Whether it would be delightful, Jiang Luo didn’t know—but it would definitely be thrilling.
The malicious ghost had used the very same line Jiang Luo once said to him. That one line was enough to prove Chi You’s vindictive nature.
Jiang Luo didn’t mind such a trait in himself—holding grudges, repaying every slight—but in Chi You, it made him want to scoff and call him petty.
Half-submerged in water, Jiang Luo looked up at Chi You with a blank expression.
A smile curled on the malicious ghost’s lips—a smile like a noose, tightening around a person’s neck. Half his perfect face was cast in shadow, the other half glowing under the moonlight. He was clearly handsome and noble, yet the sight only sent chills down one’s spine.
“Classmate Jiang,” the malicious ghost took a light step forward. The sound of his leather shoes was muffled by the damp, soft earth. His voice was cheerful, laced with amusement. “You look… so pitiful right now.”
He was dressed in an expensive suit, not a wrinkle in sight. He looked like someone who belonged not in a midnight forest, but in a glittering ballroom filled with clinking glasses.
—Or maybe a host club.
Jiang Luo thought maliciously.
“Thanks to you,” Jiang Luo wasn’t surprised at all to see Chi You. He gave a fake smile. “All your doing, teacher.”
As the malicious ghost said, Jiang Luo right now did look pitiful.
His entire body was soaked, the ripples spreading out from him clinging around his waist. His black hair was plastered to the back of his shirt in twisted strands, and his lean figure had nowhere to hide.
Anyone else seeing him now would think he was a seductive ghost crawling out of the river.
Anyone facing the malicious ghost in such a miserable, helpless state would be terrified, on the verge of despair—but Jiang Luo was remarkably calm. The fire in his eyes, facing the malicious ghost head-on, was unwavering and full of defiant courage.
That was an incredibly dazzling soul.
It was precisely that look in his eyes that piqued the malicious ghost’s interest—so much so that even the act of killing the black-haired youth became an unusually delightful game for him.
With a smile, the malicious ghost said, “No need to thank me.”
His voice lowered, the words slipping ambiguously off his lips—yet they were cold and dangerous. “After all, I am your pursuer.”
Jiang Luo’s brow twitched, but in the next moment, he caught sight of a drone not far away. His tightly knit brows relaxed, and he slowly smiled. “Teacher, did you know this competition is being live-streamed?”
The malicious ghost merely smiled without answering.
Of course, Chi You was everywhere. Whatever he wanted to know, he could find out easily through his puppetry and soul-refining techniques. Living or dead, they would become his loyal subordinates. Even if he turned into an invisible wisp of air, getting information would be effortless.
Jiang Luo stepped out of the water and into the shadow beneath a tree. Wet footprints trailed behind him, and a few drops even landed on the malicious ghost’s spotless, gleaming leather shoes.
He was daring—like provoking a hungry beast while gambling with his life. Jiang Luo smiled and raised his arms, still dripping with river water, and casually placed them on the malicious ghost’s shoulders. Strangely, the expensive fabric actually soaked through where his arms touched.
Water dripped steadily from his sleeves and hair.
His black hair clung to his cheeks and neck, twisted into uneven loops, crawling like ants—uncomfortable and clingy. But Jiang Luo’s eyes sparkled. He leaned close to the malicious ghost’s ear and whispered with a smile, “There are two drones right behind you.”
“They’re flying this way. Someone must be approaching,” Jiang Luo said lightly, placing a hand gently on Chi You’s back. “How dangerous. You’ll be seen.”
“If the drones see you, everyone will see you,” he continued in a soft voice. “The spider-human from earlier, and you now—both only showed up in remote corners where drones couldn’t film. Are you afraid of being seen? Why? Is it because you don’t want to reveal your true strength?”
“Or maybe…” Jiang Luo drew out the words, smiling wickedly, “Chi You, famous for your good reputation, doesn’t want others to know you’re stalking your student like a pervert?”
