Chapter 102

Chapter 102

"Teacher Wu... I'm truly sorry..."

"I never intended to hurt you... I shouldn't have listened to Sun Lingxin... I'm so sorry..."

Yun Meizhen wept pitifully, her apologies to Wu Yuehan filled with more guilt and regret than even the terror she felt facing a dead body.

After Sun Lingxin finished speaking, Wu Yuehan slowly approached Yun Meizhen, as if intending to pin on her the golden badge representing entry to the advanced division of the Eternal Abyss Academy.

The onlookers felt a mix of emotions watching this unfold.

Because if Yun Meizhen wasn't lying, one could say she was incredibly unlucky—of everyone, she initially seemed most likely to clear the challenge. Yet, in the end, she was deceived and coerced by Sun Lingxin into participating in the "final exam."

However, she wasn't entirely innocent. There were darker corners in Yun Meizhen's heart: for instance, her innermost thoughts from the previous night revealed she had wished for He Wei to be killed by the other participants.

Human nature is profoundly intricate, each one of us possesses both good and evil. Especially in the game of "Lock Eternal Life," how many, like Chen Yun, can remain true to their heart and consistently choose virtue?

Indeed, there are more deceptive and ruthless individuals like Pei Qingrong and Sun Lingxi than there are purely good people. Most are like Liu Yi, Yun Meizhen, Jiang Mo, Wu Yuehan, and even He Wei — ordinary individuals with their strengths and flaws.

They feel fear, occasionally act out of kindness, and sometimes, instinctively selfish. In "Lock Eternal Life," they gradually lose touch with their humanity. Even if they manage to survive until the game's end, are they still the same individuals they once were?

Such a pitiful and tragic reality.

To everyone's astonishment, when Wu Yuehan stood in front of Yun Meizhen, he did not present her with a graduation certificate or place a graduation cap on her. Not even the golden school emblem was pinned on her. Instead, he pulled out a radiant red flower from his pocket and handed it to her.

Yun Meizhen stared at the little red flower, then looked up at Wu Yuehan, tears rolling down her face, "Mr. Wu..."

Seeing this, Yi Nuo approached and asked, "Young lady, you've collected five red flowers and earned a recommendation. Will you choose accelerated promotion or standard graduation?"

With tears in her eyes, Yun Meizhen replied, "I choose to graduate..."

Yi Nuo smiled and said, "Congratulations on your graduation. I hope that after leaving school, you'll make positive contributions to society."

Holding the red flower Wu Yuehan gave her close to her heart, Yun Meizhen felt a profound sadness. This was the ending she had always dreamt of, but now that it had arrived, she found herself unable to smile.

"But remember," Yi Nuo said, placing a graduation cap on Yun Meizhen and handing her the certificate, advising her like a guiding principal, "life is a long journey. Before you accomplish anything, be a good person, just as today's lesson on 'Humanity' taught."

"Choose the right path between good and evil next time."

Tears streaming down, Yun Meizhen nodded vigorously, too choked up to speak further.

"Why..."

Sun Lingxi couldn't accept the outcome. She staggered forward, her bloodshot eyes filled with stubbornness and madness, "She took the final exam too! She stabbed Wu Yuehan too! Why does she get to skip the advanced section?!"

Yet, Yi Nuo paid her no heed and didn't bother explaining. After awarding Liu Buhua, who also collected five red flowers, with a graduation certificate and cap, he turned his attention to the others.

"And for those who couldn't complete this term's curriculum, what becomes of them?"

Zhang Caixia, Jin Xi, Ji Shanshan, and others who were called out straightened up, anxiously waiting for Yi Nuo's final verdict.

Yi Nuo, with a benevolent expression, said, "You haven't done wrong to be imprisoned. Perhaps our school's program isn't suitable for you. We'll have to process your withdrawal, allowing you to find your path elsewhere."

"Can we really pass?!"

Zhang Caixia, nearly voiceless with excitement, didn't dare to confront Xie Yinxue. Instead, she fervently shook Jin Xi's shoulders, exclaiming, "This is exactly what Xie Yinxue predicted! We've cleared it? That's insanely awesome!"

"You should be grateful we didn't break the school rules more than three times, or else we would've been confined," Jin Xi replied, feeling dizzy from the shaking, wishing Zhang Caixia could calm down.

"I didn't get it all right," Xie Yinxue admitted gently, shaking her head apologetically. "I didn't account for that rule."

It seemed that to clear this level without collecting all five red flowers, one prerequisite was to avoid being detained by the school's dean. Such meticulous game design was truly admirable.

"You've already done an incredible job!" Ji Shanshan gazed at Xie Yinxue with immense admiration. "If it wasn't for you stopping us, we might've ended up like Pei Qingrong and the others, heading to that Eternal Abyss Academy's Advanced Division in the next level."

Listening to their gratitude, Xie Yinxue responded with a humble smile.

After thanking Xie Yinxue, Ji Shanshan and Jiang Mo expressed their gratitude to Chen Yun, recognizing that without his assistance, they might not have survived until the last day.

"I've observed that Ms. Xie has an exceptional way of guiding students. Would you be interested in continuing to teach in the Advanced Division?"

After settling all student participants, Yinuo beamed as he handed out the "Outstanding Lecturer Certificates" as their clearance keys. Finally, he approached Xie Yinxue with an offer.

