Zhuang Ling walked into the Principal's meeting room with a lot of doubts.
"Teacher Zhuang Ling, why are you here?" Hu Feng asked.
Zhuang Ling took a deep breath and sat down in front of Hu Feng, saying, "Principal, I have something that I wanted to ask you about."
Hu Feng nodded and said, "Ask ahead." Tianlan College had won first place in the Hundred Schools Competition, so Hu Feng was in a good mood and would often greet everyone with a smile on his smile.
"Is it possible for a mage to be able to practice both light and dark magic simultaneously?" Zhuang Ling said.
Hu Feng's eyes widened, and he looked at Zhuang Ling, "Teacher Zhuang Ling, why would you have these kinds of thoughts? Light magic and dark magic are both complete opposites, if a person were to practice these two types of magic at the same time, they should've already become a waste."
Zhuang Ling twisted her brow, and said, "Is there really no possibility? Zhuang Hao can practice both fire and water magic, water and fire are also complete opposites."
"How is that the same? Zhuang Hao is a level seven mage, and his physique is able to balance the five elements [1]. He's an exception." Hu Feng said.
Zhuang Ling narrowed her eyes and said, "Principal, is there really no one in this world who possesses an innate talent for both light and dark magic?"
Hu Feng nodded and said, "Naturally, there are some. However, these people, even if they can train, at most they can only become a level three mage, any further and there would be problems."
"Principal, I heard that you've trained Qi Shaorong for a long time. Does Qi Shaorong not know how to use light magic?" Zhuang Ling asked directly.
Hu Feng stared at Zhuang Ling with a stunned expression and said, "Teacher Zhuang Ling, what exactly are you thinking?"
Zhuang Ling, "… Is there really no possibility?"
Hu Feng shook his head and said, "During the half-month that I trained Student Qi, Student Qi showed no signs of knowing any light magic. Shaorong is already this strong just by only knowing dark magic, if he really knows how to use light magic as well, then that would be way too heaven-defying!"
Zhuang Ling frowned and left with a distracted state of mind [2].
Yi Fan saw Zhuang Ling come out of Hu Feng's office and inadvertently frowned.
Yi Fan hesitated before walking into the Principal's office.
Hu Feng looked at Yi Fan, who had walked through the door, and asked, "Student Qian Mian, why did you come here, is there something you need?"
"I have some questions regarding magic and wanted to consult with the Principal."
Hu Feng nodded, and with a smile on his face, said, "If you have any questions, then just ask. This Principal will try my best to answer you. Although you and Student Qi have a lot of talent, you're still young and inexperienced, after all. In terms of knowledge and experience, this Principal should know much more than you…"
After the Hundred Schools Competition, Yi Fan and Qi Shaorong became the heroes of Tianlan College, and Hu Feng couldn't wait to help them.
Yi Fan smiled as he listened to Hu Feng brag about himself, and casually asked a few questions about water magic, before finally turning to the real matter at hand, "I just saw Teacher Zhuang Ling here."
Hu Feng gave a mysterious smile and said, "How did you take a fancy to Teacher Zhuang Ling? This school is very open-minded, and doesn't oppose a relationship between students and teachers. Teacher Zhuang Ling is very popular and there are many other instructors at the college who also like her. If Student Qian Mian likes Teacher Zhuang Ling, then you'll have to work hard."
[T/n: Sorry for inserting this in the middle of the text, but… Bruh, what?]
Yi Fan laughed dryly and said, "I don't know, for what reason did Teacher Zhuang Ling come looking for the Principal?"
"Zhuang Ling asked me if Qi Shaorong also knows how to practice light magic, I really don't know what's going through Zhuang Ling's mind. A mage who practices both light and dark magic, even before even reaching the sixth level, they'd have already wasted away," said Hu Feng, shaking his head.
Yi Fan lowered his head and secretly thought: Qi Shaorong had said before that Zhuang Ling seemed to have guessed his identity as the Ghost Doctor. However, it seems that because Qi Shaorong had revealed that he has a talent for dark magic, Zhuang Ling now has some doubts about her conjecture.
According to Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao's current situation, it would be best not to let other people know that Qi Shaorong and the Ghost Doctor are actually the same person. Since Zhuang Ling has some doubts about her hunch now, then there's still a chance to turn things around.
