Chapter 248 : Chapter 248

Chapter 248: Witch's Secret Realm

Hong Chenyi: Big Sis Xiao Han! You finally popped up!

We didn't see you after the competition ended!

Congratulations on winning first place in the exchange competition, Big Sis Xiao Han!

Yu Yetian: Congratulations

Dongli Yiren: Congratulations +1

Guan Qiuling: Congratulations +1

Yang Yuehan: Don't derail the topic. I'm asking if anyone wants me to bring them food?

Hong Chenyi: You should've said so earlier.

I wouldn't have gone out to eat.

But I can still eat a little more.

I'll have a serving of soup dumplings, with a vinegar packet on the side.

Dongli Yiren: No, not eating.

Guan Qiuling: Just a regular fried rice is fine.

If it's not on your way, you don't have to. I can order takeout.

Yu Yetian: Actually, there's food in the villa. I can cook for you all to try.

Hong Chenyi: Forget it, forget it.

After chatting with these guys in the group for a bit, I rode my broom straight back.

The food they wanted was actually near where we lived, not too far.

What considerate roommates I have.

"I'm back."

I pushed open the door to find that even though it was evening, the lights in the villa weren't on.

I flicked them on with a click and saw a group of people lying on the living room sofa.

"What are you guys doing huddled together in the dark? Having a silver party?"

"Wuwu, Big Sis Xiao Han, save the children! The villa is about to run out of electricity!"

"Hmm?"

I looked at Hong Chenyi running over like this, a bit bewildered by her words.

"Didn't I tell you where to recharge the villa's energy? There are several of you, even if you only have one Magic Power Source, it should be enough, right?"

"But we have to save it. I didn't know the magic power consumption was so fast. We don't dare to use it too much. We had to go to an empty classroom to watch your livestream, Big Sis Xiao Han."

"You guys have it pretty rough then."

I opened our villa's magic power meter and saw there were still several units of magic power left.

"Yeah, the few of us have been completely drained by this thing. We have no magic power left at all," Hong Chenyi said.

"The count on that meter is our last bit of magic power."

"You should have told me about this earlier."

I held the spot that absorbed magic power, and the counter began to rise slowly.

The speed wasn't fast, at least it was very gentle compared to a spellbook.

"By the way, Big Sis Xiao Han, have you already reached a thousand Magic Power Sources?"

"I did just break a thousand," I nodded.

"That's for sure. Xiao Han can even use Super Consumption Spellbooks. It must be over a thousand," Dongli Yiren retorted from the side.

"Anyway, with Big Sis Xiao Han around, we don't have to save anymore! I'm going to turn on Little Workhorse right now!"

Hong Chenyi skipped over to the smart housekeeper and turned on its charging dock.

"By the way, Big Sis Xiao Han, why is this thing called Little Workhorse? That name sounds so..."

Hong Chenyi asked as she placed the smart housekeeper, which looked like a robot vacuum, onto it.

"I was too lazy to name it, so I just used its previous name. If you're curious, you can ask the senior from the previous year, but you'll have to find out who lived here before us."

I shrugged, indicating that I didn't know.

"Alright... Aiya Having magic power reserves is so convenient. Then I'll eat first."

Hong Chenyi opened the bag I brought, tossing the fried rice box to Guan Qiuling, while her soup dumplings were underneath.

"Xiao Han, you're back so soon?"

At this moment, Yu Yetian walked out of the kitchen, still wearing an apron and holding a plate of stir-fried green vegetables.

"Yeah, you... you're cooking? Are you eating alone?"

"Didn't they eat too? And it's not just me eating. Dongli Yiren, dinner's ready."

I watched as Dongli Yiren was called and walked into the kitchen.

So she was eating with Yu Yetian...

"I cooked a lot. Guan Qiuling, you have some too, as a side dish."

After I finished recharging the magic power, I lay down on the sofa and chatted with them.

After all, I hadn't seen them for a few days, so I kind of missed them.

But as the conversation went on, it completely shifted towards me.

And from them, I heard that I had a new title.

The original title of Myriad Spell Witch had constantly changed over the past two or three days of the exchange competition, and eventually, it became Calamity Witch.

Alright... This was getting a bit confusing for me, but I didn't care what others called me.

But don't just make things up.

This title made me sound like a witch who brought disaster.

I'm not that scary, am I?

After we each complained for a while, the topic shifted again.

"It's not that I'm saying it, Big Sis Xiao Han, but that ex-girlfriend of yours was a bit too much, wasn't she?"

"But... Big Sis Xiao Han, since you have an ex-girlfriend, does that mean you used to be..."

"Is that important? I never said."

I immediately played dead.

"No, Big Sis Xiao Han, if you had told us earlier, would we have had to go through all this? We're all brothers in one dorm!"

