Rules-related weird stories: 4016

Old Mo patted the pig-slaughtering knife: "I just grabbed a few that had a little bit of spirituality and said to them, 'Are you going to hand over the tomatoes yourself, or am I going to pick your tomatoes?' The more pure the principle, the more simple and unadorned it is. When those green skins heard my reasoning, they became much more cooperative, bringing out some treasures for me to choose from. If my bag wasn't big enough, I would have gotten you some more..."

"But to be fair, it's not good to eat too much of this stuff. It's okay to eat a little as a treat, but if you get addicted, the problem becomes big."

Lin Yi nodded.

"You seem to have recovered pretty well, right? Your aura seems quite stable... Just eating one tomato did this to you, not bad."

Old Mo patted Lin Yi's shoulder, took out a tomato from his bag, played with it for a moment, and then pondered, "Huh, it doesn't seem to be the effect of the tomato..."

He looked at Lin Yi with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "Looks like the boss has trained you well."

Old Mo's face was the kind of deadpan face that's naturally suited for a villain. Any expression he made was unpleasant, and this half-smile made Lin Yi shudder. In a daze, he even had the feeling of seeing the library director from "Detective Conan."

"Please, why does it have to be called 'training'...?" Lin Yi was speechless. If this were to reach the boss's ears, Old Mo might not get kicked by the boss, but he would definitely be crushed to death...

But Old Mo was just teasing Lin Yi. After saying that, he plucked a string of the large eyeballs that were stuck on the body of the Grinning Angel, then slowly stood up, carrying them and walking towards the depths of the observation deck.

"Before we act, I will gradually tell you how to safely leave the art building..." Old Mo's voice slowly came from not far away, "Look over here... Going in from here, there is an elevator shaft. This is the only way for you to leave the art building."

Lin Yi looked in real-time. With the light emitted from the large eyeball in Old Mo's hand, he really saw an elevator shaft in the depths of the observation deck.

Under the illumination of the large eyeball's light, the mysterious symbols engraved on the inner walls of the elevator shaft were clearly visible. This elevator shaft was clearly the one that the dormitory manager took Mao Feiyang through, and also the one that Mu Daxian took Mao Feiyang back to the teaching building through.

"To ride and operate this elevator, you need to meet certain conditions. At least normal people are not allowed," Old Mo explained. "But you don't need to worry, I will help you obtain this 'qualification'."

After Old Mo finished speaking, he retreated from the elevator shaft and came to Lin Yi's side, starting to pack his things, obviously preparing to set off.

He put his backpack on his back and started to help Lin Yi pack his bags, while saying: "Every elevator in that elevator shaft can be ridden, but you must leave before 4 AM... If you can't leave by 4 AM, you have to wait another day."

"After entering the elevator, there is a hidden button covered by a cover. You need to use a special identity credential to activate it. An art student's 'student commemorative coin' or the dormitory manager's badge can do this. Don't worry about the source of the items, I will help you get it done."

"After you start the button, the elevator will run automatically... After that, you must always stare at the floor display inside the elevator. No matter which floor of the 'teaching building' or which floor of the 'dormitory' it stops on, and no matter if 'something' gets on or off the elevator, you must not go out."

"Only when the elevator stops at the 'library' can you go out, understand?!"

"After arriving at the library, you will see the 'Library Rules'. You can, depending on your own situation and the sudden events you encounter, discretionally abide by the part of the rules that does not belong to 'interns'. You can also wander around the library at will. Under the premise of not violating the rules, you can explore and browse some books as much as possible..."

"But when the red light in the library turns on, you must immediately go to the counter on the first floor of the library..."

"After arriving, you just wait there. When the security guard appears, you follow him and you can leave the library and return to campus."

"There is no standard time for the security guard to appear in the library, so when the red light in the library turns on, you must rush over immediately. The security guard will stay for a while, but not too long... Understand?"

If Lin Yi was someone who hadn't experienced so many things in the dream, hearing Old Mo's words at this moment, such as "library", "red light on", and "hidden elevator button", he would definitely be confused. Not to mention not being able to figure it out in a short time, even sorting out the logic in Old Mo's words would take a lot of time.

