Return to Campus

Chen Xi stirred her coffee, teasing her, "Haven't found a Legend you fancy yet, Miss Lin?"

In truth, she already had a rough target in mind—the Stitched Monster at the school.

However, because she couldn't possibly know about this matter given the experiences of this current Regression, she couldn't just point it out to Lin Yue directly.

Lin Yue replied listlessly, "If you want me dead, just say so."

She appeared to be slumped over the table, but to avoid getting dirty, she was secretly using shadow tentacles to cushion her face.

"Do you still plan on going back to school?" Chen Xi asked casually.

"Not in the mood," the blonde girl mumbled incoherently.

School... that's right!

Lin Yue had a sudden flash of inspiration, recalling the Stitched Monster that had appeared at the school.

She sat up straight with a flourish and pushed up the thick-rimmed glasses she had just put on.

"My precognition has already given me the answer."

So that setting still existed? Chen Xi had thought she'd forgotten about it.

It had to be said, this was indeed a convenient and all-purpose excuse; Lin Yue was responsible for spouting nonsense, and she just had to nod and believe it.

"Then, may I ask, Great Prophet, what have you foreseen?" Feeling the coffee was a bit bitter, Chen Xi added two more sugar cubes.

"There's a Stitched Monster haunting the school at night," Lin Yue said, careful not to be too specific. "But I'm not entirely clear on the conditions or the timing of its appearance."

After all, during the third loop—the last cycle—when they had their final showdown with Wu Xin, the Stitched Monster hadn't appeared.

Therefore, there was a high probability that the creature was there for the Shadow Dweller.

Coincidentally, the aura of the shadow armor she had synthesized was extremely similar to that of the Shadow Dweller.

Still, thinking about it carefully was enough to send a chill down one's spine: a monster capable of slaughtering humans at will, just strolling through the academy and killing people.

And because it possessed a Domain, the victims' corpses would never appear before ordinary people.

Not only that, but due to the distortion of cognition, the victims' families wouldn't even realize what had happened to them, dismissing it as a simple disappearance.

Lin Yue held her head in her hands, a chocolate lollipop dangling from her mouth: "The more you know, the more terrified you live."

Ignoring her habitual self-muttering, Chen Xi continued to guide her: "How is its strength?"

Images of the two of them having their heads smashed in flashed through the blonde girl's mind: "Uh, the two of us can't beat it."

"Then let's call Zhu Li." Chen Xi had already drafted the message.

Hearing this, Lin Yue hesitated: "Is it really okay to keep asking others for help..."

"It's not help; it's mutual benefit." To ensure Lin Yue could undergo further metamorphosis, Chen Xi began her double-standard rhetoric.

"From the time we've spent in contact, you should know by now that Zhu Li is a warm-hearted, kind person."

"Eliminating a monster that has killed who knows how many lives must be a good deed for Zhu Li as well."

"...Is that so?" Lin Yue blinked her eyes blankly.

While she was still hesitating, Chen Xi put an end to her contemplation: "Don't overthink it, the message has already been sent."

Of course, the most important thing was that she and Lin Yue could perform a Regression.

Under the power of this ability, all moral benchmarks could be relaxed significantly.

Chen Xi estimated that with Lin Yue's aptitude, she would grasp this truth after dying one or two more times.

"But..." Lin Yue tried to say something, but Chen Xi interrupted her mercilessly, placing the screen with the message in front of her.

"She's already agreed."

[Zhu Li: Okay]

"Over here, over here."

Under the night sky, in front of the school gate, Lin Yue waved at the red-haired girl who had just arrived by car.

Today, Zhu Li had changed into a tall, black dress, looking dignified and elegant.

"Sorry to trouble you, Zhu Li. Once we're done, let's go grab a late-night snack."

Zhu Li shook her head slightly and took out a sticker: [It's a small matter. If you need anything during these seven days, just call me.]

Seeing her say this, Lin Yue subconsciously thought of the matter regarding Wu Xin.

But after thinking it over, she abandoned that plan.

Once she couldn't have a 'fair duel' to promote her Rank, Wu Xin would likely hide and wait for an opportunity to strike.

The current situation was a mutual pursuit; both sides were looking to kill the other head-on.

"Then I shall accept your kindness." Lin Yue tried to use a light tone, so as not to stir up any sorrowful thoughts in Zhu Li.

Beside her, Chen Xi examined her outfit for the day and said indifferently: "The black dress is very flattering; it suits you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Li froze for a moment. She smiled and took out a brand-new sticker to write on.

[The dozen stickers I prepared in advance didn't even get used; you really are full of surprises.]

"Am I?" Chen Xi replied noncommittally. Not dwelling on the question, she laid out the plan ahead:

"School security is lax; just follow us inside. The Stitched Monster is suspected to have regenerative abilities, so watch out for it playing dead. Its domain effects are unknown."

The three walked in a line, with Zhu Li sandwiched between Lin Yue and Chen Xi.

Chen Xi shifted the topic, asking, "Right, do you have a domain ability?"

Zhu Li silently pulled out another crumpled stack of stickers, and the two leaned their heads in to read.

[Resentful Fire That Ends All—that is the name of my domain. Once activated, it will incinerate any living creature within it indiscriminately.]

[That is why I never activate it unless absolutely necessary.]

"I see..." Lin Yue paused, then said, "Don't worry, Zhu Li. Just set that ugly freak on fire and it'll be dead."

Amused by her deadpan expression, Zhu Li didn't write anything further.

The three walked into the campus in broad daylight, heading straight for the teaching building.

On the way, Chen Xi, who was idly looking at the scenery, suddenly caught sight of Lin Yue's former friend, Ye Min.

The girl was walking back to her dormitory all alone, carrying a bag of freshly bought skewers.

Seeing the blonde girl deliberately trying to hide her figure, a smile tugged at the corner of Chen Xi's mouth.

"Lin Yue, isn't that your friend? Aren't you going to say hello?"

Lin Yue looked at the lonely figure and hesitated, ultimately rejecting the suggestion: "I'm afraid of dragging her into this. Things are fine just the way they are..."

The cruelty of the real world far exceeded her imagination.

Compared to living in constant anxiety after learning the truth, it was perhaps happier to remain in Indulgence within a beautiful dream.

The trio reached the foot of the teaching building and spent a moment petting a stray cat.

Seeing that it was already eleven o'clock at night, Lin Yue wove a suit of armor for Chen Xi out of shadows.

"It's missing a greatsword." Chen Xi's voice sounded muffled from within the shadow armor.

Lin Yue rolled her eyes at her: "You're so demanding."

Despite the remark, Lin Yue continued to channel her shadows, condensing them into a massive heavy sword that reached her shoulder.

Taking the heavy sword handed to her, Chen Xi weighed it in her hand: "Not bad."

Zhu Li watched the two clowns bicker as they usually did, a light smile on her face.

Just as they were messing around, a harsh, grating noise of a heavy object being dragged across the ground echoed from a dark corner.

"Hiss—"

Stepping out to the sound of that hiss, the bloated body of the Stitched Monster appeared before the three of them.