A little girl at a magic school, she's a goofy troublemaker who can do anything.

The strange changes in the sky excited and thrilled the players.

"My God, what is that?!"

"I don't know, the game update announcement didn't mention it."

"A hidden boss? That's quite a spectacle!"

"The scan isn't working! What kind of boss is this?!"

His arrival was like a dark cloud looming over the city.

Remembering Lin Fengqian's repeated instructions to disguise himself in public, Yu Chiting didn't use his own face but changed his appearance.

It has six jet-black wings, each feather covered with terrifying thorns and spikes. It has a human body and a head that is a jet-black bird's head, unlike a crow or a black stork, but like the embodiment of some kind of magical fantasy. The bird's head is very long and coated with a poison that can kill a person with a single peck. Its eyes are bloodshot and it remains motionless and unblinking.

The six black wings that unfolded were no different from the dark clouds pressing down on the city; those who landed on the ground could feel a shadow cast over them without even looking up.

When he arrived, the clear sky vanished, and shadows filled the world.

Li Wenyin's eyes sharpened: "He is...?"

The lazy hat answered for her: "Yuchi Ting."

This answer completely confirmed Li Wenyin's guess, and at the same time made Li Wenyin's heart sink heavily.

It was Qingqing who had Lin Feng trick Yuchi Ting into coming here.

What is Qingqing trying to do? Is she trying to get revenge on Yuchi Ting? But why is she trapping so many student players in the game world while simultaneously luring Yuchi Ting into it?

Yu Chi Ting's destructive power is terrifying. If he is in a bad mood, wouldn't he immediately take it out on these innocent student players?

No, this is too dangerous. We can't put Yu Chi Ting and the students together in the game world.

"Qingqing, I understand your desire for revenge against Yuchi Ting," Li Wenyin said, her eyes fixed on the monster in the sky. "But let's not drag others into this, okay? I promise you I will never let Yuchi Ting go. Please spare the students; their spirits and souls are still in the game world..."

The Sloth Hat suddenly spoke: "The Wrath of All Spirits."

"Huh?" Li Wenyin didn't understand. "What?"

"Forbidden magic, the Wraith of All Souls," the Sloth Hat slowly explained, "binds and tortures tens of thousands of dead souls, nurturing them into vengeful spirits, thus providing them with abundant nourishment from which magic is continuously drawn."

Li Wenyin understood perfectly what this meant: "The forbidden magic used by Yuchi Ting."

"Yes, the Wraith of Ten Thousand Spirits is very strong."

The Sloth Hat continued speaking at a leisurely pace.

"To defeat the Wraith of Souls, either the caster must actively release these souls, which is practically impossible. Or, the caster must bind even more souls and create a stronger Wraith of Souls to counter it."

Hearing this, Li Wenyin sensed something was amiss: "Qingqing, you wouldn't be thinking about the latter..., would you?"

There are also tens of thousands of online players who happen to be trapped in the game.

"That's not how it is," Qin Guanyu remained firm in his belief, "right, Qingqing?"

The Sloth Hat paused for a moment before slowly speaking, "I've thought about it for a long time."

"No, this can't be done, this absolutely won't do. Forcing the students' souls to clash with the vengeful spirits that Yu Chi Ting has bound—he's raised these vengeful spirits for so many years, it's unimaginable how much mental damage the students will suffer. They'll be lucky if they never wake up again; most likely they'll suffer a mental breakdown and die..."

Li Wenyin was getting anxious. She tried to calm herself down while speaking rapidly.

"No, Qingqing, I believe Qin Guanyu, and I want to believe you too. You wouldn't do that, right?"

"That was originally what I wanted to do," the Sloth Hat said calmly.

Originally? Li Wenyin's heart calmed down: "So you're not planning on...?"

"Later, I met you."

The Sloth Hat turned around, and its eyes, which had been closed in silence for a long time, slowly opened.

Those were truly breathtakingly beautiful eyes. Her eyes were the same color as the Saint Emperor's Flower, a vibrant red. They should have been either passionate or aggressive, but the Sloth Hat's eyes held a strange calmness, like autumn maple leaves falling on the shallows of a pond, untouched by wind or ripples.

I give up.

"What?" Li Wenyin was suddenly stunned. "You gave up because of me?"

Lazy Hat smiled, his eyes crinkling: "Aren't you curious how I knew Yu Chi Ting was using the Ten Thousand Spirits' Vengeance?"

-

The Sloth Hat excels at magic related to information networks, virtual data, dream worlds, and consciousness.

This naturally includes entering dreams.

An extraordinary night after many days.

"Now, let me see if you can meet my standards."

Ahead, the man leaned lazily against the red velvet sofa, casually issuing orders.

Beside her, Li Wenyin stood with a chilling aura, clutching a knife tightly in her hand, glaring fiercely at the man sitting on the sofa.

The NPC Qingqing, to be more specific, should be Sloth Hat Chasing Xiao at this moment. He is currently bound hand and foot, blindfolded, and kneeling on the ground, motionless.

The Sloth Hat took a few seconds to process what was happening.

In the previous stages, Lazy Hat became somewhat interested in Li Wenyin and thought he would sneak into the dream to take a look. Unexpectedly, he stumbled upon this scene as soon as he arrived.

