64: Chapter 64 Overbearing Protection, The Dark Labyrinth

Old Mo walked slowly into the room, carrying that red thermos with peeling paint.

He was wearing a pair of old Beijing cloth shoes with a bit of mud on the soles, looking just like an old man from the hutongs who had just come back from a stroll.

But the atmosphere in the room changed.

The two law enforcement officers subconsciously hid the batons in their hands behind their backs, standing tall and straight, not even daring to breathe loudly.

In Longya Academy, although Old Mo held no administrative position, everyone knew that the old man was of the same generation as the principal; even the vice-principal had to call him Senior Brother upon meeting him.

Examiner Wang Su clutched his broken wrist, cold sweat dripping down his cheeks from his forehead, his face contorted in pain.

Seeing Old Mo enter, his eyes flickered, and he forced himself to stand straight.

“Old Mo, why are you here?” Examiner Wang Su's voice was weak. “This student is suspected of possessing prohibited potions, and he also violently resisted the law, injuring an instructor...”

Old Mo unscrewed the thermos, blew away the steam, and took a sip of tea.

“Prohibited potions?”

Old Mo glanced at the pool of purple liquid on the ground, then looked at Examiner Wang Su's right hand, which was bent at a bizarre angle.

“Wang Su, your methods are too crude.”

Old Mo closed the lid, his tone as casual as if they were chatting about family matters. “When it comes to framing someone, you either do it seamlessly or don't bother embarrassing yourself. If your fingerprints are the only ones on that potion bottle, how do you explain that?”

Examiner Wang Su's face turned pale.

“And another thing.” Old Mo pointed at Lin Qi. “This kid is mine. Did you ask me before you tried to touch him?”

Those words carried immense weight.

The two law enforcement officers looked at each other and immediately made a judgment.

One of them stepped forward and saluted Old Mo: “Old Mo, since you've stepped in to vouch for him, then there must be a misunderstanding. We'll withdraw immediately.”

Having said that, the two ignored Examiner Wang Su's murderous gaze, tucked away the search warrant, turned around, and left, running faster than rabbits.

Only Examiner Wang Su was left in the room.

He gritted his teeth and stared fixedly at Lin Qi, his eyes full of resentment and malice.

But he didn't dare to act out in front of Old Mo.

“Fine, consider yourself lucky today.” Examiner Wang Su squeezed the words through his teeth. “Lin Qi, this isn't over. As long as you're in Longya, I'll be watching you every single day.”

Lin Qi leaned against the wall with an indifferent expression: “You're welcome anytime. Next time, remember to bring some more expensive medicine; this fifty-thousand-yuan bottle is too pathetic.”

Examiner Wang Su was so angry he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

He glared fiercely at Lin Qi, clutched his wrist, and walked out of the villa's entrance in a sorry state.

The solid wood door that had been violently broken open hung lonely on the frame, looking exceptionally desolate.

Lin Qi walked over, straightened the door, and barely managed to close it.

“Thanks, Old Mo,” Lin Qi said as he turned around.

Old Mo didn't respond immediately, but instead found a sofa that hadn't been rummaged through and sat down, placing his thermos on the coffee table.

“No need to thank me.” Old Mo looked at Lin Qi. “In Longya, things like this will only happen more often. Rules are set for the weak; the strong only care about results.”

Lin Qi nodded: “Understood. As long as my fists are hard enough, I make the rules.”

“As long as you understand.” Old Mo stood up and brushed the dust off his robe. “There's a trial tomorrow; prepare well. It's an Asura field meant for special recruits. Don't die in there and embarrass me.”

After speaking, Old Mo picked up his thermos and wobbled away.

Lin Qi looked at the old man's back, lost in thought.

This old man looked casual, but he was actually quite protective of his own.

Early the next morning.

Longya Academy's broadcast echoed throughout the entire campus.

“All special-interest targets and S-rank or higher freshmen, proceed to the third basement level immediately for assembly. The 'Deep-Level Trial' is commencing.”

Lin Qi, carrying his faded white backpack, arrived at the designated location on time.

This was deep beneath the academy; the air was cold and damp, permeated with a musty smell.

