The lake floor below was dark and turbulent, a figure cutting through the water with agile limbs, propelled layer upon layer by the currents, advancing like a submersible missile. The visitor wore heavy armor with a black iron mask, obscuring his or her gender beneath the armor. If Zhang Yuanqing's movement resembled a high-speed boat, this armored figure's pace was truly that of a waterborne missile, stirring the deep currents with a resonant roar. The speed was remarkable—either the visitor was the Plague God, or possessed a saintly water-controlling artifact. Zhang Yuanqing maintained his nocturnal routine, his brow furrowed. The arrival of this unexpected guest had completely disrupted his plans. It wasn't meant for me, he thought. Before descending, he had carefully surveyed the surrounding area and noticed no one watching. Under his night-walking state, he should have remained undetected. To see him clearly in his invisible form, one would need a sovereign—yet there was no sovereign within Qin Feng Academy. Then, perhaps he was coming specifically for the stone gate of the Hundred-Beast Island? That seemed impossible. Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself in doubt. The Armored Man arrived at the Hundred-Beasts Island swiftly, gliding around the "Isolated Cliff" for half a circle before coming to a stop at the stone gate. At this point, the two of them were about twenty meters apart—close enough that, in daylight, they could easily see each other by turning their heads. But here, deep in the dark waters, Zhang Yuanqing was in nocturnal mode, and as long as he didn’t actively attack, he remained undetected. The Armored Man examined the stone gate, occasionally pushing it with force and at other times touching the surrounding cliff walls to sense hidden mechanisms. Finally, he floated before the gate, focusing on the circular opening between the stones, as if he had now understood something. He truly came specifically for the hidden mission of Qin Feng Academy… Watching this scene, Zhang Yuanqing felt a weight settle in his mind, and couldn’t help but consider whether to strike suddenly, ambush the Armored Man, and reveal his true form, pressing him to disclose where he had obtained the information about the gate. Yet, just as this thought formed, it was abruptly suppressed—because he noticed a group of graceful merfolk swiftly approaching from the distance in the lake waters. At the forefront stood a stunning female mermaid, her features refined and three-dimensional, surpassing in beauty any woman she had ever seen. She was neither delicate nor frail; her vibrant, spirited face radiated wildness and courage, as if always ready for battle, like a resolute female warrior. Her figure was graceful and strong, with flowing curves that conveyed powerful strength. She was taller than the average mermaid, standing at about 1.9 meters—equivalent to a human height. This was a mermaid queen of warrior-like stature. The merfolk, with human bodies and fish tails, held long spears, their chests adorned with woven reeds forming a graceful bodice. With agile, powerful movements of their fish bodies, they swiftly advanced toward the Hundred-Beast Island. How had the merfolk been drawn here? Was it the noise made by this armored figure? Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brows, finding it somewhat puzzling. The mermaid lake was vast—unless the movements had been particularly loud, such a disturbance should not have summoned an entire group of merfolk. Moreover, the way they approached, with such determined resolve, as though prepared to fight to the death, seemed even more unusual. Zhang Yuanqing suddenly had a thought: if the giant tiger from Bai Shou Island was sent by the Grand Elder of Bai Hua Society to guard the stone gate, why not the merfolk? After all, Fu Qingyang had once participated in the rescue of Ling Jun at the same location—Bai Shou Island. Was this truly a coincidence? Could it be that Ling Jun, enamored with the beauty of the merfolk queen, had secretly entered the lake and was detected by the merfolk near Bai Shou Island, who then mistakenly believed him to be a thief targeting the stone gate, and thus surrounded and killed him? This perfectly matched the current situation. At that moment, the armored figure also noticed the large group of merfolk approaching, and without hesitation, kicked off his legs against the stone gate, transforming into a underwater missile and rushing forward. Seeing this, the merfolk queen immediately accelerated, sprinting forward, arching her body and suddenly lifting her head, hurling her long spear with force. With the current's support, the spear surged