Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Ludwig didn't expect the Eastern youth before him to pose such a straightforward question.

He had apparently long accepted their relationship and was now asking me if I truly was!

Ludwig hadn't anticipated things unfolding in such a manner, and his mind went into a temporary shutdown from the unforeseen turn of events.

The golden-haired youth ought to have found the suggestion absurd and promptly clarified that their relationship was not as such. However, in the instant his gaze met Li Qingzhi's clear, expectant, deer-like eyes, Ludwig felt as if he were under some sort of spell, utterly incapable of uttering any cold refusal.

Sure, but to have him accept it right this instant seems rather hasty and impulsive, don't you think?

Ultimately, under the weight of his profound shock and a tangle of complicated emotions, Ludwig managed to digest the essence of Li Qingzhi's words. After a few seconds of silence, he reluctantly raised his eyes once more to meet those of the young man before him. Though his expression was carefully schooled into an appearance of calm, Ludwig alone knew the turmoil that raged within his heart.

Before long, Li Qingzhi heard Ludwig's voice, firm yet nuanced, as if the response had been carefully deliberated.

The youth merely turned his face slightly, redirecting his gaze from him to an empty space beside them. His expression remained composed as usual, but there was an unusual hesitance in his tone.

"That matter... I'm not yet able to make a decisive judgment at the moment."

Li Qingzhi, however, swiftly discerned the subtle emotion beneath Ludwig's awkward words, prompting the black-haired youth to break into a delighted smile.

"So you're not opposed, then?"

His words were like stepping on Ludwig's tail, causing the blond teenager to whirl around swiftly, as if to assert something, only to furrow his brows slightly soon after saying:

"I am currently declining, but I'm not explicitly consenting either."

Observing Ludwig's detached demeanor, Li Qingzhi, who had gradually come to realize that Ludwig often spoke contrary to his feelings, couldn't help but smile even more. "I understand now," she said.

Whatever had previously kept Ludwig from engaging with him, after yesterday's unexpected incident, the blond teenager was now, at last, more willing to open up to him, deepening the bond between them.

At least Ludwig was now the one reaching out to him; it seemed they had genuinely found their opportunity to be friends. Li Qingzhi wasn't one to let such an opportunity slip by.

With this thought, Li Qingzhi couldn't help but express his feelings to Ludwig at this moment: "But with me, we already are!"

Observing the sincere countenance of the black-haired youth in this moment, Ludwig's heart was stirred, yet, for a fleeting instance, he found himself at a loss for words.

The blond teenager, whose cheeks were warming under the candid and exposed expression of affection, uncontrollably took a step back. In the end, he could only manage to mutter "I have something else to attend to" before hastily turning and leaving the infirmary.

Compared to Ludwig's wariness, Li Qingzhi appeared much more relaxed. He spent another day in the infirmary before resuming preparations for Halloween with Bruce and the others. Although he was glad that he had talked things out with Ludwig, the excitement of the busy preparations temporarily pushed the matter to the back of his mind.

On the other side, upon learning about the situation, the academy's teachers reported the full details to Principal Augustus. They soon traced the issue to the cracked anti-magic stone in the School of Spirit.

Principal Augustus, along with a few senior teachers, took a series of measures to rectify the situation. Teacher Ernest first enveloped the loose anti-magic stone with magical vines that restrained magic. As the matter involved confidential information within the Elmont Academy, Augustus personally handled everything until a new anti-magic stone could be found.

Other teachers were responsible for calming the students down and explaining the cause of the sudden incident. They described the terrifying evil spirit as a "monster that slipped through a gap in the academy's defenses, now thoroughly contained by protective magic. Such an event will not happen again."

Although the evil spirit was terrifying and vicious, the students of Elmont were all magicians, so they didn't dwell on the fear for too long. Besides, only the Plant Element students had witnessed the spirit, and no casualties occurred. Amidst the excitement for Halloween, the students quickly ceased discussing the night's crisis after being reassured.

The teachers still reminded the students not to stay too late in the academy alone and to travel in groups with their classmates.

