Lin Xiang: [Xia Bai, how are you doing over there?]
Lin Xiang: [Xia Bai, are you okay?]
Lin Xiang: [Brother Hua and I will come find you shortly.]
Xia Bai was awakened by the sound of a message alert.
Drowsily, he fumbled for his phone and saw the message from Lin Xiang. He half-believed he was waking up on a normal morning in the real world.
Sitting up, Xia Bai finally woke up, seeing the haggard faces and strange looks from the other three roommates.
"Good morning," he said to his roommate, his voice hoarse with sleep.
Wen Dong tried to contain himself for a moment, but couldn't help himself. He asked, incomprehensible, "You actually fell asleep? Falling asleep so early, aren't you scared?"
Xia Bai: "Scared. Being scared is one thing, sleeping is another."
"..."
It wasn't even light yet; it was probably around five in the morning. In the dim light, Xia Bai saw that the dormitory seemed even more dilapidated. The water seepage on the walls had widened considerably, and it was becoming difficult to recognize the Heping Medical College dormitory.
Xia Bai replied to Lin Xiang's message first, "I just woke up. Nothing's wrong in our dorm. Do we have a signal to send messages?"
When the game was locked, they all checked their phones. At that time, there was no signal at all, as if they were cut off from the world.
Lin Xiang: "Just woke up? You actually fell asleep. Oh, oh, oh, you always love to sleep. I told you I was up all night."
Lin Xiang: "Messages can only be sent within the game. You can't contact the outside world. Did you see there's a new group on your phone? Only people in the group can contact each other."
Xia Bai exited the chat page with Lin Xiang and, sure enough, saw a class group: Clinical Medicine Class 2.
He didn't have a habit of using his phone before bed. He went to bed early last night, so he had no idea when this group appeared.
All nine of them were in it. Besides them, there were twelve others, eleven of whom were students and one was a counselor.
The group file contained some information, including a class schedule, clearly showing what classes were in which building and classroom at what time.
This must be their game guide.
In the game world, they weren't freshmen majoring in different subjects; they were all just starting their sophomores in clinical medicine.
Human Anatomy was one of the most fundamental subjects in clinical medicine. Whether it was just the right time for sophomores or just a deliberate arrangement, they had anatomy classes every afternoon that week.
Xia Bai stared at the schedule, his eyes lighting up.
Lin Xiang: [Did you see that? Oh, there's a schedule, too! This is terrifying.]
Xia Bai: [I saw it.]
Lin Xiang: [Brother Hua, you're almost done washing up. We'll be right there with you.]
Seeing the message, Xia Bai hurriedly got up and cleaned up. After skillfully and quickly folding the quilt into a tofu-shaped block, he carried his small basin to the bathroom.
When Xia Bai emerged, Hua Haoming and Lin Xiang had just arrived, followed by Song Qiang.
They called Xia Bai to breakfast, and the other three people in the dormitory joined them, just like Song Qiang. Meng Qing and Wen Qiu were spotted at the entrance to the hallway.
In truth, Meng Qing had wanted to find her son, Meng Tianyou, the moment she woke up. It was Wen Qiu who persuaded her to stop, having warned her last night against going to the boys' dormitory because it could be dangerous.
Upon seeing her son, she immediately ran over, asking if he was okay while wiping his hands with an alcohol wipe. Noticing a smudge on his white sneakers, she squatted down and meticulously wiped them clean with a wet wipe, her movements natural and expert.
Even the wealthy young master, Lin Xiang, was taken aback.
Song Mingliang, standing in the corner, glanced over.
Wen Dong asked, puzzled, "Aunt Meng, are you a mysophobe? You can't even stand a speck of dust."
Meng Qing replied, "A little."
Not only did they have a new class group on their phones, but they also had an app for Heping Medical College, which included a payment function for meals.
Song Qiang said, "Song Mingliang and I had dinner in the school cafeteria yesterday. We'll take you there."
As they walked out of the dormitory, they asked Hua Haoming for more information about the game. When it came to life and death, there was no such thing as too much.
Wen Dong: "Brother Hua, you said we need to find the truth to complete the game. What truth are we looking for?"
