High School of Demon Hunting

Sometimes, silence functions like the fig leaf covering Adam or Eve’s lower regions, able to mask shame and hide ugliness. When you find yourself speechless, unable to find an excuse, silence can quietly cover your shame, emptiness, carelessness, and stupidity.

But the witch’s calm gaze seemed like two small knives, peeling away Zheng Qing’s embarrassment wrapped in silence, leaving his spirit stark naked, exposed to the air.

Leaving him at a loss.

The entire afternoon, Zheng Qing spent in a daze, not knowing what the Symbol Science professor lectured on today, not noticing what he ate for dinner, and if Xiao Xiao hadn’t reminded him, he would have almost forgotten there was another Yin Fu Studies class in the evening.

As he hurriedly rushed down Dormitory Hill.

A short figure blocked his path.

"Old Yao is looking for you."

Zhu Si stood in front of the boy with hands on her hips. Despite her short stature, her presence was no less imposing.

Having not seen her for a long time, she still looked the same, almost identical to when Zheng Qing first encountered her in the World in the Mirror, except for the crimson spot at the center of her forehead.

Of course, maybe she had changed, but Zheng Qing’s memory deceived him.

"Looking for me? Now?"

The warlock took out his pocket watch and glanced at the time, hesitating for a moment: "—Did he say what it’s about? I have another class tonight, it’s about to start..."

Poof!

Crimson spell light flashed, and the little witch instantly transformed into a graceful, tall Great Witch radiating maturity, only her face still vaguely retained traces of the earlier look.

"A Legendary Wizard is looking for you, and you’re using ’I have class’ as a foolish excuse to decline?"

Zhu Si seemed completely unperturbed by her abrupt transformation, looking at the warlock incredulously and shaking her head: "Even though I’ve been away from this world for a while... the basic operational logic of the Wizard World hasn’t changed, right."

Zheng Qing knew Zhu Si’s current state was unstable, occasionally switching forms. But seeing her transform from a little one to a bigger one at first glance still gave a subtle sense of unease.

It subconsciously reminded him of what she said the first time he saw her transform—beautiful dreams are inevitably shattered by a merciless urge, yet nightmares never quite fade away—it fittingly matched his mood today.

Before he could regain his senses.

The witch extended her hand, making a gripping gesture, her tone somewhat wistful: "But a legend is a legend after all, all your reactions are within the Legendary’s judgment... Old Yao said, since you don’t have much mind for studying today, you shouldn’t waste your time in the Yin Fu Studies classroom."

She made an inviting gesture.

Though the statement wasn’t wrong, why did it sound so heart-wrenching?

Zheng Qing unconsciously glanced around.

"—Old Yao also said, if you’re standing here turning your neck, to tell you the guards have been notified, no need to go out of your way to have them adjust their paths."

The voice that came to his ears disrupted another of his excuses. After speaking, Zhu Si curiously leaned forward, blinking her big eyes: "What guards was he talking about? Do you have guards? Do you already have guards? Why would you have guards!"

A faint fruity scent wafted into the boy’s nostrils as the witch approached.

He leaned back with effort.

"No, no... I don’t know what you’re talking about."

He denied dryly, hurriedly skirting around the witch and slightly quickening his pace: "It’s to Old Yao’s office, right? Okay, I know, I’m heading there now... I know the way; no need to lead, thanks!"

A soft tsk sound came from Zhu Si behind him.

Luckily, she didn’t actually follow, allowing the boy to breathe a small sigh of relief.

...

...

Since today was Monday, the office building wasn’t quiet at all; wizards dressed in all sorts of robes came and went, their expressions serious, their steps hurried, as if everyone was engaged in world-saving matters.

Unlike usual, the door to Old Yao’s office was wide open today, letting the wisps of smoke hovering under the ceiling slip out unhindered, making the room unexpectedly refreshing.

Hearing the boy enter.

Sitting behind the desk engrossed in work, Old Yao waved a hand without looking up, succinctly: "Don’t close the door yet. One more guest. Sit yourself. Make your own tea if you want to drink."

Zheng Qing sat properly in front of the tea table, his mind racing with wild thoughts—who was the other guest Old Yao mentioned? Su Shijun? Or Jiang Yu? Though he already had a high opinion of himself, surely it wouldn’t be to the extent that a little matter between young male and female wizards would disturb a busy Legendary Wizard to mediate in person!

But if Old Yao really were to act as a go-between, would it give Jiang Yu a sense of being overpowered?

If the other guest he was waiting for was Su Shijun?

The memory of the Gem Cat remained clear in his mind, and the enigmatic smile on the owner of Qingqiu Mansion’s face earlier in the day was still vivid—he really didn’t want his agitation to increase.

Of course, while these thoughts flashed through his mind, he had already adeptly layered seven or eight soul-protecting magic spells on himself, to ensure any toe-curling ideas wouldn’t be ’unintentionally’ read.

The waiting time was always especially hard to endure.

When Zheng Qing’s clean seat had started to hurt, a lazy voice sounded outside the door.

"Old Yao! What’s the deal with calling me over so late? Gotta make it clear, we’re now official, dignified cats, and working overtime means overtime pay..."

Before the voice finished, a large black cat appeared at the office door.

Then the voice babbling about ’overtime pay’ abruptly stopped.

The black cat paused at the door on one front paw, hesitating to lower it, its slightly red eyes darting between Old Yao and Zheng Qing, an inscrutable expression on its face.

"Thirteen came?"

The esteemed headmaster of Jiuyou Academy finally lifted his head, glancing at the hesitant black cat at the door and gestured: "Don’t block the doorway, come in, come in... by the way, close the door."

Hearing such straightforward instructions, that black cat ultimately didn’t turn and leave, huffing with displeasure, slowly squeezing into the office, its thick long tail giving a decisive flick to gently close the door.

Then from across the tea table, it squatted in front of Zheng Qing, lifting its head to look at the boy with its nose.

It was Zheng Qing’s Shadow Cat.

Of course, now it seemed to be called ’Cat Thirteen.’

Thankfully, it wasn’t those two witches.

Zheng Qing first breathed a sigh of relief, then felt a tinge of confusion—why did Old Yao call the Shadow Cat along with him? Could it be the Shadow Cat caused some trouble too?

The little blue dragon hanging on the boy’s ear slightly lifted its head, opening eyes of mismatched red and blue, flicking its tongue, watching the big black cat across the tea table with interest.

The Shadow Cat didn’t recognize this little thing, but being stared at by it made it feel uncomfortable all over, instinctively tucking in its tail.