High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 960: Chapter 22: The Old Boatman’s Little Show

The Silent River meandered around the entirety of the Silent Forest, a myriad of tributaries and branches creating a vast maze of waterways. Without a guide, no one knew where the ferry might sail next.

Especially since this forest was home to all kinds of magical creatures.

There were ugly Tree Spirits and charming Fairies, well-known creatures like Qiulong, Fire Dragons, Unicorns, Fire Phoenixes, serpents, Ghouls, etc., and lesser-known ones such as Ghost Toads, Fish Wives, deer owls, Star Apes, Deer Complex, Number Scholars, Gu Diaos, and more—too numerous to count. Essentially, nearly every named magical creature in the Wizard World could be seen in this forest.

In a certain sense, the Silent Forest was more like a biological laboratory established by the First University.

As a main source of water within the great forest, the Silent River gathered a large number of magical creatures. Thus, the danger of traveling through it was evident, and the role of a good ferryman with a good ferry boat was self-explanatory.

Although the ferry was small, it was a whole different world inside.

The cabin, hundreds of steps in circumference, featured warm stoves, cozy armchairs, delicious pastries, and tasty beverages, making it feel like a bustling salon. Additionally, there were two large floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides of the cabin, offering a clear view of the beautiful scenery on both sides of the Silent River.

The water flowed tranquilly just a step away, the lush trees on either bank firmly blocking the invasion of the cold wind, and the surface of the water was calm as a mirror. Only the gentle sunlight was able to penetrate the reserved forest, casting dappled warmth into this dim world.

For Zheng Qing, however, this tranquility seemed unattainable.

Elena and her companions from The Gypsy Witch Coven sat together, talking and laughing in a way that made him restless. He wanted to join them but, shy and worried about being ridiculed by the Gypsy witches, he pretended not to notice—only to endure the taunts and jeers of the Doctor and the Fat Man.

Torn, he simply left the cabin and went up to the deck.

Compared to a common boat, the ferry’s deck was much more spacious, able to accommodate several people standing on it, and allowed passengers to lean over the rail to look out.

A golden-yellow copper bell hung from the bamboo pole raised at the bow, swaying in the cold wind. The sound of the bell ringing kept approaching magical creatures at bay, to some extent ensuring the ferry’s safety.

Old Xiao Bonar stood at the bow with several bamboo baskets at his feet. Inside the baskets were a few small blue water buffalos, about the size of a palm, resting peacefully at the bottom. Next to the water buffalos, there were also some silver-white fish, about an inch long with pointed heads and round tails, their species unknown.

The ferry’s low rail allowed the young Warlock to dip his hand into the cool river water, idly playing with the water and splashing ripples—one by one, just like his mood, which was difficult to calm.

”Snap!”

The bamboo pole emerged from the water with a trace, deftly smacking the back of Zheng Qing’s hand, causing him to wince and instinctively withdraw his hand from the water.

”Don’t stick your hand into the water, be careful not to have your fingers bitten off,” Old Xiao Bonar warned, giving the young Warlock a stern look as if sensing his carefree attitude. The old ferryman chuckled, gently lifting a silver-white fish from the basket with the bamboo pole and flicking it into midair.

The fish’s tail lightly touched the surface, and ripples spread outward, reaching far across the tranquil waters.

Zheng Qing’s eyes widened.

The old ferryman stopped the bell at the bow and looked down at the Warlock: ”Don’t think the surface is so quiet... there are lots of fierce beasts in the water!”

Before the voice died away, a dark shadow suddenly sprang out of the water, charging toward the silvery-white prey.

Old man Xiao Bonar flicked his wrist lightly, and with a leap, the bamboo pole in his hand tossed the silver fish hanging from the pole’s end into the air, sending it soaring even higher; it eluded the dark shadow that had leapt out of the water with an empty snap.

The dark shadow thrashed desperately, wagging its tail and flinging itself three to five meters in the air, but ultimately it couldn’t defy the pull of gravity and failed to catch the bait, crashing back down into the water and creating a huge splash.

This splash, like a starting pistol, shattered the tranquility of the river.

One after another, figures of various sizes burst forth from the water, vying for the small silvery-white fish. Some of the aquatic beasts were just tens of centimeters long, roughly the same size as the silver fish; others were several meters long, almost reaching the size of the ferry. Each creature had a fierce visage, with sharp teeth that were frankly frightening to behold.

Passengers in the cabin, noticing the commotion outside, came out to see just in time to witness a spectacular sight of various aquatic creatures plopping into the water like dumplings. Witches shrieked in alarm, while the warlocks exclaimed in admiration.

Zheng Qing caught a glimpse of that familiar beautiful figure among those who had emerged, immediately shutting his wide-open mouth from the scare and crossing his arms, his face sculpted into an indifferent expression, staring absentmindedly at the agitated waters.

”What just happened?” Elena’s curious voice rose next to Zheng Qing’s ear.

The young state-sponsored student turned his head, fulfilled, and briefly explained the situation in a plain tone, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Xin Fat Man seemed to be trying to edge closer, only to be dragged back by Xiao Xiao.

This pleased the warlock immensely, resolving to treat Doctor Xiao to a chicken drumstick after getting off the ferry.

A strange fish half a foot long, its head taking up half its body and mouth full of sharp teeth, misjudged its landing direction and ’plopped’ onto the deck of the ferry, landing not far in front of Elena.

The witch yelped softly, instinctively stepping back. Zheng Qing, not having enough time to draw his Law book, kicked out, sending the strange fish back into the water, then composed himself and looked towards Elena, ”Are you alright?”

The Gypsy witch patted her chest, seemingly still shaken, and did not speak, just gently shook her head.

Next to them, old man Xiao Bonar’s hoarse voice offered a gruff reminder:

”That was just a small piece of silver bait, and it didn’t even attract any large critters,” the old ferryman said, knocking his pole against the side of the boat, producing a series of crackling sounds as a deterrent. ”If any of you reckless little ones fall into the water, I won’t have time to prod you with the pole before not even bones are left of you... The Gluttonous Beasts in there are quite fond of the tender flesh of little wizards.”

Zheng Qing, heart still racing, eyed the surface of the water and wholeheartedly agreed with the ferryman’s words as he recalled the huge mouth and sharp teeth of the fish that had landed on the deck.

”What you’re doing doesn’t conform to ferry operation regulations,” Doctor Xiao’s voice rose from the entrance of the cabin, questioning the ferryman’s recent actions.

Old man Xiao Bonar cocked his head and glanced at Xiao Xiao.

”I thought you’d enjoy a little show like this,” the old man blinked and with a flick of his foot, kicked at a bamboo pole leaning obliquely at the bow. A golden-yellow copper bell hanging from the pole began to sway, and instantly, a jingling sound filled the air above the water.

The hunters that had emerged from the water panicked and quickly dove back down, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

The Silent River became quiet once again.