"How should I put it? It could be the truth about the game's background story, or the truth about a special phenomenon," Hua Haoming said, "There's always a reason."
The question was vague, and Hua Haoming, not being a teacher, couldn't give a clear answer.
Meng Tianyou asked, "So, we need to find the core NPC, right?"
Hua Haoming glanced at the person he had argued with yesterday. "It's a method."
"You ask? Everyone else has asked. You can't possibly not have questions, right? Are you mute?" The voice grew louder, drowning out Hua Haoming's voice.
When they turned to look, they saw Song Qiang pushing Song Mingliang. Seeing them looking, he pointed at Song Mingliang and said with a smile, "This kid is useless! He's so introverted and can't talk. Even if he gets into Heping Medical College, he'll have no future. What boss doesn't like someone who can talk?"
Song Mingliang's head still hung slightly, his teeth biting his lower lip, and he said nothing.
Meng Qing said, "Children just have different personalities. Some are extroverts, some are introverts. Introverts have their advantages."
Song Qiang was about to greet Meng Qing when he glanced outside the dormitory door. "No! This isn't Heping Medical College! It's different from the one we walked past last night."
Hua Haoming remained calm. "That's normal. The game's arrival in the Heping Medical College dormitory only means there's a connection between the two schools, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's happening there."
Indeed, Hua Haoming had told them last night that the game was only related to the school, not that it was happening there.
As they left the dormitory, a damp breeze greeted them.
Jiangqi City's early autumn was crisp and dry, making for a comfortable night's sleep. Xia Bai had already felt it was a bit too damp when he went to bed last night.
He looked at the lake in front of the dormitory building. The water was a brilliant green, teeming with algae, hidden beneath the surface, gently swaying with the waves.
Xia Bai stared at them for a long time, his eyes slightly curved in amusement, as if infected by the algae's cheerfulness.
Wen Dong asked, "Are we the only ones caught in the game? Are there any other players here?"
Wen Qiu, observing the students coming and going on campus, said, "It seems not. We're the only unlucky few."
They observed the people inside while familiarizing themselves with the school's surroundings and learning the school map.
The three teaching buildings, one of which was locked, indicated that the medical school in the game was considerably smaller than the real Heping Medical School. However, it had all the necessary facilities, such as anatomy labs and a morgue.
These were housed in a four-story red building in the northwest corner of the school, while the dormitories were located in the southeast corner, directly opposite.
The dining hall was across from the two teaching buildings. Beyond that, there was the usual library, playground, gymnasium, and an artificial lake. Most peculiarly, there was also a small farmland, possibly a garden. The reason it was probably farmland was because it was planted with peas.
It was Xia Bai who told them. Among the group, only Xia Bai recognized that they were peas.
"There are two kinds of peas, harvested in spring and in autumn. This is autumn peas, and we'll be able to eat it next month."
Meng Tianyou laughed, "Xia, how do you know so much? Are you from the countryside?"
Xia Bai nodded, "Yes, I've grown them."
He answered naturally, as if he didn't hear the sarcasm in his words, and he didn't think there was anything wrong with coming from the countryside.
Meng Tianyou let out a breath that had been accumulating in his chest since yesterday, and punched out. Unexpectedly, he hit a ball of cotton. He choked again, but couldn't hold it back, and said, "What's the use of this? We're looking for the core NPC, not learning to identify crops."
"Why is it useless?" Lin Xiang immediately retorted, "I haven't known about medical schools. I want to ask, let alone large medical schools, would a small medical school like this set aside a piece of land to grow peas? The strange places may be clues."
Meng Tianyou continued, "But, as you can see, this medical school is very small and shabby. It doesn't look like a good medical school, and the management is not strict. When I came out this morning, I saw the dormitory manager squatting behind the desk washing clothes and cooking. This may be a school worker who grew food for himself."
Wen Qiu nodded in agreement, "That makes sense. Some schools with lax management do let school workers decide what to plant, as long as it's not too exaggerated. The school next door to us planted some walnut trees and so on. Pea flowers are beautiful and have ornamental value. The school shouldn't say anything about growing peas."
Seeing that Wen Qiu supported him, Meng Tianyou's voice became louder, "We are now in a stage where we don't know anything and are confused. The key is to grasp the core. The most taboo thing is to be led astray by trivial details."
