Passing through the square and beyond the main Teaching Building, a shimmering Lake appeared in the new students' sight.
The Lake surface was calm, the water was emerald green, and thick water plants floated lazily on the surface, firmly blocking the sunlight from reaching the water below. Several large, fiery red birds floated on the water, their heads tucked into their wings, dozing lazily.
Zheng Qing stepped onto the slippery stone embankment by the Lake, craning his neck to carefully examine the water.
A dark shadow swiftly darted past beneath his eyes.
Zheng Qing was startled and fell off the stone embankment.
“Pay attention to safety. We’ll talk about the issues in the Lake later,” Nicholas said, patting his shoulder and continuing to introduce the University to the new students:
“The entire University is meticulously planned. If the square we just passed through is considered the front yard, then this large Lake is the central courtyard.”
“This Lake is called Linzhong Lake—don’t ask me why it has such an inauspicious name; I don’t know either.”
Nicholas waved his hand, stopping several new students who were about to ask questions: “You just need to remember that the buildings around Linzhong Lake are the places you’ll frequent most throughout your entire academic year.”
Zheng Qing looked around.
There were many buildings along the Lake.
Nicholas introduced them one by one:
“That pristine white tall tower is the School Hospital. Don’t look at it too often; it’s easy to pick up bad luck.”
“That square, black box-like building is the Wizard Alliance Bank Buji Island Nine Provinces Branch. In a few days, you can try depositing your money into your student cards.”
“That building, resembling a large cauldron, is the University’s cafeteria. The taste is average, the portions are generous, and the variety is complete. Whether you are a vampire, werewolf, ghost, or even Duona people, as long as you are a student of Nine Provinces College, you will find a suitable menu in the cafeteria.”
“Across the Lake, that mountain-like building is one of our Nine Provinces College’s greatest buildings, the Nine Provinces Library—Shushan Library! Time is short, so we probably won’t go in today.”
Nicholas patiently introduced the buildings on both sides of Linzhong Lake to the new students.
Zheng Qing squinted, trying to see the Library on the opposite bank.
Under the setting sun, a faint mist permeated the Lake, obscuring his vision.
He could only see a faint dark shadow.
After introducing the buildings on both sides of Linzhong Lake, Nicholas led the new students along the path by the Lake.
At the end of the path was a small wooden pier.
At the entrance of the pier, there was a small wooden house.
Outside the wooden house, an old dog with loose skin was tethered. Hearing unfamiliar footsteps, it merely tilted its head, its wrinkled eyelids twitched, and it didn't even bark.
But the new students still carefully walked around it.
Nicholas knocked on the wooden house's glass window:
“Uncle Verne! I’m bringing new students across the Lake!”
The old dog, sprawled in its nest of straw, grunted a few times, seemingly very displeased that Nicholas had disturbed its sleep.
Nicholas chuckled, took a biscuit from his pocket, and threw it over.
The old dog’s nose twitched, but it still didn't open its eyes. However, it extended a paw and quickly pulled the biscuit under its belly.
A muffled response came from inside the wooden house, and a small wooden sign dropped onto the windowsill.
Zheng Qing didn't even see where the wooden sign fell from.
“Who’s inside?” he quietly asked Nicholas.
“The pier owner, the ferryman of the Silent River. We all call him Uncle Verne,” Nicholas said, gesturing for the new students to board the pier, and replied, “It’s said he used to be a professor at First University, but he’s retired now.”
“That dog looks very old!” someone next to him exclaimed.
“Its name is May, and it’s more than twice the age of you young ones! It’s an old friend of Uncle Verne’s. If you encounter it strolling on campus later, be respectful.”
The new students nodded repeatedly.
On both sides of the pier, many small boats were docked. The boats were reddish, seemingly only able to accommodate six or seven people. A bamboo pole stood at the bow of each boat, with a small bronze bell hanging from it.
