44 044 Zhong Shengnan
Labyrinth of Caves.
“It’s her!”
When Wu Wei heard Zhong Shengnan’s voice, he immediately recognized who she was – none other than the woman who had sold him the Broken Horn.
Rather than Wu Wei having a good memory, Zhong Shengnan’s voice was simply too unique.
She could be considered the manliest woman Wu Wei had ever encountered – not because of her strong voice, but because of her straightforward, no-nonsense demeanor.
Hearing her voice made Wu Wei instantly feel relieved.
“Well… compared to that time in Treant Forest, the Academy is acting much more swiftly this time. And with a bigshot like her here, the situation will probably be resolved soon, I guess.”
Wu Wei prepared to set off.
Although he was not the type of person to go out of his way to help others, it was a different matter now since it was a mission issued by the Academy. Failing to act on the mission would result in a demerit.
After all, Yuehua Academy was not simply a school, but an organization and force of Runemasters. Wu Wei and his peers weren’t simply students – they had their part to play in the organization. They could not refuse to comply with the Academy’s orders.
Of course, they were not expected to work without incentive – the Academy usually handed out mission rewards.
And for this kind of special emergency mission, the rewards were usually even better.
..
On the other side.
After Zhong Shengnan broadcasted the emergency mission, she proceeded to the entrance of the third level of the Labyrinth of Caves.
She did not enter but instead stood guard there.
Rather than go in to investigate matters, she decided to stay here and prevent Runic Monsters from coming out first. Buying time for the students on the first and second levels was the most crucial objective in her mind.
Several Runic Monsters coming out from the third floor bared their fangs and brandished their claws at her as they approached, but they suddenly stopped in their tracks as if they had seen something terrifying. And then, surprisingly, they turned tailed to run!
Imposing as Zhong Shengnan looked, that was not the reason for their hasty retreat.
At this moment, a rune was shining on Zhong Shengnan’s forehead.
The sight of this rune was what had intimidated the Runic Monsters from the third floor.
This effect was also part of why she had decided it best to stand guard here.
Right now, it was essential to ensure that the situation on the first and second floors was contained and not worsened by the Runic Monsters from the third floor. This would allow the search and rescue to proceed more smoothly.
Thanks to her restraining the monsters from the third floor, the other students would only have to deal with the second floor, where only a few bosses spawned.
For First Stage Runemasters, as long as they moved carefully, they would be able to dodge the bosses, so Zhong Shengnan felt there should be no issue.
..
Wu Wei’s location.
After coming out of his hiding spot, Wu Wei’s received another voice transmission through his Book of Runes.
This time, it was a different person.
“Student Wu Wei, please wait where you are. I’ll arrange for someone to come and pick you up… Wait. You’re at the First Stage already?”
The voice belonged to the staff member he had encountered before entering the Labyrinth of Caves.
Somehow, the staff member recognized him and could even tell his level from such a far distance. Wu Wei was surprised by the fact that this was possible.
The staff was shocked to learn that Wu Wei had reached the First Stage.
After all, when Wu Wei had entered, he had only been Level 10.
How had he reached the First Stage in such a short amount of time?
As the situation was pressing, the staff quelled his curiosity.
“Student Wu Wei, I will guide you towards the location of a group of trapped students. Please follow my instructions!”
“Yes!”
Thus began the search and rescue.
“Student Wu Wei, go straight into the third cave on your left. There is a team surrounded by Runic Monsters inside. Please go over and help them!”
Under the staff’s directions, Wu Wei quickly found the team of students and assessed the situation.
On top of a First Stage Boss, only a few dozen cave goblins surrounded them. As Wu Wei confirmed the number of enemies, the staff began to speak.
“Student Wu Wei, more students are already on the way to support. You need to help them hold out for fifteen minutes -”
The staff suddenly stopped talking.
Yellow had suddenly charged out.
With Yellow Turban Power activated, Yellow’s STR soared to 4.5, and with his fearsome might, he quickly slew his way through the mob of goblins like a hot knife through butter to reach the boss, whereupon he raised his hand and slashed down!
The Level 11 [High] rank boss was insta-killed with a single slash!
The observing staff’s jaw dropped. It took a while for him to regain his senses.
“What the F**K! Is this really a recently advanced Runemaster?”
“There isn’t a single boss in the first or second level that could pose any threat to him!”
The staff was shocked but more so confused.
Team 8911 had expelled Wu Wei, citing incompatible personalities and the fact that he could not keep up with the team’s strength.
But if even such a strong Runemaster was not worthy of them, what kind of monster team was Team 8911, exactly?
When the staff regained his senses, he hurriedly canceled and rediverted the requested support.
Thereafter, Wu Wei, with the aid of the omniscient intel support he provided, rushed out to location after location to rescue more students.
In the short span of an hour, Yellow slew four more bosses with ease.
By this point, Wu Wei had rescued thirty to forty students, and as his Book of Runes’ storage capacity had been reached, he had to ask the students he rescued to help store the excess.
Just as Wu Wei was starting to get into his farming groove, the staff gave new orders.
“Wu Wei, all the students on the second floor have been found and rescued. Please lead them back to the entrance of the first floor!”
“That’s it?”
Wu Wei could not help but feel disappointed.
With the staff’s directions, he began to escort the rescued students out as fast as possible.
When Wu Wei arrived at the Labyrinth of Caves’ entrance, over a hundred students were already gathered there. The search and rescue mission had concluded.
Although everyone was initially scared and uncertain, seeing each other made them less tense as there was solace to be found in numbers. Humans were social creatures, after all. Wu Wei also began to relax. It looks like things were finally over.
Now, they would need to wait for the Academy to wrap things up, and they could finally go home – or so they thought.
At this time, another broadcast was made.
“Students, please pay attention. You have one hour left. After one hour, student Zhong Shengnan will stop restraining the monsters within the cave to proceed deeper to investigate.”
“During this period, Runic Monsters from the third floor might come up and attack. Wu Wei has been assigned the commander of your group and is to take charge of the defense.”