The atmosphere felt heavy, almost like drowning, making it difficult for people to catch their breath.
Outside the window, scraps of paper fluttered in the air, catching the attention of the students in the classroom. Their faces expressed astonishment as they turned to look outside.
This was like using one’s education credentials to go against the school rules.
Qi Yunshen also saw it, even spotting the figure on the rooftop.
Qiao Nuo.
A part of his foolish brother’s remnant soul.
Qi Yunshen instinctively turned to glance at the boy sitting in the back row and happened to catch a glimpse of the boy’s faint smile.
The smile was clean, pure, captivating, and impossible to ignore.
Anyone could see the joy in the boy’s expression.
Everyone in the computer science department knew how challenging it was to make the boy smile because he often shed tears at the slightest provocation, which would render him speechless.
Perhaps this was the first time he had smiled since entering university.
But it wasn’t directed at him.
Qi Yunshen’s eyes darkened completely, carrying a hint of danger.
“Ring, ring, ring!” The bell signaling the end of class rang.
People in the classroom started packing up their things and gradually left the classroom, running to join the crowd watching the person scattering paper.
After all, such a brave (foolish) warrior was not a common sight.
Ruan Qing also packed up and prepared to leave the classroom.
The system, observing the situation, froze. [Aren’t you going to submit the answer?]
Clearly, he had already deduced the correct answers.
In this instance, the ‘he’ referred to was actually the heart. The heart was originally located in the First University, and because the unconscious dark energy it emitted affected the entire university, the Qi family discovered it, a family skilled Daoist practitioners.
In order to obtain the power of the heart, the Qi family fused it into the fetus in Madam Qi’s womb.
However, a problem arose during childbirth, resulting in two individuals.
The Qi family could only have one heir in each generation, so they used forbidden techniques to force Qi Yunshen to remain at the age of six.
In fact, even in the past, if there were twins, the Qi family would still kill one of them.
But this time it didn’t work. The Qi family tried it, but killing one would also result in the death of the other. Coupled with the presence of that heart, that’s why both were allowed to live.
Yet, it also left behind a source of trouble.
No one could willingly accept maintaining that child-like appearance.
After Qi Yunshen found a way to survive, he schemed and killed Qi Muran.
But unexpectedly, the heart, due to that book, became a player and directly left this instance.
So, in reality, this scenario indeed didn’t provide players with a second chance to clear it. Basically, it relied on strength and luck for a player to survive seven days and successfully complete it.
But because this person entered the instance, it caused the heart to return on its own.
Seemingly a coincidence, but actually inevitable.
Even if the boss left its own instance, even if the boss had no memory or consciousness, subconsciously it would still return for the sake of this person.
After packing up, Ruan Qing walked outside the classroom, replying to the system as he walked, ‘What do you think?’
Although Ruan Qing didn’t give a direct answer, the system understood his meaning.
This person obviously disdained the small amount of points obtained from directly submitting answers.
Knowing the answers gave him an exit strategy for clearing the instance; they could submit whenever he wanted.
When most people had a way out, their courage tended to increase significantly.
He thought this person would leave the instance immediately because he was afraid of ghosts.
But this instance was different from the ones before.
In the past, instances would close due to the death of key NPCs, but in this instance, NPC deaths would only turn them into fierce ghosts.
Moreover, this instance wouldn’t have a situation like the <Xishan Residential Area> with two bosses appearing.
Trying to earn points using the methods from before was absolutely impossible.
But the system didn’t say anything.
It’s fine if this person wanted to stay a bit longer, at least proving that he was actively overcoming the shadows and fears of his past.
But there’s no need to go to such extremes, right?
The system watched the young man digging up bones directly, utterly astonished.
One should know that initially, even following Qiao Nuo, this person was afraid of digging up bones.
Now, unexpectedly, he came alone to dig up the bones.
The change was too significant; it made him doubt whether he was truly afraid of ghosts. After all, his acting skills had always been excellent.
In reality, Ruan Qing was still quite scared. However, it was broad daylight, and the probability of ghosts appearing was minimal. Even if a ghost did appear, its strength would be greatly suppressed.
In case of an unexpected situation, he could enter Qi Yunshen’s body or directly submit the answer and leave the instance, ensuring absolute safety.
Nevertheless, even with such precautions, Ruan Qing had mentally prepared himself for a long time before mustering the courage to dig.
He dug very cautiously, fearing that the bones might move on their own. He was also afraid of any strange figures lurking around him.
Fortunately, nothing unusual happened, and Ruan Qing’s digging went smoothly.
After seven years, the flesh had long been corroded and decomposed, and even the clothes were mostly gone. However, the bones were exceptionally clean, untouched by any dirt.
