High School of Demon Hunting-Chapter 2399 - 620: The Second Uninvited Guest After the New Year
Returning to Greenhill Mansion, it was already nine in the morning.
In the garden, the flowers were in full bloom. The sprites, having just indulged in nectar and dewdrops, lay languidly among the petals, basking in the warm winter sun. Several fox maids were scattered around the garden, tenderly attending to these precious creatures.
Zheng Qing did not see any sign of Su Ya.
This struck him as odd. Usually, at this time, the little fox lady should be crouched in front of her seven-color pansy, chasing away little earth dragons she caught, providing them with loose soil. Yet today, she was nowhere to be seen.
Could it be that Su Shijun had some urgent matter and took her along?
The thought sparked a sudden joy in the young warlock’s heart. Instinctively, he quickened his pace, eager to take advantage of this time to discuss the development direction of the hunting team for the new semester with his teammates.
Unfortunately, the joy vanished the moment he stepped into the front hall, replaced by intense nervousness. Not only had Su Shijun not left the mansion, but she was also sitting in the living room with Jiang Yu, sipping tea. Exquisite snacks adorned the coffee table, and Su Ya, who should have been in the garden, stood in the corner of the room cradling a green peacock. Her posture was straight, and even her tail was carefully tucked around her waist with not a bit of fluff exposed, a rare sight on ordinary days.
Zheng Qing bet he had never seen this bird in the mansion before.
The peacock might have been the first to notice the arrival of the young guest.
It stared at the warlock, its beady black eyes blinking twice. Suddenly, the tail feathers that hung from the little fox lady’s embrace flared up and fanned out, casting a five-colored glow that spanned the entrance to the living room, creating a magnificent rainbow gate.
Zheng Qing was startled, stopping in his tracks.
Taking advantage of the moment, Su Ya squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and exclaimed, "Young Master Zheng Qing..."
"That’s enough, that’s enough." The true master of Greenhill Mansion raised a hand, signaling the little fox lady to hush: "He’s not the main guest... we’re all acquaintances here, just a bit of ceremony will do..."
The little fox lady closed her mouth in disappointment.
Zheng Qing gingerly stepped over the rainbow gate. Then, with a swish, the peacock retracted its tail feathers, and the colorful light that filled the front hall vanished abruptly, and the world seemed to return to the range of the warlock’s perception.
Su Shijun’s subtle voice came to his ears: "This is the etiquette used by old-school wizard families to welcome a certain class of esteemed guests... it wasn’t for you, don’t look like you’re about to faint."
As she spoke, a figure stood up from the wide sofa, which had its back to the warlock.
Only then did Zheng Qing notice there was another guest in the room.
The figure turned, revealing gray-white hair and a slightly stern face.
"Professor Montreya?"
The warlock’s tone was filled with doubt, but immediately, he noticed the same ethereal aura lingering around the professor as when Korma had just advanced last year, and he suddenly realized: "You’re a Big Wizard now? You advanced?... Congratulations, congratulations... really, Happy New Year!"
His words of blessing were a bit incoherent.
It was no wonder he was shocked, for a few weeks ago, when Zheng Qing saw this Magic Language Professor at school, he was still at the registered wizard rank, showing no signs of advancing. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, after just one year, this professor had suddenly become a Big Wizard.
But then again, Sister Korma had only taken a night to become a Big Wizard from being an ordinary registered wizard—granted, her method was somewhat unorthodox—by that standard, it didn’t seem entirely unreasonable that Professor Montreya, a top-tier registered wizard, had advanced to Big Wizard in a short time after due preparation.
"Happy New Year."
The professor nodded slightly, maintaining his usual stern tone, perhaps more rigid than before due to his recent advancement. Zheng Qing thought: "I heard you were attacked by a Raven and might have suffered some sort of bloodline curse, so the Old Lady Jiang asked me to help you check."
The professor was straightforward as ever, almost without any pleasantries.
Upon hearing the words ’Old Lady Jiang,’ Zheng Qing instinctively glanced at Jiang Yu, only then realizing why another guest from the mansion was present when Su Shijun had visitors.
Jiang Yu pressed her lips together but remained silent.
"I’m truly sorry to trouble you," the warlock quickly bowed, expressing his gratitude to the professor, and the paper bag he held rustled with his movement.
"What did you bring back?" Su Shijun showed interest in the paper bag he was carrying.
"Oh, this?"
The young guest awkwardly held up the paper bag in his hand, looking at the delicate pastries and exquisite fruits on the coffee table, feeling a bit embarrassed: "Just some specialty from the North District... salted frog eyes, fried frog eyes, and such... Didn’t Sister Korma say its taste is hard to describe?... So I was curious... wanted Dong Dong to have a taste..."
Upon hearing ’Dong Dong’, Professor Montreya’s eyes flickered slightly.
"Su Ya," the master of Greenhill Mansion nodded in satisfaction and instructed, "take the snacks to the study, let Dong Dong have a taste when taking a break... and you two mustn’t eat it all!"
"Okay!"
The little fox lady agreed enthusiastically. As she reached Zheng Qing’s side, she suddenly remembered she still had a large peacock in her arms, hesitating whether to leave the bird in the living room or take it along.
"Don’t worry, it won’t run around." Jiang Yu glanced at the reluctant little fox lady and after a slight pause, added, "You can find it in the garden for a play when you take a break later."
"Okay, Miss Yu!"
Su Ya responded appropriately, put down the peacock, took the paper bag from Zheng Qing’s hand, and, trying hard to suppress her urge to skip around, walked diligently towards the hallway.
Yet, as she turned the corner, Zheng Qing noticed a tip of her tail flick out from the skirt as she dashed off.
Unlike the little fox lady, the large peacock seemed more ’polite’. Once placed on the ground, it didn’t fly around but gently fluttered its wings, tidied its feathers a bit more, and then, like some aristocratic figure, strutted slowly and purposefully around the foyer, exuding even more presence than when it was held by Su Ya.
"Let’s get on with it."
Professor Montreya beckoned, signaling Zheng Qing to come closer. He opened the briefcase at his feet, first taking out a single-lens gold-rimmed glasses with thick lenses and clipped them to his left eye. Then he took out a stethoscope-like tool and hung it around his neck: "...Even though there are hospital records, I think for your case, it’s more reliable to do the examination personally."
"Cooperate a bit!"
Once again, Su Shijun’s subtle voice reached his ears: "Professor Montreya is an expert in bloodline mutation at the school. If anyone could find that missing Copper Bean within you, his chances are the greatest... He’s helping despite the risk of his rank being unstable after the recent advancement, so don’t behave like a child and be disrespectful!"
