The fat Flower Cat with yellow and white stripes howled, waving its plump paws and slapping Xin Fatty's face.
Blue Giant was not to be outdone, extending a pair of fat hands, waving them while making threatening sounds from his throat.
A slight rustle came from the cardboard box on the desk.
The noise startled the residents inside the box.
"Gently!" Zheng Qing reached out to stop the noisy Flower Cat and Xin Fatty.
A faint rustling sound came from the box, quickly dissipating into the quiet air of the Dormitory.
Several heads cautiously peered into the box's opening.
"Are they awake?" Xin Fatty asked in a low voice.
"Perhaps." Zheng Qing looked uneasily at the sleeping Little Elves in the box, nudging Xiao Xiao next to him with his arm. He wasn't sure about the condition of these little ones right now.
"It should just be sleep-talking." Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses, stretched his neck, and almost buried his head in the box: "Professor Li mentioned this situation before."
The Flower Cat used his paw to push Xiao Xiao's head aside, retracted his whiskers and ears, and also nudged his head into the box.
A purring sound came from his throat, comforting the sleeping Little Elves.
Almost a week had passed since the special plane accident.
The Little Elves were still in a deep slumber.
Their originally translucent wings had become somewhat withered, and their hair-thin antennae were already weakly drooping on both sides of their foreheads.
Zheng Qing couldn't help but sigh.
The captivating green aura around the Little Elves hadn't lit up for a long time.
If it weren't for their slightly rising and falling chests, Zheng Qing would have suspected that these little ones had completely embraced death.
Formal classes had been ongoing for nearly a week, and Zheng Qing had already met every instructor.
After each class, he privately consulted these experienced mentors, asking if there was any way to save these Little Elves.
But the teachers all expressed their inability to help.
"This is a self-protection mechanism of the Little Elves." Professor Trass, the Alchemy professor, once explained to Zheng Qing after class: "When a master dies unexpectedly, Little Elves with a special contract will automatically sense this 'disaster'. Losing the potions prepared by their master means their lives are nearing their end."
"At this time, to delay the arrival of death and reduce physical consumption, the Little Elves will automatically enter a state of hibernation until death. Most Little Elves will die in their sleep."
"This is also the Wizards' mercy and compassion towards the Little Elves."
Zheng Qing was noncommittal about this statement.
Those Great Wizards only gave the Little Elves the choice of how to die, but did not give them the right to choose between life and death.
No one liked this cheap compassion.
Among all the mentors, only Professor Li Qi Huang, the Potions professor, mentioned a possibility:
"There is a magical insect called Sand Time Insect that can secrete a liquid that extends the lifespan of magical creatures. Perhaps it can maintain the vitality of these Little Elves."
Seemingly seeing the hope blossoming in the boy's eyes, Professor Li frowned and added:
"It's only a possibility, so don't hold too much hope."
"This magical insect can only be found deep within the Silent Forest. You are just Freshmen, and I don't want you to take unnecessary risks."
"Furthermore, there is still much disagreement in the magical world regarding the definition of Little Elves. Wizards still cannot determine whether these Little Elves are living beings or merely Alchemy products. Therefore, the effect of the Sand Time Insect's secretion is uncertain."
"Does the University laboratory have samples of this Sand Time Insect's secretion?" Zheng Qing automatically ignored the many conditions mentioned in the conversation, looking eagerly at Professor Li.
"Sand Time Insect's secretion has a very short shelf life, and the laboratory will commission a Hunting Team to enter the Silent Forest for time-limited collection when needed." Professor Li Qi Huang seemed to regret telling Zheng Qing this information. He added dryly: "Only Advanced Hunting Teams have the ability to enter the depths of the Silent Forest, and the completion rate of this task has always been very low."
The fluorescent light overhead flickered, awakening the silent 403 Dormitory.
"So, are you really a Legacy of Kunlun or not?" Xin Fatty, with the Flower Cat spread out on top of his head, returned to the original topic. He and the Flower Cat had reached a new reconciliation.
The Fat Cat narrowed his eyes, his fluffy tail wagging behind Xin Fatty's head, looking very content.
Zheng Qing rubbed his temples wearily.
He tried his best to let his friends know that he was not some Legacy of Kunlun; these rumors had nothing to do with him.
But no one cared about his explanation.
