There were still more than ten minutes before class, and the classroom was bustling with noise and excitement.
Zheng Qing pulled out his spell book and "Standard Spells: First Year University" from his grey bag, prepared his notebook and brush, and quietly waited for the teacher to arrive.
Xiao Xiao sat by the window, resting his head on his hand, looking towards Linzhong Lake, his fingertips gently tapping on the black-covered notebook on the desk.
Zhang Jixin, on the other hand, buried his face in his arms, lying motionless on the desk.
"Didn't you rest well yesterday? You look very tired." Zheng Qing poked the red-faced boy with his pen.
"Jet lag," Zhang Jixin's face was still buried in his arms, and he said in a muffled voice, "I had nightmares all last night. My roommates said I even ground my teeth, which scared them quite a bit."
Zheng Qing nodded sympathetically.
He had also had nightmares last night, and his eyelids had been twitching non-stop since morning.
"I think the exit method for the special plane is inappropriate."
"But we have no choice."
"Why not use a boat? I mean, since we're on an island, using a boat should be more convenient, right?"
"It's slow, the port is far, and there are more demons in the sea," Xiao Xiao replied in a lazy voice without turning his head. "Besides, if we traveled by boat, we might not fall from the sky, but we would definitely come ashore soaking wet."
Several girls in the front row couldn't help but chuckle.
It was clear that Xiao Xiao's dry humor appealed to them.
"Why don't we use the clock to go to University?" Zheng Qing remembered how he returned home from Daming Ward and couldn't help but continue asking, "I think that magic is convenient and fast, and there's no room for accidents, right?"
"Clock passages require very Advanced magic construction techniques and are a high-end travel method. Furthermore, there are too many students and limited passages, making accidents prone to happen."
Before Xiao Xiao finished his explanation, Xin Fatty, on Zheng Qing's other side, suddenly shouted:
"Holy shit! Big news!!"
The Fatty pounded the table, standing up excitedly.
He startled all the surrounding students.
"Sick!"
"Are you crazy!"
Several girls in the front row clutched their chests, complaining and glaring fiercely at Xin Fatty.
Zheng Qing curiously took the stack of newspapers from the Fatty's hand.
On the back of the newspaper was an advertisement:
"Beta Town Post: You give us twenty-four minutes, we give you twenty-four hours of the world!"
Turning to the front page, a line of dark characters caught his eye:
"Demon Appears on First University Special Plane! (Wizarding Calendar August 2, Wizarding News Agency Nine Provinces Report)"
Zheng Qing's spirits lifted, and he read on carefully.
"A demon appeared on a First University admissions special plane. Some crew members were killed, but no student casualties were reported."
"This special plane flew from Chang'an Airport to Buji Island First University. It carried approximately one thousand students, including about three hundred freshmen, and around twenty crew members. Around 1 PM, a demon appeared in the special plane's Restaurant No. 3, and a crew member was killed on the spot. The special plane's guards then arrived and drove the demon away."
"The First University admissions special plane was developed by Martin Thor Alchemy Company and operated by Wizard Union-Lunar Airlines. The equipment was put into use in 1990 to replace the Lianyunzhou System, which had been in operation for one hundred eighty years. During its operation, no systemic vulnerabilities have occurred. Currently, relevant company officials are in Buji Island undergoing a joint investigation by First University and Trident Sword, and the Great Wizard Council is conducting a further risk assessment of this incident."
"As of 9 AM on the second day of August, the First University Hunting Team is still pursuing the culprit in the relevant waters of the North Sea. Currently, no Great Demon has claimed responsibility for this incident."
"It is believed that the demon who appeared on the special plane is a young Lich under a hundred years old named Nikita. She was a dropout from First University's Alpha Academy. Ten years ago, she went missing during a practical activity in Silent Forest. Her reappearance was near a pyramid in Upper Egypt, where she clashed with a Hunter, who was sacrificed. There are reports that the evil Sir Ulrich was active in the area."
"Nikita was born in Beta Town North District. Her parents died when she was young, and she was raised by a Trickster in the same district."
"Reported by: Luwei Pulitzer."
The news article was unremarkable, not even including a photo of the female demon.
