High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2182: Chapter 403: Big Snow

On December 7th, the wind and snow raged.

This day marked the fifteenth Monday after the start of school, coinciding with the solar term ’Big Snow.’ With two hours left until midnight, the Astronomical Observatory’s on-duty wizards eagerly deployed the ’snowstorm weather balls’ they had accumulated since the beginning of winter, one after another.

The three young wizards in dormitory 403 huddled in their blankets, listening to the howling wind outside the window and the pounding on the window frames caused by the swirling snow, clicking their tongues in admiration.

”Did they smash all the weather balls of the entire winter tonight?” Zheng Qing wrapped himself in the blanket, with only his head poking out from the curtain’s seam, happily watching the scene outside.

For some reason, whenever there was a storm like this outside, he felt inexplicably good while hiding under the covers. This feeling was somewhat peculiar, neither because of the scenic beauty of the snowstorm nor schadenfreude, but a more subtle mindset.

”The Astronomical Observatory’s wicked sense of humor... always likes to crack the corresponding weather ball on the corresponding solar term day.”

Xin Fat Man leaned against the bed, hugging his arms, his hands tucked under the Fat Cat’s belly, his eyes unfocused as he mused, ”When it rains during Rainwater, when it thunders during Awakening of Insects, even on White Dew, the dew in the academy is significantly heavier than usual... Maybe I should write a commentary on this, hmm, call it ’The Frozen Solar Term Stiffened the Twin-tailed Squirrel.’

”Which Twin-tailed Squirrel got frozen stiff? Did you see one?” Zheng Qing tilted his head in puzzlement—if memory served, the Fat Wizard had been in the dorm all evening since dinner, not even visiting the library.

”Do I need to see it?”

Xin Fat Man glanced at the young cost student, asserting confidently, ”This kind of thing is easily imagined with a little divergent thinking... Just think, it was sunny and cloudless at noon, yet in such a short time, the wind howls and the snow flies... Those Twin-tailed Squirrels deceived by the daytime weather, venturing out for food, only to be unexpectedly frozen stiff on branches in the storm, holding a cold hazelnut in their little paws... Tsk tsk, tragic, simply tragic! Hmm, the story would be perfect with an additional segment about two baby squirrels in the burrow, waiting, eyes large and moist, for their mother’s return... more perfect indeed.”

”So you’re just making up stories!” Zheng Qing rolled his eyes.

”How is it making up stories? It’s called rational integration!” The senior journalist replied, ”The dramatic moments in life often manifest as fragmented and irregular developments. In such situations, if you want more people to understand the intent of your article, to highlight the theme, you should effectively utilize these ’fragments,’ presenting them more completely to all readers!”

”Ultimately, still making up stories.

Zheng Qing shook his head, ”Making up exaggerated things to catch attention, how is that different from the journalists at the Beta Town Post? The dragon slayer becomes the dragon...”

Something in Zheng Qing’s words stung the journalist. The Fat Wizard pulled his hand out from under the Fat Cat’s belly, gesturing angrily in the air, ”Making up stories is better than having your articles stolen! Last class meeting, the words from Old Yao were supposed to be in the campus newspaper but were snatched by the Beta Town Post... If I ever catch the leaker, hmm!”

He didn’t specify what he would do.

Zheng Qing, feeling slightly guilty, withdrew his head further into the blanket, mumbling quietly, ”Well... Twin-tailed Squirrels are diurnal creatures; the night scene setting is problematic.”

Xin Fat Man’s hand grasped the air, seeming wanting to make a fist but eventually drooped.

”What does the Doctor think?” Zheng Qing took the chance to turn to Xiao Xiao.

”Are you talking about the Twin-tailed Squirrel or the commentary article?”

Xiao Xiao remained in his blanket, his voice slightly muffled, ”I have no particular views on either, you’re all right... What I’m considering now is whether to alter the Hunting Team Training plan, launching a sudden emergency drill overnight to train the team’s response and hunting skills in snowy climates.”

Zheng Qing and Xin shivered in unison.

No one wanted to challenge their endurance in such dreadful weather, even with magic—it’s not self-confidence or resilience, but self-torture.

”No, no, no, it isn’t necessary... I think Atonement’s abilities are already excellent.”

”Tomorrow’s first class is with Old Yao, right? I remember we have to write down spells taught this semester before class. How ready are you, Mr. Zha?”

”Ah! I almost forgot... Review, review in bed!”

The two cowards quickly shredded the Diviner’s plan taking shape, switching to discussing Old Yao’s potential spell test the next morning.

Xiao Xiao chuckled, falling silent.

However, sometimes, the more you avoiding something, the more it likes to appear before you.

Early the next morning.

Just as Zheng Qing was hesitating whether to trudge through the thick snow to perform morning exercises, Dylan pushed open the dormitory door with a shocking chill, shivering as he entered, bringing unfortunate news.

”You mean the Winter Hunting might happen in a snowstorm?” Zheng Qing, although wrapped in the thick bedding, felt frozen through by the news.

He could almost imagine the sensation of trudging across a snowy ground amidst a horde of screaming snowmen hurtling by, his head bombarded by a barrage of snowballs.

”Not just that!”

Mister Wolfman grimly accepted the warm towel handed by the sprites and plastered it on his face, sighing contentedly, ”Whew... According to the practice lesson’s teaching assistant, to potentially weaken next year’s Black Tide and ease Spring Hunting, the school might stir up trouble for those monster nests deep in the woods, coaxing them to cough up more experience packets... What I’m saying is, if Atonement finds a young white dragon in its domain, don’t doubt it’s been recently kicked out from its warm dragon nest by its parent, forced to the forest’s edge to dig for mice.”

Zheng Qing heavily sighed, already mentally calculating the gold needed to outfit each hunter in the Atonement Hunting Team with Dragon Scale Hunting Gear and goose down cloaks.

”By the way,” Dylan pulled the towel from his face, looking at the cost student with a slightly odd expression, ”The word is spreading in the under-the-moon circle... Heard you’re attending the Under the Moon dance with Su Councilor? Several young men from various families are planning to give you trouble that day... My advice is to call in sick; better than ending up in the hospital.”

Zheng Qing tugged at his mouth, revealing a smile more painful than crying.

At this moment, his sole thought was to check the Old Almanac, confirming he hadn’t offended Tai Sui or wasn’t in a Mercury retrograde.