Qin Yue despaired, “Is this place really going to open at midnight?!”
After he spoke, he noticed several people nearby looking at him in unison.
Qin Yue was startled, “What did I do to make you all stare at me?”
This wasn’t the first time Qin Yue had said something like this.
It was just that others hadn’t paid attention before.
Xu Ke said, “Maybe newbies really have their own uses.”
Qin Yue: “?” Why did they describe him like some useful tool?
An Heyan said, “But we’re all students. Staying out overnight…”
Gu Zhan replied, “That’s simple. As long as we tell our parents we’re studying a project at a classmate’s house, they’ll agree.”
The three exchanged glances and then stood up, heading toward the bus stop.
Qin Yue still hadn’t reacted: “Hey, what are you doing? Wait for me! Why are we going back?”
On the way back, they ran into a group of players who had just arrived. Both sides exchanged glances, and the others looked wary.
An Heyan shrugged, saying nothing, and walked past the group.
He didn’t need to say much; soon those people would realize the library didn’t open during the day.
As Qin Yue had mentioned, maybe it really would open at midnight.
With no way to contact their parents in the outskirts, they had to go back and secure their parents' permission first.
Once they returned to the city, they found a phone booth and called home one by one.
For Gu Zhan and Xu Ke, it was straightforward; they casually mentioned a few things, and their parents agreed.
An Heyan's parents were more worried and asked whose house he was going to. He said he was going to Xu Ke’s, and they didn’t say much else before agreeing.
But for Qin Yue, he was already nervous and stumbled through his explanation. His parents thought he was lying and planning to stay out all night playing online games, so they refused to agree. In the end, Gu Zhan took the phone and told Qin Yue’s parents, “We’re going to the library to borrow books and might be back a bit late. We also need to gather in the evening to discuss our group project. If we don’t finish, we’ll face penalties at school on Monday.”
An Heyan chimed in, “Yeah, otherwise our whole group will lose points.”
Once they heard there would be point deductions, the parents’ attitude immediately changed: “Alright, go ahead. Study well and don’t just mess around.”
After hanging up, Qin Yue wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “You guys are amazing! Are you sure you’re not students and I’m the only student?”
An Heyan smiled slightly, “How do you know we aren’t students in the real world?”
“Ah?” Qin Yue was instantly confused.
He just thought that the three of them didn’t seem like students.
An Heyan laughed, “Maybe I was still a student when I came in here and grew up slowly inside?”
How many years would that take…
Qin Yue felt a bit scared.
Xu Ke frowned, “Don’t scare him.”
“Sorry.” An Heyan straightened up immediately, “I was joking.”
Qin Yue: “…” Is it fun to bully the newbie?
---
Having sorted out their parents, they randomly found a milk tea shop, bought some snacks and drinks, and sat there for the afternoon.
As evening approached, they returned to the bus stop.
They took the last bus to the library, and once they got off, An Heyan distributed the flashlights he had bought in the city to everyone, saying, “A normal library doesn’t open at midnight. If this library really does open at midnight, it must be something special inside. Be careful when we go in, and don’t touch anything until we’re sure.”
After saying that, he looked at Qin Yue and added, “Especially you, little newbie.”
Qin Yue hurriedly nodded, not caring about An Heyan’s teasing tone.
The group arrived at the library entrance, and just like yesterday, the library was still closed.
There were three people standing at the entrance who had been chatting, but they suddenly stopped when they saw the newcomers.
They must have confirmed that the library wouldn’t open, as they left in a group, passing by Gu Zhan and the others.
An Heyan remarked, “These people are just like us yesterday.”
Qin Yue asked, “Is the library really going to open at midnight?”
Gu Zhan replied, “Let’s find a place to wait.”
“Okay.” Qin Yue nodded reluctantly.
They went back to the spot where they had sat and chatted yesterday. An Heyan put his backpack down, taking out sunflower seeds, peanuts, and bottled water.
Qin Yue: “… When did you buy these?”
An Heyan said, “When you were zoning out at the milk tea shop… Here, you were always worried that the food you ate was fake, right? Eat more.”
Looking at the pile of snacks, Qin Yue felt a rare sense of nausea.
He thought there would definitely be a battle tonight, so he had eaten a lot before coming, and now he wasn’t hungry at all.
An Heyan said, “Once we go in later, we won’t need these. If we can’t finish them, they’ll just be left behind, so eat up.”
Qin Yue: “…”
The four of them sat in the library until it was completely dark. Many people came and went during that time.
There were also quite a few who, like them, stayed near the library.
As the darkness deepened, more and more people remained…
Time passed minute by minute, the night thickened, and the bright moon hung high… Unconsciously, mist started to rise around the library, and the moon gradually became obscured by dense clouds.
“Ding—”
“Ding ding—”
A melodious chime rang out from an unknown source.
Counting carefully, there were a total of twelve chimes.
Midnight had arrived.
Gu Zhan raised his head, “It’s time.”
