"I'm at the breakfast stall," Qi Yun's voice came through the phone with some distortion, "Do you want me to bring you breakfast?"
"Help!" Tang Ning stared at the crowded small window, continuously retreating. He was trembling imperceptibly. As he stepped back, he felt a chill beside him, as if a cold wind was blowing. Tang Ning stiffly turned his head, suddenly realizing that the bathroom door had opened at some point!
"What?" Qi Yun's voice was the only comforting presence in this eerie environment. Tang Ning clutched his phone tightly, as if holding onto a lifeline, and trembled, "Can you come to my dorm?"
Suddenly, there was a series of banging sounds in the corridor, as if something was violently hitting the room doors!
Tang Ning stared in horror as the faces pressed against his door remained unchanged, lips frozen in an eerie curve.
It wasn't his room being hit.
It was the adjacent dorm!
"One minute," Qi Yun's voice calmly declared.
"Bang! Bang!! Bang!!!" The banging grew louder, almost exceeding Tang Ning's heart's capacity to bear.
What truly made Tang Ning struggle for breath was the pairs of eyes behind the door and windows. Black pupils, small as pinpoints, held an eerie gaze, hinting at hidden fear, as if they saw something terrifying behind him!
What was behind him?
A terrifying speculation arose, and Tang Ning, with a sense of dread, covered his eyes. A faint whisper escaped his throat, "Qi Yun."
"Fifty seconds," Qi Yun seemed to be running, footsteps and wind audible through the phone.
"Boom!!!" The thunderous collapse echoed through the corridor, followed by the rapid footsteps, as if a group of people were moving swiftly.
The urgent footsteps halted in front of his door. "Open the door!"
It was an entirely unfamiliar voice.
Tang Ning took a small step back, then suddenly froze in place.
Was safety really behind him?
"Open the door!" The voice grew more impatient!
Tang Ning subconsciously recalled his experiences in the first few game levels, where he was repeatedly deceived by ghosts. Nervously standing in place, he kept repeating Qi Yun's name, softly and urgently, with a hint of a sob in his voice.
"Thirty seconds," Qi Yun's voice, now possessing a reassuring strength, calmly declared.
Someone outside seemed to curse, "Hurry up and leave, don't mind him!"
"No!!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Something viciously slammed against the door, the old door creaking under the strain. The impact sounded more ruthless with each strike, breaking through like a relentless force!
"Twenty seconds." The rapid footsteps sounded like someone climbing stairs.
"Bang!" The door suddenly burst open, the door panel hitting the wall with a loud bang.
Tang Ning wanted to turn and run, but he didn't know where to go.
Heavy breathing reached him, and a hand, tense and sweaty, grabbed Tang Ning's wrist forcefully. "Run!"
It was a clear, youthful voice.
A warm hand forcefully pulled Tang Ning's hand away from his eyes. "I'm Gu Ming!"
Tang Ning, in confusion, opened his eyes to see an anxious and handsome young man.
Gu Ming?
The player who created the group?
"Damn! We're about to have class!" Someone outside cursed, and in the midst of the curses, the voice suddenly escalated, "Damn it, a big monster is coming out!"
Gu Ming, still holding Tang Ning, rushed out of the dorm, his tone also distorting, "Li Cheng'an, quickly drop the banana peel!"
Tang Ning, pulled along by Gu Ming, looked up and saw at the end of the corridor a tall and stout figure. At first glance, the NPC seemed unremarkable—
Except for the fire axe in his hand.
"Which class are you guys from?! What's your student number?!" The NPC, brandishing the fire axe, angrily asked, "Who told you to break the door?!"
A rotten banana peel was thrown at his feet, but the enraged NPC seemed unaware of this small object. He ran over in anger, stepped on the banana peel, and with a bang, fell to the ground!
Tang Ning widened his eyes.
He saw a familiar figure behind the fallen NPC - Qi Yun, holding a phone. Qi Yun had one hand carrying a breakfast bag and the other placing the phone against his ear.
Tang Ning also raised his phone, hearing Qi Yun's cool tone, "Ten."
That slender and well-defined hand extended in his direction.
In the chaotic corridor, both Qi Yun and Gu Ming simultaneously reached out their hands to him.
One pristine.
The other, sweaty and dusty.
Everything before him seemed to pause like a scene in a movie, allowing Tang Ning to clearly see every detail. He observed Qi Yun's handsome face, exceptionally cold, with frozen eyebrows and eyes exuding an indescribable sense of oppression.
Then he noticed Gu Ming's fearful yet determined gaze. The young man beside him tightly held Tang Ning's hand, the brilliance emanating from Gu Ming's eyes resembling a flickering candle in the night, illuminating Tang Ning's timid soul.
Tang Ning had once found a "Woodcutter Card" on Song Lin Su. The card stated, "You have a chance to face Gold Axe, Silver Axe, and Iron Axe."
"Run!!!" Li Cheng'an's shout shattered the frozen scene. Gu Ming suddenly exerted force, pulling Tang Ning towards another stairwell!
Caught off guard, Tang Ning was completely dragged out by Gu Ming. His phone couldn't be held against his ear anymore, and the voice saying "Nine" from the phone dissipated into the noisy footsteps.
Tang Ning and Gu Ming had just reached the end of the corridor when a limping and heavy footstep echoed behind them.
