Lin Shan arranged for Baiyu to stay at a hotel near her home.
The environment was beautiful, and the decor was luxurious.
Upon learning the entire apartment building belonged to Baiyu, she readily covered the hotel expense, expecting Baiyu to repay her once the situation at the community was resolved.
Heh, women.
In the hotel room, Lin Shan asked Baiyu many questions before finally leaving, feeling intrigued.
As for the origin of the latest extraordinary event, she hadn't pinpointed the cause.
"This is a report on recent extraordinary events. The one you experienced is similar to the previous incidents. As a survivor, look through it again. You might recall something."
Lin Shan left a dossier as she departed.
Baiyu picked it up and glanced through it; it contained records and reports of extraordinary events. Many appeared on the news and forums, but never in such detail.
"Wait, isn't this paper the only one?"
Suddenly.
Baiyu noticed an item identical to the mysterious paper in a photo.
Below was a line of elegant small text, evidently written by Lin Shan:
Suspected replica of sealing object "S-23, Demon Contract".
Temporarily named Demon Paper.
Possessing extraordinary power that affects people's minds, with a considerable probability of causing distortion when ordinary people come into contact with it, suspected to be leaked by members of the Abyssal Demon Cultivation Association.
Baiyu continued flipping through.
Three extraordinary events triggered by this counterfeit have resulted in over a hundred casualties.
These three Demon Papers were all contained by the Anomaly Bureau.
Further affirming Baiyu's previous thoughts.
This distortion wasn't coincidental; it was more like a planned and designed event.
Someone deliberately released this extraordinary item!
...
"I don't really have any enemies.
You could count the strangers I've met in the past year on one hand; it's unlikely someone would set such a trap specifically for me.
The issue must be with the female streamer; I was just collateral damage.
She generally sleeps during the day, streams at night, and even orders delivery for meals. Her rich benefactor came last week to visit her.
It seems likely that this matter is related to her sugar daddy.
There's too little information.
I don't know the other party's identity or purpose, making accurate deduction impossible; I need more information."
...
He opened the hotel's provided computer.
Baiyu created a table listing all recent extraordinary events in Linjiang City.
This isn't confidential information, no need for secrecy.
After listing them in the table.
He marked the events triggered by Demon Paper.
By categorizing them this way.
He quickly discovered the problem.
Most of the three extraordinary events related to Demon Paper involved wealthy individuals or occurred in wealthy people's villas.
There seems to be a regional pattern.
Although the female streamer wasn't wealthy, her sugar daddy indeed seemed like a lavish spender.
Were the people leaking the Demon Paper in the rich circles, or simply seeking wealth?
No.
Demon Paper incites extraordinary events.
It attracts the government and investigators; how could he possess the wealth of the rich?
The other party isn't after money.
Perhaps it's because the mastermind is already within the rich circle, making it easier to spread extraordinary items.
Rich people have always had small actions like nurturing martial artists and collecting extraordinary items, making their lives hard to regulate.
Baiyu let out a breath.
This deduction is evidently more reasonable; now it just needs verification.
...
He logged into the streaming website and opened the female streamer's live room, finding the top gifter on the leaderboard.
"Spent a million Cyan Blue Coins, is this her sugar daddy? Truly a tycoon."
Baiyu clicked on the top gifter's avatar.
The man seemed to be middle-aged, not a business account, frequently posting daily life updates in his space, with numerous random comments below, marveling at the god-like wealth.
You can't possibly imagine the joy of the wealthy!
Baiyu immediately registered a non-certified account, clicked on the wealthy man's avatar, entered a message.
"I already know the truth, you killed her."
A minute later, the other party immediately replied with three question marks.
"That's it for now; the news of the female streamer's death hasn't spread yet. When tomorrow's Canglan Daily reports it, this wealthy man should understand what's going on.
For now, don't reply.
If it truly involves him, he'll definitely reach out actively."
To complete the system's [Main Task], he must investigate the source himself; relying on others won't work.
