High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2868: Chapter 1089: Xiao Xiao’s Astonishment

”Professor Yi.”

Xiao Xiao pushed open the door and politely greeted the owner of the office: ”——I heard you were looking for me, but I’m not sure why...”

It wasn’t his first time in the Divination professor’s office, but each visit felt subtly different, just like divination, where every turn of the crystal ball revealed slightly different images.

The tall bookshelves on both sides were filled with various reference books, thin and thick, with brass studs on the spines reflecting the candlelight hanging from the ceiling, like glowing little eyes. On one wall hung a dense array of charts, and on the ceiling, there was a huge star map.

Xiao Xiao glanced at the sets of differently numbered and directed Cao Herbs on the coffee table, his gaze lingering briefly on the ashtray in the corner.

There was a burnt tortoise shell in the ashtray, with intersecting cracks permeating a thrilling magical aura.

”You’re here? Sit, please, sit down.”

Behind the desk, Professor Yi waved without looking up, and an armchair clattered around the coffee table, running to Xiao Xiao’s back and gently knocking against the back of his knees.

The boy naturally took a seat.

The professor seemed to be marking assignments; several feather pens of different colors danced around him, occasionally dipping into the inkwell with a gurgle, the rhythmic scratching of the pen on parchment mingling harmoniously and beautifully.

Hehe.

Three little sprites in gray uniforms flitted their wings, hovering in front of the boy. One held a slender-necked silver teapot, another a white porcelain teacup, and the last bore a copper tray stacked with sugar cubes, with a small copper tong beside it.

The boy took the porcelain cup and used the tongs to add a sugar cube.

Then he watched as the sprite filled his cup with tea.

”Thank you,” he nodded politely.

Hehe!

The sprites happily disappeared from the office.

He was halfway through the tea.

The sound of the feather pens finally came to a sporadic halt.

”...Actually, I should have sought you out a few weeks ago.”

Professor Yi leaned back, interlaced his fingers on the desk, and casually looked at the young wizard on the sofa, speaking lightly: ”——But you, being a Diviner, should know that the uncertainties of the future only truly vanish when certain events occur.”

This sounded a bit convoluted.

But Xiao Xiao immediately understood the professor’s meaning.

For this world, the future holds countless possibilities, each with its own probability. Theoretically, only when the timeline converges on the ’now’ do those possibilities condense into one reality. However, practically, on the future timeline, there are many ’special nodes’ that serve as portents. When the timeline passes through such a node, the certainty of the future greatly increases, and its uncertainty greatly diminishes.

For example, the Battle of the Black Prison.

Before the war began, countless outcomes were possible: the Demon Alliance Army could suffer complete annihilation, the First University could face severe losses, or the dual suns from the sky battle—Giant Bird Xiez and Professor Emma—could both advance to legends, among others.

But as the timeline advanced, more and more possibilities became narrowed—like Xiez missing the Xuanhuang Fruit, losing the possibility of continuing to contend with Professor Emma; Professor Emma then lost an evenly matched ’analogue’ competitor, halting at the threshold of legend; also, Zheng Qing and that young Black Mountain Goat unexpectedly fell into the Black Prison, bringing forces from the starry sky and ancient realms, directly eliminating the possibility of the war escalating; and Sea Demon King Xiang Liu (now called R’lyeh) successfully advancing to ancient being, rewarding the Demon Alliance Army with fortune, preventing complete annihilation, among others.

Each confirmed result erased some of the future’s uncertainty.

Xiao Xiao instinctively adjusted his glasses.

”Has something happened?” he asked tentatively, feeling unexplainably tense.

Since Professor Yi was discussing this topic with him, it meant that Professor Yi had previously performed a divination for him. As a Diviner himself, he clearly understood how valuable it was to gain the favor of a Great Diviner. Likewise, to garner the attention of a Great Diviner’s focus also implied immense danger.

The professor seemed to guess his thoughts.

Professor Yi shook his head slightly.

”It’s not what you think,” he said warmly, reassuringly smiling: ”...Seeing your future was an ’unexpected gain.’ In reality, we were observing someone else’s future when we accidentally discovered your presence.”

Someone else?

We?

While Xiao Xiao breathed a quiet sigh of relief, he sharply caught two key words—this meant today’s conversation was based on someone associated with him, and also, implied that Professor Yi represented more than just himself today.

The boy’s expression grew increasingly serious.

Thoughts whirred in his mind.

”Is it Teacher Sima? My father? Hmm, Zheng Qing?”

Using only three guesses, he caught the ’certain person’s’ identity from the professor’s approving gaze, and couldn’t help but roll his eyes in his heart.

Just this morning, that person covered up a ’streaking’ scandal for him, and it hadn’t even been twelve hours, and he got into more trouble!

”I noticed you recently completed a paper on the progression and metamorphosis of sprites, intending to submit it to the journal, correct?” The professor suddenly shifted the topic, posing a seemingly unrelated question.

Though Xiao Xiao handled this matter low-key, it was no secret that needed hiding.

He hesitated and nodded.

”I can write a recommendation letter for you; I believe your paper has the quality to meet ’s review standards.” Professor Yi made the decision briskly for the boy: ”——although I’m not an alchemy professor, my alchemy skills are quite proficient, invited several times to the International Alchemist Conference to give reports, all of which I declined.”

Of course, Xiao Xiao didn’t doubt the magical level of a Great Diviner.

”But, Professor, you...” He fumbled, going deeper into confusion, not understanding why Professor Yi would do this.

Professor Yi didn’t explain, instead retrieving a letter from the drawer.

”This is a letter your father wrote to me.”

He didn’t hand the letter to the boy but pressed it on the desk, merely describing part of its content: ”——Your father thinks staying in school is a waste of time for you and asked if I had a way for you to graduate early.”

Xiao Xiao frowned, saying nothing.

”I haven’t replied yet, because I believe this matter needs your consideration.” Professor Yi looked at him quietly: ”So, you need to give me a clear answer, are you willing to leave school?”