The man’s voice carried a teasing amusement, yet it inexplicably revealed a sense of danger that made one’s scalp crawl.

Because just now, with that very same tone, he had stabbed someone to death.

The corpse was still not far away.

It almost felt as if one could still hear the sound of blood flowing out of the body.

Now it was his turn.

The tip of the knife pressed against Wen Ruyu’s back. The chill traveled through the fabric of his clothes and reached his skin, making his body tremble uncontrollably.

It was fear.

No one was unafraid of death. He was no exception.

He did not dare move at all. Even his breathing became extremely light, afraid that the slightest movement would cause the blood stained knife in the man’s hand to plunge mercilessly into his body.

Then he would end up the same as that boy from just now.

If he died here now, he probably would not even stir a ripple, let alone cause any impact on the dungeon.

He absolutely could not die here.

Wen Ruyu tried hard to calm himself down, but his voice still trembled uncontrollably, thick with obvious fear. Even the tail end of his words quivered slightly, making him sound pitiful.

"I… I didn’t see anything…"

As soon as he said it, even he himself felt how pale and powerless the words sounded.

The man behind him let out a low laugh. The laughter sounded as though he had discovered something amusing, cheerful in tone yet chilling to the core.

"Didn’t see anything?"

The knife pressing against Wen Ruyu pushed forward a little harder. Even through a layer of clothing, Wen Ruyu could clearly feel that cold sharpness.

"If you didn’t see anything, why were you running?"

As the man spoke, he leaned closer. His breath brushed against Wen Ruyu’s ear, carrying a strong smell of blood.

It was the blood of that boy from just now.

The thick scent of blood was unpleasant to begin with, and combined with the stimulation of fear, Wen Ruyu’s stomach churned violently.

But he could not vomit.

He could not anger the man behind him.

Wen Ruyu’s fingertips clenched until they turned pale. His nails nearly dug into his palm, bringing a sharp sting that barely helped him suppress the urge to throw up.

He forced himself to calm down. He parted his lips slightly, his voice still trembling despite his efforts to control it.

"I… I was just passing by here. I didn’t know someone was here."

"Passing by?"

The man seemed to have heard an amusing joke. His laughter grew a little louder.

"Passing by an abandoned teaching building?"

"And even passing by all the way to the end of this corridor?"

The knife in the man’s hand pressed forward again. This time the force was heavier. Wen Ruyu could even feel the fabric of his hoodie being slightly cut, the cold tip of the blade nearly touching his skin.

"You’re quite good at passing by."

Wen Ruyu’s heart skipped a beat before it began pounding wildly. Cold sweat seeped out across his forehead.

The sweat slid down from his temple, soaking the strands of hair pressed beneath his cap before flowing into his mask, leaving behind a sticky, uncomfortable sensation.

"I…" Wen Ruyu opened his mouth with difficulty, only to realize he could not find a suitable excuse at all.

He could feel the man’s gaze resting on him.

As if looking at a corpse.

"Tell me…" The man slowly interrupted him. His tone was no different from before, still carrying that spine chilling cruelty.

"Should I deal with you as well and leave you here to keep him company, or…"

The man deliberately stretched out the last word, as if thinking seriously.

Or perhaps like a malicious hunter standing above his prey, leisurely teasing something already captured.

When a cat catches a mouse, it always enjoys playing with it first before slowly devouring it piece by piece.

Wen Ruyu’s heart nearly stopped beating.

He could feel the man’s undisguised killing intent and malice pressing down on him so heavily that he could hardly breathe.

Just then, a burst of noisy voices sounded not far away.

A physical education teacher had just announced that class was dismissed.

Once the teacher dismissed the class, the students were free to move around. At that moment several students were heading toward the abandoned teaching building while chatting and laughing.

They were probably going to the washbasin beside the building.

If they came close enough, they might discover them.

The man could not possibly kill someone in front of so many people.

Perhaps he would flee immediately.

However, the man did not escape as Wen Ruyu had expected. The moment he heard the approaching voices, the knife tip instantly moved away from Wen Ruyu’s waist and instead slid horizontally across his pale neck.

Stabbing the waist might not kill in one strike.

But cutting the throat would certainly be fatal.

The cold blade pressed against his skin, carrying the heavy smell of blood. Wen Ruyu’s body trembled from the stimulation.

His expression had long since frozen. His body stood rigidly in place, not daring to make the slightest movement.

The next second, a hand clasped his shoulder and pulled him backward. The knife across his neck pressed closer as well.

During the movement, the baseball cap on his head was knocked off and fell to the ground with a faint sound, far too quiet to draw anyone’s attention.

Wen Ruyu had no mind to care about the hat.

At that moment he clearly understood the man’s intention.

He was forcing him to step backward.

As long as he retreated into the shadows beside them, the group of passing students would never discover them.

And he would never be saved.

But Wen Ruyu had no choice.

He did not dare gamble either.

The corners of his eyes had already turned red from the terror of death. Tears glimmered faintly in his beautiful eyes.

Yet he could only follow the man’s force, being driven step by step backward until he had completely retreated into the shadows.

Throughout the entire process, the knife tip remained pressed against his pale neck.

If he showed the slightest lack of cooperation, he would likely become a corpse.

Once the two of them had retreated into the shadows, anyone looking from outside would not be able to see them at all.

Not even the corner of a sleeve was visible.

There was nothing inside the abandoned teaching building, nor were there any terrifying legends about it. Ordinary people passing by would not even spare it a glance.

The students passing outside were the same.

They laughed and joked as they walked closer, yet not a single one of them noticed the abandoned building, nor did any of them know that someone inside was currently facing a life threatening situation.

The voices drew closer and closer.

So close that they were just outside the abandoned building. At this moment, even the slightest sound would be heard by the people outside.

But the man seemed to know what Wen Ruyu was thinking. The knife across his neck pushed forward slightly, carrying naked threat.

As if saying that if he dared to make a sound, he would kill him immediately.

Wen Ruyu’s body was stiff with tension. He could only bite his lower lip tightly, not daring to move.

Only after the voices outside completely faded did the man slowly loosen his grip slightly.

However, the knife against Wen Ruyu’s neck showed no intention of moving away.

The man was more than half a head taller than Wen Ruyu. Lowering his gaze, he looked at the person in his arms and only then realized that the other had been forced so close that he was practically pressed against his chest.

He had always disliked others touching him.

He also disliked others getting close to him.

Yet strangely enough, at this moment he did not feel particularly repulsed.

It was a little inexplicable.

He should have stabbed this person to death from the very beginning.

Just like he had stabbed the roommate who had taken his graduate school recommendation slot.

The man looked at the beautiful crown of hair before him. He slightly lifted the knife tip, forcing the person in his arms to raise his head.

Wen Ruyu’s slender body trembled slightly. Forced by the man’s strength, he raised his chin.

His neck stretched into a delicate and fragile curve, making him look pitiful and helpless.

Only then did the man notice that this person was still wearing a mask and sunglasses.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze settling on Wen Ruyu’s face.

"Covering yourself up so tightly. Are you that ashamed to be seen?"

Because of the tilt of his head, his face leaned close to Wen Ruyu’s ear, and his voice sounded right beside it.

Still smiling.

Still making one’s scalp crawl.

The man did not wait for Wen Ruyu to respond.

The moment his words fell, he reached out and removed Wen Ruyu’s sunglasses.

Chapter 9

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