But now, he easily understood almost all of the steps, only feeling curious about the so-called "part that does not belong to interns" in the "Library Rules" mentioned by Old Mo. Of course, he also maintained a sense of curiosity about the entire library.

"I... understand," Lin Yi said, "But Old Mo, from what you mean, it seems you're not going back with me?"

Looking at Old Mo's appearance, thinking about what the boss had said to Old Mo, Lin Yi vaguely had an ominous premonition.

Old Mo smiled: "When I made the promise to the boss, I didn't say I would go back."

"Don't worry, after going over there, even if I die, I will let you retreat completely."

Lin Yi was stunned, but immediately thought of Old Mo's words. When he first heard Old Mo's guarantee, he always felt a kind of awkwardness that he couldn't explain. Now he understood that Old Mo had planned this from the beginning.

"Old Mo, you're so strong, why do you have to set up a flag for yourself?"

Old Mo said calmly: "I'm just preparing for the worst. Besides, you and I are not familiar at all. There's no need to be too concerned about the life and death of someone like me who has already died once."

Lin Yi pursed his lips.

Many times it is like this, clearly the person involved has already let go of the matter, but there are always some bystanders who can't let go.

Lin Yi was the bystander.

"So... you chose to 'log in' here, is it specifically to tell me about the elevator?"

Old Mo shrugged his shoulders: "That's one of the reasons. I have a principle in doing things. I have to do what I promised the boss first. Only after I have no worries can I let go. But... if I really can't bring you to the elevator, then you'll have to trouble yourself to come over..."

"Don't say such things, I'll be your charging treasure, so just honestly let me cling to your thighs..." Lin Yi concealed the ominous premonition in his heart, trying to use the humorous identities of "Home Guardian War God and his Mobile Fountain of Life" to cover up the faint signs of... companionship that had appeared between the two.

Don't you die, I'll heal you! Damn it, let's go back to our hometown together after defending the crystal! — A cry from the bottom of Healer Lin Yi's heart.

“I’ll try my best…” Old Mo sighed. “Let’s go, it’s time to move.”

With that, he pulled out the two strings of large eyeballs that were “charging” on the Grimace Angel.

Looking at the Grimace Angel, who was still on its last breath, seemingly clinging to a wisp of immortal energy, unwilling to die, Old Mo casually placed his hand on it. Then, golden energy emanated from his palm, and like before when he absorbed the extraordinary power from Lin Yi’s body, he completely drained the remaining extraordinary power from the Grimace Angel’s body.

The Grimace Angel rapidly petrified at a speed visible to the naked eye, eventually turning into a distorted humanoid sculpture without wings. Old Mo continued to exert force, crushing the Grimace Angel’s sculpture into countless fragments, which rolled all over the ground with a 'clatter'. Some of the fragments that were too small were blown away by the wind, while others rolled off the edge of the watchtower.

Lin Yi looked at the Grimace Angel, a hint of doubt in his heart.

The transformation of this Grimace Angel seemed different from the Grimace Angel that Teacher Wang had “reverted to its original form”!

Old Mo didn't say much. He picked up the two strings of large eyeballs and began leading Lin Yi towards the center of the watchtower, in the opposite direction of the stone bridge…

“Huh? Wait, Old Mo, aren't we going to the Arts Building?” Lin Yi tugged at his soaked clothes, struggling to keep up in the wind and rain, and couldn't help but ask.

Old Mo turned his head and said, “Before going to the Arts Building, I need to go to the Arts Office first.”

“Ah? Are you going to help me get a 'Student Commemorative Coin' directly?” Lin Yi retorted.

Old Mo was taken aback. “How did you know you could get a Student Commemorative Coin from the art teacher?”

“Uh… guess…”

“Forget it, it’s not important.” Old Mo waved his hand, too lazy to listen to Lin Yi's fabricated stories. “However, you have no chance of getting a Student Commemorative Coin. Getting it from the art teacher will grant you the 'Art Student' identity. Although 'you, who were brought here by me,' are qualified, it's not necessary.”

“I’m going to the art teacher to get some information, to avoid working for nothing.”

As Old Mo spoke, he didn't stop walking. He led Lin Yi into the watchtower, then through a corridor with flickering candlelight and howling, sharp wind, winding around until they arrived at a door carved with ancient patterns.