The malicious ghost’s eyes narrowed—and then he suddenly chuckled. He casually reached out and caught Jiang Luo’s hand that had thrust a dagger at him. His long, pale fingers wrapped around Jiang Luo’s hand with ease, like indulging a misbehaving child. “You’re so fierce.”
As soon as the words fell, he transformed into a mass of twisted black mist. From a distance, it looked like the black fog was embracing the black-haired youth in a deadly hold.
After devouring him, the black mist retreated silently into the shadows, merging with the night.
The mist seeped into every crack—Jiang Luo had to shut his eyes. Pain shot through his wrist as the dagger was taken from him. A mocking voice drifted past his ear, “Second lesson: there are some things better left unsaid.”
Jiang Luo’s heart tightened. The next second, the cold tip of the dagger pressed lightly against the arch of his brow.
It was sharp and icy—just a bit more pressure and it would pierce his skin. The invisible malicious ghost guided the blade downward slowly—across Jiang Luo’s eye, cheek, then to the corner of his mouth.
A thin red line bloomed where the blade touched. On Jiang Luo’s excessively beautiful and unyielding face, it ignited a violent desire to destroy.
The malicious ghost observed Jiang Luo’s features more closely than ever before.
This murderer undoubtedly possessed an extraordinary face. After his supposed death, that face only became more dazzling. Like the roses in Chi You’s garden—blooming fiercely with fragrance, declaring their full glory with vibrant red petals and wild pride.
It was as if the rose proclaimed: Everyone who sees me must kneel to my beauty.
Beautiful things are pleasing to look at—but Chi You preferred them most right before they wilted.
His laughter rose slowly. The blade pressed gently against Jiang Luo’s lips. Compared to the cold blade, the black-haired youth’s lips were impossibly soft, sinking slightly under the pressure.
“This mouth…” the malicious ghost sighed with feigned regret. “So pretty, and yet it always says things that make me angry.”
Jiang Luo kept his eyes shut, estimating Chi You’s position—then swung a punch.
Of course, it missed.
The mist had no form. Any part of the fog surrounding Jiang Luo could be Chi You. He chuckled, his voice growing lower and darker. “No rush.”
The dagger lifted Jiang Luo’s upper lip.
To avoid being cut, he had no choice but to open his mouth slightly with the blade’s force.
The tip brushed against his white teeth. The malicious ghost thought absentmindedly—they’re just like flower petals.
But the person beneath his blade was no rose to be plucked—he was a wildcat, ready to bite and claw.
Only after a long moment did the blade leave his lips. Jiang Luo pressed his lips tightly together, long lashes trembling. Fury flickered at the corners of his eyes and mouth.
The tip traced the elegant line of his chin, then slid to his throat.
His Adam’s apple twitched slightly in response to the cold steel.
“Oh,” the malicious ghost murmured, feigning realization. “I had a new idea about that method you mentioned—about putting spider eggs into your body.”
“Maybe… through the mouth would be a good way,” he said as the dagger moved downward. “They’ll slide right down your throat.”
The sharp point reached his clothes. After a pause, a tearing sound rang out—Jiang Luo’s shirt was slashed open in one stroke.
From collarbone to chest, the rip widened, revealing faint glimpses of the black-haired youth’s lean body beneath the shredded fabric, streaked with ragged “Z” shapes.
His slender yet toned body was pale and aesthetically pleasing. Beneath the torn yet stubbornly clinging pieces of fabric, his skin peeked through—half-hidden, half-revealed—shimmering with a warm luster like polished jade.
Unfortunately, Jiang Luo was still wrapped in black mist, blocking even the moonlight and reflections off the water from catching a glimpse.
Chi You looked at him admiringly. “…And then it will move into your stomach. Your abdomen.”
As he spoke, the sound of fabric tearing became louder. Finally, the cloth at Jiang Luo’s waist gave in completely, the last threads snapping, and fell into the black mist.