"Damn it! Damn it! You even randomly throw trash!" The NPC roared, "I'm going to deduct all your dormitory points!"
Gu Ming increased his pace. The young man moved like a cheetah, his hair leaping in the air. The speed of his descent down the stairs was too fast, and Tang Ning's heart was almost in his throat, fearing that he might step into the void in the next second!
"Don't run!" The furious NPC shouted, "Dormitories are not allowed to run randomly!"
The hysterical roar was left behind.
Tang Ning followed Gu Ming down one floor after another, running too fast. His entire world began to spin, and the heart in his chest beat violently. Passing a corner, Gu Ming suddenly let go of Tang Ning's hand.
Tang Ning stared blankly at Gu Ming's back.
Why did Gu Ming shake him off?
Was Gu Ming trying to slow down the NPC chasing behind him?
He was abandoned.
He made the wrong choice.
Overwhelming despair engulfed him.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!!!" Shallow and deep footsteps echoed behind him, and the NPC was about to catch up!
Tang Ning mechanically ran down the stairs. His physique was already weak due to the effects of the card, and his strength was depleted from the recent escape with Gu Ming. Adding to that the heavy blow of Gu Ming abandoning him, these encounters stacked up, making Tang Ning's legs heavy as if filled with lead, and as soft as noodles ready to fall from above.
Dizziness clouded his brain, and Tang Ning suddenly saw a double image before his eyes. He forcefully bit his tongue, and the taste of rust spread in his mouth—
No!
He couldn't give up!!!
He experienced so much in the first level, not even giving up when ghosts pounced on him. Now, how could he easily surrender?!
Run faster! Run faster! Run even faster!!!
Tang Ning's exhausted body desperately exerted the last bit of strength. He sprinted towards the dormitory door. At the moment he exited the dormitory door, Gu Ming, riding a bicycle, suddenly appeared in the morning light. The youth came towards him, bathed in sunlight, with a golden edge outlining him, the whole person shining.
He shouted at Tang Ning, "Get on the bike quickly!"
It turns out Gu Ming went to get the bicycle just now!
Realizing this, Tang Ning felt a surge of emotion. Suddenly, he regained strength and quickly ran to Gu Ming's side. He swiftly sat on the rear seat of the bicycle. At the moment he sat down, Gu Ming pedaled and shouted to Tang Ning, "Hold on tight!"
The morning breeze came, dissipating the thin layer of sweat on Tang Ning's forehead. He clutched the rear frame with both hands, afraid of being thrown off, but Gu Ming rode steadily. They weaved through the vast campus, leaving the NPC, who limped while brandishing a fire axe, far behind, frustrated and stomping his feet.
Tang Ning's heart was pounding. He watched as the NPC gradually shrank into a black dot in his field of vision, becoming so small that it couldn't be seen clearly. Only then did he have the energy to observe other things.
The swiftly moving bicycle passed by the cascading wisteria flowers like clouds. Petals fell on Tang Ning's shoulders, and the ivy on both sides formed continuous waves of green, reflecting the willow trees in the clear lake.
Gu Ming suddenly released one hand, forming a whistle with his thumb and index finger near his mouth, blowing a long whistle!
The clear and melodious whistle sounded like a cheerful bird frolicking in Tang Ning's chest, helping him dispel the fear and unease.
Then, Gu Ming accelerated again, riding the bicycle towards the old teaching building.
He quickly parked the bike, then grabbed Tang Ning, running towards the classroom.
Tang Ning ran out of breath, but Gu Ming still had the energy to turn around and look at Tang Ning's flushed face. The young man had very bright eyes, especially when looking at Tang Ning; those eyes shone brilliantly.
Tang Ning didn't notice Gu Ming's gaze. He was almost dragged into the classroom by Gu Ming, then pushed into a seat near the window. After panting for a while in the chair, Tang Ning's mind could finally resume thinking.
There was a workbook on the desk with his name on it. If it weren't for Gu Ming's help, Tang Ning wouldn't have found his seat so quickly.
Gu Ming sat down next to Tang Ning, his long legs appearing somewhat out of place in the cramped space. He took out a bottle of mineral water and a bread from the drawer, handing the water to Tang Ning. "Here, take a sip quickly."
Tang Ning's mouth was extremely dry, but he didn't dare to drink too quickly, fearing that his weak body would simply spit it out. He held the bottle, taking small sips to moisten his throat.
While Tang Ning was drinking, Gu Ming broke the bread into two halves. "We have one minute left before class. Hurry, eat a few bites to fill your stomach."
Students gradually entered the classroom. Tang Ning even saw a few familiar faces among them—
The ones who blocked the door in the morning!
Tang Ning couldn't help but widen his eyes, continuing to dutifully stuff the bread into his mouth. His cheeks puffed up like a helpless little squirrel, but one that could eat.
Gu Ming saw Tang Ning's appearance and forgot to eat his own bread. He was too busy watching Tang Ning.
He looked at Tang Ning with a strange gaze.
It didn't seem like the look one gives a stranger; instead, it looked like he was observing someone very familiar.
After being stared at for a while, Tang Ning's gaze shifted from those faces and turned to Gu Ming. Grateful for this player who saved him, Tang Ning spoke with a mouthful of food, "Tank you for saving me."
Gu Ming continued to use that slightly strange gaze. He opened his mouth, softly saying, "You're welcome—"
"Because I'm your fan!"