Chapter 21: Holiday

Chapter 21: Holiday

This year, the National Day holiday was seven days long. Due to a three-day academic seminar at Sky University right after the public holiday, students got an additional three days off, totaling ten days.

On the last day before the holiday, half the school was empty, with students either returning home or going on vacation trips. Early in the morning, the other three majors in dorm 903 had packed up and left in different directions. Zhang Xiting went to Beijing to visit his girlfriend, Jin planned to go home for a visit, and He Jian's family was coming to Xi'an to see him.

Jiang Hong's parents were still traveling and partying, having made their way to Dunhuang on their grand tour of the Northwest.

"See you after the holiday." Everyone bid farewell to Jiang Hong.

"See you after the holiday," He Jian patted Jiang Hong on the shoulder, saying, "Bye."

Jiang Hong still had classes, and today it was Cao Bin who taught them alone, as Lu Xiu was absent due to other commitments.

After a week of reflection, Jiang Hong finally recovered and came with a brand new question:

"Is what Chen Zhen said true?" Jiang Hong asked Cao Bin.

Cao Bin countered, "Do you believe it?"

"I think it's very serious," Xiao Pi said, "My dad is troubled by it every day."

Xiao Pi’s father, He Zhi, the head of instruction, had the most frequent interactions with the Demon Commission among the students.

Cao Bin nodded, and Jiang Hong replied, "Honestly, I don't quite believe it."

Despite the peaceful facade of the school, Jiang Hong felt something was amiss. Plagues, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, global warming, volcanic eruptions, widespread wildfires, sudden harsh winters, frequent tornadoes... Indeed, in recent years, it seemed like more things were happening secretly, yet everyday life appeared normal.

"Although we use the power of the earth's spiritual energy every day," Cao Bin said solemnly, "most demon hunters know almost nothing about it."

Cao Bin picked up a pen and walked to the whiteboard, beginning the day's lesson.

"For now, the celestial meridian is stable, so let's start with the earth's meridian," Cao Bin said. "The earth's meridian is the planet's veins, carrying the energy necessary for all living beings to survive..."

Jiang Hong opened his notebook, listening intently. The earth's meridian, or the 'qi' of the land, was more commonly referred to as feng shui or dragon veins in traditional terms. In recent decades, the earth's meridian had undergone violent fluctuations, each coinciding with significant disasters.

"Currently, the entire Demon Hunters Bureau," Cao Bin continued, "or the Demon Commission, is at a loss regarding this issue. We still haven’t found the reason."

"Could it be related to demons?" Jiang Hong ventured.

In these days of study, Jiang Hong roughly learned about the birth of "demons." Birth, aging, sickness, death, resentment, separation from love, unfulfilled desires, and the flourishing of the five aggregates all bring forth "resentment." This resentment can be purified through the circulation of the earth's spiritual energy, but once it exceeds the threshold of purification, it begins to congeal in the world, forming "demons."

It is said that "demons" reincarnate every thousand years, born from seeds left in some corner of the earth. The most important duty of demon hunters is to purify these demons and send them back into the cycle of reincarnation.

"But ten years ago," Xiao Pi said, "wasn't the heavenly demon reincarnated and then eliminated?"

"Ah?" Jiang Hong was completely unaware of this and looked towards Xiao Pi.

Cao Bin replied, "That's true. The last person to successfully exorcise a demon was the principal of Sky University, Xiang Cheng. But later, the Demon Commission discovered that the demonic energy wasn't completely eradicated. Behind all this, there might be a greater danger, or rather, the battle ten years ago was just a warm-up."

Jiang Hong didn't know how to respond.

"We have enemies lurking in the shadows," Cao Bin said, "The demon from ten years ago might have just been a scout sent by this enemy. Or rather, the demons that have been reincarnating for over five thousand years of human civilization are merely the vanguard, and we are about to face the real, immensely powerful enemy behind the scenes."

"No way!" Jiang Hong found this very alarming.

Xiao Pi immediately added, "Right, right, my dad says the same thing!"

Jiang Hong asked, "Can it be resolved?"

"Currently, all this is still shrouded in mystery," Cao Bin said. "That's why we were pleasantly surprised to discover you're a descendant of a great geomancer. We're in dire need of new discoveries in geomancy..."

Jiang Hong: "Uh, I'm really sorry about that."

Cao Bin nonchalantly said, "No, don’t say that. I believe there is a special power within you, just awaiting the right time. Since today's topic is geomancy, let's talk about feng shui..."

