High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 758: Chapter 106: Magic Prohibition Step_1

With hurried footsteps, a familiar figure appeared before Zheng Qing’s eyes.

Jiang Yuhuai arrived by Li Meng’s side in a quick trot, carrying several hefty reference books in her arms. Perhaps because classes had ended for the day, she was not wearing the bright red robe of Jiuyou Academy but had changed into a burgundy knitted dress. The dress was not very long, only about knee-length, and she wore a pair of similarly coloured high boots underneath. There was an inch or so gap between her boots and the hem of her dress, revealing a small strip of fair skin, forming a stark contrast with the rest.

Zheng Qing’s gaze lingered briefly on that strip of fair skin. His eyes stung as though bitten and he quickly looked away, fearful of being noticed and being thought ’impetuous’ or ’rude’.

Moving upwards from the hem of her dress, the witch was wearing a large black belt around her waist. A slightly matte buckle, which looked like it could be made of leather but could also be some kind of stone that was not reflective, was at the front and center of the belt.

Further up, a long scarf was draped around the witch’s neck. The silky, soft scarf was embroidered with tiny gold and silver runes. Occasionally, halos skimmed off the surface of the scarf. Zheng Qing had reason to believe that this scarf was not just for keeping warm. Perhaps because they were in the library, Jiang Yuhuai did not tie the scarf but simply hung it around her neck, let it naturally rest on either side of her body, and exposed the V-neck of the dress.

The young scholarship student’s gaze paused for a second, or perhaps even a shorter time, at that V-neck, immediately moved upwards, and finally saw a familiar face.

For some reason, when he saw Jiang Yuhuai’s stern face, he felt unease in his heart, retracted his gaze involuntarily, and tried his best to focus on the copy of ’Detailed Explanation of Yu Step’ in his hands. However, he subconsciously perked up his ears, hoping to hear something.

Jiang Yuhuai did not immediately greet the few wizards. Instead, she lowered her voice and chastised Li Meng quietly.

”Meng Meng! This is a library, not a bar! Please don’t be boisterous here! Be careful or the library administrator will deduct points from your conduct score!”

Although the library’s information desk was not on the floor where Zheng Qing and his group were, and the nearest library administrator was dozens of bookshelves away from them, Li Meng shrank at Jiang Yuhuai’s warning and sneakily shot a glance in the distance.

Luckily, the corner that Zheng Qing and his group were occupying was quite hidden and there were no other students around, so whatever was happening here did not attract disapproving looks from anyone else.

”Who said I was noisy?” The little witch mumbled and pouted, with enough room to hang an oil bottle on her mouth.

”I heard you complaining even from three rows of bookshelves away!” Jiang Yuhuai raised her chin; her voice remained low, but her tone much harsher: ”If you keep running around, I’ll put a couple of magic prohibition steps on you before you come to the library again!”

Next to them, Xin Fat Man buried his head behind several books and let out a muffled chuckle.

Zheng Qing silently shook his head and mouthed a muted lament for the little witch for a second.

Normal prohibition steps were merely decorative pieces, strung with colourful threads and adorned with jewels, to be worn around a woman’s waist to keep her dress from flying up. When walking with it, the clinking of the jewels created gentle and rhythmic sounds. If the sound was chaotic or disorderly, it was seen as rude—but these steps only provided invisible restrictions. If the wearer didn’t care about etiquette, the steps would not do anything.

Magic Prohibition Steps, on the other hand, corrected this flaw.

A person wearing Magic Prohibition Steps would be restricted by magic. They couldn’t take large strides, jump, or run, they could only walk in a slow and steady manner. Many witches from ancient wizarding clans were once forced to wear this magic ornament when they were young—some of the high-end Magic Prohibition Steps would even restrict the wearer’s speech speed, tone, body movements, even posture, etc. Wearing them was certainly a punishment for many young witches.

As Li Meng was a student, she was allowed by her family not to wear these restrictive ornaments at school. However, this did not mean she had free reign. If her ’guardian’ at school, Jiang Yuhuai, felt the need to use some ’tools’ to correct the little witch’s uncouth behaviour, the school would naturally not make a fuss over a few small ornaments.

Upon hearing Jiang Yuhuai’s reprimand, Li Meng quickly changed the pout on her face to a pleasing smile.

”Ah, cousin, aren’t you tired carrying all these books?” She leaned slightly forward, extending her short arms, forcibly seizing the heavy reference books from Jiang Yuhuai’s arms. Zheng Qing swore, if Li Meng had a large tail like Su Ya–the Little Fox Lady, it would certainly be wagging furiously now!

Jiang Yuhuai was caught off-guard, allowing Li Meng to confiscate the books. Before she snapped out of her daze, the little witch had hurriedly dashed towards the exit of the library, chattering as she ran: ”I’ll help you put the books on the table!”

”Slow down! Don’t run in the library!” Jiang Yuhuai chased after her for a few steps, shouting softly.

Not far away, the little witch heaved up half an arm heftily in the air, waved it randomly, and, after turning a corner, disappeared behind a large bookshelf.

Jiang Yuhuai paused, sighed lightly, and finally turned back to look at the several wizards seated by the window.

”Sorry for troubling you,” she said with an awkward smile: ”Next time, I’ll remind Meng Meng...”

”A reminder should be enough; you don’t need to put the Magic Prohibition Steps on her,” Xin Fat Man lifted his head and added with labored breath: ”I mean, I heard that wearing those things isn’t good for young witches.”

Jiang Yuhuai paused, and then smiled faintly: ”I was just trying to scare her. I was forced to wear it for some time when I was young, and it was a terrible experience. I don’t think there’s an invention that’s worse.”

While she was talking, Zheng Qing was still buried in his ’Detailed Explanation of Yu Step’, making outlines with his pen in his notebook, displaying an image of studious concentration.

Doctor Xiao, who was sitting next to him, couldn’t stand it anymore.

”Thud!” He kicked the young scholarship student very hard under the table.

”Why did you kick me?! Are you mad?!” Zheng Qing looked up, brushing off his leg while giving Xiao Xiao a puzzled look.