PTYS Chapter 13

The moment they saw the question, several people were stunned, their faces turning pale as they looked at their companions. But their companions were either just as bewildered or staring intensely at their answer sheets, completely ignoring them.

“What kind of question is this? ‘Where is the human skin and provide evidence?’ Is this a proof question?”

Beep, beep. A warning sounded suddenly: No talking in the exam room!

The cold, mechanical voice emphasized that this hall had become their examination room.

The leopard had to shut his mouth. Chen Dong and Chen Xi brothers ignored him, focusing entirely on their answers.

No one had any idea of the answer, and some didn’t even know where to start. The countdown was ticking in their ears like a death knell. Forty seconds had already passed, and if they didn’t start writing, they wouldn’t have a chance.

Without time to organize their thoughts, everyone began writing. It was like poor students doing a short-answer question, wracking their brains and writing down everything they thought might be related, hoping it might hit the mark somewhere. They remembered their teachers’ persistent advice: if it’s a proof question, just start writing the process—you might get some points for your steps.

Compared to the others, Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu were much calmer. From their expressions and the speed of their writing, it was clear who were the top students and who were the bottom ones. Only one minute left! Shen Qingqiu glanced at the time and continued to write even faster. Leopard’s face was red, and several others, including Lao Liao, were sweating.

Time passed second by second, as if it was taking the air with it, making the atmosphere suffocatingly heavy.

Xu Shaoxuan’s fingers went numb from tension. Xu Ran, a student who had taken countless exams, had never been this nervous. His hands were shaking uncontrollably, and his heart was pounding as if he were about to have a heart attack.

“Ten, nine, eight, seven…” The final ten-second countdown, and the tension peaked.

“Time’s up! Stop writing!”

“Ah—” Xu Ran let out a trembling groan, feeling completely drained, his fingers still shaking uncontrollably.

“I’ve never taken such a… such a stressful exam in my life.” With only one day left and 20 points at stake, not scoring well could doom them to just one more day of life! The psychological pressure was indescribable, like torture.

After the exam ended, the tension seemed to ease. Seeing their companions in this state, they found it somewhat amusing.

But seeing Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu’s composed performances, they felt a bit envious. People always feel a little unwilling when they see someone better than themselves.

“Next, we will announce the scores for this question!”

The system’s voice sounded, and the previously relieved atmosphere tensed up again. Liu Wei and the others held their breath, waiting.

“The highest score is…” The system dragged out its announcement, nearly giving everyone a heart attack.

“It’s Cui Shaoxuan!”

Everyone turned to look at her, eyes filled with surprise, envy, and jealousy.

“Not Xiao Muyu and the others?”

“Can’t make them gods; they can’t be perfect every time…”

“And… Xiao Muyu, Shen Qingqiu!”

Before they could finish their thought, they were proven wrong.

“20 points, full marks!” The mechanical voice attempted to mimic human intonation, sounding awkward.

“So, did you find the human skin?” Chen Dong and Chen Xi couldn’t believe it. Among the surprised crowd, one person remained expressionless, head bowed and fists clenched.

The system then quickly displayed the scores, a ranking list floating before everyone’s eyes.

Chen Dong and Chen Xi: 15 points. Liu Wei: 14 points. Xu Ran: 12 points. Lao Liao: 8 points. Leopard: 4 points.

Everyone saw their score changes. The question had been graded, and even a scoring rubric was provided.

For example, answering “The Last Supper, Judas the betrayer” earned 3 points, “offering blood to feed the human skin” earned 2 points, “the skin is in the house” earned 4 points, “You Qiaolian is very strange” earned 2 points, etc.

“This even has a detailed scoring rubric.” Leopard mumbled, but froze when he saw the last item.

Conclusion: The human skin is among the ten people in the room, specifically You Qiaolian!

He quickly looked up to find the people who had been sitting next to him now standing back, leaving him alone on the chair.

He turned his head sharply to look at You Qiaolian, who had always been timid like a quail. Now, she was smiling weirdly, her grin becoming increasingly twisted.

Behind those pale lips, a row of sharp teeth suddenly snapped at Leopard, scaring him into shouting, “Mama!”

He scrambled off the chair and backed away, but didn’t notice Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu stepping back as he approached.

A tearing sound came from You Qiaolian. They watched in horror as her skin bulged as if inflated, the flesh and skin seemingly separating.

“She’s… she’s shedding her skin!” Cui Shaoxuan’s lips turned blue with fear. When she guessed You Qiaolian was the human skin, she had already been horrified and kept her distance all afternoon.

But seeing her transform into human skin in person was terrifying, a direct hit to the soul!

