Chapter 26: Magical Treasure
After the National Day holiday, Cangqiong University cooled down overnight. Jiang Hong gradually got used to studying with the demon clan, treating his unusual classmates as humans without questioning their race.
Frankly speaking, the demon clan members were quite adorable, sometimes even more so than some humans. They weren't well-versed in human customs and were straightforward, without hidden meanings or beating around the bush. Having no prejudices against demons, Jiang Hong soon made many demon friends two months into his enrollment.
Apart from being unable to practice magic, Jiang Hong fully integrated into the exorcist community, becoming one of them. He would be perplexed by the bizarre knowledge in class, filling his notes with question marks, and discuss topics like "The marginal decrease of energy storage in relation to the size of the inner elixir over time" after class.
By December, winter had arrived in the northwest. Jiang Hong was even surprised to find himself easily grasping almost all the knowledge, becoming accustomed to these fantastical courses that defied common human understanding.
Among all the subjects, 'Exploration of the Inner World' was the toughest, not only due to its counter-intuitive content but also because of the fast-paced teaching of Zhu Jingling, compounded by the complexity of the final project. Jiang Hong often found it challenging, having to consult Zhang Xiting in the dorm or seek help from Lu Xiu.
In the comprehensive exorcism class taught by Vice Principal Cao Bin, they began learning physical techniques. Combining Brazilian jiu-jitsu, ancient martial arts, and karate, these techniques were Cao Bin's specialty. Tailored to Jiang Hong and Xiao Pi's physiques, it was the best practice method, even suitable for ordinary humans.
"The chakras within my body are limited by physical conditions," Cao Bin, sipping coffee, watched Jiang Hong and Xiao Pi practicing standing postures, and said, "As a child, I wasn’t suitable for cultivating spiritual veins, so I chose physical techniques. Take a rest if you're tired."
Jiang Hong resumed his stance, saying, "But you still have the talent."
Cao Bin nodded and said, "That's a matter for the future. Not knowing magic doesn't preclude one from being an exorcist. Our problem-solving relies most on this..."
He pointed to his temple with his finger, "Wisdom is the most important quality of an exorcist."
Lu Xiu wasn't present today, and Jiang Hong wanted to ask about him several times, but in the end, it was Xiao Pi who spoke up.
"Where's the senior?"
Cao Bin answered leisurely, "He's out on an errand."
It had been over a month since the last incident with the Exorcism Commission's Yang Feiyao "dealing" with them, and there had been no follow-up. Jiang Hong always suspected that Cao Bin and Lu Xiu were planning something.
"That's all for today's class." At eleven twenty, Cao Bin said, "Put on your coats before you leave, or you might catch a cold."
Xiao Pi and Jiang Hong thanked him and prepared to leave, but Cao Bin called out to Jiang Hong.
"Do you have a moment?" Cao Bin asked. "Let's have a chat."
Jiang Hong readily agreed, and the moment he stepped out of the administrative building, he suddenly shouted.
"It's snowing!" This was the first time Jiang Hong, who grew up in the south, had seen snow!
Wrapped in a scarf and wearing a woolen hat, Jiang Hong shouted excitedly and dashed to the roadside outside the administrative building, beginning to play with the snow.
Cao Bin, dressed in a suit and an overcoat, stood by the pond outside the administrative building, watching Jiang Hong with amusement, as if he found him very interesting.
Jiang Hong asked, "Principal! Does it start snowing here in December?"
Cao Bin replied, "This year's snow came early. It's likely to be a cold winter."
Cao Bin just watched quietly, then reminded, "Don't go near the pond; the ice there is very thin."
Jiang Hong rolled the snow in his hands and decided to go back to the dorm to continue playing. When he returned, Cao Bin asked him, "Do you have any plans at the end of the month?"
"End of the month?" Jiang Hong thought for a moment and answered, "I don't think so."
As they walked, Jiang Hong brushed the snow off his hands and asked, "Which day exactly? Do you need me to run errands?"
Cao Bin said, "I'm planning a trip to Beijing. It's best to just choose a day. How about December 29? It might take up a day of your New Year's holiday."
Jiang Hong asked, "Where in Beijing?"
"To the Exorcism Commission," Cao Bin said. "Chen Zhen wants to meet with you in person to confirm the events that happened in the ley lines that day."
Jiang Hong let out an "Oh—" and hesitated whether to ask Lu Xiu, as he might have plans for the New Year's. Cao Bin, seeming to read his concern, added, "Lu Xiu will also be there, as well as Teacher Xuan Hezhi."
Jiang Hong immediately agreed. Cao Bin then said, "Are you sure you don't have other plans for that time? I don't want to cause a conflict in your schedule."
Jiang Hong replied, "In the Magical Artifact Identification class, I need to work with my roommates to find artifacts. The final project for Inner World Exploration is scheduled around the New Year's holiday, but it should be possible to postpone it a bit."
Cao Bin commented, "Your end-of-term academic tasks are quite heavy. Be careful not to fail any courses."
Jiang Hong then cheerfully bid farewell to Cao Bin. The winter in the Qinling Mountains arrived so swiftly and unexpectedly, colder and more humid than the south. The first snow of winter blanketed the campus in white. What was Lu Xiu doing at this time? Jiang Hong suddenly missed him a lot, as Lu Xiu hadn't contacted him in almost a week.
With less than two weeks until New Year's Day, Jiang Hong returned to his dorm room to find his roommates bursting into laughter.
"Do you really need to wear so much?" Jin asked.
