Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Learn well, Classmate Liushuang. Learning has no bounds.”

”Since you’ve shown some keen comprehension today, this professor will join in the fun.”

”If you manage to gain further insight, coming to our Laboratory won’t have been casting a pearl into darkness.”

With just a few casual words, the Dark Sanctuary had become a dark forest. Fu Qian felt no particular pride in this, only the earnest desire to teach.

Of course, encountering such an excellent teacher came with a price. Since their exchange was practically a duet that pushed the atmosphere to its absolute peak, the suspicion of being the mole Fu Qian had mentioned undoubtedly fell on Classmate Liushuang.

At that moment, a dropped needle could be heard within the Sanctuary, as equally sharp gazes simultaneously pierced toward her.

No one voiced any questions, but just like with Wen Li moments ago, everyone was obviously waiting for her response.

”I am indeed highly suspicious... And thinking it over, I have no way to prove my innocence. After all, I don’t even have a companion.”

It could only be said that Professor Fu had not misjudged her. Faced with such a massive burden of blame suddenly thrown onto her shoulders, Classmate Liushuang showed not the slightest panic, nor even a hint of displeasure. Instead, she immediately admitted that everyone’s suspicions were justified.

”But that is precisely the issue. No one can prove my innocence, but doesn’t that also mean the accusations can’t be proven either?”Just as the situation sounded like it was getting worse, she shifted the conversation, elevating it to an entirely different level.

”I am not even sure how well all of you know each other, but I imagine it wouldn’t be easy to completely clear anyone’s suspicion here.

”So, moving forward, shouldn’t we ignore these minor details and focus our energy on organizing effectively and finally solving the problem?”

...

Excellent.

Neither haughty nor humble, neither arrogant nor discouraged, neither crying nor throwing a tantrum, not even caring in the slightest if she was being falsely accused... If she were acting in a palace intrigue drama, her role would be wrapped up in the time it takes to drink a cup of milk tea.

Astonishing everyone once again, Classmate Liushuang had practically inherited the old professor’s will, plunging the group into silence once more.

Having casually guided her, Fu Qian could not help but feel immensely gratified by this performance.

It was quite obvious that despite her young age, Classmate Liushuang was completely free of any childish naivety.

When roaming the jianghu, crying foul had never been of any use.

For any reasonably seasoned player, the only reaction to someone sitting on the ground wailing would be to speculate about their family background.

They would figure out what kind of household could raise such a crybaby, and then estimate the potential risks involved in dealing with them.

As for whether it was a genuine injustice?

Please, everyone was busy. Who had the time to decipher if you were truly wronged?

Of course, if that were all there was to it, she would still be far from exceptional.

The reason Classmate Liushuang earned such high praise was partly because she hadn’t done anything meaningless, but more importantly, because she had turned things around and done something meaningful.

For example, beyond openly admitting her inability to prove her own innocence, she flat-out told the group that none of them could prove theirs either.

Especially since this wasn’t alarmist talk—it was the truth.

With this point alone, the chain of suspicion had already been reinforced to an unbreakable degree.

In addition to the massive success of her duet with the old professor, which pushed the room’s atmosphere of untrustworthiness to its peak, she had even pointed out a direction to handle the situation—if you can’t figure it out, then stop trying, and focus on figuring out how to survive this crisis together instead.

Advancing step by step with flawless logic, disregarding feelings to speak only of the future—such calculation and sheer will seemed to prove that the Night Watchers had not given away the Sword in the Stone in vain.

”You’re right.”

Surprisingly, Wen Li, who had appeared to be the most guarded of them all, couldn’t help but agree.

”In fact, this is the only reliable way to uncover the truth.”

She didn’t misunderstand the contradictions in Classmate Liushuang’s earlier statements either, clearly grasping the logic behind them.

Because with just a little thought, anyone could figure out the subtext hidden within the strategic plan Classmate Liushuang had formulated.

Ignoring how they had arrived and focusing solely on how to get out was, in itself, a method of forcing the culprit to reveal themselves.

When that time came, any discordant elements during the process—like someone who didn’t seem particularly invested in weathering the crisis together—would undoubtedly be highly suspicious.

”So, what about solving the problem at the checkpoint over there? Have you found anything?”

True to her words, Wen Li immediately shifted her attention toward the path ahead.

”No, and that is why I have been waiting here.”

Unfortunately, Classmate Liushuang was just as straightforward, shaking her head immediately.

”But you’ve already waited for five people to arrive.”

Wen Li was somewhat persistent, gesturing to the surrounding area with her eyes.

”That is true...”

Ji Liushuang pondered for a moment before her gaze finally landed on Fu Qian’s face.

”Looking at your situation, there really does seem to be one approach we could take. For example, we could just try killing him right here.

”If this situation was genuinely caused by someone on purpose, then I think there’s a high probability they would jump out to stop us, or throw out a valuable enough clue to divert our attention.”

...

’Classmate Liushuang, is this really necessary?’

Her gaze was gentle and devoid of any sharp edge, yet the idea she casually spat out was bone-chillingly cold.

At that moment, even old Professor Fu could not help but sigh heavily in his heart.

’Everyone is coming after me, aren’t they?’

’I thought there was finally a kind-hearted soul in this room. Who knew that after our time as master and disciple, we would reach the final step of passing down the teachings so quickly.’

’Never mind. It’s well known that the final step of many legendary martial arts is for the apprentice to kill the master.’

’Since you possess such ambition, what does it matter if this seat indulges you a little?’

”That is indeed an option. Does the Sanctuary absolutely require me alive?”

A moment later, Fu Qian raised his handcuffed hand and casually checked with the hunter.

”Unfortunately... dead won’t do.”

Turning her head to look at him, Wen Li stared for a long while before finally sighing.

’If it were an option, you would have killed me already, wouldn’t you?’

As expected, it wasn’t out of some pedantic principle, but because of an additional requirement.

Faced with her palpable regret, Fu Qian deeply empathized for a moment.

”You’re really going to the Sanctuary?”

Meanwhile, a certain keyword in their exchange had clearly piqued someone’s interest.

Professor Lisa, who had been silent for a long while, seemed somewhat in disbelief.

”Why would I lie about such a thing?”

In response, Wen Li merely frowned slightly, seeming a bit surprised by her astonishment.

It certainly wasn’t strange that the other party knew their destination. While outside the door just moments ago, they had discussed the matter without trying to hide it.

Considering Lisa had opened the door from the inside of her own volition, it was perfectly normal for her to have heard the group’s movements and even their conversation prior to that.

”Indeed... I just can’t understand the reasoning.”

Challenged by Wen Li’s counter-question, Lisa seemed to realize her suspicion was unfounded, but she still voiced her astonishment.

”You’ve already caught the person. Even if he needs to be taken out alive, why must you insist on making a trip to that kind of place?”