[成龙历险记|西玉|全英]天行不息 15 Fall Trip Adventures

Junior high school begins in the 6th Grade in the US so the 7th Grade is the second one of junior high school. There were many subjects this year including Language Arts, math, society, science, and computer technology. As for this year’s science, it would be physics making many students afraid. As for World Language, it was not a required course for Non-Anglo-Saxons such as Hsi Wu and Jade. However, they would not be idle either because the Chinese teacher recruited them as teaching assistants. There were also music, art, and PE, among which PE was especially attached importance to by the school.

As expected, Hsi Wu had extraordinary study ability. He could be the one who debated with the teacher in every subject. Ever since her attitude towards studying became serious, Jade also made great progress in study. Although the grades were not announced, Miss Hartman knew that on the midterm exam, only Seymour and Jade got full As in her class.

However, PE was actually the most stunning subject of Hsi Wu. Long run, sprint, long jump… Hsi Wu reached the standard of professional athletes in nearly every item. The school’s PE department was so amazed that the director talked with Hsi Wu more than once, hoping he could join the school team, the city team, and even the state team. However, Hsi Wu refused them all. He was reluctant to leave Jade alone to train in a faraway place, not to mention that the absurd training for humans made no sense to him.

The PE department was not the only amazing one, and so did the students. At the beginning of the semester, there were always some girls surrounding Hsi Wu after class in the name of discussing questions, which made Jade uncomfortable. However, Jade did not take it seriously afterward. After all, the feeling in her heart was also vague, not to mention that she knew only she took up a part of Hsi Wu’s heart. Other students also found that smile curled on Seymour’s face when he was with Jade but he would be reserved and arrogant in front of others. Knowing there were no chances, they naturally stop the fancy.

What made Jade not know whether to laugh or cry was not this, but working as the Chinese teaching assistant.

“Drew, what’s written by you?”

“The writing practice assigned by the teacher. I can’t read it. The teacher said the character is from Chinese Eight Diagrams, you see, with two ‘B’s on the top and one ‘共’ at the bottom.”

“Hahaha, until now have I known the Eight Diagrams were Western-Oriental combine!” Jade could not stop laughing.

“I see Xiao Fung will blow at you that you can’t find north.” Hsi Wu heard the conversation aside.

“What Xiao Fung?”

“Nothing.”

“Seymour, I guess you spend too much time with Jade so you also become neurotic and begin to believe in so-called magic.”

“Don’t bullshit, give your homework to me.” Hsi Wu took over Drew’s exercise book.

“Oops, Drew, how dare you write ‘乾’ so uglily? Even ants scrambling on the paper do it better than you!” Hsi Wu’s eyes turned slightly red, baring teeth at Drew.

“I won’t do it anymore, I promise I will write carefully next time.” Drew was somewhat horrified. He vaguely felt Seymour had an aura different from other people even if he was only slightly angry.

“That’s nothing. Don’t scare him. Let me have a look at your grammar exercises,” said Jade.

“Miss Hartman very patient. Miss Hartman is patience,” Jade burst out laughing again.

“What’s wrong with it? The teacher said the adjectives are sometimes in the same form as nouns and ‘be’ and ‘very’ can both serve as a copula.”

“Alas, Chinese people will never make the same mistake as you during their lifetime.” Jade wanted to explain the reason but found it difficult to illustrate clearly.

However, the content of the sentences made Jade deep in thought. She was so helpless and concerned even only serving as an assistant, not to mention the headmaster of the class – Miss Hartman.

 

Time flew so fast that it had been the second half of the semester. One day, Miss Hartman brought the exciting news that they would go on a fall trip! Hearing this, the students cheered up.

“Jade, Seymour, you say if we will encounter a demon on the trip?” Drew swung Hsi Wu’s arm, saying jokingly.

“Hahaha…” the students aside burst into laughter.

“Hm…” Jade frowned.

“Drew, have you ever thought that the demon is just with you.” Hsi Wu spoke mysteriously and deliberately.

“Hahaha, be with me? I guess it’s you!” Drew and the other students laughed again.

“Drew is accidentally right this time.” Jade and Hsi Wu thought, exchanging a smile.

 

Miss Hartman hired a bus, which stopped at the suburb park midway.