Jiang Hong replied, "It's really cold!"
Experiencing a winter below zero degrees for the first time, and seeing snowfall firsthand, Jiang Hong unwound his scarf, took off his hat, shed his coat, and lay down in the warm, spring-like dorm room, wanting nothing more than a lazy winter nap, with no desire to attend his afternoon classes.
"When are we going to buy the magical artifacts?" Zhang Xiting asked. "The assignment is due after New Year's Day."
Lying on his bed and organizing his notes, Jiang Hong remembered that Cao Bin's comprehensive exorcism class also had a final project. Ahhh! He needed to do something, anything, as an "achievement" to report to Cao Bin, along with a detailed report. Why was it so hard!
Jiang Hong mentioned his plans for New Year's Day, and everyone seemed understanding. Zhang Xiting suggested, "How about December 24th in Xi'an? We don’t have classes those days, and we can celebrate Christmas. What do you think?"
Jiang Hong checked his timetable, most general courses could be skipped, so he agreed.
"A group of Chinese exorcists celebrating a Christian holiday like Christmas," Jiang Hong remarked, "Isn’t that odd?"
Zhang Xiting gestured that it was fine and not to ask such unnecessary questions.
These days, the dorm was flooded with deliveries, all ordered by He Jian. He Jian would open each package, glance at the contents, and then casually discard them. They were all fake antiques, ethnic decorations, Southeast Asian amulets, second-hand jewelry pendants, and cheap jade.
Their dorm room 903 resembled a small wholesale market.
"Although the app is indeed called 'Taobao', finding real magical artifacts on Taobao is impossible," Jin finally couldn't stand it and advised He Jian, "Do your research carefully and find them seriously later."
He Jian, wielding scissors, opened another small parcel, took out a crystal, glanced at it, then put it back and threw both the packaging and the item into the trash can.
"Whatever," He Jian said, "What if I do find something?"
"But even if we are hunting for items," Jiang Hong said, "shouldn't we also check out Xianyu? That's where most of the second-hand stuff is, right?"
He Jian was not keen on the idea of jostling through offline antique markets, so he pinned his hopes on effortlessly finding some overlooked magical artifacts online. For instance, some mundane people might accidentally acquire inconspicuous magical items lost among the folk, unaware of their use and significance, and end up selling them online as second-hand goods.
Initially, Jiang Hong thought it was a waste and would even pick up some items, or pile them on the balcony, but gradually he also lost interest. He Jian’s shopping channels included but were not limited to various platforms' crystal, jade, and raw stone live streams, as well as online antique stores.
He Jian's original intention was that even if he couldn't find genuine magical artifacts, getting some raw materials would suffice. However, contrary to his wishes, not a single item turned out to be useful.
"Forget it—" He Jian wailed, "I’ll just go and buy them in person!"
Both online and offline purchases relied on luck, but offline was relatively easier since one could see the physical items.
Jiang Hong asked, "Why did you also buy a Tmall Genie?"
He Jian answered, "Ordered it by mistake. Just throw it away."
So, Jiang Hong kept the Tmall Genie for himself and transferred the money to He Jian.
"Then I’ll dispose of the trash." Jiang Hong, holding various packages, first offered them to other dorm's demons to see if anyone was interested, returning some money to He Jian, and then finally disposed of the rest.
Cangqiong University's winter vacation started quite early, especially for freshmen. After returning from the New Year's Day holiday in early January, they had to prepare for final exams and project reports for a week, with holidays starting before the 20th.
Everyone's notebooks were full of final exam review materials, causing Jiang Hong to feel a bit panicky too. The only difference was that while his roommates' review content included English, Marxist philosophy, and computer science, Jiang Hong’s material consisted of various magical artifact diagrams and spiritual vein maps.
There was also the exploration of the Inner World! Jiang Hong calculated the time, reminded He Jian, and then held a project discussion meeting with his group.
They had already confirmed the source of that ancient script. Lian Jiang found out that the Wu Hou Ding was unearthed in the suburbs of Zhangye City, Gansu Province. The group tentatively planned to meet at the destination on January 2nd to start working on the project.
"Will we make it in time?" Xiao Pi worriedly asked in a coffee shop.
Lian Jiang said, "We'll do as much as we can."
He Jian said, "We'll make it in time, don't worry. If we're short on time, we can just ask Jiang Hong to call for backup. Right now, my biggest headache is finding a magical artifact. Not a single clue."
Suddenly, Jiang Hong remembered another thing, "I still have Principal Cao's final project, ahhh! Why is there so much to do!"
One thing at a time. The coursework for exorcists is no less challenging than a regular university, and the high degree of freedom comes with increased difficulty. Back in the dorm, everyone was talking about magical artifacts, and the dorm across the hall brought over lots of second-hand items for He Jian and Jin to authenticate.
Every freshman needs a magical artifact, either self-made or purchased. To get an excellent grade, buying is the only viable option since freshmen can't really create effective artifacts.
"Let's play chess," Zhang Xiting suggested, "Come on, let's change our mindset."
Jiang Hong, halfway through his revision and not wanting to strain his brain anymore, was pulled into playing chess by Zhang Xiting.
As Christmas approached, the general courses started their exams one after another, finishing in just three days. On the evening after completing the Marxist philosophy exam, Lu Xiu finally sent a message to Jiang Hong.
Lu Xiu: [Are you there?]
Jiang Hong: [You're finally back?]
Lu Xiu: [I've been back, just didn't want to disturb your final exams preparation.]
