After Transmigrating as the Scumbag Alpha in an Otherworld Novel, I Ended Up with the Villain - Chapter 13

The team came to a halt in the middle of the road. A fork had appeared in the passage, and at the very front, Liu Lindong already had half a foot stepped into the path on the left.

Su Xinge walked forward and asked Liu Lindong, “Why are you taking the left path?”

Liu Lindong turned back and explained, “The left one is closer to the branch campus. The right one is a bit of a detour.”

Ye Hai, watching from the side, saw clearly. He had originally assumed the right path didn’t lead to the branch campus at all. If both paths were viable, they should have discussed it together at the fork rather than making such a reckless, unilateral choice. Liu Lindong’s behavior was indeed impulsive.

Su Xinge looked at Liu Lindong, her tone turning several degrees colder: “If we go left, we’re all finished. Only the right path is safe.”

Liu Lindong seemed indifferent to her attitude, merely asking, “What’s on the left?”

Su Xinge replied, “There are signs of unknown biological activity. Based on the movement patterns, those creatures are not living humans.”

Liu Lindong fell silent for a moment before speaking: “You guys take the right. There won’t be any more forks. Go to the end of the passage, turn left, and walk about a thousand meters and you’ll see the branch campus.”

Su Xinge frowned and asked, “Are you saying you intend to go left?”

She truly could not read this man.

Liu Lindong nodded, his voice devoid of emotion: “Yes. I’m going left. I have my own private business; it has nothing to do with the rest of you.”

At this moment, the Omega female companion who had been following Liu Lindong stepped forward and grabbed him, questioning him with a sob, “Are you going to abandon me?”

Liu Lindong pulled away, saying helplessly, “Li Meng, calm down. I didn’t say you couldn’t come with me, but you aren’t an Awakened. The left passage is dangerous; even if you follow me, you won’t be able to help.”

Li Meng fell silent, her teeth clenched tight as she refused to let her sobs escape into the tunnel. Only her uncontrollably trembling body betrayed her state.

Su Xinge looked at Liu Lindong, her voice flat: “If you go left, you will die.”

Liu Lindong gave a grim smile and said, “Who doesn’t die? I’m just doing something I didn’t have the courage to do before.”

Ye Hai finally understood and tried to persuade him: “Just because we aren’t going left doesn’t mean no one else will go with you. Maybe the Awakened from your school would be willing to accompany you on the left path?”

Liu Lindong shook his head with a bitter laugh. “I can’t wait that long. And if the school’s Awakened come, they’ll only choose the safer right path. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have delayed going to the branch campus for this long.”

Zhang Tian stepped out and mocked, “What’s the matter? Don’t want to play Werewolf anymore?”

Liu Lindong only smiled. “I’m done. It’s boring. I can hear every move you guys make at night.”

The group fell silent.

Having said his piece, Liu Lindong took one last look at everyone, then turned and walked into the left passage.

Zhang Tian cursed, “Dammit, I have no idea what that bastard is thinking half the time.”

Ye Hai looked at Su Xinge and said, “Thanks to you this time. Otherwise, we might have all died with him.”

Su Xinge lifted her chin slightly and replied, “Just doing my part.”

Lin Yuxuan watched this scene with an indifferent expression. To an Awakened, ordinary Omegas like them were just burdens that could be discarded at any time. In this world, no one would risk their life for another without reason. Ultimately, this “protection” was just another form of imprisonment. She didn’t need this kind of protection; only her own strength was something she could truly rely on.

As Liu Lindong’s figure receded further away, Ye Hai watched the silhouette vanish into the darkness. The scene still felt somewhat surreal. He asked Zhang Tian, “Is there some story behind this?”

Zhang Tian shrugged. “Who knows? Those people talk about ‘responsibility’ and ‘promises’ all day, but now Liu Lindong has cleared out and left behind two ordinary people. That’s the real lack of responsibility. He even tried to drag us all in with him earlier.”

Ye Hai remained silent. Losing an Awakened was indeed a blow to them. Originally, one Awakened leading two ordinary people was more than enough, but now they were down a person—and the leader who knew the way, no less. The team members felt somewhat unsteady.

Seeing the low morale, Su Xinge spoke up: “Since Liu Lindong gave us the route, we’ll follow it. Taking the right passage will be safe for now.”

Zhang Tian immediately seconded the motion: “I’m with you. But it is strange—those zombies that were chasing us seem to have vanished. You can’t even hear them anymore. Did that glass Liu Lindong smashed actually work?”

Ye Hai spoke: “It is a bit odd. I haven’t heard the zombies either. Is it because there’s something in this underground passage they’re afraid of?”

As soon as he said it, Ye Hai slapped his own forehead and looked at Su Xinge. “Wait, that’s not right. I didn’t hear anything in the left passage either. Do those things move without making a sound?”

Su Xinge shook her head. “I don’t know. It might be mutated versions of other animals. Humans aren’t the only things that can turn into those creatures.”

The group fell silent. If it were mutated animals, they would be far more terrifying than zombies. Liu Lindong truly had no chance of survival.

Zhang Tian grumbled, “Dammit, let’s move, move! Stop thinking about it, you’re giving me goosebumps.”

Ye Hai’s expression also darkened. He spoke up: “Let’s keep going. I’ll lead from the front. Su Xinge, why don’t you move up a bit? I feel your ability is more useful in here.”

Su Xinge nodded. “No problem. The rear should be safe for the time being.”

The team rearranged. Su Xinge, Lin Yuxuan, and An Le moved up to a position just behind Ye Hai, while Zhang Tian followed behind An Le.

As the team entered the right passage, it was still pitch black. The difference was the floor—there was a distinct sticky, squelching sensation under their feet.

Squelch, squelch.

The messy sound of footsteps echoed through the tunnel.

Zhang Tian couldn’t help but complain quietly, “Crap, what is this stuff on the ground?”

Ye Hai answered from the front, “Just some grime, probably. It shouldn’t be a big deal. There are far fewer obstacles here than on the previous path. You don’t have to worry about tripping over junk anymore.”

Being at the very front, Ye Hai could see the ground better. It looked as if it had been intentionally cleared; it was very clean of debris. The only weird thing was the floor itself. The strange stickiness made walking very uncomfortable.

He wasn’t sure if this was a good or bad sign, so he asked Su Xinge, “Is it really safe in here?”

Su Xinge shook her head and answered, “I haven’t detected anything unusual yet.”

Her ability was sensory, but with a limited range. Even so, she could still feel that the left passage was densely packed with dangerous organisms. Since she detected danger, she naturally wouldn’t take the risk. Although the right path was much longer, she preferred the safe route, even if that safety was only temporary.

Feeling the abnormality of the floor, Lin Yuxuan felt a creeping unease. An unawakened person in the dark was essentially blind; she could only grip the warmth in her hand tighter.

Sensing the pressure on her wrist, Su Xinge reached back and interlaced her fingers with Lin Yuxuan’s, whispering, “You’ll feel better this way.”

Lin Yuxuan didn’t have time to pull away.

With their fingers locked together, a flicker of brightness seemed to enter the heavy darkness.