping a pile of dust in the process.

”Surely people still live here?” Zheng Qing dodged the dust, finally couldn’t help but complain: ”If you told me there were centuries-old vampires lurking here, I would understand.”

A hint of red crept onto Jiang Yu’s cheeks.

It was clear that she was extremely embarrassed.

”I’ve never been here before.” She bit her lip: ”I merely heard about the doctor from my family. They say he is outstanding in the field of abnormal life.”

”No, no, no, I’m not blaming you at all.” Zheng Qing quickly waved his hand, raised his fist and pounded heavily on the gate, shouting loudly: ”Is, there, anyone, in, there?”

”Thud, thud, thud!”

The heavy knocking sound echoed in the alleyway.

The chirping insects under the bluestone slab quickly shut their mouths. Grass spirits hiding covertly under ivy quickly retreated deeper into their leaves.

This seemingly fragile iron gate turned out to be surprisingly sturdy.

Although it rattled slightly, it remained firmly shut.

”Is, there, anyone?” Zheng Qing called out again, raising his fist ready to knock once more.

”What is it?” The gate silently opened, revealing a face with white hair and full of wrinkles.

The two young people standing at the door were taken aback, left standing still in surprise.

”What is it?” The old man who opened the door shook his arm impatiently, squinting critically at the two visitors.

Zheng Qing quickly lowered his raised fist and glanced back at Jiang Yu.

The monitor seemed to have just processed the situation and hurriedly drew a card from the Kun bag hanging from her arm, cleared her throat, and handed the card to the old man:

”Zhongshan Jiang Clan pays its respects to Doctor Duzem.”

The old man at the door widened his eyes, took the card and carefully read it.

”Wait a moment.”

Having said that, the old man closed the gate again and disappeared from the guests’ sight.

Zheng Qing blinked in confusion, looking at Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu was frowning, looking equally confused.