After his exams, Jiang Hong returned to his dorm to pack his bag, printed out his paper on Exorcism History, and got it ready to submit after New Year's Day. The last three courses would start today, and he planned to buy magical artifacts with his roommates before heading to Beijing, then meet Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi the day after New Year's Day to head to Wuwei, Zhangye in Gansu.
In the past, Jiang Hong would have been thrilled at the thought of all the off-campus projects coming up, laughing happily at his good fortune.
Now, he was just whining, not wanting to go out at all in the bitterly cold northern winter...
"Let's go," Jin said, taking on the role of team leader. From now on, he was determined to ensure all roommates submit satisfactory assignments, with special attention to Jiang Hong, as he had been helping everyone revise English during the finals.
Lu Xiu then asked: [Do you have plans?]
Hesitating for a moment, Jiang Hong told Lu Xiu his schedule—initially considering spending Christmas with Lu Xiu, but since Lu Xiu hadn't invited him in advance and with final projects due, he agreed to his roommates' plans.
After hearing this, Lu Xiu simply replied: [Call me if you need anything.]
Jiang Hong said, "[Once I buy the magical artifact, I'll message you.]"
Lu Xiu replied, "[No worries, we were planning to go to Beijing together anyway. We'll meet soon.]"
Jiang Hong: "[I'll make the travel plans for our Beijing trip.]"
Lu Xiu: "[Sounds good.]"
That night, dorm room 903 decided to have some fun first, so after arriving in Xi'an, they soaked in a hot spring and then went to a bar for some drinks and board games, enjoying a cozy Christmas Eve.
The next morning, with fierce winds in Xi'an at the end of December, Jin knocked on their door.
"Time to get up and do our assignment."
Jiang Hong's head was almost blown askew by the wind. Most of the time, he hid behind Jin, while the merchants seemed to embrace the festive atmosphere.
Inside the Xiaodongmen Antique City, they encountered many students from their university. They greeted each other, sharing knowing smiles. As they passed by the stalls, they each paused to seriously consider if any second-hand items could be "potential magical artifacts." Jiang Hong referred to his notebook, noting that the probability of finding magical artifacts on ceramics and pottery was very slim, thus could be largely ignored. His focus was on bronze, brass, jade, and bead items.
"I'll go check over there," Zhang Xiting said, standing next to a stall as Jin scrutinized a jade ornament, seemingly losing patience.
Jin nodded, and they split up. Jiang Hong watched for a while, then followed Zhang Xiting.
Zhang Xiting asked, "Don't you already have a magical artifact?"
Jiang Hong: "Where? I don’t."
Zhang Xiting: "The one you're wearing around your neck."
Jiang Hong: "It has to be self-made or a masterless magical weapon I purchase. This one was given to me by Lu Xiu, so it doesn’t count."
Zhang Xiting: "Isn’t that a dragon scale?"
Remembering what Lu Xiu had mentioned, Jiang Hong hummed in acknowledgment. Zhang Xiting continued, "Can’t you ask him for another piece? Dragon scales are excellent materials for making magical artifacts. He would surely give you one."
Jiang Hong said, "I can't always be asking him for things. That’s too much. He’ll start to dislike me eventually!"
Zhang Xiting kneeled at a stall, discovering a metal disc covered in runes and studded with gems, and said to Jiang Hong, "Take a look at this?"
Jiang Hong observed, "This is a Seven Treasures Dish, likely used by a high monk. The carvings on it are from the Śūraṅgama Sūtra."
Jiang Hong, lacking magical power, was nevertheless diligent in his theoretical studies. This dish seemed to retain some sort of magical power, though it wasn't necessarily a magical treasure.
"How much is it?" Zhang Xiting asked the vendor.
"Four hundred and sixty thousand," the vendor replied.
Jiang Hong was speechless.
Zhang Xiting joked, "In paper money?"
Jiang Hong was at a loss for words.
The vendor snapped, "If you're not buying, scram! Stop wasting my time!"
After a full round, the group came out empty-handed, except for He Jian, who bought a piece of South Red Agate, deciding that if all else failed, he would go back and try to make a magical treasure out of it.
"Sigh—" Jin sighed helplessly.
Everyone was having lunch in the restaurant, each lost in thoughts about their next move.
A message from Lu Xiu came in: [Did you find any magical treasures?]
Jiang Hong replied: [Nothing at all, and even the usable materials are expensive.]
Jiang Hong, glancing up inadvertently, noticed that everyone was looking at his phone, as if they were expecting external support to provide each of them with a magical treasure.
"What should we do?" Jiang Hong pondered.
Seeing that Jiang Hong had no intention of seeking help, everyone reluctantly abandoned the idea.
Jin suggested, "Let's look around again in the afternoon, or maybe buy some materials to make our own?"
He Jian said, "A self-made magical treasure might at best earn an A, but it won't get an S, and it's likely we won't even get an A."
Zhang Xiting remarked, "You're a young master, why put in so much effort?"
He Jian responded, "I have to try! My dad has very high expectations of me. If I get a B, I'll be in big trouble at home."
"Ding dong," another message from Lu Xiu arrived, and everyone gathered around Jiang Hong's phone again.
Jiang Hong exclaimed, "Enough already! Why do you always rely on my senior? Can't you ask your seniors for help?"
Zhang Xiting joked, "Dad, please check first if grandpa has any tips for us."
Jiang Hong was speechless.
Lu Xiu: "[I'll tell you a secret.]"
Jiang Hong: "[What is it?]"
