High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 279: Chapter 203: The Silent Tide Returns_1

The Silence Tide, is a unique natural phenomenon unique to Buji Island.

At the turn of spring and winter each year, around the time of the Forbidden Magic Festival, when the Return Soul Poplar sprouts its first bud, a school of Wenchuan Fish from the deep sea return home, trekking up the wide and deep Silent River with their plump and strong bodies.

An ancient book says: The Wenchuan fish, resembles a carp, with the body of a fish and wings of a bird. They are blue in colour, with white heads and red beaks, usually swimming in the western sea, returning to the eastern sea, and settling in Buji, flying at night. Their sounds resemble phoenixes and roosters, their taste is sour and sweet, they drive one insane when consumed, and their appearance signify great prosperity.

Some say, the Wenchuan fish return to Buji Island for the purpose of procreation, to continue their species; others say, they aim to pass through the ’Dragon’s Gate’ at the end of the Silent River, shed their fish bodies and transform into dragon beasts; yet others believe that these migratory fish are food for the Gluttonous Beast in the depths of Silent Forest–each early spring, after the Gluttonous Beast awakens, it summons its food back to its mouth.

Regardless, the migratory path is a tough journey for these Wenchuan fish.

From salty to freshwater, from wide water bodies to turbulent river channels, to the big and small waterfalls and dams on the Silent River, not to mention the many magical beasts attracted by the smell of fish, as well as the joint hunters from the sky and underwater.

Even with wings, sharp beaks, and poison, these fishes cannot deter the magical beasts on the island starved throughout the winter.

For the inhabitants of the forest, this is a feast.

An annual feast.

”This year’s Silence Tide came earlier than it used to.” Doctor Du Zemu lowered his head, patiently adjusting the dosage of various medicinal powders, and explained casually to the two young wizards:

”In most years, the Wenchuan fish migration happens at the start of spring.”

”At that time, after being nourished drastically in the deep sea, they are plump and vigorous; a single flap of their wings could allow them to leap over three waterfalls at the river mouth of the Silent River; a light peck of their red beak could pierce through the back of a horse bear.”

”The magical beasts of Silent Forest, which have starved all winter, are no less fierce than these flying fish.”

”The prey and the hunters fight from downstream to upstream of the Silent River, for a whole month, most of the Silent River turns dark red.”

Thinking of the turbulent, blood-red river, Zheng Qing felt dizzy and entranced.

”However, now, large schools of Wenchuan fish are returning from the bottom of the sea ahead of time, while the brutal beasts on both banks of the river have just fattened up from the ample summer food, unwilling to wrestle and fight with these migratory fish, hence they just let them go upstream.”

”Sounds like this situation isn’t bad,” Zheng Qing mused softly, ”The Wenchuan fish can migrate peacefully, and the animals on both banks of the river don’t have to risk their lives for a few fish... it feels like a win-win situation.”

”Win-win?” The doctor raised his head, giving him a scornful look, ”How did you get the position of a publicly-funded student? Is your brain the size of a walnut?”

Zheng Qing blinked, looking at the suddenly abusive professor, somewhat puzzled.

”This is not a win-win, it’s a complete loss.” The doctor raised a finger and shook it rapidly: ”Every ecosystem has an exceptionally intricate, sensitive, and fragile structure. Any unstable fluctuations in the ecosystem will cause irreversible massive alterations when transmitted to the ends of the chain.”

”Take the Silence Tide as an example.”

”Every early spring, the deadly duels on the Silent River result in numerous Wenchuan fish and magical beasts of Silent Forest dying. When the migration ends, whether it’s the forest beasts or those ferocious migratory fish, their numbers have decreased to a level that provides peace of mind to the wizards... one that does not pose any threat to the wizards.”

”Not to mention, the flesh and blood of both sides nourish the Return Soul Poplar, Unyielding Willow, and other vast forests along both sides of the river, nursing countless small creatures in the river bed and banks... and also the tricksters in the north district of Beta Town, who rely on this season to pick some pieces of meat from the river, salted and preserved as a delicacy for the festival.”

”Without these fights, the influx of a large number of Wenchuan fish into the upper reaches of the Silent River will have some serious consequences. For instance, they will devour the little creatures on the river bed and banks, and will feed some entities imprisoned by the Wizard Covenant deep in the forest.”

”So that’s to say,” Jiang Yu also suddenly understood and said, ”The Sand Hour Group, Red Chain Snakes, and those carrion beetles all rushed into school to escape these overfishing appetites of these schools of fish, right?”

Zheng Qing suddenly understood.

”That’s only one of the reasons,” Doctor Du Zemu said, the corners of his mouth curling into a gentle smile. ”The migration of numerous wenchuan fish not only threatens the safety of those tiny insects but also devours their food supply... say, the Red Chain Snakes, whose diet greatly overlaps with the wenchuan fish. If the fish gobble up all the bait, the large snakes can hide in their hole and pretend to hibernate, but the little snakes have to sneak into the schools to scrounge for something to eat.”

”Sounds pitiful,” murmured Zheng Qing, picturing in his mind a small snake carried off by an old hunting dog, mourning their tragic fate for some seconds.

”They have always lived in such an environment, so there’s nothing pitiful about them,” Doctor Du Zemu shook his head, emphasising, ”What’s truly pitiful is Beta Town, and those low-ranking Wizards and Tricksters from the North District.”

”The group of wenchuan fish is just so big.”

”As they have already returned in the fall, they certainly won’t be around in the spring.”

”What would the animals in the Silent Forest, starved through the winter, do once they realize there are no more wenchuan fish in the river after they emerge from their caves in the spring?”

Zheng Qing quietly swallowed his saliva and cast his eyes out the window towards the shadowy buildings in the distance

Doctor Du Zemu’s concentrated voice continued to fill his ears.

”Extremely hungry wild beasts will do anything. For example, invading a subset of a public space in the university, or attacking the wizards inside the forest... When things are beyond help and they face dead ends, these wild animals surely wouldn’t mind charging headlong into the town filled with food.”

”Why can’t we see those groups of wenchuan fish now?” Zheng Qing abruptly asked.

If the doctor’s theory is correct, and the Silent Tide this year arrived a few months early, then no matter what, the students should have noticed something.

Not to mention the towers in the southern part of Beta Town standing next to the river; even some public areas of the First University are built near the tributaries of the Silent River—And there’s Lin Zhong Lake, which is also a part of the Silent River.

”The wenchuan fish are nocturnal; they sleep at the bottom of the water during the day and leap over the river at night. Thus, the first ones to notice the shift in the timing of the fish’s migration are the low-grade wizards from the south district who work late into the night.”

Doctor Du Zemu paused here, shook his head and added: ”And besides, you young people, who hole up inside the protection array of the First Learning Circle all day, how can you possibly run into any unfortunate encounters!”

...

Time flew by.

Only after the elves had taken the most recent batch of medicine did the time reach nearly eight-o-clock in the evening.

The doctor escorted the two young wizards to the gate.

”Compared to these elves, you should be more concerned about your own health.”

Before leaving the research institute, Doctor Du Zemu earnestly reminded Zheng Qing, ”If you fall before these elves really become free, their tragic future won’t change one bit.”

”I’m really healthy,” Zheng Qing faked a laugh, flexed his arm and clenched the muscles on his arm.

”No healthy wizard would wear such large eye bags, bear such dark circles under their eyes, eyes bloodshot...and have nightmares every day.” Jiang Yu could not help but interrupt: ”I think the doctor makes a lot of sense.”

Zheng Qing chuckled, glancing at Dr. Duzem

The doctor’s dark circles were far worse than his.