Chapter 9
At midnight, the Supernatural Academy was so quiet that one could hear the sound of energy flowing through the pipelines.
Lin Yao stood at his dormitory window, his fingertips stroking the mysterious note that someone had slipped through the crack of the door. Moonlight filtered through the protective shield, casting a pale blue halo on his silver hair.
[The key to E-427 is in the basement of the clock tower. ——S]
The handwriting was so neat it looked like printed text, with no discernible personal characteristics. Lin Yao brought the note close to his nose and caught a faint scent of herbs...similar to the scent of Su Rui.
"Interesting," he murmured to himself, a flicker of interest in his blue eyes. This pharmacist clearly knew something, but why was he helping him?
Lu Cheng turned over on the bed behind him and murmured in his sleep: "Yaoyao... don't jump... I'll catch you..."
Lin Yao raised an eyebrow. Jump? What jump? He walked silently to the bedside, his mental thread gently reaching into the edge of Lu Cheng's dream.
What emerged into his consciousness was a fragmented picture: on the edge of a cliff, the young Lu Cheng desperately reached out to grab the silver-haired boy hanging in mid-air; in the ruins of the polluted area, Lu Cheng hugged the blood-soaked Lin Yao and cried bitterly; in the corridor of the academy, the two kissed in front of everyone's astonished gaze...
Lin Yao quickly retracted his mental thread, his lips twitching. This son of the city lord, whose memory had been tampered with, had imagined a plot comparable to a third-rate romance drama.
But at least now he knew just how outrageous Lu Cheng's imagined past was. A cliff rescue? Seriously injured and near death? No wonder Lu Cheng was always so overprotective.
A clock rang outside the window, it was three o'clock in the morning.
Lu Cheng has to attend the morning meeting at the City Lord's Mansion at 5:30, which is the best time to take action.
Lin Yao changed into dark casual clothes, his silver hair hidden under his hood, and left a mental mark on the door. He could immediately sense anyone approaching.
Lin Yao had no trouble getting through the dormitory's blind spot. The night breeze carried a faint scent of radiation, a reminder that the world was still in crisis.
The destruction of the old world flashed back in his mind—the siege by twelve Super S-rank warriors, the excruciating pain of his energy core being shattered, the forced journey at the last moment...
The bell tower stood in the academy's oldest west district, its Gothic spire piercing the night sky. Lin Yao's spiritual thread penetrated first, and after confirming that there were no guards, he easily pried open the lock on the side door.
The basement entrance was hidden beneath a spiral staircase, obscured by a pile of old teaching equipment. As Lin Yao removed the obstruction, dust danced in the moonlight like tiny fireflies.
"Fluorescent moss?"
Lin Yao noticed the faint bioluminescence on the steps. This was a lighting plant unique to the Old World. People in the New World probably didn't know of its existence.
The basement was damp and cold, filled with dusty equipment. Lin Yao's mind immediately locked onto the metal cabinet in the corner... The handle on the cabinet door was so clean that it didn't fit in with the surroundings.
There was only a black metal box in the cabinet, with familiar patterns etched on the surface: the ∞ symbol surrounded by a seven-pointed star, the logo of the Old World Supernatural Association.
Lin Yao's heartbeat quickened slightly as his fingertips lightly touched the lid of the box. The box popped open, revealing a translucent crystal fragment lying quietly inside.
"Source Crystal..." Lin Yao held his breath. This was exactly the energy source he had been looking for since crossing over. Although it was only a fragment, it was enough to repair some of the damage to the core.
Just as he was about to touch the crystal, he heard light footsteps behind him. Lin Yao didn't turn around, but his mental thread had already captured the outline of the person coming - Su Rui.
"I knew you would come." The pharmacist's voice rang out in the darkness. "Seventeen minutes later than expected."
Lin Yao turned slowly, holding the crystal fragment tightly with his left hand behind his back: "The note was left by you."
This is not a question.
Su Rui leaned against the door frame, his white coat replaced with a black combat uniform, and he was playing with a syringe filled with purple liquid in his hand.
"The detector is not broken." She looked directly into Lin Yao's eyes. "Your energy readings are abnormal because the core structure of your superpowers does not belong to this world."
Lin Yao's pupils shrank slightly, and his mental threads quietly woven into an attack formation. In just 0.3 seconds, he could make Su Rui forget everything that had happened tonight.
"take it easy."
Su Rui raised the syringe, displaying the purple liquid in the moonlight. "This is extracted from the Essence Flower found in the E-427 replica. It can temporarily stabilize the rejection reaction of the otherworldly energy."
Lin Yao did not let down his guard: "What do you want?"
"cooperate."
Su Rui stepped forward, the moonlight illuminating her serious face. "The E-427 instance will be closed next month. If you want to regain your strength, you must enter the high-risk area during the trial class."
"Why help me?"
"Because I need people like you to help me fight the Purifiers."
Su Rui pulled a photo from her pocket. It showed three people in white robes standing at the entrance to the dungeon. "They believe that energy from another world has contaminated our world, and they want to destroy all dungeons... including any survivors from another world that might exist within them."
