Zheng Qing had become most familiar with Old Man Vernal among the university's staff.
After all, during his freshman year, he had spent many nights following behind the old man, patrolling around Linzhong Lake again and again. He saw and dealt with him even more often than with most of the professors who taught him.
Last year, because of an error during patrol duty, Old Man Vernal had been transferred from the Linzhong Lake Patrol Team to serve as a ferryman at Silent River. Later, when the You Zui Hunting Team took part in a trial mission, he became the manager of the hunting team's camp in Black Prison.
Zheng Qing had vaguely heard that because the disciplinary action against Old Man Vernal had never been revoked, he had been moved around so frequently. His position in the School Labor Committee Patrol Team had been frozen. That was why he was somewhat surprised to hear Xiao Xiao say that Old Man Vernal had patrol duty tonight.
"Suspension, reflection, demotion, lateral transfer, then reinstatement... a very standard internal disciplinary process. What's the problem?" The You Zui Hunting Team's diviner impatiently tapped the table. "Don't try to understand this with that simple, primitive binary brain of yours, all right? ...It's just that for now, he isn't responsible for Linzhong Lake's night patrols. He's in charge of Beta Town North District, with assistance from the North District Wizards."
The North District Wizards again.
The moment he heard that term, Zheng Qing immediately forgot about the old staff member walking a Shar-Pei and instead recalled last night's awful experience. His head began to ache.
While Zheng Qing was troubled and restless, one of the crows they had been hunting was also plagued by worries.
"Those children make me uneasy."
Although he had