By the time Halloween Eve arrived, the monster attack had been largely forgotten, and Li Qingzhi's leg injury had almost fully healed. Along with the rest of the Plant Element students, he made final preparations for Halloween, their high spirits seemingly unaffected.

Bruce even reminisced about the battle, regretfully telling Li Qingzhi, "If I had known, I would have summoned my magic beast to help!"

A female classmate couldn't help but giggle, "What could your little goblin do? Don't torment him anymore."

Bruce cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed, "Well, there were Li Qingzhi's charms, so no one got hurt."

Li Qingzhi, busy coloring a doll in her hands, responded without looking up, "My charms could only resist for a while. It was thanks to Chief Ludwig's timely arrival that everything turned out alright."

The female classmate nodded. "Indeed, it's fortunate that Chief Ludwig was at school that night; otherwise, more people would have been injured."

"Right," the girl glanced at Li Qingzhi. "How's your leg now?"

Li Qingzhi looked up at the girl with a smile. "I'm fine already, just a minor scrape."

As they conversed, Bruce leaned in and said seriously, "We also owe it to your charms that day; otherwise, we all would've been caught in the blast."

He implied that gratitude should not be directed solely towards Ludwig but also to Li Qingzhi for his assistance that day.

Upon hearing Bruce's words, a warm feeling washed over Li Qingzhi, yet he couldn't help but share his honest thoughts with Bruce. "Actually, I was really panicked too. It wasn't until I saw Chief coming that I felt relieved."

It was true. Before Ludwig arrived, everyone had placed their hopes on him. Despite his desire to protect his classmates, he lacked the experience to lead or guide others.

Bruce shook his head, unable to contain his admiration. "Li Qingzhi, you're too modest!"

Finishing his words, the brown-haired youth seemed to recall something, turning his gaze toward the green-haired girl who had been mostly silent. "Ah, right, Amelia, where did you go that night? I couldn't find you later on and was worried something might have happened to you."

Amelia, who had been assisting Li Qingzhi in painting the dolls, promptly lifted her head upon hearing Bruce's words and softly explained, "I went to call the teacher because I was worried someone might get hurt."

Amelia spoke, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment as she lowered her head slightly. "But I fly much too slowly... By the time I arrived, the other students had already summoned the teachers."

Observing the guilt in the green-haired girl's expression, Bruce quickly waved his hand. "It's alright, you've done your best."

The young girl nods, then resumes her focus on painting the dark orbits of the doll in her hands, her eyes revealing no extraneous emotions.

Li Qingzhi, however, soon sensed something amiss with the young girl. He couldn't help but lift his gaze toward Amelia. "Amelia, are you unhappy?"

The girl, upon being questioned, was initially taken aback. Several seconds later, she slowly nodded. "I'm sorry, Li Qingzhi. I feel like it's because I was too slow that you got hurt."

Li Qingzhi promptly reassured her. "It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself. Besides, my injury isn't severe at all."

The girl finally nodded gently, appearing slightly more at ease than before.

Before long, as the final night before Halloween drew to a close, all the academies' decorations were officially completed. Each academy had infused their creativity into their Halloween decorations. Qingzhi, who had been tasked with decorating a separate classroom, also finished adorning his assigned room alongside his companions.

On the other side, Ludwig soon noticed something: Since their encounter in the infirmary, Li Qingzhi seemed preoccupied and hadn't approached him as usual, breaking his routine.

The student council desk, which was once filled daily with novelty items from the East, now only held scrolls he had read the previous day.

After the third visit without finding anything left by Li Qingzhi, Ludwig gazed at the empty desk, feeling a strange mix of emotions.

Just as Ludwig was contemplating the frightening notion of checking up on Li Qingzhi's activities, on Halloween day, he finally received a voice scroll from Li Qingzhi.

The youth warmly invited him to visit the decorations set up by the Botany Academy and mentioned that he had personally decorated a classroom, suggesting that Ludwig could drop by if he had the time.

So, he was busy with this. Holding the voice scroll from Li Qingzhi, Ludwig's eyes flickered slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

However, before Ludwig could finish his patrol for the day, he was already bombarded with spoilers about Li Qingzhi's decorated classroom from various student council members.

