Vol. 1 Chapter 17 – Fresh Flowers Scorched Earth Campus. (17)

Yin Liuming lowered his eyes and sighed softly.

Sure enough, Director Jiang was also a ‘monster’ in this dream.

Unlike the zombie students before, Director Jiang didn’t show any obvious signs of being ‘inhuman’ from the start.

As the NPC who gave the initial mission, he had always been ignored by the players —like Ding Pei’an, who came to the office building several times but never suspected anything wrong with Director Jiang.

Even Yin Liuming hadn’t thought about this before chatting with Director Jiang.

It wasn’t until he saw the pendant said to be made by Qi Xiaobei’s parents and the burn marks on the corner of the wooden Buddha statue.

He cautiously asked and learned that Director Jiang would always stay in the office building at night—so where did Director Jiang go during the fire that had to occur last night or tonight?

Did he leave early to go home, or… was he consumed in the sea of fire along with the others?

From the first time meeting Director Jiang, there was a strong cologne scent on him. Before, Yin Liuming thought it was his personal habit… but now, maybe it was to cover some other smell.

For example, it was the same burnt human smell as Qi Xiaobei’s.

Yin Liuming first looked at the drawer Director Jiang had opened.

Inside, besides lesson plans, pens, and papers, there was the pendant he had taken out, nothing special.

He frowned and glanced around but didn’t find any flowers.

From the tutoring mission, it was clear that in the school, whether students or teachers, everyone had a representative flower.

What about Director Jiang’s?

Yin Liuming made sure there were no flowers in the office and picked up the illustration book to check.

[Scorched Earth Lost Soul.]

[Dream Source: Fresh Flowers Scorched Earth Campus.]

[Rarity: ★]

[Strength: 3]

[Aggressiveness: 1]

[Rationality: 10]

[Illustration Book Unlock Skill: Teaching (Presenting the facts and reasoning to the other party; whether they listen is another matter).]

Yin Liuming: “…….”

What kind of skill is this?

Since this skill did not consume any points, Yin Liuming reluctantly chose not to complain.

He tried to release Director Jiang and then activated this skill.

Director Jiang’s figure reappeared in the office, frowning: “Teacher Yin, I’ll be blunt; please don’t mind—as a young teacher, you should set a positive example for the students. Now, the third year of high school is at the most critical stage of life, but you are openly bringing this illustration book to work. What if the students see it? Not only will it harm your image, but the students might also be distracted. The studies of Class 3 are already problematic. How can Teacher Yin worsen it? Besides, although the school doesn’t have strict dress codes, I believe that teachers should dress formally for such a serious position —at least not pajamas, right? Look at you…”

Yin Liuming: “……”

Alright, he got it.

This skill was the modern high school version of ‘Master, please stop lecturing[T/N: “Master, please stop lecturing” is a humorous phrase from internet slang, used when someone gives a long-winded lecture or nagging talk.].’

Yin Liuming coughed and decisively interrupted Director Jiang’s lecture. “Director Jiang, I still have to prepare for lessons, so I’ll leave first.”

He directly turned around and left.

Chi Xi, outside, saw Yin Liuming rushing out and was a little surprised. “Brother Yin, what’s wrong?”

Yin Liuming was silent for a moment before saying, “It’s nothing, just that Director Jiang criticized me for not dressing properly.”

Chi Xi: “……”

He held back the words he wanted to say.

Yin Liuming could already tell what Chi Xi wanted to complain about.

He rubbed his face with both hands, comforting himself that at least he had promised Shen Lou not to go out naked.

Chi Xi asked again, “Did you gain anything from talking to Director Jiang?”

“Director Jiang is likely a victim of the fire as well,” Yin Liuming hinted to Chi Xi. “He has the same burnt smell as Qi Xiaobei.”

Chi Xi’s face turned very shocked: “Ah…”

“What did your investigation find?”

Chi Xi steadied himself and reported to Yin Liuming. “I searched all the corners of the school and didn’t find any trace of Yan Hang and his five followers.”

“Searched everywhere?”

“I even searched the abandoned restrooms.”

Yin Liuming nodded. “Let’s check the third floor again.”

Chi Xi followed Yin Liuming upstairs, wondering, “Didn’t those five get burned by the fire monster last night? Shouldn’t they be revived today?”

“Today’s rewind seems different from the previous rewinds.” Yin Liuming stopped at the corner of the stairs between the second and third floors, pointing to the metal cabinet in the corner, “Look at that.”

Chi Xi glanced over, recognizing the signs. “A footprint? Who dares to mess around in the office building? is it Yan Hang?”

Yin Liuming’s smile was gentle but slightly embarrassed. “I kicked it.”

Chi Xi: “……”

Chi Xi was silent for a moment, then sincerely said, “Brother Yin, you worked hard fighting last night.”

Yin Liuming didn’t want to recall the reason he kicked it and continued, “This time the fire rewind seems to have only restored the concept of ‘fire’ itself, and the impacts that happened during that period didn’t disappear.”