Wen Qiu glanced at him and lowered her eyes to hide the emotions in her eyes. After all, he was admitted to Heping Medical College. Although Meng Tianyou looked vain and selfish, his thinking was online. Moreover, he majored in clinical medicine.
Lin Xiang sneered, "Then where do you say we can find the core NPCs?"
Meng Tianyou stared at the rich second generation with a smug smile on his face, "I actually know. Isn't it said to be a horror game? Where is the scariest place in the medical school? The anatomy laboratory. I'm not talking nonsense, I found evidence."
Lin Xiang: "Where is the evidence?"
Meng Tianyou: "The course schedule. I majored in clinical medicine. When I applied for the major, I didn't just listen to someone's random words. I consulted seniors who studied clinical medicine in detail, including what students applying for clinical medicine are most concerned about, the anatomy lab class." "
The seniors told me that there are usually only about two sections of local anatomy classes a week, because each class is very long, and it will put a lot of pressure on students and the school every day. Look at our schedule, every afternoon. This is the strange and core part, not some kind of plant in the school's greening."
Lin Xiang wanted to refute, but was interrupted by Hua Haoming. He then saw that there was a woman in her fifties or sixties standing behind Pea, staring at them gloomily, her eyes full of resistance and defensiveness.
Hua Haoming: "Let's go have breakfast."
The restaurant of the medical school only seats four people, and Hua Haoming took them to an empty table with people in front, behind, and on both sides. Song Qiang wanted to come over with his son Song Mingliang, but there were not enough seats, so they had to go to Wen Qiu and Wen Dong's place.
Lin Xiang looked at Meng Tianyou's proud look while eating and snorted coldly.
Hua Haoming said, "Why are you so childish?" "You only know how to show off your quick tongue. Do you know that there is no point in saying more?"
Lin Xiang: "I just can't stand him like that. When I first entered the dormitory, I saw that he was wearing fake shoes. Did I say anything? He started to bully people with money, and he still holds grudges and chokes people everywhere. Oh, he also bullies the weak and fears the strong. Why doesn't he target you, brother, but Xia Bai?"
Xia Bai's eyes were confused.
Lin Xiang sighed helplessly, "Xia Bai is just too simple and too kind."
Hua Haoming, who deeply suspected that there was something wrong with Xia Bai: "..."
Hua Haoming thought for a while and said, "It's a bit irresponsible to say that, but it's true. Clues don't have to be shared."
Lin Xiang didn't understand, "Brother, didn't you say that only by finding the truth can you pass the level? This is not a battle royale game. Shouldn't the players in the game work together to find the truth?"
Hua Haoming said, "It seems so on the surface, but this is not a game of dividing the cake equally. Players who perform well have the opportunity to get game rewards."
Lin Xiang, who was rich and powerful and had nothing lacking, waved his hand, "I don't care."
"It's not those vulgar things in real society. These things are not worth mentioning in the face of rewards." Hua Haoming said, "Besides, the game is spreading faster and faster. Quanguang City is about to fall. Do you think your family's wealth and power will always be effective?"
Lin Xiang was stunned. This was something he had never considered.
"The game hasn't started yet, and no one's dying yet. Once you've experienced it, you'll know how terrifying it is. When facing imminent death, how many powerful people in real life would be willing to spend everything they have just to stay alive, and there's no guarantee anyone would rescue them." Hua Haoming said, "The game rewards are the things that might keep you alive."
Lin Xiang: "A golden medal of immunity from death?"
"..." Hua Haoming ate in silence.
It seemed like these weren't things he was obligated to explain.
As Xia Bai prepared to eat, he saw Hua Haoming glance up at him. For some reason, he felt like talking again.
"There are defensive items that can block attacks, powerful offensive weapons, and extremely rare soul skills," Hua Haoming said.
Perhaps boys are naturally more interested in these weapon-related things. Lin Xiang's heart was instantly moved, and he looked at him expectantly.
But Hua Haoming wasn't saying this to tell him about weapons in detail. He was reminding them, "Pay attention to Wen Qiu and Wen Dong."
