It really was Wen Ruyu.

Just as Su Xiao’s heart began pounding wildly, she suddenly sensed a chilling gaze.

The cold sank into her bones in an instant, making every hair on her body stand on end.

She stiffly shifted her eyes to the person standing beside the beautiful youth.

The next second, her pupils shrank uncontrollably.

That was—

Yang Ruiqing!?

But wasn’t Yang Ruiqing already dead!?

For a split second, Su Xiao thought she was hallucinating.

She blinked hard. She even pinched her palm viciously. The sharp pain came clearly—

Yet the figure before her did not disappear.

Yang Ruiqing stood there quietly.

He wore a spotless white shirt. Handsome and refined, so elegant it was hard to look away. He looked exactly like the gentle campus heartthrob he had once been.

But beneath the blazing midday sun—

There was no shadow beneath his feet.

Not even a trace.

His lifeless eyes fixed on Su Xiao.

There was no warmth in them.

No emotion.

As if he were looking at a corpse.

Su Xiao’s expression had frozen completely. Her face drained white. It felt as if her blood had stopped flowing.

It was daytime.

The livestream chat had already exploded.

Countless messages flooded the screen so densely they nearly covered the entire image.

The Players did not understand how terrifying Yang Ruiqing was.

But the viewers did.

They had watched helplessly the previous night as every Player inside the library had been slaughtered.

Not one survived.

[Run!!! The Players were wiped out by him last night! Not a single one made it! He went completely insane!]

[What the hell?! Why is the Dungeon Boss appearing in broad daylight?! That makes no sense! This dungeon isn’t giving them any chance to live!]

[They’ve walked straight into the muzzle. It’s only the second day. Are they going to get completely wiped today?]

[I knew a zero clear rate dungeon would be hard, but I didn’t expect this. It’s only been one night!]

[It’s over. He’s already seen her. Just wait for death.]

Lin Zhou noticed Su Xiao stop abruptly. His entire body tensed, thinking some sudden danger had appeared.

He instinctively followed her line of sight.

Just one glance—

His face changed drastically.

The familiar handsome face made every cell in his body scream at him to turn around and run.

But he did not dare move.

Yang Ruiqing merely watched them quietly.

If he ran, it might immediately provoke him.

Then there would be no chance of survival at all.

And it was still daytime.

Even a Dungeon Boss should follow the dungeon’s killing rules.

It would not kill without restraint.

Otherwise no one could ever clear the dungeon.

Perhaps—

Perhaps this was an opportunity.

Lin Zhou’s body was rigid. Sweat seeped down his forehead.

He forced himself to stay calm. With stiff fingers, he tugged lightly at Su Xiao’s sleeve and whispered in an extremely low voice.

"Calm down."

"Don’t look."

"Act like you didn’t see anything."

Su Xiao was jolted back to her senses.

She bit down on her lower lip so hard she tasted blood.

Only then did she force herself to lower her head.

Yang Ruiqing did not look away.

He did not like the way that woman had just looked at him.

He disliked anyone coveting what belonged to him.

But he did not make a move.

Because the person beside him would be frightened.

He had not yet killed enough to completely free himself from the library’s restraints. Only a fragment of him had manifested. Combined with the fact that it was daytime, he could not silently tear these two apart.

He did not want Wen Ruyu to see him drenched in blood.

He did not want to deepen Wen Ruyu’s fear of him.

Let them live a few more hours.

Wen Ruyu had naturally noticed Su Xiao and Lin Zhou.

Though he did not know them personally, their stiff terror made their identities obvious.

Players.

His heart sank.

Before his scalp could stop tingling, another figure approached quickly.

Han Yi.

Players were easy to recognize.

Only Players remained tense at all times, constantly alert to every slight movement.

Anyone observant enough could identify them.

Wen Ruyu felt despair creeping in.

The last three Players in the dungeon—

All gathered at once.

Was this not a perfect opportunity for Yang Ruiqing to eliminate them in one sweep?

Wen Ruyu clenched his palm so tightly his nails nearly pierced his skin.

The sharp pain forced him to steady himself.

He raised his head as if unaware of anything and looked at Yang Ruiqing.

His soft voice carried a hint of confusion.

"What’s wrong?"

Yang Ruiqing withdrew his gaze.

"Nothing."

"I’m hungry."

Wen Ruyu’s fingers trembled slightly as he carefully reached out and took Yang Ruiqing’s hand.

Their fingers intertwined.

Yang Ruiqing’s hand was ice cold.

Like holding a block of frozen stone.

In stark contrast to Wen Ruyu’s warm skin.

But Wen Ruyu did not let go.

He looked up at him.

"Let’s go eat."

Yang Ruiqing’s body stiffened imperceptibly.

He lowered his gaze to their joined hands.

The chill around him softened slightly.

He allowed himself to be led toward the cafeteria.

That had been Wen Ruyu’s destination all along.

As Wen Ruyu pulled him away, he noticed from the corner of his eye that the three Players had started moving—

Following them.

