High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 879: Chapter 227 Zheng Qing’s Maximum Likelihood Estimation

When Zheng Qing first received his admission letter from First University, he didn’t think much of it, simply considering it a stroke of Harry Potter-like luck.

However, unlike the boy with the scar on his forehead, he had been exposed to much knowledge of the mysterious side of things since childhood—although Zheng Qing always thought what he was learning was the heritage of a Secret Taoist Sect—this allowed him to integrate into the Wizard World quicker and more smoothly than that boy.

But as time went on, Zheng Qing slowly savored a different flavor.

For instance, the professors at the university were unusually nice to him. Of course, this wasn’t to say that the professors favored him covertly because he was a cost student or a recipient of the Merlin Medal, but rather it was a more direct bias—as if he could regularly consult Old Yao for health issues, receive specialized extracurricular guidance from an experienced Divination professor, and even obtain Transformation Potions used for passing tribulation from the school on a regular basis due to his headaches.

Borrowing the private complaint of a teaching assistant, ”This can be reimbursed? I never knew the school had bought health insurance for these poor kids... I’m afraid I’ve joined a fake First University.”

Furthermore, Mr. Wu, who had always taught him about talismans, appeared to not be as simple as Zheng Qing had thought. The most direct example being Mr. Wu’s ability to project directly into First University’s campus the night before the school hunting party when the young wizard lapsed into a coma due to the explosion in the two-dimensional laboratory and the influence of the shadow’s return.

Setting aside the fact that projection magic requires extremely high magic skills and a powerful magic power reserve, just the ability for that projection to penetrate First University’s peripheral barriers to enter the campus was shocking. It is known that this land is the place with the strongest Guardian forces in the entire Wizard World, with countless intricate ancient and advanced protective Arrays densely packed together, and even a Big Wizard arriving in person would find it difficult to cross that barrier without alarming the school authorities, let alone come and go freely.

And speaking of shadows, that also was another matter causing some trouble in Zheng Qing’s heart.

Especially since for some reason, his shadow eventually got the attention of relevant people from First University. Having been at the school for quite some time, the young cost student had seen his fair share of things and read a few books. But he had never heard anyone discuss, nor had he read in any book, more detailed content about Forbidden Curses—until the relevant department came knocking, taking away the shadow that had transformed into a Black Cat.

Although Zheng Qing kept consoling himself with the possibility that the shadow might have learned about Forbidden Curses in some two-dimensional world in the lab, he knew how far-fetched this excuse was. So, when Milton, an Upper House Member of the Moon Council, appeared before him, there was a moment when he actually hoped the councilman would take him away to see if they could pull out an even darker shadow.

However, as expected, Buji Island was still Buji Island of First University. In the end, it was another Upper House Member from the Moon Council who stepped in, not the professors of First University. Perhaps the school was not ready to conflict with the Moon Council, or maybe they really didn’t care about a small shop on a commercial street outside the school opened by students.

Zheng Qing didn’t care, nor did he have much energy to speculate.

Because he knew that if no one told him, he would never be able to find the real reasons. He could only let these anomalies accumulate inside him, allowing them to build up and slowly ferment.

Until one day, the Yellow Flowered Cat from San You Bookstore suddenly appeared in D&K’s store.

Until the fat old mouse that had lived in his house for over a decade suddenly appeared before him.

Zheng Qing’s barely held together illusion crumbled with a bang.

He could no longer lie to himself, saying that everything was safe and sound, that everything was fine, that nothing had happened, that all these situations he encountered were mere coincidences.

Zheng Qing had studied probability statistics.

If the occurrence of event A1 is related to parameter a, then the estimate of a should be such that the probability of that event’s occurrence is maximized—this simple concept is known in professional terms as maximal likelihood estimation.

Let’s assume that from A1 to A100, there are a hundred unrelated events, each with a very small probability of occurring. The maximal likelihood estimate for each event is a. Thus, although in theory, A1 to A100 are still a hundred different functions, they all share a common term a.

Now, Zheng Qing is facing a hundred seemingly unrelated events that have all happened, and he is the common term a in them.

”Pfft!”

Zheng Qing tossed the Remington he held in his arms onto the snowy ground in front of him.

”Pfft!”

He pulled out the Colt Python that was behind him and also tossed it onto the snowy ground.

”Pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft...”

The young cost student started emptying his Grey Cloth Bag by turning it upside down and shaking it vigorously, causing all the boxes and various items that had been in the bag to fall out in a clatter, covering the ground.

Behind him, the young wizards from the Absolution Hunting Team, who were whispering among themselves, stopped talking, looking uneasily at their team leader.

In front of him, the rows of Mouse-Wolves suddenly bristled their back fur, watching the opposite witch with tension and curiosity.

Fei Rui shifted its position, propping itself on the White Weasel’s round ears, and leaned forward a little.

’There’s nothing for you guys here anymore; you go back first and notify the fellows in the cabin, tell them we have guests coming this evening and to prepare more hot tea.’

’Fei Rui has lived in my house for a long time, we’re quite familiar... I’ll have a few more words with it.’

While busying himself with things at hand, Zheng Qing casually arranged for the other members of the Absolution Hunting Team without turning his head, ”Elders, you with the gentleman, go take a turn in the woods, be careful not to let game from other hunting areas sneak into ours... Fatty, you and the Doctor head back to the cabin, tidy up and prepare to welcome the guests.”

The cabin was a safe zone established by the Hunting Team on the edge of the Silent Forest, which could be considered a logistical base, far more comfortable for hosting guests than the chills of the forest. It made sense for Zheng Qing to take guests back to the cabin.

The Hunters sitting behind him looked at each other, hesitating to move immediately.

After a long while, Xiao Xiao slowly spoke up,

’Since that’s the case... then, Elders, you and the gentleman follow the Captain’s instructions. It’s indeed worrisome not to patrol the edge of the hunting ground. And Fatty, you go ahead to the cabin to notify them, your watch is there, and only you can bring out stuff to entertain the guests.’

’As for here, I’ll stay.’

As he spoke, he raised his hand to stop Zheng Qing from continuing to speak, swung his arm down forcefully, emphasizing, ”Let’s do that.”

Zheng Qing tugged at the corner of his mouth and ultimately did not argue, accepting the Doctor’s subsequent arrangements.