Chapter One Hundred: The Quality of This Year’s Robbers Isn’t Great
“Luxianbei…”
“Um? What’s the matter, Professor?”
Luxianbei didn’t understand why Professor Ma suddenly became serious. Seeing his stern face, which could make any student feel nervous, she instinctively sat up straight, her hands neatly resting on her knees, obedient like a primary school student waiting for a teacher’s question.
Professor Ma truly lived up to his reputation, going through so many events yet still acting like nothing was wrong. Luxianbei silently sighed.
“I think that set of bamboo slips shouldn’t be kept at the school anymore. If this goes on, it might lead to a big problem,” Professor Ma said, his tone grave, tinged with a sense of regret.
“…” Luxianbei remained silent, waiting for Professor Ma to continue, while inwardly grumbling, didn’t he just realize this now?
But then again, an ordinary person wouldn’t realize that set of bamboo slips had such serious issues without some kind of accident.
“I’m wondering if you have any way to handle that set of bamboo slips? Or can you find someone to take care of it?” Professor Ma continued.
“Ah?”
Luxianbei was taken aback when Professor Ma made such a request, and once she regained her composure, she felt a hundred unwilling thoughts surge within her.
I can’t handle something like this; it’s deadly. Better leave it to the Siye Society.
But if I hand it over to the Siye Society, would Li Xuan pull any tricks behind my back?
After all, the last time he came to investigate He Zha’s cause of d*ath, neither I nor the professor shared anything, so we might be suspected of withholding information.
After a moment’s thought, Luxianbei immediately kicked into ‘I’m not taking this blame’ mode and started to ramble.
“Professor, I’m afraid I can’t really help you with this? Think about it! What is that set of bamboo slips? It’s the thing that killed three or even more people! This, I…”
“Are you scared?”
“Professor, it’s not that I’m scared. Let’s be reasonable! In principle…”
“Ah—!”
Just as Luxianbei was halfway through her words, she suddenly heard Professor Ma sigh, looking forlornly, “I originally planned to help lessen your burden, by having you write less…”
“Since you’re scared and so principled, I can only…”
“Wait a minute!” Luxianbei raised her hand to stop Professor Ma from continuing, lifting her head and staring intently at him. With her expressionless face, she appeared remarkably serious.
“Professor, actually, I don’t have much principle. Really! As long as someone asks me slightly, I’ll soften up.”
“So, since you’ve asked, the bamboo slip matter is on me.”
Professor Ma was somewhat startled by Luxianbei’s earnest assurance.
He had thought the danger of the bamboo slips was quite high and, after racking his brains for a solution, had sought Luxianbei’s help. After all, she was the only person he knew who could wield mystical power.
Moreover, he hadn’t expected Luxianbei to agree so readily; he had expected some reluctance, but her eager agreement took him by surprise.
Does this Nightfall Syndrome of hers come with some side effect that thickens her skin besides turning her into a girl? Professor Ma wondered.
Luxianbei’s willingness to help Professor Ma keep the bamboo slips, besides her own belief that keeping them at school was inappropriate, was spurred by a momentary thought of Jumeng.
There’s a great deity hidden at home; what’s there to fear?
Didn’t she ask me to help collect the core of urban legends?
Then I’ll just keep the bamboo slips at home, and if any urban legend pops out of them, Jumeng can deal with it.
Dining would shift from takeout to a buffet; that guy will probably laugh until he’s crooked.
However, if her injuries heal and she keeps seeking me out, that might become a problem, right? Maybe I should think of a way to poison the core of this urban legend, dealing with her directly.
As Luxianbei contemplated her dark thoughts, at that moment, Professor Ma once again straightened his face.
“Luxianbei, there’s something very serious that I need your help with.”
Looking at his serious expression, she was taken aback, thinking after dealing with the bamboo slips, what more could be happening?
“Um? What is it?”
“It’s just…” Professor Ma stammered for a long time, his old face almost turning red, before he held his forehead and said, “Could you call an ambulance? I just threw my back out and can’t move…”
After speaking, Professor Ma could no longer hold himself up and slumped onto the chair.
Luxianbei, “…”
When you get older, don’t try to push it. We’re not grandfather and grandson; bleh! Master and disciple, who’s who?
This is completely unnecessary!
…
After resolving the crisis, Luxianbei initially wanted to personally escort Professor Ma home since who knows if some urban legend would suddenly turn around and attack.
But in the end, watching him being taken away by the ambulance made her feel more at ease, and she didn’t follow.
However, for some unknown reason, after the doctor arrived and initially diagnosed Professor Ma with a soft tissue strain in the lumbar disc, the accompanying nurse’s gaze towards Luxianbei turned subtly strange.
Late at night, a loli, an old professor, a messy research room…
Watching the ambulance drive away, Luxianbei pondered for a moment and felt those nurse sisters seemed to think of something peculiar.
…
Special Text Content Research Room.
Not long after Luxianbei and Professor Ma left, the entire research room fell into darkness and silence, as if everything that had just happened never occurred.
“Glub—glub—!”