Given the safety concerns, Baiyu wouldn't entrust this matter to others.
Of course.
He could also directly inform Lin Shan.
But this is merely his deduction; investigators might not accept it.
Most importantly.
The Demon Paper is with him.
It's best to minimize contact with Anomaly Bureau people; otherwise, if discovered and subjected to special interrogation methods, there's a significant risk of exposing the Scholar Space!
This consequence Baiyu could not bear.
...
He closed the computer, his consciousness entering the Scholar Space.
After completing tasks, the task bar entered a brief latency period, neither refreshing nor accepting ordinary or nightmare level tasks.
Only the [Main Task] remained hanging alongside.
Now past midnight.
The entire task bar began to shift, brand new tasks appeared before him.
[Ordinary Difficulty: To achieve the best results, one must first equip themselves well; a true scholar must have a strong physique.]
Requirement: Complete an eight-kilometer run within one hour, 0/8000m.
Reward: 100 points of Ancient Martial Arts Discipline knowledge; one chance to draw a low-quality lottery (the reward drawn is guaranteed to be trash.)
[Elite Difficulty: Libraries are the nurturing ground for scholars; diligence leads to success.]
Requirement: Study in the library for eight hours, 0/8h.
Reward: Specific academic knowledge awarded based on book categories read, with more books leading to greater rewards; one random Spiritual Technique Scroll.
[Nightmare Difficulty: Facing the eerie is a wild undertaking; only through experiencing the eerie can one understand the world's truth.]
Requirement: Recite the following mantra repeatedly for ten minutes alone in a quiet, enclosed environment…
Reward: Unknown! (Note: This task involves significant risk, not recommended for hosts!)
Nightmare Task unchanged?
Baiyu had almost figured out the Scholar Space's task refresh pattern, daily refresh likely involving longer cycles, or change after completion.
It was already midnight, tasks only feasible during the day.
Thinking about it, Baiyu fell onto the bed and slept.
...
Early the next morning, Baiyu arrived at the classroom.
Last night, he didn't sleep well, dreaming of Lin Shan, distorted, pursuing him all night.
Hence, he was in low spirits, sporting two dark circles.
"Brother Bai, how's the preparation for this month's second mock exam?"
The class monitor Ning Qian, who was already in the classroom, quickly asked upon seeing Baiyu.
"Just so-so."
Lacking in spirit, Baiyu replied.
"Last month's first mock exam, Yue Zi'an from the adjacent Rocket Class didn't get the top grade for the whole year and secretly worked fiercely, even dedicating his sleep time to review. His target this time is to surpass you and reclaim the top spot."
Ning Qian sat beside Baiyu, "As our class president, you can't lose to Yue Zi'an."
"Uh…children shouldn't be too competitive; learning is a personal matter."
Baiyu spoke earnestly.
"Well, he's not as smart, unlike you, like a genius. Studying Introduction to Mysticism for hours without any anomaly.
I've mentioned countless times, don't call me a child."
Ning Qian rested her chin on her hands, puffing her cheeks, showing her cute face filled with annoyance and admiration.
Baiyu instinctively glanced at the desk.
Seeing the curves pressed against it, he was secretly startled.
Indeed not small.
Sufficient to make ninety percent of females blush.
Perhaps this foolish woman traded with the Evil God, exchanging brains for breasts. Even with daily tutoring and frequent extracurricular lessons, she hadn't developed at all.
Stupidity might be contagious.
Thinking about it, Baiyu quietly moved one seat away.
"By the way, Brother Bai, I don't get this spirit technique problem. Could you explain it to me?"
Ning Qian blushed and moved closer again.
"Didn't you ask me about this problem yesterday?
Shift the Speed Talisman upward by two units; using Great Mage Euler's spirit modeling theory, construct a corresponding simple spirit technique model.
Then solve using the Spiritual Power simulation formula."
"Uh, seems I picked the wrong problem, it's this one." Ning Qian's face reddened further.
Indeed.
No hope for foolish women, even picking the wrong problem.