I flew on a sword at the magic academy

Chapter 76 The Big Business of Catching Ghosts

Ancient sages believed that "human nature is evil, and goodness is feigned." Without the restraint of morality and law, people would be driven by their inner desires and do things that harm others.

At this point, Shi Daohan gave another example, saying, "If you pay close attention, you will find that some newborn children are not actually kind."

"They have no reverence for life. If you give them a sparrow, or a kitten or puppy, they will abuse it to death in no time."

"Do they know they are abusing a life? Do they know that what they are doing is cruel? No, because they have just come into this world and do not yet have a standard for measuring good and evil."

"Therefore, education, moral standards, and laws are needed to curb the evil in their hearts."

Kalman listened attentively, nodding repeatedly, finding it very reasonable.

"Is human nature inherently good or inherently evil?" Kalman felt that both of these completely contradictory viewpoints made a lot of sense.

Shi Daohan picked up an apple from the table, took a bite, and continued, "The views that human nature is inherently good and inherently evil seem to be contradictory, but they are actually just extensions of the ancient sages' exploration of human nature. There is no right or wrong."

As he spoke, Shi Daohan dipped his fingertip in some tea and drew a Tai Chi symbol on the table, saying, "That's why sages used the theory of Yin and Yang to apply these two perspectives. Yin contains Yang, and Yang contains Yin; they are opposites yet intertwined and inseparable. Doesn't this correspond to the complexity and variability of human nature?"

Kalman was in a daze and couldn't help but sigh, "The ancient sages of your Eastern China were all philosophers of great wisdom."

Shi Daohan nodded: "Yes, the ancient sages and wise men were all people of great wisdom. The classic works they left behind have become a precious treasure for us, the people of later generations."

"By the way, have you finished reading all the books I gave you before?" Shi Daohan suddenly asked.

She had previously compiled some basic points about cultivation into a booklet, as well as translated books on divination, medicine, fate, physiognomy, and fortune telling, and gave them to Kalman. She wondered how the boy was doing with his studies.

She's been busy with the cultivation course lately, and only remembered this matter today, so she thought she'd give it a quick check.

Kalman shook his head, saying frankly that there was just too much content. He had only finished reading the first book yesterday, and he hadn't even fully grasped the knowledge in it yet.

"However, I have become quite familiar with some of the herbs needed for alchemy," Kalman said, sharing his findings.

Upon hearing this, Shi Daohan waved his hand, and more than a dozen fragrant medicinal herbs appeared on the table. He smiled and said, "Then tell me, what kind of medicinal herbs are needed to concoct a single Tranquilizing Pill?"

Kalman pondered for a moment and said, "To concoct a calming pill, you need dragon bone leaves, calming grass, he shou wu vine, and cypress root. It seems that only these four herbs are needed."

Shi Daohan smiled and nodded, adding, "This is just a basic version of the calming pill. To achieve better results, you'll need to add two more herbs: Clear Heart Snow Lotus Seed and Sitting Meditation."

Just then, an owl flew in through the window, carrying a letter in its beak.

"This is a letter from Dean Donaldson. What does he want with you?" Kalman asked, leaning closer with a look of surprise.

Shi Daohan opened the letter, glanced at its contents, and said, "It only says that I need to go to his residence, but it doesn't say what it's about."

On the way to the academy master's residence, Shi Daohan encountered Shen Tianyu and Jing Xinyu.

"Did Headmaster Donaldson also contact you?"

The three of them said in unison that they were all somewhat surprised.

"Why would he contact all three of us at the same time?"

"Who knows? We'll find out when we get there."

The three traveled together, but they disliked each other intensely and didn't exchange a single word, the air thick with tension.

They finally arrived at Donaldson's residence, and the atmosphere among the three eased somewhat. They put their arms around each other's shoulders, tried their best to act friendly, and walked in chatting and laughing.

"You've arrived." Headmaster Donaldson looked up at the three of them, gestured for them to find seats, and without waiting for them to ask any questions, went straight to the point: "I've called you three here today mainly because I have a favor to ask you."

As he spoke, he took out several photos from the drawer and placed them in front of Shi Daohan and the other two.

