This year, Quankelai was held on May 13.
It happened to be Thursday.
This troubled Zheng Qing, who had five classes that day, for quite a while.
Fortunately, as in previous years, the aquatic folk still scheduled the market to open at night, sparing Zheng Qing the trouble of asking for leave. Since Quankelai's Invitation Letter was exempt from the school curfew, Zheng Qing did not rush into the market with the first wave of visitors as he had last year. Instead, he waited until evening classes ended before leaving campus.
Evening classes ended at nine.
By the time he reached Guest Bay, it was already nearly a quarter past nine. Several companions awaiting his Invitation Letter were clustered before the withered old oak at the end of the bay, staring blankly as though they had become dead trees themselves.
Only when Zheng Qing arrived did those dead trees roll their eyes.
"I told you already, I don't get out of class until nine..."
As Zheng Qing removed the Jia Ma Talismans tied to his legs—he had strapped on four of them to run faster—he seized the initiative and complained that his companions had arrived too early. "...What are you doing here so early?"
"Observing." Xiao Xiao shook the black hardbound notebook in his hand, expressionless.
"Bored." Fatty Xin drooped his eyelids and worked his cheeks. Noticing Zheng Qing's gaze, he casually pulled a candied apricot from his pocket and tossed it into his mouth.
"Watching witches." The Red-faced Male Wizard gave an answer utterly unlike his usual reputation.
Zheng Qing instinctively pulled out a Talisman of Evil Warding and waved it before Zhang Jixin, his tone carrying a hint of concern. "Have you been possessed or something? How could you say such nonsense?... Though I do think that was