A remarkably supple waist was revealed.
“This method really is more interesting than cutting open your flesh,” the malicious ghost said at last.
Jiang Luo let out a cold laugh. Even at this moment, he refused to concede a single word.
“Liking me is fine… but peeping on me without my consent, slashing open my clothes,” he said, “that’s a matter of character, Teacher.”
“Acting like some kind of pervert,” Jiang Luo added. “Who would like a pervert?”
He conveniently forgot that he had once skipped class to write Chi You a 3,000-word glowing review.
The black mist seemed to let out a mocking laugh. The red marks where the dagger had cut across Jiang Luo’s skin began to emerge. As the malicious ghost traced the blade again over those marks, the delicate skin couldn’t withstand the repeated torment. Tiny beads of blood welled up, one after another.
The blade circled slowly over Jiang Luo’s heart. “You’re being very disobedient,” the malicious ghost said.
Suddenly, a voice called out from outside: “Hey, why is there a pair of shoes over there? Wait—that’s Jiang Luo’s shoes, isn’t it?”
Footsteps drew closer. The hum of a drone could also be heard. Chi You looked down and finally noticed that the black-haired youth was only wearing a pair of wet socks.
His bare ankles revealed a few pale blue veins, and his sharply defined ankle bones—exposed from his thin frame—were as delicately shaped as works of art. Jiang Luo curled his lips into a wicked grin. “Teacher, someone’s coming.”
When Chi You had turned into mist to envelop him, Jiang Luo had taken the opportunity to slip off his shoes and toss them in the direction of the incoming drones.
Even if the contestants didn’t notice the random shoes on the path, the drones certainly would. Jiang Luo had originally expected some unfamiliar contestant, but surprisingly, it turned out to be Lu Youyi.
Jiang Luo’s closed eyes lifted slightly at the corners, unable to hide the smirk. “Even if students can’t find you, there are some very powerful people behind those drones watching.”
Even if those people couldn’t identify Chi You either, that didn’t matter. Jiang Luo knew that in the original story, Chi You had gone to great lengths to fake weakness—there had to be a significant reason behind it. Since he had maintained that façade for so long, he wouldn’t risk exposing himself so easily now.
As expected, he was right. The black mist hesitated momentarily. Then the malicious ghost let out a soft chuckle, lightly tapping the side of Jiang Luo’s face with the blade, affectionately saying, “I’ll let you go this time.”
The next second, the mist dissipated, and Jiang Luo was once again exposed to the moonlight.
Lu Youyi, who had been crouching and examining the shoes with Cyril, stared in shock as Jiang Luo suddenly appeared in front of them.
Jiang Luo’s clothes were tattered, his face blackened like the bottom of a pot. Red slashes from a dagger crisscrossed his face and body, mixed with smudges of dirt and mud.
And yet, in this mess, there was a stunning fusion of danger, vulnerability, and sensuality.
Jiang Luo took a deep breath to suppress his fury before opening his eyes. The first thing he saw was Lu Youyi and Cyril frozen in shock, each holding a chicken leg, staring at him with their mouths wide open.
The livestream chat exploded.
【Holy sh*t, who is this handsome guy?!】
【Ahhh who the h*ll shredded this man’s clothes like that?! Just finish the job already!!】
【Battle-damaged beauty… let me lick, let me cry, is this kind of beauty even real?!】
【Half-covered is eternal! Sorry y’all, I’m gone】
【My friend told me to come see a face that could bring down nations—I didn’t believe them. I believe now. Sir, can I have your contact info?】
【Be bold. Just say “hi hubby.”】
【Tell me! Who could resist this?!】
【Is this a test from the heavens on my spiritual resolve? Please, let it test me more.】
Jiang Luo didn’t need to look to know how wretched he must appear. To save himself the headache, he ignored it and suspiciously asked Lu Youyi and Cyril, “What are you two doing together?”
