Chapter 90

Chapter 90

What if they had asked?

If there were no group sessions, it would be a relief for all. But if there were, wouldn't Liu Yi's antics deter others from teaming up with him?

Such self-sabotaging actions were incomprehensible to the others.

Besides, Bu Jiuzhao's questions to Liu Yi were valid: How could Liu Yi be so sure that the "teacher" would reveal the true answer?

To this day, no one understands the meaning of the two circles the "teacher" drew in response to Bu Jiuzhao's first question. But they didn't need to. All they had to do was "complete the [Writing] lesson" and earn the daily red flower reward.

At least for today, looking too far ahead might not be a good idea.

Liu Buhua, feeling remorseful, approached Bu Jiuzhao, apologizing with his head lowered, "Bu Jiuzhao, I'm sorry. I should've teamed up with you earlier."

"As long as you understand."

Bu Jiuzhao stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed only on Xie Yinxue who was walking to the desk. Without even glancing at Liu Buhua, he merely quirked a smile and said in a deep tone, "Now you owe me a favor. When the time comes to repay it, you must do so."

Although Liu Buhua felt Bu Jiuzhao's request was reasonable, he had this nagging feeling that Bu Jiuzhao had foreseen Liu Yi's antics and had intentionally teamed up with him just to make Liu Buhua owe him a favor.

But then again, considering this was the "Eternal Lock" scenario where actual deaths might occur, would anyone truly gamble with their lives for a joke?

Perhaps he was just overthinking?

Willow asked Step Nine Reflect, "Is it something illegal?"

"No," Step Nine Reflect replied impatiently, furrowing his brow. "If it were illegal, would I involve you?"

Willow scratched his head, sensing that something seemed off about Step Nine Reflect's response, but he couldn't quite pinpoint it. He finally conceded, "...Alright then."

Hearing this, Step Nine Reflect chuckled softly, not engaging further with Willow. His attention was fixed solely on Xie Yin Snow.

The table, which everyone had just used for class, was now covered with a fresh sheet of paper. It was delicately smooth and flawless, devoid of any blemishes or smudges. Xie Yin Snow gently ran his fingers over its surface, casting a fleeting shadow that disappeared as he lifted his hand.

Chen Yun presented him with a red pen, her voice laced with concern. "Mr. Xie, please be careful."

Xie Yin Snow was a participant she had met during the first instance. He had selflessly saved her friend Chu Li without expecting any compensation. Though he seemed aloof, he subtly provided many helpful hints in this instance, facilitating their progress. Both emotionally and rationally, she couldn't bear the thought of him coming to harm.

Unfortunately, she recognized her limitations and the breadth of her own learning curve. All she could offer Xie Yin Snow now were words of concern.

"Thank you," Xie Yin Snow said, accepting the red pen from Chen Yun with a smile. But then he added, "Chen Yun, could you please fetch me another red pen?"

Chen Yun paused, puzzled. While she didn't understand why Xie Yin Snow would need a second red pen, she complied, "Of course."

After stowing the second red pen in the sleeve of his left arm, Xie Yin Snow warmly thanked Chen Yun again, "Much appreciated."

"It's no trouble at all," Chen Yun waved her hand dismissively. "You're too kind."

Xie Yin Snow, smiling with downcast eyes, set the first red pen on the table, then began... rolling up his sleeve?

Though Xie Yin Snow's sleeves were indeed a bit loose, it shouldn't be an issue for the pen ritual, right? After all, He Wei had just been wearing an even more restrictive suit, yet no one noticed any hindrance during his demonstration with Wu Yue Cold.

Everyone was puzzled. But given Xie Yin Snow's unique style and demeanor, they simply watched as he rolled up the azure sleeve, revealing a slender and immaculate arm, pale as snow.

Once the sleeve was rolled up, a silver bracelet adorned with a golden pear blossom bud became fully visible on his wrist. As Xie Yin Snow moved, the bracelet gently tapped against the table, producing a clear, melodious sound reminiscent of pearls colliding.

The group grew even more perplexed about Xie Yin Snow's action. If anything, shouldn't the bracelet be the greater hindrance? Yet Xie Yin Snow made no move to remove it.

He Wei voiced his confusion, "Why would a man wear a pear blossom bracelet? It's rather effeminate, isn't it?"

Zhang Cai Xia rolled her eyes at him, retorting, "I think Xie Yin Snow exhibits far more masculinity than you."

"Enough, both of you!" Jin Xi interjected sharply, signaling them to quiet down. Frowning, she added, "I think I hear footsteps outside."

Wei Xiao perked up his ears, and after a few seconds, he agreed, "I think I hear it too."

From outside the classroom came the familiar "click-clack" of high heels striking the floor, growing louder as they approached, stopping right outside the door of classroom 302.

Everyone turned toward the back door, and due to their vantage point, the first thing they saw were slender calves perched atop red high heels.