"Yeah... that's right, Big Sis Xiao Han..."

"We're already in the Witch Academy, and you're still calling us brothers? Don't overthink it. I just felt it was time to say goodbye to the past."

"Hong Chenyi... stop talking..."

Guan Qiuling whispered from the side.

"I can understand Big Sis Xiao Han. After all, Big Sis Xiao Han's past life... alright, alright, let's not talk about it. But Big Sis Xiao Han, if you have anything on your mind, you can tell us. Although we might not be able to help you solve it, it's always better to talk it out than to keep it bottled up. Just like me, Big Sis Xiao Han, don't you trust me? Is there anything I haven't told you, Big Sis Xiao Han? I used to be a simp!"

"A simp?"

Guan Qiuling looked at Hong Chenyi with curiosity overflowing from her expression.

"Aiya, alright then, I'll tell you all my story again. This is the scourge of my dad's generation!"

Hong Chenyi didn't mind telling us her glorious past deeds again, which involved Shi Huiyu, who was also a contestant in this exchange competition.

"Let me tell you, as soon as the competition was over, I asked her out for a meal. Aiya, it was so wonderful. Although she's not my girlfriend anymore... she's better than a girlfriend. You don't know, she even mentioned Big Sis Xiao Han to me during the meal!"

"And then?"

Guan Qiuling had now transformed into a gossipmonger.

Her usual low-presence demeanor had completely disappeared.

But she was probably only like this in front of people she was familiar with.

"There's no 'and then'. Anyway, I feel like her opinion of me has changed a bit. In short, thank you, Big Sis Xiao Han, for being the matchmaker!"

"Why are you thanking me? I didn't say anything."

"I'm in the same dorm as you, Big Sis Xiao Han. This is basking in your glory! By the way, Big Sis Xiao Han, after this exchange competition, do you have any other plans? Are you going to continue as before? By the way, Big Sis Xiao Han, what have you been up to? Were you secretly studying hard behind our backs?"

"Yeah, that was the case before," I nodded.

"After all, I have course exemptions. I can't just lie around here like a corpse, can I?"

"Big Sis Xiao Han, please take me with you when you're studying hard! I want to out-study others too!"

"I don't think so. And after the exchange competition, I don't plan to be like before. I'm preparing to change my approach and do something else," I said.

"Then what are you going to do, Big Sis Xiao Han? I can definitely do it. Look, Big Sis Xiao Han, you're a newcomer, and I'm a newcomer too. The gap isn't that big. I can definitely do it too!"

After Hong Chenyi finished speaking, she looked at the others.

"What about you guys? Say something?"

"At least I wouldn't pester Xiao Han like this," Yu Yetian said.

"Everyone has their own things to do. You can't force others."

"It's not that I don't want to take you guys. The place I'm planning to go to is the Witch's Secret Realm. Have you heard of this place?"

I said.

"Witch's... Secret Realm? What's that?"

"Don't worry about it, a secret realm! It sounds like a place with good stuff! Big Sis Xiao Han, please, take me with you. I'll be on the side cheering you on!"

Hong Chenyi pleaded with me.

"Alright! You rascal."

I pushed Hong Chenyi's head away.

"You don't even know what that place is, and you're already clamoring to go? Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"What? Dying? Really? Don't scare me!"

Hong Chenyi was directly scared by my words, but she quickly calmed down.

"Of course it's true. But... speaking of the Witch's Secret Realm, it's a reward left for the academy by graduated seniors. Inside, there are usually unused things left by that senior, like spellbooks, Magic Power Sources, and even a lot of materials, notes, research project materials, and so on."

"Huh? Then I should go even more! I'm lacking Magic Power Sources and spellbooks!"

"Hold on, don't forget what a secret realm is for. It's a trial left by past seniors! Only those who pass the trial can get the benefits. Don't forget, graduated seniors are Transcendent Witches. How can the secret realms they leave behind be simple? And even if they were simple, would they still be left for you?"

"Ah, that... makes a lot of sense..."

Hong Chenyi sighed, having no choice but to accept reality.

But even after accepting reality, Hong Chenyi remained very determined.

"Big Sis Xiao Han, I still want to see the world! Please take me with you! A horse doesn't get fat without night grass. If I just follow the rules, I'll only be as mediocre as everyone else. I don't want to be mediocre!"

Hong Chenyi said, clinging tightly to my thigh.

"You... sigh."

This was the first time I had seen Hong Chenyi like this.

But since she was so insistent on going, I didn't mind.

After all, those who could persevere would always be rewarded.

And those who couldn't persevere could just continue to rot in the dorm.

This was also a way to see a person's character.

Those who are willing to work hard will shine wherever they go, and sometimes they just need a chance.

Perhaps this was a great attempt to build a better relationship with these guys in the dorm.

