Gaze

The group walked out of the classroom and into a long corridor.

The corridor was clearly laid out.

Classrooms lined the left side.

On the right was a row of windows, beyond which lay the pitch-black night sky.

They hadn’t forgotten their main mission was to escape.

Soon, they noticed the windows on the right.

Zhang Wei stepped forward.

He gripped the window handle and pushed outward with all his strength.

The window didn’t budge.

It was as if it had been welded shut.

He frowned, tried another window, but got the same result.

The middle-aged man came over to help.

Together they pushed, but the window showed no sign of giving.

They shook their heads in defeat and gave up.

“This is like a horror movie cliché,” Li Qiao muttered. “Every time you need to escape, the windows never open.”

Zhang Wei peeked out the window.

His legs felt weak.

He quickly pulled back.

“And this floor is way too high. Even if we could open the window, jumping would kill us for sure.”

Giving up on the windows, Zhang Wei turned.

He scanned the classroom doors behind him.

On one door hung a sign reading “Writing Class.”

“The room we were just in is the first one in this row,” he said, stating the obvious while looking at the staircase buried under clutter.

Bai Shuang had already started walking.

She headed straight for the next classroom.

She stopped at the door and peered through the glass window.

The interior looked similar to the writing classroom.

Green on the bottom half of the walls, beige on top.

Desks and chairs were neatly arranged.

She blinked, her eyes lingering on each seat for a moment before she turned back.

“This room says Calligraphy Class on the sign,” she announced.

Zhang Wei crouched down to look at Zhao Na.

“Zhao Na, did you come from this calligraphy classroom?”

Zhao Na shook her head.

She pointed a small finger at the writing classroom door.

“No. I was sitting here. I heard sounds from inside that classroom, so I stood up and knocked.”

After hearing Zhao Na’s words, Zhang Wei suggested, “In that case, why don’t we check out the calligraphy classroom?”

Li Qiao and the middle-aged man exchanged glances and nodded.

“Sure. We might as well take a look.”

The group entered the calligraphy classroom and searched it thoroughly.

Neat desks and chairs, calligraphy works hanging on the wall by the door, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on the podium.

Everything was orderly.

Nothing seemed out of place.

Finding nothing, everyone’s eyes fell on Zhao Na.

She blinked, looking completely innocent and confused.

Zhang Wei crouched down and softened his voice.

“Zhao Na, you found your diary in the writing classroom immediately. In this calligraphy classroom, do you have any special feeling?”

Zhao Na paused.

She closed her eyes, her little brow furrowing as if trying to sense something.

After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes and shook her head.

“No… I don’t feel anything,” she said helplessly.

“I see…” Zhang Wei was disappointed.

They exchanged glances, seeing the same regret in each other’s eyes.

Just then, Zhang Wei heard footsteps.

He turned to find Bai Shuang already heading for the door.

Zhang Wei quickly called out to her.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Bai Shuang paused.

She turned back and said flatly, “Since there’s nothing here, let’s check the next room. We can’t waste time.”

Hearing this, the group exchanged looks and hurried after her.

Sure enough.

Maybe because the calligraphy classroom had no key clues, or maybe it wasn’t designed to block them.

They left without encountering any anomalies like before.

Continuing down the corridor, they soon reached the third classroom.

Looking up, the sign clearly read “Painting Classroom.”

They moved closer and peered through the glass.

They could clearly see easels arranged inside, with paint spilled on the floor.

Zhang Wei raised his hand to push the door open, but Bai Shuang’s voice stopped him.

“Wait,” Bai Shuang said, her eyes on Zhao Na. “We don’t know what’s inside. It might be dangerous. How about Zhao Na waits outside?”

Zhao Na froze, then shook her head urgently.

“No, no! I can help you find the diary! I have to go in with you!”

Zhang Wei nodded in agreement.

“Yeah. Zhao Na might sense clues. It’d be better if she comes.”

“But she can’t go in,” Bai Shuang said firmly. “We only have one key NPC here. If something happens to her, we won’t be able to clear the stage. Her safety must be guaranteed.”

“How about we split into two groups? One group goes in to search for clues, the other stays outside to guard Zhao Na. That way we won’t waste time exploring, and we ensure her safety.”

Zhang Wei didn’t catch on at first.

He frowned in thought for a few seconds, then his eyes lit up.

He looked at Bai Shuang with an unreadable expression.

‘So that’s what she’s getting at. If she wants to arrange it that way, I can play along.’

Zhang Wei cleared his throat and volunteered, “How about this? I’ll go in with this female classmate to look for clues. You guys stay outside with…”

Before he could finish, Bai Shuang cut him off.

“No need for that. Zhao Na and I will wait outside. You all go in and find the clues.”

Zhang Wei froze.

He stared at her in disbelief.

This wasn’t what he’d expected.

He remembered the information he’d gotten from that mysterious, unnamed official organization.

Basically, in the first three novice instances, he had to perform as well as possible.

Those instances didn’t kill anyone, and the better he performed, the more likely he’d be “watched.”

He still didn’t understand what “watched” meant, but his instincts told him it was definitely beneficial.

This girl, like him, had contacted the officials.

She should know about this too.

So when Bai Shuang suggested splitting up, he thought she wanted to send some people away so she could push the main quest alone.

Like those players in tabletop RPGs who ditch their teammates and hog the main storyline.

But now it seemed he was wrong.

Or maybe… she already knew something he didn’t?

Zhang Wei gave Bai Shuang a strange look.

He didn’t ask further.

Turning, he led the others toward the painting classroom.

According to Bai Shuang’s plan, everyone except Zhao Na and herself would enter to search.

Li Qiao followed Zhang Wei into the classroom quickly.

But when it was the middle-aged man’s turn, he stopped.

The man stood at the door, feet planted like roots.

He clutched his briefcase tightly, shoulders tense, face pale with obvious fear.

He clearly didn’t want to go in.

Zhang Wei was already inside.

He turned back, surprised not to see the middle-aged man.

“Uncle? What’s wrong? Why aren’t you coming in?”

The middle-aged man’s eyes grew more panicked.

He avoided looking into the classroom.

Forcing a stiff smile, he waved his hand.

“No, no. You go ahead and search. I’ll stay out here with them. An extra guard is safer.”

But as soon as he finished speaking, a cold, piercing female voice came from behind him.

“Really not going in?”