“These small boats are called Ze Meng, and they are the main mode of transportation on Linzhong Lake,” Nicholas said, gesturing for the new students to board a small boat, and instructed, “If you haven’t raised a few hippos or buffaloes in the Lake, then you must honestly take a boat to cross Linzhong Lake. You should know that even though I’ve been at First University for so long, I still don’t know how many terrifying things are in the Lake.”
“Are there water ghosts?” a Little girl asked with a trembling voice.
“Water ghosts?” Nicholas scoffed, “Those pests wouldn’t last a single night in this Lake. The Merfolk in the Lake love to use water ghosts as sacrifices.”
“Merfolk!” a boy shrieked, frantically explaining to his companion next to him, “My grandma said Merfolk eat human flesh, and the Wizard Alliance has strict restrictions on their habitats.”
“This is one of the Wizard Alliance’s designated habitats for the Merfolk,” Nicholas said, a sinister smile appearing on his face, “So, young men and Little girls! Open your eyes wide! Hold onto the gunwales tightly! If you fall into the Lake, you won’t even be able to blow a bubble before being dragged to the muddy bottom by the Merfolk!”
Xiao Xiao yawned boredly, watching Nicholas loudly scare the new students.
Zheng Qing stared at the water, not missing a single ripple.
“Hold on tight!” Nicholas shouted, holding the bamboo pole standing at the bow of the boat, and shook it forcefully.
“Clang! Clang! Clang!”
The bronze bell on the bamboo pole swayed, emitting clear vibrations.
The Ze Meng boat trembled.
The new students on the boat all gripped the gunwales in fear.
“Setting sail!” Nicholas shouted, stomping his foot forcefully.
The small boat shook violently, eliciting a chorus of screams from the boat.
Zheng Qing saw a dark cable at the bow slowly tighten, creating a series of ripples of varying depths on the water.
“There’s something in front!” he shouted.
But the other new students on the boat were screaming, drowning out his voice.
“There’s something under the boat!” Zheng Qing hugged his cardboard box with one hand and gripped the gunwale with the other, turning to shout at Xiao Xiao.
Nicholas, standing at the bow, chuckled as he watched the terrified new students.
“It’s the boatman!” Xiao Xiao moved closer and whispered into Zheng Qing’s ear, “The boatmen hired by the University are in the water. These small boats rely on these boatmen to pull them.”
“Boatmen?” Zheng Qing said in surprise.
“Maybe Merfolk, maybe Kappa, maybe water pythons. There are so many intelligent creatures in the water, and everyone wants to earn some Wizard jade coin,” Xiao Xiao said, gripping the gunwales with both hands, his face a little pale, “Don’t talk to me anymore, I get seasick!”
The wide glasses on his face were askew, sliding down a bit, but Xiao Xiao held tightly to the gunwales, not daring to move.
Zheng Qing suppressed a smile and looked down at the cardboard box in his arms.
The Little Elves were still sleeping soundly.
It seemed they had no concept of seasickness.
There was a small island in the center of the Lake, with a pristine white stone tower standing on it.
The tower had seven stories, with flying eaves and dougong brackets, and from a distance, one could faintly see the bronze bells and silk ribbons hanging from the eaves.
The small boat, pulled by the boatman, quickly passed the small island.
“What’s on the island?” Zheng Qing pointed at the small tower and looked at Nicholas.
“Forbidden Land,” Nicholas said, looking at the new students and warning, “Although your counselor will tell you in a few days, I think it needs to be said in advance. The small island in the center of the Lake is one of the University’s Forbidden Lands, and there are very powerful Spells on it. No one, including the University’s professors, can set foot on that small island without permission.”
The new students watched in awe as the small island slowly disappeared from view.
No one was foolish enough to ask about the consequences of stepping onto the island.
“Do we have to take this small boat every time we cross the Lake?” Zheng Qing looked at the taut cable at the bow, a sense of unease always lingering in his heart.
“Of course not!” Nicholas looked somewhat annoyed, “Didn’t I mention it in the hall? The University has many doors; pushing them open can lead you to different places. The University also has many corridors, and some corridors even connect to other colleges!”
Zheng Qing nodded repeatedly.