On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, most of the shops on the Pedestrian Street are about to open.
D&K is no exception.
That morning, Zheng Qing arrived at the store early to give opening red envelopes to Fox Five and the Ears Brothers, each receiving a gold bean, which is considered a very sincere amount for ordinary employees.
The San You Bookstore still had no people, nor any cats.
The cold wind swept through the street, lifting a few dry leaves that accentuated the lonely silhouette of the warlock standing at the bookstore’s entrance. Indeed, lonely. Because Zheng Qing had co alone to distribute the red envelopes today.
Su Shijun did not co.
Jiang Yu did not co.
Poseidon, busy with arithtic practice, also did not co.
Since Jiang Yu moved into Greenhill Mansion, Zheng Qing had expected the witches to clash daily, tense with drawn swords, but unexpectedly, the whole mansion remained unusually calm over the days.
So calm that no one even bothered with him.
Su Shijun spent days in the study sorting out experintal reports, occasionally visiting the laboratory, and they could only et at the dining table during the three daily als; Jiang Yu, further, locked herself in the study most of the ti, focusing relentlessly on learning, sotis even missing als.
With Poseidon forced to study diligently, Su Ya perpetually occupied, and the fox maids always finding sothing to do, the entire mansion felt like a wound-up watch, radiating an oppressive urgency—of course, whether this suffocating feeling was due to the ’serious’ atmosphere or the presence of the two witches, even Zheng Qing couldn’t distinguish.
In such an environnt, he naturally couldn’t afford to waste his life.
Apart from preparing the five talismans due next month for the Trident Sword, the young cost student spent most of his energy on the few reference books recomnded by Su Shijun, diving into the "Detailed Explanation of Talisman Construction" upon waking and the "Qingqiu Secret thod" when closing his eyes; when drowsy, "The Structure Characteristics of Exorcism Amulet Bullets and Seventeen thods of Making" flitted through his mind.
So much so that Zheng Qing often wondered if he was enduring a seamless transition from one end-of-term phase to another end-of-term exam phase, rather than enjoying a winter break.
Therefore, when the ’breaking fifth’ day arrived, realizing he had a valid reason to go out, he didn’t even have breakfast and promptly slipped out of Greenhill Mansion.
Since it was early.
After distributing the red envelopes, it was still not yet seven in the morning, and the sun had barely broken out of the clouds. Zheng Qing suspected that if he returned to the mansion at this point, he would have to face the dining table once more.
The thought of the suffocating atmosphere in the dining room drained his courage to return. He decided to wander along the winding streets, using buying snacks for Poseidon as an excuse.
From the Pedestrian Street, he strolled to the North District, where more people began to appear on the streets.
The festive atmosphere still lingered in the North District, with clusters of magically conjured flowers blossoming brightly as if new. Little sprites holding harps hid behind the flowers, singing enchanting songs tirelessly. Old tricksters at the street corners, donned in clean robes, happily perford card magic for passing little wizards.
After watching the tricksters, the little wizards dashed past Zheng Qing.
One little witch giggled, carrying a plump toad, chasing and playing with her companions. Her forehead was painted with a flower-like spell mark—not only her, but Zheng Qing noticed many passersby on the street with similar wizard marks on their foreheads. So were genuine, but most were fake, undoubtedly representing so beautiful wish by the tricksters residing in the North District.
"Binding Spell!" The little witch raised her toad and shouted to her companions.
Instantly, the nearest little warlock crossed his hands over his chest, stiffened, and fell to the ground, exclaiming, "Ah, I’m bound!"
The others scattered joyfully, running even more rrily.
Zheng Qing’s lips involuntarily curled into a slight smile.
"I once heard a question in Old Yao’s Philosophy of Magic class," Korma’s voice suddenly sounded in his ear. Turning around, the warlock saw the North District Great Wise Person standing next to him, watching the playful little wizards with a gentle expression: "How much happiness does a person who has experienced great suffering need to feel hope in life?"
Zheng Qing frowned, finding this question difficult.
Hardship, happiness, and hope are all concepts that are very hard to quantify.
"The answer is a little," Korma, seemingly uninterested in his response, continued on his own: "Just a little happiness is enough... So how do you feel about your visit to the North District this ti?"
"They seem happier than I imagined." Zheng Qing sincerely praised, "It’s completely different from the omnipresent despair I felt during my first visit to the North District..."
"Are they truly happy?"
Korma shook his head slightly, guiding Zheng Qing forward a few steps. The scene before them flickered like a carousel; in just a blink, they were transported from the North District’s edge to its depths, into a small tavern.
In the tavern, a group of North District wizards, about seventeen or eighteen years old, gathered around a thin warlock standing on a table, passionately speaking as he gestured wildly:
"... Whether it’s Alpha or Jiuyou, they’re just patronizing us! Give North District wizards more freedom? It’s a trap! Equality between North District wizards and other wizards in the Alliance? It’s a joke! Without magic power, there’s no real equality and freedom! Alliance officials and schools only use pretty words to fool us... What we need is not any darn opportunity freedom, but true freedom to study! Freedom of knowledge! Equality in education! Equality in knowledge!"
"... All wizards on the fringe, unite!"
"... Smash Jiuyou and Alpha’s damned equality and freedom! We don’t want philosophy, we just want magic!"
"... Only through sacrifice..."
The roaring and the scene in the tavern gradually blurred.
Zheng Qing withdrew his gaze, glancing up at the North District’s sky.
He could clearly feel the increasingly intense thunder rolling over the North District, and the flas burning beneath it growing hotter. He couldn’t tell when this newly revived community would turn to ashes amidst the clash of thunder and flas.
"Life’s longing for hope is endless."
Korma’s voice, sounding sowhat weary, whispered in Zheng Qing’s ear, "I’ve only co to slowly understand this recently. I can’t bla them for being greedy. They are rely pursuing what the wizards at the school take for granted. But I also know that the school or the Alliance possibly doesn’t have enough resources to et the needs of all wizards..."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Zheng Qing turned to Korma, speaking earnestly. He knew that the witch would not show him these things for no reason, but he also didn’t want the small fla of hope that had just risen in the North District to be extinguished.
At the very least, he hoped that on his next visit to the North District, he would still see that little witch with a spell mark painted on her forehead, playing gas eagerly with her companions.
"How about teaching them magic?" Korma smiled slightly, tilting his head toward the young cost student. "I know you’re good at Talisman Studies. If you have ti, you can teach them."
"No problem!" Zheng Qing found this request not at all excessive and confidently patted his chest; but just in case, he added, "If I have the ti, definitely no problem."
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