High School of Demon Hunting

Luck is often the beginning of misfortune.

This saying couldn’t be more true.

In the morning, Zheng Qing was still rejoicing that he hadn’t participated in last night’s Shura Field, narrowly escaping disaster. However, by noon, this sense of luck had faded away like a bubble in sunlight, disappearing quietly and without a trace.

This is probably what is often referred to in mysticism as the ’backlash of fortune.’

"I won’t sit down,"

The boy forced a laugh, refusing the headmaster’s ’kindness,’ struggling to resist the urge to take off running: "Since you’re busy now, I’ll come back to see you later..."

His voice grew smaller.

Because as he was speaking, Jiang Yu had already followed the direction of Old Yao’s finger and casually sat on the sofa, occupying the other half of the space that the Big Fox vacated.

Zheng Qing swore that he clearly saw out of the corner of his eye when Jiang Da Headmaster sat down, she casually flicked a certain furry big tail, although the movement was fleeting and without the Big Fox reacting, making him suspect he was seeing things.

"Since you’re already here..."

The professor elongated his voice, his tone carrying a hint of teasing, knocking his pipe lightly and grinning as he looked at the boy, standing in the doorway in a dilemma, yet not inviting him to sit again but instead pointing at the Big Fox: "She had nothing to do, just came here to take a nap."

The head of the Two-dimensional Evolution Laboratory has nothing to do?

Can’t she take a nap in her own office?

Zheng Qing resisted his urge to retort.

Unlike him, Jiang Yu had no such reservations and naturally asked, looking at the Big Fox on the sofa, "Is the Two-dimensional Laboratory resting today?"

"Evolve, evolve. It’s the Two-dimensional Evolution Laboratory."

The azure Big Fox murmured, twitching her left ear lazily: "The laboratory isn’t resting. She’s busy in the lab, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to stay there."

This statement nearly fried Zheng Qing’s brain.

He mulled over it several times before reacting, then his eyes widened: "——Wait a minute, are you also a duplicate? Transformed? Do you know the Art of Body Transformation too?"

"How novel!"

The Big Fox couldn’t resist any longer, opened her eyes, and scrutinized the boy: "The Art of Body Transformation isn’t a Forbidden Technique, why wouldn’t I know it? I’m a Big Wizard, after all! And last night when we were chatting so happily, didn’t it cross your mind why the fox could speak?"

A lapse.

Zheng Qing silently self-reflected.

Being in The Magical World for too long makes it easy to overlook such abnormal things—like frogs singing or foxes talking—as if they’re normal.

More importantly, the first time he saw this fox last night, he clearly noticed that her color was different from when he found her initially, yet subconsciously ignored this point.

"I thought the fox race of Qingqiu would speak; it’s your talent." Jiang Yu slightly surprised, voiced her reason for the misjudgment: "Theoretically, the fox race form should be your real form!"

"It’s a complicated issue."

The Big Fox yawned lazily in reply: "Just as it’s hard for us to distinguish which is the true form between a Big Wizard’s true self and original self. Fox race, Werewolves, Blood Race, and other moonlit clans can easily master advanced transformation techniques, which doesn’t mean they are descendants of foxes, wolves, or bats..."

"If we were to lay this issue out, we wouldn’t finish discussing it by this afternoon." From behind the desk, Old Yao finally spoke in the belonging manner of the room’s owner: "——Why did you both come to see me at noon?"

He waved a hand to scatter the smoke in front of him, looked toward the boy, then beckoned him over: "Come closer, don’t stand so far away...blocking the doorway like this."

The tone was relaxed.

The attitude was amicable.

The only thing was the smile brimmed with malice.

Zheng Qing, with a stiff gait, moved forward two steps, took a light breath, and rapidly explained his purpose: "I’ve experienced occasional ringing in my ears during this time—"

The Big Fox on the sofa perked up an ear, slightly opened her squinted eyes, sizing up the boy.

Jiang Yu also moved forward, her back growing ever straighter.

It was only Old Yao who throughout remained in a manner indulged in watching the scene, even as he heard the boy mention the keywords ’relevant department’ and ’aftereffect,’ his expression did not grow more serious.

Until Zheng Qing fell silent.

The headmaster of Jiuyou Academy casually nodded, giving a perfunctory conclusion: "Yes, I know. The conclusion from the school hospital is correct. There’s nothing wrong with your ears. Occasional ringing isn’t a big deal. Don’t be paranoid and on edge, just focus on your classes, eat well, and sleep well—it’ll work better than any Magic Potion."

"Isn’t it a time conversion aftereffect?" Zheng Qing couldn’t help but inquire further.

Old Yao slightly toned down his smile, offering a comparatively serious reply: "If time conversion indeed carries aftereffects, they would manifest in higher dimensions, not through phenomena like ’ringing in the ears’...In other words, your current physique isn’t enough to demonstrate or endure the aftereffects associated with the concept of time. Regarding your ringing, I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I do know, it’s unrelated to you. So don’t worry. That’s it. Remember to lock the door when you leave!"

Before the conversation concluded, the office’s owner vanished without a trace from behind the desk.

Leaving merely a faint bluish smoke lingering, swirling above the desk, reluctant to disperse.

"Professor..." Zheng Qing instinctively reached out, stepping forward as if this could hold onto the other party: "Why would healthy experience ringing in the ears!"

He was a bit annoyed with Old Yao’s half-revealing approach: "And, what does it mean not knowing if it’s good or bad but knowing it’s not my concern? Don’t you think it’s contradictory?"

He turned his gaze to the sofa.

The azure Big Fox and the Witch were both staring at him.

"’You’ who are you speaking to?" The Big Fox asked curiously.

Though Jiang Yu said nothing, her eyes conveyed the identical meaning.

Zheng Qing finally realized the office was left with only three people.

"I, I am," he stuttered, unconsciously glancing at the doorway: "I mean, since the Legendary Wizard also considers it’s nothing, then I’m fine... We have classes in the afternoon, so we won’t disturb further, enjoy your rest?"

He put on a smiling face, moving towards the office door.

Jiang Yu quietly rose and followed along.

On the sofa, the Big Fox gave a long yawn, seemingly indifferent to the boy’s little movements, only wrapping herself tighter with her tail: "—Like that old man said, don’t be paranoid and frighten yourself...no one wants to hit you...The weather’s getting drier, remember to bring some Yunhua Oil when you go to the Cat Fruit Tree tonight!"