While Ludwig was still sorting through reports at the student council, the short-haired girl Mei Li clung to Catherine's arm as they entered through the main door, her expression revealing a lingering fright:

"I was genuinely scared! Thankfully, I grabbed some candy from the basket beforehand, or else I would have been chased down!"

Mei Li was dressed in a little witch costume, with a pair of demonic wings conjured by magic sprouting from her back. She even summoned her small water snake magical beast, which coiled around her arm. At that moment, the frightened serpent retreated to hide around Mei Li's neck, unwilling to be seen.

Ludwig, on the other side, couldn't help but frown slightly and lift his head upon hearing Mei Li's slightly startled voice. The young lady quickly continued:

"But it was truly thrilling. I'm glad I followed their recommendation to visit the Botanical Academy." She patted her chest while speaking to the long-haired girl beside her. "That oriental student's classroom setup didn't disappoint me, hahaha. It was so unfamiliar, yet strangely terrifying. Standing in that room gave me goosebumps all over!"

As Mei Li enthusiastically shared with Catherine, she walked into the room. Just as she was about to excitedly recount her experience in Li Qingzhi's classroom, the long-haired girl beside her softly coughed as if to remind her.

"Cough, President, are you working on this week's report booklet? Let me assist you."

Mei Li abruptly lifted her head, her excitement dampening when she noticed Ludwig was also inside. She smiled awkwardly before hastily moving aside.

Ludwig never allowed anyone to shout in the Student Council room. He must have heard her outburst!

Oh no, oh no.

Feeling a bit guilty, Mei Li thought of how she had mentioned the easterner who had confessed to Ludwig. That might make him even unhappier.

Although the Student Council members were more or less acquainted with Ludwig, they still felt an indescribable distance from his cold demeanor. Usually, they respected him but also feared him, so they tended to be especially well-behaved in his presence.

As a member of the Student Council, Mei Li wasn't immune to this nervousness, and she couldn't help but feel tense in the current situation.

Fortunately, Ludwig remained silent for a while, seemingly occupied with his duties as the Head Prefect and unable to spare her any attention.

Mei Li heaved a sigh of relief and was about to take her seat when another male student council member approached her curiously, whispering,

"Was it that Eastern student who decorated a separate classroom for Halloween? You haven't mentioned what it looks like. I can't quite picture how he would have set it up."

After a moment's thought, Mei Li decided to softly describe the scene to him, knowing that Ludwig, despite his stern demeanor, wouldn't intervene in quiet conversations.

However, just as Mei Li began speaking to the boy but hadn't gotten into the details, Ludwig's distant, icy voice suddenly cut through the air:

"Avoid discussing irrelevant matters in the Student Council."

Mei Li jumped in surprise and promptly made a zipping motion across her lips at the boy before her. Then, she turned around, pretending to be busy.

It never occurred to Mei Li why Ludwig hadn't scolded her for her noisy entrance earlier that day, yet he had taken notice of their quiet conversation.

Of course, Mei Li was unaware that her stern Chairman had also been invited to the Halloween classroom prepared by Li Qingzhi, hence his swift intervention to prevent any spoilers.

As evening approached, Ludwig finished his duties in the Student Council and headed for the Botanical Academy. However, before he reached Li Qingzhi's decorated classroom, he encountered several individuals who seemed to have just emerged from it.

Shaken teenagers emerged in pairs, exchanging tales of their recent encounters. Costumed as ghouls and ghosts, they wore expressions of genuine fright.

"Why do I feel such dread? In all honesty, there's really nothing to be afraid of, yet the moment I step inside, it sends shivers down my spine..."

The girl nodded in agreement. "Me too. I initially thought that the Water Academy's Ghost Pirate Ship would be the scariest, but it can't compare to this at all."

The boy patted his chest, still visibly shaken from the fright, "Though I was startled by the magical beast that sprung out when I opened the ghost pirate's treasure chest, everything else was manageable. But that last one, it sent chills down my spine the moment I entered. The setup was eerily mysterious and bizarrely horrifying—it reminded me of the tales of Eastern witchcraft my grandmother used to tell me..."

