Chapter 91

Chapter 91

But in the eyes of the Dean, Xie Yin Snow's smile likely seemed nothing but sheer mockery and derision.

Consequently, the smile vanished from the Dean's face, her eyes filled with rage as she glared at Xie Yin Snow's bloodied wrist, even the pear blossom bracelet stained with red. However, no matter how furiously she glared, as long as Xie Yin Snow didn't release his grip, the red pen couldn't complete the character "死" (death).

What could the single stroke signify? It was an entirely meaningless answer, which couldn't harm Xie Yin Snow in the slightest.

Everyone, still reeling from Xie Yin Snow's resolute action, saw the infuriated Dean raise her hand to grasp the red pen impaling Xie Yin Snow's wrist, intent on pulling it out.

"Be careful!"

Witnessing this, everyone, alarmed, instinctively called out in warning. Even Bu Jiu Zhao furrowed his brows, unconsciously taking a step forward.

However, their concerns were unfounded. Before the Dean's hand could even touch the pen, Xie Yin Snow's own left hand intercepted her, freezing her motion mid-air. Despite appearing frail, at that moment, he seemed as immovable as a towering mountain. Even with the Dean straining to the point of veins bulging and fingers contorting, she couldn't push her hand an inch forward.

... But wasn't Xie Yin Snow supposed to be just a mortal?

How was he able to resist a ghostly NPC in this terrifying escape scenario?

The participants didn't know, nor did the Dean.

All she remembered was that Xie Yin Snow's unexpected arrival had thwarted her ritual of sacrificing a hundred people, leading to her becoming a fugitive from the police and eventually ending up here... Therefore, she harbored immense hatred for Xie Yin Snow and yearned for his death!

However, she was merely the most insignificant ghost in "Locking Life". Bound by rules, she could only harm someone if they transgressed.

"Xie... Yin... Snow!"

With bloodshot eyes and a contorted face, the ghastly female shrieked his name. Yet, to Xie Yin Snow, her enraged rantings were nothing but bothersome noise.

Honestly, if he hadn't intended to keep a low profile in this scenario, to avoid being mistaken for a Ferryman NPC, Xie Yin Snow would have stuffed her mouth to make her calm down.

Truthfully, Xie Yin Snow hadn't initially planned to be this ruthless to himself. This action was merely a contingency he had devised, inspired by Bu Jiu Zhao.

Xie Yin Snow was curious: was it the two students holding the pen that made it move, or was it the invisible third entity, the "teacher"?

Assuming the students could exert force, he was confident he could control the red pen's movement entirely.

After all, most people playing the Pen Spirit game in reality don't truly summon a "Pen Spirit". The pen moves often because one of the players is pretending, just to scare the others.

Only when Xie Yin Snow joined the game did he confirm that after starting the [writing] lesson, the "teacher" summoned was the only entity that could move the red pen.

Furthermore, the "teacher's" control over the pen was contingent upon both students being able to move their hands. This was entirely different from the real-world Pen Spirit game. While ensuring fairness, it also provided participants with a lifeline – if you can immobilize the pen and endure the excruciating pain without letting go, you can survive.

Just like those scenarios that become exponentially harder after making deals with the Ferryman NPCs, they're challenging but not devoid of an escape route.

With this, Xie Yin Snow finally realized that the objective of "Locking Life" was never simply to kill the participants.

He calmly endured the dean's furious tirade for a solid two minutes. Observing the expression on the dean's face and realizing that calming down was likely impossible, he parted his lips and remarked in a seemingly submissive tone, "It seems my final results were not too shabby. Since I already know the answer, perhaps it's time to dismiss 'teacher' and end the class."

Upon hearing this, the dean responded with a derisive chuckle and spat blood, sneering, "In your dreams!"

This response was exactly what Pei Qingrong had anticipated. If the dean didn't cooperate with Xie Yinxue in dismissing the "teacher" and dragged the class to its end, then the lesson would be deemed a failure.

Whether Liu Buhua would lose a merit badge for incomplete homework or Xie Yinxue would perish on the spot remained a mystery. However, given the dean's venomous glare towards the young man, as if wishing to devour him whole, it was likely the latter scenario awaited Xie Yinxue.

The shock Xie Yinxue delivered to everyone that night was immense. His unwavering stance made it impossible for anyone to even feign concern for him. There was a growing suspicion that the tragic fate might actually befall the dean instead.

As expected, upon the dean's stern refusal, Xie Yinxue frowned in feigned sorrow. Yet, his increasingly upturned lips betrayed his true feelings.

"I apologize, but some mysteries have suddenly come to mind, and I'd like the 'teacher' to clarify," he began, directing an apology to the dean before softly continuing, "Tell me, will the dean suffer eternal torments in hell, much like the name of this school suggests?"

The young man slowly lifted his eyes, his lashes fluttering. Even as he tried to feign sadness with furrowed brows, his poor acting and excessive grin gave away his lack of sorrow.

The dean's smug expression faded to shock as he watched Xie Yinxue, who laughed and said, "If not, then feel free to draw ninety-nine thousand circles for me."

Ninety-nine thousand circles?!

Setting aside the fact that the red pen couldn't move at the moment, even if it could, wouldn't the sheer number of circles set the paper ablaze from friction?