If there was any merit, it was that the report generally restored the approximate situation of the incident. The only thing that made Zheng Qing a little uncomfortable was the last sentence of the news.
He flipped through the first few pages, which were mostly discussing this incident, including the profound comments from various commentators, sharp interpretations from various experts, and even "Beta Town Post" specially opened a section to publish readers' opinions on the incident.
"This isn't really news, is it? This matter has already been explained to you in detail." Zheng Qing read the report once. Other than the female demon's name, he found no other valuable information. So he shook his head and returned the newspaper to Xin Fatty.
"Not that one, this one!" Xin Fatty snatched the newspaper back with a look of disdain and turned to the entertainment section.
The entire left side of the page featured a full-body portrait of a beautiful woman, with a line of deformed, twisted characters across her waist:
ăSu Shijun Has Child Out of Wedlock, Father's Identity Unknown!ă
The female star wore a black cloak, her face turned away from the reader, so Zheng Qing could only see her graceful figure and melancholic eyes. At her feet lay a pile of scattered roses, their crimson petals strewn across the floor.
"The newspaper says Su Shijun has a child!" Xin Fatty shouted excitedly.
The previously bustling classroom suddenly fell silent.
Then the freshmen swarmed over.
"What did you say?"
"Let me see!"
"Impossible! It must be a rumor!"
"Spreading rumors is fun for a moment! ..."
Zheng Qing stared dumbfounded at the surging crowd, feeling a bit helpless.
He vaguely remembered the name Su Shijun.
Xiao Xiao had said that Su Shijun was the heir of the Qingqiu Su Clan, and seemed to be the Wizarding World's most beautiful woman. The chief flight attendant on the special plane also seemed to be from the Su Family.
Zheng Qing lowered his head and glanced again at the large photograph.
The beautiful woman in the newspaper glared angrily at the chaotic classroom, then pulled up the hood of her cloak, hiding her entire face in shadow. Only a dark shadow remained on the entire page.
Zheng Qing shrugged and returned the newspaper to Xin Fatty.
With the help of several skilled freshmen, Xin Fatty projected the report into mid-air.
"Ms. Su Shijun publicly stated yesterday to Duke Milton that she has no intention of further cooperation with the Cullen Family. In response to a reporter's question, she revealed for the first time that she is married and has a son, and currently has no other long-term plans."
"Ms. Su declined to answer further questions."
"Ms. Su Shijun is twenty-five years old this year, the current legitimate daughter of the Qingqiu Su Clan, and the youngest Upper Council Member of the Moonlight Council. According to an earlier statement from the Great Wizard Conference spokesperson, the Great Wizard Review Board has received Ms. Su Shijun's application for relevant assessments."
"Duke Milton is a Council Member of the Bloodline Council, the current head of the Cullen Family, and one of the five Upper Council Members of the Moonlight Council. It is rumored that the Duke has long admired the Su Family and has had multiple disputes with the Werewolf Prince William Talbot over this."
"The Qingqiu Su Clan spokesperson declined to comment on Councilor Su's statement."
"It is reported that Su Shijun will arrive at First University in early October to attend the annual School Hunting Competition opening ceremony."
"At that time, she will hold a press conference to respond to related rumors."
The article was very short, probably less than five hundred words.
But everyone read it carefully again and again, trying to find some reassuring words in the phrasing.
However, the reality was so cruel.
The classroom was quiet.
The boys' faces were ashen, as if they had lost a parent.
Zheng Qing could understand this situation. After all, for any boy with aspirations, their beloved goddess inexplicably having a child was a huge blow.
But what was with the girls' gloomy expressions!
Like Li Meng, she even burst into tears in her Li Meng's Older Cousin's arms!
Zheng Qing felt a slight toothache.
Although he was very interested in this legendary Wizarding World goddess, he had no concept of her. The sense of detachment caused by distance had already been deeply felt by him since he was a child.
When his peers were chasing stars, he preferred to stay in his study and practice calligraphy a few times.
Moreover, he completely failed to understand why this seemingly serious newspaper would dedicate such a large amount of space to publishing such a scandalous piece of news.
"The teacher is here!"
A strange cry came from the crude pencil drawing behind the classroom door:
"Sit down quickly!"