CHAPTER 1086: CHAPTER 509: THE ONLY WAY OUT FOR LU ZHAO AND THE OTHERS (PART 2)

"If the Sneering Angel enters the classroom, the disaster it causes would be far more severe than just contaminating one or two people, wouldn’t it?"

"Ah, this, this..." Lin Yi stammered a bit, "About the Sneering Angel appearing in the classroom... I feel like... it might have something to do with me."

"..." Class Teacher-040 was speechless, with an expression that seemed to say "really?".

Lin Yi simply explained that because he carried ashes, his shadow seemed to have become a gathering place for the Sneering Angel, bringing it into the classroom. But the Sneering Angel seemed to be subject to certain restrictions, so when it left the shadow, it was erased by the layers—although this was his speculation, he still explained it to Class Teacher-040.

Ironically, Class Teacher-040 heard "gathering place" as "residence", assuming that Lin Yi had brought the Sneering Angel along, and although it had contaminated Jin Jiuyao and Chen Xue, fortunately it was already dead, and the disaster level didn’t escalate further.

Class Teacher-040 sighed with relief, which fell into Lin Yi’s eyes, making Lin Yi feel a great respect in his heart—truly worthy of being an "Execution Officer" sent by the authorities, to hear that my shadow was the Sneering Angel’s gathering place without showing an ounce of panic!

The calmness despite impending doom, just that alone was worth learning from.

"The classmates who ended up with you really are unlucky..." Class Teacher-040 said with a mix of tears and laughter.

Lin Yi just shrugged, "But I feel like some coincidences are inevitable."

"You’re not wrong. In other words, if what they encountered wasn’t the Angel Sculpture, but instead faced the Sneering Angel directly within the campus, the outcome could have been much worse." Class Teacher-040 shook his head, "This isn’t a major issue... What I’m worried about now is handling Lu Zhao and the others, which might pose some trouble."

"What do you mean? Are you going to eliminate them completely?" Lin Yi made a throat-slashing gesture.

Class Teacher-040 glanced at him, "The policy of the authorities is not to abandon or give up, nor to handle issues extremely when they arise but to attempt to save in every savable situation."

"In situations like this, if salvation is truly impossible, I would have to find a way to prepare an alternative for them."

This is the essence of being a "Homeroom teacher."

"It’s about ’redemption,’ not ’judgment.’"

Class Teacher-040 rubbed his temples, seemingly distressed.

"If they stay in the classroom, during the Grey Mist Invasion, there will inevitably be a period of blackout, and under current circumstances, the Angel Sculpture entering the classroom is almost certain; by then, they would be doomed..."

"If they leave the classroom, their only options would be the Dormitory and the Gymnasium... which currently are not good destinations either."

"What about the Security Guard? Can’t they help?" Lin Yi asked, recalling that it was the Security Guard who brought Li Huiyuan to the Gymnasium back then.

Class Teacher-040 slightly shook his head, "As you said, their source of contamination is the Angel Sculpture. If they go with the Security Guard, and the contamination erupts, the most dangerous thing for them won’t be the anomalous environment but the Security Guard."

"Currently, no bizarre unit in the campus can be dealt with by the Security Guard. If they do follow the Security Guard, their fate will be uncertain."

Lin Yi drew a cold breath, thinking of the intimidating and imposing figure of the Security Guard, the dim kerosene lamp, and the Wolf Fang Club tainted with the flesh of nocturnal species, leaving him breathless.

The Security Guard’s presence was too overwhelming; if not for knowing that he was on their side, encountering him during abnormal weather would be terrifying.

The Night Watchman might exchange black humor with you, but the Security Guard would turn you into a joke.

Class Teacher-040 said, "They need to find the School Doctor or the Physical Education Teacher, but unfortunately, only I can contact the School Doctor, yet this communication becomes unstable during abnormal weather... The authorities don’t allow taking this risk."

"And the Physical Education Teacher is inside the gym... Thus, it circles back to them having to go to the gym."

Lin Yi was silent for a while and then asked, "Will the people staying in the classroom tonight not get through it?"

Class Teacher-040 replied, "Generally speaking, if they hide obediently under the desks, they could get through it, but you should know better than anyone that inspiration often strikes as a sudden spark."

"Even if you could remain vigilant forever, contamination could seize the opportunity when you let your guard down."

"The terror of contamination lies not in knowing where it is, but in being unable to prevent it even when you know it’s there, just like breathing."

With Class Teacher-040’s words, Lin Yi suddenly felt suffocated, with his mood turning heavy.

"Many people might not make it through, right..."

"Yes," Class Teacher-040 replied, "This Grey Mist Invasion is much more serious than previous ones. Many Experience Students are facing issues, especially those who’ve managed to last seven days already."

Lin Yi asked, "What happens if they don’t leave after seven days?"

"Nothing really," Class Teacher-040 slightly shook his head, "I’ve mentioned before, from the start, the authorities’ intention wasn’t to harm, so the seven-day limit is just a cognitive shackle, a reminder that it’d be time to leave."

"In the past, some with a strong curiosity explored the campus within the rules, eventually getting drawn by supernatural powers without noticing and staying longer in the campus, ultimately degenerating into Nocturnal Species."

"The seven-day limit isn’t a strict standard; once the stay exceeds seven days, many things start to accumulate in quantity, transforming into a change in quality."

"So later on, the authorities set a one-week school entry deadline."

"Within this time frame, many actions can be completed."

Lin Yi contemplated, "Including the screening of Sports Students and Art Student embryos?"

"Correct." Class Teacher-040 nodded.

"So, regarding Lu Zhao and the others, do you have a final plan?" Lin Yi asked, as Lu Zhao and the others were actually no longer his concern. If Class Teacher-040 didn’t have anything to add, he would bid farewell and leave.

Class Teacher-040 was silent for a while before slowly speaking, "Their way out isn’t in the classroom."

"So do you want them to go to the gymnasium or the dormitory building?" Lin Yi inquired.

Class Teacher-040 said, "I initially hoped you could go back to the dormitory with them, considering that having more people to look after one another is better after all..."

Lin Yi didn’t speak because upon hearing "initially," he knew there would be a "but."

"But..." Class Teacher-040 indeed continued, "Judging by how they’ve been acting, they’re not qualified to team up with you. Being with them might drag you down."

"Moreover, I sense you also prefer not having people tagging along with you."

After finishing, Class Teacher-040 looked at him.

Lin Yi nodded noncommittally. He knew his situation better than anyone; being with him was akin to being among a group of Sneering Angels, wasn’t it?

Under the classroom lights might be fine for now, but later on, once in abnormal weather, relying solely on the streetlamp poles wouldn’t suppress the Sneering Angels.

If Lu Zhao and the four walked with him, it would be like adding cute little toppings to the Sneering Angels’ feast.

"It’s not that I’m unwilling, but frankly speaking, walking with me might get them killed faster," Lin Yi candidly stated.