The girl promptly responded, "I agree! Those fluttering talismans in the darkness, and those swaying black-green vines... But the most terrifying were those eyeless red-dressed dolls... I can't bear it anymore, just thinking about how they suddenly rushed towards me!"

"Fortunately, I grabbed a small handful of chocolates to distribute among them when I entered. Otherwise, they would've kept chasing me, and I'd have had a heart attack for sure!"

Ludwig, who had already learned much of the plot beforehand, fell into a pensive silence. "......."

Having evaded the first wave but not the second, Ludwig managed to stifle Mei Li's lips, but he couldn't escape the endless discussions of students who had just emerged from the classroom along their path.

By the time Ludwig reached the classroom door, he was already intimately acquainted with its contents through the whispers of onlookers. Still, he promptly stepped inside.

Li Qingzhi was absent at that moment, presumably to avoid disrupting the experience of other students by lingering nearby.

It was not until the evening college assembly that Ludwig had the chance to meet Li Qingzhi.

Wendy, the teacher in charge of organizing the event, waved her magic wand. Soon, a beautiful golden ballot landed in the palm of each student.

Smiling at the students below, Wendy said, "Each one of you has a chance to vote. Cast your ballots for the college you think best captures the Halloween spirit and offers the most fun and entertaining activities."

Ludwig easily spotted the figure with black hair not far away. Li Qingzhi held a golden ticket in their hand, engaged in conversation with a companion.

Assuming that Li Qingzhi wouldn't look in his direction, Ludwig was surprised when Qingzhi suddenly paused, as if sensing something, and turned to look at him. Upon seeing Ludwig, a clear expression of delight spread across their face.

"Chief Ludwig!"

Ludwig, whose name was joyfully exclaimed by Li Qingzhi, paused initially before he couldn't help but cough softly, barely managing to respond, "Mm."

He was still quite unaccustomed to Li Qingzhi's uninhibited warmth! It was as if she wanted everyone to know about their relationship!

Ludwig, who had always kept his relationships with others surface-level, had never experienced such a sensation in the company of others. Consequently, he felt somewhat at a loss, but he quickly composed himself, gazing at Li Qingzhi with an incomparably calm expression.

The black-haired youth soon approached him with a grin, almost resembling a joyful puppy sprinting eagerly. Upon reaching his side, he couldn't help but swiftly lift his eyes to meet his, their depths brimming with anticipation.

"How does it feel? Is it to your liking?"

Ludwig was aware that Li Qingzhi referred to the classroom he'd arranged. He eventually nodded gently. "Mm, it's somewhat interesting."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingzhi's smile deepened, and he couldn't help but wonder about Ludwig's reaction upon entering: "Did it scare you?"

The blond youth, facing Li Qingzhi's intensely curious gaze, hesitated for a few seconds before admitting, "Somewhat, that doll is quite frightening."

The crimson-dressed dolls with jet-black eye sockets hid behind Li Qingzhi's stone lion magical beast. Upon sensing someone approaching, they would softly hum a tune as they wriggled swiftly toward the person, their faces twisted into eerie smiles.

The doll's twitching advance under the rain of glyphs was indeed startling, especially in that room heavy with shadows, not to mention the walls adorned with fabricated bloodstains and eerie graffiti.

Only by offering them the chocolate candies placed by the entrance will they cease their pursuit, reverting to their docile doll forms. They would then retreat behind the stone lions, awaiting the next passerby.

With this in mind, Ludwig couldn't help but lower his gaze at Li Qingzhi. "When you arranged those oriental horror elements, did you also incorporate some Halloween traditions?"

Qingzhi nodded promptly, "Yes, Bruce informed me about your custom of giving candies to children, so I made a little connection there."

"And that's just a part of our academy. Have you seen the decorations in other areas?"

Ludwig shook his head; he wasn't interested in any of that, not even the Flame Academy.