"Why?" Lin Xiang turned to Xia Bai and asked, "Xia Bai, was there anything unusual about Wen Dong last night?"
Xia Bai thought for a moment, "Because there might be some veteran players among them who have played the game before?"
Hua Haoming nodded, "Probably."
Lin Xiang was surprised, "Xia Bai, how did you tell that?"
"I guessed." Xia Bai took a small sip of porridge with salted radish and slowly explained how he guessed. "Wen Qiu could tell at a glance that the watch on your wrist was worth millions, but I couldn't tell."
"..." Lin Xiang thought to himself, can't you see that something's wrong? You haven't been online for the past eighteen years. Every time the class discussed something after class, you were just daydreaming.
"The shoes Wen Dong is wearing are of the same brand as Meng Tianyou's. Judging from his reaction, his seem to be real." Xia Bai didn't know much about brands, so he could only speculate based on these, "Wen Qiu and Wen Dong's family should be very rich, at least richer than people like Meng Tianyou who pretend to be rich."
Lin Xiang: "Yes, and then what?"
Xia Bai said: "Heping Medical College allows students to live off campus as long as their parents agree. Their family is so rich, why do they have to squeeze into a dormitory with average conditions with three boys instead of renting a comfortable and spacious house near the school?" "
Why?"
"Maybe it's because some of them are players and know that games often come to various places now. If it is inconvenient for family members to accompany their children, it is safer to have roommates. At least when the game comes to the dormitory, there are a few classmates who can help each other."
Lin Xiang: "That makes sense! Then I have to live on campus too. My dad bought the house near the school in vain!"
"..."
Xia Bai thought to himself, poverty really limited his thinking. Rich people don't rent houses, they buy houses.
He continued, "Wen Qiu was nervous throughout the whole process, but she wasn't as panicked as the others."
Lin Xiang: "Indeed, she didn't seem that scared."
He said proudly, "Xia Bai, you're so smart. You're worthy of being number one in my class!"
Hua Haoming: "..."
This guy is just a Xia fan.
Hua Haoming half-tentatively, half-jokingly said to Xia Bai, "I don't see you're panicked either. Isn't this your first time playing the game?"
"It was my first time playing the game, and I was panicked, but panic shouldn't affect my ability to sleep and eat well." With that, he lowered his head and drank his porridge seriously.
"..."
Lin Xiang was afraid that Hua Haoming would misunderstand that Xia Bai was lying, so he said to him, "Xia Bai is like this. Brother, you don't know this, Xia Bai hasn't used a phone or the internet in the past 18 years. He's a person who has never been polluted by the internet, with no desires or demands, and his heart is not attached to anything else. Maybe because of this, his emotional fluctuations are very low, and they don't show on his face."
Hua Haoming: "..." He
's still a Xia Bao protector.
"Anyway, just be careful of them," Hua Haoming said.
Lin Xiang nodded repeatedly. "I know. Some of them might be veteran players, aware of the valuable rewards for good performance in the game, so they might trip you up at a crucial moment."
Hua Haoming nodded. "Entering the game isn't like getting a vaccine; a single shot grants long-term immunity. The game is spreading to more and more places, and no one can guarantee they'll only enter once. Moreover, some people must enter the game frequently, making the rewards increasingly valuable."
Lin Xiang, like a curious child, asked, "Why do some people have to enter the game so often?"
Hua Haoming said, "If we could leave the game by completing it, the game would disappear from Heping Medical College. If we all died in the game, and no one could complete it, then the game would persist and expand. If it weren't sealed off, anyone who entered the Heping Medical College dormitories would be sucked into the game."
"Will our beautiful country, especially a top-tier professional institution like Heping Medical College, remain sealed off like this forever?"
"There always has to be a group of players, like the death squad, constantly entering the game and unblocking it."
Both of them were stunned.
Xia Bai thought of the photo he'd seen in that post, showing Hua Haoming from Quanguang City covered in blood, and perhaps guessed what department he belonged to.
Hua Haoming warned: "In short, when facing life and death and rewards in the game, don't trust human nature. Don't trust it after you leave the game." The two nodded
. They knew that the game was not only terrifying but also dark.
At this moment, they also knew that there was a group of great people in a place they didn't know about.