Two centuries ago, there was no Song Hai City—only Song Fu. What is now Song Hai City's vibrant, flourishing scene was once merely a small fishing village. Over the course of two centuries, Song Fu has grown into one of the districts of Song Hai City, now located in the outlying suburbs. Song Fu University. At 8:30 a.m., the summer evenings are exceptionally humid, and the young students' hormones are constantly agitated. In the third floor of the women's dormitory, Zhu Hanjing, the belle of the Economics Department, is sitting by her bed, applying skincare products to her face. Two other girls are browsing a forum and chatting. The girl browsing the forum suddenly remarks, "Recently, there's been a surge of posts on the forum claiming that the small forest beside the sports field possesses a magical power—just by taking your beloved there, you can make them fall in love with you, and then, under the forest's witness, complete the final step of romance. That's absolutely ridiculous. I simply don't believe it." Another girl kept typing furiously on her keyboard, chatting online while also engaging in real-time conversation: "It's obvious—those guys must have made it all up to fool us. I remember in my first year, they claimed our dorm building was haunted. Now, after a whole year, nothing's happened at all." Zhu Hanjing also chimed in with a smile: "Even if it's true, I wouldn't go. The woods are filled with mosquitoes—just spending a few minutes there would be unbearable. If I had to undress and do it, I'd end up with a rash all over." As she said this, she stepped close to the mirror, gently patting her face, clearly satisfied with her skin. In the reflection, she appeared fair-skinned, with large eyes, a fresh red lip, and a delicate, oval face. Even in her natural, unmade-up state, she outshone the heavily made-up girls. That's why so many men pursued her—no problem from the Song family estate all the way to the Songhai city center, or from the dormitory to the school gate. A female classmate chatting at the forum smiled and said, "Jingjing, you're so concerned about your skin. You complain about sun exposure during the day, then about mosquitoes at night, and in the morning you say you can't sleep well and your skin will suffer. You've barely moved for over a month and a half—you're practically gaining a little belly." "Nonsense! I'm not eating tomorrow—I'm going to fast for three days!" Zhù Hánjǐng scowled at her roommate, then glanced at the empty seat beside her and asked, "Where's Xiaolan? She's been missing from the dorm lately, only coming back after lights out." The female classmate, who had been rapidly typing on her keyboard, suddenly stopped and gave a knowing glance. "I saw her come back this morning—she was limping, and she looked all muddy and messy. Isn't it strange that she's been off with her boyfriend in the woods?" "Xiaolan doesn't have a boyfriend," Zhù Hánjǐng shook her head. "When did you see her?" The typing girl tilted her head, thought for a moment, and replied, "It must have been just before dawn "That doesn't make sense. I was asleep last night, and Xiaolan was still in the dorm then," Zhu Hanjing said with skepticism. The girl who had just refreshed the forum posted, "She left around 10:30, right when you had already gone to sleep." Zhu Hanjing maintained a very regular sleep schedule—she always went to bed at 10 p.m. and woke up at 6 a.m., rarely waking up in between. Although both roommates confirmed this, Zhu Xihua still didn't believe it. After all, Xiaolan was always such a well-behaved student, never staying out overnight. At that moment, the dorm door opened, and a round-faced girl entered—her features refined and her demeanor graceful and composed—exactly the one everyone had been talking about. Zhu Hanjing, who was particularly close to Xiaolan, furrowed her brows and asked, "Xiaolan, Huihui said you didn't return to the dorm last night and only came back in the early morning, limping?" The girl named Huihui immediately replied, "Didn't you two end up getting lost in the little grove of trees?" "Lián, with a round face and a delicate appearance, spat out a stream of air and scolded, 'You're the one who's been going into the small grove with guys, aren't you? The grove is full of mosquitoes—who's going there? If a guy doesn't even have the money to cover room and board, who would ever consider dating him? I myself suffered a setback during my freshman year—boyfriends without financial stability simply have no value at all.' She had dated a boyfriend during her freshman year, but they eventually broke up due to relationship issues. Zhù Hánjǐng nodded vigorously, her brows relaxing, 'Exactly—how could anyone still be going into the grove like that in this day and age?' Her voice suddenly stalled as she noticed the snow-white neck and wrists of Lián, dotted with dense red spots—clear signs of mosquito bites. The girls' dormitory had mosquito spray, and everyone had mosquito nets. Even if occasional mosquitoes managed to make it through all the defenses to bite them, such extensive marks should not have occurred. And the red