Lu Xiu: "[At the small eastern gate, there are indeed some artifacts. They were all placed there by your talisman class teacher, Luo, not more than twenty pieces, categorized by grade. The purpose of the assessment is to see if you've mastered 'identification'. Even if you find them, based on my estimation, none will exceed grade 'A'.]"
"So that's it—!" Everyone seemed to awaken from a dream.
"That's pretty cunning," said Zhang Xiting.
Jiang Hong estimated, recalling Cao Bin's words, that there's a quota for 'S' grades in each course at the end of the term, but not in Cao Bin's class, as he only had two students. If they did well, they could both get 'S'.
In a course with two hundred students, 'S' grades were said to be limited to 1%, that is, two people, while 'A' grades were capped at 19%, meaning 38 people.
Just as Jiang Hong was about to ask what to do, Lu Xiu sent another message: "[The talismans exist, but you need to look in the right place.]"
"Where?" Jin perked up immediately.
Jiang Hong glanced at his roommates, wondering whether to ask Lu Xiu, but there was no further response from the other side, as if that was all the hint they would get.
"Should I ask him?" Jiang Hong pondered.
Although Zhang Xiting often joked around, he also knew it wasn’t about relying solely on hints; relying only on tips made them look like they hadn't made any effort, like free riders.
"Let's wait a bit," Zhang Xiting suggested. "Let's think about it, where could talismans be sold?"
He Jian quickly said, "The Exorcism Commission! I've heard that many Commission entrances have street vendors!"
Jin also remembered and said, "Right, right, those talismans might not be particularly great or cheap, but they're genuine."
"Would they sell to students?" asked Zhang Xiting.
He Jian said, "Offering more money should work, right?"
Jin remarked, "Only provincial capitals have demon-hunting committee branches, and some special cities have special offices. But we can't get in there."
Zhang Xiting asked, "You've never been inside a demon-hunting committee?"
Jin replied, "In Gansu, the demon-hunting committees are in Lanzhou and Dunhuang. We from the demon race hardly ever go there; we mostly visit the Demon Association."
"Do they sell magical treasures at the Demon Association?" Jiang Hong inquired.
Jin and He Jian shrugged. The China Demon Association, although a national organization, was mostly focused on leisure activities. Ostensibly self-managed, it was still under the jurisdiction of the human-founded demon-hunting committees.
"The Demon Association is right behind the Big Wild Goose Pagoda," He Jian said. "I can take you there, but it's so cold, I bet everyone's off work."
"Uh..."
So, the responsibility fell on Zhang Xiting.
"I went there once with my dad when I was little," Zhang Xiting strained his memory, saying, "We visited the Shanghai demon-hunting committee, but I really can't remember how to get in."
Jiang Hong added, "I've been to the one in Chongqing, at the Eighteen Steps. Lu Xiu took me, but I've forgotten the way too."
That Penrose staircase, even if Jiang Hong tried, he couldn't quite remember...
"Xi'an also has a demon-hunting committee office," Zhang Xiting said. "How about we each try to find a way in?"
Wait! Suddenly, Jiang Hong remembered something.
"Ah!" Jiang Hong recalled the night he and Yang Feiyao rode an electric scooter through the streets to catch demons, and something she had said.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, on top of the ancient city wall of Xi'an.
"Starting from Anyuan Gate," Jiang Hong murmured, trying to recall, "Which was the one hundred and something brick?"
The four of them each rode a shared bicycle along the city wall, holding the handlebars, feet uniformly and neatly pressing on the ground.
"Is it this one?" Jiang Hong recalled what Yang Feiyao had said, unsure of the exact brick. He got off the bike, pressed a few protruding bricks, and stepped on them, but nothing happened.
Zhang Xiting suggested, "If she asked you to ride a bicycle, then the bicycle must be a necessary condition."
"Shall I try?" Jin signaled for Jiang Hong to move aside.
Jin, in an extreme sports posture, stood on the pedal, lifting the front of the bike into the air, performing a single-wheel bounce in the air, his hands emitting a faint light infused into the handlebars, and then he pressed down hard.
The front wheel of the bike pressed the protruding brick down!
Suddenly, bricks around them flew up!
A suspended brick bridge appeared in front of them. The bicycles sped downhill, and the brick road led them into the city. Four hundred meters away, an archaic archway appeared, bearing the inscription: China Demon-Hunting Committee Xi'an Branch.
"Damn!" Zhang Xiting exclaimed in disbelief, "We found it!"
The office behind the arch was built in Tang Dynasty style, grand and traditional, with a row of shared bicycles parked in front. Behind the arch, there was a pedestrian street selling small goods, arranged in a circular layout, surrounded by teahouses, restaurants, and shops. In the central plaza, there was a shimmering Christmas tree.
On one side of the plaza, a red banner read "Celebrating New Year's Day," next to the Christmas tree was a poster: Dec 24 - Dec 31, 8.8% off on all purchases, buy magical treasures, raw materials, or soul-separating pollen worth over 2,000,000 yuan and enter a raffle.
"Lots of prizes, waiting for you to win!"
Jiang Hong had gotten used to the demon hunters celebrating Christmas, an incongruous setting, but seeing the "spend over two million yuan" part, he subconsciously touched his wallet, feeling a sense of unease.
He Jian cheered and led the way into the store for a shopping spree.
Lu Xiu sent another message to Jiang Hong: [Did you find the place?]
