C20 Night Exploration

"How did you end up becoming a member of the Hunter Guild?"

"And I'm curious why you're handling the school cafeteria case. What are you, the cafeteria lady?" Liu Feng retorted with equal force.

"Looking for trouble, are you?" Zhuang Qiushuo's temper flared, and she smacked Liu Feng on the head.

"I stand corrected; you're the cafeteria lady's daughter."

"Still looking for trouble!"

"Ahhhhh!" Liu Feng's scream was as piercing as a pig being slaughtered.

"Ouch, have mercy, beautiful Zhuang."

"Still talking back, huh?" Although Zhuang Qiushuo usually had a lovely smile, it now sent shivers down Liu Feng's spine. Her normally enchanting face twisted into a sinister grin that seemed to chill him to the bone.

"I admit it, I was coerced into joining the Hunter Guild by you," Liu Feng quickly conceded.

"Oh really? I forced you, did I?" Zhuang Qiushuo grabbed Liu Feng's ear once more, yanking it upwards as she looked at him with a grin.

Liu Feng inwardly groaned, lamenting his luck in dealing with such a fierce teacher.

If Zhuang Qiushuo could hear Liu Feng's thoughts, she'd be livid. How did she get stuck with such a troublemaker and problem student? There goes her reputation!

"The Hunter Guild is sending a kid like you to take on the job? Are you up for it?"

"Repeat that, and see if I don't take you down right here, right now, to show you what I'm capable of!" Liu Feng, feeling unexpectedly bold when Zhuang Qiushuo questioned his abilities, puffed out his chest and spoke with conviction.

Zhuang Qiushuo was initially taken aback, but upon catching Liu Feng's gaze fixed on her chest, her cheeks flushed a deep pink, whether from embarrassment or irritation at Liu Feng's audacity.

"Ms. Zhuang, perhaps we should focus on how to resolve this case," Liu Feng suggested, eager to steer clear of further confrontation.

"This is your responsibility. The school has already paid; do you expect me to contribute as well?" Zhuang Qiushuo was not interested in dwelling on the previous exchange.

"Ms. Zhuang Qiushuo, I'm begging you! Please help me!" Liu Feng implored, his eyes wide with urgency.

"What level are you currently at?"

"Low-level fire, third level!" Liu Feng declared, swelling with pride as he puffed out his chest and gave it a confident pat, his chin lifted high.

Zhuang Qiushuo's eyes crinkled with amusement as she watched him, a smile playing on her lips.

"Agree to do one small favor for me, and I'll help you," Zhuang Qiushuo said, her eyes pleading as she gazed at Liu Feng. In the dim lighting, she appeared particularly captivating.

"What is it?" Liu Feng asked warily, sensing that her request might be troublesome.

"Will you do it?" Zhuang Qiushuo's voice was soft and persuasive, her eyes shimmering like pools in the autumn.

Overwhelmed by her enchanting presence and the mellifluous sound of her voice, Liu Feng found himself nodding in agreement. Zhuang Qiushuo's allure was undeniable, but more than that, Liu Feng's subconscious told him that whatever task she had in mind couldn't be too daunting. This was the confidence of a man who had faced demons in battle time and again.

"Help me win the Battle for Glory!"

...

As the night enveloped the campus, its darkness stood in sharp contrast to the fading lights. The school cafeteria lay in silence.

Liu Feng and Zhuang Qiushuo, like two conspirators, stealthily made their way back to the school cafeteria.

Zhuang Qiushuo reasoned that a thief would only strike at night when the daytime risks—like being spotted or caught on camera—were absent. The cover of darkness, with its poor visibility and scarce witnesses, presented the perfect opportunity.

Hiding in a corner of the kitchen, Liu Feng sighed to himself. Why had he agreed to this? Dealing with Wen Lu was one thing, but what was going on with Zhuang Qiushuo?

He cursed under his breath, convinced he had fallen under her spell.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Qiushuo stood close behind Liu Feng, her small hands clutching the fabric of his clothing, her body shaking with nervous tremors. Her eyes darted around the shadowy space.

Filled with regret, Zhuang Qiushuo couldn't help but think the cafeteria at night was terrifying. The eerie glow from the cafeteria's promotional screens flickered like will-o'-the-wisps. Why didn't they turn off the screens at night? It was not only a waste of electricity but downright frightening.

The eerie glow of the screen cast a ghostly light that sent shivers down Zhuang Qiushuo's spine. Yet, the thought of Liu Feng's mastery of third-level fire abilities and her inevitable victory at the Battle for Glory filled her with determination. She was finally going to have enough money to buy that skirt! Clenching her teeth, she fought to keep her fear at bay.

Zhuang Qiushuo had her eye on a particular Magic Item for quite some time. To any onlooker, it appeared to be a simple skirt, its silver hue shimmering like diamonds, enchantingly cute and brimming with a fairy-like charm. But its true value lay hidden within the space runes etched into the fabric, granting the power to teleport—a veritable lifesaver. Owning this skirt was like having an extra life!

She had never been able to afford it, but the substantial prize awarded to the victors of the Battle for Glory at the graduation ceremony was a game-changer. The reward was designed to inspire teachers to invest fully in their students' education, preparing them for the inevitable confrontations with demons—a fight for survival in the truest sense.

Liu Feng let out a mischievous smile, quietly moving his lips close to Zhuang Qiushuo's ear. His whispered words sent a ticklish breeze across her ear, eliciting a slight shiver from her.

"So, you think you're tough, huh?" Liu Feng's voice was hushed, his laughter barely audible. He had noticed Zhuang Qiushuo's small hand clutching the hem of his clothes, pulling him closer in her fear of the dark, and he couldn't resist the urge to tease her.

"You, you..." Zhuang Qiushuo's eyes were wide with panic as she fixed her gaze on Liu Feng, her pupils dilating to reflect his silhouette.

"Scared, are you? There's nothing to fear with me here," Liu Feng boasted, patting his chest with a look of contempt directed at Zhuang Qiushuo.

"Something's on your head..."

"What about my head? Why are you hitting me?" Liu Feng felt something atop his head, but in the darkness, he couldn't make it out. He had assumed Zhuang Qiushuo was reaching for his hair, but then he realized something was amiss. If Zhuang Qiushuo was in front of him, what was on top of his head?

A chill ran down Liu Feng's spine as he reached up and felt a mass of hair as stiff as wire.

Zhuang Qiushuo covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking with laughter. Her mirth was like a quivering blossom, unfurling in its most splendid display.

"A few strands of hair and you're terrified," Zhuang Qiushuo said with a roll of her eyes at Liu Feng.

Liu Feng's face fell. He realized he'd been played, but he didn't engage in further antics with Zhuang Qiushuo. Instead, he sensed something odd about the strands of hair—they were unusually stiff and carried a faintly demonic essence.

Having battled demons on numerous occasions, Liu Feng hadn't initially noticed, but as his encounters grew, so did his sensitivity to their presence. It was similar to how frequent driving hones one's understanding of the unwritten rules of the road.