After all the chaos Chi You had caused, Jiang Luo was a little jumpy. He was even worried that Lu Youyi and Cyril showing up at this exact moment might mean they were puppets under Chi You’s control.
Lu Youyi replied, “Ah? We’ve been walking together this whole time.”
Cyril nodded rapidly at his side.
“During the competition, Cyril and I were assigned to the same entrance,” Lu Youyi scratched his head. “You know I’m scared of the dark, and Cyril gets lost easily, so we just teamed up.”
Jiang Luo watched their expressions closely. Lu Youyi and Cyril looked natural, their eyes clear and confused. Only then did he relax a little.
“Do you guys have clothes?”
Cyril immediately raised his hand. “I have a jacket! Little crooked!”
That thick accent softened Jiang Luo’s expression. “Lend it to me.”
Cyril pulled out the jacket from his bag and tossed it over. Jiang Luo raised his arms to catch it, and as his arms lifted, his ruined shirt pulled up again, exposing his toned waist and abdomen—causing another wave of chaos in the livestream chat.
Jiang Luo slipped on the jacket and zipped it up. Lu Youyi asked, “Jiang Luo, what happened to you?”
【Aww, so his name is Jiang Luo】
【Wait, he’s classmates with these two goofballs? Oh, they must be from Baihua University】
【I checked the drone footage—everyone from Baihua is crazy strong. The two at the back of the pack were Lu Youyi and Cyril, but even their pace was decent. Side note: does this school admit based on looks??】
Spectators from Jiang Luo’s livestream had now flooded into Lu Youyi and Cyril’s channel too.
【D*mn d*mn d*mn! Is our beautiful brother and Qi Ye okay? I watched them run a lap and then vanish into the forest — scared me half to death.】
【Useless drones, trash event organizers!】
【Huh? Why isn’t Qi Ye here?】
Below, after Jiang Luo and Lu Youyi finished asking their questions, they finally remembered Qi Ye. Jiang Luo turned around and looked — the river and forest were pitch black. In this kind of situation, even a god wouldn’t be able to retrace the path back.
Jiang Luo was silent for a moment, then looked up at the drone. “Qi Ye and I ran into spider-human. He chased me and strung Qi Ye up in a web with his silk. Is anyone watching right now? If someone sees this, could you let the staff know?”
【Got it!】
【Holy cr*p, it was that dangerous?!】
It was too dark and hard to walk, so the three of them found a place to rest. Lu Youyi handed him some food and water from his bag, speaking with sympathy, “How come all the bad luck happens to you? Even your backpack is gone.”
Jiang Luo let out a dry laugh, tore open the bread packaging, and took a vicious bite. “I’d like to know that too — why does all the bad luck come for me?”
Cyril squatted beside them gnawing on a drumstick, “Once we pass this stage, let’s go worship at a temple.”
Lu Youyi rubbed his chin. “There are a few famous temples around Yunnan. Jiang Luo, you should go and see if you can shake off the bad luck.”
The three of them ate and drank, and Lu Youyi even built a small campfire. When the sky began to lighten in the early morning, the three of them woke up one after another and began heading toward the formation core.
Jiang Luo had a clear goal in mind. He’d lost the compass, so he didn’t even bother pretending — he just walked directly toward the golden light.
At first, Lu Youyi thought he was just bluffing, walking blindly. But when Jiang Luo actually led them straight to the formation core, Lu Youyi was stunned. “Jiang Luo, how the h*ll did you do that?”
He had a creeping feeling that his second-to-last ranking was in real danger now. Both bitter and excited, he exclaimed, “Holy crap, are we the first ones to reach the formation core?!”
A staff member answered, “Yes, you’re the first group to arrive.”
Lu Youyi and Cyril immediately cheered. These two long-time underperformers jumped onto Jiang Luo and each gave him a big smooch on his cheeks. “D*mn, you’re amazing!”