Jiang Hong replied: [Found it, but I have a feeling I can't afford anything. (Goodbye emoji)]
Chapter 26: Magical Treasure
After the National Day holiday, Cangqiong University cooled down overnight. Jiang Hong gradually got used to studying with the demon clan, treating his unusual classmates as humans without questioning their race.
Frankly speaking, the demon clan members were quite adorable, sometimes even more so than some humans. They weren't well-versed in human customs and were straightforward, without hidden meanings or beating around the bush. Having no prejudices against demons, Jiang Hong soon made many demon friends two months into his enrollment.
Apart from being unable to practice magic, Jiang Hong fully integrated into the exorcist community, becoming one of them. He would be perplexed by the bizarre knowledge in class, filling his notes with question marks, and discuss topics like "The marginal decrease of energy storage in relation to the size of the inner elixir over time" after class.
By December, winter had arrived in the northwest. Jiang Hong was even surprised to find himself easily grasping almost all the knowledge, becoming accustomed to these fantastical courses that defied common human understanding.
Among all the subjects, 'Exploration of the Inner World' was the toughest, not only due to its counter-intuitive content but also because of the fast-paced teaching of Zhu Jingling, compounded by the complexity of the final project. Jiang Hong often found it challenging, having to consult Zhang Xiting in the dorm or seek help from Lu Xiu.
In the comprehensive exorcism class taught by Vice Principal Cao Bin, they began learning physical techniques. Combining Brazilian jiu-jitsu, ancient martial arts, and karate, these techniques were Cao Bin's specialty. Tailored to Jiang Hong and Xiao Pi's physiques, it was the best practice method, even suitable for ordinary humans.
"The chakras within my body are limited by physical conditions," Cao Bin, sipping coffee, watched Jiang Hong and Xiao Pi practicing standing postures, and said, "As a child, I wasn’t suitable for cultivating spiritual veins, so I chose physical techniques. Take a rest if you're tired."
Jiang Hong resumed his stance, saying, "But you still have the talent."
Cao Bin nodded and said, "That's a matter for the future. Not knowing magic doesn't preclude one from being an exorcist. Our problem-solving relies most on this..."
He pointed to his temple with his finger, "Wisdom is the most important quality of an exorcist."
Lu Xiu wasn't present today, and Jiang Hong wanted to ask about him several times, but in the end, it was Xiao Pi who spoke up.
"Where's the senior?"
Cao Bin answered leisurely, "He's out on an errand."
It had been over a month since the last incident with the Exorcism Commission's Yang Feiyao "dealing" with them, and there had been no follow-up. Jiang Hong always suspected that Cao Bin and Lu Xiu were planning something.
"That's all for today's class." At eleven twenty, Cao Bin said, "Put on your coats before you leave, or you might catch a cold."
Xiao Pi and Jiang Hong thanked him and prepared to leave, but Cao Bin called out to Jiang Hong.
"Do you have a moment?" Cao Bin asked. "Let's have a chat."
Jiang Hong readily agreed, and the moment he stepped out of the administrative building, he suddenly shouted.
"It's snowing!" This was the first time Jiang Hong, who grew up in the south, had seen snow!
Wrapped in a scarf and wearing a woolen hat, Jiang Hong shouted excitedly and dashed to the roadside outside the administrative building, beginning to play with the snow.
Cao Bin, dressed in a suit and an overcoat, stood by the pond outside the administrative building, watching Jiang Hong with amusement, as if he found him very interesting.
Jiang Hong asked, "Principal! Does it start snowing here in December?"
Cao Bin replied, "This year's snow came early. It's likely to be a cold winter."
Cao Bin just watched quietly, then reminded, "Don't go near the pond; the ice there is very thin."
Jiang Hong rolled the snow in his hands and decided to go back to the dorm to continue playing. When he returned, Cao Bin asked him, "Do you have any plans at the end of the month?"
"End of the month?" Jiang Hong thought for a moment and answered, "I don't think so."
As they walked, Jiang Hong brushed the snow off his hands and asked, "Which day exactly? Do you need me to run errands?"
Cao Bin said, "I'm planning a trip to Beijing. It's best to just choose a day. How about December 29? It might take up a day of your New Year's holiday."
Jiang Hong asked, "Where in Beijing?"
"To the Exorcism Commission," Cao Bin said. "Chen Zhen wants to meet with you in person to confirm the events that happened in the ley lines that day."
Jiang Hong let out an "Oh—" and hesitated whether to ask Lu Xiu, as he might have plans for the New Year's. Cao Bin, seeming to read his concern, added, "Lu Xiu will also be there, as well as Teacher Xuan Hezhi."
Jiang Hong immediately agreed. Cao Bin then said, "Are you sure you don't have other plans for that time? I don't want to cause a conflict in your schedule."
Jiang Hong replied, "In the Magical Artifact Identification class, I need to work with my roommates to find artifacts. The final project for Inner World Exploration is scheduled around the New Year's holiday, but it should be possible to postpone it a bit."
Cao Bin commented, "Your end-of-term academic tasks are quite heavy. Be careful not to fail any courses."
Jiang Hong then cheerfully bid farewell to Cao Bin. The winter in the Qinling Mountains arrived so swiftly and unexpectedly, colder and more humid than the south. The first snow of winter blanketed the campus in white. What was Lu Xiu doing at this time? Jiang Hong suddenly missed him a lot, as Lu Xiu hadn't contacted him in almost a week.
With less than two weeks until New Year's Day, Jiang Hong returned to his dorm room to find his roommates bursting into laughter.
"Do you really need to wear so much?" Jin asked.
