High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 521: Chapter 190 Zheng Qing’s Shadow_1

Zheng Qing had always handled rogue advertisements when browsing the web swiftly and decisively.

After catching sight of the dim pop-up box in the corner of his eye, Zheng Qing didn’t even delve into the warning text. He moved his cursor to the top-right corner of the box and clicked the ’x’ without a second thought.

”Click!”

A corresponding clicking sound rang out from the speakers.

The computer screen subsequently dimmed. However, the formerly tiny box blinking in the lower right corner expanded to fill the entire screen with a ’click.’ At the same time, an intense rendition of Symphony of Destiny played from the speakers.

”Dammit!” Zheng Qing, realizing what happened, cursed under his breath.

He fell for it. Again.

After a long hiatus from using his computer, he almost forgot the tricks that these rogue advertisements ply on users — they often cleverly position the ”agree” option where typical pop-ups have the ’x’, making them nearly impossible to anticipate.

A grey backdrop filled the entire computer screen.

The bold and black question, printed to induce a terrifying degree of suspense, clouded Zheng Qing’s vision. The text gradually faded, and the grey background slowly curled up into a spherical object.

Zheng Qing squinted his eyes, trying hard to find the button that would close this webpage.

But when he moved the cursor a second time, trying to completely close the advertisement webpage, Su Shijun abruptly closed the laptop.

The student looked up in surprise.

”We’re delighted you’re joining our project,” Su Daxu squinted, smiling like a fox who just nabbed a juicy chicken, her eyes radiating satisfaction. ”This is a brave and adventurous choice! As a part of the project, Two-Dimensional Evolution Laboratory will keep in touch with you regularly and update you about the progress of the project...”

Zheng Qing blinked, processing the information.

Then he lowered his gaze to the ashy grey floor.

He could feel his heart move up his throat.

The large orb next to him cast a comforting and bright light onto him. But the immersed scholar’s chill was undeterred.

The shadow that dwelled beneath his feet, his constant companion, the dark little entity, had vanished without a trace.

”My... my shadow?” Zheng Qing looked up, stuttering as he found his words.

Su Shijun completely ignored his panic and continued her spiel. ”...As the first undergrad who agreed to participate in the ’Evolution Experiment,’ the Two-Dimensional Evolution Experiment Team will provide you full protection and comprehensive advice.”

”This includes but is not limited to providing a series of excellent, casual worlds for your projection, opportunities for free physical recovery after each world, as well as a chance of binding to an exclusive world. Furthermore, we will provide some free items for your projections in other worlds. Tools such as yellow paper, talisman pens, and cinnabar; those are commonly used for drawing charms. There are also two special offerings for magical items that act as amulets...”

Speaking, Su Shijun swiftly produced a form from a board held by a nearby researcher and passed it to Zheng Qing, adding, ”The magical tools and special talents listed here, you can pick any kind you want. We will put it in his backpack before your projection regains consciousness. Don’t worry; everything here is free.”

Zheng Qing’s eyebrows twitched.

Considering his racing heart at the moment, it would be difficult to settle it back to its original state.

And additionally, what meaning did free have for his shadow?

He glanced at the form. Both the talents and magical tools listed caught his interest.

For instance, talents included mortal Hercules, Shu Mountain’s mortal bond, the three great eyes from Naruto, Makoto Ito’s mating talents, Dragon Slayer Magic from Fairy Tail, Super Saiyan lineage from Dragon Ball, and Lambda-Driver from Gundam. For tools, they listed Jack Sparrow’s compass pointing towards the ’heart’s desire,’ Harry Potter’s Invisibility Cloak, Hermione’s Time Converter, Dragon Ball’s Senzu Beans, and so on. It was a staggering variety of choices.

Besides normal talents and tools, Zheng Qing also noticed several peculiar items mixed into the list.

Like a black iron ring hiding an old grandfather, or a mysterious spring that could permanently switch genders after consumption, there was also some sort of ’system’ that boasted digitized templates and convenient operation.

”What’s the use of this pet system?” Zheng Qing asked, pointing at a system listed on the form.

”Oh, it helps you improve your relationship with animals and grants you some benefits from evolution. One of our Druid researchers created this system; it’s pretty fun. But it’s not particularly useful for wizards.”

”And what about this gourmet system? Being a cook can allow you to transcend the two-dimensional world?”

”That’s youth for you. Such narrow thinking.” Su Daqiao pushed up her glasses and shook her head. ”Although cooking can’t let you transcend the two-dimensional universe, it can influence things beyond the two-dimensional universe. When you watch ’A Bite of China,’ don’t you salivate? That’s being influenced by life in a two-dimensional universe.”

The scholar shrugged, having nothing to say.

A robed wizard nearby noticed the form in the scholar’s hand and kindly handed him a green feather pen.

Zheng Qing begrudgingly smiled and accepted the pen from the researcher but didn’t immediately start ticking boxes on the form.

”Isn’t this fraud?” He looked up, asking softly.

”How could it be fraud when it’s a contract you clicked agree to yourself?!” Su Daxu raised her eyebrows, her expression leaving no room for negotiation. ”Our contract is a verified authority contract, recognized and verified by the Danghag Supreme Wizard Court. This isn’t Mephisto and his old crooks’ trick; they are the actual frauds!”

Zheng Qing inhaled sharply.

Faced with a strong party who casually referred to the Great Devil of Hell as a crook, the economically challenged party seemed to be without any wiggle room, beyond a weak protest.

”But, but... didn’t you say this was a trade before?” Zheng Qing made another futile attempt. ”With a trade, you should be able to back out, right?”

”Certainly—if your shadow can break free of the bounds of these two-dimensional worlds.” Su Shijun pointed behind her to lines of large orbs, her face innocent. ”You gave up your shadow, and we are using it to help your shadow seek meaning in life. When or whether it can break free...well, that’s up to fate.”

The young scholar took a deep breath, visibly disappointed. He picked up the feather pen and finally began to fill out the form.