Chapter 12: Learning Without Thinking Leads to Death

"What does 'non-death type' mean?"

Wu Wang remembered that the uniform of the other person differed from his own.

Since Master Baili Dao had the leisure to teach, it was best to ask clearly.

After all, his role was that of a newbie, so he wasn’t afraid of arousing suspicion.

"Non-death type means that even if you fail the mission or die in this dungeon, you won’t truly die—you’ll just face penalties like losing all your equipment or dropping levels," Baili Dao comforted him, patting Wu Wang on the shoulder. "Such dungeons are as rare as winning the lottery. You’re incredibly lucky, kid."

He was telling the truth.

He had never encountered such an absurd stroke of luck: a newbie facing a targeted dungeon where death was impossible.

Even Tu Xingsun, beside him, grinned and said: "Don’t worry—it’s a team dungeon. We’re not monsters with three heads and six arms. We won’t eat you."

"Hmm, I see. You’ve got two arms." Wu Wang replied thoughtfully.

"?"

Tu Xingsun froze.

Why did it feel like he’d been insulted? Yet he couldn’t find anything wrong with what the other had said.

Seeing others’ expressions growing impatient, Baili Dao no longer wished to explain further to a newbie.

He waved his hand and said: "Let’s split up first. Find out why there’s truancy here—maybe we can boost the reward value by tracing the source."

This was the standard, unspoken practice in any multiplayer dungeon.

Gather clues. Exchange intelligence.

No one would be kind enough to carry a liability through a dungeon.

"Uh, before we split up, shouldn’t we go to class first?"

Just as the others prepared to act, Wu Wang’s voice suddenly rang out.

He pointed to the dorm door—specifically, a barely noticeable slip of paper stuck to its edge—and said: "It says here that being late to class means being locked in the black room."

Baili Dao whirled around and saw the note read:

【Students late to class will be confined to the black room for one hour.】

【Those who disrespect teachers will be confined to the black room for one day.】

【Violators of school rules will be dealt with severely.】

【...】

The note was small, half-torn, revealing only three messages.

The 【black room】 mentioned in the quest had appeared.

Since there was a side quest about the truth behind the black room legend, this was clearly no ordinary place—almost certainly haunted!

As for the school rules that demanded "severe handling"...

They were likely fatal rules.

Baili Dao glanced at Wu Wang with surprise.

The door was already covered with all sorts of chaotic study plans, vocabulary lists, even physics formulas. That warning note was no bigger than half a palm, lost among them—even if deliberately searched for, it would be hard to spot.

He had been watching him the whole time.

Yet Wu Wang had noticed the note’s anomaly the instant he turned.

Remarkable observational skill!

"Is it class time now? How do you know?" the masked woman He Yikan frowned.

She had seen no clock or schedule inside the dorm.

Wu Wang opened the door as he answered: "A minute ago, there was a lot of running in the hallway. Now, hardly anyone’s moving—I guess they’re rushing to class before they’re late."

"..."

Everyone exchanged glances.

About three seconds later.

Tu Xingsun couldn’t help cursing: "Damn! Why didn’t you say that sooner!"

The moment he spoke, the four of them shot out the door like arrows, frantically sprinting downstairs—sure enough, only a handful of students remained, racing wildly toward the classroom building.

"I’m in Class One, Grade Three. What about you?" Baili Dao asked quickly.

"Class Seven." "Class Three." "Class Five."

All three answered at once.

After entering Gaoshan High School, each of their uniforms had gained a student ID badge on the left chest, displaying their names and class numbers.

"Alright! Watch your backs!"

With that, the four sprinted off.

Fortunately, the classroom building was close, and clear signs below marked each classroom’s floor and location.

This saved them time searching.

But when Baili Dao burst into Class One, Grade Three, the room was already full.

At the podium stood a middle-aged man wearing glasses as thick as bulletproof glass, a plain gray suit, a meticulously combed back hairstyle, and a slightly stern expression.

"What are you doing standing at the door? Get in quickly! You’re one minute late!"

The man, presumably the teacher, sounded irritated—clearly displeased with the student’s last-minute arrival.

Fortunately, he wasn’t late.

Baili Dao exhaled in relief.

After apologizing to the teacher, he successfully entered the classroom.

The only empty seat left was surely his.

But as he neared it, his expression suddenly turned strange.

"You... how are you here?" Baili Dao whispered.

"I’m here for class. Are you stupid now, Baili?"

The one answering him was unmistakably the newbie with the abstract ID 【Weiwangren】!

But how had he gotten into the classroom before him!?

When they’d all rushed out, hadn’t he still been inside the dorm?

The dorm was six stories high.