The other participants first thought Xie Yinxue's apology was akin to the ancient code of 'courtesy before force'. But upon hearing that number, they realized: Xie Yinxue wasn't being courteous; he was going for the jugular!

"Alas, since the pen didn't move, it must be true," the young man lamented theatrically, shaking his head, "How cruel."

"The model son" Liu Buhua, also trying too hard to fake sorrow, sobbed a few times, using his sleeve to wipe non-existent tears while masking his laughter, exclaiming, "How terrifying! How brutal!"

Everyone: "..."

"Xie Yinxue!!!"

The dean's hysterical outcry made Xie Yinxue's ears ring.

He massaged his temples, feigning frailty as he asked, "What now? I still have many questions. Or is it that you've had enough of this lesson and wish to conclude it prematurely?"

If looks could kill, Xie Yinxue would have been slaughtered countless times over by the dean's gaze.

Unfortunately, it seemed the dean was the one truly suffering. Xie Yinxue had no intention of granting him relief, continuing with a smirk, "Don't you want to end it? Fine, I forgot what other punishments exist in the eighteen layers of hell besides tongue-pulling. Grinding stone? Crushing boulder?"

"Oh, and I'm curious. After a person dies once..."

"— Can one die a second time?"

Xie Yinxue's eyes shimmered like rippling waters, concealing deep emotions, but the words he uttered could make even demons and spirits tremble in fear. It's as if he were the very ghost destined to be imprisoned within the eighteen layers of hell, unable to reincarnate.

Bu Jiuzhao stared at him, lost in thought, and then slowly began to smile. He silently mused that Xie Yinxue was born in the wrong era—if he had been born ten thousand years earlier, wouldn't there be a place for him among the deities of the nine heavens?

Alas, the mystic ways have declined and the art of Tao has been lost in the present time. The spiritual energy flowing between heaven and earth has become so faint that it's almost negligible. Even with abilities rivaling deities, Xie Yinxue remains a mere mortal.

Bu Jiuzhao pondered: Had he not known the true faces of the celestial beings residing in the heavenly palace, he might have mistaken Xie Yinxue for the reincarnation of some fallen deity.

But the young man wasn't a reincarnation of anyone. He was Xie Yinxue, unique in all the world.

The dean, a mere nameless evil spirit, wasn't even worthy of challenging Xie Yinxue.

By this point, the dean understood that if either she or Xie Yinxue were to die today, it certainly wouldn't be Xie Yinxue. There are still three days left in the simulation; she has other opportunities to eliminate him, but she can't afford to die today...

So, she conceded, "You're right. It's almost time to end the class. Let's dismiss the 'teacher'."

Everyone watched in astonishment as the once-fierce dean suddenly changed her demeanor, forcing a smile—though it looked more genuine than Xie Yinxue's—and began to cooperate. A collective shock rippled through the observers, leaving them wondering: Can Xie Yinxue truly use this ghost game to defeat a ghost?

Only Chen Yun, who had witnessed Xie Yinxue's ruthless methods, knew: Even if the dean died today, she wouldn't be the first ghost Xie Yinxue had eliminated in the 'Eternal Lock' game, nor the last.

So, before the class bell rang, the 'writing' lesson for the entire 404 class came to a successful conclusion—no one died.

The humiliated dean had to stay back, distributing merit badges to the students before she could leave.

After awarding full points to all the teachers, they watched as Xie Yinxue, without even blinking, yanked out the red pen, quickly wrapped the bleeding wound with a piece of his shirt, and concealed his injured wrist, keeping it out of sight.

Chen Yun offered, "Mr. Xie, I have some medical supplies. Would you like some?"

Xie Yinxue declined politely, "Thank you, but I have my own."

Chen Yun, not insisting further, felt relieved, "That's good then."

On the way to the cafeteria, Bu Jiuzhao wanted to hold Xie Yinxue's hand but hesitated, fearing he might hurt the wound. Liu Buhua, however, clung to Xie Yinxue's left side, eyes red, chokingly calling out, "Godfather..."

"Why are you crying?" The young man glanced at him and, cutting off Liu Buhua's apology, quirked a lip, "Do you think I'd risk myself for you?"

Liu Buhua, taken aback, looked up at Xie Yinxue, "So, Godfather... did you want to take the chance to kill her?"

Xie Yinxue no longer met his gaze, looking straight ahead, confirming, "Yes."

However, in the face of such an indifferent answer, Liu Buhua surprisingly broke into a smile. "That's good to hear."

Clinging to Xie Yinxue's clothing, he whispered shyly, "But I still believe you'd risk things for me."

Xie Yinxue simply smiled, choosing not to respond.

Only Bu Jiuzhao felt frustrated, his eyes fixated on Liu Buhua's hands tugging at the young man's clothes. He was burning with jealousy, wishing he could singe holes right where those hands gripped.

— Damn Liu Buhua is so irritating!

He should have taken the opportunity to rebuke him earlier. What an oversight.

Author's Note:

Liu Buhua: My godfather is the best.

NPC: "Best" my foot.

Liu Buhua: ?

Mr. Xie: Are ninety-nine thousand circles a lot? It's just a tiny bit.

The dean: A tiny bit?