Hu Feng looked at Yi Fan, who was silent, and said a little confusedly, "Student Qian Mian, what are you thinking about?"
Yi Fan raised his head and said, "Nothing? I was just thinking about how Teacher Zhuang Ling has such a rich imagination."
Hu Feng nodded.
���Right, Principal, the students from Shenghuang University did not perform well this time!" After having already gotten the answers that he wanted, Yi Fan just casually said this.
"Not even! Of the Seven Imperial Talents, there were five participating in the competition. Zhuang Hao had his clothes stripped off by Qi Shaorong in the end, and even though Zhuang Hao that bastard lied to Qi Shaorong and won first place, his victory really wasn't that bright and upright. Chen Yuan had gotten kicked out on the first day, how could it get any more shameful than that? Qi Shaokang wasn't Qi Shaorong's opponent at all, and that guy is even supposed to be the older brother! Yi Huo's performance was mediocre, and Yi Bing was directly wasted by someone. Although this time Shenghuang University managed to keep second place, their reputation has taken a hit and is now dusting the floor." Hu Feng said gloatingly.
A flash of light passed through Yi Fan's eyes, "Principal, do you know who's the person who had plotted against Yi Bing?"
"Now that's really a huge problem! It's been said that Yi Bing had marked all his colourful stones. The Yi family used their family's power to examine the colourful stones of all the competitors, but the results of the inspection were that none of those particular colourful stones were among them." Hu Feng said.
Yi Fan narrowed his eyes. At the time, he had felt that those colourful stones would be a problem. Although it was a pity, he still threw all of Yi Bing's colourful stones off the cliff.
Yi Fan looked at Hu Feng and said, "So if it's like this, then they can't find the attacker?"
"Maybe the attacker is right by our sides." Hu Feng said to himself.
Yi Fan's heart stopped for a moment, and Hu Feng continued to say, "Among all of those powerful families, disputes between brothers are very common."
Yi Fan: "…" So the assailant who Hu Feng had said was right by their sides, was Yi Huo, and not him?
Hu Feng looked at Yi Fan and said, "Student Qian, are you okay?"
Yi Fan shook his head and said, "I'm fine."
Hu Feng looked at Yi Fan and said, "Student Qian Mian, would you be willing to be my disciple?" Hu Feng looked at Yi Fan with sparkling eyes. Yi Fan said with some surprise, "Principal, haven't you already accepted Qi Shaorong as your disciple?"
Hu Feng nodded, "It's true, but who's ever said that I can only have one disciple?"
Yi Fan laughed and called out, "Master."
Hu Feng patted Yi Fan's shoulders and said, "Good disciple."
"Disciple! Have you known Qi Shaorong for a long time?" Hu Feng asked.
Yi Fan nodded and said, "Yes, without Qi Shaorong there would be no me. Young Master Qi, he can be considered as my benefactor."
At that time, he had always thought that he had been born with no outstanding talents. He had no magic talent, his fighting skills were average at best, and was destined to live a mediocre life. It wasn't until he met Qi Shaorong that he found out that he wasn't without magical talents, and his combative strength actually wasn't that bad. His talents were originally very good, but someone had sabotaged him by secretly giving him medicine [3].
As for those in the Yi family who didn't like him and wanted to destroy him, he really didn't have to think too hard about it.
When he was younger, Yi Xun would always viciously tell him that it's because he didn't work hard enough, and his qualifications were too bad, so his mother was angered to death by him. Yi Fan narrowed his eyes. Was his mother really angered to death by him?
"I can see that you have a very close relationship with Qi Shaorong!" Hu Feng rubbed his nose, he's always felt like this disciple has a lot of deep secrets. If Qi Shaorong hadn't participated in the competition, then Qian Mian wouldn't have revealed himself either.
Hu Feng suddenly thought of something and said, "I never would've thought that the Qi family's waste was actually such a hidden talent. Speaking of which, doesn't the Yi family also have an ordinary Yi Fan! Who knows if he could also be a hidden expert [4]. That Yi Fan, seems to go to our college."