For the rest of the class, Cao Bin opened up the world of feng shui knowledge and theory to Jiang Hong and Xiao Pi. Although Cao Bin wasn’t a specialist in this field, his knowledge was more than sufficient to teach two undergraduates.

The bell signaling the end of the class rang.

As Cao Bin watched them organize their notes, he added, "The final assessment for this course will be to accomplish a task."

"Ah?" Jiang Hong asked, "What task?"

"Anything is fine," said Cao Bin casually, "Anytime you feel ready to submit your assignment, it could be a magical artifact, capturing a spirit, done collaboratively or independently. Or helping a classmate with a task, aiding someone in need... any deed that applies what you've learned in class, and then report it back to me."

Jiang Hong and Xiao Pi agreed, thanked Cao Bin, and left the classroom.

After school, Xiao Pi went to meet Xuan Hezhi, planning to go to Beijing with his father, while Xuan Hezhi returned to the Exorcism Committee, and Xiao Pi planned to have some fun in Beijing for a few days. After saying goodbye, Jiang Hong returned to his dormitory to wait for Lu Xiu to visit.

Lu Xiu: [Wait for me a little longer, I'm a bit busy today.]

After tidying up and taking a shower, Jiang Hong packed some clothes, feeling good, and replied to Lu Xiu: [No rush, I'm flexible.]

"Hey! Going out on a date?" Chang Jun, also dressed up sharply, came over from the next dorm to visit.

After attending classes for a month, Jiang Hong was no longer afraid. Not only was he not afraid, but he also found Chang Jun quite charming. Even when Chang Jun, who had transformed from a demon into a human, occasionally exhibited demon habits like licking his lips, Jiang Hong found it acceptable, especially since it looked somewhat mischievous yet fitting on a handsome face.

Jiang Hong: "Hey, you're all dressed up too. Going on a date?"

Chang Jun chuckled and said, "Can I borrow your hair gel?" He then went to the bathroom to style his hair and asked, "Heading out for a night in a hotel later?"

Jiang Hong: "Don't talk nonsense, I'm just hanging out with my senior."

Chang Jun: "Oh, a date with your senior..."

Jiang Hong: "Enough already!"

While waiting for Lu Xiu, Chang Jun finished his hair and asked Jiang Hong to help style it. As Jiang Hong did so, Chang Jun said, "Lu Xiu, my idol!"

"I know, I know—" Jiang Hong replied expressionlessly, "You've said it several times. Do you admire him so much because you're both reptiles?"

"He's a dragon!" Chang Jun corrected, "How can such a noble dragon be called a reptile?"

Jiang Hong couldn't help but laugh. Chang Jun winked at him in the mirror and said, "Do you know about the time he stormed the Exorcism Committee?"

Jiang Hong had heard about it from Lu Xiu himself but didn't dare to ask more, now becoming extremely curious.

"Oh, I don't really know," Jiang Hong said.

Chang Jun shared, "He went alone into the Spirit Realm Alley and took down all the exorcists!"

Hearing the details, Jiang Hong asked, "So... he won?"

Chang Jun: "He was winning at first, but then they called for backup, and he couldn't win anymore."

Jiang Hong: "Chen Zhen?"

Chang Jun: "Chen Zhen alone couldn't beat Lu Xiu, so they called Xiang Cheng, the principal who's not here."

"The principal is that powerful?!"

"He's also a dragon! Later the vice-principal arrived too. I heard that when both the principal and vice-principal faced Lu Xiu, he finally couldn't win."

"My goodness! Is he Sun Wukong?"

“……”

Chang Jun said, "I also heard that the principal placed a seal on him, is that true?"

Jiang Hong was on tenterhooks, fearing that Lu Xiu might suddenly appear again, thankfully he didn't.

"I don't know," Jiang Hong firmly denied, saying, "Ask him yourself when you have time."

Chang Jun admired his stylish hairstyle and said, "I'm off!" He pinched Jiang Hong's cheek playfully and cheerfully left for his date.

Jiang Hong waited until past six o'clock, lying bored in bed playing with his phone when suddenly a strange sound echoed from the bottom of the dormitory building.

It was like the clash of a bell and a chime, yet also resembled the deep, resonant strings of a cello vibrating within a large bell.

The last time he heard this sound was at the top of the Jialing River Bridge — Jiang Hong suddenly leaped up and ran out of the dormitory, joining all the other students who hadn't gone home yet, who were leaning over the railings looking down.

