Having critically reviewed and saved all the photographs, Qian Moyu watched as the first blush of dawn painted the eastern sky, a soft, pearlescent white.
Stepping out of her room, Qian Moyu entered the living area.
There, curled languidly on the sofa, was Bai Zhiqiu, the quilt having slipped down to reveal her smooth, flat stomach.
Her silver hair was spread messily across the pillow, and she was muttering incoherently, words slurring together:
“Minnows… all minnows… I’ll chop you to death! No, no… I was wrong… I was wrong… gently! Mm~”
‘It seemed her disciple was caught in the throes of a rather unpleasant dream.’
Watching Bai Zhiqiu sleep so soundly, Qian Moyu shook her head with a resigned sigh.
She picked up the fallen quilt from the floor and gently covered the girl.
‘This little one is truly a handful.’
And then there was last night’s affair.
The mere thought of dealing with that troublesome individual made Qian Moyu shake her head again.
Yet, there was no alternative; this was her only disciple, and for them, she would do what was necessary.
After tucking Bai Zhiqiu in, Qian Moyu penned a note and placed it on the nearby coffee table:
[Little Zhiqiu, I’ll be away for a few days. If you have time, please look after the grocery store for me. Someone will come to pick up an order in the next few days. It’s in the third box from the end on the second row of the front shelf.]
With everything prepared, Qian Moyu quietly slipped out the door.
In the soft glow of dawn, her body gradually dissolved into a myriad of dandelions, drifting away on the morning breeze.
****
A long while later, Bai Zhiqiu stirred awake from a hazy dream.
The time had already reached half past seven.
For others, this might still be considered early, but for a high school student like her, especially a senior, it was an incredibly tight schedule.
Given the teachers at her school had a commendable tradition of starting classes early, she had, at most, twenty-five minutes remaining!
Twenty-five minutes until she was late!
Though she was a witch, she was also a student, and for students, tardiness was best avoided whenever possible.
Without time to grab breakfast, Bai Zhiqiu snatched a piece of bread from the table, clamping it between her teeth.
Her gaze then fell upon the small note.
After a quick read, she learned of her master’s departure but didn’t dwell on it too much.
Every year, her master would vanish for a period, unreachable by any means, as if she had simply evaporated from the world.
Bai Zhiqiu skillfully locked the shop door, cast a weak sensory spell upon herself, and unfurled two small wings, identical to those of a demon.
This was a power gained after devouring the [Blood Emperor]’s core: flight!
While she hadn’t fully mastered it, unable to maneuver freely in the air, it was more than sufficient for simply covering distances.
The progress was smoother than anticipated; she hadn’t encountered any magical girls!
When she first learned to fly, she would constantly run into magical girl patrol squads.
Though each encounter had passed without serious incident, there had been one or two close calls where she was nearly discovered.
Bai Zhiqiu flew over the school wall and landed in the small grove.
She chose this spot because it was currently morning reading time, meaning few students were around, and consequently, no patrolling teachers.
Upon landing, Bai Zhiqiu dispelled her witch form.
The little loli with white hair and red eyes transformed in the shade of the trees into a black-haired, black-eyed boy, slightly lean in build.
The Nandu No.1 High School uniform fit him with a tailored elegance.
Damn it! She was going to be late!
Bai Zhiqiu glanced at the watch on his wrist: 7:50 AM, five minutes left.
He then rushed frantically towards the classroom.
Fortunately, the senior high building wasn’t too far from the small grove, so with Bai Zhiqiu’s full sprint, he managed to slide into the classroom just as the bell rang.
“Old Bai… Cui Cui wants to see you in her office…”
Before Bai Zhiqiu could even settle into his seat, Yang Yuze’s words reached his ears.
“Really?”
“Really!”
“Oh! Then it must be fake.”
With that, Bai Zhiqiu sat down and began tidying his desk.
As Bai Zhiqiu organized his desk, his deskmate, Lin Shuyao, gently poked him.
When Bai Zhiqiu turned to look at Lin Shuyao, the first thing he saw was a crispy roujiamo.
“You haven’t eaten breakfast yet, have you? Here, have this!”
“How did you know? Thank you!”
Bai Zhiqiu didn’t stand on ceremony, taking it directly.
After all, one piece of bread was truly not enough, and between good friends, even if they were of the opposite s*x, politeness was unnecessary.
“I could tell from how frantically you ran into the classroom; you probably woke up almost late, right? What time did you play games until last night?” Lin Shuyao asked, pushing up her glasses.
“I didn’t play last night.”
“Didn’t play? Then why did you sleep so late?”
“Would you believe me if I said I transformed into a witch to destroy the world?”
“If you’re a witch, then I’m the strongest magical girl in the world, specifically here to catch you.”
“Heh… then you can try.
But the cost would be severe…”
Bai Zhiqiu and Lin Shuyao chatted idly, back and forth.
Suddenly, Yang Yuze turned around and spoke to Bai Zhiqiu with a mysterious air.
“Oh, by the way, Old Bai, did you know? It seems we have a new transfer student in our class.”
“A transfer student?” Hearing this news, Bai Zhiqiu felt a slight perplexity.
It was already October; could there still be transfer students?
“Well? Interested? I heard the transfer student is a very beautiful girl… with long, black, straight hair…”
“I’m a little afraid of long, black, straight hair now…”
Ever since Yan Qingzhu had thoroughly ‘educated’ him last night, Bai Zhiqiu still harbored some lingering trauma.
After all, who wouldn’t fear a magical girl who defied all heavenly principles to hunt witches?
Even in his dreams, he’d found himself provoking her again, only to be counter-killed once more and thoroughly chastised.
“What happened? Spill the tea, elaborate!”
“No way!”
……
Amidst their casual conversation, time quietly slipped away.
As the class bell rang, Cui Xiaomeng arrived punctually in the classroom.
‘It’s rare for the English teacher not to come early and occupy class time!’
As Cui Xiaomeng walked to the podium, the long-haired, black-haired girl followed her in.
Bai Zhiqiu fixed his gaze upon her.
Though he claimed no interest in transfer students, even pretty ones.
‘No matter how beautiful, could she be as stunning as the magical girls after they transform? No matter how good-looking, could she compare to Yan Qingzhu from last night?’
But when he saw the girl’s familiar face, he instantly panicked.
‘It couldn’t be such a coincidence, could it?’
‘Yan Qingzhu! That lunatic! Why is she here?!’
Bai Zhiqiu quickly lowered his head, but then remembered.
‘She hasn’t seen me in my male form anyway… what’s there to be afraid of?’
Immediately, Bai Zhiqiu summoned his courage and lifted his head, feigning indifference, though in reality, he was secretly observing Yan Qingzhu the entire time.
‘Why is she at school? What is her objective?’
On the podium, noticing Bai Zhiqiu’s small movements, Yan Qingzhu offered a faint smile.
‘Little witch~ We meet again!’