Those calves matched the ones they had spotted under the desks in classroom 404, but they had not seen them again since entering 302.

Under the desks of classroom 302, they saw a pair of legs in blue trousers and ordinary white canvas shoes, belonging to a person whose gender they couldn't discern, presumably the teacher of 302.

So, who did these red-heeled legs belong to?

Looking up, a familiar face came into view — the individual was clad in blood-red from head to toe. It was the school's Dean of Discipline, known for handing out little red flowers every day, always with a twisted, eerie smile and a chilling, predatory gaze.

"Xie Yin Snow was right..." Ji Shan Shan whispered, her hands covering her mouth in horror, "The teacher from classroom 404... it really is her..."

Zhang Cai Xia murmured, her hand on her chest, "This isn't a class demonstration. The Dean represents a teacher here, which means she doesn't have the right to ask questions. Only Xie Yin Snow can. As long as he asks the right questions, everything should be fine, right?"

However, Pei Qing Rong frowned, "You're missing the point. The challenge isn't about asking questions, it's about how to dismiss the 'teacher'."

Pei Qing Rong's words snapped everyone back to reality. Indeed, while Xie Yin Snow had the authority to question, both the summoning and the dismissal of the "teacher" required the collaboration of two individuals holding the pen. The Dean might cooperate in summoning the "teacher", but she might not be so compliant when it came to dismissal.

Realizing this, everyone felt that Xie Yin Snow was in grave danger. They imagined that if Liu Yi were in his place, it would be an instant death sentence.

However, Xie Yin Snow, the person everyone was anxious for, faced the almost inhuman Dean with an expression as serene as still water, revealing nothing of his intentions.

Unexpectedly, he broke into a gentle smile and humbly said to the Dean, "Please."

At his invitation, the Dean extended her hand, which was mottled with dark spots and had a cadaverous, ashen hue. She took the red pen, placing it vertically on the table. Seeing this, Xie Yin Snow too extended his right hand, joining her in holding the pen.

Together, their voices melded as they began to chant:

"Teacher, teacher, are you there? Teacher, teacher, please come here. I summon the teacher, draw a circle if you're near..."

Xie Yin Snow's voice remained its usual gentle and soothing tone, a calming presence. However, the Dean's voice was a stark contrast, sounding more grating than nails on a chalkboard.

It struck the group that, despite being in this scenario for days, this was the first time they had heard the Dean speak. They had never heard her utter a word until now, and hearing her, they realized why.

—For more than half of her tongue had been gruesomely snipped off.

Only a mangled stump remained in her mouth, barely able to produce a hoarse and disjointed sound. With every word, thick, dark blood dripped from her chin, making her already terrifying appearance even more ghastly.

The sound was torturous not just for those hearing it but seemingly for the Dean herself. Hence, after finishing the chant three times, she closed her mouth for good, clearly having no intention of aiding Xie Yin Snow in dismissing the "teacher".

Facing this scene, Wu Yue Han couldn't bear to watch any longer and turned away; Chen Yun clenched her fists, feeling her heart sink heavily; Zhang Cai Xia repeatedly sighed, tapping her thigh, not understanding why Xie Yin Snow had to get involved in this mess. After all, even if they were only a godfather and godson in relation, in such a situation, blood ties might mean nothing.

If Liu Bu Hua wanted to save someone, he should have done it on his own. Now that Xie Yin Snow has put himself in jeopardy for the ungrateful Liu Yi, was it worth it?

Now, when everyone looked at Xie Yin Snow, they saw him as a dead man walking.

However, the very next words from the "dead man", Xie Yin Snow, left everyone even more stunned: "Teacher, teacher, can you tell me my final grade?"

The range of answers to this question was much broader than the one Wu Yue Han and He Wei had posed, asking "how much" for the final grade. Most crucially, it was a certain death question!

The answer had been revealed from the start: death.

Xie Yin Snow had previously warned everyone against asking questions with a wide range of answers. Why was he deliberately making such a mistake now? Was he in a hurry to die, offering his neck to the enemy's blade?

No one could understand this move. However, the Dean seemed pleased with Xie Yin Snow's seemingly eager approach to his own demise, laughing eerily as she watched the red pen move, drawing a single stroke on the paper.

It was the first stroke of the character "死" (death).

As the red pen began to move again to complete the character, just as it was about to turn, Xie Yin Snow suddenly flicked his left sleeve, revealing the additional red pen he had asked Chen Yun for, quickly removed its cap, and stabbed it forcefully into his right wrist.

The tip of the pen pierced through the skin, penetrating the wrist bone, and finally pinned the young man's hand to the table with a crisp "clang."

The sound, though soft and muffled, was heavy and chilling, leaving everyone in horrified silence.

Xie Yin Snow's expression remained unchanged throughout, still as gentle and humble as ever.

Author's Note:

Liu Bu Hua: I feel like I've walked into a trap.

NPC: Not at all.