spots, surely, were even more numerous on the parts of the body not exposed by the clothing. This wasn’t just a visit to the small grove—it felt more like she’d stripped off completely and slept there all night long. …Zhu Hanjing whispered cautiously, “Didn’t you come back last night, Xiao Lan?” “Even you don’t believe me?” Xiao Lan gave Zhu Hanjing a sharp tap on the head, then yawned, “So tired—I’ve barely had any energy all day. I’ll go to bed now.” With that, she climbed onto the bed and pulled the mosquito net over herself. Zhu Hanjing frowned, hesitated, and finally went to bed after waiting until nearly time for lights out. Half-asleep, she was startled awake by a soft, quiet sound. She looked over and saw Xiao Lan already awake on the bed across the room. “Xiao Lan?” Zhu Hanjing called out, their eyes meeting. In that instant, she noticed her roommate’s gaze was vacant, lifeless—lacking any spark. Xiao Lan seemed to have completely missed her voice. Without a word, she got up and walked to the door, barefoot, even, stepping on her slippers as she went. Zhu Hanjing felt her heart sink, a little afraid. She didn’t have time to change into a T-shirt and simply got out of bed in her nightgown, shaking her friend Hui Hui awake on the opposite side. "Wake up, Xiao Lan has really gone out." "Whatever, she can go out—didn’t she go out yesterday too?" Hui Hui mumbled, still asleep. "I... I feel something’s off with her," Zhu Hanjing said. This time, Hui Hui didn’t respond—she only made a soft snoring sound. In the darkness, Zhu Hanjing hesitated several times before finally deciding to follow Xiao Lan. It’s the school, after all—there’s nothing to fear. If Xiao Lan really has a boyfriend, then, well, she can just go out and be an adult. She doesn’t need me to interfere. But Xiao Lan’s condition seems clearly off—like she’s been walking in her sleep. Maybe last night, she wandered into the woods and slept there overnight? As a close friend, a true best friend, she should have brought her back. Zhu Hanjing still had one concern—the local ghost tale. Yet the ghost tale speaks of love, while she senses the supernatural in Xiaolan. Stepping out of her dormitory, she pauses by the entrance, gazing toward the distant streetlights where Xiaolan's figure grows farther away. It's already time for lights out—classrooms and dorms are dark—leaving only the streetlights to illuminate the campus. Fortunately, there are many streetlights, casting a soft, downy yellow glow that brings her great comfort. Soon, she follows Xiaolan through one building after another, the path growing more winding, eventually crossing the campus playground and entering a small grove. Though called a grove, it is actually a small park intended for students and faculty to stroll after meals and cultivate their spirits. However, due to its remote location, few people make the effort to cultivate their spirits, preferring instead to stay in their dorms playing games. As a result, the park is rarely visited and has fallen into a state of partial neglect. What struck the eye was the lush greenery, with trees and wild flower patches growing vigorously, exuding a truly forest-like atmosphere. Though this was a quiet, somewhat neglected corner of the campus, the groundskeepers occasionally trimmed the grass and plants. It was hard to imagine plants flourishing so abundantly. As Xiaolan walked along the stone path into the park, she hesitated for a moment. The school's legends came to mind—aside from the recent ones, there were no stories about this park at all. Had Xiaolan really found a boyfriend? Was she truly willing to accompany him deep into the woods? She decided to take a look. If that were the case, just a glance would suffice—she bit her lip and hurried into the forest. Along the path, there was a small lamp every few meters, providing only modest illumination. As she walked, searching for Xiaolan's figure, she suddenly heard a commotion ahead a few minutes later. The woman's moans, the man's breaths, and the crisp snaps. Following the sounds, she turned a corner, and what lay before her left her speechless, standing still in astonishment. Ahead was a circular open space, two rows of long benches, and a round table in the center. On the table sat two couples, and on the benches six more. On the ground, there were over a dozen young men and women, fully immersed in passionate, intense physical encounters—some half-dressed, others completely naked. Zhu Hanjing spotted her roommate, Xiao Lan, lying supine on the round table, cradling her chest, her legs resting on a man's shoulders, eyes half-closed, lost in the depths of desire. A few meters away, standing alone, was a tree unlike any other—tall enough to reach a person's height, uniformly emerald green, so lush and smooth it seemed carved from jade. Yet when the breeze passed through, the branches swayed and trembled, movements far beyond the stillness of a sculpture. These people had grown strangely detached from her arrival, their eyes fixed and burning with passion, their only thought—reproduction. It was deep night, in the dimly lit park, where