Chapter 3 –[ Hunter Agency 03 ]–

March 2, 2023

The sun greeted its friend, the Earth. Its soft rays stretched across the land of bamboo, slipping through wooden curtains, making Sizhu squint against the brightness.

"Is it morning already?" He yawned widely, stretching his body.

He had slept soundly last night. After years of not experiencing the comfort of a proper bed, he had forgotten how good it felt. Back then, Sizhu’s teacher had forced him to sleep sitting up, forbidding him from lying down. If he was ever caught lying down...

Smack!

A wooden stick would fly through the air, striking him. To make matters worse, he was ordered to remain conscious at all times, no matter where or when. One night, Sizhu tried to "sleep sitting up," but he wasn’t allowed to truly sleep. And if he accidentally did...

Smack!

...

Looking back, Sizhu began to think his teacher might have been a bit harsh. But in the end, there was an impressive result. Sizhu gained the ability to regenerate his body cells. Yes, no matter how severe the wounds he suffered, his body could slowly repair the damaged cells. And over time, he became accustomed to "sleeping awake." Even when lying on a bed, he remained alert, though his eyes were closed.

He opened the curtains, letting the fresh mountain air enter. The soft sunlight also streamed into Sizhu's room.

He inhaled deeply...

This mountain... This place felt incredibly magical. Sizhu didn’t know the name of the place he was living in, but he knew there was an aura of comfort here. It was hard to explain; it felt mystical. Moreover, Sizhu could see a giant transparent dome covering the entire "palace" nestled in the valley.

It was difficult to describe. The "palace" was located between two steep mountains, with a large, clear, multi-tiered river flowing below. Numerous springs cascaded down the sides of both mountain cliffs, resembling the landscapes of central China. Lush green plants thrived all around. Sometimes, clouds drifted below the "palace," making it look like a kingdom above the clouds from where Sizhu stood. It was a paradise of natural beauty.

But what was this place?

This magical, beautiful place was the headquarters of the Hunter Agency across all of China. It was also the center for the best magic studies. In other words, a Magic Academy. And currently, Sizhu was living there, in one of the dormitory rooms.

Qincheng, that was the name of this magical mountainous region.

As its name suggests, the Magic Academy is where talented Hunters come to study. Only those with talent can learn at this academy. There is no age limit to study here; the only requirement is having magical talent.

In this world, not everyone has the talent to use magic. Only one in a hundred. Sometimes this talent comes from heritage, experience, or luck. There is no certainty to it, and each talent has its unique characteristics.

For example, Sizhu had pure magical blood. The way he activated his magic was by applying his blood to any object. The effect of Sizhu’s blood on an object could be anything from producing fire to causing explosions. Or another effect, like doubling the strength of the person holding it.

And talents cannot be used carelessly. Sometimes there are severe consequences to using one's magical talent, such as fatigue, or worse.

At the Magic Academy, talented Hunters are trained according to their specific gifts. The rest, those without magical talent, can only use weapons that have been enchanted to harm witches.

Most sorcerers are immune to all kinds of attacks, except those that contain magic. That’s why only three-star Hunters and above can use magic. Though there are some people whose talent is using enchanted weapons without possessing magical talent themselves.

The main headquarters of the Hunter Agency and the Magic Academy looked ancient from the outside. But the inside was a complete contrast—futuristic.

For example, let's see Sizhu’s room. The lights turned on and off automatically according to the room owner’s commands. Even the doors used fingerprint scanners. There was no entertainment electronics—to ensure students’ focus on their studies—like TVs, smartphones, or anything like that. Though there was an Academy-exclusive screen used to help students with their learning, such as reviewing the classes taught the previous day.

There were also flying objects. Not outdated flying brooms, but mostly like flying cars, motorbikes, skateboards, and even shoes. They used magic stones as the medium to make things fly. Especially in large cities, flying objects were everywhere. The technology mixed with magic was vast and varied.

This also applied to animals. Not just ordinary animals, but creatures from fairy tales as well. Like winged ponies or round, fluffy creatures. They were magical beings categorized as safe by experts. Some people even befriended them.

