High School of Demon Hunting

Jiang Yu’s delighted voice finally snapped Zheng Qing back to reality.

Following her finger’s direction, Zheng Qing saw a flower fairy in a pink chiffon dress not far away, dragging two little orange lamps, aimlessly floating in mid-air.

The names and appearances of flower fairies and flower sprites are similar, but they are not the same creature.

Of course, they all belong to the Chordata, Elves class, Flying order, Elf family, just that flower sprites and grass sprites belong to the Elf family, Elf genus, while flower fairies belong to the Elf family, Fairy genus.

The biggest difference between the two ’flower elves’ species is the wings.

The flower sprite’s wings are transparent membrane wings, similar to the green sprites of the Alchemy Creature Kingdom; the flower fairy’s wings are petal-shaped, and the petals on their wings can change according to the flowers they dwell in, for instance, flower fairies living in Other Shore Flower have petals of Other Shore Flower on their wings, while those in daffodils have daffodil petals, and so on.

This difference allows an ordinary wizard to immediately tell them apart.

Like the flower fairy in a pink chiffon dress right now, whose wings are a pair of exquisite red rose petals. And the light from the two little orange lamps she drags shapes into blooming roses.

Zheng Qing promptly raised his arm, extended his right index finger, and pointed diagonally into the air, greeting the flower fairy. Their distance being close, the flower fairy did not ignore the conspicuous finger and happily descended.

"Good evening, handsome wizard gentleman, and lovely wizard lady!"

Her voice was sharp yet polite as she bowed and then, without any formality, sat like a duck in the warlock’s palm, while hanging the little orange lamps on his fingers, loudly complaining:

"What a terrible night — the parade’s noise was so loud just now that it separated me from my companions. We were planning to go to Lin Zhong Lake for the firefly banquet... Do you know the firefly banquet? It’s the prelude to the spring ball held by the flower fairies of Lin Zhong Lake, where you can taste the most delicious nectar... Oh, sorry sir, do you know how to get to Lin Zhong Lake?"

Unlike flower sprites, flower fairies are not only bolder but also unafraid of strangers — the latter more because they can keenly perceive the malice in the air and only interact with beings emitting a benevolent aura.

"I can make you a paper crane to guide the way."

Zheng Qing tried to sound more gentlemanly, as he took out a small bottle of about three hundred milliliters of apple nectar from the grey cloth bag and held it in front of the chatty flower fairy, adding, "But I’d like to trade it for your two little orange lamps... It’s apple nectar, you are familiar with it, right?"

Indeed, no sprite can resist the allure of apple nectar, a treasure saturated with magic power.

Just as no demon can resist the temptation of fresh blood.

Yet the flower fairy showed a trace of struggle, her gaze fixed on the small bottle, while her bottom wiggled restlessly as if sitting on a scorching stone slab.

"I’m certainly familiar with apple nectar," she said with a deep sense of longing in her tone, yet still hesitated, "But I haven’t brought other gifts tonight for the banquet..."

Without hesitation, Zheng Qing pulled out another small bottle of apple nectar.

Frankly, the cost of two bottles of apple nectar exceeds the worth of two jade coins, making it an irrational trade for two little orange lamps.

But firstly, being something of an accomplished wizard now, with significant ’arms trade’ deals with the Trident Sword monthly, he isn’t bothered by a jade coin or two; secondly, he was eager to do something for the wizard lady beside him, in a bid to make up for her stifled yawns.

"Deal!"

The flower fairy delightedly took the two small bottles of apple nectar, holding them with satisfaction, "One bottle as a gift for them, and one bottle to take home for my flower~" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The healthier and prettier the flower a flower fairy resides in, the stronger the flower fairy becomes; conversely, the stronger the flower fairy, the better the flower grows in return.

This is a positive interactive process.

Just like the negotiation between Zheng Qing and the flower fairy, it was a positive interaction.

During this, Jiang Yu just watched with a smile and did not intervene in the slightest. She even stood by as the warlock paid a hefty premium for two little orange lamps without stopping him.

Until the flower fairy left cheerfully, she only offhandedly blamed, "It’s too expensive... This price is not worth it... Actually, buying one would have been sufficient."

Despite the words, the joy in the wizard lady’s eyes could not be concealed.

She happily accepted the two little orange lamps while covering her mouth, letting out another small yawn. Perhaps worried the warlock might notice, she handed him another little orange lamp after covering her mouth.

"This one is for Poseidon," the wizard lady beamed, her fingertips gently twirling the little orange lamp, "I remember last Lantern Festival you gifted it a little orange lamp, right?"

Zheng Qing didn’t expect her to remember this.

He was deeply moved.

"Then we may need to visit Greenhill Mansion." He hesitated for a few seconds, ultimately not refusing the wizard lady’s suggestion.

"It’s not far anyway, we could just stroll over," the wizard lady yawned again, naturally wrapping her arm around the young man’s arm, pulling him towards Greenhill Mansion: "I know a shortcut, from the back door of Greenhill Mansion, it can quickly bypass to Doctor Du Zemu’s laboratory..."

Zheng Qing felt something was amiss.

"Furry Bean!" he called softly.

The next moment, the grey-skinned Gouzi emerged from the shadowy corner of the street, wagging its tail happily, and meowed twice at him.

The warlock cleared his throat, subtly making eye contact with Gouzi, striving to keep his tone normal: "So, is Dong Dong at the mansion? Is he asleep?"

Meow!

Gouzi hesitated looking at the warlock, uncertainly answering softly, meaning Dong Dong is at the mansion, not asleep yet.

With this, Zheng Qing had no reason not to go.

Greenhill Mansion is located at 54 Beta Town West District, on the same street as several renowned wizard world families’ mansions, including Tianmen Zhang Family, Zhongshan Jiang Family, Metropolitan Blair Family, Quebec Taylor Family, Qian Family of East Lake, Tang Family of Shu, O’Brien, Tabbot, and Black.

On the Lantern Festival, almost every household held solemn and serious rituals.

As Zheng Qing knocked on the mansion’s door, he clearly saw a hint of joy on Su Man, the head housemaid’s face: "The household is preparing for the ritual, you returned just in time!"

Before her voice faded, she saw the other wizard lady emerging behind the warlock, and her joyfulness instantly drained.

"Oh, and Miss Jiang Yu," the headmaid paused slightly, dryly inviting, "Welcome, welcome... Tonight, don’t you need to attend the ritual at the Jiang family mansion?"