Chapter 2679: Chapter 900: Zheng Qing’s Primary Identity
The First University holds three university-wide hunting events each year.
The Spring Hunt in April, the ’Campus Cup’ Moon Hunting in October, and the Winter Hunt in December.
This schedule aligns with the Wizard World’s ancient tradition of the ’Four Season Hunt’—Spring Hunt, Summer Hunt, Autumn Hunt, and Winter Hunt—the university doesn’t schedule hunting in the summer because it coincides with the summer break.
However, not all three hunting events occur every year as scheduled.
For instance, last year the First University inexplicably canceled the Spring Hunt.
Of course, by now everyone knows the reason. A few weeks after last year’s Spring Hunt, the major Black Prison incident occurred. It can be inferred that most of the university’s focus was on the Black Prison at that time, naturally leaving no energy to care for the young wizard’s hunting games.
Even without the Spring Hunt, shortly afterwards, with the outbreak of large-scale Witch Demon wars in the distant Black Prison, the Demon Alliance Organization’s harassment corps appeared on Buji Island, letting the young wizards who just felt disappointed indulge their hunting desires intensely.
Returning to this year.
Originally according to most people’s thoughts.
Without a Spring Hunt last year, there was no reason it should be canceled again this year.
But the temporary ban issued on the seventh-weekend night—although that ban lasted just a little over five minutes—cast a shadow in the hearts of many young wizards at the First University.
After all, hunting takes place in the Silent Forest.
And right now, everyone knows something must have happened in the woods.
With the experience of last year’s ’expectation-disappointment’, no one dared to boast that this year’s Spring Hunt would definitely proceed as scheduled. After all, it wasn’t as far-reaching as the ’Campus Cup’ hunting match, nor was it as necessary as the Winter Hunt to reduce part of the Silent Black Tide’s power the following year, making its annual occurrence essential.
Like the Spring Hunt at Shanglin Garden, the First University’s Spring Hunt has gradually become an activity with social and practice assessment nature, and for different academies, the focus of the Spring Hunt varies.
Alpha Academy places more emphasis on the social aspects of the Spring Hunt, featuring a series of accompanying activities such as dances, painting, music, and culinary events every year;
Atlas Academy values the ritual aspect of the Spring Hunt more, ranging from divination, blessings, to the ’Grand Hunt Ceremony’, among others;
Jiuyou Academy students care most about the harvest from the Spring Hunt, including selling hunted goods for money and the practice scores obtained from the Spring Hunt;
Starry Sky Academy’s young wizards aren’t concerned about those miscellaneous things, they are content as long their is a fight with demons.
No matter the differences in focus of the Spring Hunt for the academies, the school views the program as having a strong ’elective course nature’, meaning it may as well happen or not, if the weather is fair and everything harmonizes, holding the Spring Hunt is naturally delightful; any discord, canceling the Spring Hunt doesn’t carry much pressure either.
Among all members in the dormitory of 403, perhaps Zheng Qing’s anticipation for the Spring Hunt is the lowest.
Dylan, in order to escape his family’s arranged Zombie Bride, has been frantically attending various social events, wanting to find the most suitable bride before his family takes action; Xiao Xiao needs a suitable opportunity to ease relations with Sima Yangyun; the Fat Wizard and his Senior Linda have newly confirmed their relationship, adorably sweet.
In contrast, only Zheng Qing has no ’social needs’.
On one hand, he recently attended the Spring Hunt at Shanglin Garden held off campus, inevitably causing some trouble, even attracting a Little Mare from the Huizong Tribe into the Edge Academy. For him, a lack of extra socializing is the life he most needs.
Moreover, after such a big workload this semester, with having already had an extra day off for two weeks, if two more days of the weekend are wasted due to the Spring Hunt, he doubts whether he can achieve his set graduation goals.
That being said, after the Sunday night class meeting ended, Zheng Qing still proactively went to the assistant teachers’ office to inquire about what truly happened.
Aside from the reason that Xin Fat Man entrusted him, more importantly, his intuition told him that tonight’s temporary ban issued by the assistant teachers was related to the Ravens.
When Zheng Qing arrived at the office building, the whole building was brightly lit.
Wizards in black and gray robes hurried back and forth in silence, even the Green Skin Parrots encarged with reception at the first-floor lobby ceased their chatter exceptionally, each flapping their wings quietly, perched on the branches, like statues.
Zheng Qing had an assistant teacher badge hanging on his chest.
He proceeded unimpeded to the assistant teachers’ office.
The small room was crowded at that moment, faintly one could hear intense whispering arguments from the crowd. As he tried to squeeze into the center of the crowd, he was pulled out by a hand after just a few steps.
"What are you doing here causing a ruckus?" Thomas pulled Zheng Qing out of the office, looking serious.
Zheng Qing hesitated for a few seconds.
"I’m also a member of the assistant teacher group." He pointed to the badge on his chest—Thomas’s face revealed a very obvious dejected expression; evidently, he had completely forgotten Zheng Qing’s new identity.
Zheng Qing didn’t give him more time to react, pouring all his confusion from tonight on him: "What’s happening in the Silent Forest? Why wasn’t I informed? Am I not an assistant teacher of the school? Is there anything I can do?"
"Doing nothing is your biggest task."
Thomas put his hand on Zheng Qing’s shoulder, considering, ultimately chose to answer one simple question: "Also, you are of course an assistant teacher of the school. But at the same time, you are also a current student. When the student identity conflicts with assistant teacher duties, we will default you to prioritize being a student... hence, tonight we didn’t inform you."
"What the heck happened?"
Unyielding, Zheng Qing pressed on, reminding him: "You also know, it’s very hard to keep secrets at the First University... Plus, with my identity, telling me does not violate the Silence Contract."
Thomas, rather troubled, scratched his head, glanced back at the still crowded office, heaved a sigh, and pushed the Warlock to walk outside.
"Something happened to the Uteya Tribe."
He spoke quickly, almost in a whispering manner: "All Horse-Men from the whole tribe, from Elders, to warriors, to younglings, all Horse-Men have disappeared... no, not disappeared, the Divination Group has confirmed and informed us, they have suffered misfortune."
Qingming Festival wasn’t long ago.
Upon Thomas mentioning the word ’Uteya’, memories of that solid camp in the Silent Forest, the enormous bonfire, the enthusiastic Gouzi, and the agile Centaur Warriors and elderly wise Centaur Elders instantly flooded Zheng Qing’s mind.
Then he recalled the meteor streaking across the night sky that night.
And the prophecy left behind by the Centaur Elder.
