Chapter 145: The Legend of Ji Lin
After Himeko's outburst finally subsided, a brief, heavy silence fell over the teachers' lounge.
"Himeko, it looks like a few more high-quality bachelors just joined the matchmaking group. Want to go as a group or something?" a fellow single teacher, about the same age as Himeko, asked as she leaned against her desk.
"Ah... maybe not. I haven't really been in the mood for that lately." A flicker of hesitation crossed Himeko's face before she politely declined the invitation.
"Oh? What's this? Decided to become a nun?" the teacher teased, a playful glint in her eyes. "Or... have you already found someone who makes your heart flutter? I saw you out drinking with that Rovel from your class yesterday. Could it be..." She let her words hang in the air, her expression a mask of pure mischief.
"Tsk. I got rejected, alright? Happy now?" Himeko shot her a thoroughly dissatisfied glare.
"Huh? For real? That's fantastic!" The other teacher's face lit up with an almost cruel degree of happiness. After all, the celebratory dinner one was obligated to attend—and pay for—when a colleague finally escaped singlehood was a bitter pill to swallow.
"What? Are you interested in him or something?" Himeko raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"Don't worry, I won't fight you for him; he's not my type. I like them more masculine," her friend said with a dismissive wave. "It just so happens there are two fitness coaches in the group this time. That physique, those muscles..." She made an exaggerated slurping sound.
"Ahem. Well, since you're not coming, I'm going to get all dolled up today and try to win one of them over in a single go!" the teacher declared, her spirits soaring.
Every time she had dragged Himeko along in the past, Himeko was invariably the most eye-catching woman there. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful among their circle of single female teachers. And why did they keep inviting her? Wasn't the fact that someone so stunning still couldn't find a partner a strange sort of psychological comfort for the rest of them?
"Honestly..." Himeko sighed, pressing her fingers to her forehead.
Just then, another teacher poked her head into the lounge. "Himeko, the Headmaster wants to see you in her office."
"Got it," Himeko responded, pushing herself off her desk and heading towards Theresa's office.
She pushed open the door to find the diminutive Headmaster hunched over her desk, carefully examining a tattered, yellowed scroll.
"Theresa, did you need something?"
"Come take a look at this. It's something I finally managed to dig up from the archives." Theresa didn't even look up, merely gesturing for Himeko to come closer.
Himeko leaned over the desk, her gaze falling upon the unfurled scroll. The characters inscribed on it were ancient, a script so archaic that even Himeko, a top graduate from Caltech who had taught at St. Freya Academy for years, could barely recognize a few of the symbols.
"Is this... ancient Shenzhou script?" Himeko asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Correct," Theresa confirmed, her voice tight with excitement. "The text on this scroll dates back to the era of the Yellow Emperor. It was written by an ancient scholar named Shennong, and it records the legend of the Yellow Emperor herself, Ji Lin."
Theresa pointed a delicate finger at a specific passage. "According to these records, Ji Lin possessed mysterious tattoos on her body that granted her miraculous power."
Her words hung in the air, and their implication struck Himeko with the force of a physical blow.
"The description of these tattoos in the ancient text is remarkably similar to the legendary 'Stigmata'," Theresa continued, her eyes gleaming. "In other words, if we can find the Yellow Emperor's tomb, it's possible we might find the natural Stigmata left on her body!"
Theresa's words sent a jolt of renewed hope through Himeko.
"The text says that the Yellow Emperor used these mysterious tattoos to repel invading monsters. She finally fought a decisive battle with a great beast called 'Chiyou'in a place known as'Jiuyou'. There was no news of her after that."
"So, the Yellow Emperor's remains are likely in Jiuyou?" Himeko immediately seized on the key piece of information.
"And Jiuyou is located in the 'Demon Capital' of Shenzhou—Nanwu City!" Theresa declared. "But this scroll only gives us the general area. You'll have to find the more specific location yourselves."
She finally looked up, her gaze meeting Himeko's. "Rovel and Fu Hua are both from Shenzhou and will be more familiar with the region. If you've made up your mind to go, you should ask them to accompany you."
"...There's no rush," Himeko said, her mind already racing as she carefully rolled up the ancient scroll. "Isn't the Shenzhou New Year coming up soon? Let's go during the holiday."
"Then you'd better tell them in advance," Theresa urged. "Otherwise, they might vanish the second the holiday starts."
"I know," Himeko replied with a casual wave, already walking out the door.
"Hooray! I passed!"
Kiana leaped into the air, pumping her fists in triumph. Her all-night study sessions, bolstered by the patient tutoring of her friends, had not been in vain. She had finally managed to scrape by with a passing grade.
"Now I don't have to take a make-up exam! So, where are we going to go for fun?" Kiana asked impatiently, her energy already rebounding.
"Hmm... I haven't decided yet," Mei said thoughtfully, turning to the others. "Let's ask Rovel and Bronya."
"The Bronya wishes to stay at home and play games until the concepts of day and night become meaningless," Bronya stated flatly, giving a small thumbs-up.
"That really is Bronya's style..." Mei's mouth twitched into a wry smile.
"I promised Himeko I'd go to Shenzhou to search for Ji Lin's remains," Rovel said with a shrug.
"Ji Lin... that name sounds so familiar," Kiana muttered, tapping her chin. "Oh! I remember! Isn't she the one I saw in the Schicksal database last time? The first human in history with the power to fight the Honkai!"
"Not bad, Kiana. You've definitely improved. No wonder you passed," Rovel commented with an approving nod.
"Hehe!" Kiana rubbed her nose, beaming with pride. "But why are you looking for her remains?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"We're not exactly looking for her remains," Rovel clarified. "We're mainly searching for her Stigmata. Remember what I told you before? The reason the Yellow Emperor was so powerful is very likely because she had awakened a natural Stigmata."
"Why don't... we all go to Shenzhou together?" Mei suggested gently. "I've never experienced a Shenzhou New Year before."
"If Sister Mei leaves, then the Bronya will have to eat cafeteria food..." Bronya's eyes widened slightly. "The Bronya is going!" she seconded decisively.
"The place we're heading to this time is Nanwu City," Rovel added, a knowing smile on his face. "Their local specialty is morning tea, which is also quite good."
"Drinking tea in the morning? What a strange custom," Kiana said, clearly misunderstanding.
"Drinking tea is only part of it," Rovel explained, his voice taking on the cadence of a seasoned gourmand. "There's also the food. Imagine delicate shrimp dumplings with translucent skins, savory braised chicken feet that melt in your mouth, sweet water chestnut cakes, and all kinds of steamed buns..."
"I'm going too!" Kiana's hand shot up, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Honestly, do you all think this is some kind of vacation?" Himeko's voice cut in as she walked over, pressing her fingers to her temple. "Rovel, Fu Hua, and I are going on a mission. We don't have time to play around with you."
However...
"Boss! Another order of durian puffs!" Kiana shouted cheerfully from a bustling teahouse in Nanwu City.
Himeko slumped in her chair, utterly dejected. They had been here for three days, and the only thing they had found was every dim sum restaurant in a five-kilometer radius.
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