Upon seeing the images in the photos, Shi Daohan and the others changed color slightly.

That was captured by surveillance cameras. It appears to be a corridor in a hotel, with a figure in the corridor. The figure is very blurry, almost transparent, and only a partial outline can be barely seen.

"These photos were taken by the surveillance cameras at the Latafia Hotel. As you can see, paranormal events have occurred in this hotel. Whether it's a ghost or a spirit, the figure in the photos is definitely not a living person," said Headmaster Donaldson.

"Why are you showing us these things? You're not expecting us to solve these problems, are you?" Shen Tianyu said.

As soon as he finished speaking, Dean Donaldson nodded and said, "As you all know, the institutions in the normal world can't handle such paranormal events, so the Latafia Hotel contacted our academy, wanting us to solve them."

Jing Xinyu spoke softly, "Organizations in the normal world can't solve this, but don't you have the Magic Guild? It's not our place to solve this, is it?"

She has lived in the West for some time and has a certain understanding of the system here.

"Because the Latafia Hotel contacted my academy directly, we can handle this matter directly. Only if we are unable to handle it can the Magic Guild take over from us," Headmaster Donaldson explained.

In the normal world, paranormal events often occur in hotels, hospitals, and schools, and these places usually contact people from magic academies to handle and resolve them.

Once a magic academy takes over, the magic guild cannot interfere.

This is also a way for most magic academies to earn extra money.

"But there are so many students in the academy, why were the three of us chosen?" Shi Daohan asked with a puzzled look.

Dean Donaldson said, "Besides the three of you, Fiona and Locke will also be going with you."

Upon hearing that Locke was also going to join them, Shi Daohan's eyes narrowed slightly, and she stared at Dean Donaldson with a strange expression.

Meanwhile, a strange light flashed in Jing Xinyu's beautiful eyes.

"I only have one question: how much benefit will I get after this is done?" Shen Tianyu asked the question that concerned her the most.

Dean Donaldson held up three fingers and said, "Thirty thousand magic stones."

"What! Thirty thousand?!" Shen Tianyu jumped up from her seat.

Magic Stones can be exchanged for Basic Spirit Stones at a 1:1 ratio, so 30,000 is equivalent to 30,000 Basic Spirit Stones!

[Good heavens! Just catching a ghost and I got 30,000 basic spirit stones! Are these Westerners really this generous?!] Shen Tianyu exclaimed in his heart.

Even Shi Daohan and Jing Xinyu were stunned by this number, their eyes widening in disbelief.

They weren't naive people, and 30,000 spirit stones wasn't a small sum for them. They just caught a ghost and got 30,000 basic spirit stones. That's making money way too fast!

"You don't need to be surprised. This Latafia Hotel is an asset under the Angelo family. Although there are no magicians in this family, they have been in business for generations and have plenty of money, so they are very generous," Headmaster Donaldson said with a smile.

"I'll take this job!" Shen Tianyu said.

He was a sword cultivator, and sword cultivators were the most expensive of all the systems because they spent almost all their spirit stones on the chains of their natal flying swords.

During his time cultivating on Donghua Mountain, he often went down the mountain to help people catch ghosts to earn extra money because he lacked spirit stones. He would then use the money he earned to exchange for spirit stones at the Zhenfu Division, and use the spirit stones to buy various materials to repair and refine his own flying sword.

In China, a single ghost-catching job might only yield a few hundred spirit stones, which is pitifully little compared to the average.

Shen Tianyu and Jing Xinyu went back to pack their equipment. After they left, Shi Daohan looked at Dean Donaldson with a serious expression and said:

"I don't see anything wrong with you bringing Fiona with us; it's not a bad thing to take her out and broaden her horizons. But what's the point of bringing Locke along? You know his situation."

The origin of the strange power within Locke's body remains unclear, and it is entirely unpredictable what kind of changes it might trigger if stimulated in any way.

Moreover, he is very likely the vessel for the reincarnation of the Demon Lord. The witch Jing Xinyu will also be traveling with him. Who knows what will happen during this time?