"Wow—Senior!" This time Jiang Hong heard clearly, it was a dragon's roar!

Jiang Hong turned to lock the door, only to see a huge black dragon descending, sweeping past the dormitory building. Excitement surged within him, and he leaped over the railing, jumping outward.

The black dragon, passing by, caught him, and soared upward, breaking through the sky under the watchful eyes of countless students!

"So cool!" Jiang Hong knelt on one knee on the dragon's head, grasping each of the dragon's horns with his hands. He was whisked up to nearly a thousand meters in the air, where turbulent currents hit, but a spinning magical array appeared around the dragon's horns, shielding him from the fierce wind.

"I thought you'd come on a motorcycle—!" Jiang Hong shouted excitedly.

"Keep it down," the dragon spoke in Lu Xiu's voice, "You're yelling right into my ear, I'm going to go deaf!"

"Oh, sorry, sorry..." Jiang Hong reflexively yelled, even though the roaring wind around them was entirely blocked by the black dragon's magic.

"Taking you up for a quick spin in the sky," the dragon-form Lu Xiu said, "But we only have a few minutes."

"So cool—Ah, sorry... I couldn't help but yell again..." Jiang Hong was ecstatic, and in just those brief moments, they had left the school and flown over the small villages in the Qinling Mountains.

The dragon found a deserted spot for a rapid descent.

"Ahhhh—" Jiang Hong instantly experienced the thrill of a roller coaster ride without a safety belt, plunging down with the dragon, his legs flailing backward while still tightly grasping the dragon horns.

Mid-air, the dragon suddenly disappeared, replaced by Lu Xiu's hand grabbing Jiang Hong's wrist, pulling him close, then turning around to wrap an arm around him. Together, they flipped in the air and landed steadily.

Jiang Hong: "..."

Jiang Hong felt dizzy from the intense thrill.

The two landed in front of a bus stop sign. Lu Xiu let go of Jiang Hong, still expressionless, rubbing his outer ear with one long finger, clearly finding him too loud.

"Where are we heading now?" asked Jiang Hong.

"Xi'an," Lu Xiu said, "Did you forget again?"

Jiang Hong tried to clamber onto Lu Xiu's back, but Lu Xiu agilely turned, causing Jiang Hong to miss. Nonetheless, Jiang Hong persistently clung to him.

"I meant where in Xi'an," Jiang Hong said, "Are we going to hang out in Xi'an for ten days? Shall I plan the itinerary? Have you booked the hotel? Let me do it..."

Lu Xiu ignored him, and Jiang Hong's attempts to initiate contact were unsuccessful. Just then, a bus arrived, and Lu Xiu grabbed Jiang Hong by the collar, dragging him aboard.

Excited about the ten-day holiday and the opportunity to spend it with Lu Xiu, Jiang Hong continued to chatter like a fool, pulled onto the bus by Lu Xiu.

By the time they reached downtown Xi'an, it was 8:30 pm. Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong went to a hotpot restaurant in the bustling Da Tang Bu Ye Cheng commercial street. The night life of Xi'an was just beginning, with the pleasant autumn evening bringing the most lively season.

"Let me take a look at your Inner World Exploration homework?" Lu Xiu asked Jiang Hong while waiting for the dishes to be served.

Jiang Hong pulled out his phone to show Lu Xiu the photos, while Lu Xiu examined them thoughtfully.

Jiang Hong said, "You're right, I need to figure it out myself, can't always depend on you."

Lu Xiu was about to say something but changed his mind after hearing Jiang Hong's words, asking, "So, what did you find out?"

"It's a bronze inscription," Jiang Hong explained, "representing the character for 'ink'."

He used a software to scan the symbol, comparing it against a character database, reaching a preliminary conclusion. Meanwhile, their team leader Lian Jiang was exchanging information with other groups.

Zhu Jinling, the teacher of the Inner World Exploration course, certainly wasn't just asking for a simple word explanation. This bronze character for 'ink' must have deeper implications.

"Anything else?" Lu Xiu pressed.

"That's all I know," Jiang Hong admitted, "These characters are usually inscribed on cauldrons. I want to visit the Shaanxi History Museum. Teacher Zhu said she set these tasks based on calculations from the I Ching, and each task is somewhat related to the students involved, but I always feel it's not related to me."

Lu Xiu commented, "Zhu Jinling's mastery of the I Ching is profound. This is her usual way of assigning homework. As you go deeper into the task, you'll understand."