They looked as if they were meticulously cleaned, radiating a cold and white light in the sunlight, appearing eerie.
Ruan Qing hesitated for a moment, but eventually took the bones out and arranged them together. Then he stood up, intending to retrieve the bones from the other two locations.
The system couldn’t help with this matter; no one could touch the bones of the pen spirit.
Except with the permission of the pen spirit.
In this instance, the pen spirit did indeed have a personality similar to that of a Puritan, not allowing anyone to touch even a bit of him, not even his bones.
And the remnant souls of the pen spirit couldn’t touch the bones because someone tampered with them.
Ruan Qing walked towards the terrifying restroom from before.
Because on this side of the Half Moon Lake’s small woods, there was a need to cross a playground.
Holding his own book, Ruan Qing directly crossed the playground.
He looked as if he were going to class, not much different from the other students.
While passing by the badminton court’s net, a shuttlecock happened to float over the net and drifted towards Ruan Qing.
It was from a little girl playing badminton.
Perhaps with too much force, she accidentally hit it over the net.
Ruan Qing instinctively raised his book and gently hit the shuttlecock back.
The action was full of gentleness.
It unconsciously drew people to the book’s owner.
Because his gentleness emanated naturally, without any deliberate effort or pretense.
He didn’t even do anything else, just gently hit the ball back.
The sunlight shone on the young man’s delicate face, creating a moment that one would never forget in their lifetime.
The little girl didn’t go to catch the shuttlecock when it floated back; instead, she stared at Ruan Qing in a daze.
Until the shuttlecock floated straight back into her hands, she then hugged the shuttlecock with both hands.
Her figure gradually became transparent, eventually disappearing from the original spot.
Before disappearing, the hollow and resentful eyes of the little girl cleared up a bit. She tilted her head and showed Ruan Qing a bright smile.
Ruan Qing was completely stunned; what’s going on?
That little girl... was a ghost?
Weren’t ghosts not supposed to appear during the day?
Ruan Qing didn’t know if he forgot to be afraid or because he had an escape route, but he instinctively looked up at the sky.
The sun hung high in the sky, and the summer weather still carried a hint of heat; the air temperature wasn’t low.
This obviously wasn’t an illusion.
Ghosts were indeed appearing during the day.
Sure enough, his premonition was correct; the ghost domain was encroaching and merging into the daylight.
The atmosphere felt heavy, almost like drowning, making it difficult for people to catch their breath.
Outside the window, scraps of paper fluttered in the air, catching the attention of the students in the classroom. Their faces expressed astonishment as they turned to look outside.
This was like using one’s education credentials to go against the school rules.
Qi Yunshen also saw it, even spotting the figure on the rooftop.
Qiao Nuo.
A part of his foolish brother’s remnant soul.
Qi Yunshen instinctively turned to glance at the boy sitting in the back row and happened to catch a glimpse of the boy’s faint smile.
The smile was clean, pure, captivating, and impossible to ignore.
Anyone could see the joy in the boy’s expression.
Everyone in the computer science department knew how challenging it was to make the boy smile because he often shed tears at the slightest provocation, which would render him speechless.
Perhaps this was the first time he had smiled since entering university.
But it wasn’t directed at him.
Qi Yunshen’s eyes darkened completely, carrying a hint of danger.
“Ring, ring, ring!” The bell signaling the end of class rang.
People in the classroom started packing up their things and gradually left the classroom, running to join the crowd watching the person scattering paper.
After all, such a brave (foolish) warrior was not a common sight.
Ruan Qing also packed up and prepared to leave the classroom.
The system, observing the situation, froze. [Aren’t you going to submit the answer?]
Clearly, he had already deduced the correct answers.
In this instance, the ‘he’ referred to was actually the heart. The heart was originally located in the First University, and because the unconscious dark energy it emitted affected the entire university, the Qi family discovered it, a family skilled Daoist practitioners.
In order to obtain the power of the heart, the Qi family fused it into the fetus in Madam Qi’s womb.
However, a problem arose during childbirth, resulting in two individuals.
The Qi family could only have one heir in each generation, so they used forbidden techniques to force Qi Yunshen to remain at the age of six.
In fact, even in the past, if there were twins, the Qi family would still kill one of them.
But this time it didn’t work. The Qi family tried it, but killing one would also result in the death of the other. Coupled with the presence of that heart, that’s why both were allowed to live.
Yet, it also left behind a source of trouble.
No one could willingly accept maintaining that child-like appearance.
After Qi Yunshen found a way to survive, he schemed and killed Qi Muran.
But unexpectedly, the heart, due to that book, became a player and directly left this instance.
