TANH Chapter 35.2: Seminary 11.2

16TH JUL 2023~SV

I’ll bite you to death!

Several players stood behind the door, looking at them warily.

Wen Qing was stunned for a moment. He met the eyes of a short player, who immediately closed the door.

Li Jingjing said, “Let’s go quick, we can still sleep for a few hours.”

Wen Qing paused, turned to look at them and asked, “Should we tell them about the confinement?”

Li Jingjing paused and raised her eyebrows at Bai Tong. “Mr. Bai’s small class should begin lessons.”

Wen Qing’s face was full of bewilderment, only to see Bai Tong looking at him  unwillingly before he turned and walked to the door of that player’s bedroom from earlier.

Li Jingjing leaned into Wen Qing’s ear, and quietly said, “Newcomer, study Mr. Bai’s class properly.”

“It’s called don’t meddle in other people’s business.”

After those words fell, Bai Tong knocked on the door.

The door didn’t open. The player viciously said from behind the door, “Knock for what, are you asking for it?!”

Bai Tong leaned against the wall, raised his eyelids and looked at Wen Qing. “People will continue to die tomorrow.”

Those few players seemed to think that Bai Tong was cursing them, and angrily said, “We’ll go to your funeral.”

Bai Tong went straight to the point. “The system said to pay attention to the school rules, but it doesn’t mean that we should abide by them.”

“It’s for us to violate the school rules.”

“Only by being locked up and purifying the body and mind will we be safe for the next few days.”

The players behind the door quietened down, not saying anything.

Just as Wen Qing thought they would thank Bai Tong, he heard a curse come from behind the door. “Bullshit!”

“You- you all just want to trick us into becoming test subjects!”

Bai Tong looked at Wen Qing and continued to say, “The few of us came out of the confinement room unscathed, what are you still scared of?”

Player: “You all have props, of course you’re fine.”

“You- you just want us other people to die earlier in the confinement room, and then when a lot of people have died, afterwards you are safe…”

Bai Tong spoke again, “Aren’t Zhang Chengrun and Chen Qiang not dead?”

The player spoke while gritting their teeth, “What’s the difference between them looking like that and being dead? It’s not you slaughtering.”

“I know there can only be 69 students left before God’s birthday. After killing Chen Qiang and Zhang Chengrun, it’s still not enough, so you want to act against us…”

No matter what Bai Tong said, this player didn’t believe it at all, and seemed to firmly believe that Bai Tong wanted to kill them.

Wen Qing stared blankly at Bai Tong.

Bai Tong shrugged at him and lightly said, “Let’s go, head back and sleep.”

Wen Qing followed them downstairs dazedly.

After they returned to the bedroom, Li Jingjing explained in a low voice, “This is a god-level instance, with advanced tasks and extra rewards.”

“The rewards are limited. One less player means one less enemy.”

“Unfamiliar players seldom cooperate sincerely. When you meet someone who treats you well, you should be cautious. Usually, they have other purposes.”

Wen Qing looked at Li Jingjing uncomprehendingly. “Then why would you partner with Bai Tong and I?”

Li Jingjing laughed and truthfully said, “One is because you are a newcomer. Generally, newcomers are stupider.”

Wen Qing: ???

He felt like it was directed at him.

“Haha, not stupid, just more naive,” Li Jingjing laughed and continued to say, “Of course, the main reason is because of Bai Tong.”

“In the World, Bai Tong is missing from the names of the most famous philanthropists.”

“In this world, you can also confess your identity to Bai Tong.”

After digesting for a while, Wen Qing understood what Li Jingjing meant.

Many players should have been cared for and guided by Bai Tong when they first arrived in the World.

Li Jingjing turned her head and questioned Wen Qing, “You’re a newcomer, so you probably still don’t know about Bai Tong’s gossip yet right?”

Wen Qing responded and curiously asked, “Bai Tong actually has gossip?”

“Yeah yeah, why do you think it’s so confusing that there’s such a soft guy like Bai Tong in a place like ours?” when it came to gossip, Li Jingjing immediately cheered up and happily explained popular science.

“Someone said that Bai Tong had also been cared for like this when he had entered this world long ago, and then that person died, and before they died, wanted Bai Tong to continue their work.”

“Someone also said that Bai Tong used to be a big scoundrel who would do all kinds of evil. Later, a kind-hearted person who was true, good and beautiful diligently reformed him. As a result, that true, good and beautiful died. For the sake of his dead sweetheart, Bai Tong began to guide novice players.”

“Someone also said, Bai Tong is not human, but rather a monster who has come to the World to overcome tribulations, and has to do many good deeds to become a human…”

The gossip became more and more outrageous. Bai Tong looked at them, speechless, “The person involved is still here.”

Li Jingjing chuckled and asked, “So? Brother Bai, why are you a good person?”

Bai Tong chuckled. “I don’t think I am a good person.”

“It’s almost three o’clock, quickly go to sleep.”

****

Early the next morning

At exactly seven o’clock, a broadcast sounded in the dormitory building.

This time, the broadcast was not the usual prayer. Instead, it urged them to gather up. “After half an hour, all the students gather downstairs in the dormitory.”

“The teachers will lead everyone to the temple.”

Wen Qing dazedly got up to wash. Too many things had happened yesterday, and he only managed to sleep for a few short hours. His mind was dull, and only when the wind blew for a while as everyone gathered in the dormitory downstairs did he become clear-headed.

Teacher Chen was still in charge. This time, he didn’t have a smile on his face, and looked at everyone expressionlessly. “Last night, the High Priest’s building was intruded by evil spirits.”