In the corner, the curtain of Dylan's six-poster bed suddenly lifted.
The Vampire Werewolf revealed a pair of bright eyes.
He was very interested in the current discussion.
"I've also heard a few friends mention the Kunlun Legacy matter." Dylan's entire body was hidden in the large coffin on his bed, with only his head showing: "It is said that these rumors were spread by Arthur Ness and his group."
Xin Fatty stretched his neck and craned his head, trying to see if there was anything interesting on Dylan's bed.
The Vampire Werewolf glanced at him, closed the gap in the curtain, blocking the Fatty's view.
The Flower Cat licked his pink nose, blinked his sky-blue eyes, and a purring laugh came from his throat.
"Arthur Ness?" Zheng Qing had no impression of him at all.
"The Alpha senior drinking on Walking Street." Xiao Xiao prompted from the side.
Zheng Qing remembered the guy who crushed the wine glass. He clearly recalled having stuck more than forty suppression Talismans on that guy—which was more than a month's worth of his output.
"Why is that guy talking nonsense!" Zheng Qing was a little angry, and also started to feel bad about his suppression Talismans.
"Because we won unfairly." Xiao Xiao pouted: "If we had used a Spell to make Mr. Arthur grovel in the dust, maybe they would shut up now."
Zheng Qing felt that the Alpha sophomore was a bit crazy.
"Why?"
"Being defeated by a Freshman who can't even cast a Spell would make everyone doubt whether he can become a true Wizard."
"A Wizard who only uses Spells is not a good Wizard." Zheng Qing racked his brains, recalling this sentence he had vaguely seen recently.
"This sentence originally means that Wizards should be proficient in various skills such as Potions, runes, Alchemy, and divination, and does not mean to encourage Wizards to solve problems with their fists." Xiao Xiao reminded him expressionlessly from the side.
"Whose side are you on!" Zheng Qing was exasperated, glaring angrily at Xiao Xiao.
Xiao Xiao, however, held his Black-shelled notebook and continued to scribble as if nothing had happened.
"Just as you said." The Vampire Werewolf on the six-poster bed spoke again: "The esteemed Mr. Arthur Ness obviously doesn't want others to know that he was suppressed by a common Freshman using a Talisman."
A hint of mockery appeared at the corner of Dylan's mouth, and his dark red eyes flickered on the bed, looking particularly eerie: "Moreover, in that conflict, he used Friedman's name... Perhaps Sir Friedman is not very happy that his name has been defiled."
"Who is Friedman?" Zheng Qing couldn't help but ask: "That Arthur kept shouting that name that day."
"Sir Friedman Black Cullen, an excellent heir of the Black Family and the Cullen Family, and a future Upper Council Member of the Moonlight Council. Although he has only recently come of age, he already has enough influence to express his opinions in the Moonlight Council. Matthew Cullen from our class is related to him by blood." Xiao Xiao said seriously: "I have to say, this Mr. Ness is a bit troublesome."
"In that case, why don't we make this matter more interesting." Dylan's dark red pupils sparkled, as if this matter greatly interested him.
"It does suit my fancy." Xin Fatty stood by the desk, the Flower Cat's four cat paws gripping his hair, clinging tightly to the top of his head like a fuzzy hat, looking very comical:
"We can totally fan the flames. I think, if someone sends you an invitation, it's very impolite if you don't return the favor. Besides, you'll be in the University for four years, and getting to know some important people early won't hurt your future University life. You can also find friends to help if you have trouble later."
"So you need to make some subtle changes. For example, your frivolous behavior doesn't conform to the actions of those with truly ancient Legacies. Don't skip when you walk, and don't glance around." Dylan offered his advice: "You don't need to add to your attire; everyone wears the same robe at the University anyway. But I suggest you pin a mysterious symbol on your school robe. How about a Bagua cufflink?"
"A small Bagua cufflink on a circular symbol is indeed good! As expected of a noble of the night, he is cultured." Xin Fatty nodded, looking very serious.
"Finally, you should be more magnanimous." Xiao Xiao slammed his Black-shelled notebook shut, with an admiring expression: "Don't be so petty. After class every day, you might as well walk more in crowded places to let everyone get to know you. As for duels and such, what important person would have that kind of free time?"
With a few words, the several people decided Zheng Qing's actions for the next few days.
Zheng Qing was dumbfounded.