“Stop her!” Shen Qingqiu leaped onto the table, swung a chair, and smashed it over You Qiaolian’s head, knocking her to the ground swiftly and decisively.

If it were a normal person, they would be unconscious with a bleeding head. But You Qiaolian, with her head tilted, still glared at Shen Qingqiu, struggling to get up.

She let out a horrifying laugh, and the skin on her face peeled from the head where it was smashed, slipping to her neck!

Seeing the bloodied, skinless head made Shen Qingqiu click her tongue in disgust, turning her head away, unable to look.

Behind her, Xu Ran and Cui Shaoxuan vomited, unable to bear the sight.

Most of them were novices. Although they knew it was a supernatural setting, they hadn’t faced such direct horror before. Now, they were nearly paralyzed with fear, let alone helping.

“Now’s not the time to be scared. Do you want to end up like this?” Shen Qingqiu’s voice was cold and stern. She kicked the grotesque head back under the table with another disgusted expression.

At this moment, a piece of clothing fell from above. Xiao Muyu had jumped over the table and used Xu Ran’s coat to cover You Qiaolian’s head.

Then she grabbed the sleeve, wrapped it twice around You Qiaolian’s neck, and pulled tight. The human skin’s screams were cut off with a choking sound.

“Now she can’t scare anyone. Come on, help!”

Shen Qingqiu: …

The other seven, paralyzed with fear: …

Bravo! She’s a badass!

Even Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but give a thumbs up.

Xiao Muyu’s move tied the human skin tightly around the neck. The skin struggled, stretching but unable to break free.

Xiao Muyu gritted her teeth, veins popping out on her hands, barely holding on. “Quick, its strength is too much for me!”

Xu Ran, though young, prided himself on being a man. He tore off his last piece of clothing, copying Xiao Muyu to bind You Qiaolian’s legs.

Then everyone jumped in, holding down hands, pressing on the back, tearing off clothes. They managed to tie the human skin to the body tightly.

This human skin, usually rampant in the game, was now completely subdued by the players, unable to do anything.

Inside the wrapped clothing, the human skin’s initial roar turned to a near-crying whimper. Outside, the remaining human skins all fled.

Seeing You Qiaolian, wrapped like a mummy, they were incredulous. Were they really this strong? Xu Ran stammered, “Is… is that it?”

They cautiously surrounded the human skin, looking at each other. “Seems… seems like it.”

“Phew,” Xu Ran sighed in relief, sitting down and clutching his heart, “I thought we were dead. Thanks to Sister Xiao and Sister Shen, you’re really amazing. I’m so impressed!”

Shen Qingqiu twitched the corner of her mouth, “Don’t call me sister lightly.”

Xu Ran smiled and scratched his head, “I just want to express my admiration. Without you, we’d have been lost.”

Leopard, thinking of how he, a six-foot-tall man, had been outdone by two women, turned red and said nothing.

“Really, we owe you two. We were caught off guard.” Liu Wei felt ashamed.

“So, Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu aren’t here for the first time?” Chen Xi suddenly spoke.

Shen Qingqiu glanced at him. He looked away, “I mean, you two are experienced. Many of us are facing this for the first time. We have to rely on you to survive. We hope you can…”

“Sorry, it’s Xiao Muyu’s first time too. She’s not more experienced than you. And if you two brothers didn’t speak up, she wouldn’t have revealed it. Don’t blame her.”

Chen Dong and Chen Xi’s faces changed slightly. They stammered, “We didn’t mean any harm…”

“You know if it’s your first time or not.”

She didn’t know why Xiao Muyu hadn’t exposed them, but she didn’t care. It wasn’t her concern. But being foolish in front of her was another matter.

“Chen Dage, isn’t this their first time?” Xu Ran understood Shen Qingqiu’s implication and was surprised.

“But they have amulets,” Lao Liao reminded.

“I also have an amulet, and it’s not my first time,” Shen Qingqiu admitted calmly.

“How is that possible? The newbie amulet is supposed to be given only to newcomers. Shen Jie, where did you get it?”

Shen Qingqiu clapped her hands, then casually sat on a nearby chair, glanced at her right hand she had used, and pointed her chin at Xiao Muyu, saying indifferently, “I snatched it from her.”

Everyone in the room felt their temples throbbing. Such shameless behavior was being stated so righteously. Unbelievable.

That was an amulet, a lifesaver, not something as common as a cabbage to be taken just like that!

Cui Xiaoxuan and the others turned to Xiao Muyu, whose face was full of indifference and speechlessness, seemingly seeking confirmation.

Xiao Muyu, with a wooden expression, nodded. In fact, she wanted to say, it wasn’t snatched, it was stolen.

It’s true, some people have no shame and are invincible.