High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 180: Chapter 104 Incense Ashes Thrown Over Left Shoulder_1

There’s an oak tree in front of the Hundred Herb Gardens.

This oak is quite old, its bark rough and cracked, covered with a thick layer of light blue-green moss. The short and sturdy trunk splits into branches not far from the ground, reminiscent of a giant hand reaching out to the heavens, twisted and deformed under immense pressure.

A grey and black squirrel, holding an acorn, lay down at the entrance of its home, hanging its head off the tree trunk as it gave a big yawn.

Those odd two-legged creatures beneath the tree were once again shedding their skin. It stared down at the two-legged creatures bustling around and shrieking beneath the tree, raised its fluffy tail, and gave it a bored flick.

Every time the color of the sky changed, these two-legged creatures changed their skin several times. Oh, great Druids, I have to wait until the white chill flowers fall from the sky to shed this dull fur and wear a warm and clean cloak.

When the tree hole is full of acorns, I can change clothes. How long will this take? The squirrel thought, raising the acorn in its hand and throwing it hard at a two-legged creature beneath the oak who was in the midst of changing clothes.

This was the squirrel’s daily routine.

These two-legged creatures are amusing. If you hit them with food, they squabble and occasionally even give you a pile of acorns back.

I wonder if I’ll encounter such a dumb two-legged creature today.

The squirrel clung to the tree trunk, sticking out its head, eagerly hoping the creature below would give it a pile of acorns.

But it was bound to be disappointed.

Today, the two-legged creature shedding its skin under the tree seemed to be very unkind-hearted. It just shouted angrily and continued to concentrate on changing its skin.

I can only wait until these two-legged creatures enter the garden, then go down to pick up my acorn.

The squirrel shook its big tail disappointedly, leaned against the tree trunk, and looked melancholically into the distance.

Gentle wind blows, where are the two-legged creatures who bring acorns...

Under the oak tree.

Zheng Qing had no idea that the little scamp above him was so sentimental.

”I say, the school spoils these little brats too much,” He rubbed the red mark on his forehead while he put on his protective suit grumbling, ”We are the masters of this campus after all, it’s really embarrassing to be hit on the head by a squirrel!”

”If you know it’s embarrassing, then stop complaining.” Xin Fat Man advised earnestly, while awkwardly trying to put on the suit with his short, stubby arms.

”Let me help you.” Zheng Qing sighed, reached out his hand, and helped Xin Fat Man tighten the belt on the back of his suit.

”When can we dress like the professor?” Xin Fat Man looked enviously at the professor standing at the entrance of the Hundred Herb Gardens, full of anticipation.

Zheng Qing stood behind him, quietly pulling a face without saying a word.

A few minutes ago, Professor Li Qihuang demonstrated to these young newcomers how to put on a protective suit.

”Before entering the garden, you need to change into your work clothes,” The professor pointed at the heavy leather suits in the large wooden box at his feet, and explained to his students,

”The school committee has provided gardeners with a type of one-piece dragon skin suit made from the top layer of the Welsh Green Dragon’s back. It is sturdy, durable, and has high protection power. It can block various poisonous spore plants and pests in the garden.”

”Moreover, this suit is immune to cold and heat, has great adaptability to the environment, and is very suitable for an environment like Hundred Herb Gardens.”

”You must remember, this is not a picnic in the countryside, but entering into an enchanting new world!”

As he spoke, Professor Li pulled out a set of khaki-colored, broad jackets from a box. He flicked his fingers lightly at the collar, and the heavy-looking set of clothes deftly fitted onto his lean body.

Then, the belts around his waist, wrist, and back autonomously slithered, tightened, and securely buckled together.

However, when the newcomers cheerfully poked at the collar of the clothes, they didn’t budge.

”Stop poking, there are no enchantments etched on the collar.” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses, scrutinized the glossy collars, and shook his head. ”The Professor must have used his own spell.”

”I really wish I could learn that spell.” The thought of being able to dress by lying in bed filled Zheng Qing’s heart with joy.

”Only those who elect the Life Skills class have the opportunity to learn such dressing spells.” Zhang Ji Xin sneered at those who were poking at the collars as he struggled to get into his protective suit. He added in a muffled voice, ”Of course, if someone is gifted, they could also find the corresponding textbook in the library and self-learn this enchantment.”

After putting on his protective attire, Zheng Qing stowed a short-handle shovel in the pouch at his side, wore hard leather gloves tanned from five-color deer’s back skin, gripped the brass spray pot given by the teacher, and lined up, ready to enter the garden.

At the front of the line, Professor Li continued his chatter:

”The Array enclosing the Hundred Herb Gardens is attached to the Academy’s main protective Array, and is ingeniously designed.”

”You must understand, each herb has its own origin, unique preferences, and characteristics. You can’t just dig a hole, bury some soil, count one-two-three-four-five, and expect to grow a medicinal herb that meets the standard.”

”Chicken-headed Polygonatum likes shade, monk hat platycodon prefers sunlight, pale-orchid Astragalus enjoys sunlight under trees, and shield-fern prefers phosphorescent light in caves. Various plants have different requirements for light.”

”Snow lotus prefers pure water, Five Pear Dragon likes briny water, peat moss enjoys the stench of swamps, and multi-branched willow like the dryness of gobi or desert. Different plants also have different water requirements.”

”Lightning Reeds prefer thunder, Shy Grass likes tranquility, Penglai Bananas must grow in heavy mist, whereas Giant Taros enjoy a noisy environment during the day and a quiet one at night. Many plants have also stringent environmental requirements.”

”The most troublesome thing is, some plants are solitary, with roots penetrating every inch of the ground, and grass can’t grow; some enjoy being in groups, and if the number of plants is less than a certain quantity, they will automatically wither; some must grow on other plants, like mistletoe and oak.”

”So, if you find yourself in the Hundred Herb Gardens one step in a thunderstorm, one step in drizzle, one step in swamp, one step in desert, don’t panic. This is all to create an environment suited for these fastidious plants.”

Before the final entry, Professor Li worriedly lays down the rules:

”Once in the garden: first, listen to the teacher’s instructions; second, do not mess around; third, listen to the teacher’s instructions and do not mess around!”

”Now, proceed orderly, don’t rush, one by one.”

”Sprinkle ash before entering.”

Managing a bundle of aflame incense, the Professor distributed it to all students, advising, ”When sprinkling the ash, don’t exert too much force. Even if the incense ash falls on your shoulders or in your hair, it doesn’t matter. This isn’t a spell, it’s just an old habit... if you sprinkle it too forcefully, you might throw it onto the faces of your peers.”

Laughter echoed throughout the crowd.

It was Zheng Qing’s turn.

He received the incense stick from the Professor, placed it in the incense burner in front of the shrine at the entrance of the Hundred Herb Gardens, put his hands together, and silently prayed for a while. When he opened his eyes, the incense stick had almost completely burned out.

Then he pinched a cluster of ash and gently tossed it over his left shoulder, took a deep breath, and stepped into the garden.