Jiang Hong replied, "It's really cold!"
Experiencing a winter below zero degrees for the first time, and seeing snowfall firsthand, Jiang Hong unwound his scarf, took off his hat, shed his coat, and lay down in the warm, spring-like dorm room, wanting nothing more than a lazy winter nap, with no desire to attend his afternoon classes.
"When are we going to buy the magical artifacts?" Zhang Xiting asked. "The assignment is due after New Year's Day."
Lying on his bed and organizing his notes, Jiang Hong remembered that Cao Bin's comprehensive exorcism class also had a final project. Ahhh! He needed to do something, anything, as an "achievement" to report to Cao Bin, along with a detailed report. Why was it so hard!
Jiang Hong mentioned his plans for New Year's Day, and everyone seemed understanding. Zhang Xiting suggested, "How about December 24th in Xi'an? We don’t have classes those days, and we can celebrate Christmas. What do you think?"
Jiang Hong checked his timetable, most general courses could be skipped, so he agreed.
"A group of Chinese exorcists celebrating a Christian holiday like Christmas," Jiang Hong remarked, "Isn’t that odd?"
Zhang Xiting gestured that it was fine and not to ask such unnecessary questions.
These days, the dorm was flooded with deliveries, all ordered by He Jian. He Jian would open each package, glance at the contents, and then casually discard them. They were all fake antiques, ethnic decorations, Southeast Asian amulets, second-hand jewelry pendants, and cheap jade.
Their dorm room 903 resembled a small wholesale market.
"Although the app is indeed called 'Taobao', finding real magical artifacts on Taobao is impossible," Jin finally couldn't stand it and advised He Jian, "Do your research carefully and find them seriously later."
He Jian, wielding scissors, opened another small parcel, took out a crystal, glanced at it, then put it back and threw both the packaging and the item into the trash can.
"Whatever," He Jian said, "What if I do find something?"
"But even if we are hunting for items," Jiang Hong said, "shouldn't we also check out Xianyu? That's where most of the second-hand stuff is, right?"
He Jian was not keen on the idea of jostling through offline antique markets, so he pinned his hopes on effortlessly finding some overlooked magical artifacts online. For instance, some mundane people might accidentally acquire inconspicuous magical items lost among the folk, unaware of their use and significance, and end up selling them online as second-hand goods.
Initially, Jiang Hong thought it was a waste and would even pick up some items, or pile them on the balcony, but gradually he also lost interest. He Jian’s shopping channels included but were not limited to various platforms' crystal, jade, and raw stone live streams, as well as online antique stores.
He Jian's original intention was that even if he couldn't find genuine magical artifacts, getting some raw materials would suffice. However, contrary to his wishes, not a single item turned out to be useful.
"Forget it—" He Jian wailed, "I’ll just go and buy them in person!"
Both online and offline purchases relied on luck, but offline was relatively easier since one could see the physical items.
Jiang Hong asked, "Why did you also buy a Tmall Genie?"
He Jian answered, "Ordered it by mistake. Just throw it away."
So, Jiang Hong kept the Tmall Genie for himself and transferred the money to He Jian.
"Then I’ll dispose of the trash." Jiang Hong, holding various packages, first offered them to other dorm's demons to see if anyone was interested, returning some money to He Jian, and then finally disposed of the rest.
Cangqiong University's winter vacation started quite early, especially for freshmen. After returning from the New Year's Day holiday in early January, they had to prepare for final exams and project reports for a week, with holidays starting before the 20th.
Everyone's notebooks were full of final exam review materials, causing Jiang Hong to feel a bit panicky too. The only difference was that while his roommates' review content included English, Marxist philosophy, and computer science, Jiang Hong’s material consisted of various magical artifact diagrams and spiritual vein maps.
There was also the exploration of the Inner World! Jiang Hong calculated the time, reminded He Jian, and then held a project discussion meeting with his group.
They had already confirmed the source of that ancient script. Lian Jiang found out that the Wu Hou Ding was unearthed in the suburbs of Zhangye City, Gansu Province. The group tentatively planned to meet at the destination on January 2nd to start working on the project.
"Will we make it in time?" Xiao Pi worriedly asked in a coffee shop.
Lian Jiang said, "We'll do as much as we can."
He Jian said, "We'll make it in time, don't worry. If we're short on time, we can just ask Jiang Hong to call for backup. Right now, my biggest headache is finding a magical artifact. Not a single clue."
Suddenly, Jiang Hong remembered another thing, "I still have Principal Cao's final project, ahhh! Why is there so much to do!"
One thing at a time. The coursework for exorcists is no less challenging than a regular university, and the high degree of freedom comes with increased difficulty. Back in the dorm, everyone was talking about magical artifacts, and the dorm across the hall brought over lots of second-hand items for He Jian and Jin to authenticate.
Every freshman needs a magical artifact, either self-made or purchased. To get an excellent grade, buying is the only viable option since freshmen can't really create effective artifacts.
"Let's play chess," Zhang Xiting suggested, "Come on, let's change our mindset."
Jiang Hong, halfway through his revision and not wanting to strain his brain anymore, was pulled into playing chess by Zhang Xiting.
As Christmas approached, the general courses started their exams one after another, finishing in just three days. On the evening after completing the Marxist philosophy exam, Lu Xiu finally sent a message to Jiang Hong.
Lu Xiu: [Are you there?]
Jiang Hong: [You're finally back?]
Lu Xiu: [I've been back, just didn't want to disturb your final exams preparation.]