“Students, get off to have a rest, the scenery is also beautiful here,” said Miss Hartman.

Just after Hsi Wu got off the bus, he froze.

“What’s the matter, Seymour?” Jade asked.

“I guess he used the so-called sheep talisman for astral projection!” Drew said.

“I feel there is another me.” Hsi Wu came to himself, full of doubt.

“Hahaha, the student surpasses the master! Jade, Seymour’s magic skill is senior to you now!”

“Ignore him, let us go!” Jade dragged Hsi Wu and walked away to a seat on which the two sat down.

“What on earth did you feel?”

“I felt the demon Chi. Except for mine, there is the Sky Demon Chi nearby.”

“What is demon Chi? It must be your smell for you haven’t taken a bath!”

“Be serious, Jade. Demon Chi is the power source of us demons. Whoever takes it in will have the same power as demons.”

“Then you lose it by accident?”

“Normally, I won’t.”

“It’s coming near!” Suddenly, Hsi Wu’s expression changed greatly.

“See what I’ve picked, Jade, Seymour!” Miss Hartman appeared from behind with a flute in hand. This semester, she was willing to have talks and share novel things with Jade and Hsi Wu sometimes.

“Greetings!” Jade turned around, smiling at Miss Hartman. Hsi Wu also turned around, only to see another self in her eyes.

“Miss Hartman, your appearance looks… a little strange.” Jade found that the teacher’s skin was a little dark.

“Indeed, I also felt strange. I somehow desire to fly now.”

“Suddenly, a pair of wings spread from Miss Hartman’s back.”

“Ah!” Jade was shocked.

“Don’t be afraid, Jade.” Hsi Wu adjusted his breath and inhaled the Demon Chi attached to Miss Hartman. After that, the teacher turned back to her original appearance.

“Miss Hartman, how do you feel now?”

“Much better, I had a strange feeling just now.”

“Well, I’m coming to talk with you about this. I picked it just now, which looks like rather old but quite delicate.” Miss Hartman took out the flute and toot it.

“Teacher, please don’t toot it, give me to have a look.” Unexpectedly, Hsi Wu felt a headache again. He should not have had this kind of feeling anymore after he cracked his weakness of fearing flutes. That didn’t make sense.

Hsi Wu took the flute and looked carefully at it, the picture of Han Xiangzi sealing him emerged in his mind.

“Jade, why not take the flute to your uncle Jackie to have a see? Isn’t he an archaeologist?”

“I’m afraid this is a flute from thousands of years ago in China,” said Hsi Wu.

“You also know archaeology, Seymour?”

“No, I don’t. Just a wild guess.”

 

On the bus, Jade and Hsi Wu sat together.

“What’s the matter with the flute?”

“I’m afraid this is the very flute Han Xiangzi used to seal me! Miss Hartman must have breathed the Demon Chi in from this flute,” said Hsi Wu.

“Then you should be cautious from now on, don’t lose your chi anymore to let others inhale.”

“That’s not important. We can’t leak Demon Chi in normal situations unless we come across very powerful ones like the eight immortals. I’m just worried that there are seven more tokens and seven more kinds of Demon Chi. They are scattered across the world, which is a potential hazard.”

The bus continued to move on, slightly bumpy. Jade grew sleepy and fell asleep gradually, with her head leaning on Hsi Wu’s shoulder. Hsi Wu had been upset but the drowsiness spread by Jade infected him. Drew sitting in the front seat turned his head back, just seeing Seymour and Jade sleeping head to head.

“Chee! Look at the two!” Drew felt jealous but also amused.

 

The sun had set when the bus arrived at the destination. Miss Hartman had wanted to arrange the students in the hotel. But the students were so excited that they eagerly wanted to visit the attractions first. Miss Hartman could only lead the students to an ancient castle, which was set up on a hill surrounded by a stream. The teacher and students walked to the half of the hill when dark clouds covered the sky, thundering, and lightning.

They got to the entrance of the castle. Lightning struck it, makign the spooky castle more frightening.

“There aren’t ghosts inside, are there?” Several coward girls were frightened to trembling.

Hsi Wu could have stopped the lightning to diminish the scary atmosphere. But he felt the spooky atmosphere was somewhat artistic. He was not afraid of spirits at all for they would only recognize him as an akin creature, not to mention that many small spirits could not wait to nod and bow on seeing him.