As the two were engaged in conversation, a companion's voice suddenly echoed behind Li Qingzhi, calling out to him, "Qingzhi! It's our turn to vote, come quickly!"

Upon hearing this, Li Qingzhi was about to bid Ludwig farewell first, but he noticed the blond youth wearing an expression of slight puzzlement: "..Qingzhi?"

Li Qingzhi smiled a bit sheepishly. "This is one way, um... an endearing term for my name. Since Bruce and I are quite close, I let him address me like that."

Assuming that explaining it to Ludwig would make him understand, the blond teenager, however, furrowed his brows, apparently failing to grasp the purpose behind the action. "Does calling out like this make it more intimate?"

Li Qingzhi explained, "In our culture, it's like that. You can also…" However, before he could finish, Bruce eagerly urged him to hurry and vote. Li Qingzhi bid farewell to Ludwig with a wave and then dashed over to Bruce, casting his precious vote into the box for the Botany School alongside his friends.

After the final tally, Principal Augustine emerged to announce the results:

"This year, all schools have done an excellent job with their Halloween decorations. Each school has skillfully integrated its unique characteristics with the spirit of Halloween, so I am truly satisfied with all of them."

"However, I'm sure each of you has already identified the school you believe has excelled the most and cast your solitary vote accordingly."

Pausing briefly, Augustine continued, "Among these outstanding schools, one has not only effectively employed its own elements but also engaged every student's talents to contribute to their decorations. As a result, their classrooms have successfully piqued the interest of many students."

"In the recent crisis, the students of this academy, despite being at the heart of danger, managed to remain calm and protect themselves. They even ingeniously utilized the materials they had prepared in the midst of the crisis, ultimately emerging unscathed and persevering to complete the event," Principal Augusta explained, leaving no doubt as to which academy he was referring. The students of the Botanical Academy couldn't help but feel a profound sense of pride.

Moments later, Augusta's voice boomed once more, "Taking into account the overwhelming votes and the teachers' consensus, I declare that the victorious academy in this Halloween celebration is — the Academy of Plant Elements!"

The students from the Botanical Academy instantly erupted in cheers, "Yes!!"

After nearly half a semester of shared experiences, late-night decorations for Halloween, and joint battles against malevolent spirits, they had come to view one another as comrades. This triumph only heightened their excitement and joy.

Bruce, brimming with excitement, pulled Li Qingzhi along to wave frantically. Other students from the Botanical Academy soon joined in, clapping happily. After a few rounds, everyone's palms were flushed red.

Meanwhile, the students in the audience also started discussing the outcome:

"The Academy of Plant Elements' Halloween decorations were indeed quite popular this year. I went there myself, and I saw many people leaving the place."

"I heard the most captivating classroom was decorated by that Eastern exchange student."

"It seems so. When I went in, I found many oriental-like curses and charms inside. It was quite frightening with all the talismans and voodoo dolls, but it was also really fun – more interesting than the other colleges. If you gave candy to the voodoo doll, it would stop chasing you and smile instead."

"It sounds a bit eerie... Are people who enter actually cursed?"

"Hey, don't say that! I went in too, and now you're scaring me."

"Besides that, I heard he was the one who dealt with the evil spirit at the Botany College a few days ago."

"Why is this Eastern student always stealing the spotlight?"

"The version I heard was that the Head Prefect killed the evil spirit. I didn't hear anything about this Easterner being involved."

Without any warning, after Principal Augusta announced the winning college, Li Qingzhi once again became the center of attention among the students.

Hearing all the discussions surrounding him, Li Qingzhi couldn't help feeling a bit awkward. He still wasn't used to being the focus of everyone's attention for something other than making a mistake.

Fortunately, Bruce quickly pulled him towards the other students and suggested they organize a celebration party, allowing Li Qingzhi to escape the gossip from students of other colleges.

As for the prize, it was a massive, miraculous green gemstone with healing magic, treasured by Principal Augusta. After discussion with the Botany College faculty, they decided to embed the gemstone on the front wall of the college using magical techniques.

Faced with the outcome of the competition, the students from the Botanical Academy were naturally overjoyed. However, there were grumblings among the students of other academies.

