Chapter Four: Back Again
“Are you planning to move in here?”

When You Huo stepped out of solitary confinement, the hallway was silent.

The bald man’s screams had stopped. Blood had seeped out from under his door, spreading across the floor. You Huo frowned slightly in distaste and stepped around it.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

A strange sensation crept over him—like being watched.

As if something unseen was leaning down, staring at him with lifeless eyes.

He looked up.

Just a pale ceiling. A dim light. Nothing else.

…

“Damn—almost overslept and broke the rules. That dead-faced—” someone muttered while rushing downstairs, then abruptly stopped.

“You—cough—you’re out?”

It was Proctor 922.

Seeing You Huo, he instantly switched to a formal tone. “Excuse me,” he said, brushing past to open the bleeding door.

Moments later, the bald man was dragged out.

“Why are you still here?” 922 asked.

You Huo stood with hands in his pockets, voice lazy. “Waiting for you. Not interested in turning into ashes.”

922 frowned. “Where’s 154?”

“No idea.”

“That stiff bastard slacking again?”

He muttered under his breath, then jerked his head toward the exit. “Let’s go. I’ll take you back to the exam room.”

…

Upstairs, Qin Jiu leaned lazily by the window, arms crossed, watching.

922 led the two candidates through the snow below, their figures swallowed by white.

Qin Jiu narrowed his eyes, distracted.

The black bird on his shoulder gave a low croak.

“…Feels like something’s missing,” Qin Jiu muttered.

The bird mocked: “Heh.”

“A proctor?”

“Heh.”

Qin Jiu tapped its beak, then went downstairs.

Soon, he found the missing one.

Inside the very room You Huo had just left—

Proctor 154 was tied to a chair.

Hands bound behind him.

Mouth stuffed with paper.

On the paper, written neatly in marker:

“Get lost, you ‘young girl’.”

Qin Jiu laughed.

154 tried to jump for attention—then saw the smile and chickened out.

After being freed, he exploded:

“I’ve been a proctor for three years—I’ve never seen a candidate like this! Others scream and cry—he sleeps?! Others fear proctors—he ties me up?!”

Qin Jiu leaned on the table, amused. “Nice rhythm. Keep going.”

154: “…”

“If word gets out that a proctor got tied up, embarrassing?” Qin Jiu asked.

“…Very.”

“And you said he slept through confinement?”

“Yes! No changes, no fear reaction—nothing! Like he has no fear at all!”

Qin Jiu’s eyes narrowed.

“…Interesting.”

…

Meanwhile—back at the snow hut.

922 dropped You Huo off and stopped him.

“One more rule. Since you were punished, you two can’t answer this round.”

You Huo’s expression darkened.

922 waved it off. “Doesn’t matter. First round of this type always kills someone anyway—”

Before he finished—

You Huo had already pushed the door open.

At that instant—

The rooster crowed.

Time to collect papers.

Inside, chaos erupted.

The bald man collapsed, crawling into a corner. Others dropped to the ground in terror.

Yu Wen knelt, clutching something. “Bro… I found the knife. But… time’s up?”

Then what?

Silence. Panic.

Would they really be expelled?

Would they turn to dust like the metal can?

BANG!

The door burst open.

A violent wind surged in.

Like a plane losing pressure—dragging everything outward.

Old Yu screamed as he was yanked toward the door.

Invisible hands pulling him into the storm.

…

Then—

Two thoughts flashed through You Huo’s mind:

“Rooster crows nine times before collection ends.”

“And… there’s a trick for these stupid questions.”

No time to think.

He grabbed the folding knife from Yu Wen, vaulted over the table, and—

At the final crow—

He carved one word onto the wall:

“解” (Solve).

922 outside: “………………”

That… works?!

Yes.

The wind stopped.

The snow ceased.

Old Yu slammed to a halt at the doorway—half his hair gone.

Yu Wen clung to his leg, trembling.

On the wall, next to the word—

A red mark appeared:

+2

Everyone froze.

922 turned and sprinted off to report.

…

Yu Wen slapped himself. “I’m an idiot! The teacher said—always write ‘Solve’ first—it’s worth points!”

You Huo silently put away the knife.

Not proud.

Just practical.

…

Then—

The wall changed again.

A new question appeared:

A group of travelers arrive at a snowy mountain lodge.
The host has 13 sets of tableware but food for only 12 people.
One set hides a secret—someone is destined to die.
Find the fatal set.
Knowledge tested: Optics.

Everyone: “……”

Then another line appeared:

Violation Warning: Penalized candidates answered illegally.
Proctors notified: 001, 154, 922.

Everyone: “………………”

…

Ten minutes later—

Inside the proctors’ office.

Qin Jiu and You Huo sat facing each other in silence.

“…” “…”

After a long pause, Qin Jiu twirled his pen, lifted his eyes, and said lazily:

“Are you planning to live here?”