Seeing the mood gradually warming up and no one paying attention to them anymore, Ji Xiaoxiang dared to poke his head out and scratch his desk mate Li Qingming, who was sitting with his hands in his pockets.
"About this... I'm not of much value, you don't have to oppose everyone just to protect me..."
"It's not up to you to decide your value, I'm the one who decides that," Li Qingming nodded, "By denying yourself, you're denying me as well. Are you sure you want to make such a statement?"
"No, no, no... I'm just scared... afraid that I'll drag you down!" Ji Xiaoxiang rubbed his head and said, "I've tried playing team games before, and no matter how hard I try, I can't play well... I always get scolded by teammates... scolded until the sight of the game icon makes me shake with fear..."
"Those are just a bunch of losers who know nothing but blaming others. My strategy is to block everyone at the start of each game," Li Qingming said as he tugged on Ji Xiaoxiang's crooked ponytail, "But this game is an exception. I'm very willing to share my strategies with you and respect your opinions."
Ji Xiaoxiang couldn't help but gape.
So I'm not just emergency rations, but also a partner in crime!
That's really something!
Li Qingming was quite generous, and so he jerked his chin towards the window, sharing his strategy: "Let's talk about the emergency plan first. If things really get out of control, I'll go and snatch Ye Qian's escape artifact for us to escape with... Mmm, stealing it directly carries some risk, it's more likely to succeed if we trick him, so let's go with deceit."
Ji Xiaoxiang also peeked over and couldn't help but mutter, "Ye Qian seems like a nice person, I kind of feel bad about deceiving him..."
"It's his own fault for not being too smart."
"Indeed, he should have run away immediately after his artifact was exposed. Now his indecision will only cause more complications and danger at any time." Ji Xiaoxiang said as he slipped behind Li Qingming's shoulder, now a bit bolder and even sneakily observing more people like a scout leader, "Mhm mhm... none of these people can pose a threat to you... if I have to point some out, watch these four people..."
"You seem quite assertive?"
"Not at all, not at all, just a little bit of understanding of reading expressions and characters," Ji Xiaoxiang whispered:
"Though Ye Qian doesn't seem like a bad person and isn't too smart, he might still be hiding other artifacts.
"Cai Zhixin needs extra caution—he appears laid-back but is actually ruthless, even more so than you.
"As for the class monitor, he's not quite right in the head, likely the one with the severest mental issues here, and might do inexplicable things for the sake of the group.
"Lastly, Zhang Qingyi, she's not as bad as she appears to be, just impulsive and straightforward. In fact, you could say... she's one of the kind and courageous ones in this group... actually a very good teammate."
Li Qingming listened and it sounded quite right, so he asked further, "Are you confident in these assessments?"
"Yeah, I won't be wrong about things I'm certain of, it's just hard to speak up because I always think too much," Ji Xiaoxiang said a bit proudly, his eyes gradually filled with confidence, "And also, I can sometimes tell when someone is lying!"
"Oh?" Li Qingming turned his head and said, "I hate the color black."
"Fake!"
"I have two mothers."
".........That's true." Ji Xiaoxiang's mouth fell open in confusion, "Why though... I can't figure it out, no matter how hard I think about it."
Li Qingming paused for a moment, adjusted his expression, then said: "My pocket watch contains a lethal poison needle."
"Ah... I can't tell with this one."
"Good, now I know how to deceive you."
"So what is really inside the pocket watch?!"
"Privacy."
"Ahhh! I won't be able to sleep, I'll never be able to sleep again!"
As the two joked around, most of the people in the class had finished forming teams and moved tables and chairs to sit together.
After sitting down, Zheng Ruixing didn't forget to look around and loudly remind everyone, "Remember the time, the teacher just said we only have 10 minutes."
At that, everyone began to talk.
"What a hassle, someone keep the time, please!"
"Can't the phone be turned on? The electronic clock at the back is stopped too."
"Electronic devices can't be used in the Secret Realm. Who's wearing a mechanical watch?"
"Who still wears that thing these days... what's the point other than showing off?"
"..."