So, in reality, this scenario indeed didn’t provide players with a second chance to clear it. Basically, it relied on strength and luck for a player to survive seven days and successfully complete it.
But because this person entered the instance, it caused the heart to return on its own.
Seemingly a coincidence, but actually inevitable.
Even if the boss left its own instance, even if the boss had no memory or consciousness, subconsciously it would still return for the sake of this person.
After packing up, Ruan Qing walked outside the classroom, replying to the system as he walked, ‘What do you think?’
Although Ruan Qing didn’t give a direct answer, the system understood his meaning.
This person obviously disdained the small amount of points obtained from directly submitting answers.
Knowing the answers gave him an exit strategy for clearing the instance; they could submit whenever he wanted.
When most people had a way out, their courage tended to increase significantly.
He thought this person would leave the instance immediately because he was afraid of ghosts.
But this instance was different from the ones before.
In the past, instances would close due to the death of key NPCs, but in this instance, NPC deaths would only turn them into fierce ghosts.
Moreover, this instance wouldn’t have a situation like the <Xishan Residential Area> with two bosses appearing.
Trying to earn points using the methods from before was absolutely impossible.
But the system didn’t say anything.
It’s fine if this person wanted to stay a bit longer, at least proving that he was actively overcoming the shadows and fears of his past.
But there’s no need to go to such extremes, right?
The system watched the young man digging up bones directly, utterly astonished.
One should know that initially, even following Qiao Nuo, this person was afraid of digging up bones.
Now, unexpectedly, he came alone to dig up the bones.
The change was too significant; it made him doubt whether he was truly afraid of ghosts. After all, his acting skills had always been excellent.
In reality, Ruan Qing was still quite scared. However, it was broad daylight, and the probability of ghosts appearing was minimal. Even if a ghost did appear, its strength would be greatly suppressed.
In case of an unexpected situation, he could enter Qi Yunshen’s body or directly submit the answer and leave the instance, ensuring absolute safety.
Nevertheless, even with such precautions, Ruan Qing had mentally prepared himself for a long time before mustering the courage to dig.
He dug very cautiously, fearing that the bones might move on their own. He was also afraid of any strange figures lurking around him.
Fortunately, nothing unusual happened, and Ruan Qing’s digging went smoothly.
After seven years, the flesh had long been corroded and decomposed, and even the clothes were mostly gone. However, the bones were exceptionally clean, untouched by any dirt.
They looked as if they were meticulously cleaned, radiating a cold and white light in the sunlight, appearing eerie.
Ruan Qing hesitated for a moment, but eventually took the bones out and arranged them together. Then he stood up, intending to retrieve the bones from the other two locations.
The system couldn’t help with this matter; no one could touch the bones of the pen spirit.
Except with the permission of the pen spirit.
In this instance, the pen spirit did indeed have a personality similar to that of a Puritan, not allowing anyone to touch even a bit of him, not even his bones.
And the remnant souls of the pen spirit couldn’t touch the bones because someone tampered with them.
Ruan Qing walked towards the terrifying restroom from before.
Because on this side of the Half Moon Lake’s small woods, there was a need to cross a playground.
Holding his own book, Ruan Qing directly crossed the playground.
He looked as if he were going to class, not much different from the other students.
While passing by the badminton court’s net, a shuttlecock happened to float over the net and drifted towards Ruan Qing.
It was from a little girl playing badminton.
Perhaps with too much force, she accidentally hit it over the net.
Ruan Qing instinctively raised his book and gently hit the shuttlecock back.
The action was full of gentleness.
It unconsciously drew people to the book’s owner.
Because his gentleness emanated naturally, without any deliberate effort or pretense.
He didn’t even do anything else, just gently hit the ball back.
The sunlight shone on the young man’s delicate face, creating a moment that one would never forget in their lifetime.
The little girl didn’t go to catch the shuttlecock when it floated back; instead, she stared at Ruan Qing in a daze.
Until the shuttlecock floated straight back into her hands, she then hugged the shuttlecock with both hands.
Her figure gradually became transparent, eventually disappearing from the original spot.
Before disappearing, the hollow and resentful eyes of the little girl cleared up a bit. She tilted her head and showed Ruan Qing a bright smile.
Ruan Qing was completely stunned; what’s going on?
That little girl... was a ghost?
Weren’t ghosts not supposed to appear during the day?
Ruan Qing didn’t know if he forgot to be afraid or because he had an escape route, but he instinctively looked up at the sky.
The sun hung high in the sky, and the summer weather still carried a hint of heat; the air temperature wasn’t low.
This obviously wasn’t an illusion.
Ghosts were indeed appearing during the day.
Sure enough, his premonition was correct; the ghost domain was encroaching and merging into the daylight.
