# 58
Chapter 58 – Appreciation
Liu Yuan froze; he hadn’t expected Lin Qiye to let him walk away so cleanly.
Was the guy actually scared of him?
Had his own aura just been that overwhelming?
Puffing up, Liu Yuan straightened his back, shot Lin Qiye a sideways glare, snorted coldly, and swaggered off hand-in-hand with Han Ruoruo.
Once the pair vanished down the corridor, one of the Ax Squad boys edged up to Lin Qiye and whispered,
“Brother Qiye, you’re really letting them go? He stole your girl! How about… we teach him a lesson for you?”
Having seen Lin Qiye’s combat strength with their own eyes, the Ax Squad practically worshipped him. Watching Liu Yuan strut off with Han Ruoruo riled them up.
“No need. Han Ruoruo isn’t my girlfriend.” Lin Qiye smiled faintly, eyes trailing the couple. “Besides… I’m actually very happy right now. Truly.”
“…?”
The boy gawked, expression turning odd.
Holy crap—does Brother Qiye have… that kind of kink?
Li Yifei, fighting back laughter, clapped Lin Qiye’s shoulder. “Congrats—wish fulfilled.”
“Mm.”
Lin Qiye turned to the students in the hallway. “Is this all of them?”
“Yep, every sophomore survivor.” Li Yifei nodded, then leaned in. “Among them, is there…?”
“No.” Lin Qiye’s lips curled. “The only one has already eloped with Student Liu Yuan.”
“Hahaha, perfect.”
“Take them to the auditorium. Once the main Nāga Serpent demon is eliminated, they can leave.” Lin Qiye told Li Yifei and An Qingyu.
“On it.” Li Yifei thumped his chest.
Lin Qiye nodded, flickered, and vanished into the stairwell.
Once he was gone, the students swarmed Li Yifei, questions flying.
“Li Yifei, what happened when you went down to rescue people?”
“Yeah! How did Lin Qiye suddenly show up?”
“He really wiped out all the monsters by himself?”
“Must’ve—smell the blood on him? Overpowering!”
“How’d he do it? Who is he, really?”
“……”
Li Yifei rolled his eyes at the star-struck girls. “Ask him yourselves when we’re out.”
Hmph. Once you leave, your memories will be wiped. Good luck remembering Lin Qiye then, he thought.
With the monsters dead, everyone relaxed, and the girls’ chatter about the mysterious boy heated up. The Ax Squad guys, having fought beside him, jumped in, gesticulating wildly, bragging him up until the girls were swooning.
Just then, Teacher Wang drifted past and murmured,
“No puppy love allowed…”
Girls: …
……
Straight Blade on his back, Lin Qiye sprinted across campus and clicked his earpiece.
“Sister Hongying, any news?”
“Found some traces—looks like the Nāga Serpent headed north.”
“North? Where—cafeteria, art building, field, or classrooms?”
“Not sure. Xiaonan and I are checking the cafeteria.”
“Got it. I’ll sweep the art building.” He veered off.
The art building was the school’s newest—built five or six years back when the country pushed “arts & culture” education. After completion, students hardly attended; every art teacher mysteriously fell ill each scheduled class.
Only three floors, but packed with rooms: sketching, sculpture, dance studios…
Lin Qiye zipped along the first-floor corridor—nothing. On the second, his mental perception suddenly flashed an image…
His expression turned splendid.
……
“Ruoruo… why aren’t we fleeing the school? Why hide in a piano room?” Liu Yuan hugged Han Ruoruo, peeking out the window.
Han Ruoruo lifted her head from his chest, lips curving seductively. “Outside is boring… it’s quiet here. Here, I can do something… interesting.”
A jolt shot through Liu Yuan; he swallowed. “What… thing?”
“You tell me…” She breathed into his ear, voice soft and tickling.
“But… monsters are still out there. This isn’t… right?” Desire flared, yet reason clung on.
“What’s wrong with it? Unless…” She wrapped her arms around him, tongue flicking his cheek like a dragonfly.
As his last shred of sanity crumbled and his hands began to roam, she whispered the rest:
“Unless… you don’t want to be eaten by me?”
Her mouth split open; a grotesque fleshy head blossomed beside his face, dense fangs gleaming!
Liu Yuan’s pupils dilated in terror. He screamed, thrashing madly, but couldn’t break free!
“Ruoruo… you—you’re one too—
No, stop!!
Don’t!! I beg you! I don’t want to die!!”
He flashed back to his arrogant exit from the fifth floor—if only he’d stayed… he wouldn’t be in this hell!
Lin Qiye… Lin Qiye!
Save me!
Amid his hysterical wails came a crisp click of the door opening.
Both froze, turning.
Lin Qiye stood there, Straight Blade on his back, watching quietly…
“Qiye! Lin Qiye!
Ruoruo’s a monster!
Quick—save me!!”
Liu Yuan clutched at this lifeline, eyes blazing, struggling with newfound strength.
Lin Qiye rubbed his nose,
gave an apologetic smile,
“Sorry to interrupt—just here to appreciate the show. Please, continue…”
Bang!
The piano-room door slammed shut,
followed by a click—
locked from the outside…