through the lightning, instantly catching up with the armored figure and striking him at his waist. "Clang!" The armor's defensive strength was remarkably impressive, the lance rebounding with a somewhat dull metallic clink underwater. Behind the merqueen, dozens of female merfolk surged forward in a smooth, unified motion, lifting their bodies simultaneously and launching their lances at the armored figure. A continuous stream of sharp "ting-ting" sounds filled the water, causing the armored figure to sway like a leaf, tossed and disturbed by the penetrating force of the lances. Yet soon, it stabilized, darting through the water like a missile, leaving behind a dense trail of rippling bubbles. The merqueen led the merfolk in pursuit, leaving six or seven merfolk patrolling near the Hundred-Beast Island. They needed to depart quickly—tonight was not suitable for entering the stone gate. Zhang Yuanqing, navigating the currents, curved around to the opposite side of the Hundred-Beast Island, keeping well clear of the merfolk, and swiftly swam toward the shore. He was confident he could handle the stranded sea-people, but he was afraid of being blocked by the sea-people queen. With such a commotion, if the academy teachers came upon the noise, even if he managed to retrieve the treasures from the stone gate, the matter would surely be exposed. Once exposed, the Hundred Flowers Assembly would take notice, and the official envoy, Yuan Shishen, would have to submit the offerings in exchange for merit and wealth. That was not what he wanted. Half an hour later, Zhang Yuanqing returned to the shore, first peering out to survey the surroundings, ensuring no one was there, before stepping onto the land. …… Room 404, a soft, dreamlike glow of starlight rose and solidified into a handsome, upright young man. "You've returned?" the Lady Yin Yao, seated by the table, spoke in a voice only audible to the night-wanderer. Standing beside her was the upright, resplendent Blood Rose. "Yes, there was a little unexpected event along the way..." Zhang Yuanqing said as he removed his school uniform, donned the Yin-Yang ceremonial robe, and quickly dried the uniform using the fire master's flame control, hanging it back on "That's probably it," Zhang Yuanqing said as he lay down, having finished his explanation. Yin Yao, the Princess, nodded once, indicating she had understood and didn't need further questions. With the Princess acting as the ever-present questioner, I'd find it hard to even spark a romantic spark with Master Song Man... Glancing at the Princess's upright posture, Zhang Yuanqing silently mused. He gathered these scattered thoughts and began to reflect on his underwater observations. Who exactly was that person? Most likely a student—unless they were someone from the faculty, in which case they wouldn't have to wait until now. Being a student yet knowing the secret of the hidden quest within Qin Feng Academy is a rare trait. So, he narrowed his focus to those students from particularly distinguished families. Zhang Yuanqing realized he needed to clearly resolve one key question: whether the armored figure was an ally or an adversary. "Unless I can convince myself to share the secret with him or her, he or she will definitely be an enemy. I have to identify the armored figure." "He can't possibly have the key to the Tōten-ori, can he? Coming tonight to sneak into the lake—what's that all about, to satisfy the elders' curiosity?" Zhang Yuanqing was utterly puzzled. "If the merfolk's duty is to guard the stone gate, then the commotion tonight will surely be noticed by the faculty. They'll certainly investigate who entered the merfolk lake. Perhaps we can gather some clues from them..." Li Yanxi's face was hazy in the rising steam. After a moment's thought, he looked toward the group of teachers at the table and sighed, "I've heard from Song Man that there are many difficult students among this batch. More notably, the background of the students from prestigious academies is stronger than in previous years. Regarding the incident at the Jiao Ren Lake—what do you all think?" "The infiltrator must be that red-robed brother," Song Man said, clearly dissatisfied with him. "He's impetuous and arrogant, often disregarding rules—only someone like him would commit such a ridiculous act." "If it's him, he wouldn't hide so thoroughly," remarked the composed and elegant teacher Lin Su. "Only a few of the students from well-connected families would know about the hidden mission. Director, how do you intend to handle this?" asked the star-watcher. Li Yanxi paused, "The Qin Feng Academy's mission has already begun. Until the main storyline is completed, no