After his exams, Jiang Hong returned to his dorm to pack his bag, printed out his paper on Exorcism History, and got it ready to submit after New Year's Day. The last three courses would start today, and he planned to buy magical artifacts with his roommates before heading to Beijing, then meet Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi the day after New Year's Day to head to Wuwei, Zhangye in Gansu.
In the past, Jiang Hong would have been thrilled at the thought of all the off-campus projects coming up, laughing happily at his good fortune.
Now, he was just whining, not wanting to go out at all in the bitterly cold northern winter...
"Let's go," Jin said, taking on the role of team leader. From now on, he was determined to ensure all roommates submit satisfactory assignments, with special attention to Jiang Hong, as he had been helping everyone revise English during the finals.
Lu Xiu then asked: [Do you have plans?]
Hesitating for a moment, Jiang Hong told Lu Xiu his schedule—initially considering spending Christmas with Lu Xiu, but since Lu Xiu hadn't invited him in advance and with final projects due, he agreed to his roommates' plans.
After hearing this, Lu Xiu simply replied: [Call me if you need anything.]
Jiang Hong said, "[Once I buy the magical artifact, I'll message you.]"
Lu Xiu replied, "[No worries, we were planning to go to Beijing together anyway. We'll meet soon.]"
Jiang Hong: "[I'll make the travel plans for our Beijing trip.]"
Lu Xiu: "[Sounds good.]"
That night, dorm room 903 decided to have some fun first, so after arriving in Xi'an, they soaked in a hot spring and then went to a bar for some drinks and board games, enjoying a cozy Christmas Eve.
The next morning, with fierce winds in Xi'an at the end of December, Jin knocked on their door.
"Time to get up and do our assignment."
Jiang Hong's head was almost blown askew by the wind. Most of the time, he hid behind Jin, while the merchants seemed to embrace the festive atmosphere.
Inside the Xiaodongmen Antique City, they encountered many students from their university. They greeted each other, sharing knowing smiles. As they passed by the stalls, they each paused to seriously consider if any second-hand items could be "potential magical artifacts." Jiang Hong referred to his notebook, noting that the probability of finding magical artifacts on ceramics and pottery was very slim, thus could be largely ignored. His focus was on bronze, brass, jade, and bead items.
"I'll go check over there," Zhang Xiting said, standing next to a stall as Jin scrutinized a jade ornament, seemingly losing patience.
Jin nodded, and they split up. Jiang Hong watched for a while, then followed Zhang Xiting.
Zhang Xiting asked, "Don't you already have a magical artifact?"
Jiang Hong: "Where? I don’t."
Zhang Xiting: "The one you're wearing around your neck."
Jiang Hong: "It has to be self-made or a masterless magical weapon I purchase. This one was given to me by Lu Xiu, so it doesn’t count."
Zhang Xiting: "Isn’t that a dragon scale?"
Remembering what Lu Xiu had mentioned, Jiang Hong hummed in acknowledgment. Zhang Xiting continued, "Can’t you ask him for another piece? Dragon scales are excellent materials for making magical artifacts. He would surely give you one."
Jiang Hong said, "I can't always be asking him for things. That’s too much. He’ll start to dislike me eventually!"
Zhang Xiting kneeled at a stall, discovering a metal disc covered in runes and studded with gems, and said to Jiang Hong, "Take a look at this?"
Jiang Hong observed, "This is a Seven Treasures Dish, likely used by a high monk. The carvings on it are from the Śūraṅgama Sūtra."
Jiang Hong, lacking magical power, was nevertheless diligent in his theoretical studies. This dish seemed to retain some sort of magical power, though it wasn't necessarily a magical treasure.
"How much is it?" Zhang Xiting asked the vendor.
"Four hundred and sixty thousand," the vendor replied.
Jiang Hong was speechless.
Zhang Xiting joked, "In paper money?"
Jiang Hong was at a loss for words.
The vendor snapped, "If you're not buying, scram! Stop wasting my time!"
After a full round, the group came out empty-handed, except for He Jian, who bought a piece of South Red Agate, deciding that if all else failed, he would go back and try to make a magical treasure out of it.
"Sigh—" Jin sighed helplessly.
Everyone was having lunch in the restaurant, each lost in thoughts about their next move.
A message from Lu Xiu came in: [Did you find any magical treasures?]
Jiang Hong replied: [Nothing at all, and even the usable materials are expensive.]
Jiang Hong, glancing up inadvertently, noticed that everyone was looking at his phone, as if they were expecting external support to provide each of them with a magical treasure.
"What should we do?" Jiang Hong pondered.
Seeing that Jiang Hong had no intention of seeking help, everyone reluctantly abandoned the idea.
Jin suggested, "Let's look around again in the afternoon, or maybe buy some materials to make our own?"
He Jian said, "A self-made magical treasure might at best earn an A, but it won't get an S, and it's likely we won't even get an A."
Zhang Xiting remarked, "You're a young master, why put in so much effort?"
He Jian responded, "I have to try! My dad has very high expectations of me. If I get a B, I'll be in big trouble at home."
"Ding dong," another message from Lu Xiu arrived, and everyone gathered around Jiang Hong's phone again.
Jiang Hong exclaimed, "Enough already! Why do you always rely on my senior? Can't you ask your seniors for help?"
Zhang Xiting joked, "Dad, please check first if grandpa has any tips for us."
Jiang Hong was speechless.
Lu Xiu: "[I'll tell you a secret.]"
Jiang Hong: "[What is it?]"