The copy number is clearly visible in the background of the photo: E-427.
Lin Yao took the photo and immediately confirmed its authenticity through telepathy. These so-called Purifiers might be connected to the superpowered beings who were hunting him in the Old World.
"The trial class only has 20 minutes of exploration time."
Lin Yao calmly slid the crystal fragment into his sleeve, "Not enough to enter the high-risk area."
Su Rui's lips curled up slightly. "That's why we need Master Lu Cheng's permission card. As the son of the city lord, he has the privilege of extending his stay in the dungeon."
Lin Yao narrowed his eyes.
So that's how it is. Su Rui wasn't interested in his abilities, but in his relationship with Lu Cheng.
"I'll think about it." He turned and tried to leave.
"etc."
Su Rui stopped him and handed over the purple syringe. "When a rejection reaction occurs, it will be like severe radiation sickness. This can relieve the symptoms. Don't have a reaction in front of Lu Cheng. His family has a special supernatural medical team and they will notice any abnormalities."
Lin Yao took the syringe, and when his fingertips touched it, he caught a fleeting fragment of Su Rui's memory - a man who looked 70% similar to her was standing in front of a burning laboratory.
"Who is that man who looks like you?" he asked suddenly.
Su Rui's expression froze instantly: "How could you... No, that's impossible. He has already..."
A sharp alarm suddenly pierced the night sky. Su Rui's face changed drastically: "Patrol team! Hurry up, get out the back door!"
Lin Yao didn't ask any more questions and flashed out of the basement like a ghost. When he returned to the dormitory building, he saw Lu Cheng running hurriedly from the main building.
"Yaoyao!" Lu Cheng hugged him tightly, his voice trembling, "Where have you been? I came back and found you were not there. I was almost going crazy."
Lin Yao then noticed the sky was turning pale. He caught his breath in Lu Cheng's arms, then suddenly looked frightened. "I... I had a nightmare. I wanted to go for a walk in the garden... but I got lost..."
Lu Cheng let go of him, cupping his face in his hands and examining him closely. His always gentle eyes were now filled with worry. "Why are your hands so cold? You don't look right either."
"I feel a little dizzy..." Lin Yao leaned on his shoulder, just enough to hide the outline of the crystal and syringe in his sleeve.
Without a word, Lu Cheng picked him up and strode towards the medical center: "I'll take you to see Pharmacist Su."
"No!" Lin Yao overreacted and grabbed his collar, then quickly softened his tone, "I... I just need to rest. Please, don't bother others..."
Lu Cheng stopped and looked down at him. In the morning light, the city lord's son's eyebrows and eyes were particularly deep. Lin Yao suddenly realized that this was the first time since they met that Lu Cheng had shown hesitation about what he said.
"Okay." Lu Cheng finally said softly, "But you have to promise me that you must wake me up when you go out at night next time."
Lin Yao nodded and buried his face in the crook of Lu Cheng's neck. From this angle, he could just see the windows on the top floor of the clock tower in the distance. Su Rui stood there, watching them quietly.
…
"Young Master Lu, your father is waiting for you." The white-haired butler stood at the door of the medical center, his voice respectful but unyielding.
Lu Cheng frowned and held Lin Yao's hand tightly, refusing to let go: "But Yaoyao hasn't..."
"I'm fine." Lin Yao gently withdrew his hand and nodded politely to the housekeeper. "I'm sorry for wasting Lu Cheng's time."
A hint of surprise flashed in the housekeeper's eyes. He obviously didn't expect this F-level loser to be so polite. Lu Cheng's face was full of distress. "Then you have a good rest. I'll be back as soon as the meeting is over."
Lin Yao watched Lu Cheng leave until the tall figure disappeared at the end of the corridor. The weak expression on his face gradually faded, replaced by a look of deep thought.
"Good acting." Su Rui's voice came from the consulting room. "Come in, don't stand at the door like an exhibit."
The aroma of herbs filled the consulting room. Su Rui, who was arranging a row of test tubes, said without looking up, "The rejection reaction has begun, hasn't it? The first thing I lost was the feeling in my right pinky finger, and then there was a sharp pain just below my left rib cage."
Lin Yao narrowed his eyes: "Are you spying on me?"
"Common sense." Su Rui finally looked up and pointed at her eyes. "The irises of people with superpowers from other worlds glow silver during a rejection reaction. Your left eye has already started."
Lin Yao looked in the mirror on the wall and saw a tiny silver thread swimming in his left blue eye. He calmly pulled out a purple syringe from his sleeve and asked, "How do I use this?"
"Intravenous injection can last for 48 hours." Su Rui handed him an alcohol pad, "But it's only a temporary solution. Only the Essence Crystal Cluster in the E-427 High-Risk Area can completely solve the problem."
Lin Yao rolled up his sleeves and inserted the needle into his vein without hesitation. The moment the purple liquid entered his vein, a chill spread down his arm and throughout his body, then transformed into a warm current that flowed through his limbs and bones.