a group of people were indulging in things utterly unconventional. Zhu Hanjing was deeply shocked. At that moment, a young man noticed her, withdrew from his female companion, and embraced her bare-chested, beaming with a smile. "Isn't this our campus belle?" Everyone turned to look, their eyes filled with intense passion and desire. Zhu Hanjing instinctively clutched her chest, stepping back in sheer fear. "You—don't come any closer!" she stared fiercely at the young man. The man, animated and enthusiastic, chuckled, "This park has a magic—once you've been here, you'll fall deeply in love with it. We come every day. Look, how much joy they're enjoying!" Another young man stepped forward, declaring, "Here comes our Zhu belle! Welcome to the fold, Zhu belle!" The couples who had been merely maintaining a lukewarm relationship now turned to gaze at her. The men laughed with a strange, proud sound, swaying their hips proudly, while the women deliberately emitted high-pitched, seductive sighs and cast admiring glances her way. This includes Xiao Lan, her more reserved roommate. She has become so strange that even Zhù Hánjǐng no longer recognizes her. Everyone is strange—upon closer inspection, one notices a lack of rationality and spiritual depth in their eyes, as though merely acting on some instinct. Whether male or female, each person is indulging their desires, embracing sensuality, while worldly values, morals, and laws are all being set aside, replaced by instinct. Zhù Hánjǐng sadly realizes that this instinct is also spreading to her. As she watches a slender figure approach, she suddenly feels an intense, overwhelming longing, her mouth dry, her breath rapid and shallow. Now, no one is restricting her freedom, yet she feels she can no longer escape. Biological instinct has anchored her here. As reason gradually fades beneath the flames of desire, Zhù Hánjǐng feels utterly hopeless, yet when she sees the man walking bare-chested, she is filled with yearning. She bites her lip, closes her eyes, and her tears fall silently. "Snap!" At that moment, Zhu Hanjing heard a sharp tap of fingers from behind her. She turned around to see a handsome, upright young man. His eyes and features were captivating, his figure tall and appealing—how she longed to lean against him, to crave his warmth... As she lost herself in these thoughts, she suddenly became dazed, realizing she had returned to her dorm room without noticing. Xiao Lan was applying makeup beside her, while Hui Hui and the others were chatting or watching a show, the atmosphere peaceful and serene. "What are you staring at?" Xiao Lan asked with a smile. "Nothing, really," Zhu Hanjing shook her head, then smoothly picked up the skincare products on the table and began to care for her skin. She vaguely remembered having gone through something very frightening, yet couldn't quite recall the details—it felt like she had just woken up from a dream, only to find herself still feeling a deep, unnameable tremor. In the lush park, Zhang Yuan, who had just swept the students who were motionless, absorbed in the magic, murmured under his breath: What on earth is going on with the Wild Silver Prawns? Truly unbelievable! After getting off the plane, he immediately rushed over, since he was unfamiliar with Songfu University and specifically asked around for the legendary location of "Forest of Love." Most students and faculty hadn't heard of this tale, and only a few tech-savvy students had come across it on online forums. Once he had the directions clear, he summoned his night-walking abilities, donned the Wind-Walker gloves, and arrived on the breeze, just in time to intercept this scene. Though the sight before him was quite unbelievable, these young people were fortunate compared to those who had met tragic ends. Compared to the more deadly props, this small tree was gentle and soothing. Zhang Yuanqing passed by the younger students and made his way toward the lush green tree. As he took just three steps, he felt an intense surge of desire, his mouth dry, his throat parched, and he longed to push aside the young man beside him and claim the girl beneath him. Phew, this charm effect is far stronger than the Mountain God's Staff. Even at my level, I'm still experiencing such a severe impact—this must be a Saint-tier item. Zhang Yuanqing raises his hand, brushing it across his face, activating the blue face. A deep blue facial mask with a bold, resolute expression replaces his features. Thanks to the 50% endurance boost, he successfully reaches the slender green tree, extending his hand to grasp its trunk. Clearly, this is a passive item—once picked up, it belongs to whoever holds it. However, due to its unique function, students here are so focused on forming close friendships that they've largely overlooked it. I've been refined by the Mountain God's Staff, yet this item still nearly overcomes me. The fact that it hasn't actively attacked me doesn't mean it lacks attack power or self-awareness. A truly passive item requires a master to fully harness its potential. Zhang Yuanqing concentrates, reading the item's details.