Title: What’s It Like to Enroll in Hualing Academy as an Out-of-Region Student?
Original Poster: I grew up in a human-populated region and attended human schools. Now I’m considering applying to Hualing Academy in a different region and field of study. I heard that the majority of students there are non-human. Not sure if I can adapt.
1LL Hualing? Run.
Original Poster:???
3L: Why scare OP like that? Hualing was the first comprehensive academy to completely ban student-on-student consumption, and it has maintained that record for fifty years. It’s actually got more rules than many human-only schools.
4L: Sure, student-eating is gone, but do you know about the skin-deep injuries? Taking just one bite a day doesn’t count as ‘consumption.’ Plus, if you grew up in a human environment, you might have a hard time fitting in and could easily get bullied. I know a ghost-cultivation senior who has been in school for fifty years—his textbooks have been revised eleven times, and he still hasn’t graduated.
5L: …That just sounds like he can’t pass his exams.
6L: Believe what you want, but go ask around. Hualing is brutal.
Original Poster: QAQ
Zhou Mu carried his luggage as he stepped through the gates of Hualing Academy. Squinting under the blazing sun, he took in the sight. Unlike his previous schools, this one was built into the mountains, nestled between peaks and rivers, spanning nearly an entire mountaintop.
The first thing that greeted him was a grand statue of Erlang Shen. All newcomers were expected to pay their respects. Below the statue, fresh fruit and incense offerings burned constantly.
Across from it, a nearby academic building stood half-hidden among lush trees. Suspended above its entrance were golden characters: Mastery Across Three Realms—Cultivation and Strength—Harmony Among Races—Unity in Benevolence.
To reach the registration office, Zhou Mu had to cross a vast courtyard. As an unfamiliar face in a school that rarely saw outside students, he stood out.
He could feel the gazes from all sides. And from above…
Slowly, he lifted his head— Floating two meters above the ground was a female ghost, clad in the Hualing Academy uniform.
Their eyes met. The ghost cultivator let out a creepy chuckle and drifted lower, volunteering to guide him to registration. As they walked, she kept showering him with compliments: “Junior, your hands are so pale!”
“Junior, which school did you transfer from?”
“Junior, your legs are so long!”
With each comment, a chilling ghostly aura wrapped around Zhou Mu. But on such a hot day, the cool air was actually refreshing. Embarrassed by the blunt praise, he couldn’t help but lean slightly toward her.
The ghost cultivator cackled internally. Hahaha! No student has ever refused to befriend me in the summer!
“Clang——”
A deep bell tolled from the distant clock tower, startling countless birds and ghosts alike.
Then—
“Ah! It’s noon!”
Zhou Mu looked up. There was not even a ghost around him.
The ghost senior who had been guiding him disappeared instantly.
“…” Now standing alone in the middle of the vast courtyard, Zhou Mu felt a little awkward.
Glancing around, he resigned himself to finding the way on his own. However, in a moment of distraction, he stepped onto a patch of grass covered in dry leaves—and the ground gave way beneath him. He fell straight into a hole.
…What the hell? The school looked freshly renovated—how was there a massive pit in the middle of the path?!
The opening was narrow, but the inside was gourd-shaped, spacious. Hoping no one had seen his embarrassing fall, Zhou Mu quickly tried to climb out.
As he scrambled upward, the talisman on his body rubbed off. This was the talisman he used to conceal his demonic aura.
Just as he was pulling himself halfway out of the hole, he noticed a pair of sneakers suddenly appearing in his field of view.
Zhou Mu looked up. The person crouched down, effortlessly lifting him out with one hand. As soon as they were face to face, the stranger leaned in and took a deep sniff, almost touching his nose. “Mmm… What a delicious-smelling classmate. Why haven’t I seen you before?”
…Uh-oh.
Their eyes locked. The guy wore a casual T-shirt and jeans underneath a carelessly draped Taoist robe. His long hair was tied back, and his sharp, emerald-green eyes gleamed with intensity.
