CHAPTER 1817: CHAPTER 38: AN INCIDENT AFTER THE CLASS MEETING

"I usually wear vestment robes, does that mean I need to buy a new outfit?"

"Ha... you don’t have to buy one."

"Be satisfied! This Guanyin amulet has been hanging around my neck since I was one, and my grandmother told me repeatedly not to take it off... Do you think the school will make an exception?"

"You can try asking tomorrow... Professor Yao should be around tomorrow, right? He’s so nice, he might allow us to bring a couple of personal things..."

"Precisely because he’s our professor, he’s less likely to condone us breaking the rules. You bring one amulet, he brings a stack of talisman papers, what would the trial event turn into!"

"It’s getting messier, the school shouldn’t have listened to those corrupt wizards and moved the trial event to sophomore year. Things were perfectly fine when it was held in freshman year according to the old system."

"Did you notice that in the list of prohibitions Tang Dun mentioned, there’s no ban on divination?"

"The trial event surely includes assessment on divination, it’s one of the most important courses in school, how could it be banned?"

"No, no, you’re missing my point... What I mean is, he didn’t say ’no external divination allowed,’ so we can probably go to the Pedestrian Street or Wandering Bar to find those Great Diviners to predict what will happen tomorrow?"

After Tang Dun announced the trial event details, the classroom immediately turned chaotic as everyone discussed what they should do tomorrow, what items to bring, and what to leave behind. Some quick-witted folks were already noticing loopholes in the rules, looking for ways to exploit them.

The only common sentiment was everyone cursing the wizards who devised these rules.

After the two monitors failed to calm the chaos, they decisively ended the class meeting, urging those with opinions to provide feedback and telling others to get lost quickly. Then, gray-uniformed sprites distributed stacks of pre-printed reminders.

"If only we’d known this would happen, we would’ve prepared better."

Xin Fat Man, holding the reminder still exuding a hint of ink aroma, shook it towards the podium teasingly: "I bet Tang Dun just wanted to say a few more words on it... He could’ve handed out the reminders while collecting assignments, and everyone could’ve sat together eating fruits... There’s no need to turn it into a mess now."

Zheng Qing unequivocally supported Xin’s view, joining in the disdain towards the monitor being surrounded on the podium.

Meanwhile, he heard other students’ discussions, hesitated, and turned to poke Xiao Xiao, who was carefully examining the reminders: "Do you think it’s worthwhile to seek a Great Diviner?"

"What do you want to know?"

Without looking up, Xiao Xiao spoke rapidly: "The location of the trial event? The content? Or the method? Don’t waste gold beans, these critical details, those diviners outside can’t predict them... And even if they could, they wouldn’t dare tell us."

"No one outside the school would dare interfere with the school’s teaching work," Zhang Ji Xin also put on a serious face, warning those around him: "Crossing the line will easily result in expulsion from Buji Island, and worse, being thrown out by the school to Danghag..."

"Just checking relationship compatibility, helping students find lost pets or homework can earn money, why go against the school?" Xin Fat Man patted Zheng Qing’s shoulder reassuringly: "So don’t try to exploit loopholes... This is the first trial event after the system reform, and although there might be loopholes, the school won’t allow any exploitation. There will be consequences as a warning to others..."

His voice trailed off abruptly.

At the same moment, the two companions beside him also sat up with eerie expressions, scrutinizing the young cost student. Zheng Qing immediately felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

This is a natural reaction when a huge danger approaches.

Quickly following others’ reactions, the boy realized what was happening and shifted the topic righteously: "The meeting spirit conveyed today by the monitors requires all members of the Atonement Hunting Team to seriously summarize and learn. The sweetness or bitterness of oranges from Huainan can only be known after tasting, and the quality inside Hetian’s jade must be inspected to know. Judging the just-introduced trial system as inappropriate for the current scenario undermines the hardworking efforts of so many wizards at the school."

A gentle breeze wafted, carrying a familiar faint fragrance.

Zheng Qing turned his head, just as Jiang Yu stopped at the table before them, a suitable surprise brimming in his eyes: "Hey? We just mentioned you..."

Yet the witch’s calm gaze made him stumble over his words, unable to continue rambling.

Li Meng, hugging a plush bear, stood behind Jiang Yu with a malicious smile. Zheng Qing stared blankly at the plush bear, feeling its eyes had lost their initial liveliness.

The slightly awkward silence persisted for a moment.

The classroom noise faintly decreased as more students departed.

Jiang Yu’s gaze swept across the faces of the other three warlocks briefly before softly asking: "Do you have any questions regarding tomorrow’s trial event?"

Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses, was the first to stand, shook the reminders in his hand decisively, and responded: "Your summary is very clear... I need to head back early for preparations."

Without waiting for others to react, he turned and left.

Following closely, Xin Fat Man jumped up—notably impressive given his ’round’ physique to leap out of the narrow seat—which Zheng Qing admired—and said exaggeratedly: "Oh right, I almost forgot, I’m out of blank charm paper, need to quickly go to Pedestrian Street to shop... Elders, are you coming?"

He kindly ’nudged’ Zhang Ji Xin.

The red-faced male wizard was always a bit slow on such matters, but he was very familiar with Xin’s expressions, so despite still being a bit confused, he wisely stood and expressed ’going together’ ’going together’.

Zheng Qing wore a gentle smile, tried to tug at Xin’s clothes but grasped only air.

"Wait."

Jiang Yu stopped Xin for him, but the young cost student’s delight lasted only seconds before vanishing as the witch pointed at Li Meng with the plush bear beside her, instructing Zhang Ji Xin and Xin Fat Man: "On your way back, please help send Xiao Meng to her dorm, don’t let her slip over to the Pedestrian Street to play with those little foxes."

Without waiting for Li Meng to protest, she pushed her between the two strapping fellows, simultaneously warning: "If I ask something, return to the dorm a few minutes late... I hope when I return, you’re doing what you should."

The little witch pursed her lips upon hearing this, hugged the plush bear, and angrily left the classroom. Zhang Ji Xin and Xin Fat Man sprinted after her, stooping with a servile manner.

It was only then.

Jiang Yu finally turned back, leisurely looking at the uneasily seated young cost student.