Chapter 63: A New Reality

“Which class are you students from?”

As Qiao Xia silently pondered Duan Yulan’s true nature, Ye Qiu, who had just been rescued, rubbed his wrists, which were already bruised from the bindings. Seeing the headless corpses strewn about, he instinctively recoiled, timidly leaning closer to Qiao Xia.

Though he had just been arguing fiercely about the students’ reckless actions, momentarily forgetting the terror of death, the new, unsettling developments swiftly brought his fear rushing back.

The chaotic situation had only unfolded over three days, yet beyond the relentless onslaught of zombies, Ye Qiu had witnessed far more of humanity’s inherent darkness.

He would have never believed, in his previous life, that people could undergo such profound changes in such a short span of time.

His colleagues, who once laughed and chatted, might have had minor flaws, but they were never this malicious.

Was it the environment that transformed people, or did it merely unleash the evil already lurking within them?

“We’re from Class One of Senior Two. My name is Qiao Xia, and this is Duan Yulan!” Qiao Xia replied, his thoughts interrupted by Ye Qiu’s question. “Teacher, what happened in the cafeteria? We were trapped on the rooftop earlier, and when we came down, we heard there were many survivors here, so we came looking… but it feels like things aren’t as we imagined!”

Qiao Xia glanced at the shattered cafeteria entrance before turning his gaze back, hoping to understand the situation inside.

He had initially believed the survivors were banding together for warmth, but after witnessing Ye Qiu being tossed from the window, Qiao Xia realized his assumptions had been far too simplistic.

At this moment, Qiao Xia found himself beginning to understand Duan Yulan’s decision to kill.

This was no longer the world they once knew.

At least, not in U City.

Therefore, he resolved to shed any anachronistic notions that might only serve to hinder them.

Having been taught a harsh lesson by reality, Qiao Xia’s mindset was rapidly shifting. He now understood that his old perceptions were no longer suitable for the present circumstances.

“It was just a few scoundrels in the cafeteria. Besides them, there are still some surviving students. That female student who just went in, will she be in any danger?”

“Teacher, do you really think a female student capable of decapitating someone without batting an eye would face much danger from a few scoundrels?”

“…”

Qiao Xia agreed that a conversation amidst a field of corpses was hardly appropriate. He led Ye Qiu to a cleaner spot, where they crouched down, waiting for Duan Yulan to emerge from the cafeteria, chatting idly.

Ye Qiu had initially been worried about Duan Yulan venturing into the cafeteria alone, but after hearing Qiao Xia’s words, he found himself at a loss for a response.

Qiao Xia’s point seemed valid.

However, danger, at times, was simply unavoidable.

“Even though Duan Yulan is very skilled, she might still fall victim to someone’s deliberate schemes… just like me. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have been so easily tied up, completely defenseless. It was because I misplaced my trust in someone, drank water laced with sleeping pills, and passed out for a day. When I woke up, I was already on the second floor of the cafeteria.”

“Huh? At a time like this, someone carries sleeping pills with them… ahem, I mean, who was the scumbag who drugged you?!”

Though Qiao Xia’s initial focus had veered off, he quickly corrected himself.

His follow-up question spurred Ye Qiu to continue, and he immediately spoke again: “It was a student named Liu Liming. He fled to the cafeteria yesterday during the day to escape the red-eyed lunatics. I was the one who let him in, but he colluded with others in the cafeteria and secretly drugged me.”

As he recounted the incident, Ye Qiu was deeply frustrated, never imagining that his heartfelt kindness towards a student would lead to such an outcome.

Good intentions, indeed, did not always yield good results.

Fortunately, such students were few.

Though one might become overly cautious after a single bad experience, it was crucial not to let it paralyze him. Individuals like Liu Liming were rare among the students, so there was no need to worry about encountering such a person again.

Even if he did, it would simply be fate, and Ye Qiu would accept it!

“Liu Liming?”

Upon hearing the familiar name, Qiao Xia’s brows furrowed. He wondered if it could truly be such a coincidence.

He recalled that Duan Yulan’s reason for coming to the cafeteria was specifically to kill someone named Liu Liming.

Now, Ye Qiu had also mentioned Liu Liming’s name. If they were referring to the same person, then this individual was truly a bringer of calamity!

Suddenly, he began to understand the source of Duan Yulan’s killing intent.

Wait, that didn’t quite add up!

Despite only knowing Duan Yulan for a mere two days, Qiao Xia didn’t believe she was someone who enjoyed meddling in others’ affairs.

So, why would she want to kill Liu Liming?

If it were anyone else, Qiao Xia might grudgingly believe it was for love and justice!

However, the thought of Duan Yulan becoming ‘warm-hearted’ simply felt off.

Furthermore, the crossbow Duan Yulan had conjured out of thin air only deepened Qiao Xia’s sense of her mysterious nature.

She was like an intricate, unsolvable labyrinth, drawing one in with curiosity to seek the truth, only to lead them into a dead end, forever trapped within its coils.

In fact, compared to the current chaotic situation, Qiao Xia inexplicably felt Duan Yulan posed an even greater threat.

Yet, he knew Duan Yulan would not endanger his life.

But in some ways, Duan Yulan was not an easy woman to decipher, as elusive and uncontrollable as the wind.

Perhaps it was human nature to chase danger.

Upon realizing Duan Yulan’s extraordinary nature, Qiao Xia found himself even more curious about her, a feeling he had never experienced with any other woman.

“What, do you know him too?”

“No, I don’t. It just sounded like a supporting character’s name from a TV show I once watched.”

His interest in Duan Yulan inexplicably growing, Qiao Xia casually offered an excuse when Ye Qiu questioned him, leaving Ye Qiu to wonder if this carefree student was simply too thick-skinned.

While the girl who burst into the cafeteria had made a rather domineering entrance, Qiao Xia’s relaxed demeanor was equally astonishing, once making Ye Qiu believe this male student was no ordinary person either.

Now, after interacting with him, he just seemed to be incredibly oblivious.

And a little mischievous.

[Danger detected, future sight activated.]

[100 yuan deducted automatically. Future scene constructing… Construction successful, now active.]

However, just as Ye Qiu was marveling at Qiao Xia’s nonchalance, Qiao Xia suddenly heard a strange sound.

He froze for a moment, then couldn’t help but curse under his breath.