Lu Xiu: "[At the small eastern gate, there are indeed some artifacts. They were all placed there by your talisman class teacher, Luo, not more than twenty pieces, categorized by grade. The purpose of the assessment is to see if you've mastered 'identification'. Even if you find them, based on my estimation, none will exceed grade 'A'.]"
"So that's it—!" Everyone seemed to awaken from a dream.
"That's pretty cunning," said Zhang Xiting.
Jiang Hong estimated, recalling Cao Bin's words, that there's a quota for 'S' grades in each course at the end of the term, but not in Cao Bin's class, as he only had two students. If they did well, they could both get 'S'.
In a course with two hundred students, 'S' grades were said to be limited to 1%, that is, two people, while 'A' grades were capped at 19%, meaning 38 people.
Just as Jiang Hong was about to ask what to do, Lu Xiu sent another message: "[The talismans exist, but you need to look in the right place.]"
"Where?" Jin perked up immediately.
Jiang Hong glanced at his roommates, wondering whether to ask Lu Xiu, but there was no further response from the other side, as if that was all the hint they would get.
"Should I ask him?" Jiang Hong pondered.
Although Zhang Xiting often joked around, he also knew it wasn’t about relying solely on hints; relying only on tips made them look like they hadn't made any effort, like free riders.
"Let's wait a bit," Zhang Xiting suggested. "Let's think about it, where could talismans be sold?"
He Jian quickly said, "The Exorcism Commission! I've heard that many Commission entrances have street vendors!"
Jin also remembered and said, "Right, right, those talismans might not be particularly great or cheap, but they're genuine."
"Would they sell to students?" asked Zhang Xiting.
He Jian said, "Offering more money should work, right?"
Jin remarked, "Only provincial capitals have demon-hunting committee branches, and some special cities have special offices. But we can't get in there."
Zhang Xiting asked, "You've never been inside a demon-hunting committee?"
Jin replied, "In Gansu, the demon-hunting committees are in Lanzhou and Dunhuang. We from the demon race hardly ever go there; we mostly visit the Demon Association."
"Do they sell magical treasures at the Demon Association?" Jiang Hong inquired.
Jin and He Jian shrugged. The China Demon Association, although a national organization, was mostly focused on leisure activities. Ostensibly self-managed, it was still under the jurisdiction of the human-founded demon-hunting committees.
"The Demon Association is right behind the Big Wild Goose Pagoda," He Jian said. "I can take you there, but it's so cold, I bet everyone's off work."
"Uh..."
So, the responsibility fell on Zhang Xiting.
"I went there once with my dad when I was little," Zhang Xiting strained his memory, saying, "We visited the Shanghai demon-hunting committee, but I really can't remember how to get in."
Jiang Hong added, "I've been to the one in Chongqing, at the Eighteen Steps. Lu Xiu took me, but I've forgotten the way too."
That Penrose staircase, even if Jiang Hong tried, he couldn't quite remember...
"Xi'an also has a demon-hunting committee office," Zhang Xiting said. "How about we each try to find a way in?"
Wait! Suddenly, Jiang Hong remembered something.
"Ah!" Jiang Hong recalled the night he and Yang Feiyao rode an electric scooter through the streets to catch demons, and something she had said.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, on top of the ancient city wall of Xi'an.
"Starting from Anyuan Gate," Jiang Hong murmured, trying to recall, "Which was the one hundred and something brick?"
The four of them each rode a shared bicycle along the city wall, holding the handlebars, feet uniformly and neatly pressing on the ground.
"Is it this one?" Jiang Hong recalled what Yang Feiyao had said, unsure of the exact brick. He got off the bike, pressed a few protruding bricks, and stepped on them, but nothing happened.
Zhang Xiting suggested, "If she asked you to ride a bicycle, then the bicycle must be a necessary condition."
"Shall I try?" Jin signaled for Jiang Hong to move aside.
Jin, in an extreme sports posture, stood on the pedal, lifting the front of the bike into the air, performing a single-wheel bounce in the air, his hands emitting a faint light infused into the handlebars, and then he pressed down hard.
The front wheel of the bike pressed the protruding brick down!
Suddenly, bricks around them flew up!
A suspended brick bridge appeared in front of them. The bicycles sped downhill, and the brick road led them into the city. Four hundred meters away, an archaic archway appeared, bearing the inscription: China Demon-Hunting Committee Xi'an Branch.
"Damn!" Zhang Xiting exclaimed in disbelief, "We found it!"
The office behind the arch was built in Tang Dynasty style, grand and traditional, with a row of shared bicycles parked in front. Behind the arch, there was a pedestrian street selling small goods, arranged in a circular layout, surrounded by teahouses, restaurants, and shops. In the central plaza, there was a shimmering Christmas tree.
On one side of the plaza, a red banner read "Celebrating New Year's Day," next to the Christmas tree was a poster: Dec 24 - Dec 31, 8.8% off on all purchases, buy magical treasures, raw materials, or soul-separating pollen worth over 2,000,000 yuan and enter a raffle.
"Lots of prizes, waiting for you to win!"
Jiang Hong had gotten used to the demon hunters celebrating Christmas, an incongruous setting, but seeing the "spend over two million yuan" part, he subconsciously touched his wallet, feeling a sense of unease.
He Jian cheered and led the way into the store for a shopping spree.
Lu Xiu sent another message to Jiang Hong: [Did you find the place?]
Jiang Hong replied: [Found it, but I have a feeling I can't afford anything. (Goodbye emoji)]
