After about an hour on the bus,

I arrived at Guanghai Normal University of Technology just before eight.

I flashed my ID at the gate guard and got waved through without delay.

Following the concrete road, I slipped smoothly into the teaching building.

I knew this campus like the back of my hand—

the faculty office’s location was etched in my mind.

No time wasted, I stood before its door again.

I’d been here before, but back then, I hadn’t thought much of it.

Now? I had too many clues to believe Yang Hailiu was just some bystander.

At the very least, she was an accomplice.

Gripping that thought, I pushed the door open.

*Creak.*

The sound drew glances from teachers buried in their phones.

“Officer Chu Xiayu? What brings you here?”

One looked up and called out.

“I’m here for Teacher Yang Hailiu. Is she in?”

I turned toward the voice, stating my purpose.

Honestly, I didn’t spot Yang Hailiu inside.

Doubt crept in—had she even come to work?

“She’s here. See? She just walked in.”

The teacher pointed behind me.

“You—”

“Good morning, Teacher Yang. Got a moment to talk?”

Ignoring her ghost-pale shock, I offered a polite smile.

“Back again? How stubbornly persistent.”

Yang Hailiu’s face froze icy cold the moment she saw me.

Her glare screamed *leave now*.

“Again? This is only our second meeting.”

I scratched my chin, baffled.

I hadn’t slipped her any hints.

Why did she look at me like I was her sworn enemy?

Shouldn’t she be cooperating eagerly?

Her reaction only deepened my suspicion.

“This time, your luck runs out!”

She ignored my question, muttering to herself with a twisted grin.

Venom dripped from her voice.

Then—the unnatural happened.

The colorless world warped into bloody crimson.

Sunlit hallways bled away.

The air thickened, choking me.

*Cough. Cough.*

I gasped, head lifting slowly.

Yang Hailiu’s sickening smile filled my vision.

Behind her loomed…

A monster.

One glance triggered primal terror.

My legs trembled beneath me.

It was covered in eyes.

A jagged mouth split its back, ringed with wooden-stake teeth.

Liquid-black wings sprouted from its spine.

Stumpy limbs held up its bloated body.

Every eye locked onto me.

This feeling…

Familiar, yet just out of reach…

“You relentless cop! Today, you die! No one will save you now! Become my feast!”

The teachers behind me reacted worse than I did.

Chaos erupted in the faculty office.

“Finish him, Wu~”

Yang Hailiu shot me a cruel smile, then turned to leave.

Before exiting, she patted the monster’s flank.

“The woman wants you dead. But you…”

The monster didn’t attack immediately after she left.

Its spine-mouth twitched, voice dripping malice.

“So. Will you die for her?”

“Yes…”

“Don’t you dare touch him!”

A hellhound-like beast with two snarling heads smashed through the window.

It glared fiercely at the black monster.

“You? Hmph. Killing defenseless prey *is* dull.”

The black monster studied the newcomer, then let out a *cackle*.

It vanished with those words—no kill attempt made.

With the door clear, teachers fled like birds spotting dawn.

They scrambled upstairs, away from the monster’s path.

I didn’t move.

My legs still shook from facing that unspeakable horror.

Even the hellhound’s rescue didn’t steady me.

“What are you?”

My gut screamed this beast shared the same origin as the other.

No warm welcome here.

“I am not for you to know. I offer power—to punish the evil festering here!”

“Power?”

I stroked my chin, studying it.

Suspicion only grew.

This reeked of a trap.

“Exactly. Sign a contract with me. I’ll grant you superhuman strength… strength to defy fate. I’ll remake you!”

Its promise rang hollow.

Power like Yang Hailiu’s?

That tainted strength? I wanted none of it.

I’d solve this with my own two hands.

“No. To fight the unnatural, you need unnatural power. Your mortal flesh can’t pierce this deep darkness!”

The hellhound pressed harder, painting me as a moth flying into flame.

“Still refusing? I handle Yang Hailiu alone.”

Its grand words slid off me like rain.

I was stone.

“Human. Do not test my patience. After all this, you refuse?”

Its faces twisted in rage.

“Refusal’s not up for debate.”

Seeing its true colors confirmed my instincts.

This contract was poison.

“Then I’ll devour you as compensation.”

Kindness vanished.

Fangs bared.

I drew my pistol without hesitation.

*(Rolling dice for the shot…)*

*(Chu Xiayu: Seriously? This isn’t an RPG.)*

*(Rolling pistol check…)*

*(Chu Xiayu: …)*

The dice goddess frowned on me.

My bullet grazed empty air.

“Missing already? Weak human. Sign my contract now, and I’ll forgive your insolence!”

It mocked me, still pushing its deal.

“I said no. A thousand times no.”

Seeing its nature, I trusted nothing it said.

“Pity. I thought you had potential.”

Regret flashed in its eyes—then vanished.

It lunged.

I fired back, trying to drive it off.

“Brother?”

A voice cut through the chaos—warm, familiar.

I whipped toward the door.

My brother, Chu Dongyu, stood there, eyes wide with shock.

“What are you doing here? Run!”

Danger screamed in my veins.

“You can’t beat it! Come to me!”

He ignored my warning, urging me toward him instead.

“Don’t be stupid! This isn’t your fight! I’ll hold it off—just escape! I’d rather die than see you hurt!”

I stamped my foot, desperate.

“I won’t be hurt. Because I am—”

Before I could shout back, reality shattered again…