I had clearly said that I would say goodbye to everything in the past, start a new life, change

myself, and start trying to make friends, but it was a pity that the progress was not ideal.

And now, the opportunity was right in front of me.

"Alright then... but you should have classes, right?"

"I don't have classes every day, and on the days I do have classes, I don't have them all day."

"Xiao Han... may I ask if you can take me with you when you go?"

Yu Yetian suddenly interjected.

"Hmm?"

I hesitated for a moment, looking at Yu Yetian.

She had just said she wouldn't trouble me.

Why did she change her mind now?

"I'm sorry. If it's too much trouble, please ignore my previous request."

"It's nothing. Actually, I've never been there either. If you want to go, just tell me. But let me tell you all beforehand, the teacher told me about the Witch's Secret Realm, and it might not be suitable for you. To go there, you need to have a certain level of combat ability. And for low-grade students like us, we'll basically lose everything we put in. Plus, there's a fee to enter the secret realm."

"There's a fee?"

Dongli Yiren said.

Perhaps she was also a bit tempted just now?

But as soon as she heard that she had to pay, her reaction was so strong.

By the way, was Dongli Yiren out of money?

After all, I had seen her working part-time at the maid cafe before.

I even saved her dark history.

"The fee isn't very high. If you go with me, I can pay for you."

"Paying and all that, you don't have to bother spending your money, Big Sis Xiao Han."

"Are you sure?"

I turned to look at Hong Chenyi.

"The admission fee for the Witch's Secret Realm is in Red Copper, and the more expensive ones even require Arcanite Gold. The money we usually use isn't accepted there, you know?"

"Huh? Arcanite Gold? Red Copper? What are those?"

"These are common transcendent materials. Not just Red Copper and Arcanite Gold, there's also Mithril. But for us, these transcendent materials are still very expensive. We can buy Red Copper with our usual money, but Mithril and Arcanite Gold are not necessarily available."

Yu Yetian explained to these guys.

"This... is the academy's currency a different monetary system?"

"No, it's the currency used in the transcendent world. It's not just used in the Witch Academy, but also in other transcendent academies."

"Then it's over. I can only sell myself to Big Sis Xiao Han..."

Hong Chenyi said with a sad face.

"I've already said, I'm not short on this bit of money. If you want to give it a try, you can tell me. But don't mess around when you're there. I don't mind if you can't help. If you're just going with the mentality of playing around, I won't take you with me in the future," I said as a precaution.

"Yeah! Big Sis Xiao Han, you're so nice! I'll definitely repay you when I make it big in the future, Big Sis Xiao Han!"

"I don't care how you repay me. Anyway, you guys should go and learn a little about the Witch's Secret Realm yourselves. The Witch's Secret Realm Club is related to it. You can get a lot of information by following that club. I'll probably go and test the waters tomorrow."

"Eh? So soon? I still have classes tomorrow."

"Then I can't help you. Anyway, I'm going to wash up and sleep. I haven't slept well these two days. Yawn, I'm sleepy. I spent most of the afternoon in the library today," I said, yawning as I prepared to go upstairs.

"Big Sis Xiao Han should indeed get more sleep. During the exchange competition, you... wait? Big Sis Xiao Han, what did you just say? Spent most of the afternoon in the library? You're out-studying us again? It's not that I'm complaining, Big Sis Xiao Han, but you just finished the competition. Everyone else is relaxing, why are you studying so hard?"

"So what if I out-study you all? Great power requires an equivalent price. Don't just see my glorious side," I said to them with a smile, shaking my head.

Watching me go upstairs, Hong Chenyi also felt speechless.

This wasn't how you were supposed to out-study people!

"We... we have an involution king in our dorm. Don't you guys want to say something?"

"What else can we say? It only means you're not working hard enough, or you're working hard in the wrong direction. The fact that Xiao Han is willing to take us with her is enough to show a lot of things. We have to seize this opportunity," Yu Yetian said seriously to Hong Chenyi.

"Xiao Han could have just ignored you. But thank you for your efforts, which also let us benefit. Have some of my cooking."

"I'm not eating it. Do you ascetics not even add salt?"

"One should not consume too much salt every day."

"According to you, there would be too many dishes in the world that wouldn't exist! Eating one meal would put you in salt debt for several days! You ascetics are truly terrifying."

At this moment, I had already returned to my bedroom, brought my things, and walked into the bathroom.

I really should take a good bath.

As the warm water flowed over my body, I looked at myself in the reflection of the bathroom.

I had to say that I was indeed very tempting at this moment.

But the bathroom was indeed a very suitable place to think about life.

After all, the feeling of hot water showering the whole body was indeed very relaxing.

Once my mind was empty, I would think about the meaning of existence, and my mind was full of telling these guys about my past.

"It's just that I don't have to pretend anymore. Is this the feeling of letting go?"