Most crucially—he was still wearing that bizarre military gear. How had the teacher let him in!?

Glancing to confirm the teacher wasn’t watching, Baili Dao sat down and whispered to Wu Wang beside him: "How did you get here so fast?"

"Instead of wondering about that, you’d better worry about what’s coming next," Wu Wang said calmly, pulling a notebook from his desk.

Baili Dao looked puzzled.

Wu Wang explained: "This records the entire class’s scores for every weekly test this semester."

He pointed his finger to the last name on the list—Liu Yang.

Baili Dao immediately sensed something odd.

His name was the only one marked in red on the entire list.

"He’s failed three exams in a row. That guy over there," Wu Wang nodded to his left.

Following his gaze, Baili Dao saw a boy sitting rigidly, trembling all over.

He kept his head down, digging his nails into his fingers. Even from the side, his face was deathly pale; his lips were bitten through, blood trickling into his mouth, yet he showed no awareness.

Before Baili Dao could ask more,

The middle-aged teacher snapped angrily: "Liu Yang! Come up here!"

At the sound of his name, the boy jolted as if electrocuted.

Then he climbed the steps, utterly defeated.

Wu Wang and Baili Dao’s gazes turned toward him.

But the teacher didn’t scold or strike him.

He only sighed bitterly: "You know what to do. Go."

"Yes, Teacher Yao..."

Liu Yang’s voice was barely a whisper.

Under the teacher’s gaze, he walked to the window.

Then he leapt out.

"!?!"

Baili Dao nearly cried out.

He hadn’t expected the boy to jump straight out the window!

This was the sixth floor!

The other students in the classroom didn’t even lift their heads to look.

They all continued studying, absorbed in their work.

Before Baili Dao could recover, Wu Wang suddenly kicked his foot.

"What are you doing?" Baili Dao whispered, afraid of drawing attention.

Wu Wang’s expression was grave: "Look at Liu Yang’s seat."

Hearing this, Baili Dao turned.

What he saw filled him with horror.

Sitting in the seat was another Liu Yang.

But Liu Yang’s head had split open like a smashed watermelon, red and white tissues clearly visible inside.

He bowed his head, gripping his pen and frantically solving problems, muttering under his breath: “Next time I’ll pass… pass…”

This eerie scene made Baili Dao’s scalp prickle.

I never expected to encounter a ghost right after entering the dungeon!

“Class! Study hard for tomorrow’s test!”

“Learning without thinking leads to confusion! When you learn something in class, think about how to make it your own—don’t be like Liu Yang, who’s been sent to the Black Room twice and still performs so poorly!”

Teacher Yao’s voice echoed through the classroom.

His gaze also turned toward Liu Yang’s direction, revealing a flicker of revulsion.

The classmates, who had remained unmoved by Liu Yang’s suicide, shuddered all over.

Panic surfaced on every face.

In their eyes, going there was worse than jumping to your death!

The Black Room!

Baili Dao immediately seized the key detail.

The school’s eerie atmosphere must be tied to that place!

I’ll have to find a way to investigate it!

Wu Wang, beside him, seemed to sense his thoughts and patted his shoulder with a bright smile.

He whispered: “Don’t worry—I’m going to the Black Room after class. Let me see what’s going on!”

“You know where it is?” Baili Dao said in disbelief.

But Wu Wang shook his head and grinned: “No idea. But when I entered the classroom, Teacher Yao told me to go to the Black Room after class for an hour of reflection on my appearance and conduct.”

As he spoke, he proudly patted his bulletproof vest.

“That old bastard is just jealous of my stylish outfit!”

“… ”

Baili Dao was momentarily speechless.

This guy probably just arrived in the classroom a few minutes before me!

Found the report card, noticed Liu Yang’s problem, pissed off Teacher Yao.

Is this coincidence—or is this guy just that unbelievably unlucky!?

“You’re too reckless!” Baili Dao still warned Wu Wang.

Going to the Black Room without knowing anything will likely get you killed outright!

But the other laughed: “Then I’ll go outside to investigate first.”

Baili Dao: “?”

“Report! I need to use the restroom!”

Wu Wang leapt to his feet with a zero-frame stance.

Teacher Yao glanced at him coldly: “Go after class.”

“But I’m on my period—I need to change my pants!” Wu Wang persisted.

This time, Teacher Yao lost his composure.

“You’re a boy—you can’t be on your period!”

“Are you defining my gender?” Wu Wang frowned and retorted.

Seeing this, Baili Dao finally understood.

He shifted slightly to the side, putting some distance between himself and Wu Wang.

He suddenly felt this new guy had problems—both in his mind and his luck.

Getting too close might bring terrible misfortune.