Chapter 2004: Chapter 225: Cold Dew

After leaving Greenhill Mansion, Zheng Qing did not return to the dormitory immediately but headed straight to the library with Su Shijun’s signed authorization letter. He managed to complete the application materials for confirming the Absolution Hunting Team’s guidance counselor before the library closed. Then, he folded a large paper crane and sent the materials to the Hunting Committee.

Watching the paper crane gracefully flying away, the warlock let out a deep sigh and then began to worry.

He seemed to already hear the noise and commotion in the student council office in the morning, seeing the excited faces peering into the Astronomy Class 08-1 classroom.

Of course, there are things more immediate than ‘tomorrow’s troubles’ for him to worry about.

For instance, how to explain this matter to his companions—he must inform all the hunters of Su Shijun becoming the guidance counselor for the Absolution Team before the matter escalates, and endure the first round of ‘bombardment’—he imagined it as a rehearsal for tomorrow, finding some bitter humor in his predicament.

With a belly full of worries and dragging heavy footsteps, Zheng Qing wandered within the school for half an hour without finding a suitable excuse, but Dormitory Hill was now in sight.

“Going in and out late at night, how annoying!”

The bronze beast guarding the gate swiped its tail to open the dormitory doors after scanning the warlock’s student card and grumbled: “If only I had the power to deduct credits…”

Zheng Qing quickly fished out a handful of brown smoke balls from his pocket and handed them to Grandpa Niwu.

The bronze beast quieted down slightly after receiving the ‘bribe’, retracting back into the yard-high door hole, puffing away.

The silver-white corridor behind the door remained as empty and quiet as ever.

“If it’s fate, it won’t be misfortune; if it’s misfortune, you can’t escape it!”

Boosting his spirits internally, the young cost student pushed open the door and entered, trying his best to appear cheerful: “Good news! Goo… where’s everyone?”

The 403 dorm room was empty.

Only a fat cat lounged lazily on the desk, and dozens of sprites lay haphazardly on the cat’s back, snoring together. Hearing the warlock’s voice, the fat cat just barely lifted an eyelid, twitching its whiskers in a gesture of welcome, while the sprites hurriedly took off from the cat’s back, either seeking hot towels or preparing warm snacks and tea as a greeting for the student.

“Where are they?”

Zheng Qing took the steaming towel, wiped his face, then took a strawberry and put it in his mouth, chewing while glancing around: “Dylan being absent is understandable; he has a class tonight… what about those two?”

He said, taking out his pocket watch to check the time.

Ten fifteen in the evening, it was already late at night; both the library and study rooms were closed at this time. Even finding the guidance counselor now was not feasible. Plus, there was no hunting team training task tonight.

“Hehe~”

A few sprites waved their arms, chirping, trying their best to gesture to Zheng Qing. The warlock struggled to understand but noticed a yellow-and-white cat hair stuck to one sprite’s gauze skirt.

“No rush, no rush, I’ll just send them a paper crane; you all continue resting.” He comforted them, placing the sprites back on Tuan Tuan.

The fat cat dissatisfiedly flicked its tail but didn’t shake off the little creatures on its back.

The efficiency of paper cranes at night was slightly higher because various birds often intercepted them during the day, teasing these clumsy magic creations. In the night, as birds rest early, without those road-blocking bullies, the paper cranes’ efficiency naturally increased.

In less than five minutes, Zheng Qing received a reply from Xiao Xiao.

There were only two words on the letter.

Cold Dew.

Zheng Qing suddenly realized—today was the 8th of October, Thursday, the lunar calendar’s twentieth day of the eighth month, coinciding with the Cold Dew festival. During Magic Potion Class in the morning, Professor Li had reminded the students to collect cold dew for potion use tonight. However, given the day’s overwhelming events, the warlock had already pushed this matter out of his mind.

He gasped in surprise, dropped the letter in his hand, and dashed out of the dormitory.

Predictably, the bronze beast guarding the dormitory door grumpily awoke again from being disturbed, spewing several dense black smoke clouds at the warlock, making him tear up and obscure his vision, nearly missing the entrance to Hundred Herb Gardens.

Hundred Herb Gardens was the place where students would collect cold dew tonight.

By the time Zheng Qing arrived at the gardens, some students had already gathered enough dew and left early, only straightforward people like Xiao Xiao, along with a few from Absolution, meticulously searched each leaf for the purest dew.

The boy approached and overheard Doctor Xiao’s explanation:

“… Cold dew used in potions is chosen for its ‘Yin chill’ atmosphere, but the dew caught in ordinary copper dew trays is too affected by the metal’s aura, amplifying that ‘Yin chill’ excessively, making it unserviceable… hence, we need to find cold dew that has been modulated by wood aura for a more harmonious reaction when used in potions.”

“Is the effect of cold dew on different leaves identical?” Zheng Qing asked smoothly.

The group facing away all turned back.

“Wow!”

The nearest Xin Fat Man shrank back nervously, nearly falling: “Unbelievable… I thought I saw Santa Claus?”

Zheng Qing blinked, looked at his attire, and couldn’t comprehend the statement.

Jiang Yu summoned a water mirror with a wave and handed over a handkerchief.

Using the surrounding magical light, Zheng Qing finally saw himself in the mirror with a fully soot-covered face, as if he’d just crawled out of a chimney.

He couldn’t help but sigh, accepting the handkerchief, admiring its beautiful patterns and smelling its faint fragrance, unsure of wiping his dirty face directly. He opted to summon a water ball and washed his face thoroughly.

“Grandpa Niwu?” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses and confidently guessed.

“Of course, the old man gets quite irritable when his sleep is repeatedly interrupted.” Zheng Qing muttered while wiping his face, glancing around, feeling quite relieved: “Luckily, Li Meng isn’t here… or she’d have fainted again.”

“Not funny at all.” Xin Fat Man rubbed his stiff cheeks, relaxing them, before asking: “Why’re you so late? The monitor nearly reported you missing to the School Works Committee.”

Zheng Qing apologized to the witch with a smile, hesitated for a few seconds, and eventually confessed honestly: “I was just a bit busy in the library… submitted the guidance counselor’s confirmation materials.”

The sentence immediately captured all the warlocks’ attention, making them forget teasing Jiang Yu.

“You succeeded?” Zhang Ji Xin eagerly confirmed.

Zheng Qing nodded affirmatively.

“You’re not just fooling us, right,” the Fat Wizard suspiciously eyed the young cost student: “Everyone’s been busy for so long without success, but you just go out for a stroll and it’s settled…”

“That’s why I’m your captain,” Zheng Qing cheekily replied with a smile.

“Who’s the guidance counselor?” Xiao Xiao focused more on the specific person.

“Su Shijun.”

Zheng Qing answered straightforwardly, feeling a refreshing relief on his face as he shed a heavy burden—after all, some things must be faced; either face them early or face them late, but it’s best to get it over with sooner.