Chapter 2808 - 1029: Resonance Chamber
"Can’t you just cross my name off directly?"
This was the first thought that flashed through Zheng Qing’s mind after hearing Zhang Yu’s explanation. Now that he had to prepare for the graduation assessment and be wary of those sneaky crows, he naturally wanted to avoid such trouble.
"No."
Zhang Yu shook his head slightly, suddenly pulling Zheng Qing into a pavilion—so suddenly that Zheng Qing didn’t even see the pavilion’s number—meanwhile, Zhang Yu explained quickly, "Every wizard who enters the candidate pool is very precious. Even if they can’t become the final executor, they will retain a backup identity... Besides, for various considerations, the academy is also very supportive of your participation in this review."
The last sentence was delivered in a very diplomatic tone.
After all, the acting group leader of the teaching assistants is somewhat considered a mid-level core at First University, and would certainly not speak or act as recklessly as Hilda might.
Zheng Qing was not a naive scholar oblivious to the outside world.
With just a little contemplation, he instantly comprehended the unspoken meaning of the group leader’s words—the Edge Academy is a completely new force that the entire Alliance takes seriously, and this special project is crucial to Edge Academy. Without a doubt, becoming the final executor of this project would give one a ’special influence’ over this new institution.
In the subtle power distribution structure of First University, any third-party involvement would severely affect the balance of the game. Zheng Qing even suspected that this trip today was arranged by Old Yao personally.
Did you see how eagerly Zhang Yu agreed to take him away?
Apart from that, he had a sneaking suspicion that the launch of this project coinciding with his imminent graduation felt like it was ’predestined’—not out of narcissism, self-importance, or conceit. On the contrary, considering his teacher’s position and his own uniqueness, this speculation seemed rather cautious.
"So what should I do then?" Zheng Qing began to take an interest in this project.
"Just follow the arrangements, there’s nothing more I can tell you." Zhang Yu’s voice lowered slightly, yet his pace did not slow at all: "—You should know, not only the school but many people within the Alliance are paying attention to the Edge Academy’s project, so the confidentiality level for related information is very high, many simple tasks require signing contracts..."
This explanation Zheng Qing could understand.
Since the beginning of the semester, with vague reports of the ’Edge Academy’s secret weapon project’ appearing in the Beta Town Post, to Su Shijun privately lamenting the naggings of the Moon Council’s old guys to him, to Xin Fat Man’s subtle hints during his minor task-hunting—it could be said that even around the very peripheral, third or fourth tier ’small contractors’ like Zheng Qing, people curious about the Edge Academy’s project were not in the minority.
Let alone those people and things at the core of the project.
Just thinking about it was exhausting.
Just as the young teaching assistant sighed inwardly, his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of four silent accompanying figures appearing at some point behind them, all in black robes, their faces hidden in the shadows of large hoods, making them appear rather eerie in this narrow, deep corridor.
He instinctively tugged at the wrist Zhang Yu was holding.
The acting group leader of the teaching assistants glanced back simply and immediately realized the young man’s concern: "—Don’t worry, they’re just like me, your guards. But because we’re going to a special place with many security spells nearby, they have to reveal themselves."
While speaking, the two rushed out of the corridor.
Arriving before a low archway.
This was an atypical one-room, two-column stone archway, having the appearance of an archway but lacking a plaque, with intricate wooden brackets and flying eaves, glazed green tiles, and stone lions crouched before the columns. As people approached, the lions turned their heads in unison, fixed their copper bell-like eyes on the visitors until Zhang Yu handed over a card, after which they withdrew their wary looks.
Even so, Zheng Qing felt they lingered their gazes on his ears for a few extra seconds.
Presumably, it was the little green dragon causing them some unease. The other four stopped outside the archway, not even leaving the corridor, watching as the two stepped into the slowly rising white mist.
The white mist was exhaled from the lions’ mouths, engulfing the two columns in a mere blink.
"Hold onto my arm,"
Zhang Yu instructed.
Zheng Qing once more felt a strong sense of déjà vu. But this time, after following the ’guide’ into an unfamiliar area, though everything was a blanket of white before him, he did not shout or scream.
Instead, he quietly lifted his charm gun.
"You won’t need that thing here, kid."
A rough voice came from his ear, and the white mist swiftly receded, revealing a long hallway, with ultra-modern metal walls on both sides. The source of light was unseen, yet it appeared extraordinarily bright, bearing no resemblance to most wizarding structures.
Zheng Qing looked towards the voice. It was a bald warlock with oversized glasses, thin and gaunt, his smoothly polished dome looking like a peeled boiled egg—as it turns out, he was a Black Wizard, literally a wizard with black skin.
"Put the gun away. The guards inside don’t care whether you’re a student; taking out a law book or any weapon without permission can easily get you attacked."
The ’Black’ Wizard warned the young teaching assistant once more, then grabbed Zhang Yu’s outstretched hand, shook it: "Thanks for the hard work, leave the rest to me... Wait a moment."
Zhang Yu nodded slightly, stood quietly outside a yellow line.
Only then did Zheng Qing notice the ’Black Wizard’ had been standing within the yellow line the whole time he spoke.
He glanced at his group’s leader, got no hint, and obediently put away his charm gun, quietly crossing the yellow line. It felt like passing through a thick jelly—only extraordinarily powerful protective barriers have this effect. Regular barriers merely give a sensation like a breeze, or none at all.
"Do you know the rules for entering the Hundred Herb Gardens?" The ’Black Wizard’ led Zheng Qing further down the metal hallway, unexpectedly throwing a question his way when turning a corner.
Zheng Qing was stunned for a second: "—To listen..."
"Correct, it’s those three sentences: First, listen to the teacher’s instructions; Second, don’t act rashly; Third, listen to the teacher’s instructions and don’t act rashly! I’m glad the school has preserved this fine tradition."
The ’Black Wizard’ interrupted the boy’s recitation rather brusquely, matching the speed of his speech to his quick steps: "Today’s review will be conducted in the Yellow Zone, just within the yellow line you saw. Don’t move across zones without permission. Don’t speak until you’re spoken to. Any questions?"
"Um..." Zheng Qing hesitated, feeling he had no further questions: "How should I address you?"
Jiang Yu once said, if unsure how to interact with unfamiliar wizards, starting with names is the best approach. But this communication technique for dealing with aristocratic wizards seemed ineffective with this scholar-type wizard.
Upon hearing the young man’s question, the ’Black Wizard’s footsteps finally slowed. He tilted his head, glanced at Zheng Qing, his eyes filled with astonishment beneath the thick lenses. After a while, he shook his head: "Alex, you can call me that... though I don’t think we’ll need to use names to communicate."
Then he stopped in front of a small door.
On the door hung a plaque, ’Resonance Chamber’ etched into it in relief script.