In the darkness, a bubbling sound suddenly erupted from the washroom of the research room, and the murky water began to overflow from the sink, gradually filling it up before spilling over with a “splash.”
Accompanied by the continuously flowing dirty water, a pale finger squeezed out from the sink’s drain, followed by an entire arm, a shriveled head, and a hunched torso…
Soon, an old man with a hunchback, dressed in a brightly colored funeral suit, and skin pale-green crawled out from the sink, his wrinkled face sporting a mouth that stretched almost up to his ears.
One of his arms was severed at the shoulder, the empty sleeve flapping lightly as he held a bl**d-red lantern in one hand, the candlelight casting a sinister glow on his features.
He stepped out of the washroom, standing at the door, stiffly twisting his neck to survey his surroundings, then emitted a strange throaty sound.
He floated forward, quickly merging into the darkness, and it was unclear where he might go; perhaps he’d leave, or most likely remain in some corner of the campus, waiting for an “unexpected meeting.”
…
After seeing the ambulance take Professor Ma away, the surroundings quickly fell into silence.
Luxianbei, holding the ancient wooden box containing the bamboo slips, shrugged, turned, and walked outside the school gate, using this time to think alone.
Finally obtained a core of an urban legend to take back and deal with Jumeng; right in time to ask her whether deities also face d*ath, Luxianbei thought.
From all the various scenes seen in the Bamboo Slips Illusion, what was hidden beneath the sinkhole very likely was the deity found by that ancient army.
But it seemed utterly lifeless, exuding an aura of d*ath and malice, leaving Luxianbei feeling something was off, leading her to ponder whether deities could d*e.
From a certain perspective, deities are also urban legends, and certainly would d*e if certain conditions were met.
Luxianbei just wanted to confirm this from Jumeng and casually ask how deities would d*e if they did.
Tomorrow, she was also going to Jiang Li’s class; she could ask her, then compare the answers from both.
Yes, that’s the plan!
Putting aside the bamboo slip issue for the moment, Luxianbei quickly thought of another new concern: after helping Professor Ma several times, she was almost out of her initial Spring Breeze spell!
Only about thirty left!
With such lack of arms, it really made one feel unsafe.
Next time, she needed to discuss with Jumeng, giving her half of this core of an urban legend; the rest, she would use to create talismans, Luxianbei thought.
But soon, she realized she might not have the chance to create new talismans.
Because, she encountered “road robbery”…
…
Leaving the College of Arts and Literature Experimental Building, Luxianbei headed back towards Gate Four.
She planned to take advantage of the night to leave. Due to the earlier guidance from the Decapitated Senior, she subconsciously regarded it as a kind, benevolent urban legend, completely unaware that she would see it again.
Until…
“Bang bang bang—bang bang bang—!” A muffled sound rang in her ears, sounding like a basketball bouncing on the ground.
Under the night sky, on the desolate and crumbling road, a fuzzy head bounced from the roadside, rolling into the center of the road, then turning around, locking its murky eyes firmly on Luxianbei.
Seeing this scene, Luxianbei was momentarily stunned, still processing the Decapitated Senior’s intentions, when she heard the hurried clatter of high heels behind her.
She jolted, turning sharply to see the bloody long dress and the headless figure.
Decapitated? What kind of divine operation is this?
The Decapitated Senior’s body and head, one in front and one behind, blocked her in the middle of the road. Luxianbei sensed something was amiss, feeling a chill down her spine. After glancing around hesitantly, she finally decided to focus on the head as a target for conversation.
“Senior, what do you mean? Are you here to see me off? Ah, there’s no need for such formality; we’re all students of this school; there’s no need to be so polite.”
“Core, the core…”
While Luxianbei was speaking, a strange sound suddenly came from behind her; her body shivered. The voice sounded as if it were muffled by something in the mouth.
Not good, they’re here to rob!
Luxianbei’s heart raced; she quickly drew her kitchen kn*fe and spun around, only to hear a scream.
The Decapitated Senior let out a weird scream from her severed neck, spewing a jet of dirty bl**d that shot up half a meter, trembling all over…
“Run… ran away?” Luxianbei tilted her head, watching the headless figure slowly retreat, stunned for a long moment before regaining her senses.
She seems terrified of me?
How can someone so timid dare to be a robber? Does she really need the core of an urban legend that badly?
Luxianbei pondered, and her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a fuzzy thing beside her.
“Hey! Senior, you haven’t picked up your head yet!”
Luxianbei called out, and the head that had been left on the ground realized something was off, attempting to roll away, but she stopped it.
Luxianbei crouched down, pressing one hand on the Decapitated Senior’s head, and just then, a weeping sound reached her ears, accompanied by muddled words.
“Woo woo woo, don’t k*ll me, I’m just, just starving…”
Luxianbei, “…” Did I just scare a female ghost to tears?
Is it me who’s the problem, or is the quality of this year’s robbers really lacking?
But now that she had mustered the courage to come, I certainly can’t let her go easily, right?!
Luxianbei thought, her eyes flashing with a ruthless glint, quietly raising the kitchen kn*fe…