“Students, there’s no such thing as ghosts and demons. You wait outside first and I went inside to see if there are ticket sellers or guides. Seymour, Jade, you account for keeping order.”

“So late now, maybe the staff had been home.” The students waited and discussed.

“So long have Miss Hartman gone in. Why hasn’t she come out yet? There are ghosts, aren’t there?” Some cowardly students murmured.

“Everyone, follow me!” Hsi Wu said. Without Miss Hartman, Hsi Wu was the admirable one in the class so he could lead his classmates.

The students went with flashlights into the castle, which was completely dark. Only when lightning came, it could be brightened in an instant.

“Come here! Miss Hartman passed out!” A student found the teacher.

Hsi Wu and Jade hurriedly ran over.

“It’s the vampire!” Hsi Wu said.

“Are you joking, Seymour? Are you sure this isn’t because Miss Hartman was too tired?”

“I’m not joking, Drew. We now must transport chi to Miss Hartman’s body, otherwise, she would become the servant of the vampire.”

“Tian Xing Jian Jun Zi Yi Zi Qiang Bu Xi.” Hsi Wu recited the spell and transport a part of his chi to Miss Hartman and she opened her eyes.

Suddenly, a zombie with a white body and purple clothes haunting in front of the teacher and students.

“Ah! Ghost!” The students screamed.

“Don’t scream! Hold breath! The vampire seeks people by their chi but he is blind. I go to divert it away.”

The students held their breath. Hsi Wu spread his wings, and flew to the side apart from his classmates, breathing heavily. As expected, the vampire was attracted, held Hsi Wu with his arms, and began to inhale hard. However, no matter how hard he tried, no chi was out. Hsi Wu continued breathing heavily, which made the vampire so greedy for it.

Hsi Wu turned into attacking. The vampire could not defeat him so fled out of the gate, through which Hsi Wu pursued him.

Seeing the vampire was away from them, the students could finally take a breath. They were extremely astonished, especially Drew, whose mouth opened round.

“Jade, Seymour…can fly! He went to attract the vampire, so dangerous!”

“Drew, explain later. Just remember magic must defeat magic.”

Changes also took place on Miss Hartman’s body at this time, whose hands and feet turned into paws and a pair of giant wings spread behind her.

“Jade, look at Miss Hartman! The chi Seymour transported to her was useless! She must be turning into the vampire’s servant!” Miss Hartman walked near Drew while he was talking.

“Miss Hartman, don’t harm me!” cried Drew.

“You are joking, my boy. How could I harm you? I love children best.” Miss Hartman felt surprised.

“Don’t be afraid, Drew. Now Miss Hartman keeps Seymour’s chi so she looks different,” said Jade.

“Jade, now check out the number of students now,” said Miss Hartman.

“Three missing!”

 

Hsi Wu had arrived at the bank of the river. The vampire was out of sight.

“Strange, the vampire could not cross the river, where could he go?”

“Oops! Jade and others were still in the castle!” Hsi Wu felt he had been deceived by the vampire.

He hurriedly flew back to the castle. seeing Jade and the mutated miss Hartman were there, Hsi Wu was relieved a little.

“Seymour, bad news, three classmates are missing,” Jade told Hsi Wu.

“I didn’t expect… you really master magic!” Drew’s eyes were filled with both amazement and admiration. “Should we look for the missing three?”

“Indeed, but we must act together from now on. Nobody should leave the group without authorization.”

 

The teacher and students walked to the gate of the castle, only to see the vampire flying toward them. Different from just now, he became stronger and the eyes emitted light. Three servants followed him.

“I go to deal with the vampire. The servants for you, Miss Hartman.”

“Okay, I know how to cope with disobedient students.”

With Demon Chi, Miss Hartman flew and pounced down with speed, kicking the vampire’s servant far away.

However, Hsi Wu was not so relaxed this time. The vampire was much stronger now, which made Hsi Wu somewhat struggling.

“I can recognize you are a demon. You help me take all of their chi, I can leave part of the world to be ruled by you then.” The vampire said, pressing Hsi Wu.

“No way!” Hsi Wu turned into the bat form. This time the vampire could not control him, who took the tactic the same as Miss Hartman, making the vampire drop to the ground and scream.