Like the footprint he made on the cabinet, the broken window in the second-floor restroom… and the five students devoured by the Flames of Rage and Regret.

Chi Xi felt a little strange listening to it. “Why does it sound like a game where you carry over props into a second playthrough?”

“Maybe it is.” Yin Liuming said meaningfully, “Perhaps there really is a ‘player’ who is using time rewind to achieve his ideal ‘perfect ending’.”

Chi Xi shivered silently.

They were supposed to be the players from the outside, but now it felt like they were merely characters inside a painting.

“Is Qi Xiaobei controlling the dream?” Chi Xi thought for a moment. “What ending does he want? For him to survive the fire and then pass the exam smoothly?”

“Maybe yes, maybe no.”

Yin Liuming walked to the third floor and stopped at the archive room door.

He didn’t go into the archive room but instead carefully examined the floor.

He continued past the archive room, quickly turned a corner, and arrived at another staircase.

The office building of Anyang High School was a double-staircase structure, but since only one side had a door, this side’s staircase was usually used only by the teachers working nearby. It was piled high with old desks, discarded test papers, old notebooks, and various clutter.

Yin Liuming circled around and finally stopped at the staircase door without going inside.

Chi Xi followed and looked around, quickly understanding. “You think this is where the fire started?”

Yin Liuming nodded slightly.

“If we clear away all this clutter, will it not catch fire?”

“No need.” Yin Liuming shook his head. “Stopping the fire is useless…”

Just then, the archive room door opened, and Ding Pei’an came out with a satisfied look. He glanced left and right, then leisurely went downstairs.

Chi Xi’s attention shifted, and he said indignantly, “Did he sneak out the exam papers?”

“Director Jiang said the exam papers can’t be taken out, so they probably can’t.” Yin Liuming turned and said, “The exam papers aren’t relevant… let’s go.”

……

Chi Xi followed behind Yin Liuming, watching him rummage through the ivy flower pots in the school building, unable to hold back his curiosity. “Brother Yin, what are you doing?”

Yin Liuming didn’t hide. “I’m working on my side mission.”

Chi Xi was a little surprised. “Brother Yin, you got a side mission?”

Yin Liuming nodded and explained the ‘Chu Dong’s Birthday Return Gift’ mission he received.

After listening, Chi Xi sighed. “It’s nice to be handsome; mission just came to you.”

He then said earnestly, “Brother Yin, I’ll help you too!”

Yin Liuming smiled and didn’t refuse. “Alright, help me match the ivy with the students.”

Chi Xi: “…Ah?”

He looked down at the flowerpots, somewhat incredulous. “They… look different?”

“They do look the same, but I need to pick out the ivy belonging to Yan Hang and his six followers.”

Yin Liuming casually stroked one of the ivy plants and sighed, “The ‘return gift’ required in Chu Dong’s mission should refer to these ivy flowers.”

Chi Xi was puzzled.

“Remember what Chu Dong gave me after I wished her a happy birthday?” Yin Liuming took out the bouquet of dried roses from his backpack. “If Chu Dong wanted to return the favor, it would probably be dried flower decorations she made herself.”

“Then why is it Yan Hang and his followers?”

“The special gift Chu Dong received on her birthday surprised her—it wasn’t a pleasant surprise. The only surprising thing that happened yesterday, or today, was the office building on fire. In Qi Xiaobei’s dream, Chu Dong is the object of his secret love, the embodiment of everything good. So naturally, in Qi Xiaobei’s mind, Chu Dong must stand opposite Yan Hang and his group.”

Chi Xi put down the flowerpot he was examining. “Qi Xiaobei wants Chu Dong to… take revenge for him?”

“Chu Dong pruning flower branches in the flower garden represents judgment and punishment.” Yin Liuming gently sniffed the dried rose bouquet. “In Fresh Flowers Scorched Earth Campus, ‘flowers’ represent people —teachers, students, even players. Chu Dong is the planter and cultivator of the school’s flowers, as well as the punisher and ender. Maybe the real Chu Dong isn’t like this, but in Qi Xiaobei’s mind, he needs a person who can uphold justice and give him fair revenge.”

“But… weren’t the other five students burned to death?”

“At first, I also thought their deaths were Qi Xiaobei’s revenge—however, when I came to the school building, I found that not a single ivy plant had disappeared or died. The ivy represents the students’ souls, so the fire only burned their bodies. Qi Xiaobei’s revenge is not only about taking their bodies.”

Chi Xi was convinced. “How do we find Yan Hang and his group’s ivy?”

Yin Liuming crossed his arms and swayed the bouquet of dried roses in his hand thoughtfully.

Chi Xi thought hard, then his eyes suddenly lit up. “What if we let the students claim their ivy? Then the remaining ones would be Yan Hang’s and his group’s.”

Yin Liuming was slightly surprised. “This method is worth trying.”

The problem is… they can’t give orders to the students.

A rare eager expression appeared on Chi Xi’s face. “I might have a solution for that.”