Jiang Hong asked, "Did you take her course?"

Lu Xiu replied, "Yes, she hinted at a magical artifact for me, the one from the Exorcism Committee. It was indeed very important."

Jiang Hong: "Oh—"

Since Lu Xiu said so, Jiang Hong was filled with anticipation, perhaps there really was a mysterious connection.

"Let's go tomorrow." Lu Xiu agreed to Jiang Hong's suggestion of visiting the Shaanxi Museum.

Jiang Hong noticed Lu Xiu was lost in thought and cautiously asked, "What's wrong?"

"I have some matters to attend to as well," Lu Xiu said, then noticing Jiang Hong's inquisitive look, and anticipating his question of "can I come along," he replied, "Behave and I'll take you."

"What counts as behaving?" Jiang Hong asked eagerly, seeking to please, "Should I do the laundry for you tonight?"

Lu Xiu: "Don't ask too many questions."

Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu sealed the deal with a high-five.

Having been cooped up in school for a month, Jiang Hong wanted to eat and play everything he saw. They spent half a day playing darts in the Great Tang All Day Mall, with Lu Xiu, looking bored, throwing darts and winning him a prize—a 64-in-1 game console. They checked into a hotel, and with the National Day holiday approaching, only a double bed room was available.

The two young men lay on the bed, Jiang Hong playing with his new game console, while Lu Xiu browsed through some material on his phone.

"What's this?" Jiang Hong glanced at Lu Xiu's materials, which included complex charts and some notes, "Is it for your thesis?"

"Tomorrow's task," Lu Xiu answered, "a collaborative request sent by the exorcists' guild to the school."

Jiang Hong didn't inquire further, and Lu Xiu added, "Let's sleep, we need to visit the museum tomorrow." Then, he turned off the light.

The next day, they queued up at the entrance of the Shaanxi Museum. On October 1st, every tourist spot was incredibly crowded, making Jiang Hong regret choosing this time to visit.

Lu Xiu, however, remained indifferent, not minding when people took photos of him with their phones; he simply ignored it.

"Are you going to... capture that thing today?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.

"Not really," Lu Xiu observed Jiang Hong. When idle, his gaze often drifted towards Jiang Hong, yet it seemed unfocused, not directly on Jiang's face. Only occasionally, or when Jiang spoke, did Lu Xiu snap back from his reverie.

"I'm just overseeing things for them," Lu Xiu added, then realizing the phrase sounded too colloquial, he corrected himself, "Covering their backs."

Jiang Hong hummed in acknowledgment, and Lu Xiu continued, "I'll teach you the language I use."

"Ah!" Jiang Hong was astonished, asking, "Really? Are there no... no restrictions to it?"

"There are restrictions," Lu Xiu stated.

Jiang Hong thought: So, even if I learn it, it's useless for me. I can't use Dragon Language like you to scold people.

Lu Xiu asked, "Do you want to learn it?"

Jiang Hong immediately replied, "Yes."

Lu Xiu explained, "There are nine basic phonemes, which combine to form thousands of variations, expressing over a thousand meanings. Start with these nine sounds: 'Ka,' 'Hak,' 'Ci'..."

"Some of them sound like the heavy trills in Russian," Jiang Hong observed, "Even if I can't use... that, I could still use it to scare people."

Lu Xiu commented, "Even without power, it can intimidate lower beings."

Jiang Hong had a knack for languages and picked it up quickly, memorizing them in no time. Lu Xiu continued, "Next are the meanings of these nine sounds. Each character represents an emotion, like anger, pain, happiness..."

It was indeed a fascinating language. Jiang Hong only realized after Lu Xiu's explanation that the basic phonemes of Dragon Language represented emotions, which then correspond to 'entities' depicted by those emotions. For instance, 'Hak' signified happiness and satisfaction; hence, 'food', which induces satisfaction when consumed, used 'Hak' as its root word.

"'Su' generally refers to a tangible entity and also means 'you', while 'Tule' is 'destroy'," Lu Xiu added, "So..."

"'Tule su' means 'destroy you'," Jiang Hong recalled, thinking of the Dragon Language spells Lu Xiu used during his two attacks on Wu Zhiqi.

"Very clever," Lu Xiu complimented Jiang Hong for a rare occasion as they entered the museum.

Just before entering, Lu Xiu turned to survey the exterior of the museum, as if detecting some unusual activity.