High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 654: Chapter 2 The Battlefield of Public Opinion_1

Zheng Qing’s impression of Shi Yuan was still from his encounters with the young monk on the special plane to the university, and the intriguing conversation at Yota restaurant.

Although the Knight Group Absolution had co-signed the monk’s name during its establishment, it was more because, according to the rules of First University, the establishment of a new club required representation from all four colleges. Hence, they needed to find a suitable ’proxy’ from Atlas College.

One month since the establishment of the Knight Group, Absolution’s Hunting team had even finished their debut performance. However, this was the first time Monk Shi Yuan officially attended this small group’s meeting.

”Welcome! Welcome!” Xin Fat Man, arms spread wide, exaggeratedly screamed, ”Warmly welcome the presence of Master Shi... I’m sorry there’s no vegetarian meal prepared in advance, please excuse us!”

”Namo Amitabha...” Shi Yuan prepared to respond, but was stunned for a moment. He bowed and chanted a Buddha’s name, murmuring, ”Humble monk, please enlighten us.”

Fat Man’s outstretched arms encountered the monk’s ’hand knife’, causing him to neither advance nor retreat. With a laugh, he swung his hand to the back of his neck, ”...Is there something important today? You barely attend our meetings.”

Not barely, you’ve never attended, right? Zheng Qing thought to himself while curiously looking towards Shi Yuan. He was also interested in the question Xin had asked.

”Amitabha, I’m a little puzzled.” Shi Yuan touched the Buddhist beads hanging around his neck and looked over at Xiao Xiao, adding, ”It was Xiao who asked me to come.”

”Doctor?” The attention of the others instantly shifted to Xiao Xiao, with surprise evident in their eyes.

Xiao Xiao did not immediately respond to these queries.

He didn’t even attempt to establish eye contact with the guests, seeming somewhat impolite.

At this point, his hands were crossed, propping his chin, staring blankly at the distance. Having sensed the perplexed atmosphere, he slightly refocused his gaze and lazily opened the heavy black notebook in front of him. ”Now that everyone is here, let’s begin...”

”We’ve gathered today for three matters.”

”Firstly, it’s about the recent rumors...”

Upon saying this, Xiao Xiao paused, straightened up, and surveyed the room. As his gaze swept over, everyone consciously avoided Zheng Qing, their looks meaningful.

”As you all know, there have been numerous odd rumors around our school lately. Like our Hunting team using a prohibited powerful ’beast lure potion’, or our hunters contracting powerful magical beasts in advance, or Old Yao favoring his own college, etc... Even the previous incident involving the Judgement Hunting Team training us was dug up and sensationalized.”

”To be honest, this feels quite terrible.”

”Here, I need to emphasize, we are all innocent. We have not used any unethical means nor have we done anything against morality in this competition — but as I previously told Brother Qing, there are some things that cannot be resolved by avoiding them.”

”If we do not occupy the battlefield of public opinion, those rumors will. Refuting rumors is something we must do ourselves, no one would do it for us. Thus, these idle talks, we have to muster our own forces to eliminate them... without us eliminating them, they will not vanish. This is like sweeping the floor, where dust won’t disappear without the broom.”

”But I remember, at the beginning of the school year, didn’t Arthur·Ness also churn out lots of rumors? And we didn’t mind him at all.” Xin Fat Man immediately put forth his opinion.

”The premise is different, so the situation changes.” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses, explaining, ”Regarding Arthur·Ness, he didn’t defame us, but tried to ’overpraise’ us... Our clarification or lack thereof didn’t make much of a difference.”

”But now it’s different.”

”We have been in school for two months now, and the mid-term evaluation is about to end. If any professor harbours prejudice against us because of these rumors and casually downgrades us, that would be a great loss.”

”Most importantly, when we first entered school, unfamiliar with everything, even if we wanted to clarify, we didn’t know how. But now, Fat Man works for the Campus Newspaper, and Brother Qing is quite familiar with the Wandering Wizard. Whether it’s the regular public opinion or the spread of side rumors, we have some channels, so we are not in the dark.”

This moved Xin Fat Man to smiles.

”Well said, well said.” He stuffed the remaining beef jerky into his wristwatch, then gestured as if planning, ”I’ve been preparing the manuscript for a few days. As long as you, Doctor, give a few more suggestions, it’s a given... I might even mix in a commentary article!”

”What about you?” Xiao Xiao kicked Zheng Qing.

Zheng Qing slapped the table, not even lifting his head, but casually fished out a card from his pocket and handed it over, ”Here’s the gold card for the Wandering Bar... If there’s any problem, you can negotiate with the old man yourself. He only recognizes money, not people.”

”But this card is registered.” Xiao Xiao held up the card with two fingers, looked at it carefully, shook his head, and returned it to Zheng Qing, ”You need to do this...Remember, you are the president of the club.”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qing sighed silently.

”So, moving on to the second matter.”

”Today is the 10th week’s Wednesday. Next week, namely the 11th week’s Wednesday is Lantern Festival. Before the Lantern Festival, we should visit Dylan at the school hospital... I hope you remember that poor fellow.”

Zheng Qing remembered this matter.

Due to the influence of blood lineage, the Lantern Festival had a particularly severe impact on the mixed-blood Lunar beings. Therefore, in accordance with the school’s requirements, Dylan was admitted to the safety ward early to avoid unnecessary troubles outside — because of this, the original plan to let him undertake the Hunt was abandoned, and Blue Bird went instead.

Of course, Blue Bird did an excellent job.

”Then let’s go this weekend!” Zhang Ji Xin immediately suggested, ”We could take some time to stroll around the Pedestrian Street and buy him a gift.”

”The weekend is not good.” Xiao Xiao immediately denied, ”Sunday is not an auspicious day according to the almanac. It forbids outings and visiting friends, but is favorable for death and prayers... On Saturday, many of us already have work appointed by the student labor committee.”

He particularly emphasized the words ’many of us’.

Other people looked at each other and then all chuckled awkwardly.

Zhang Ji Xin muttered, ”Then you say, when should we go?”

”Tomorrow, Thursday.” Xiao Xiao quickly responded, obviously having planned this already, ”According to the almanac, tomorrow is good for outings and bad for burials... Moreover, tomorrow is the Start of Winter, we can go visit him in the school hospital after class, and bring him some dumplings.”