“Waaah, first place for the first time — I’m so excited!”
Jiang Luo rolled his eyes, grabbed the flag, and led them toward the exit.
Although there was no golden light at the exit, the heavy foot traffic made the area much livelier than elsewhere. Jiang Luo walked toward the place with the densest energy, and before 10 a.m., they finally left Hubu Village.
The three of them looked a bit disheveled, but their spirits were high. They each received a lunchbox, and when picking his up, Jiang Luo asked a staff member, “Was Qi Ye rescued?”
The staff nodded. “He’s fine. After we let him down, he continued with the competition.”
They’d been comrades-in-arms, at least briefly, so once Jiang Luo knew Qi Ye was okay, he stopped worrying.
They were the first contestants to finish and took up the top three spots. The three of them squatted at the roadside, eating rice while waiting to see who would come out next.
Half an hour later, Qi Ye appeared — sweaty and scowling — striding quickly out of the woods.
The moment he appeared, he spotted Jiang Luo and strode over, frowning. “You’re alright?”
Jiang Luo, still wearing Cyril’s jacket, the red marks on his face now faded, shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Qi Ye’s brow relaxed slightly but then seemed to recall something. “You got first place?”
Cyril answered dumbly, “Jiang is first, Lu is second, and I’m third.”
Qi Ye’s face darkened. He never imagined that a simple formation-breaking round would knock him out of the top three.
Jiang Luo he could understand. But second and third? He could tell at a glance these two just rode Jiang Luo’s coattails.
He took a deep breath, stared intensely at Jiang Luo, and solemnly declared, “Next round, I’ll be first.”
Jiang Luo blinked in confusion. “? Good luck.”
After noon, more and more students began arriving. The team from Baihua University arrived relatively early; the last to finish was Kuang Zheng, who made it out just before 1 p.m.
Once 3 p.m. came around, the staff stopped the clock and announced the end of the round.
Jiang Luo did a rough headcount. Out of the original 180 contestants, around 50 had been eliminated in the first round. Only 130 remained.
Groups from each school gathered together. When they heard that Jiang Luo’s team had taken the top three spots, Zhuo Zhongqiu gave a thumbs up and said with his gravelly voice, “Not bad, brothers. H*ll yeah.”
Wenren Lian added with a grin, “In past years, the top three in round one always get a clue for the second round. This year, all three are from our school. We really hit the jackpot.”
Lu Youyi asked eagerly, “When’s the next round?”
Wenren Lian replied, “In five days.”
While they were chatting, a large group approached them. Kuang Zheng was the first to notice and stepped forward to shield his teammates. “Someone’s coming.”
Jiang Luo turned to look.
The group wore uniforms labeled “Shanhai University.” The one in front was a boy wearing silver-rimmed glasses. He had a gentle smile and looked like a refined young gentleman.
They walked straight up to Jiang Luo’s group. The boy’s gaze swept across each face before settling on Jiang Luo.
“Hello,” the boy said with a bright smile. “You’re Jiang Luo, right? I’m Bai Yefeng. Mind if we become friends?”
He reached out his hand.
Jiang Luo looked at him for a moment, then took it and said, “Hello.”
Bai Yefeng smiled and nodded at the others around them. Then, with a sudden sincerity, he said to Jiang Luo, “Once you receive the clue for the next round, would you consider selling us a copy?”
So it was business. Jiang Luo’s lips curved up, noticeably more enthusiastic than before. “You want to buy the clue I have?”
Bai Yefeng nodded, then shook his head. He pointed at Lu Youyi and Cyril, smiling easily. “The clues that the three of you have.”
Wenren Lian leaned in and whispered in Jiang Luo’s ear, “He ranked fifth in this round, but his strength is more than just fifth. Before the contest, both he and Qi Ye were predicted to be frontrunners.”
Oh—so he was another rich, smart, high-status pretty boy.