Sizhu headed to the bathroom. He soaked in the tub, washing away the grime (So that when he met that beautiful woman later, she wouldn't sniff him out again). The mountain water felt cool. He didn’t linger, finishing his bath. Sizhu put on the clothes Luxia had given him the other day: a white shirt, long black pants, and a black, sleeved robe. There was even a matching jacket in the closet. If he recalled correctly, there were plenty of men’s shirts in the wardrobe as well. Perhaps he would wear one another day. He took a moment to look in the mirror, tying his hair back so it wouldn’t be a mess.

All set, Sizhu was ready to face the day.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door.

"Are you awake, Sizhu?"

A soft female voice came from behind the door. It was Luxia.

Sizhu quickly went to the source of the voice, opening the door.

"Good morning." Luxia smiled, greeting him.

"Morning," Sizhu replied briefly.

"Ara~ You look good in those clothes. I’m happy to see it."

Sizhu didn’t know what to say. He rarely spoke to people, especially to the opposite sex.

He gave a small nod.

Luxia smiled, a sweet smile.

"Let’s have breakfast. I’ve cooked something special today."

Sizhu followed Luxia. Don’t forget the wooden longstick he always carried. Leaving the dormitory, they walked through the Academy’s courtyard, where there was a fountain. Some students were exercising a bit, practicing their magic, or jogging. Others were still in their rooms, either studying or still asleep. Classes at the Academy started at ten o’clock, giving them plenty of time to do what they wanted.

The Academy was vast, extremely vast. From one end of the mountain pass to the other was Academy territory. The distance was no less than fifty kilometers. It wasn’t just classrooms or school-related buildings; there were also shops like cafes, supermarkets, clothing stores, and other shops. The buildings blended seamlessly with the mountains, creating a striking contrast. The middle of the pass served as a walkway for pedestrians and bridges to cross the river.

At night, the place turned into a mini city nestled in the mountain pass. The river below was left as it was. The water was so clear that you could see koi fish swimming by from the roadside barriers. The road was made of white stone, matching the color of the cliffs.

At the top of the mountain stood the majestic headquarters of the Chinese Hunter Agency. It resembled Buddhist temples, only larger and more numerous. The architectural design remained true to the typical Chinese temple style.

Luxia and Sizhu boarded a pentagon-shaped stone platform, large enough for five adults to stand on. The pentagonal stone slowly rose, floating towards a wooden house near the peak. There was a waterfall beside the house and also a plum tree. Only this place was the highest; the rest were below, offering a fantastic view.

Unlike the others, this wooden house looked very normal and minimalist. A small pond had formed above the waterfall. There was a wooden bridge connecting both sides of the pond, with a small gazebo in the middle for sitting.

When they arrived, Sizhu was instructed to sit in the gazebo, waiting for Luxia to bring the meal.

"Sorry for the wait~" Luxia arrived, carrying a pot of steaming hot meat soup, Hulatang. The steam wafted through the air, arousing their appetite. She also brought two bowls of rice and green tea. For dessert, Luxia presented an assortment of dim sum.

Sizhu couldn’t wait to dig in. He had been used to his teacher’s cooking, which was sometimes raw and bitter.

With all the food set on the table, they began to eat together.

Luxia started by saying a prayer.

Sizhu watched, curious. "What are you doing?"

"This is called praying. We must give thanks to the gods for providing us with food. A prayer is a way of expressing our gratitude to them," Luxia kindly explained.

Sizhu nodded, starting to follow Luxia’s lead.

"Let’s eat."

Twenty minutes passed, accompanied by light conversation on this early morning. Before they knew it, all the food was gone. Luxia began to clear the table, washing the dirty dishes in the house. Sizhu helped her. It didn’t feel right to be invited to eat without doing anything in return. At least washing dishes was easy.

They washed the dirty cooking utensils together. It almost felt like they were a married couple.

In the middle of washing dishes, they heard the sound of a ringing phone. Luxia quickly answered her phone, leaving the rest of the cleaning to Sizhu.

"Good morning, Miss Luxia."

"Ara~ Yes, good morning to you too. What can I do for you, Manager Jianying? It’s unusual for you to call this early. Is there an urgent matter?"

"Nothing. I was just curious if you had any free time right now, Miss?"

"Ah yes, of course~ The manager is here, isn't he? I'll be heading to the office shortly."

"Thank you for your time, Miss. I'll take my leave now."

The call ended. Sizhu had finished washing the dishes until they sparkled and put them away on the rack.

