Ren Haoyu's Dilemma

"H-hi?"

As he turned around, Ren Haoyu was taken aback to see the woman from the previous night standing in front of him. She exuded a graceful aura that could make even the most composed men's hearts skip a beat. However, for Ren Haoyu, the feeling was more of fear than awe.

'Does she finally recognize me?' Ren Haoyu's mind raced with fearful thoughts. He contemplated whether to kneel right there and then and beg for mercy. But before he could even make a move, the woman spoke up.

"Hello. I believe we've met yesterday night," she said straightforwardly, breaking the tense silence between them.

Sh*t! She really recognizes me!

"I-i guess so." Ren Haoyu replied stammeringly. Even if he wanted to deny it, his intuition told him that lying would only bring him more trouble.

"Let's meet at Lenying Lake today at 7 p.m. I believe you must be available at that time, right?" Although her request sounded as if she was asking his opinion, Ren Haoyu felt otherwise. He had an impression she was an Empress Dowager. And her request was actually an irrefutable decree.

"Y-yeah, but why at Lenying Lake?"

Xianying University was known for its serene environment, with lush trees and clear blue lakes dotting the campus grounds. Yet, among the three lakes that graced the grounds, Lenying Lake stood out as an eerie and unsettling place. Tucked away in a far corner of the campus, the lake was surrounded by a dense thicket of gnarled trees that obscured the sunlight and made it difficult to see beyond their twisted branches.

Lenying Lake's still waters shimmered with an unnerving green hue, and students often reported feeling as if they were being watched when they lingered near its banks. The few who dared to swim in its murky depths spoke of an icy chill that seemed to seep into their bones, making it difficult to move or escape the lake's grasp.

But it wasn't just the lake's otherworldly appearance that kept students away. Lenying Lake had a dark history that was whispered about in hushed tones around campus.

One story that sent chills down the spine was that of a student who attempted to drown himself in the lake after being whispered to by an unknown entity. It was said that the voices were so terrifying that the boy had lost his sanity and chose to take his own life. His friends found him before he could succumb to the icy depths of the lake, but the horror of that night stayed with them forever.

Another tale that circulated around the university was that of a female student who had been relentlessly bullied. One day, she took a boat to the center of the lake, rowed to its depths, and threw herself overboard. It was said that she had become a vengeful spirit, and she would tempt other students to join her in her watery grave. The stories grew more frightening with each retelling, and soon the students were too afraid to go anywhere near Lenying Lake.

Although it was all just a baseless rumor, the students surprisingly bought it!

As a result, Lenying Lake became known as a cursed and haunted place, and students avoided it at all costs. It was said that anyone foolish enough to venture there after dark would never return, or worse, they would return possessed by the malevolent spirits that roamed the area.

And this Su Xiu's Ex invited him over to such an evil place? Moreover, it was at night! There's no way she invited him over with the intention to enjoy a romantic rendezvous. It was hard to believe that she had invited him out of affection.

He had never considered himself charming enough to capture the attention of someone like her. Instead, he feared that she had some sinister plans for him. The idea of being alone with her in such an ominous location gave him an uneasy feeling.

He'd rather believe pigs could fly than her saying she likes him.

"Hmmm... Let's just say I think it's the perfect location."

"A perfect location for my burial ground?" Ren Haoyu subconsciously completed her words.

"Huh?"

"N-nothing!" Ren Haoyu instantly zips his mouth. Damn it! My tongue slipped on its own.

"Then, see you later." Azalea threw an amiable smile at him. However, in Ren Haoyu's eyes, her smile was like the embodiment of the cruelest or evilest elements in the world. And in his mind, her words are automatically translated to be. "If I don't see you around at that time. You'll be good as dead!"

Ren Haoyu hurriedly nodded his head and bid her goodbye as well.

...

"Why are you so pale?" Su Xiu asked after noticing the stark difference between the face of Ren Haoyu prior to entering and after exiting the restroom.

"Don't tell me..." Su Xiu gasped in disbelief, scuttering closer toward Ren Haoyu, and whispered, "Did you actually do it in a public place? You're really bold, Haoyu! Anyway, your boldness has earned my respect today!"

With that, Su Xiu patted Ren Haoyu's shoulder like a commander saluting its braveries soldier.

Rather than explaining what happened, Ren Haoyu just let the man's imagination run wild. But, he was in the mood to complain about his friend's ex's behavior. "Chihuahua, your ex is really terrifying, ah."

"What the f*ck! She's not my ex! How many times do I have to tell you that?!" Su Xiu hollered and ultimately glared at the culprit, Zheng Tian. The reason behind this hoax first spread.

Zheng Tian had just gained consciousness when he saw Su Xiu moving closer toward him and shoving another piece of potato wedges inside his mouth.

Immediately, he fell into another blackout episode.

...

Ren Haoyu spent the remainder of the day and afternoon laboring on his assignments alongside Su Xiu and Zheng Tian at the library. He struggled to concentrate, fearing that if his mind strayed for even a moment, he would be reminded of his impending appointment that evening.

