Zhao Yi took a big step towards the dark figure, and as expected, the figure ran into the teaching building as soon as Zhao Yi approached.
Due to the distance being too far, Zhao Yi's special ability couldn't be activated, so he couldn't see the situation of the dark figure clearly. However, judging from the figure's behavior, it didn't seem to be a highly dangerous ghostly entity.
Zhao Yi followed the dark figure into the dimly lit teaching building, with Yang Linlin closely behind. To be honest, she wouldn't have had the courage to enter such a place on her own, especially knowing that there were ghosts around. Having someone by her side was a relief, otherwise, her mental strength would have plummeted due to fear.
"You've always been this brave?" Yang Linlin teased.
Zhao Yi pondered for a moment. "No, I've always been cautious."
"Cautious? But today, you disrupted the exam discipline right in front of the ghost invigilator!"
Zhao Yi continued walking down the corridor without looking back. "That's because I was a hundred percent sure that the ghost wouldn't harm me."
"Even with the hell difficulty, the level of the copy is not high, and the ghosts are severely restricted."
"During this afternoon's exam, didn't you pay attention?"
"Several ghosts... several classmates were cheating right under the invigilator's nose, and the invigilator only gave them a warning."
"This shows that breaking the exam discipline and violating the exam rules won't trigger the death prohibition!"
Yang Linlin thought for a moment after hearing this, scratching her head apologetically. "I really didn't notice that!"
Bam! While she was speaking, she accidentally bumped into Zhao Yi's back.
"Hey! Why did you suddenly stop without saying anything..." Yang Linlin rubbed her sore head, complaining, but she instinctively stopped herself mid-sentence.
In the darkness, it was difficult to see things clearly, but the two of them cautiously approached the back door of a classroom and looked inside through the window. These classrooms were the ones they had been discussing outside during the day, and Zhao Yi had observed each one of them.
Starlight seeped through, and the faint light was bright enough to illuminate everything in the darkness. The two of them saw that the dilapidated classrooms, which should have been empty, were actually filled with densely packed dark figures sitting and studying.
Yang Linlin was terrified, shivering involuntarily. If it weren't for Zhao Yi by her side, she would probably have couldn't resist fleeing.
What on earth were these dark figures?
Zhao Yi glanced around and continued to the next classroom. Neither of them spoke as they checked all eight classrooms on the first floor.
Without exception, each room was filled with densely packed dark figures, sitting in different positions and studying. There were also dark figures on the podium.
"What are these dark figures?" Yang Linlin asked cautiously, keeping her voice as low as possible.
"Not sure," Zhao Yi replied, his eyes flashing with insight. He said "not sure," not "I don't know."
"Let's go to the third floor," he said.
"Why the third floor?" Yang Linlin asked, but Zhao Yi didn't answer her. Instead, he walked to the end of the corridor and went up to the third floor, arriving at the back door of their classroom. There were very few dark figures inside.
Zhao Yi stared at the dark figures inside, deep in thought.
"Zhao Yi..." Yang Linlin suddenly spoke, her voice trembling.
Zhao Yi frowned. "What's wrong?"
Yang Linlin reached out her hand and, through the glass of the back door, pointed nervously at the podium in the classroom. Zhao looked over and noticed that the shadow on the podium had actually noticed them. It stared at Zhao and Yang Linlin with its eerie green eyes. In an instant, a chilling sensation rose up from their feet and spread through their bodies.
"Run!" Zhao didn't hesitate and pulled Yang Linlin as they ran towards the stairs. However, as they reached the bottom of the stairs, they heard a terrifying laughter coming from below. It was a dark figure.
[Chong: Low-level threat]
[Note: A deceased student from Shishan University]
Seeing the ghostly figure not far away, Yang Linlin's spirits immediately dropped. It was too frightening! But Zhao remained unfazed. He, a level 2 warrior, even pulled Yang Linlin directly towards the figure. At a distance of about ten steps, Zhao's other hand suddenly flew out with a subtle glimmer.
Squelch! The sound of a weapon piercing flesh echoed. The horrifying laughter stopped abruptly. The figure lay on the ground with Zhao's bloodied surgical knife embedded in its forehead.
[You have slain "Chong," the unfortunate ghost who came out of the bathroom]
[Your soul weapon has gained a slight enhancement]
Zhao glanced at the ghost on the ground, removed the surgical knife from his forehead, and immediately led Yang Linlin outside the building.
"Hurry! It can't leave the teaching building!" Zhao reassured Yang Linlin, who was visibly shaken, disregarding the terrifying footsteps behind them. Upon hearing Zhao's words, Yang Linlin's eyes lit up, and despite the fear, she ran crazily with Zhao towards the exit of the teaching building.
Ten steps... five steps... Zhao had already made it out of the building, and Yang Linlin was close behind. So close! Just one more step! Yang Linlin's eyes revealed the ecstatic joy of surviving, and her heart nearly burst out of her chest. But in the next moment, a pair of terrifying black hands suddenly grabbed her by the neck from behind.
Her smile froze, and the ecstasy in her eyes turned into horror and despair. A chilling sensation spread through her body in an instant. It was over! Just as the dark figure was about to drag her into the darkness behind, a sharp surgical knife grazed her ear, completely severing it, and accurately hit the figure behind her.
"Ahh!" A scream of agony echoed, and the black hands released their grip. Yang Linlin's adrenaline surged to its peak, and she crawled and scrambled out of the classroom. She lunged towards Zhao, her legs trembling.
A pungent smell filled the air, and she didn't care about blushing or feeling embarrassed. She wailed loudly, pulling Zhao along as they ran towards a distance.
"It's okay! It's gone!" Zhao reassured her, and Yang Linlin gradually regained her senses. She sat on the ground, wiping away her tears. Then she realized her warm ear and touched it with her hand.
Oh no! Her left ear was gone!
"My... my ear..." Her voice trembled with a hint of crying, and the pain slowly spread. Zhao rolled his eyes.
"Enough already. Losing an ear is nothing. Besides, we'll respawn when the instance is over." Yang Linlin pouted, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered softly. Despite taking away her left ear, Zhao had saved her life. If he hadn't acted in time, she would have been killed.