Jiang Luo’s smile didn’t change, but in his mind, he doubled the price. “We can sell it, but we’ll only sell one copy of the clue.”
Bai Yefeng raised his brows, his voice patient. “Classmate Jiang, we have money.”
Jiang Luo replied, “What a coincidence. We’re not short on money either.”
Ge Zhu, who looked like he wanted to say something, had his mouth covered by Ye Xun. Ye Xun said, “Don’t interrupt.”
“Ah,” Bai Yefeng chuckled again. “Only one?”
Jiang Luo smiled too. “Yes.”
Bai Yefeng’s eyes narrowed slightly behind his glasses. He shrugged. “Alright, one it is. But I want the clue you have.”
It made sense—the first-place clue was likely more valuable than the ones from second or third place. Jiang Luo nodded in understanding. “Deal.”
Ten minutes later, the top three contestants received their clues. Jiang Luo unfolded his slip of paper and saw only one line: 4–5 person room.
It was incredibly vague. Jiang Luo read it three times and still couldn’t make sense of it. Lu Youyi and Cyril got clearer messages—one said, In 2012, some schools in this city underwent expansion, and the other, Gender ratio imbalance.
Their clues at least hinted that the next competition site was a school in the city that was expanded in 2012. But Jiang Luo’s message made no sense at all.
Everyone began speculating on what the clue could mean. Zhuo Zhongqiu looked serious. “The first-place clue is usually the key, but this year it’s so vague. Looks like the next round won’t be easy.”
Jiang Luo took it in stride. “If it’s hard, it’s hard for everyone. As long as we pass, it’s fine.”
He handed the clue over to Bai Yefeng, who had come to retrieve it. Bai Yefeng frowned slightly. “Got it.”
He paid cleanly and turned to leave. But after only a few steps, he suddenly turned back, smiling at Jiang Luo and raising his voice: “Classmate Jiang Luo—”
That “Classmate Jiang Luo” made Jiang Luo’s brow twitch involuntarily. He felt something strange and vaguely familiar. He looked up at Bai Yefeng.
Bai Yefeng’s lips curved. His tone carried a deeper meaning. “I heard your grades weren’t very good before. Participating in this competition was a coincidence… but to take first place in the first round—that’s really impressive.”
He smiled silently, then added, “I have high hopes for you. In the second round, you’ll be first place again. No one here can beat you.”
As soon as he finished, the group from Shanhai University erupted. Clearly, Bai Yefeng was popular in his school; everyone chimed in to comfort him, while sending Jiang Luo veiled, hostile glances.
Beyond Shanhai University’s people, Jiang Luo also heard whispers from nearby onlookers.
“Isn’t that Bai Yefeng from Shanhai University? Why did he say that?”
“Who’s Jiang Luo? Never heard of him. Bai Yefeng can’t beat him? Qi Ye can’t beat him? There are so many geniuses here—who isn’t more famous than him?”
“D*mn, I’m pissed off. Did he cheat his way in?”
Jiang Luo’s smile slowly faded. He looked steadily at Bai Yefeng.
It sounded like praise, but it was actually putting him right in the line of fire.
Originally, Jiang Luo had just wanted to pass the second round quietly and get a proper look at the Yuan Tian Bead. But thanks to Bai Yefeng’s words, not only was low-profile no longer an option—he was lucky if he didn’t get outright targeted.
But why was Bai Yefeng doing this to him?
He’d never crossed paths with Bai Yefeng before—unless it was just because he only sold him one clue?
If that was really the reason, then Bai Yefeng’s pettiness rivaled the size of a needle hole. But somehow, Jiang Luo didn’t think that was it.
As he watched, Bai Yefeng gave him a knowing wink before turning and slowly walking off amid the crowd.
A flash of realization hit Jiang Luo.
Only one person would mess with him like this.
He ground his teeth and thought silently:
—Chi You.
Could Bai Yefeng be… Chi You?