Zhou Mu’s throat went dry. Clutching his registration documents, he nervously swallowed and said, “I’m a new student… just got in this year from an outside school.”
The green-eyed man was huge, towering over Zhou Mu by two whole sizes, practically enclosing him in his space.
His gaze flicked toward the documents in Zhou Mu’s hands, skimming the details— Graduated from an ordinary human school. No prior cultivation background. Only twenty years old. There was also a small section partially covered. “Special xxx student.”
Special-needs student? Special-talent student?
One of Hualing Academy’s rules was that students had the right to keep their personal details—including their race—private. Unless they chose to reveal it themselves.
But even if Zhou Mu didn’t say anything, the green-eyed man was clearly a ferocious demon. Likely the carnivorous kind.
So the rumors about Hualing weren’t exaggerated.
The green-eyed demon unconsciously licked his lips…
Just what kind of little monster is this kid? His aura smells so… tempting.
Zhou Mu quietly reminded him, “The school has a rule… no eating classmates.”
The demon paused. Then, throwing his head back, he let out a booming laugh. Tightening his grip around Zhou Mu’s shoulders, he leaned in even closer and whispered against his cheek— “Hahahaha! You really are from an outside school, huh? Memorized the rules already. They said no eating… but they never said anything about nibbling.”
He parted his lips—closing in on the soft, pale skin of Zhou Mu’s cheek.
Zhou Mu’s pupils contracted slightly—
“Chun Shijiu!”
A sharp voice called out.
The green-eyed man reacted instantly. At nearly the same time, he set Zhou Mu down, turned around, and adjusted his robe with a playful grin. “Director, I was just helping a fellow student who fell into a pit.”
The teacher, addressed as the director, spoke anxiously, “Put him down this instant!”
His words were even a fraction slower than Chun Shijiu’s actions.
Without further ado, the director held his breath, rushed over, and pulled a new concealment talisman from his pocket, pressing it onto Zhou Mu. “Don’t expose your demon aura so casually in school—unless you want everyone to know your background and get ganged up on in combat class, where they’ll exploit your racial weaknesses!”
Though his words were harsh, everyone knew he meant well.
Zhou Mu seized the moment to hide behind him. “Thank you, teacher.”
He secretly let out a breath of relief. The social etiquette at this new school was way too strange—just meeting someone, and they could casually pick you up and not let go. Peeking over the teacher’s shoulder, he saw that Chun Shijiu had already resumed a relaxed expression, but those green eyes were still fixed on him…
Zhou Mu quickly lowered his head.
“You’re here to register, right? I’ll take you there.” The director clasped his hands behind his back, his tone becoming more leisurely. “Follow me.”
Though his voice was light, his pace was anything but. He took off in a brisk march, and Zhou Mu, reacting a second too slow, had to sprint to catch up.
Chun Shijiu remained standing where he was, somewhat amused, as he picked up Zhou Mu’s fallen luggage and talisman. Scared stiff to the point of abandoning his own belongings?
Well then, he should do a good deed and return them.
Chun Shijiu smacked his lips, savoring Zhou Mu’s scent again. He still couldn’t pinpoint his exact species. What intrigued him even more was the director’s particular behavior. The director had always been indifferent to this kind of ‘bullying,’ so why did he seem… especially concerned this time?
……
After completing the registration process, it was time for Zhou Mu to move into his dormitory. With empty hands, he followed a teacher from the administrative office, feeling regretful that he hadn’t mustered the effort to carry his luggage earlier. Now he was stuck…
Frustrated with himself, he arrived at the dormitory building.
Hualing Academy assigned two students per room—after all, they had an entire mountain to themselves, with no shortage of space or resources.
The teacher had received instructions from the director to look after this cross-region transfer student, so he personally escorted Zhou Mu right to his dormitory door. He tapped lightly on the wooden panel. “This is the one.”
