Chapter 24: Shi Xing, New Task
“What do you think the school will do about this matter?”
The girl with twin braids held up her phone, showing Su Mu the online developments regarding the issue.
Su Mu gave her a surprised look. “Are you from C University too?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, the two were sitting in a restaurant, with a table full of fragrant dishes before them, sitting across from each other.
Su Mu knew that Shi Xing was not the type to easily get close to others. This was evident from the two times they had met in the elevator, during which she had never introduced herself.
Su Mu herself was also someone who maintained a certain distance from others.
Two equally aloof individuals sitting together should have had nothing to say to each other, making for an awkward and cold atmosphere, yet for some reason, the mood between them was quite harmonious, as if they were already friends.
Shi Xing had an indescribable magnetic field about her that made Su Mu not mind being with her.
In fact, Shi Xing felt the same way. Initially, she didn’t plan to engage much with Su Mu, but after exchanging a few words, she found herself talking more and more.
— Maybe they were destined to be friends?
This thought suddenly popped into her head, making Shi Xing find it a bit amusing. Someone like her, actually wanting friends?
“I haven’t seen you around school, so I was a bit surprised.” After speaking, Su Mu glanced at the phone and said indifferently, “I don’t know, but the previous methods of handling it will definitely have to change.”
“Of course,” Shi Xing put away her phone and smiled. “After all, it’s something that Witch Shanshan is paying attention to. But, speaking of which, the fact that Shanshan cares about this makes me like her even more.”
“Mm, me too,” Su Mu responded casually.
“If only I could meet her one day…” Shi Xing lowered her head, biting into a round dumpling, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster, making her words sound muffled. “I really, really want to meet Shanshan…”
Su Mu couldn’t see her expression clearly, but she was already accustomed to people’s admiration and reverence for witches in this world. Hearing this, she wasn’t surprised and tucked her hair behind her ear. “What would you do if you saw her? Want some healing potions?”
“Yes!” Shi Xing looked up. “Who wouldn’t want that? But let’s not talk about it. Anyway, someone like me will probably never get to meet her. By the way, Su Mu, who were those people yesterday? What were they doing? I was terrified when I saw them from afar!”
Su Mu glanced at Shi Xing. Meng Nian was a well-known figure in the school, so Shi Xing must have seen her from behind and not recognized her face.
“Nothing much, just some classmates dressed up in Witch Shanshan’s clothes trying to scare me.”
“I figured out they were dressed like Shanshan,” Shi Xing said. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to go over! What if they were some mysterious big shots?”
“Anyway, thank you,” Su Mu said sincerely.
Shi Xing looked at the girl’s cool yet genuinely grateful eyes, and her smile deepened. “It’s nothing! I wanted to get to know you ever since we met in the elevator, but I didn’t dare to approach you!”
On the dining table, a simple vase held vibrant flowers, surrounded by the warmth of human life. The girl opposite, wearing a checkered dress, spoke with a gentle yet lively tone. For some reason, Su Mu’s mood improved.
They chatted as they ate, and after a while, the conversation turned to their hobbies.
“I don’t really have anything I like. I lose interest quickly. What about you?”
Me?
Su Mu paused for a moment before saying, “I like magic.”
“Magic?” Shi Xing’s eyes widened slightly. “That sounds so cool! No wonder you seem so mysterious!”
Su Mu shook her head. She didn’t do it deliberately, but her voice still carried a hint of coldness. “It’s not cool or mysterious. Magic is just a way to deceive others and oneself.”
Shi Xing was stunned, feeling that there was something hidden in those words.
Clearly, she liked magic, so why describe it so coldly?
“Deceiving others and oneself”… That’s so pessimistic.
“How could it be?” she softened her voice. “Magic is like a miracle! It can easily surpass people’s imaginations and achieve things as wonderful as magic!”
Su Mu quietly responded, “I never believe in miracles.”
Never.
“…Then do you believe in witches?”
Su Mu lowered her eyes, her fair cheeks taking on a cold expression. “It’s not important.”
Shi Xing looked at her, speaking softly as if afraid of disturbing something. “There may be no miracles in this world, but people are born to create them.”
“…” Su Mu’s pupils contracted slightly.
“Alright! Let’s eat! No more talk about miracles or whatever. That’s for big shots to worry about! Just living each day well is already a great miracle!” Shi Xing stood up, bent down, and pinched Su Mu’s cheek. “Xiao Mumu, give me a smile!”
“…” Su Mu.
She pushed her back down. “Don’t touch me.”
Shi Xing made a funny face.
…
Meng Nian and the other two were expelled from school.
When Su Mu saw this result, her expression didn’t change at all.
For now, the witch’s identity was temporarily safe, and Meng Nian had basically disappeared from her life. The only things she needed to worry about were the herbalism exam and her long-term relief missions.
Strictly speaking, this was the most relaxed moment she had had since arriving in this other world.
However, Su Mu still had an unpleasant dream that night.
When she woke up, she stared blankly for a long time before the system’s voice brought her back to her senses.
“[Please accept the new task:
Purchase the following herbs: Dragon’s Tooth Grass, Asafetida, Bloodroot, Southern Snake Vine, Fennel, Borage…
Reward: Magic Bag ×10, Magic Circle ×1, Unlock the next page of the ‘Witch’s Code.’
Time limit: Two days.]
Su Mu quickly scanned through the list. There were over a hundred types of herbs she needed to buy. This was the first time she had received a task that could be solved simply with money.
Monday morning had no classes; her classes were in the afternoon. After quickly washing up, Su Mu prepared to start this task.
Reflecting on it, it felt quite magical.
A week ago, while confessing to Qi Sui, she had come into this body.
In just one week, she had experienced two live streams, collaborated with Feng Sa, met Shi Xing, moved out of the school, and brought Xiao Bu home…
Oh, and she also read over a thousand pages of herbalism textbooks combined.
Now, when Su Mu closed her eyes, her mind was filled with the properties of those herbs…
Agarwood, planetary attribute: gold, elemental attribute: water, power attribute: love and spirituality.
Dragon’s Tooth Grass, planetary attribute: wood, elemental attribute: wind, power attribute: protection and sleep.
Allspice, planetary attribute: fire, elemental attribute: fire, power attribute: money, luck, and healing.
Delphinium…
Actually, Su Mu had already guessed that what she was learning in herbalism was related to witchcraft.
Words like “protection” and “healing” were clear indicators.
However, without the ‘Witch’s Code’ showing the uses of the herbs, knowing this information didn’t tell her how to use it.
But this task made Su Mu feel that she might be about to delve into the realm of herbal witchcraft.
