The Deceit crumbled under the students’ siege, exploding into a bloody mist.
Though their faces were splattered with gore, the students weren’t upset in the slightest.
Instead, bright smiles lit up their faces, brimming with youthful vitality.
“We won!”
“I never thought the day would come when I could kill Deceits, hehe!”
“It’s all thanks to the teacher’s command!”
Bian Ying hurriedly waved her hands.
She hadn’t done a thing.
She was just about to continue leading the students away, but the commotion they had caused was too loud.
The distant blood-clot Deceits had already been attracted by the noise.
Bian Ying quickly counted—there were about four or five of them.
The situation wasn’t looking good.
“We need to find a place to hide first,” she said.
The students were still unaware of the danger quietly approaching.
Their recent victory had given them a surge of confidence, so upon hearing this, they immediately puffed up their chests.
“Don’t worry, Teacher!
We aren’t afraid no matter how many Deceits come!”
Just as they finished speaking—
DRIP!
Thick, viscous blood dripped from above, landing on the heads of several students.
Puzzled, they looked up, only to see a blood-clot Deceit hanging upside down on the wall.
Countless blood threads split from its body, adhering to the surface.
The moment the students looked up, the blood clot tore open a long, massive maw.
Its bloody threads instantly swooped down to envelop them.
“AHHH!”
Their brave words from a second ago instantly evaporated.
Terrified, they panicked and scattered in all directions.
As Bian Ying dodged the attacks, she pondered their current situation.
The rules of a Deceit Domain required active investigation to uncover.
Every single rule might have been tested and discovered at the cost of someone’s life.
However, recalling the contents of the school rules and the rulebook that had grown eight tentacles in the principal’s hands, a firm intuition inexplicably surfaced in Bian Ying’s mind: the school rules were the rules of this Deceit Domain.
“Teacher, help!!!”
A scream for help rang out behind her.
Bian Ying turned around to see a blood clot expanding its body, right on the verge of swallowing a straggling student whole—
CLACK!
Bian Ying stood there, gripping a mop and panting slightly.
Thank goodness she made it in time.
The Deceit’s bloody maw was jammed wide open by the shaft of the mop.
Bian Ying calmly pointed to the ID badge on her chest.
“I am the teacher in charge of today’s orientation.
If students fail to follow the school rules, I have the right to educate them.”
Wuhai University School Rules—
[Protecting and educating students is the duty and responsibility of every teacher.]
The brandishing blood clot froze upon hearing those words.
It leaned closer, a cold and clammy presence washing over her, mixed with the intense stench of rotting blood.
She felt as though she were entirely enveloped by the blood clot.
Bian Ying remained expressionless.
She thought, “That whiteboard sure can harbor a lot of filth.”
The blood clot “stared” at the ID badge on Bian Ying’s chest.
Then, shedding its killing intent, it reverted to its original form and crawled away.
“???”
The saved student’s eyes widened in shock.
That…
that actually worked?!
He immediately jumped up.
“Teacher, how did you do that?!
That was amazing!!!”
Seeing the danger lifted, the other students hiding in the shadows breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ran over to regroup.
Xu Xinrong proudly lifted her chin.
“I told you so!
The employees of the Deceit Investigation Bureau really are as amazing as the rumors say!”
Bian Ying just smiled without saying a word.
The official employees of the Deceit Investigation Bureau were indeed formidable, especially those in the bureau’s special division—the Operations Department.
The members of this department were all capable individuals with extraordinary talents, solely responsible for handling Deceit incidents.
However, that had absolutely nothing to do with Bian Ying, a temp worker who made a measly three thousand yuan a month, had no insurance or benefits, and was dispatched wherever menial labor was needed.
“It was just a coincidence,” Bian Ying said with a shrug.
She pointed at the school rules in Xu Xinrong’s arms.
“The Deceits likely act according to the code of conduct in the school rules.
As long as you follow the rules, you won’t be hunted down.”
“The…
the school rules?!” Xu Xinrong was startled.
Deceits had been descending upon the world for over twenty years, and basic intelligence about them had long been integrated into foundational school curriculums.
Because of this, the students weren’t entirely clueless.
“Why is it the school rules again?!”
“The Deceits have already invaded the school!
Why do we still have to follow the rules?!”
“Could the principal be behind all this…?”
“Calm down!” Xu Xinrong pursed her lips, putting a stop to the others’ complaints.
Hugging the rulebook tight, she looked as if she had made up her mind.
“In that case, let’s go to the broadcasting room!” she said with absolute resolve.
“We need to tell more people about this rule!”
“Rongrong, are you crazy?!”
“It’s already a miracle if we can even escape…”
“Actually, it might work?
We’re only two blocks away from the broadcasting room.”
“What about the teacher?
What does she say?”
The others were shocked to hear Xu Xinrong’s suggestion.
As they discussed it, the topic inevitably circled back to Bian Ying.
She raised an eyebrow in surprise, evaluating Xu Xinrong.
She hadn’t expected this seemingly frail young girl to possess such immense courage.
“Have you decided?
What if my guess is wrong?”
“I have!” Xu Xinrong nodded solemnly.
“I believe in you, Teacher, and I’m willing to test whether this rule is true or not.”
Bian Ying suddenly smiled.
She patted Xu Xinrong’s head, her voice light and airy.
“College students these days are quite impressive.”
A hint of shyness flushed Xu Xinrong’s face.
Seeing this, the others—terrified of being left behind—hastily announced that they would join the expedition to the broadcasting room.
With their resolve set, Bian Ying escorted them toward their destination.
Fortunately, they didn’t encounter any more hordes of Deceits along the way.
The occasional straggler was quickly smashed into a bloody mist by the highly-spirited students.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the building, Bian Ying stopped.
Xu Xinrong asked in confusion, “Teacher, aren’t you coming with us?”
Bian Ying hesitated for a moment.
The instant the Deceit incident erupted, her exploitative boss—who had always targeted her—unexpectedly pushed her out of the auditorium.
He stayed behind, facing the principal whose consciousness had been invaded by the Deceit alone.
She had no idea what condition her boss was in right now.
Whether he was dead or alive, she had to confirm it.
But she also didn’t know what the situation was like inside this building.
What if her previous guess was wrong?
Wouldn’t she be marching these students to their doom?
“Let’s go.
I’ll escort you up,” Bian Ying said, finding her answer and shaking her head.
She took the lead, stepping into the dimly lit building.
The interior was completely empty, and the surroundings were so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
The voice-activated lights seemed to be broken; they flickered as the group passed by, faintly emitting a BZZT BZZT noise that felt even more terrifying in the dead silence.
“Teacher, the broadcasting room is 305.”
“Got it.”
The students followed nervously behind Bian Ying.
They couldn’t shake the feeling that something was hiding in the shadows in the corners, twitching as they walked past.
Too frightened to let their eyes wander, they tremblingly made their way up to the third floor.
CLICK—
Bian Ying pushed open the door to Room 305.
Seeing no traces of any Deceits inside, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Alright, you can begin.”
“Okay.”
Xu Xinrong calmly led forward a few students who had previously worked at the broadcasting station.
Not long after, the voices of several students rang out over the school’s PA system.
“Surviving students, please remain calm!
The Deceits act largely according to the school rules.
Everyone, please find a copy of the school rules and read them carefully!”
“Lunch break is almost here!
Students who are still hiding outside, please return to your dorms immediately!”
“You must absolutely abide by the school rules!”
Standing by the doorway, Bian Ying looked thoughtful.
She thought, “Isn’t this going a bit too smoothly?”
But—
Whatever.