"You haven't told me yet," Lin Yao put down the empty syringe, "who is that man who looks like you."
Su Rui's hands trembled slightly. "My brother. Five years ago, he disappeared after entering the E-427 replica. He only sent back a blurry video."
She turned on the screen, projecting a shaky image: a burning laboratory, a man standing in the fire, smiling, with the ∞ symbol and the seven-pointed star symbol behind him.
Lin Yao's breathing stagnated. That logo was the logo of the Supernatural Association. Why would Su Rui's brother appear in a laboratory with the logo of the Supernatural Association?
Could it be that...
"Did he leave any words?" Lin Yao tried to keep his voice steady.
Su Rui turned off the projection: "There are only three words: [Wait for the top spot]."
She looked at Lin Yao sharply, "Now, please tell me, first place student from the other world, my brother has been to your world, right?"
The clinic fell into a dead silence. Lin Yao's mind thread quietly unfurled, ready to erase Su Rui's memory at any moment. But the female pharmacist's next words made him pause.
Su Rui opened the drawer and took out a stack of documents. "This is the record of E-427's energy fluctuations over the past six months. It might be of some help to you."
Lin Yao took the file and quickly scanned it. The data clearly showed that the E-427 replica was periodically releasing energy waves similar to those in the old world.
"If there's a chance to go deep into a high-risk area," Lin Yao closed the file, "I'll help you investigate information about your brother."
Su Rui's eyes flashed with hope, but she quickly regained her composure. "Next Monday, during the trial class, Lu Cheng's access card will extend your stay to two hours. That's enough time for you to enter the high-risk area."
"That's only if he's willing to help." Lin Yao remembered Lu Cheng's cautious attitude towards the dungeon. "He's overprotective of the dangerous areas."
Su Rui suddenly smiled: "Then it depends on your acting skills, first place. After all..." She said meaningfully, "He is convinced that you two have an unforgettable love."
Lin Yao stood up and walked towards the door. He paused as he grasped the doorknob: "Why trust me? Your brother might have been killed by someone like me."
"Because I've seen real villains." Su Rui's voice turned cold. "To achieve their goal, the Purifiers are willing to kill anyone who has come into contact with the truth. And you... at least you saved the children who were bullied by Wang Rui."
Lin Yao raised his eyebrows. It turned out that Su Rui noticed the little gesture he made towards Wang Rui.
"See you on Monday, pharmacist." He pushed the door open and ran into Lu Cheng who had hurried back.
"Yaoyao!" Lu Cheng hugged him tightly. "The meeting is over. I...what's wrong with you? You look so bad?"
Lin Yao then noticed that his hands were shaking slightly, a side effect of the rejection reaction. He leaned against Lu Cheng's chest and said, "It's a bit cold..."
Lu Cheng immediately took off his coat and wrapped it around him, then turned to Su Rui in the clinic and said, "Thank you for taking care of my partner. His condition..."
"It's mild anemia. Just get more rest and you'll be fine." Su Rui answered professionally, "Master Lu is truly attentive to his partner."
Lu Cheng's ears turned red and he smiled at Su Rui: "Thank you for the compliment. This is what I should do."
Su Rui secretly raised an eyebrow. She didn't expect that the young master of D City, who was always polite and respectful in front of her, would be so calm when it came to issues concerning his partner.
On the way back to the dormitory, Lu Cheng carefully put his arm around Lin Yao's waist, asking him from time to time if he needed to rest. Lin Yao, on the other hand, was thinking about how to convince Lu Cheng to extend his stay in the dungeon... perhaps by using the shared experiences he had imagined?
When they met Professor Zhou in front of the dormitory door, Lu Cheng immediately let go of Lin Yao, stood up straight and saluted: "Hello, Professor."
"Student Lu." Professor Zhou nodded in return, his eyes sweeping across Lin Yao's pale face. "Student Lin, are you feeling unwell?"
"I'm just a little tired. Thank you for your concern, Professor." Lin Yao answered softly, behaving decently and restrainedly.
Professor Zhou seemed pleased with their politeness. "I will personally lead the dungeon trial class next week. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit my office."
"I will definitely come and ask for your advice." Lu Cheng said respectfully, and only hugged Lin Yao again after Professor Zhou left. "Let's go back. You need to lie down and rest."
Lin Yao allowed Lu Cheng to take him back to the dormitory, his mind already beginning to plan his actions for the next week. The crystal fragments warmed slightly in his sleeve, as if reminding him... that time was running out.
While Lu Cheng was busy brewing herbal tea for him, Lin Yao looked out the window. The bell tower spire gleamed in the sunlight, and further away, the protective shield surrounding the entrance to the E-427 instance glowed with an eerie purple light.
Whatever Su Rui's intentions, E-427 is worth exploring.
As for Lu Cheng... Lin Yao looked at the tall figure who was busy serving him, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Perhaps, it's time to make good use of this "unforgettable love".
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