The knock was barely audible, yet an immediate response came from inside, as if someone had been waiting.
As the door opened, Zhou Mu froze.
What were the chances? Leaning against the bed, reading a book, was none other than Chun Shijiu.
Chun Shijiu, however, didn’t seem the least bit surprised. He waved the book in his hand. “Your luggage is here, Zhou Mu.”
Zhou Mu’s face went pale. How did he even know his name? Was this really just a coincidence?
T-This…
“I don’t want to stay here. Can you assign me another dorm?” Zhou Mu quietly asked the teacher.
The teacher frowned slightly. “Dorms are tight. This is the only room left. Are you dissatisfied with the conditions?”
Zhou Mu cast a pitiful glance at Chun Shijiu.
He wanted to be honest about the reason, but it was just too awkward to say outright.
Chun Shijiu jumped off the bed and strode over to the doorway. He tilted his head with a smirk. “What, some kind of delicate upbringing?”
Zhou Mu was so startled by his movement that he backed up two steps—only to bump into the door of the dorm across the hall with a loud thud.
Unexpectedly, the usually nonchalant teacher panicked for a moment and quickly pulled him back. “Be careful!”
Was that… concern? Zhou Mu hesitated. “Thank you.”
The teacher: “…”
Chun Shijiu nearly burst into laughter again and drawled lazily, “You Qi isn’t in the dorm.”
At those words, the teacher’s expression relaxed slightly. Then, as if realizing something, he puffed out his chest and explained, “Haha, I was just worried about disturbing a student reading.”
Chun Shijiu rolled his eyes.
TAP. TAP.
Footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway. A tall figure emerged from the shadows, carrying a potted plant in one hand. As he approached, the light revealed that he was wearing a mask. Unlike Chun Shijiu, who wore his robe haphazardly, this student had buttoned his meticulously, leaving little skin exposed.
Even though his face remained hidden, his pitch-black eyes—absorbing all light—were striking.
Zhou Mu stared, seemingly drawn in by those deep, dark eyes.
“You Qi,” Chun Shijiu greeted.
You Qi casually lifted a hand in response and opened the door to the dorm across the hall. From Zhou Mu’s angle, he could clearly see that it was a standard two-person room—but with only one bed set up, the other side completely empty.
In a split-second decision, Zhou Mu stopped You Qi from closing the door.
“Teacher, this room has an empty bed, right? Can I switch to this one?”
For some reason, his sudden request cast the entire scene into silence.
You Qi raised an eyebrow.
Chun Shijiu leaned back against the doorframe, his shadow stretching long in the corridor. He couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “So you’re saying… you don’t want to room with me? You’d rather stay across the hall?”
Zhou Mu could tell that Chun Shijiu’s smile had taken on a subtle, almost unreadable quality. Warily, he said, “Ah… yeah…”
Chun Shijiu kept that same amused expression but glanced at You Qi.
Zhou Mu followed his gaze and met You Qi’s eyes.
You Qi stared back. After a brief pause, he slowly raised his hand and removed his mask.
Zhou Mu’s breath caught—beneath You Qi’s mask was a muzzle that gleamed with an icy sheen.
The leather straps securing it were inscribed with cinnabar-drawn runes. From Zhou Mu’s self-studied knowledge of Ancient Huaxia Runes, he couldn’t decipher them entirely, but he could recognize that the rune’s core function was a restriction seal. The rune-inscribed leather was fastened to segments of cold metal, enclosing both You Qi’s mouth and nose completely.
With just this small reveal, You Qi’s meticulously buttoned-up robe suddenly took on a new meaning. It no longer seemed like he was simply a disciplined person—it felt more like he was being restrained, just like the muzzle he wore…
You Qi’s lips curled slightly in a cold, almost malicious smirk as he leaned against the door. “You want to move in?”