The other two people present, Yu Chi Ting and Li Wenyin, were unaware that the NPC Qingqing, who was kneeling and sitting motionless with her head bowed like a sacrificial lamb, was now the real Lazy Hat Qingqing.

Her eyes were indeed blindfolded, but that was of no consequence to her, as the Sloth Hat could now observe everything clearly and silently.

Lazy Hat saw that Yu Chi Ting was bored and treating this as a test for Li Wen Yin, wanting Li Wen Yin to kill her for him to see.

Lazy Hat also saw Li Wenyin stare directly at Yuchi Ting without hesitation, retorting sharply without being humble or arrogant, her blade always aimed at Yuchi Ting.

Isn't that a very smart thing to do, Li Wenyin?

The Lazy Hat thought to itself.

In Li Wenyin and Yuchi Ting's view, the NPC Qingqing at this moment was just a false magic created by Yuchi Ting. If Li Wenyin was smart, she should quickly find a way to escape this lucid dream and discuss a solution with others.

Risking one's own safety for a sham of magic is hardly a wise move.

Lazy Hat remained silent, observing the conversation between Li Wenyin and Yuchi Ting without making a sound.

She thought that Li Wenyin would soon figure out what the correct approach should be.

Until Li Wenyin stepped forward to protect her.

They huddled together, clearly in Li Wenyin's eyes, facing an NPC whose magic was illusory.

The blindfold was torn off, and the Sloth Hat looked up.

She saw Li Wenyin's hand, holding the knife, hidden behind her back. Li Wenyin's wrist was trembling slightly; naturally, she was afraid too. How could she not be afraid at all? She was facing a devil whose moods were unpredictable.

Her wrist was trembling, but her knuckles gripped the knife so tightly they turned white. Li Wenyin held her breath with all her might, secretly channeling her dark magic into the dagger, ready to strike.

To punish Li Wenyin for her "disobedience," Yu Chi Ting summoned a swarm of insects to attack her.

Lazy Hat lowered his eyes and looked closely at Li Wenyin, who was covered in tiny bite holes from these poisonous insects. She must be in excruciating pain, her chest heaving, her skin clenching, and she was silently gasping for breath again and again.

Doesn't it hurt, Li Wenyin? Are you really not planning to make a move against me, Li Wenyin?

The Sloth Hat stared intently at Li Wenyin, who was blocking her way, with a detached yet stubborn gaze. She was determined to see Li Wenyin succumb to the pressure from the bullies and give up on saving her. She was also determined to see Li Wenyin join the bullies out of desperation, just like many others had done in the past.

until......

Li Wenyin gently twitched the finger holding the knife.

The fingertip touched the center of the lazy hat's forehead.

It was a very light touch, far more powerful than the splash of raindrops. Li Wenyin's gentle touch on her brow carried a strong sense of comfort.

It's as if it's saying to her, "Don't be afraid, I'm here to protect you."

It instantly transported me back to that rainy day many years ago.

Lazy Hat suddenly opened its eyes, its pupils unfocused, and looked up in astonishment at Li Wenyin's back.

Li Wenyin, who was in excruciating pain and terrified, was simultaneously enduring what was literally a thousand wounds, keeping a close eye on Yu Chi Ting as he prepared to unleash a powerful attack, and still managing to subconsciously comfort the person protecting her behind her.

To Li Wenyin, those she was protecting were not real people.

Li Wenyin was still laughing, confident of victory, believing herself to be the happy victor, while Yu Chiting opposite her was a pitiful wretch at the mercy of others.

Li Wenyin broke free from her lucid dream.

The Sloth Hat also erased the wounds suffered by Li Wenyin.

How could the injuries sustained in a lucid dream not be brought back to reality? Yu Chi Ting left a winding trail of blood.

He was someone who came quietly and left without anyone knowing.

I was saddened and moved.

Unable to bear seeing Li Wenyin injured, he wiped away her wounds.

-

Li Wenyin was stunned and speechless.

"Thanks to you, in your lucid dream, I learned that Yu Chi Ting used the Wrath of Ten Thousand Spirits, and I also learned that what can truly harm him is the power of happiness and joy," the Sloth Hat said slowly and calmly.

Bright red eyes are often associated with blood, but the Lazy Hat looked calmly into Li Wenyin's eyes, which seemed more like a vibrant heart, gentle and serene, yet brimming with the vitality of spring.

"Thank you, Miss Muse, for inspiring me how powerful the force of happiness and joy is. If it can bind the resentful souls of the dead, then why can't the joyful spirit of the living also be a force?"

The Lazy Hat smiled.

"I imagine everyone had a great time playing the game. I feel really bad for keeping you all here for so long. I'd like to ask you all to briefly detach yourselves from your own world, focus all your attention on this game, and unleash the power of joy."

"Instead of having everyone's souls confront the vengeful spirits, we should concentrate our power on myself. I alone will face Yu Chi Ting's vengeful spirits."

Li Wenyin was taken aback: "Then you..."

"That one, Yu Chi Ting, is named Wan Ling Yuan."

The lazy hat looked up at the sky.

"This is something I just created. I don't know what to name it, so I'll just call it 'Joy of All Beings'."

For you, I bravely rose up and began to rebel.

For you, I've given up on extremes and am seeking a brighter future.