Hong Zhenjiang had experienced firsthand how terrifying the guards’ black vine whips could be. This plan would inevitably lead to bloodshed, and possibly even death.
But the amnesiac players, their minds wiped clean, were left with only their instincts. They were more timid and sensitive than usual, almost like children.
Avoiding danger and harm was a human instinct. When faced with the black vine whips, would they really not try to escape?
Back then, Ning Changfeng had said, “When you resisted the guards last time, what moment made the black vine whip seem especially terrifying?”
“It wasn’t when the whip broke your skin or wrapped around your neck, was it? It was when you saw the expression of the resisting players go blank, right? The players watching from the classroom felt the same way.”
Now, all the players found the black vine whip terrifying, but what was the real source of that fear?
During the resistance, the players had realized how powerful the whip’s attacks were, and some had wanted to retreat. But they had held their ground. For players whose bodies had been tempered and strengthened, the physical pain wasn’t what truly scared them.
What made their hearts tremble was the fact that the black vine whip could instantly strip away a person’s memories.
But for the amnesiac players, this was the least concerning thing. Just like how they could enter the Reflection Hall without fear, they were immune to it.
As the dungeon progressed, it became clear that the amnesiac players weren’t useless. Both the amnesiac players and those with memories needed each other.
At the time, Ning Changfeng’s words had reassured Hong Zhenjiang. But now, he wondered: even if they weren’t afraid of losing memories, their deepest fear, would these sensitive players not fear physical pain? Did their subconscious not harbor a terror of death?
Lin Jiaze whispered, “They can do it.”
In the black mist, she hesitated, her hand slowly reaching out toward the amnesiac female player in front of her.
Her hand seemed to traverse mountains and rivers, moving slowly and with great difficulty, until it finally rested on the player’s shoulder. “Don’t be afraid.”
The female player grasped her hand, offering a bright smile. Her eyes shone as she said, “I’m not afraid. Don’t be scared.”
Lin Jiaze was stunned, staring at her in disbelief.
“Ding ling ling!—”
The players in the Reflection Hall felt their hearts skip a beat.
The Chinese exam was over!
As soon as the exam ended, Ning Su, Ning Changfeng, Gu Witch, and Ji Zeming rushed out of the classroom.
Just like last time, they quickly identified a few of the wealthy students.
Ning Su sprinted toward the exam hall’s entrance near the black forest. When he noticed one of the students walking in the same direction, he sped up, dashed through the door, and then headed toward the teaching building.
Outside, he collided head-on with the student.
“Sorry, sorry!” Ning Su immediately looked up, stepped back, and apologized.
“Ning Su?” The wealthy student recognized his face and smiled politely, exuding an air of refinement. “It’s fine. Just be more careful next time.”
Ning Su nodded.
The student didn’t waste any time. “I’ll be on my way.”
“Me too.” Ning Su ran even faster toward the exam hall corridor.
Once Ning Su was out of sight, the wealthy student glanced down, brushed off his shirt, and confidently walked into the black forest.
Ning Su, now far away, stopped and looked back at the student’s retreating figure.
While Ning Su was running outside, Ning Changfeng hurried up to the fourth floor of the exam hall.
To make it easier for students to use the restroom during breaks, all floors of the exam hall were open. However, most students only used the restrooms on the first three floors, so the fourth-floor restroom was rarely visited.
Ning Changfeng entered a stall and emerged carrying a large, fluffy panda plushie. He then made his way to the rooftop.
Originally, there were only 16 players with their memories intact. Six of them had explicitly stated that they wanted to focus on studying without interruption. Jiang Ming had naturally joined the latter group. With Hong Zhenjiang and Lin Jiaze taking the amnesiac players to the Reflection Hall, only seven players with memories remained.
Ning Su, Ning Changfeng, Gu Witch, Ji Zeming, Lu Yue, He Xin from the Yongming Guild, and Jia Chang from the Hongyu Guild—all of them were here now.
Ning Changfeng walked to the other side, where Ling Xiao and Shi Tianzhu were standing.
He removed the panda plushie’s head, revealing the small, blank face of Gui Sheng.
The ghost child had one ear and one empty socket, one eye intact and the other not yet fully formed. He looked tattered and strange.
When Ning Su caught up, he quickly covered the panda’s head again and took the plushie from Ning Changfeng’s arms.
The wealthy student entered the Reflection Hall and was ushered into a private chamber.
The players in the Reflection Hall pressed themselves against the door, listening intently. They heard the creak of a door opening, followed by a loud slam as it closed.
After that, the Reflection Hall fell into complete silence. All sound seemed to vanish from their ears.
“Principal, are you sure it won’t hurt? There won’t be any side effects, right?”
“Don’t worry. This procedure has been used for four years now. There won’t be any issues, and it won’t hurt much. It’s just an injection into the scalp. Once it’s done, you can go back to the exam and test the results.”
“Then let’s hurry. We only have a 20-minute break. I’m afraid we won’t have enough time.”
“No need to rush. How long can an injection take?”
A soft, childlike voice emerged from the panda plushie.
Inside the plushie, Gui Sheng’s missing ear twitched slightly as he relayed every word he heard to Ning Su.
The ear that had disappeared had been placed by Ning Su under the collar of the wealthy student’s shirt.
“Creak—”
The sound of a door opening echoed from the first floor of the Reflection Hall.
In the Reflection Hall, Hong Zhenjiang’s hand pressed against the door, veins bulging. He whispered to Lin Jiaze, “Get ready.”
The Reflection Hall was entirely made of wood—hard, sturdy wood. When the wealthy student entered, the sound of his footsteps didn’t reach the Reflection Hall. But as several people ascended the stairs, the sharp click of high heels on the wooden steps echoed up to them.
Lin Jiaze trembled, her eyes closed, silently counting the number of steps.
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, threatening to drown out the sound of the high heels.
She clenched her fists, pressing them tightly against her chest, and bit her lip nervously.
Gui Sheng: “Click, click, click.”
Gui Sheng: “They’re here. This is where the memory transfer will happen. Let me see if the memory we chose for Xie Yuwen has solidified yet.”
Gui Sheng: “Ah, good. He Junyi, sit here and get ready for the transfer.”
Ning Su blew a whistle, “Doo!—”
Hong Zhenjiang turned to Lin Jiaze and the twenty amnesiac players. “We only have this one chance.”
All the players knew that if they failed this time—if they couldn’t succeed in this one surprise attack while the school was unprepared—they would never get another opportunity. The school would tighten its defenses, and they would be completely shut out.
And with the little time they had left, this meant that, aside from three or four players, everyone else would die in this dungeon.
Lin Jiaze bit down on the back of her hand nervously, tears streaming down her face.
The twenty amnesiac players, though unsure of what was happening, tensed up as well, looking at them with a mix of anxiety and confusion.
Hong Zhenjiang barked, “Now, get ready!”
“Three, two, one, charge the door!”
“Boom!—”
On the rooftop of the exam building, several players watched the Reflection Hall with grave expressions.
They had prepared extensively, and everything hinged on this one moment.
Gui Sheng: “Boom!—”
Gui Sheng: “What’s that noise? What’s going on?”
Gui Sheng: “Don’t panic. The memory extraction is complete. Keep going!”
Gui Sheng: “Security and guards, go check if the students in the Reflection Hall are fighting again. Make them behave! Who locked students in there at a time like this?”
Gui Sheng: “Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!”
T/N: I don't know if it's clear enough but Gui Sheng was not really the one speaking here, he's just relaying what's happening. Like a radio. LOL.