Zhou Mu: “………”
Chun Shijiu folded his arms, clearly enjoying himself. “Want me to help you with your luggage?”
Zhou Mu looked at Chun Shijiu’s mischievous grin, then at You Qi’s indifferent but obviously dangerous demeanor. He hesitated for three seconds, then, under the teacher’s horrified gaze, bolted into Chun Shijiu’s dorm, grabbed his luggage, and dragged it straight to You Qi’s doorway. “I’ll move it myself! I’m living across the hall!”
You Qi didn’t react. He merely lowered his head slightly, and the metal muzzle brushed against Zhou Mu’s hair as if sniffing him.
Of course, with the concealment talisman in place, there was no scent to detect.
But the gesture alone sent a chill down Zhou Mu’s spine. It felt like a predator looming over him. He swallowed dryly, forcing himself to look up and repeat, “School rules say you can’t eat classmates…”
You Qi was still lowering his head, and Zhou Mu’s attempt to look up only brought his face closer to his own.
His naive words were almost laughable—You Qi had never seen a demon at Hualing Academy who spoke like this.
“You—you’re really choosing to room with You Qi?” The teacher hesitated. He had been trying to warn him! How could this student be so utterly fearless?
Hualing Academy emphasized inclusivity and cooperation among all races. However, to avoid conflicts in daily life, dorm assignments usually took racial traits into account.
On one hand, fostering interspecies harmony was encouraged; on the other, certain concerns were undeniable. This was tricky.
“Alright, let me call the director.” The teacher suddenly remembered that Zhou Mu had been personally escorted here by the director. If he could pass the responsibility off to someone higher up, all the better. He quickly made the call and explained the situation.
As soon as the director heard, he shook his head repeatedly—even through the phone, it was obvious. “Absolutely not!! Zhou Mu, didn’t I assign you to Building Three? How did you end up over there?!”
“Huh?” The teacher scratched his head. But from what he saw, Zhou Mu was clearly assigned to Chun Shijiu’s room.
The phone was on speaker, so everyone heard.
Zhou Mu glanced at Chun Shijiu. “…”
There was a two-second silence before the director also seemed to realize that Zhou Mu had been targeted. Forcing a dorm switch now would likely be useless. He froze for a moment, then sighed heavily. “No, no, this won’t do…”
Chun Shijiu, now intrigued, leaned closer to the phone and teased, “Director Cui, why are you taking such special care of Zhou Mu? Did his family bribe you?”
Director Cui nearly passed out from anger. “What nonsense are you spouting?!”
He took a deep breath, composed himself, and then issued a warning. “Listen up, Chun Shijiu. Zhou Mu’s identity is special. I don’t care where he stays, but if you dare lay a hand on him, you’ll face the consequences. The school’s restrictions aren’t just for show.”
With that, he decisively hung up.
The teacher and Zhou Mu stared at each other for three seconds. The teacher had assumed Zhou Mu would take this as a chance to ask for help, but to his surprise, this human student was stubborn as hell. Without hesitation, he dragged his luggage straight into You Qi’s dorm.
You…
Forget it. After spending some time at Hualing Academy, he’d realize this place wasn’t like human schools.
With a sigh and some muttered complaints, the teacher walked away.
You Qi moved to close the door but was stopped by Chun Shijiu.
“You Qi, looks like he’s your problem now,” Chun Shijiu said.
You Qi looked at him for a second before replying flatly, “Get lost.”
Meanwhile…
At his computer, Director Cui clumsily pecked at the keyboard with his index fingers, opening the dorm assignment page. Sure enough, Zhou Mu’s name was now listed under Building 5, Room 1203, alongside You Qi.
“Sigh… This is way too dangerous.”
As he moved his finger, he accidentally clicked on Zhou Mu’s name, opening the student profile that had been submitted during registration.
A document appeared on the screen. And right next to Zhou Mu’s name, in bold red characters, were three words:
“Special Starved Student.”