A young nobleman, with a discontented expression, indignantly addressed his companion, "Their victory is purely a matter of luck! On what grounds should the crisis incidents from the other day be included as criteria for the awards? Moreover, it was Chief Ludwig who repelled the malevolent spirits, what does that have to do with them?"

"It was merely out of curiosity about the Easterner's presence that people flocked to see, and to their surprise, they actually ended up winning the award."

"The accolade should have been ours, the Flame Academy."

The orange-haired teenager was somewhat angry, his freckles on the bridge of his nose slightly wrinkled. Although he was dressed in noble attire, at this moment, he was so angry that there was no trace of elegance left.

Meanwhile, Li Qingzhi had already walked away with Bruce and others, not hearing the orange-haired youth's words.

Anthony lifted his eyes with a hint of irritation, ready to continue his thought, when he suddenly noticed Chief Ludwig standing not far away, his gaze now directed at him.

The instant Anthony met that icy gaze, his heart skipped a beat. The Leo family was a prestigious clan that every noble aspired to be affiliated with. He had no intention of uttering anything that might offend Ludwig.

Yet, soon, Anthony realized that he had merely spoken his honest thoughts about the Easterner. This made him secretly heave a sigh of relief, thinking that Ludwig's gaze was an indication of agreement.

Little did he expect that the blond leader would frown at him next, appearing in a foul mood, with a subtle hint of warning glinting in his eyes.

Anthony was taken aback, unsure where he had offended the formidable Chief, but he instinctively held back, not daring to say more. Despite his confusion, he bowed his head and left sheepishly.

...

The Halloween revelry had come to a complete end, and students retreated for rest. The bustling Elmont temporarily returned to tranquility under the cloak of night.

In the most secluded corner of the Spirit Element Academy,

Ernest, the teacher with small round glasses, silently chanted an arcane taboo as he waved his wand. Soon, a staircase leading deep underground emerged from the academy's ground, made of magic-repelling stone.

Following the stairs downward, Ernest then raised his wand once more, and swiftly, the area regained its ordinary appearance, showing no signs of disturbance.

Moments later, he found himself in a dungeon-like space. At its heart, a silver-haired figure knelt with their limbs bound securely by iron chains. The body was inscribed with ancient sealing incantations.

What sent a chill through the observers was that the one firmly imprisoned appeared unusually young, a youth around the same age as Li Qingzhi and his companions.

Gazing upon the silver-haired youth, firmly sealed and imprisoned, Ernest couldn't help but sigh, before he spoke in a solemn tone:

"Even if you refrain from revealing who loosened your seal, escape from this place is impossible for you. No one, under any circumstances, can fully undo your bindings."

"This is the last time, Zabini. The dark creature you unleashed nearly cost a student their life. Even Headmaster Augustus will not tolerate this transgression again."

At this point, Ernest closed his eyes momentarily. "Irbine, do you truly have no intention of revealing who tampered with the Anti-Magic Stone?"

Yet, the silver-haired figure, bound in sealing enchantments, lifted his head and offered a smile, one that was laced with hatred and disdain.

"A traitor."

A gravelly voice sounded, causing Ernest's gaze to darken completely.

Ultimately, the green-haired instructor turned around, no longer looking at the imprisoned youth. "It seems you haven't thought it through yet. I'll report this to Headmaster Augustus. I'll return when you've had a change of heart."

"Should you dare to harm any student again," the veteran teacher Ernest's gaze dimmed slightly, "I will no longer plead on your behalf merely because you were once my pupil."

The silver-haired youth lowered his head as if oblivious, seemingly unwilling to acknowledge it at all.

In the end, despite his fruitless endeavor, Ernest emerged from the labyrinthine dungeon, threaded through with Anti-Magic Stones and cursed by Anti-Magic enchantments. He began his journey toward Headmaster Augustus to report on the matter concerning Elbin.

...

Principal Augustus, apart from dealing with the recent unexpected crisis that had befallen the academy, also had another significant matter weighing on his mind.

The one who narrowly escaped injury in the crisis was none other than Li Qingzhi, an exchange student from the Three Silent Mountains.