one can leave or enter here." Since someone has discovered the hidden tasks and shows clear interest, we must find out who it is—we can't just let things unfold. I'll gather the students later. "Song Man, check the plants and animals outside the dormitory and see who has left." ... Xue Hou Ao Tian sat at his desk, staring at the bill before him. Even his usually proud face now bore a sense of weight. The most expensive juice cost 1,000 yuan, with 22 people consuming a total of 50 cups—averaging 2.2 cups per person—amounting to 50,000 yuan. Of course, this isn't a large sum, but Xue Hou Ao Tian currently carries an outstanding debt of 80 million yuan, being repaid in installments. Just on his first day at the academy, he's already spent 50,000 yuan. What will come next? His already modest finances are now being further strained. "That old man, Yuan Shi Tian Zun—I've watched him closely. He's had four cups, totaling 4,000 yuan. I'm determined to find a way to recover that or even make a profit from him." Xue Hou At that moment, he heard a sharp bell ringing, almost making him think he had returned to his middle school days. Immediately, the warm and gentle voice of Director Li Yanxi echoed throughout Qinfeng Academy: "All students, gather at Linlang Academy right away." The voice seemed to carry a magical power, prompting those who heard it to rise spontaneously and leave their rooms without hesitation. Xia Hou Aotian, wearing slippers, hurried out of his room. ... Zhang Yuanqing had only just fallen asleep when he was suddenly awakened by Director Li Yanxi's call. Hmph. They're already conducting an inspection? The teachers at the academy seem to place far greater importance on the Hundred-Beast Island than I had imagined. Zhang Yuanqing pulled back the blanket, dressed in his school uniform, and walked straight out of the room. It was now nine o'clock in the evening, and the students had not yet gone to sleep. Upon hearing the announcement, they quickly rose and rushed toward the Linlang Library—the same place as before. Soon, students began to arrive one after another. "What's going on?" "Is it a sudden training session?" "Exactly, I was bored tonight—hey, now there's some excitement!" "Indeed, this place has no phones, no computers. If there's not something interesting, it would be utterly dull." The students were chatting among themselves. Li Yanxi scanned the group and, seeing all the participants present, raised the microphone and said firmly, "As the Dean, I'm quite disappointed in you." At this, the students who had been discussing quietly fell silent and looked at the podium with expressions of bewilderment. "What could there be to be disappointed about? We haven't even attended a single class!" Red Chicken Brother shouted loudly. But the Dean ignored him and continued, "Just now, one of you entered the Merfolk Lake, provoking the Merfolk's anger. To cover for one of you, the faculty has incurred significant costs." "Now, please have that student step forward and accept the penalty." Was he planning to hold someone accountable for violating the school's regulations? Zhang Yuanqing turned and glanced at the students behind him. They too were looking around in surprise. After a moment, seeing no one step forward to acknowledge it, Li Yanxi said, "Let me say it again. Please come forward on your own and handle this matter promptly so you can go back to rest early." Still, no one stepped up. The dean's expression grew more serious and he said, "In that case, we'll have to take mandatory action. Now, male students will stand on the left, female students on the right, and everyone must remove their props—please take them off voluntarily." He then turned to Lin Su and the astronomy observer. The two teachers understood each other immediately: Lin Su moved to the right side, while the astronomy observer moved to the left. After a thorough search, all the female students' jewelry was removed, and the male students were left wearing nothing but their clothes. Li Yanxi folded his microphone, stepped down from the podium, and paused at the first row on the left. He fixed his deep, sharp gaze on Zhao Chenghuang and said firmly, "Did you enter the merfolk lake tonight?" Zhao Chenghuang shook his head, "It wasn't me." Li Yanxi stared at him for a few seconds, then gave a slight nod. Is the dean a swordsman? If no props are allowed, a swordsman's insight indeed proves to be a powerful tool for detecting lies. They're looking for the armored one, but I've also infiltrated the merfolk lake myself. Zhang Yuanqing grits his teeth quietly. At that moment, Li Yanxi turns to look and asks, "Did you infiltrate the merfolk lake yourself?"