His expression did not change.

But his heart trembled uncontrollably.

Don’t follow.

Run.

Please.

However, the three Players seemed deaf to his silent plea.

They exchanged a glance.

Then clenched their teeth and followed.

Wealth comes from risk.

They had not found any key clues yet. Once night fell, they would likely die.

Better to gamble boldly.

At least Yang Ruiqing did not seem intent on killing at this moment.

The First Cafeteria stood between the library and several dormitory buildings. Most students chose to eat there.

It was crowded.

Yet the students seemed not to see Wen Ruyu and Yang Ruiqing at all.

They passed by without giving them a single glance.

As if the two of them were invisible.

Su Xiao and the others followed at a distance, hearts lodged in their throats. Every step was cautious.

Perhaps because of Yang Ruiqing’s presence, the cafeteria was several degrees colder than outside.

A damp chill lingered in the air.

Even from afar, it seeped into their bones.

They did not dare approach too closely.

They watched the two figures discreetly, trying to glean even the slightest clue.

For instance—

Why had they come to the cafeteria?

Ghosts did not need food.

Even if they consumed something, it would not be ordinary meals.

There was no reason for them to appear here.

The truth was far simpler.

Wen Ruyu still needed to eat.

He was still human.

He led Yang Ruiqing to the serving window and casually ordered two light dishes.

Yang Ruiqing did not need food.

But he still ordered a portion as if he were an ordinary person.

They chose a seat by the window.

Wen Ruyu lowered his head and sat down slowly.

Outwardly calm.

Inside, coiled tight.

He feared Yang Ruiqing might suddenly attack.

These three were his final hope.

If they died here—

His chance to clear the dungeon would disappear completely.

But he could do nothing.

Say nothing.

Su Xiao and the others stood in a distant corner, watching silently.

Their hearts pounded uncontrollably.

After sitting down, the young man removed his mask.

Sunlight streamed through the window and illuminated his face.

It cast a radiant glow over him.

He was breathtakingly beautiful.

So beautiful it made the world fade in comparison.

Like someone stepping out of a painting.

The three of them stared in stunned disbelief.

A string of suppressed curses exploded in their minds.

Damn.

Wen Ruyu looked like this!?

They had assumed he was good looking.

But not—

Not like this.

In that moment, they fully understood the students’ reactions.

Anyone would react that way.

The livestream chat exploded again.

[Holy— what the hell! How does Wen Ruyu look like that?!]

[Oh my god I’m standing up. This face in a horror dungeon is illegal!]

[I didn’t understand the NPC reactions before but now I do! I’m speechless! How can someone look like this?!]

[Help. He’s so beautiful I forgot this is a horror dungeon.]

Wen Ruyu ate quietly by the window.

His movements were elegant.

Even the strands of hair falling near his cheek carried a gentle softness.

Yang Ruiqing watched him without looking away.

As if in this noisy cafeteria—

He could see only him.

Su Xiao and the others remained hunched over a distant table, barely daring to breathe.

Lin Zhou lowered his voice.

"This Student Wen may not be directly connected to Yang Ruiqing’s death. But their relationship is definitely not simple. If we build a connection with him, it might become a life saving charm."

"Not necessarily," Su Xiao refuted.

The sinister gaze Yang Ruiqing had given her still lingered vividly in her mind.

Her voice trembled.

"Wen Ruyu’s looks easily stir emotions. Easily provoke jealousy toward Yang Ruiqing."

"Then what about Yang Ruiqing?"

Death only magnified resentment and unwillingness.

Anyone who approached Wen Ruyu might die.

Lin Zhou and Han Yi fell silent.

They could not refute that.

Even an ordinary person guarding someone like that would develop possessiveness.

Let alone a ghost.

Lin Zhou inhaled deeply.

"Unless absolutely necessary, don’t approach him. He’s a ticking bomb. Getting close might get you killed faster."

Just as he finished speaking—

Several figures appeared at the cafeteria entrance.

They did not line up for food.

Instead, their sharp gazes scanned the room.

Then—

Their eyes locked onto a specific direction.

Wen Ruyu.

They changed direction and walked straight toward him.

Wen Ruyu had been lowering his head, eating quietly.

When he sensed the gazes, he looked up instinctively.

His hand froze mid air.

The newcomers were the very people the original host had deceived.

Jiang Shengxu.

Li Zechuan.

And Chen Ji.

Wen Ruyu’s body went rigid.

His fingers tightened around his chopsticks until the knuckles turned white.

He was not afraid of what would happen to them.

He was not afraid of Yang Ruiqing targeting them.

He was afraid—

Their appearance would anger Yang Ruiqing.

And drag the last three Players into disaster.

Yang Ruiqing had also noticed them.

The gentleness around him vanished instantly.

His lifeless eyes lifted slowly toward the approaching men.

The temperature in the cafeteria dropped visibly.

The air grew thin.

Cold.

Oppressive.

Chapter 40

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