The youth's identity was already peculiar, holding an intangible connection to Yilbin. Now, he had nearly been severely injured by the evil spirit unleashed by Yilbin — whether it was coincidence or intentional, Augustus felt, both emotionally and logically, that he ought to discuss this matter with Ling Shen.

Thus, Augustus found an opportune moment, waved his magic wand, and began attempting to establish contact with his old comrade-in-arms through the mystical Crystal Ball of Magic Guidance.

Fortunately, Ling Shen seemed unoccupied at the moment, and he quickly spotted the familiar yet aged figure within the crystal ball.

"Augustus? Why on earth would you suddenly..." Ling Shen appeared as energetic as ever, but after a brief pause, his expression shifted abruptly. "Could it be that Qingzhi has landed himself in trouble again?"

Augustus chuckled and shook his head busily. Then, he briefly recounted the previous incident to Ling Shen and expressed his concerns.

"It seems deliberate that the evil spirit he summoned targeted Li Qingzhi, and both of them..."

After Ling Shen heard the entire story, his expression couldn't help turning grave. However, after some contemplation, he shook his head. "It's not a big deal. The Fire Vein taken from Qingzhi is still in the Three Silent Mountains. Even if they encounter each other, there shouldn't be much of an issue."

"And the Three Silent Mountains have been peaceful recently. When I visited a few days ago, there were no signs of the sealed Fire Vein loosening."

Augustus sighed in relief upon hearing this. "That's good. I thought it was necessary to inform you about this, so I attempted to communicate with you through the crystal ball."

Ling Shen shook his head. "As long as that guy isn't causing me more embarrassment outside."

As he spoke, the elderly man, though showing signs of disdain, revealed a concerned expression. After a light sigh, he said, "Qingzhi has been fatherless and motherless since birth. With me often preoccupied with cultivation, I couldn't attend to him much. That's why he developed that mischievous and playful personality. But deep down, he's not a bad kid. He's just too lonely and craves attention."

"Originally, he should have stayed by my side. But in recent years, the Fire Vein has been acting up frequently. As its original host, he can't stay in Sanqing for long."

Augustus clearly understood the situation and promptly nodded. "I see. The Water Vein also consumed all of Elmont's anti-magic stones to stabilize it."

After a moment of reflection, the two inevitably reminisced about the hardships of the sealing battle. Seeing the conversation turn somber, Augustus quickly changed the subject with a smile, turning the discussion back to Li Qingzhi's recent activities. He briefly mentioned Qingzhi's friendly interactions with his Western classmates and even the "glorious deed" of sharing his collection of Eastern treasures.

In truth, Augustus had no ulterior motive; he only wanted Ling Shen to know about Li Qingzhi's current state for reassurance. However, upon hearing this, the old man suddenly became furious, his beard bristling with anger.

"What? Isn't he just fooling around all day?"

"That boy is indeed not studying properly. You better keep an eye on him, don't worry about sparing my feelings!"

Augustus tried to clarify, "Actually, Li Qingzhi has been studying diligently. His teacher told me that he's doing well in his potion class..."

But Ling Shen panicked, well aware of his young disciple's nature. He feared that without supervision, Li Qingzhi would run wild in Elmont, completely unchecked. "Augustus, you need to post a notice, forbidding him from playing around like this. He needs discipline, otherwise, he won't be able to focus."

As they talked, Ling Shen suddenly frowned. "You can still manage him during the day, but what about at night?"

Augustus stroked his snowy beard. "Ahaha, let him rest well tonight."

Ling Shen shook her head. "No, he still needs someone to keep an eye on him at night." Pausing, she pondered, "Could we have him stay with a teacher or student who's good at disciplining others?"

Upon hearing this, Augustus thought for a moment, and a suitable candidate surprisingly came to mind. "There seems to be one person."

"The same age as Li Qingzhi, excellent, and capable of discipline."

"Perfectly meets your criteria."

Ling Shen's eyes lit up upon hearing this. Although she didn't know whom Augustus was referring to, she felt much more reassured. "Alright, then it's settled!"

