After AFK for five years, I returned to be number one in the entire server.

Tian Shu Ningchuan Branch, Deputy Director's Office.

On Zhou Ping's table were teacups and several paper files, and on the windowsill were several potted plants.

When Qin Wei knocked and came in, Zhou Ping was leaning back in his chair flipping through a report.

Tell me about what happened at Ningchuan University.

Qin Wei stood in front of the table, looking at the tablet in his hand: "Of the thirty-seven Firefly-level members, twenty-four have agreed to join Tian Shu. There are four Moon-level members. Pei Xiao joined a year and a half ago, Xu Ang has already agreed, and Meng Yuanqing and Lin have not yet replied and are still considering it."

"Have you seen the internal report about the 'heart-wrenching' matter?"

"I've seen it."

"Five members have died, all at the monthly level. Three died at home after get off work, and two were intercepted while on missions. The most recent incident was the night before last in Huashui District, where half of their bodies were ripped off."

His tone was cold and serious: "The Bone-Eating Entry has been in the country for less than a month, yet he has killed five of us. His actions were clean and efficient, leaving no trace. Even now, the Queen Mother of the West has not been able to pinpoint his real-time location."

Qin Wei listened attentively.

"He killed five Moon-level members in a row and still managed to escape unscathed. His combat skills are above the Moon level. It makes sense that the Heavenly Rank is raising him as a seed."

Qin Wei asked, "Does the branch have a contingency plan?"

"In progress. All monthly-level members must be in pairs or more when going on missions recently. Try not to go alone after get off work. However, his targets are not necessarily limited to the official team. In a little while, send a safety reminder to the monthly-level members who have publicly revealed their identities, saying that there have been attacks targeting monthly-level players recently, and reminding them to pay attention to their personal safety. At the same time, keep an eye on their situation and report any abnormalities immediately."

"Understood." Qin Wei finished writing and left the room.

Zhou Ping walked to the window and looked downstairs. His actions were a serious provocation against the Ningchuan branch.

Regardless of the other party's purpose, he was determined to seize the opportunity as soon as possible to avoid greater losses.

Ningchuan University.

Lin Ye's phone beeped with a notification sound. He discovered it was a message from the Queen Mother of the West, sent from the Tian Shu branch.

The message was brief, telling him that someone had been attacking monthly-level players recently and that he should be careful.

He didn't pay attention.

It's eight o'clock in the morning. He's walking to the teaching building. The shadows of the sycamore trees fall on the school path, and sunlight filters through the leaves, scattering into patches of light on the ground.

"Lin Ye!"

The sound came from behind.

Shen Yi jogged over from the fork in the road. Today she was wearing a light-colored dress, and her hair was naturally draped over her shoulders.

The morning light shone on her face, giving her skin a thin sheen. Her eyelashes were long, and the corners of her eyes were slightly upturned. When she smiled, her eyes curved into two arcs.

She ran to Lin Ye's side, slowed her pace, and was slightly out of breath.

What time is your first class today?

Lin walked on by herself, talking to herself as she followed beside him, her steps light and quick: "It's 8:30, there are still 20 minutes left."

She suddenly looked at Lin Ye: "Hey, are you free tonight?"

"I'm busy."

"You have no idea what I'm going to say."

"I'm busy."

"Are you a broken record?"

"I'm busy."

Shen Yi didn't seem to mind, tilting her head and smiling, "There's a new movie theater that opened in a shopping mall outside the school, and they're having a first-day sale today. Shall we go together?"

Lin Ye ultimately did not repeat the grade, nor did he say anything.

"I've never been to the movies with anyone before." Her voice softened, a hint of anticipation in it. "Really, this is my first time."

Lin Ye didn't change his pace. Shen Yi walked around to the front of him, pushed him backward, and faced him: "Consider it my treat since you saved me last time. The popcorn is on me too."

"Watch where you're going."

"You have to promise me first."

"I'm not going."

"Why?" she pouted, drawing out the word.

Lin Ye walked past her and continued walking. Shen Yi followed him again, this time walking on his left, her shoulder almost brushing against his arm.

"How about we reschedule? Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow? Next week is fine too."

"None of them will work."

"You're so heartless."

She deliberately sighed, but the corners of her mouth were still turned up, and her bright eyes were fixed on his profile.

"If you don't agree, I'll come looking for you every day."

"Isn't that what you're doing right now?"

"Then I'll come every single day."

Lin suddenly stopped, grabbed Shen Yi's wrist, and led her in another direction.

Shen Yi was pulled several steps away before she realized what was happening. The smile on her face froze for a moment, then quickly turned pink.

She lowered her head, her cheeks slightly flushed, staring at the hand Lin Ye was holding her wrist with.

Her heart was pounding so fast that she was sure the other person could hear her.

She spoke softly, her voice much softer than before: "You...you've thought it through?"

Suddenly, a muffled thud came from behind.

It sounded like something very heavy was falling from a great height onto the ground, accompanied by a cracking sound.

Shen Yi instinctively flinched, her steps faltering, and she couldn't help but turn around for a glance.

On the road below the teaching building, there was a sunken pit, and the surrounding paving stones were broken, with cracks extending in all directions.

There is a person in the middle of the pit, or rather, there used to be a person.

The body was twisted and folded into an abnormal angle, the limbs were all facing the wrong direction, and half of the face was sunk into the broken floor tiles, revealing the exposed bones.

Blood slowly flowed out from below, forming several thin lines along the gaps between the floor tiles.

The surrounding students started screaming. Some covered their mouths and squatted down, some stood there in a daze, and some ran away.

All the color drained from Shen Yi's face in an instant.

She had never seen anything like it before. Her stomach churned violently, and she bent over, dry heaving twice, but nothing came out.

Her knees buckled, and she began to fall.

Lin also grabbed her shoulder and asked, "Are you alright?"

He planned to take Shen Yi to the school hospital, but halfway there, Shen Yi's condition improved and she said she didn't need to go.

The area behind us was in complete chaos; some people were running away in fear, while others were moving closer out of curiosity.

"Did you call the police?"

"I reported it, and I also called emergency services."

"What's the point of hitting this? Look at the way it looks..."

"No photos! Everyone back off!"

"Holy crap, what on earth is going on...?"

After the initial fear subsided, the crowd grew larger and larger, with discussions pouring in from all directions.

"Who is this? Does anyone know him?"

"It seems to be from the Civil Engineering Department."

"Which one?"

"Meng Yuanqing, a sophomore, seems to be a monthly-level player."

"How could a monthly-level player...? Was this an accident or...?"

Shortly afterward, the sound of sirens could be heard in the distance, and police and Tian Shu's vehicles entered the scene.

They quickly cordoned off the area and had the students move to a safe distance.

Lin also spotted a familiar figure among these people.

Qin Wei first examined the deceased's appearance, then reported the situation to his superiors via his mobile phone.

She saw Lin Ye in the crowd, who was exchanging some things with the people around him, and then walked towards her.