The room suddenly fell silent again, and all eyes turned back to Li Qingming.
This time he happened to be looking at his pocket watch and even generously reminded everyone, "We have 1 minute and 40 seconds left, no need to rush."
People couldn't help but turn back with annoyance.
"Damn, he's showing off again..."
"He really is full of strategies."
"He's actually kind enough to keep time."
"Honestly, I'm starting to see Li Qingming in a new light."
"Don't, that's his strategy—earn your trust first, then sell you out."
"That certainly does sound like his style..."
In the last half minute, almost everyone was quietly seated, waiting for the teacher to appear.
Only a short boy was left alone, looking around uncertainly in the center of the classroom.
Everyone had formed teams and he was the only one left.
He used to laugh and talk with so many people...
Yet in the blink of an eye... they were all together...
He looked at everyone, but no one looked back at him.
In times of great peril, each flies on their own—you can't really blame anyone.
But he didn't want to sit back and wait to be killed.
He dashed to a table nearby, desperately grabbing someone's arm.
"I'm more useful than he is, Brother Chen, please kick him out!!"
"..." The person awkwardly shook him off.
Then he rushed over to Zheng Ruixing's side: "Class leader... what should I do?"
"..." Zheng Ruixing closed his eyes and clenched his teeth.
"Class leader! Class leader! Say something!"
"..."
"Aren't you always chanting about the collective, damn it!!!"
"Alright..." Zheng Ruixing suddenly spoke in a deep voice, stepping aside to give up his spot and pushed a short boy, "You sit with Zhixin."
Short boy: "Ah..."
Cai Zhixin: "Ah???"
"Enough, there's no more time," Zheng Ruixing then sat down resolutely in a single seat nearby and declared to everyone, "If I'm gone, please remember my sacrifice and unite."
No one responded to him; instead, they all looked at him like a monster.
As for the short boy who was given the seat, he didn't even say thank you before rushing to sit next to Cai Zhixin, clutching the edge of the desk as if he would never let go.
"Idiot... this idiot class leader..." he said stealthily with relief, as sweat trickled down.
Cai Zhixin was completely bewildered, how could anyone play tricks like this?
Without further ado, the teacher's shouts were heard from outside the door.
"Ring ring ring ring!!"
After a bout of yelling and bell-ringing, he entered with a sprightly push of the door.
Although he still had the punk look of Sea Urchin Head with dark circles, his movements were noticeably smoother.
He hopped joyfully to the front of the room, delivering an overly forceful smile.
"The teacher has fixed his mouth this time, it definitely won't crack.
"Mmm mmm mmm, everyone's sitting with their best friends who know everything.
"Only one student is very lonely...
"You've got to make an effort to make friends!
"The teacher is looking forward to your performance!"
Upon hearing this, everyone paused for a moment.
So, being lonely had no punishment!
What a waste of good faith...
But there was no time to think further, as Sea Urchin Head once again raised his arms high.
"Just now, the teacher was observing.
"Very satisfied, the teacher is very satisfied!
"But, the teacher has also spotted a few...
"A few bad students!"
As he spoke, he took a deep breath, visibly puffing up his cheeks.
Caught off guard, like a pea shooter, he "pff" shot out a slender black dot, hitting a short boy right in the middle of the forehead.
That was the very person who had just snatched Zheng Ruixing's seat.
He couldn't say a word, just stared wide-eyed, gasping like Han Chun had.
Pff—
Before shock could set in, Sea Urchin Head had already fired a second shot.
This time at a boy wearing a hoodie.
Pff—
The third shot and another girl collapsed onto the desk, her bracelets chiming crisply.
No one dared to speak, no one dared to scream, no one dared to look at them.
A chill crept up the spine and pierced into the brain.
Those who were hit struggled in a sinister silence, struggled.
Their sounds grew quieter and quieter until they too, like Han Chun, collapsed on the desks, entering a dormant state.
But Sea Urchin Head's shooting was not yet over.
Pff—
Pff—
Pff—
Pff—
The black dots were shot out punctually and accurately.
No one knew when it would end.