High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 826: Chapter 174: Family Arrives

When I was young, during the Lunar New Year, every time relatives visited our home, the issue of red envelopes with money always came up.

The children were hesitant, wanting to stash the bright red bills into their packets yet feeling that accepting them directly would leave a bad impression; the adults, on the other hand, held the red envelopes and persisted in stuffing them into the children’s arms. Thus, both sides would go back and forth, pushing and pulling like a Tai Chi performance, taking great delight in the exchange.

Zheng Qing felt that he had somehow recaptured that childhood feeling now.

Crystal Granny’s gift was rather tricky; the young wizards eyed the beautiful crystal ball, wanting it yet not daring to take it. Crystal Granny, however, insisted on giving this gift, unaffected by the wooden box handed to her by the scholarship student, as if she saw nothing.

Thus, Zheng Qing held the small wooden box mid-air, unable to proceed or retreat, with an awkward smile hanging on his face.

Mu Mingzi spoke up at just the right time.

”Since it has been given to you, accept it with ease.” Although Mu’s expression was stiff, his mind was very sharp and he easily guessed the young wizards’ concerns, ”Don’t think you are taking advantage, for diviners, it’s always them taking advantage of others, not the other way around...”

That’s exactly the point!

That’s why they dared not to accept the crystal ball!

Zheng Qing roared inwardly, well aware of his own worth, barely managing to amass a hundred jade coins including his credits and some minor possessions. And now, someone literally threw a third of his fortune at him.

It unsettled anyone who received it.

”Speaking of which, it’s just a crystal ball worth a few dozen jade coins, even if you’re taking advantage, how far could it go? Crystal Granny is quite wealthy, her shop is filled with such crystal balls, so giving one to you isn’t really such a big deal,” Mu Mingzi continued, —his analysis was somewhat rigid but it sounded reasonable.

Unlike the babbling Mu, Crystal Granny, since handing over the little wooden box, had fallen silent again, staring blankly at the crystal ball floating before her.

The male wizards looked at each other, exchanged glances for a moment, and eventually accepted this somewhat awkward first gift.

”Top-quality tea!” the chubby wizard turned around and shouted to the sprites, then with a smile, he began guiding Crystal Granny around D&K’s interior layout and its various products.

Mu Mingzi lagged a step behind.

He followed Zheng Qing, walking at the back of the group, and as they reached the store entrance but hadn’t crossed the threshold yet, Mu glanced at the bare walls on either side of the door, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.

”Good, good, I knew you youngsters lack experience.” Mu chuckled warmly as he fumbled in his bosom for a moment, then spread open his palm, presenting it before the young scholarship student: ”Hang it up! Made of century-old peach wood, absolutely excellent for protecting and warding off evil spirits!”

In his palm were two slender wooden strips, each drilled with a small hole at the ends and strung with a red string.

Holding onto the red string, Mu flicked it smoothly, and the two sticks expanded in the breeze, quickly transforming into talisman boards six inches long and three inches wide. Inscribed with the names ’God Tu’ and ’Yu Lei.’

It appeared similar to door god decorations but didn’t feature images of the Gods themselves.

Zheng Qing knew that these were amulets that traditional wizards hung on either side of the outer door. The Absolution Hunting Team had discussed whether to hang a pair at the storefront when they were decorating; however, due to a tight budget, they eventually abandoned the idea after several discussions.

Now, seeing the gift from their second visitor, if Zheng Qing continued to pretend composure, it would seem rather hypocritical.

”Oh dear, you have really gone to too much expense!” the young scholarship student joyfully took the red string from Mu’s hand, hurried a few steps, and, as Si Time had not yet struck, quickly planned to hang up the Peach Charms.

Mu Mingzi, the old Taoist, watched the Warlock’s swift actions and his mouth twitched.

”Why can’t you guys ever turn down anything?” he asked in a tone of surprise.

”If we turned it down, would you take it back?” Doctor Xiao, standing on his other side, asked seriously.

The old Taoist frowned and pondered for a moment, then shook his head, ”Since it has already been given, there is naturally no reason to take it back...”

”So, why waste time?” Doctor Xiao adjusted his glasses and concluded, ”Based on what we’ve learned since starting school, there is no treasure more precious to a wizard than time.”

While they were talking, Zheng Qing had already hung the two Peach Charms on either side of the front door.

Then he stepped back a few steps, eyed it from a distance, covering one eye, ”Do you think they are hung crookedly? I can’t see very clearly...”

”If you can’t see clearly, just take off your glasses. The sun isn’t that strong, and what does a boy need sunglasses for anyway!” a familiar female voice suddenly came from behind Zheng Qing, startling the young cost student.

Turning around, it indeed was someone familiar, and not just one, but two.

Teaching Fu Lu Class was Zhang Huaigu and teaching history was Sima Yangyun. And the speaker was Mister Sima.

Zheng Qing’s gaze lingered for half a second on the two young female teachers.

Then turning back, he yelled at the top of his lungs, ”Doctor Xiao! The family is here, come and greet them!”

As soon as he shouted, the smile on Sima Yangyun’s face quickly faded, her originally fair face turning red at a visible rate, and if the angle was right, Zheng Qing could even see the steam rising from her head.

Teacher Zhang beside her bent over with laughter.

Xiao Xiao hurried over from beside the old Taoist, pushing the young cost student aside, gritting his teeth and saying, ”Get out of the way!”

Zheng Qing feigned a stumble and ran away with a grin.

Teacher Zhang seemed to want to slip away too but was tightly held by her companion and couldn’t break free.

”You say in such a small place, three people walking side by side is too crowded... can’t I step out for some fresh air?” Teacher Zhang’s tone revealed a hint of helplessness.

”Yes, it was, it was you who said you were, were interested in this new store, why are you trying to run away?” Mister Sima stammered an explanation that sounded particularly amusing.

Zheng Qing secretly laughed inside and ran back to Mu Mingzi’s side.

Then he remembered something minor.

”When we were first looking at the shop, you said the businesses around here were not doing well... I understand why Wandering Bar didn’t move, but why didn’t you and Crystal Granny move away?” Zheng Qing inquired, looking at the old Taoist.

Mu Mingzi silently glanced at him, ”Move? Why move? Where would we go? We are different from you... we are the owners of these shops. Staying here, we can still keep an eye on our property, ensuring no vagrants from the North District break in and take over by smashing the windows.”

”For us, having business means we profit, having no business means we don’t lose.”