Chapter 17: Escape from the Library

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Unfortunately, such an extraordinary skill naturally came with usage limitations. Jiang Yao glanced at the system description:

[Spatial Ability: Can transfer the target to another space within the same time and space, with a movement range of 500 meters, usable twice per day; can also independently create a 10-cubic-meter space to place items inside, where time stands still.]

Jiang Yao’s mind stirred—so this spatial ability not only allowed teleportation but also had storage functions, and this storage even preserved freshness. A white, hazy space appeared before her eyes, roughly the size of a single room.

She wanted to test it out, placing a flashlight inside. The next moment, the flashlight in her hand vanished into that space.

It was quite convenient. With this, she could store some food; carrying too many items was not only conspicuous but also hindered movement.

Having obtained such a power for free, Jiang Yao was in a good mood.

“So, can we go out now?”

The group exchanged confused glances, their eyes filled with cautious hope.

A smile curled Jiang Yao’s lips. “What are you waiting for?”

After a brief pause, cheers erupted as the crowd surged toward the library entrance.

The door was easily pushed open, and the long-imprisoned students rushed toward freedom amidst enthusiastic cheers.

Even though hungry zombies awaited outside, their excitement did not fade; they even found the zombies outside the library somewhat endearing.

Jiang Yao and the others followed closely behind the crowd out of the library.

By then, the horizon was faintly brightening—the first sign of dawn.

The members of this temporary team exchanged a glance under the dim morning light, sharing a silent smile.

Dou Zimo blinked. “Where do you all plan to go next?”

Although they had only spent less than a day together, deep bonds had been formed in the face of life and death. As they were about to part, there was a trace of reluctance.

Jiang Yao and the other two exchanged looks and said in unison, “The Humanities Teaching Building.”

Dou Zimo’s face fell with disappointment. “That’s not on the way. What about you, Xie?”

Xie Huaili frowned as he adjusted his clothes and casually replied, “I’m going to the Medical Building to get some materials.”

“We can go together! I was planning to visit the Physics Laboratory; those two places are close!” Dou Zimo’s eyes lit up again.

Although he could manage alone, having a companion made things much easier—especially after witnessing Xie Huaili’s abilities.

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Xie Huaili had no objection to the suggestion. “Sure.”

He paused, then naturally glanced at the girls opposite him, unusually refraining from his usual sarcasm. “You girls should stick together and stay safe.”

Then he glanced at Jiang Yao with a smirk, “You’re an exception; anyone who meets you is just out of luck.”

Jiang Yao narrowed her eyes slightly, her smile half sincere, half mocking. “Want to pick a fight?”

“Who dares mess with you when you’re this fierce?” Xie Huaili snorted, turned, and walked a few steps away, waving his hand.

Dou Zimo quickly followed, turning back to bid farewell, “See you all again if fate allows! Take care!”

Watching them leave, the three didn’t linger and chose the nearest path toward the teaching building.

“I wonder how Xiaoting is doing now?” Xiang Yu frowned with worry.

Among their dorm mates, Zhao Xiaoting was the youngest, free-spirited, and still childlike, making it hard not to worry about her.

Ji Yuanyuan frowned too. “That silly girl is usually careless. I wonder if she can be smart when it counts!”

Jiang Yao turned toward her and asked sincerely, “How can you say she’s careless?”

Among the four of them, Ji Yuanyuan was by far the most careless, thank you very much.

That older sister always flaunted expensive designer brands, shamelessly showing off her wealth.

Back in their junior year, a professor intentionally marked her final exam harshly, almost causing her to fail, all while hinting for bribes. But Ji Yuanyuan didn’t catch on; she gathered her academic records and chat logs and confronted the professor right then and there.

Other teachers were present in the office at the time, and under her impassioned plea, the professor nearly lost his reputation.

In Ji Yuanyuan’s eyes, Zhao Xiaoting was much more perceptive, so she wasn’t overly worried about her current situation.

Feeling hit by the comment, Ji Yuanyuan feigned heartbreak and clung to Xiang Yu. “Sister, look at her~”

Xiang Yu patted her hand gently. “It’s alright. We admit our mistakes and change.”

Ji Yuanyuan was left speechless.

…

The Humanities Teaching Building was quite close to the library. They only needed to cross the road behind the library and walk a few minutes.

The teaching building was usually crowded.

It was already dawn, a new day had begun, and all skills had been refreshed.

Jiang Yao looked at the other two. “Do you know which classroom Zhao Xiaoting attends?”

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The Humanities Teaching Building was large, with five floors, divided into zones A and B.

Searching every classroom would take more than half a day.

She wasn’t focused on that.

Xiang Yu was more attentive and recalled, “I think Xiaoting mentioned casually that morning that she was attending an elective course, ‘Fundamentals of Marxism’?”

Jiang Yao nodded. “The classrooms for that course are mostly large lecture halls. Let’s head to the fourth floor of zone B!”

Elective courses mixed several classes from different majors, sometimes over a hundred students, so only the lecture halls could accommodate that many people, which narrowed down the search.

Ji Yuanyuan expressed doubt. “Have you considered the possibility that Xiaoting might have come out on her own? Then we’d be searching for nothing.”

Jiang Yao frowned slightly. “That’s unlikely. Today is the fourth day since the zombie outbreak. If Xiaoting left the teaching building, her destination would be either the library to find Xiang Yu or back to the dormitory to meet us.”

Xiang Yu nodded in agreement. “Jiang Yao makes sense. Anyway, let’s look first.”

They headed straight for zone B.

Upon entering the building’s lobby, they were met with many zombie corpses.

Jiang Yao examined them carefully; the wounds varied, indicating they were killed by different people.

“There must have been a large-scale cleanup here. The situation isn’t as bad as we imagined.”

Being able to unite and save themselves was much better than wandering aimlessly like headless flies.

As they stepped into the building, somewhere on a high floor, someone sneered lazily, “Oh, more fat sheep have arrived!”

…

Jiang Yao and the others ascended the stairs, but she felt uneasy for some unknown reason. “Something feels off.”

Ji Yuanyuan looked puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

Xiang Yu was more alert. “It is strange. We haven’t encountered any zombies, but why haven’t we seen a single person after walking for so long?”

Ji Yuanyuan suddenly remembered. “Could it be that we’ve been pulled into another exam? We were in the library before and were suddenly dragged into the entrance exam.”

That time, the library was empty before they were forced into the test.

“That’s possible.” Jiang Yao scanned the surroundings cautiously. “But we should still be careful.”

Just then, faint noises echoed in the hallway.