High School of Demon Hunting

The Yin Talisman Class ended at nine o’clock in the evening.

The Black Gem Cat hurriedly left the classroom, not returning to dormitory 403, but instead, following the main body’s instructions, headed straight for the Cat Fruit Tree, praying in its heart all the way that the temperaments of the fox and the cat today would be a bit better.

Thank heavens.

They didn’t start a fight.

Seeing the Big Fox and the White Jade Cat maintaining a safe distance from afar, the Black Gem Cat immediately breathed a sigh of relief and slowed its pace by a few steps.

But as the distance grew shorter, the Black Gem Cat’s curiosity also gradually arose.

What are they doing?

Whether it was the cyan Big Fox or the White Jade Cat, both were stretching their necks, staring at the night sky, and even when the Black Gem Cat wandered up to them, it couldn’t capture their attention.

"What are you looking at?"

It finally couldn’t help but speak, announcing its presence while craning its neck to look in the direction the fox and cat were staring at: "——The moon? Stars? Or are there bats catching insects?"

But no matter how it strained its eyes, it couldn’t see anything—the moon and stars looked no different from usual, and there wasn’t a shadow of a bat.

"Observing the star signs." The cyan Big Fox elegantly shook its ears.

"Daydreaming." The White Jade Cat flattened its ears, sounding detached.

The Black Gem Cat tucked its tail, contemplating, and chose to speak with the seemingly more approachable Big Fox: "——Well, you know about this afternoon’s award ceremony, right?"

"Is there anyone on Buji Island who doesn’t know?" The Big Fox lazily replied.

"What do you think of it?" The Black Gem Cat persistently pursued.

"Watching it while sitting."

The fox finally withdrew its gaze, looking down at the small black cat the size of a fist: "I know what you’re trying to ask. It’s different. It’s different from the situation at the shape-shifting wizard registration exam you participated in yesterday. Last time, the old folks were there to get acquainted with you... this time, the old folks are helping you get acquainted with everyone else. The timestamp at the First Hall today was really just for you to make an appearance on a wider stage. You can see it as the coming-of-age ceremony for the young wizards in your clan under the moon."

The White Jade Cat finally shifted its gaze from the dark night.

"During the Spring Hunting in Shanglin Garden, he already had his own coming-of-age ceremony." She warned, giving the Black Gem Cat a glance, as if trying to remind it of something.

The Black Gem Cat discreetly moved closer to the White Jade Cat’s direction.

At the same time, it nodded quickly to express agreement with her statement.

"Ha, the Spring Hunting in Shanglin Garden?" Behind the cyan Big Fox, four tails blossomed like flowers: "——That’s just a small gathering spot where old-school wizards amuse themselves and close off. Once you leave that hunting ground, ask how many people in school know you pulled the tail of the little girl from the Tu Shan Clan on the stage?"

It was as if the Black Gem Cat had a spring-loaded seat.

He immediately bounced up from the spot.

"Don’t unjustly slander someone!" he couldn’t help but shout, his voice so loud that a row after row of furry heads poked out from the canopy of the Cat Fruit Tree: "——How could it be pulling the tail? What happens on the stage, on the stage can’t count as pulling, right?"

The Big Fox gave him a glance.

"This kind of thing, what you ’think’ doesn’t count."

She redirected her gaze back to the night sky: "Just like you might think you’re famous, that’s just a small ivory tower illusion. The world is vast, there might be wizards who care about Su Shi’s little romantic interests, but there really aren’t as many as you think... so the old folks are helping you to make your name known on a broader dimension."

The White Jade Cat puffed up its cheeks.

Evidently dissatisfied with a particular phrase in the Big Fox’s statement.

...

...

For Zheng Qing, the fifteenth Monday of the sophomore second semester was rather bustling.

It’s hard to say whether the news of the green dragon being murdered in Silent Forest last night or the Absolution Hunting Team receiving the ’First University’s Special Contribution Award’ this afternoon was more talked about.

But undoubtedly.

Compared to the unnamed green dragon, the Absolution Hunting Team hunters, so close and within reach, received much more attention, from Jiuyou Academy to Alpha Academy, and then to Starry Sky and Atlas, every member of the hunting team garnered unprecedented attention.

Dylan received a visit from a certain prestigious hunting team, subtly mentioning the possibility of him switching teams; Zhang Ji Xin was called by his brother and returned with a stack of application forms hoping to join the hunting team for Zheng Qing; Xin Fat Man was lectured by several bosses in the editorial department, tasked to dig out some exclusive news on Absolution; and Li Meng, the fellow even received an endorsement fee from Meow Meow Dessert Shop!

"This ’Meow Meow Dessert’ sounds a bit familiar," Xin Fat Man remarked, pinching the thin endorsement contract, his face scrunched up: "——How could anyone want her as an endorser?"

Evidently, he was a bit bitter about not getting the chance for an endorsement himself.

"It’s the shop next to Double Tang Note."

Zheng Qing propped his chin with one hand, randomly flipping through the divination class notes with the other, muttered: "As for why they chose her, I asked, and it turns out she was already a major patron of that dessert shop... the endorsement fee is essentially just a fifty percent discount on last year’s expenses for her. And they get to use our hunting team’s name. It’s hard to say who gains more."

"The hunting team should have stricter rules on this, not just anyone can accept endorsements!" The Fat Wizard picked up the newspaper beside him, slamming it heavily onto his palm: "——Of course, sponsorship is a different matter."

His imagination was quite grand.

Zheng Qing twitched his mouth, yet his gaze was drawn to the newspaper.

It was the Beta Town Post.

Today’s newspaper was split down the middle on the front page, with a bloodied headless green dragon at the top left, and several small hunters at the bottom right, flanked by a row of large and blurred figures.

Zheng Qing immediately recognized the small hunters as members of the Absolution Hunting Team.

His eyebrows raised as he flipped the newspaper open.

"Is this today’s newspaper? What’s the Beta Town Post stirring up again?" He held back his curiosity, not looking at the Absolution report first, but at the news related to the green dragon.

"The usual, blasting the First University for not caring about student safety while covering up the terrifying events in Silent Forest, calling it premeditated murder, and strongly urging Danghag to investigate; meanwhile questioning us." Xin Fat Man lifted an arm lazily, drew a circle in the air to encompass them all: "——Questioning how students like us, who haven’t reached registered wizard levels, could sneak into the Black Prison Battlefield and come out unscathed, implying that we’re being sheltered by big shots, gaining battlefield experience, and getting gilded!"

Zheng Qing rubbed his chin.

"In a way, what the Post says doesn’t seem wrong." he murmured to himself.