"This is the result of my careful consideration. We can't keep him in a greenhouse forever. Only by letting him listen, see, and experience can he grow up faster," Headmaster Donaldson said calmly.

Shi Daohan was speechless with anger. He said, "What good is it if he grows up? Even I can't do anything about that strange power. Do you think that if he grows up, he can fight against it? It's just turning a fragile container into a slightly stronger one. You're just grasping at straws in your desperation."

"Don't you Chinese have an old saying, 'Put yourself in a desperate situation and you will survive'?" Dean Donaldson quoted an old Chinese saying in response to Shi Daohan.

"That makes sense, but the risks involved are simply beyond our control."

Shi Daohan sighed softly and said, "Sigh... how did I end up getting involved in this mess?"

He initially didn't intend to pay any attention to Locke, but later felt sorry for the little guy and thought he would take action to eliminate that strange power. However, he found that he was completely helpless against it.

She then planned to let it go, but then she discovered that Locke might be the vessel for the Demon Lord's reincarnation, so she had to get involved again.

On that very day, outside Horagaka Academy, the group was all ready to go. Shen Tianyu treated this trip as a vacation, and the thought of getting 30,000 basic spirit stones soon made him chuckle to himself.

However, Shi Daohan and Jing Xinyu each had their own thoughts and were secretly plotting something.

"Where are the two of them? Why haven't they arrived yet?"

Jing Xinyu asked.

"Look, isn't that it?"

Shi Daohan pointed in one direction, and Fiona and Locke, each carrying a heavy backpack, ran towards it.

"Everyone's here, right? Then let's get going. My wife, Cai Li, is waiting for those 30,000 basic spirit stones to maintain her health!" Shen Tianyu raised his hand and threw out a flying boat.

"Aren't you afraid of alerting mortals by creating this huge thing?" Shi Daohan rolled her eyes at him speechlessly.

Shen Tianyu thought there was some truth to it and said, "Then what do you suggest we do?"

After discussion, the group decided to travel to the Latafia Hotel using transportation from the normal world.

The Latafia Hotel is located in the city, about a half-hour subway ride away.

On the subway, Jing Xinyu leaned close to Shen Tianyu, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter, and said, "I just heard you mention your wife, Cai Li. Someone like you actually has a wife?"

"What's wrong with someone like me? Why can't I have a wife?" Shen Tianyu glanced at her irritably, finding her question quite absurd.

[How could a girl be interested in a straight man like you? Are you blind?] Jing Xinyu thought to herself, then smiled sweetly and said, "Bring your sister-in-law over sometime so I can see what kind of beauty she is."

"You don't need to wait until another day. If you want to see me, you can do it now," Shen Tianyu said earnestly.

"Huh...? Now, is that alright?"

Jing Xinyu seemed to realize something, and covered her mouth in surprise, saying, "You didn't put your wife in a storage ring, did you? How can a storage ring hold a living person?!"

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Shen Tianyu glared at her.

Seeing this, Shi Daohan couldn't help but burst out laughing.

As a sword cultivator, she naturally knew what Shen Tianyu meant by "wife".

"So you said you could see her now, but isn't that just hiding your wife in your storage ring?" Jing Xinyu was still earnestly accusing Shen Tianyu of being irresponsible and abusing the girl.

"My wife, Cai Li, is inside my body." Shen Tianyu said this bold statement with a serious expression.

"You...you...you sacrificed your wife to refine her into a living spirit?"

Jing Xinyu's face paled, and she staggered back several steps, staring at Shen Tianyu in disbelief. "How dare you say we demons are cruel? You sacrificed your own wife to refine her, isn't that cruel too?"

Locke and Fiona, who were standing nearby, were also startled when they heard Shen Tianyu say that his wife was inside his body.

They naturally didn't know anything about sacrificial refining; what they understood was that Shen Tianyu had eaten his wife.

Shen Tianyu felt somewhat bewildered. He raised his hand and made a sword gesture, then let out a soft shout, and a celestial sword shrouded in colorful light appeared in his hand.

"Look, this is my wife, Cai Li!" Shen Tianyu proudly presented his natal flying sword to everyone.

(End of this chapter)