But he didn't want to abandon his commitment. He simply longed for a moment of tranquility, a brief respite from the looming uncertainty. When you lose yourself in your work, time can seem to vanish in an instant.

As Ren Haoyu lifted his gaze from his book, he saw that the clock on the wall had advanced to precisely 5:30 p.m. He slouched back in his seat, his fingers kneading the space between his eyebrows, trying to dispel the weariness in his mind and body.

His mind wasn't entirely focused on his studies. He found himself slipping into a daydream, wondering what Azalea was going to reveal to him.

He couldn't shake off the feeling that she had something significant to tell him this night, something connected to what he had witnessed the previous evening. If this were a story, he knew that there could only be two outcomes: either he would be eliminated or ushered into her world.

It seemed improbable that she would resort to murder to keep him silent since she is currently a student, right? She was also Su Xiu's ex.

I mean, she should at least give his ex's friend some face, right?

And, this a modern world we're talking about.

This isn't a Xinxia world where fists decide everything and some maniacs or psychopaths reign supreme.

This is a world where everyone has to bow down before the law! A world where everyone is equal before the law!

"What a load of bullshit! This politician has proven to be involved in huge money embezzlement that cost thousand of workers under him to be left unpaid for several months. Yet, the court decided to sentence the guy to just one and a half year imprisonment! This world is definitely ruined! Nowadays with money you can literally buy everything, including the law!" Su Xiu condemned in a hushed voice. His fingers were trembling in anger.

Eh, forget about my monologue. I think there's no such thing as a perfect world, both in fantasy and reality.

'Sigh, doesn't this mean meeting her would be risky?'

Ren Haoyu's thoughts were racing as he tried to make sense of the situation. On one hand, he didn't want to put himself in danger by meeting with Su Xiu's Ex, especially in such an ominous place like Lenying Lake. On the other hand, his curiosity was piqued, and he couldn't help but wonder what secrets were hidden on the other side of society? Like, where do they get the power from? How much supernatural power wielders are out there? Are there monsters in this world? Are cultivators real? He got so many questions in his mind that he felt his curiosity getting the better of him.

He was torn between two conflicting desires: his desire to protect himself and his desire to uncover the truth. The former seemed like the safer option, but it left him with a nagging feeling that he would regret not taking the chance to find out what was really going on. The latter was riskier, but it promised a potential reward of knowledge and understanding.

Ren Haoyu was also keenly aware of his own limitations. He wasn't a detective or an expert in supernatural phenomena. He was just a college student trying to get through his coursework and make sense of the world around him. He didn't have any special skills or talents that would make him stand out in a crowd, and he certainly didn't have the kind of charisma that would make Su Xiu's Ex spare his life.

As he pondered his dilemma, Ren Haoyu couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness. It was as if he was caught in a web of intrigue and danger, and there was no way for him to escape. He wished he had someone to talk to, someone who could offer him guidance and support. But he knew that he was alone in this, and that the only way to find answers was to take the risk and meet with Su Xiu's Ex.

Ren Haoyu let out a sigh of frustration. Abruptly, he slapped his cheeks hard. He then hurriedly sprung up from the chair, ending up knocking the chair over.

It gave off a huge bang. In the quiet library, the sound appeared particularly strident.

Su Xiu and Zheng Tian were likewise startled. They both stared at Ren Haoyu with a look as if saying. "I'm embarrassed with your action. Please don't talk to us and pretend we're strangers."

However, it was obvious Ren Haoyu didn't plan to grant their wishes. With a rather loud voice, he spoke to both of them while secretly peeking at the incoming staff. "I just recall I had something to do. Don't wait for me."

After saying that, he right away fled from the place, leaving the duo speechless.

Then, they saw a staff coming to their seats with a book and a pen. "That student earlier is your friend, right? Since you're associated with him, that means you're his accomplice too. Therefore, please state your name and your student ID. Oh, and please do include that student's ID and name, who fled earlier as well."

Su Xiua and Zheng Tian exchanged glances and shared the same thoughts.

'Ren Haoyu, you bastard, assh*le, pig f*cker!'

...

Ren Haoyu felt weighed down by the upcoming appointment with Su Xiu's Ex, so he decided to clear his head by racing around the building several times. The physical activity helped to blow off some steam and relieve his anxiety.

Afterwards, he felt refreshed and energized, with a renewed sense of determination. Checking his phone, he saw that he had only fifty minutes until the appointment. He rushed back to his dorm to quickly shower and change, selecting practical clothing suitable for the cool evening air.

Ren Haoyu dressed appropriately for the outdoors with a thick white t-shirt under a black windbreaker, track pants, and sturdy shoes. He left the campus and traveled to the outskirts where the trailhead to Lenying Lake was located. The journey took longer than he expected, but he finally arrived at the trailhead with about twenty minutes to spare before meeting Su Xiu's ex. The entrance to the trail was marked by a wooden signpost, weathered and worn by the elements. Ren took a deep breath, feeling the excitement and anticipation of the adventure ahead.