Chapter 2584: Chapter 805: The Fifth Monday

March 22nd, lunar calendar February 7th.

The fifth Monday of the semester.

Good for weddings, agreements, blessings, funerals, meeting friends and relatives.

Avoid planting, logging.

Zheng Qing never really paid attention to the good and bad omens in the Old Almanac, but when he got up this morning, he genuinely started praying in his heart—hoping for peace and smoothness today.

Last night, when they returned to school, it was close to midnight, and both were locked out.

The Haired Dragon had landed at the Jiang family mansion.

Jiang Yu didn’t mind letting Zheng Qing stay at her place for a night, but Zheng Qing considered the mood of another Big Wizard in another mansion on the same street—especially since the commotion from the Haired Dragon entering and exiting Buji Island was not small—so he wisely left alone and stayed in the attic of D&K for the night.

Before dawn, he cast an Invisibility Talisman, tiptoed away from Pedestrian Street, entered the school gates, headed straight to Flying Garden, and found Doctor Xiao doing morning exercises at the usual spot.

"Good morning!"

After removing the Invisibility Talisman, he energetically patted Xiao Xiao’s shoulder and cheerfully greeted him, "Did Old Yao mention anything special during yesterday’s class meeting?"

A faint golden halo abruptly burst from Xiao Xiao, transforming into a semi-transparent light shield, enveloping him, and from afar, it looked like a small sun had landed on the ground, attracting curious gazes from all around.

Xiao Xiao turned his head and looked angrily at Zheng Qing.

"Are you crazy!"

Standing within the protective barrier, he angrily stared at the young teaching assistant who unexpectedly appeared behind him, and rare vulgarity slipped out, "Who the hell would say ’Good morning’ behind someone’s back? If you can’t greet properly, don’t greet at all!"

Zheng Qing awkwardly smiled and reached out his finger, cautiously poking the light shield before him.

Poof.

The light shield turned into a puff of golden light spots, scattered gently and disappeared into the air. Zheng Qing immediately raised his hands, "I didn’t break it..."

"One jade coin, or ten standard Protective Talismans!"

Xiao Xiao took a deep breath, rubbed his face to calm his startled heart and looked fiercely at the instigator, "The immediate-use Protective Talismans are so precious, I don’t need to emphasize it, do I!"

Without a word, Zheng Qing flicked two jade coins to the doctor with a snap. He had just received a payment for companionship last night, so his wallet was quite full.

"One is compensation for the amulet, the other is for mental damages." Zheng Qing nodded agreeably with a smile.

The generous compensation immediately repaired the iron-like friendship between the warlocks.

Xiao Xiao’s anger instantly vanished.

He adjusted his glasses, weighed the two jade coins in his hand, and suspiciously glanced at his roommate, "Haven’t seen you for two days, did you rob Sam’s Pass?"

Sam’s Pass is the largest bank in the Wizard World and the designated partner of First University, considered by many wizards as the wealthiest place in the Alliance.

Zheng Qing waved his hand, intending to deny it.

Xiao Xiao then snorted and put away the two jade coins, "No need to explain, I know you went to Shanglin Garden... save your breath for explaining your travels to Su Councilor. As for Old Yao... yesterday’s class meeting was a bunch of nonsense, the same old talk... but you and Jiang Yu both missing the class meeting, that’s rare, stirred quite some gossip."

Zheng Qing now dreaded hearing the words ’Su Councilor.’

He involuntarily shuddered and glanced around.

Although the spring equinox had passed, and the scenery was getting more lush, there was still some chill from last winter lingering in the morning campus air, making him feel cool all over.

"Explain what, ha, haha," Zheng Qing forced a laugh, as if to emphasize or explain, "I went to Shanglin Garden because I was invited... all public occasions... with so many eyes watching, my whereabouts could be deduced easily, no need for any explanations!"

"That’s true."

Xiao Xiao resumed his morning exercises and glanced at the person barely keeping calm, suddenly let out a cold laugh, "For example, I could deduce you returned to Buji Island last night, but why didn’t you stay over? Where did you sleep last night? Etc... such matters... depend on perspective. Hehe."

Zheng Qing’s face immediately darkened.

"I slept at the shop! Fox Five and Ears Brother can testify!" He raised three fingers, swearing, "Last night, we rode the Haired Dragon all night, when we got to Buji Island, it was already midnight, the school gate was closed..."

"This kind of thing you explaining to me is pointless." Xiao Xiao greeted the Chaoyang, closed his eyes for breathing exercises, took a while, exhaled the last breath, and then slowly added, "I’m just curious, clearly there’s a faster ’Big Clock’ system for returning to school, why did you spend half the night in the cold wind on dragon back?"

"Because..."

Zheng Qing said two words, then abruptly stopped, along with his ’Unarmed’ motion.

If Saturday morning’s ride to Shanglin Garden was due to the Jiang Family sending ’Damao’ to Buji Island ahead of time, plus the clan’s need for a grand entrance; then Sunday night, returning to school, they could have opted for the faster Big Clock system.

The young assistant could swear by his employment letter that he genuinely forgot to consider other options at the time.

"So," Xiao Xiao repeated what he had just said, "explaining to me is useless. You need to come up with an excuse that convinces yourself first."

This is not easy.

A mistake with a reason can possibly convince someone, while a mistake without a reason, if forcibly explained, will only make someone angrier. Zheng Qing understood this logic.

But even after leaving Flying Garden, having breakfast, and entering the curse classroom, his thoughts were still a tangled mess, unable to find an excuse to convince himself.

This wasn’t the worst part yet.

Just as Zheng Qing took his seat, without even warming the chair, there came a ’Dong Dong’ knock from the classroom door—such a sound was quite unique for a classroom not yet in session, drawing all attention to the entrance.

The voice of a Stick Figure making a grand display almost sounded simultaneously:

"A lovely Qingqiu Emissary knocks on the door of the House of Knowledge!"

No further explanation was needed.

At a glance, Zheng Qing saw standing at the classroom doorway, Little fox lady with a stern face, wearing a black long dress, and her white ruffled apron over it.

She ignored Li Meng’s greeting, instead first checked on Zheng Qing to confirm the target was present, then coldly laughed and asked formally, "Excuse me, is Zheng Qing here?"

This wasn’t her first visit to the classroom, everyone knew her identity.

But such a formal greeting was rare.

Pairs of curious and excited eyes darted between the classroom door, the center of the first row, and the back corner, Gollum-like, Zheng Qing made a great effort to suppress his urge to check Jiang Yu’s expression now and, like a gust of wind, dashed out the door, grabbed the Little fox lady’s collar, and dragged her away before she could utter another word, fleeing from the classroom.