Chapter 37: Chapter 37
Captain of the Knights, Lina
"Mr. Liushu, has something happened lately in the Dreaming Forest?"
At Dreamscape Academy, during lunchtime in the school cafeteria, Mo Ying asked Liushu.
"Where did you hear that name?"
Liushu continued devouring his meal.
"It's all over the streets right now, although I have no idea where the Dreaming Forest actually is."
"The Tenth Hunting Grounds, the Dreaming Forest. That hunting grounds is the closest to Anzelona. I don't really know the details, I've never gone in myself—how should I know? I'm not a Hunter who makes a living by hunting Suti,"
Liushu replied, holding a can of beer.
Wasn't drinking alcohol banned at school...?
"Recently, the Dreaming Forest seems a bit... how should I put it? Agitated, I guess? Lately it's gotten quite aggressive; Hunters say the monsters inside have gotten much stronger, the mortality rate shot up, but there's a higher Suti drop rate too."
"You should've noticed as well—right now, even though it's autumn, the campus is covered in flowers and lush green grass. That's the Dreaming Forest's influence. I've even heard some roots have spread into various classrooms. If this keeps up, classes might get suspended," said Liushu, wiping his mouth after finishing.
"You've already been to the Third Hunting Grounds, the Fairy Homeland."
"That's a relatively peaceful hunting grounds, since fairies can communicate and are rational—they won't attack people at random."
"The Dreaming Forest is different. Even though it's the tenth hunting grounds, the weakest one, there's nothing rational inside—just crazed monsters and mutated plants. The moment you go in, it's a fight to the death, and if you lose, you die right there."
"That's all I know. I should mention it to Principal Alitos—it's probably time to suspend classes. Otherwise, something bad could happen."
Liushu picked up his tray and stood. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs N()velFire.net
"Is it really that scary?"
"The Dreaming Forest is just like its name—a huge forest filled with terrifying plants. If even one of those plants were to parasitize someone and make it into the school... well, half the people here would probably be done for."
Liushu's tone didn't sound like he was joking.
"Mr. Liushu doesn't seem like he's joking,"
"These ten hunting grounds once caused the deaths of seven million people. Mr. Liushu's words aren't an exaggeration,"
"So we really will have to stop classes,"
Mo Ying sighed. The semester had just started, after all.
"The steak today is so good!"
Mo Ying exclaimed as she bit into her steak, quickly changing the subject.
Mo Ying activated her contract, summoning Anluosi.
Anluosi appeared from a nearby pocket of space.
"Try this steak, it's amazing."
Mo Ying speared a piece and held it up to Anluosi's mouth.
"You summoned me for this?"
"Yup, just try it..."
Anluosi was left speechless.
Afternoon came. During outdoor class, Mo Ying heard cries of surprise from her classmates.
"Did some big celebrity arrive? Shuang Yun, it's your turn,"
Liushu had also heard the commotion.
"Seems like someone famous showed up. Xiya, it's your move,"
Shuang Yun glanced into the distance, but there were too many people to see clearly.
"I'm not interested in chasing celebrities. Mo Ying, your turn,"
Xiya put down her cards.
Mo Ying had already won.
"Another round, another round! Who's lost the most today?"
Liushu began to shuffle the cards.
"Mo Ying lost two rounds, Mr. Liushu one, Shuang Yun four, I lost three,"
"You're buying dinner, Shuang Yun."
"We're not done yet! One more, one more,"
Shuang Yun couldn't wait to start her comeback.
"No rush, we've got plenty of time left this afternoon,"
Liushu said, placing the shuffled deck in the middle, then taking out his lighter and cigarettes.
Liushu took a cigarette from the pack, placed it in his mouth, and flicked the lighter.
The cigarette was lit.
"That's what you get for gaming all night,"
Liushu said, taking a drag.
"Games are just too fun, not my fault,"
"I'll nap for a bit. You guys keep going,"
"I'm sleeping," she looked about ready to actually pass out.
"Mo Ying, has anyone ever said 'good night' to you?"
Liushu suddenly asked.
"Hmm? I don't think so."
"Let me say it to you."
Liushu pulled out his phone, unlocked it, opened his contacts, then the chat list.
One contact was named Li Shihe.
Li Shihe had sent a voice message.
"Are you guys so close you say good night every day?"
Mo Ying was surprised. She didn't expect Liushu and Li Shihe to be this friendly.
"Of course, we're the best of friends."
Liushu tapped to play Li Shihe's audio message.
"Screw you, you dog! If you don't say 'good night' I'll kill you myself!"
The three students burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, does that even count as a good night?"
Mo Ying felt her sleepiness vanish.
"Now that you're more alert, let's deal, hurry up,"
Liushu put away his phone.
"Alright, fine, I'm awake anyway."
Mo Ying rejoined the game.
"I recommended you here as a teacher, and this is the record you show me? You sure know how to make me proud," a beautiful female voice rang out.
Then a hand landed hard on Liushu's head, pressing down.
Liushu brushed the hand off and looked behind.
A girl with long golden hair, draped in a white Knights' cloak, stood behind the four of them.
"Captain of the Knights, Zhuina Lina!"
Shuang Yun exclaimed.
Both Mo Ying and Xiya found the name familiar.
The main instructor of the Martial Department, Captain of the Knights, personal guard to the Queen—Lina.
Mo Ying had once wanted to take her class, but other Martial Department teachers always taught in her place, supposedly because she was very busy.
This was Mo Ying's first time seeing her in person.
No wonder that crowd of students earlier had looked like they'd seen a ghost.
Lina was an absolute authority in Anzelona.
Anzelona had hundreds of cities, and every city had tens of thousands of knights.
But there was only one Knights Captain in Anzelona, and that was Lina.
Her position was truly second only to one, above thousands.
"Ahem, Lina, aren't you working today?"
Liushu coughed a little awkwardly when he realized it was Lina.
"My work as a teacher here is also a job—a side post, to be exact."
"Not busy at the Knights?"
"I see. Relaxation is important too."
With Lina present, Liushu didn't continue dealing cards.
Lina handed a set of clothes to Liushu.
"Yes—look at you, always so untidy, wearing the same clothes every day. You're a teacher, after all. You have to maintain your image in front of students."
"I got you two sets, tailored to your height and weight for changing. Also, the cigarettes you ordered last time have arrived—pick them up at my place," said Lina, handing him the clothes.
"Oh, I totally forgot about that, C... cough, cough."
Liushu almost cursed, but managed to stop himself.
The trio of students exchanged glances.
"Why does this feel... like a one-sided crush..."
The other two nodded.