Listening to Yinuo's words, the smile on Xie Yinxue's lips deepened, "Are you the principal of the Advanced Division?"

"Of course... I'm not." Feeling the icy gaze of Bu Jiuzhao on him, Yinuo stiffened instantly, correcting himself, "I'm merely the principal of the Primary Division."

"Then I decline," Xie Yinxue stated decisively. "A division without you as its principal lacks soul."

Yinuo: "..."

"I have other matters to attend to. You all can leave the school and enjoy your summer vacation."

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow and feeling he might get strangled by Bu Jiuzhao if he lingered, Yinuo quickly turned to leave.

But he hadn't gone far when Xie Yinxue called out his name: "Yinuo—"

How could Yinuo dare to stop? Pretending to be deaf, he ran even faster.

The young man continued speaking calmly, "Consider getting some plastic surgery. Otherwise, next time we meet, I might do the job for you."

As soon as those words landed, Yinuo found himself airborne.

His flying pose looked as if he'd been kicked, yet Xie Yinxue didn't see who initiated the action.

After Yinuo left, all participants reverted to their adult forms, and their clothing changed back to what they had worn upon entering the game. Zhang Caixia, Jiang Mo, and others were eager to leave the eerie and gory campus. The moment the main gate opened, they hurried out.

On their way, Zhang Caixia whispered to Jin Xi, "Who is the ferryman of this instance? Is it really not Xie Yinxue? He clearly seems familiar with the guiding NPC. Which participant could possibly have such a relationship?"

"How would I know? We've cleared the instance, so it doesn't matter who it is," Jin Xi remarked, glancing back at the young man still standing in the middle of the campus field, murmuring, "But it's my first time seeing a participant familiar with an NPC..."

In her numerous entries into instances, she had never encountered the same NPC, let alone recognized one.

So, is Xie Yinxue just a regular participant?

The young man in the pale yellow robe, standing at the center of the field, seemed like the only glimmer of light in the endless darkness. Merely approaching him seemed to bring a warm feeling.

Jin Xi averted her gaze and stepped out of the school gates, thinking that perhaps only Xie Yinxue himself knew the answer.

Xie Yinxue turned around, not looking back at the desolate and silent Everlasting Academy. Instead, he gazed upwards to the man beside him and commented, "This instance was quite interesting."

"You found it interesting again?" Bu Jiuzhao responded to Xie Yinxue's remark, glancing at Liu Buhua, signaling him to leave so that he could have a private moment with Xie Yinxue.

Although Liu Buhua was reluctant, he owed a favor and had to depart with a hint of resentment.

Pleased with the situation, Bu Jiuzhao listened as the young man continued, "Good people survived, and the wicked got their comeuppance. Isn't that interesting?"

Raising an eyebrow, Bu Jiuzhao teased, "Are you complimenting yourself for being a good person?"

Xie Yinxue's eyes sparkled with amusement as he replied, "I was praising you for being a good person."

Not fully grasping the meaning but feeling flattered, Bu Jiuzhao tried to contain his joy, keeping a straight face.

"It's a pity that the dean didn't finish drawing those 990,000 circles," Xie Yinxue added, his eyes twinkling with more amusement. "The number nine is so lovely. What a waste."

This time, the man couldn't contain his emotions and let out a chuckle. But something seemed to change his mood, and the smile quickly faded. "It's not lovely at all."

"I didn't get upset when you disliked the 'snow' character in my name. Why do you seem annoyed when I compliment the 'nine' in yours?" Xie Yinxue asked softly, "Don't you like your name?"

Bu Jiuzhao remained silent, his deep eyes looking cold, not directed at Xie Yinxue, but past him, gazing into the gloomy sky.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally said, "I don't like it."

"Oh, you dislike snow, overcast days, white clothing, others knocking over your barbecue, and now even your own name," Xie Yinxue noted with a hint of amusement.

Xie Yin Xue asked him, "What do you like?"

Bu Jiu Zhao glanced down at him, then looked away, murmuring, "You ask knowingly."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yin Xue couldn't help but laugh again. Laughter brought a watery gleam to the corners of her eyes, which shimmered on her eyelashes.

Seeing her laugh so heartily, Bu Jiu Zhao asked puzzledly, "Why are you laughing?"

Moments later, he heard the young man say, "I'm laughing at myself."

Bu Jiu Zhao furrowed his brow.

In the next moment, he saw the young man gently touch his face, whispering, "Bu Jiu Zhao, perhaps even if I didn't come for 'immortality', knowing you're here, I would come for you."

The young man's fingers held little warmth. He was frail, always so. His words, as if from a chilly peak, landed heavily upon Bu Jiu Zhao's heart.

Yet, he felt no pain, only a strong sensation of his heart beating. He too couldn't resist raising his hand, wanting to reciprocate the young man's touch. Even if the young man's cheeks were as pale as frost and chilling to the touch, he still wanted to feel them.

But before he could touch that luminous frost, the young man dissipated into white specks of light, vanishing like freshly fallen snow upon touching the ground, leaving no trace.

Only the sensation of the caress remained on his face.

Bu Jiu Zhao blankly covered his left cheek with his hand, as if hoping to preserve the young man's presence a little longer, wishing it would never fade.