High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1632: Chapter 376 The Most Basic Order

In the Black Prison, there is no right or wrong, only the distinction between the living and the dead.

This point has been deeply understood by Zheng Qing through simple communication with the Demons.

The yearning of living beings for ’life’ is an imprint carved in the deepest part of their bloodline, a higher instinct that transcends all acquired shackles like race, principles, and morality.

When a life struggles in the boundless darkness for a long time, experiencing the constant flow of life yet unable to die immediately, its desire for life will gush out from the deepest part of the bloodline, bursting like fire, capable of burning away all binds.

This is the Black Prison.

The most cruel mercy a Wizard can offer to Demons.

Therefore, the Old Witch Demon’s actions did not exceed the young Wizard’s expectations.

”Yes, yes, yes, you are stone sculptures.”

Zheng Qing waved a hand to stop the Old Witch Demon from continuing to flatter, and directly asked: ”I will only ask you once, how do you get to the Black Prison Castle?”

”We are inferior prisoners scraping a living in the wilderness, how would we know the location of the Black Prison Castle!” The Old Witch Demon, with a weathered face, pointed heavily around him: ”In my whole life, I have never even...”

Zheng Qing raised his hand to stop him from speaking, then gave a look to the Black Cat at his feet.

The cat showed a vicious smile, lifted its paw to reveal a few sharp claws, swiping with them, a few streaks of silver flashed, striking sharply in the night.

”Slash!”

The Tiger Demon, pretending to be a sculpture beside them, was neatly sliced into four pieces, slowly sliding to the ground. The suddenly large tiger eyes seemed to want to say something, but soon lost their luster, turning a shade of gray and white.

In a moment, the viscous blood flowing out from the severed body parts spread over the ground, then was quickly absorbed by the dry earth below.

The Old Witch Demon swallowed hard.

But it was unclear whether he was frightened by the Wizard’s swift and decisive actions, or tempted by the still warm corpse at his feet—considering the prisoners in the Black Prison are accustomed to death, Zheng Qing leaned towards the latter speculation.

”...never even...never even, walked out of this valley a few times.” The Old Witch Demon finally managed to finish the sentence with difficulty, swallowing his saliva.

Zheng Qing sighed.

”I’ll ask you again, how do you get to the Black Prison Castle?” The young cost student squinted slightly, a flash of red similar to that of the Demons glinting in his eyes, reminding: ”The Black Prison lacks many things, but prisoners are not one of them.”

”But prisoners like me, with a bit of sanity left, are extremely rare.” The Old Witch Demon’s eyes darted around, one moment glancing at the Black Cat’s claws, the next at the grey cloth bag at the Warlock’s waist, his tone a mix of flattery and unexpected calmness, even making a small joke:

”...You can’t expect a stone sculpture lacking Magic Power to run around.”

Is he bargaining?

Zheng Qing felt a wave of realization.

”You want to replenish some Magic Power?” He looked at the Old Witch Demon with a wry smile: ”Aren’t you afraid of death?”

”Died once, no, died many times, got used to it long ago.” The Old Witch Demon’s grayish-blue skin stretched slightly, his scarlet eyes dimmed for a moment, but then quickly brightened again:

”In this world, death is not the most terrifying, living is... You’ve spent too little time here, haven’t experienced the horrible feeling of your body and soul emptying as Magic Power slowly drains. It’s as if someone has dug a big hole in your heart, and every bit of your strength, your every thought, even your every hope, keeps flowing away through that hole, like trying to catch the moon reflected in the water with your hand, no matter how you grab it, you can’t hold it.”

The Old Witch Demon spoke with a very calm tone about those horrific scenarios, yet described them so vividly and clearly, making Zheng Qing feel somewhat uncomfortable all over.

It also strengthened his resolve to send Jiang Yu and Zhu Si away as soon as possible.

Perhaps Jiang Yu, due to his youth, could endure a bit longer, but Zhu Si could not.

When leaving Dreamland, Elder Atar had discussed the Little Witch’s physical problems with him. Due to long-term stay in Dreamland, Zhu Si’s soul power had been almost completely consumed, now only kept by a single thought—she’s even weaker than an ordinary Ghost.

Zheng Qing was very worried that a gust of cold wind could blow this little one away.

He took her out of Dreamland seeking life, not to kill her.

To keep her alive, she needed to be sent to the school’s hospital or Research Institute as soon as possible, only those well-versed in the truth of souls and proficient in healing spells could save Zhu Si’s destiny.

”A dose of Magic Potion,”

Zheng Qing hesitated no more, the Old Witch Demon made a valid point, although there were many prisoners in the Black Prison, there were not many with clear minds, he couldn’t wait:

”A dose of Magic Potion, this is the utmost sincerity I can offer now. You lead us to the Black Prison... If the journey goes smoothly, I can provide other means to replenish Magic Power, like I still have some ingredients for concocting Magic Potion, you were once a Wizard, you should know how to do it.”

”Wizards never negotiate with Demons!” The Black Cat raised its tail, yelling.

Jiang Yu answered the Black Cat’s skepticism for Zheng Qing: ”You’re not a Wizard.”

The Black Cat was stunned for a second, then its whiskers at the mouth and erect tail dropped down all at once: ”Oh right... I’m not a Wizard, why should I meddle in your affairs.”

The Witch’s lips slightly curled up, one hand reaching back to hold the shoulder of the evasive Little Witch.

”Deal!” The Old Witch Demon immediately stretched out his hand, extending it eagerly to Zheng Qing: ”Magic Potion... such an ancient yet familiar name, I haven’t heard these words since I entered the Black Prison.”

”No need to establish a contract?” Zheng Qing raised his eyebrows, fingers probing into the grey cloth bag, not immediately drawing out the ampoule bottle containing the Magic Potion.

Contracts are tools to protect the weak, in theory, the Old Witch Demon should be more cautious than the young Wizards, more urgently needing a contract’s protection.

”Contract?” The Old Witch Demon let out a whimper from his throat, showing a weird smile on his face: ”The laws of the Black Prison World are lacking, this is a place not protected by the spirit of contracts... Moreover, the prisoners in this prison do not have enough Magic Power to squander on contracts. Rather than wasting Magic Power on that thin parchment, people would prefer to savor the taste of sheepskin.”

”Then how do you make deals?” Jiang Yu inquired with curiosity.

The Old Witch Demon glanced at her and uttered eight words: ”The weak fall prey to the strong... a promise must be kept.”

”Truly eye-opening.” The Black Cat sat squatting to one side, face full of emotion: ”In the most chaotic world, hides the most basic order... Wizards, apart from Magic, have lost the power of trust.”

These words seemed to be directed at something.

Zheng Qing seemed thoughtful.