...

After the Halloween event concluded, many had visited Li Qingzhi's haunted room and learned about the wonders of his charms. More students became acquainted with Li Qingzhi, including some from other faculties who sought him out for protective charms.

While there were also those who disliked him, his relationship with the Botany students visibly improved. Li Qingzhi happily shared his stack of items with his increasingly curious Western peers.

As they grew more familiar, the Botany students no longer held back and fully integrated Li Qingzhi into their circle.

In the meantime, Li Qingzhi, busy himself, didn't have the chance to seek out the equally occupied Ludwig, and the two didn't cross paths for several days.

Ludwig, on the other side, was in a complicated state of mind for quite some time. He couldn't fathom why, after Li Qingzhi unilaterally declared their relationship, he practically ceased to seek him out. Even the candies and letters had vanished without a trace. This left Ludwig utterly perplexed about the thoughts of the eastern youth.

Indeed, a cunning oriental!

Yet, before Li Qingzhi could realize that he had neglected Ludwig for several days, a notice handwritten by Principal Augustine himself was posted within the Elmont campus.

"In an effort to protect the rights and interests of our exchange students, Almont has issued the following notice: Oriental classmates' talismans are not to be used as Halloween decorations, dusters are not to be employed for their magical wands, swords are not to be ridden for flight, chocolate candies must not be cooked in alchemical furnaces, and the Tai Chi Bagua board is not to be utilized for playing checkers."

Upon seeing the notice, the crowd was left somewhat dazed. Before Li Qingzhi could react, a figure he hadn't seen for several days suddenly appeared by his side.

The blond headmaster had appeared by the notice board at some point and was looking down at him. "Headmaster Augusta has asked me to escort you to see him."

Despite his momentary confusion, Li Qingzhi quickly nodded. "Okay."

Yet, throughout the journey, Ludwig remained silent, resuming his usual indifferent demeanor.

Li Qingzhi didn't attribute this to the fact that he hadn't visited Ludwig for several days; instead, he assumed that the blond teenager was simply in a bad mood today. He didn't think much of it, utterly oblivious to the fact that he himself was the very reason behind Ludwig's subtle gloom.

They soon arrived together at Augustus's office.

After Ludwig had delivered the young man with his jet-black hair and refined features, he turned to leave, his feelings mixed. But Augustus stopped him with a word, "Ludwig, stay here for a moment. I have something to discuss with both of you."

Already disoriented by the sight of Li Qingzhi, Ludwig was taken aback.

Something to discuss with both of us?

Realizing what this might imply, Ludwig's heart tightened. Had Principal Augustus discovered their...?

But then, Augustus spoke again,

"Starting from today, Student Li Qingzhi will be studying magic alongside you in the evenings."

Both youths were momentarily stunned by this pronouncement.

Unaware of their reaction, Augustus continued to address Ludwig, "You might not find it convenient to stay on campus, so having Li Qingzhi stay with you could work too. It's up to you two to decide what's most practical." Satisfied, Augustus nodded and waved his hand, "Let's begin today. Mutual assistance is one of the core principles of our Almont Academy, after all."

After the two adolescents emerged from Augustus's office together, Ludwig's mood remained strangely perturbed.

Being alone with a boy wouldn't usually be an issue, but considering Li Qingzhi's feelings towards him, it was hard not to read into it.

Would Li Qingzhi perhaps entertain thoughts about him tonight...

After a long bout of chaotic contemplation, Ludwig couldn't help but force himself to regain composure.

After all, Li Qingzhi is an Easterner; generally speaking, they tend to be more conservative. I shouldn't be overthinking this – perhaps he didn't even consider that aspect at all.

Yet, just as Ludwig was inwardly persuading himself, his gaze lifted in that instant and met the eyes of the black-haired youth standing before him.

The delicate-looking Eastern youth glanced at him, appearing somewhat bashful. His clear deer-like eyes blinked gently.

"Well... shall we meet at your place or mine tonight?"

Ludwig, who had almost instantaneously launched into a brainstorm, momentarily froze, "…?"