The girl cried from the pain. Zhu Xi Ning bit her lip, took a few deep breaths, and with a crisp crack, snapped the ankle back into place.
Everyone possessed basic medical skills, but in a mission, many didn't dare to handle things so decisively.
Once the ankle was reset, the pain lessened, and the girl's crying gradually subsided. Zhu Xi Ning breathed a small sigh of relief.
Only then did the other children dare to gather around. Li Xue'er ran to the girl's side, looked at her ankle, and then at Zhu Xi Ning.
"Teacher, you're amazing."
Zhu Xi Ning couldn't bring herself to smile at the children's praise. She didn't know if a child having an accident during class would have negative consequences.
Moreover, even though the foot was reset, she would definitely need to rest for a while.
Zhu Xi Ning felt her voice trembling slightly. "How do you feel now? Does it still hurt?"
Tears still hung in the corners of the little girl's eyes. She sobbed twice. "It... it doesn't hurt much anymore. Thank you, Teacher."
Zhu Xi Ning let out a sigh. "Did you see that, students? The floor in the dance studio is slippery. Everyone must be careful."
The little girl tugged on Zhu Xi Ning's sleeve. "It's not that, Teacher... there was a puddle of water here. That's why I slipped."
Zhu Xi Ning frowned and looked over. "Water?"
She did see the reflection of water stains on the floor, but how could there be water here?
The floor of a dance studio, in particular, was not supposed to have water. The life teacher must have checked it.
So... this might not just be an issue for the two dance teachers? Would it also implicate the life teacher?
Zhu Xi Ning's heart sank.
She couldn't get herself out of this now, so she could only try to save whoever she could. She turned to the stunned Shi Yu.
"The humidity must be too high. Water must have accumulated after the life teacher finished cleaning. It's my fault for not seeing it. Why don't you go find a mop to dry it while I take the child to the infirmary?"
The school had an infirmary, which was reportedly managed by Teacher Gao.
Only then did Shi Yu snap back to her senses. Fear gripped her heart tightly, but after hearing Zhu Xi Ning's words, she slowly calmed down.
Yes, no one saw that she was the one who spilled the water. Since Zhu Xi Ning was taking the blame, it had nothing to do with her.
As for what would happen to Zhu Xi Ning for taking the responsibility, Shi Yu didn't dare to think about it.
She's a high-level player... she must have a way, right?
But if I admit it, what will happen to me? Will I die?
Shi Yu's mind was a mess, and she ran out in a panic.
This unexpected incident was soon known by the others. Nan Yue's face was very grim when she appeared.
They knew that some of the ghosts in the mission might be dead children, so the ghosts would likely attack teachers who were neglectful or abusive toward them.
Did this accident count?
It definitely did.
Jiang Xi Cheng arrived as well, responsible for looking after the other children.
Jiang Xi Cheng's brow was furrowed so deeply it could crush a fly.
"I was responsible for cleaning the dance studio. I guarantee it was left clean."
He was a scavenger from a Letter City. Even without following Nan Yue's analysis, he could deduce some details from the existing clues.
He knew the children couldn't be allowed to have accidents; at least for now, that seemed to be a clear clue.
Those ghosts wouldn't care whether a child's injury was intentional or accidental. That was just a necessary restrictive rule in the mission.
They were dying to kill every single scavenger.
So, Jiang Xi Cheng was also very panicked now.
"This water is a bit suspicious."
Nan Yue's expression was dark. "If the mission difficulty has scaled up, so be it. But if someone did this on purpose..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Jiang Xi Cheng felt a shiver run down his spine. He could hear the killing intent in Nan Yue's voice.
Previously, he thought Nan Yue had a good temper and was a gentle person since she was willing to help newcomers.
Now he saw that her sense of territory was extremely strong. Anyone she considered one of her own was under her protection.
Jiang Xi Cheng remained silent for a moment. "Then the rules..."
Nan Yue tapped her finger on the table. "The dorm rules didn't say we couldn't swap, right? I'll move into the same room as Zhu Xi Ning."
Nan Yue knew very well that her ability could drive away a ghost once, but it couldn't kill one directly.
This was a mission world. While an awakened ability was a trump card, it had its limits and had to follow logic.
To put it bluntly, she could escape for a while, but if they didn't find a way to leave soon, Nan Yue couldn't protect Zhu Xi Ning forever.
However, Nan Yue had made up her mind. She would do her absolute best.
Gu Xiang Kai also heard about the accident and rushed over clutching a kitchen knife, looking like he had just been chopping meat.
"Where's Zhu Xi Ning?"
Gu Xiang Kai looked like a midnight butcher.
Nan Yue glared at him. "Go back and chop your meat."
Gu Xiang Kai wiped his sweat. "It's fine. I can step out to use the restroom while chopping meat."
The two of them conferred for a bit and felt that this matter was indeed suspicious. If it were a mission upgrade, there would be no need to spill water on the floor; instead, it felt like a setup.
Zhu Xi Ning was currently in the infirmary, which was actually located inside Director Wu's dormitory.
Only now did Zhu Xi Ning learn that the room shared by Director Wu and the others was different from theirs. It was a suite, with the outer room turned into an infirmary. It had a bed and two walls lined with bottles and jars of medicine.
The inner room was where the three of them lived.
She had calmed down by now. Teacher Gao was examining the little girl's foot. Only then did she learn the girl's name was Xiaodie.
"The injury isn't serious. Fortunately, you reset it in time."
Teacher Gao looked up, her expression somewhat complicated as she glanced at Zhu Xi Ning. "I heard you failed to check the room for water stains?"
Zhu Xi Ning wanted to curse. She had definitely checked, but she didn't know where that water came from.
However, in that situation, she could only take the blame. It was better for her to be in danger alone than for five or six people to be targeted.
This was a team mission where one move affected everyone. If that many people died, the difficulty for the survivors would be pushed to a hellish level.
"Yes... I was careless."
Teacher Gao seemed to hesitate, but in the end, she said nothing.
Zhu Xi Ning could see the fear in her eyes, but unlike Director Wu, the relief in Teacher Gao's eyes was outweighed by her pity.
Could this NPC be won over?
Zhu Xi Ning lowered her voice, putting on a pitiful act. "Teacher Gao, will I be punished? I really like the school. I don't want to leave."
Teacher Gao looked at her and, after a long silence, suddenly said something seemingly out of the blue.
"My former best friend was a bit like you."
"Back then, we didn't check the bedsheets properly, and some bugs got in. A student was bitten, and she took the fall alone."
A slight smile appeared on Teacher Gao's face when she mentioned her friend. She wasn't that old to begin with, but her usually stern expression made her look a bit intimidating. Now that she was smiling, she truly looked like a gentle girl.
"...You are both very loyal people."
Teacher Gao glanced at her. "But you can't escape everything."
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