In front of a massive metal gate, over twenty people had already gathered.

Li Shaobai stood at the very front with his sword casket on his back, his expression somewhat solemn.

The burly man named Zhao Lei was also there, wiping his giant axe with a whetstone, sending sparks flying.

Seeing Lin Qi approach, the crowd automatically made way for him.

After all, yesterday's feat of shattering memory alloy with a single punch was too terrifying; no one wanted to court trouble at this juncture.

Only Li Shaobai glanced at Lin Qi with a complex gaze.

At that moment, the gate slowly rose.

A middle-aged examiner in military uniform walked out, holding a tablet.

“I am the chief examiner for this trial, code-named ‘Night Owl’.”

The middle-aged man's voice was raspy. “The content of this trial is simple: The Lightless Labyrinth.”

Hearing those four words, a commotion broke out in the crowd.

“Lightless Labyrinth? Isn't that a high-risk area only open to third-year students?”

“I heard it's completely cut off from light; even night vision goggles are useless.”

Night Owl ignored the chatter and continued: “The rules are as follows: It is forbidden to use any lighting Spells or items. It is forbidden to use electronic detection equipment. You can only rely on intuition and perception to find the exit.”

“Three hundred hungry Source Beasts have been released into the labyrinth, along with randomly moving traps.”

“There is only one exit, and the time limit is three hours. Those who do not exit in time will be considered eliminated.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Lei's face changed.

“How are we supposed to fight without lights? I'm a Berserker, not a blind man!” Zhao Lei shouted.

Li Shaobai also frowned.

A Sword Master is extremely dependent on vision; Flying Swords require the eyes to lock on for precise strikes.

In absolute darkness, his combat power would be cut at least in half.

“If you're scared, then quit,” Night Owl said coldly. “Enemies on the battlefield won't turn on the lights for you.”

No one dared to speak again.

“Go in.” Night Owl stepped aside.

The pitch-black entrance was like the gaping maw of a giant beast, waiting for its prey to walk into the trap.

Lin Qi stood at the back of the line, and instead of panicking, he found it quite interesting.

For data-driven players used to looking at panels, health bars, and mini-maps, losing vision was equivalent to losing the whole world.

But for a Martial Artist, eyes were sometimes a burden instead.

True killing relies on the heart.

Lin Qi put his hands in his pockets and followed the crowd into that absolute darkness.

As soon as he entered, the gate behind him slammed shut.

All light vanished instantly.

It was so dark you couldn't see your own hand in front of your face.

The darkness was pure and thick like ink, giving one the suffocating illusion of being smothered.

Panicked voices immediately rang out around him.

“Holy crap! Who stepped on my foot?”

“Don't push! Which way do we go?”

“I have claustrophobia... I want to get out!”

Some people even tried to secretly cast lighting Spells, but as soon as a tiny spark lit up, it was snuffed out by the Anti-Magic Field in the labyrinth.

Lin Qi didn't move.

He stood in place and closed his eyes.

Since he couldn't see anyway, there was no need to keep them open.

He adjusted his breathing, slowing his heart rate until it merged with the surrounding darkness.

His hearing began to amplify.

Three meters to the left, there were the breathing sounds of two people, rapid and erratic.

Ten meters to the front-right, there was the sound of metal scraping against a wall; that should be Zhao Lei's axe.

Above his head, there was the sound of a faint airflow in the ventilation ducts.

Lin Qi moved.

He didn't grope along the walls like the others, but instead took silent steps, heading straight into the depths of the darkness.

When his feet landed, they were like the pads of a feline, making no sound at all.

After walking for about five minutes, the voices of the people around him gradually faded away.

Ahead was a dead end.

Lin Qi stopped.

Something was wrong.

The airflow in the atmosphere had changed.

The originally steady breeze suddenly experienced an unnatural disturbance.

It was as if something was moving against the wind, rapidly cutting through the air.

A foul stench wafted toward him.

It was the characteristic body odor of a beast, mixed with the smell of rotting meat.

It was here.

Lin Qi didn't dodge, nor did he assume a defensive stance.

He just tilted his head slightly.

Whoosh!

A gust of strong wind brushed past his left ear.

It took several strands of hair with it...