The four stood up together and walked toward the library’s entrance.
The closer they got to the library doors, the thicker the fog became, obscuring the street view and making it seem like a different place compared to daytime.
There were many people gathered at the library entrance, all waiting for it to open.
The path in front of the door seemed to stretch deeper and farther, and the library itself took on an eerie appearance.
It didn’t look like a library anymore; it resembled some sort of underworld.
“Holy crap, are we really not in the wrong place?” someone murmured nearby.
But An Heyan said, “The door is about to open.”
Just as his words fell, the glass doors of the library creaked open, and a wisp of smoke gently floated out from inside… The door really did open.
Qin Yue whispered, “Is this a library or the King of Hell's hall?”
Gu Zhan replied, “It’s both a library and the King of Hell's hall.”
As they moved forward, the others also began to stir.
Finally, the library door opened.
Inside, there was a notice board filled with borrowing rules for the library.
“This city’s library was established twenty years ago and has a long history with a rich collection. Every book here is a valuable asset to our city. When borrowing books, you must adhere to the library’s regulations and cherish the collection; it starts with you and me.”
“The library only opens at midnight, until the first light of dawn. Borrowers must leave before sunrise, or you will remain here forever.”
“The library has many exquisite decorations, but do not forget, your purpose for being here is to borrow the books you need. Do not waste time on unnecessary things. Staring too long at them may awaken something that should not be awakened.”
“The books in the library are extremely precious. You can only take one book each time you borrow. Borrowers need to register their names at the entrance and must return the book within three days.”
“Follow the lights in the library. This is a dangerous and mysterious place. Being alone or acting independently may lead to unforeseen dangers. Please respect the librarian. Do not ask him any questions.”
“Loud talking is prohibited in the library. Please keep quiet and do not make noise. Do not inquire about the librarian’s personal matters, do not look back, and do not return borrowed books to the shelves yourself…”
“Lastly, remember reality. Always keep in mind where you came from and who you are. Forgetting this may cause you to become lost forever.”
Qin Yue: “…”
At this moment, he wanted to say, “There are too many words, I don’t want to read,” but this was an infinite dungeon.
He exclaimed in horror, “Does this thing have to be so long? Do we really have to follow all these rules? Is it against the rules to browse books in a library?”
Before he could finish, An Heyan quickly covered his mouth.
An Heyan smiled “kindly,” his eyes seeming ready to tear Qin Yue apart: “Shut up.”
Qin Yue obediently closed his mouth.
He didn’t realize that even though he thought his voice was low, everyone here had exceptional hearing. His earlier words sounded like a loud declaration in the crowd, “I’m a newbie! I know nothing! I’m rambling here!”
An Heyan could already sense the astonished glances from those nearby. They didn’t understand why he had brought this newbie along.
It felt like he was being treated as some male bodhisattva.
An Heyan couldn’t help but look at the real “male bodhisattva,” Gu Zhan, who was leading the newbie.
Gu Zhan seemed completely unaware that the stir had anything to do with him; he had already finished reading the rules and was ready to go inside.
An Heyan’s expression slightly dimmed.
Before the library opened, they were allies, but after it opened, it was uncertain.
At that moment, Xu Ke said, “Let’s split up and act separately here.”
Qin Yue panicked: “Huh? What? We’re just going to split up like this?”
Gu Zhan replied nonchalantly, “Sure.”
After saying that, he walked toward the library without any hesitation.
The others also began to make their way into the library. There was no light inside; those who entered were swallowed by darkness and fog, disappearing from view…
As Gu Zhan was about to vanish like the others at the entrance, An Heyan and Xu Ke showed no intention of moving forward.
Qin Yue’s head shook back and forth like a rattle, glancing between them… In the end, he gritted his teeth and followed Gu Zhan.
As soon as they stepped through the library’s entrance, everything behind them became illusory. The sounds and figures vanished, and even Gu Zhan’s figure was gradually disappearing.
Qin Yue had no doubt he would soon lose track of him!
He quickly took a step forward and instinctively grabbed Gu Zhan’s hand.
A deathly glare instantly shot over, and Qin Yue immediately panicked. He looked up to find Gu Zhan staring at him with a blank expression.
“Let go.”
Qin Yue chuckled awkwardly: “I… I’m just a bit scared.”
Gu Zhan didn’t say anything, but his eyes repeatedly conveyed two words.
“Let go.”
Qin Yue: “…”
He had no choice but to release his grip.
Once he let go, he realized they had already entered the library.
The grand entrance behind them disappeared, replaced by an expansive and endless library hall, flanked by shelves filled with books—one after another, causing Qin Yue’s head to spin.
He couldn’t believe it: “Did we just come in?”
“Be quiet,” Gu Zhan said coldly.
Qin Yue then remembered the rules at the entrance: no loud talking after entering.
He immediately zipped his mouth shut, indicating he wouldn’t speak again.
Only then did Gu Zhan continue moving forward.
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