Yi Fan: "…"
"Master, you must be joking. How could Yi Fan be compared to Qi Shaorong?" Yi Fan's appearance was calm, but his heart couldn't help but twitch a little.
Hu Feng nodded and said, "That's right! A situation like Qi Shaorong's is something that surely is possible, but is unlikely to actually happen."
Yi Fan: "…"
Inside Qi Shaorong's courtyard.
"Master, these are the letters that have been sent to you during the past few days. I've already sorted them into different categories." Qi Heng said.
Qi Shaorong looked at the three piles of letters that were stacked with varying heights, pointed to one, and said, "What's in this stack?"
"Master, in this pile are invites that were sent from the Qi family, asking you to make a trip back to the Qi family." Qi Heng said.
Qi Shaorong pointed his finger [5], and a black flame burned, reducing the pile of letters to ashes, "Annoying."
Qi Heng looked at Qi Shaorong, and said, "Master, I'm afraid that the Qi family has already fixated on you."
Qi Shaorong unconcernedly said, "It's nothing, no matter how wide the Qi family's reach it, they won't be able to touch Tianlan College." The schools in the Imperial Capital were a special existence to many of the major families. No matter how angry the people from the Qi family are, they can't come to Tianlan College to find trouble.
"What's in this stack?" Qi Shaorong asked.
"Warning letters. You humiliated Zhuang Hao inside the secret dimension, so his admirers have a huge problem with you." Qi Heng said.
Qi Shaorong looked at the thick stack of letters and said, "In this world, it seems that there are many people who are muddle-headed like Yi Chuxue!"
Qi Heng nodded and said, "That's right! Several of the people in the letters said that they want to find you for a fight."
Qi Shaorong chuckled and said, "Let them come! If they dare to come, then I'll just teach them a lesson."
Qi Heng: "…"
"What's in this pile?" Qi Shaorong asked.
There was a bright smile on Qi Heng's face, "Master, this pile of letters is very impressive, can you guess what's in it?"
Qi Shaorong tilted his head and said, "Are they invitations inviting me out to eat?"
"It's a little different from that, these are courtship letters. Master, many people have set their eyes on you and want to chase you. Many of them also want to invite you out to eat." Qi Heng said.
Qi Shaorong raised an eyebrow and said, "Courtship letters! So it's like that."
This was actually the first time that he's received courtship letters since entering this world, and he's even received a lot. Although the thickness of the pile of letters was a little less than the threatening letters from the admirers of Zhuang Hao, it was still a good start.
"Master, would you like to look through some of these letters?" Qi Heng asked.
"No need, I only need to know that there are people out there who admire me. I mean, someone as peerlessly magnificent as this young master, how could there be no one chasing after me?" Qi Shaorong said.
Qi Heng: "…"
"I'm going to the library," said Qi Shaorong, picking up his clothes.
Qi Shaorong met Yi Fan at the highest-leveled area of the library, and learned of Zhuang Ling's matter from Yi Fan.
Upon hearing that Zhuang Ling was having some second guesses about him and the Ghost Doctor being the same person, Qi Shaorong quietly let out a breath of relief.
Although Zhuang Ling had said that she wouldn't intervene in the affairs between him and Zhuang Hao, it was uncomfortable knowing that someone else had a hold on one of his secrets. The identity of the Ghost Doctor was so convenient to use, and Qi Shaorong wasn't willing to let go of it just yet.
Footnotes:
Five elements: Water, wood, earth, fire, metal.
Distracted state of mind: The original has an interpretation that describes a state of panic, anxiety, or dysfunction, and can mean "to be driven to distraction."
Medicine: I'm so sorry, I never know how to translate the original Chinese word for "medicine" into English because it sounds way more sinister in Chinese than it does in English? "Medicine" can also be translated as "drugs" or the act of giving medicine to someone can also mean "to poison", but none of them really fit here.
Hidden expert: "Pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger", meaning to pretend to be a fool or vulnerbale so that your opponent overlooks you and taking the opportunity to win the final victory.
Qi Shaorong: The raws said Qi Heng, but that didn't really make sense in this context, because shouldn't Qi Shaorong be the one getting annoyed by the letters and destroying them? Let me know if I should change it back to the original "Qi Heng."