The faces of the students changed drastically. “Evil spirits?”

“How is the High Priest?”

“Dear God, I wish to dedicate my all to You…”

The students were discussing all sorts of comments and bowing their heads in prayer. The hall was full of chatter and chaos.

Teacher Chen said, “The High Priest is praying in the temple.”

“Now, line up.”

The students lined up spontaneously.

The players stood in their original places. They didn’t move.

Teacher Chen checked the names and called. “Wen Qing, Oz, Bai Tong, Li Jingjing, Zhang Chengrun, Chen Qiang.”

“Line up.”

Wen Qing was the first to have his name called. He was stunned, and looked at Teacher Chen.

Teacher Chen stiffly raised his hand and signalled for Wen Qing to join the line of original students.

Wen Qing did so. He stood in line, and when he turned his head to look back, his head collided with Oz’s chest. 

The next second, Oz’s deep voice sounded above his head. “Hm?”

The tips of Wen Qing’s ears heated up. He stammered, “S- sorry.”

He hurriedly turned back, but the gaze behind him became more and more scorching.

Wen Qing anxiously took a step forward, staying a little further away from Oz.

There were three players left in the hall. They were isolated to the side, and looked at each other.

“Could it be that what that person said yesterday was true? Do we really have to be confined?”

“How can that be, it’s definitely fake.”

“But they all have- have gone to where the originals are…”

One of the short players gritted his teeth and said to his roommates, “Impossible. If it’s true and everyone has been confined, the number of people will definitely be more than 69.”

“Don’t forget, there will be a punishment if we act against the original residents. They definitely want to kill us.”

Teacher Chen walked at the front of the lines, and didn’t care what the last three players said or did.

When they reached the temple, he stopped and told the students at the front of the line, “Go in.”

The students responded and walked into the temple piously.

Wen Qing walked into the temple. He noticed the High Priest was standing on the platform, silently looking at them.

Wen Qing’s eyelids jumped, and he quickly bowed his head.

“Stop.” Teacher Chen suddenly spoke.

Wen Qing quietly tilted to look back. His gaze suddenly stopped.

The wall at the entrance of the temple was covered with green vines. Layer by layer, entangled and entwined, covering the entire wall. The outermost layer of vines was slowly crawling and wriggling.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, one of the vines slowly hung down, hanging in the middle of the door.

Teacher Chen didn’t look at the vines, and told the three players, “Go in one by one.”

The players stared fixedly at the vines. They stood where they were, not daring to move at all.

Yesterday, it was these things that ripped open Qian Gangfeng’s chest.

Seeing this, Teacher Chen coldly said, “Go in.”

The players trembled in fright. “I- I…”

Seeing Teacher Chen’s expression become gloomier, at last a short player gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and sped past the door.

Nothing happened. This vine seemed to just be an ornament, silently hanging in the air. It even swayed because of the wind brought by the short player’s running.

Seeing that the short player was safe and sound, the player just now sighed in relief and walked in with trembling legs.

Teacher Chen looked at the last player and coldly said, “Go in.”

The last player nodded. The two people before him were fine, so he sighed in relief and quickly walked in. The moment one foot reached the door, the hanging vine stretched and pierced straight into the top of his head.

The player’s eyes widened. He froze at the door.

The thin and long vines seemed to be sucking his brain. A small bulge formed, slowly moving up, and up…

The High Priest’s ethereal voice rang from the tall platform. “Evil spirit.”

Wen Qing shivered inexplicably. This time, the voice seemed to be tinged with satisfaction, as if he had eaten enough.

He raised his eyes, only to see Teacher Chen at the doorway. His face had also gained a smile.

Teacher Chen raised his voice and said, “Expel the evil spirit.”

The students shouted in chorus. “Expel the evil spirit!“

“Expel the evil spirit!”

Like some cult ritual, the students looked at the player’s body with fanatic faces. “Burn him to death!”

“Burn him to death!”

The High Priest calmly said, “Those who are guilty are evil spirits.”

“Yang Fan is innocent.”

After his voice fell, several vines stretched out from the wall and carried off the body of the player named Yang Fan.

The students shouted in chorus, “Beloved God!”

“Glorious Lord!”

Wen Qing pursed his lips tightly. Chills rose from his feet.

Choosing an auspicious time, expelling evil spirits, burning incense, praying…

These events were fixed, which showed that Teacher Chen had lied, and there was no so-called evil spirit attacking the High Priest at all.

Rather, the High Priest needed a pretentious reason to let the vines eat people.

Yu Xing didn’t eat people.

Could these matters… have nothing to do with Yu Xing at all?

This school only borrowed Yu Xing’s names to let these vines search for food?

After a while, Wen Qing calmed down, and hesitatingly asked the system: 【 Is the secret of the seminary that all the students are food for the vines? 】

001 didn’t say anything.

Wen Qing asked again.

001: 【 No hint equals wrong answer. 】

Wen Qing groaned and lowered his eyes, not daring to look at the direction of the door anymore.

He lowered his head and wondered where he had thought wrong.

Suddenly, he heard Oz’s voice sounded beside his ear. “The words I’ve said, it still stands.”

Wen Qing’s eyelashes trembled. He raised his head, somewhat at a loss.

What words?

What stands?

Oz’s glittering green eyes stared firmly at him. Slowly, he leaned over and repeated the original words.

“Let me bite and I’ll bring you out of here.”

Wen Qing: “……”

I’ll bite you to death!