The nameplate on the door read “Arts Office”. Old Mo glanced at it, then knocked on the door.

Knock! Knock!

After two knocks, a gentle female voice quickly sounded from inside the door.

“Who is it?”

Old Mo said, “I’m Black Chef, Old Mo, here to see Golden Retriever.”

“Black Chef…?” The voice behind the door was obviously stunned for a moment, then realizing something, opened the door.

“Creak—”

The door opened. Through the crack in the door, Lin Yi saw the person inside, and that person also saw Old Mo and Lin Yi.

Immediately, Lin Yi was stunned.

“Teacher…?! ” He almost blurted out.

“Nightwalker?! ” The person behind the door's expression changed drastically, seemingly not recognizing Lin Yi.

This was actually quite normal, after all, Lin Yi was currently in a “Faceless” bald state.

“You know her?” Old Mo glanced at Lin Yi. “Forget it, let’s talk inside.”

He grabbed the two strings of large eyeballs with both hands, ignoring the actions of the person inside the door, and directly led Lin Yi into the Arts Office, looking very much like a parent taking a junior to visit relatives, carrying some gifts in his hands.

Seeing Old Mo's attire as a black-aproned chef, the person inside the door immediately let them in, not bothering to worry about what was going on with Lin Yi.

After closing the door, Old Mo looked around, ignoring the person inside the door's scrutiny of Lin Yi, and directly got straight to the point: “Where's Golden Retriever?”

The person inside the door recovered and immediately said: “I’m sorry, we don’t keep dogs here…”

“Not a dog, Golden Retriever is me.”

From the depths of the Arts Office, near the bookshelf, a door opening sound suddenly appeared, followed by some fierce wind sounds.

After lasting for two or three seconds, the wind sound disappeared again, as if the door had closed.

Immediately afterwards, rapid footsteps descending the stairs came from behind the bookshelf on the other side, and a figure wearing a very thick windproof leather jacket walked out from behind the bookshelf.

The windproof leather jacket was a bit like the thick leather jackets often worn by fishermen on offshore fishing boats. He was soaked all over, and water droplets fell onto the floor of the office, wetting the ground.

He took off his waterproof leather jacket, revealing what he looked like underneath the leather jacket—it was the art teacher who had registered Mao Feiyang for art student registration.

Looking at this dog who called himself “Golden Retriever”, ah no, art teacher, everyone present except Old Mo was silent.

“Isn’t… aren't our nicknames all so recognizable?!” Lin Yi couldn't help but bark in his heart, but his gaze still passed through the “ultra-thin breathable white silk headgear” made of scales, and fell on the art teacher who opened the door for them.

The art teacher in front of him was none other than “Form Teacher - 039”, no, more accurately speaking, he was an art teacher. It was just a pity that the art teacher had no credentials, so he couldn't determine how to call her, and could only call her “Teacher”.

Even though Lin Yi had a “Faceless” appearance, Form Teacher - 039 still faintly sensed his gaze and couldn't help but say: “You are…?”

“I…” Lin Yi subconsciously wanted to say “I'm Lin Yi”, but as soon as the words reached his throat, he thought of Old Mo's instructions, so he didn't continue.

Old Mo explained: “He currently has 'no identity', he can't tell you who he is, but if you 'feel' he is someone, then don't doubt it, he is that person.”

Form Teacher - 039 opened her mouth, and the look in her eyes towards Lin Yi suddenly became complicated. She sighed faintly: “I didn't expect… you eventually lost your identity, so are you here to register as an art student?”

“Alas…”

“I didn't expect that I would be the one to do both registrations for you.”

“You misunderstood, he doesn't need to register.” Old Mo said, “The situation is far more complicated than you think, we'll talk about the specifics when you have a chance to meet again, where is Golden Retriever? Why are you dawdling so much with a raincoat?”

The art teacher next to the bookshelf twitched his eyelids violently, hung the windproof leather jacket aside, rubbed his hands and hissed, drawing in cold air: “Old Mo, why did you come here to die?”

He walked over, picked up the beret on the desk as he passed by, but hesitated for a moment, and put it down again because of his wet hair. Then, he chose to pick up the pipe next to him and took a satisfying puff.