“My god! Seymour turns into… he is a demon!” The students were shocked.

Although Hsi Wu and Miss Hartman could overwhelm the vampire and his servants, the vampire was a spirit so could not be defeated physically. This way everyone could only be stranded in the castle.

“Jade, be quick to find the book for the vampire. I’m here to gain time for you.”

“Okay! Everyone, follow me.”

The students followed Jade to a bookshelf, searching column by column with labor shared.

“Jade, is this the book?” Drew found a book about the vampire.

“Let me see… right!”

The book writes writing a ‘stop’ on the paper and putting it up on the servant’s forehead could make it still.

“Hiyah!” Jade, Miss Hartman, and Drew put the paper up on the three servants’ foreheads, respectively.

“You can defeat me, but can’t defeat my master!” The servants could not move but could still speak.

The students continued to study the magic book. “Need to take off the vampire’s socks, fill them with mushrooms and throw them into the river. Otherwise, the chi will be kept by the vampire forever,” the book wrote.

“I go to fetch his socks,” said Miss Hartman.

Hsi Wu was busy pressing the vampire on the pillar of the castle. Miss Hartman came near them and take off the vampire’s socks. However, on seeing the teacher coming near, the vampire inhaled fiercely. The Demon Chi leaked out of Miss Hartman’s eyes and flowed to the vampire.

“Oops!” Hsi Wu hurriedly inhaled the chi to prevent the vampire. However, the vampire also got a lot. Miss Hartman and the socks dropped to the ground.

Hsi Wu misunderstood one issue. He had thought the vampire could not take his chi so he could not take the one who keeps it. In fact, this is only because Hsi Wu’s body has very strong attractiveness to Demon Chi and others do not.

“Jade, quickly take the socks!” The vampire became stronger with hands and feet gradually turning into paws and a pair of wings spreading from the back. Hsi Wu was a little not able to hold anymore.

Jade took the socks and ran out of the castle. It was raining heavily outside. Jade quickly found some mushrooms under a broken shield.

The vampire was to prevent Jade and Hsi Wu was stopping him. But he was more and more unable to cope and the two had fought outside the castle.

“Return my socks!” The vampire used all of his strength to scatter Hsi Wu aside and he rushed to Jade.

“How can I do? I’m too weak to throw it into the river.”

“Give me!” It turned out that Maynard Munson who once bullied his classmates caught the socks and cast the socks.

“No!” The socks fell into the river and the vampire turned into a skeleton and then disappeared. The chi he kept also returned to its original owners.

Hsi Wu waved his hand. The dark clouds went away and the thunderstorm stopped. The moonlight spread on the ground.

 

“Incredible! What have we got through today! The vampire, the flying me, and Seymour, you’re…” Miss Hartman walked out of the castle.

“Miss Hartman, classmates, will you dislike me for I am an ugly bat?”

Miss Hartman walked over and touched Hsi Wu’s head. “Never will I. You will always be my excellent student in my heart, Seymour.”

“Us too. You’ll always be our good friend. We will still discuss questions with you,” said Drew.

“Then Miss Hartman, classmates, you hide my identity in your heart, okay? Never mention this to others, it’s our secret.”

The teacher and students nodded.

 

Jade and Hsi Wu walked together back to the hotel.

“Seymour, why do you think didn’t Miss Hartman become evil after she kept your chi for a such long time?”

“Become evil? What do you mean? Become a bad person? You mean I am evil!”

“You really think you’re so nice? I tell you I haven’t made you pay price for what you did to deceive me before!”

“But what I mean is that I couldn’t control myself after I tattooed myself with the pattern of Tarakudo. But why Miss Hartman’s reason was not undermined?” Jade said.

“The Demon Chi is different from the pattern of Tarakudo. It’s only a kind of power. It won’t change one’s reason. But in another aspect, the time Miss Hartman kept it was too short.” Hsi Wu said.

“Then how long does it need?”

“I’m not sure. The principle of Demon Chi turning a human into a demon lies not in itself but the human nature. Jade, can you imagine I was also advocated by my people when I first become the demon monarch?”

“Indeed, I can’t imagine.”

“Maybe Uncle is right. Only good magic can be used after all,” said Hsi Wu.