"I have to head down. Someone is waiting for me at the office. You may go wherever you like, Sizhu. Make yourself at home."

Sizhu nodded in understanding. But wait...

"I want to come down too. I don’t know how to operate that pentagonal stone board." Sizhu changed his mind. If Luxia left, he would be left alone at the mountain peak. He wouldn’t be able to go down on his own, and although there was a suspension bridge between the mountains, it was a long way down.

Luxia smiled and chuckled softly. "Let’s go down together."

They stepped outside, climbed onto the pentagonal stone board again, and slowly floated down, descending gently towards the Agency’s headquarters. When they arrived, they were still side by side. Entering the office, Manager Jianying was already waiting inside. He stood up immediately as Luxia entered, bowing respectfully.

"I, Manager Jianying, pay my respects."

"Ara~ No need to trouble yourself with such formalities, Manager," Luxia said as she took her seat.

"Understood." Manager Jianying sat back down, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Sizhu standing beside Luxia.

"Forgive me, Miss Luxia, if this sounds forward, but may I ask, who is this young man beside you?"

Manager Jianying's gaze held a hint of disdain as he looked at Sizhu. Sizhu returned his gaze with a calm, neutral expression.

"Oh, this is Sizhu. He will be by my side for the time being."

It was as if a bolt of lightning struck out of nowhere. Manager Jianying was shocked. That boy? Isn't he the one I was looking for yesterday? The boy with the wooden longstick, just as the villagers described. He carries that wooden longstick everywhere.

"With all due respect, Miss, I disagree. This boy—this child cannot protect you. He seems inexperienced. I fear you may be in danger with this child by your side." Manager Jianying voiced his concerns. He thought Sizhu didn’t understand what it meant to be by Luxia’s side, not realizing that Sizhu indeed had no idea what it meant to be her personal guard.

There was a time when Luxia had been attacked by a group—a nameless group that lured Luxia and her personal guard with a false report about the location of an Arch Witch. The report was fake, and the group surrounded Luxia, intending to kill her by any means.

Fortunately, Luxia survived without a scratch, but it came at a high cost. Her personal guards had to sacrifice themselves for her safety, leaving many of them severely injured and unable to continue serving as her protectors. This had happened more than once.

Moreover, Luxia wasn’t capable of fighting herself, so she needed a reliable personal guard when dealing with Hunter cases.

The question was, how could Luxia become the Head of the Hunter Division for all of China if she couldn’t fight?

The answer lay in her intelligence. Luxia was the most knowledgeable about magic and witches. She understood their habits and could predict their actions, preventing incidents from occurring. Dozens of Arch Witches had been hunted down in the two years since Luxia took over as the Head of the Hunter Division in China.

As a result, many cities and villages were peaceful again. Life became tranquil, free from threats. Technology and knowledge advanced rapidly. It could be said that over the past two years, China had become the safest place in the world. No place was as peaceful as the land of the bamboo curtain.

For these reasons, Luxia needed a personal guard she could rely on. She might be skilled in matters of magic, but she was vulnerable to humans. If she wasn’t careful, assassins would be after her head. Just a few days ago, another incident had occurred, and Luxia had lost her personal guard again.

"Ara~ no need to worry. I’m confident that Sizhu will be able to protect me," Luxia responded with a confident smile.

Manager Jianying didn’t seem to accept it. His gaze on Sizhu remained sharp.

"Then let's follow the old tradition. Let’s have a Zhàn dòu to determine who is worthy to be your personal guard, Miss. This time, I’ll enter myself as a candidate," Manager Jianying suggested.

Luxia replied calmly, "Very well, if it must be so. Summon all the branch heads. We’ll hold the tradition here tonight. The students will be eager to see the top Hunters."

"Understood, Miss. I’ll make all the necessary arrangements. I take my leave." Manager Jianying rose from his seat, bowed respectfully, and then exited the room.

"I’m sorry for involving you, Sizhu. It seems you’ll be forced to follow the old tradition," Luxia said, looking at Sizhu with a guilty expression. She should have explained this yesterday.

Sizhu shook his head. "It’s okay. As long as I can eat delicious food with you, I’m willing to protect you," Sizhu replied confidently.

Luxia seemed pleased to hear that. She smiled, this time looking slightly embarrassed.

"Xiè xiè..."

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