Chapter 459: New Semester

A faint yellow mist drifted from the tip of Bai Lang's wand, and the Dementor that had been blasted away let out a sharp, high‑pitched howl the moment the mist touched it, fleeing far away. At the other end of the corridor another Dementor appeared, and Bai Lang casually tossed his wand into the compartment— the emitted yellow haze dispelled all the chill inside the compartment and infused the absent onlookers with boundless courage.

At that moment Bai Lang struck a stance in the corridor, a classic bare‑hand posture—one punch forward, the other drawn to the waist, feet spread and bent, body turned sideways. It was the way his thief‑like military instructor jokingly mimicked the stance of the fierce demon. Accompanied by Bai Lang's magical energy burning like flame and swirling like a hurricane, he used a method that simulates fighting spirit with magic; for Bai Lang this finally counted as his first step onto the path, and from now on his cultivation would one day lead to true mastery.

"Asura Flash Radiance Strike!" Bai Lang roared in over‑the‑top Chinese, his backhand punch launching, a ring of magical ripples bursting from his right fist and blasting the Dementor within a few feet. The Dementor was hurled to the end of the corridor, shattering a carriage window, and lay unable to rise for a while. Neville, peeking from the compartment, watched the blow with shining eyes. Bai Lang gave Neville a smug glance and shouted, "Asura Douluo!" in Chinese, caring not whether his classmates understood.

"Wow!" the young wizards gasped at the spectacle, and Bai Lang's image as a school bully who can fight was now laid bare. "Harry Potter fainted!" someone shouted, and Bai Lang brushed off his robes, took his wand back from Zabini, and swaggered over to look. By then all the Dementors had already been driven outside the carriage, and the chill had lessened considerably.

Harry was fine, and shortly after Bai Lang returned to the compartment the train pulled into the platform. Except for the first‑years, the young wizards rode in carriages to Hogwarts. "What a lousy day," Bai Lang muttered, spotting two Dementors guarding Hogwarts' main gate, a cold aura enveloping the entire entrance. Zabini beside him began to shrink, and Bai Lang let out a cold snort; instantly the joy‑ and warmth‑stealing chill was blown away by a breath as sharp as a blade and as hot as fire.

When Bai Lang got off the train, he happened to hear Draco Draco Malfoy speaking in a drawn‑out tone, "Did you faint, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? Did you really pass out?" Draco Draco Malfoy squeezed past Hermione Granger, blocking Harry's path up the stone steps into the castle, a smug grin on his face. His pale eyes glittered maliciously. "Get out of the way, Draco Draco Malfoy," Ron said through clenched teeth. "Did you also faint, Weasley?" Draco Draco Malfoy shouted. "That terrifying old fellow scared you too, Weasley?"

At that moment a middle‑aged professor seemed to have just stepped off, and Bai Lang walked over, bumping Draco Draco Malfoy from behind and cutting him off. "Oh, sorry! Isn't this our esteemed Mr. Draco Draco Malfoy? I damn found that even a pile of crap can keep piling up, huh?!" Bai Lang's provocation was obvious, but Draco Draco Malfoy, his face flushed bright red, shrank shamefully.

Upon entering the Great Hall, Professor Mai Ge escorted Harry and Hermione Granger away, while Bai Lang followed the prefect to the long table. "Another enrollment day, huh—let's see what new young wizards there are. What a bunch of softies," he thought, as Neville furtively tapped his arm. "Can you teach me?" Bai Lang looked at the chubby kid—who had recently grown a lot, now almost matching Bai Lang's height. "Teach you what?" Bai Lang asked.

"Asura Douluo!" Neville strained out the phrase with a terribly inauthentic pronunciation, clenching his fist as he gestured. Bai Lang laughed, "I remember you learned from me in first year, then stopped. Why do you want to learn my magical martial art now?" The term "magical martial art" was in Chinese, which Neville didn't grasp. Still, he nodded earnestly, "Fine, I'll give you another chance—train your body and mind properly. If you quit again this time, I won't teach you any more." Bai Lang's words were very serious.

At that moment the headmaster rose to speak. Professor Deng Buli Duo, though very old, always gave the impression of boundless energy. His hair and beard were several feet long, he wore half‑round spectacles, and his hooked nose was pronounced. "Welcome!" Professor Deng Buli Duo said, the candlelight making his beard sparkle. "Welcome to Hogwarts for the new school year! I have a few words for all of you, and one matter is very serious. I think we should clarify it before this feast leaves you dazed..."

"After they searched the Hogwarts Express, you must all know it. Our school is now receiving several Dementors from Azkaban; they are here to carry out Ministry of Magic duties," Deng Buli Duo paused, "They are stationed at every entrance to the school grounds," he continued, "During their stay, I must make clear that no one may leave the school without permission. Dementors must not be tricked by pranks or disguises— even an Invisibility Cloak won't work. Dementors naturally do not understand requests or excuses. Therefore I warn each of you: do not give them any pretext to harm you. I am counting on the prefects, as well as our newly appointed male Student Council President and female Student Council President, to ensure that no student gets into conflict with a Dementor."

Bai Lang muttered beneath his breath, "I don't think so; I believe I could kill them outright— they're just junk, after all." He didn't mention that in the process of taking down those two Dementors he had expended a great deal of magical energy and stamina, leaving him slightly depleted now.

Deng Buli Duo began introducing this year's new teachers, the first being the newcomer to Defense Against the Dark Arts, "Professor Lu Ping!" he announced. Bai Lang unsurprisingly saw Professor Severus Snape's expression of loathing, after all they were at odds. "They're all no good," Bai Lang thought to himself with a smile.

"As for our second appointed teacher," after the lukewarm applause for Professor Lu Ping faded, Deng Buli Duo continued, "Well, I regret to tell you that Professor Kaiterboen of Care of Magical Creatures retired at the end of last year to spend more time with his remaining little rascals. However, I am pleased to say that it is not someone else but Lu Bo Haige who will fill the vacancy; Haige has agreed to take on the teaching role in addition to his duties as game‑reserve caretaker."

The trio and the Gryffindor students all let out enthusiastic shrieks, and even Bai Lang gave a light applause— for this half‑giant whose taste matched his own, they were all fans of powerful and fearsome creatures. "Speaking of which, I should go meet Di Ao; I hope Haige doesn't get so carried away that he introduces my cute Di Ao in the first lesson," Bai Lang thought.