High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 829: Chapter 177 Old Jack Turns the Compass in His Hand

”... Old Jack spun the compass in his hand, the spurs on his heels clinking; his left eye squinted slightly, and his right hand rested on the Law book at his waist...”

”... Atop the white birch stood a Three-Eyed Raven, from the waters of Green Haze Lake crawled a yellow-skinned frog, cawing and croaking intertwined, cursing each other’s blindness...”

From the Speaker Flowers came lively blue jazz, and under the Speaker Flowers, the crowd surged.

The gathering guests, many of whom were passersby, had been attracted by the bustling scene in front of the store and had gathered around. But many others had come by invitation.

Like Thomas and Assistant Hilda.

They represented the Assistant Team, and were also teachers and friends of Zheng Qing and others; naturally, Zheng Qing hadn’t left them out when he sent out the invitations initially.

Since there wasn’t a big age difference, the two teaching assistants were very appreciative of the young wizards’ enthusiasm and had made a special trip to attend this opening ceremony.

In Assistant Hilda’s words, they felt that Old Yao might not have time to join in the ”kids’ fuss,” so they specifically came to check it out, to add a bit of popularity for the Absolution Hunting Team.

”Last time in Dean Yao’s office, he expressed his dissatisfaction with your unbusinesslike behavior... But we’re different; as your practical class teachers, I think your deep practice is very commendable. If it weren’t off-campus, and outside of class, I would definitely add some credits for each of you.” Assistant Hilda shook his head and raved about the little shop that Zheng Qing and the others had set up.

The copper rings and silver studs on his ears and lips clashed together as he moved, making a series of crisp sounds.

”It’s okay, we can wait!” As soon as Zheng Qing heard about earning extra credits, his eyes immediately lit up, and he hurried over with a grin, saying, ”It’s inconvenient outside of class, but you could add the credits during class! If needed, we could provide a complete practice report!”

Taken aback by the young wizard’s eager attitude, Assistant Hilda stuttered after a long pause, ”Yikes, that’s scary... you actually said ’you’! Even so, I won’t give you extra credit... It wouldn’t be fair to others.”

”But you just said you would give credits, didn’t you?!”

”That was just a figure of speech... like, for instance, if a Blood Servant did something to please the Blood Race elders, the elder might, on a whim, offer to elevate that servant to a true Blood Race. But things aren’t that easy!”

Hearing Assistant Hilda’s explanation, the smile on Zheng Qing’s face immediately diminished somewhat—it was precisely because he was familiar with these ’big boy assistants’ that he dared to openly display his true thoughts on his face.

Thomas chuckled as he watched the cost student’s changing expression.

”I came in a rush and didn’t prepare any nice gifts... This set of Wild Demon anatomy tools is from a friend I asked to bring; perhaps your hunting team will find it useful in the future.” Saying this, Thomas shoved a small rosewood box into Zheng Qing’s arms.

The box wasn’t large, only about a foot or so in height, with bronze ears shaped like beast heads on the sides and a finely made jade lock hanging in front.

However, opening the box gave one the feeling of peering into a bottomless depth.

”There are just some space expansion and reinforcement magic circles inside; don’t expect to find a full-fledged autopsy room.” Assistant Hilda mocked the young cost student as he stuck his head into the box, ”But speaking of which, Thomas has extensive experience in demon autopsies, more than many professors at the school... So the autopsy equipment he’s given you is definitely the most comprehensive.”

”Thank you, thank you.” Zheng Qing pulled his head out of the box and, hurriedly nodding, repeated his thanks.

”There’s no need for formality, this is my gift.” Assistant Hilda cheerfully took over the conversation, pulling a thick workbook from his bosom and placing it on top of the rosewood box in Zheng Qing’s arms, then patting it gently and adding:

”These are some commonly used tricks in practical curse work... You can think of this as the key points and difficulties in practical classes. If you still don’t score high on the final exam with this workbook, then it’s an intelligence problem.”

Xin Fat Man sprang out agilely from the side, grabbed the two gifts from Zheng Qing’s arms, and shouted, ”Gentlemen, come on in, inside please... The shop has prepared a generous red envelope as a reciprocal gift; please come in and receive it!”

Thomas and Assistant Hilda smiled and nodded at Zheng Qing, signaling him to go ahead with his tasks, and then they followed Xin happily to the store to claim their generous red envelope.

Zheng Qing caught a glimpse of the assistants’ departing figures and immediately squeezed his way out of the crowd.

He dared not imagine what Assistant Hilda’s reaction would be if he discovered the so-called generous red envelope was just a standard-issue Tranquility Talisman.

It wasn’t until he broke free from the crowd that the young cost student finally exhaled a sigh of relief.

Then he lifted his head and saw three witches and a large snake standing about ten meters away.

”Over here!”

The warlock hopped and skipped, flailing his arms, trying to get the witches’ attention.

Jiang Yu couldn’t help but suppress a chuckle.

”You really do look like a frog when you jump,” Li Meng shouted from a distance.

Zheng Qing’s face immediately darkened.

”That’s a fully grown frog with four legs!” the young state-funded student retorted without any courtesy, ”Unlike some tadpoles that have only developed two front legs and haven’t even shed their tails yet.”

”Who are you calling a tadpole!” The Little Witch’s eyes widened at once.

”Whoever admits it is who I’m talking about,” Zheng Qing said, looking down his nose at her with his head tilted back.

”Soul Light, go to hell!” Li Meng lifted her little leather shoe and kicked at the young state-funded student, ”I haven’t settled the score with you for last night’s incident at Greenhill Mansion! And you still dare to provoke a tiger? Who gave you the guts!”

”Oh!!” Zheng Qing dragged out a long tone, his face showing a sudden realization followed by clasping his hands together, squeezing out a sincere expression, ”Madame Tiger, I was wrong... I will never dare to provoke you again.”

The Little Witch stood in shock for a few seconds, then with a gloomy face, ran over to Jiang Yu and started rummaging through her handbag for her own Law book.

Jiang Yu, torn between laughter and tears, stopped the Little Witch’s outburst.

”How old are you, still bickering with her,” the witch scolded with a smile as she glared at the warlock.

”I may be older on the outside, but my heart remains youthful... a term popularly known as the ’old at heart youth’,” Zheng Qing replied with a mischievous grin.

Liu Fei Fei and her cobra laughed together at the sight, standing nearby.

Of course, to Liu Fei Fei, ”laugh together” was just a figurative expression; but for that cobra, it actually contorted itself into a knot of laughter.

Zheng Qing looked at the cobra twisted into a knotted ball and praised it highly.

”On the school’s chartered flight in, I felt your skill was quite impressive!” He gave the cobra a thumbs up.

”Little Dragon is a snake, can it understand what you’re saying? Idiot!” Li Meng, unable to find her Law book, could only turn back and furiously attack every move Zheng Qing made.

”Then shouldn’t I speak in snake language?” Zheng Qing shrugged, then opened his mouth, and pretended to say, ”Ssss, ssssss... ssssssssss...”

As expected, this act did not fool even the Little Witch, let alone the cobra.

Watching the cobra’s expression, as if looking at an idiot, Zheng Qing’s mind suddenly wandered.

He suddenly remembered a certain snowy day, by a certain lake, the witch who had been by his side, practicing ’ssss’ to speak snake language together.

I wonder what she is doing right now.

I wonder if she will come.

The young state-funded student lifted his head, his gaze thoughtful as he looked toward the direction of the campus, and became momentarily lost in thought.