On the day Luo Yu decided to check out the small grove, she received a school notice about a half-day holiday.
“Emergency Notice: Signs of wild wolves have been spotted on campus, possibly having entered from the back mountain. To ensure the safety of all students, the school will be on half-day leave. Students are asked to stay away from the small grove, return to the dorms, and lock all doors and windows. In case of an emergency, contact the Security Department immediately. Security Department Contact: xxxx”
The timing was suspiciously convenient. Luo Yu wondered if it had something to do with the group of players who had entered the small grove at noon.
Regardless of the school’s motive, this gave her a chance to explore the grove.
From the dormitory window, she could see students gradually returning to the teaching building while squads of security personnel in uniforms gathered toward the small grove. It seemed they intended to block it off.
If she arrived late, she might be stopped and barred from entering.
Wasting no time, Luo Yu made simple preparations and headed toward the small grove, carrying the important bone whistle.
On the way, she happened to run into a few of her dormmates.
The three girls no longer pretended. They stared at her with eyes full of greed and fear.
“Luo Yu, where are you going? The teachers said to stay in the dorm.” Liu Shuang tried to stop her.
Time was short, and Luo Yu could not be bothered to respond.
“Get lost.”
She shoved past the trio and headed straight toward the small grove.
Liu Shuang reached out to grab her, but the other two were faster and held her back. Faintly, Luo Yu could hear their whispers.
“Enough already, are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“It’s fine if you want to die, but do not drag us down.”
“But why? I won’t accept this!” Liu Shuang shouted, furious.
“You are so stupid. That night you saw it too, did you not.”
A dazzling red light pierced the sky. An immense power descended into the world. It was an absolute existence beyond rules and something these small creatures could not resist.
Meanwhile, Luo Yu ran into a familiar face along the way.
It was the young man who sold buns for breakfast. He also worked as a part-time security guard during non-meal hours.
In his crisp uniform, the man looked taller and straighter. Luo Yu felt a fleeting sense of familiarity. If only she had a flashlight.
Now was not the time to think about that. Just one more glance.
No! This was not the time to admire anyone.
Luo Yu steeled herself, building an unbreakable mental barrier, determined to pass by the man without looking and rushing to the small grove.
Look straight ahead and keep moving.
Yet, if this trip ended up being fatal, this might have been her last chance to feel the beauty of the world before dying.
As she approached, a twinge of sadness welled in her eyes. It was mixed with a lingering affection for beautiful things.
She was scared.
The man smiled. “Student, it is dangerous outside. You should return to the dorm quickly.”
No way she could be stopped. Luo Yu took a deep breath and prepared for a sudden dash.
But he said again. “Student, we have met before. Do you not remember?”
He hinted, “On certain nights and some mornings.”
Her mental barrier collapsed instantly. Luo Yu froze in place.
On the outside she appeared calm, but inside her mind screamed like a frantic groundhog.
He remembers me. He has me in his heart.
Compelled by some force, Luo Yu blurted out. “I am going to the small grove. Can you come with me? Let us go to the small grove together.”
Each word was filled with mounting excitement.
What was she saying? Was she crazy?
Luo Yu’s scalp tingled with embarrassment as she looked at the man’s indifferent, almost mocking expression. She wished she could hide her face and run.
Desire clouded her judgment. Truly, desire clouded her judgment.
If she died at the hands of a monster because of her lust, it would be her own fault, completely undeserving of sympathy.
“I am going.”
She tried to slip away quietly, telling herself the man would forget all about this.
But before she could move, her arm was grabbed. Damn! Luo Yu’s heart sank.
She should not let her guard down with an NPC at this school. Even if he looked attractive, he could still be a monster.
Could he be one?
How could it be?
Luo Yu could not imagine an ugly, twisted monster lurking beneath the man’s delicate, handsome appearance.
“No.”
Do not revert. If you must eat me, at least keep this pleasing appearance.
The man said. “No.”
No? What did he mean? Did he have to turn ugly to eat her?
“Now it is too late for regrets. I also need to go to the small grove. Student, we will likely have to travel together for a while.”
Luo Yu froze. In the small grove, Sun Heng had left Yang Tian behind and ventured alone into the depths of the swamp.
Regardless of character, he was an experienced player who had survived three games.
In survival games, players who survived received rewards based on their performance. These included improved physical abilities or life-saving items.
For ordinary people, the swamp, where a careless step could be fatal, was not particularly dangerous for Sun Heng.
Only the thick fog slowed him down.
He was unaware that the school had issued a holiday notice and still intended to leave the small grove before the first afternoon class to avoid breaking school rules.
Sun Heng followed the sound of wolf howls.
The howls came and went. Every time he thought he was close to the wolves, the sounds shifted farther away, as if the pack were deliberately luring him deeper.
Sun Heng found himself in a dilemma. Continue chasing and risk going farther from the school, even into the back mountain, or stop and leave the lead unfinished.
After all, the earlier one acquired crucial game clues, the safer one was.
After much hesitation, Sun Heng made his decision. He would pursue it.
He had life-saving items. Breaking school rules did not necessarily mean death. But missing a clue would make it far harder to clear the game.
Unconsciously, the fog gradually lifted. Amid the dense forest, Sun Heng saw a fence made of iron wire.
Beyond the fence lay the back mountain. A wolf stood not far outside the fence, its green eyes staring directly at him.
Was it inviting him to pass?
Sun Heng frowned and stepped forward. At that moment, an unexpected guest leapt from the forest.
“Brother Sun, Brother Sun! Finally found you, Brother Sun.” Brother Fat’s panting figure appeared at the fence, causing the wolf’s fur to bristle before it ran off.
“Brother Sun, the others got scattered. I searched the forest for you and almost got mauled by the wolves.”
Brother Fat was in tattered clothes, bruised all over, looking like he had truly been chased by a wolf pack.
Sun Heng scrutinized him carefully and drew his sword.
“Whoa, Brother Sun, what are you doing?” Brother Fat tried to play it off. Seeing Sun Heng’s icy expression, his face gradually changed.
The naive, friendly smile vanished, replaced by mockery and sarcasm.
“Quick reflexes, I thought I could fool you again.”
“But what is the point of discovering me? Among the intruders, you are the only smart one. Now, you are the only smart one left.”
From the forest, over a dozen black shadows appeared.