Abyss Sequence

Yan Luo is not suited for telling jokes; he has no sense of humor.

Even though he emphasized this, his classmates still egged him on to tell a joke.

Helplessly, Yan Luo began to ponder.

"There was a new Hunter who went hunting in the Abyss with his teammates. Since he was new, his teammates took extra care of him and didn't let him keep watch on the first night. But being a newbie, he didn't sleep well that night. The next day, seeing he wasn't in good Spirit, the teammates decided to take care of him again and didn't let him keep watch the second night either. However, on the third night, the newcomer had to keep watch. On this third night, the newbie stared with wide eyes, watching the alarm and monitor closely. But as the night went by, no Demons found them.

The fourth morning, when the veteran Hunters woke up, they found the newbie had passed out. Just as they were about to lash out, the novice woke up and said, 'I fainted.' The veteran Hunters then said, 'Oh, we thought you were dead.'

After finishing, a faint smile appeared on Yan Luo's face.

However, apart from him, no one present could smile.

Xu Zhiyuan tugged at the corner of his mouth but ultimately couldn't pull off a smile. He involuntarily took a breath and asked, "What's funny about that?"

Yan Luo raised his eyebrows in surprise, "For a Hunter, passing out on a night watch is worse than being dead. Don't you know that?"

"Ah, um, er..."

Xu Zhiyuan was at a loss because of Yan Luo.

At this moment, Yan Luo's expression suddenly turned calm and he clapped his hands, "Alright, joke's over."

People paused, their eyes darting between Yan Luo and Xu Zhiyuan, and suddenly burst into laughter.

It turned out that what Yan Luo just delivered wasn't the joke, their reactions – his and Xu Zhiyuan's – were the joke.

Xu Zhiyuan also realized this, and gave a helpless chuckle, "Aren't you unexpectedly humorous?"

Yan Luo sat back down without saying a word.

Xu Zhiyuan shook his head with a smile, then said, "The second program involves drawing playing cards—from inside a glass and stacking the glasses into a pyramid shape, with a card placed under each glass. If you can't draw it out, you'll have to drink the wine."

"I feel it's unfair for me to participate in this program."

Only to see Yan Luo wave his right hand, and in an instant, a meter-high tower of wine glasses stacked up before him. From top to bottom, not a single glass wobbled, and there was a napkin under each glass.

In the next second, Yan Luo's arm flickered again, and when people looked clearly, he already had several napkins in his hand, all of which had been under the glasses, yet the vertical tower of glasses didn't tilt or tremble at all.

People were immediately astonished.

Xu Zhiyuan paused in surprise, then shrugged with resignation, "Alright, let's skip all physical programs and dive straight into Truth or Dare, the program we were going to start just before you came in."

Wang Lingyu felt a stir in her heart and looked gratefully at Xu Zhiyuan, who gave a subtle encouraging smile in return.

A pre-prepared draw tube made by Xu Zhiyuan was taken out by an Engraver, containing lots with the names of the whole class. Whoever is drawn, they must play a round of Truth or Dare.

"It's been a year since we graduated, and I'm sure everyone has experienced a lot and grown significantly compared to before. We played Truth or Dare once at last year's graduation party, but many couldn't join. This time, we have the whole class, so let this program witness everyone's growth over the year! Relax, no one can escape!"

Xu Zhiyuan wagged a finger and started shaking the tube, then turned it over, causing a lot to drop out from the opening.

After picking it up and taking a look, Xu Zhiyuan laughed, "What's this? Dare to target the host. Alright, the first person is me!"

He shook the lot with his name on it, prompting an outburst of laughter from the crowd, who clamored to ask Xu Zhiyuan if he wanted Truth or Dare.

"How about we start with Truth?" Xu Zhiyuan tentatively said.

Immediately, fingers pointed toward the woman beside Xu Zhiyuan, suggesting she ask the question.

Xu Zhiyuan's fiancée also broke into a smile, clasping her hands together to show her appreciation to everyone around before turning to Xu Zhiyuan and asking, "So, who did you like in high school?"

Hearing this question, Xu Zhiyuan scratched his head and his face flushed. "Well... I'd rather pick Dare since I'm the host, so I'll choose what to do next—kiss my fiancée!"

With that, Xu Zhiyuan, before his fiancée could react, leaned down to kiss her and whispered in her ear, "The truth is, it was you."

"Alright, alright, alright!"

"Class rep, you're awesome (with emphasis)!"

"That's how it should be done... No, it's the only way it can be done!"

The classmates hooted like monkeys, embarrassing Xu Zhiyuan's fiancée until she hung her head low, lips pursed together, corners of her mouth trying hard not to curve up.

Xu Zhiyuan's ears were also a bit red, and with a sweep of his large hand, he drowned out the whooping hooligans with his voice: "Alright, alright, everyone quiet down for a bit, time is tight, let's immediately pick the next target for harassment!"

As Xu Zhiyuan said, Truth or Dare is meant to embarrass its participants.

He picked several more people in succession, all of whom were rendered blushing red.

Xu Zhiyuan shook the tube again, dropped a lot, his expression brightened, and he showed the name on it to Yan Luo.

"I choose truth..."

"No way!"

Before Yan Luo could finish, Xu Zhiyuan interrupted him.

Xu Zhiyuan wagged his finger, a mischievous grin on his face, "You're the type who hardly ever lies. During the three years I've known you, you've always told the truth. It's too easy for you, so you can only choose Dare."

Yan Luo closed his mouth and nodded.

Then, Xu Zhiyuan gathered everyone's opinions on what dare to give Yan Luo.

People chattered endlessly, but as they discussed, they found Yan Luo was so different from them, like a superhero... no, he is a superhero!

Things that required great effort from them, Yan Luo could do with ease.

Xu Zhiyuan frowned and tossed the problem back to Yan Luo, "Yan Luo, within the constraints of this room and without damaging any items in the banquet hall, can you do something mind-blowing?"

Yan Luo said nothing but slowly raised his right hand, and the wine glass before him started to float.

The glass rotated in the air, and the wine flowed along the rim, yet was constrained by an invisible force, swirling around the glass.

Yan Luo lowered his hand, and the glass landed on the table, the wine took a circle, and returned into the glass.

Everyone present was stunned, mouths agape, eyes vacant.

"Magnetic Field power," Yan Luo stated.

After a few seconds, someone sighed, "Who needs an Engraver when Yan Luo can control extraordinary powers."

"Yan Luo, how did you do it?"

"Can you perform again?"

"That's amazing!"

After the initial shock, everyone expressed their excitement and curiosity towards Yan Luo.

"Ahem!"

Xu Zhiyuan timely cleared his throat twice, pulling everyone's attention back, "Classmates, I know you're very curious now, I'm curious too. But we need to get on with our program. After it's over, we can chat, alright?"

Even though they were indeed curious, they felt Xu Zhiyuan had a point and set aside their excess thoughts to continue participating in the game.

When it was Guo Xu's turn, he performed a trick of spinning a cup on his fingertip, and after Guo Xu, Xu Zhiyuan drew Wang Lingyu's name.

"Wang Lingyu, do you want Truth or Dare?" Xu Zhiyuan blinked at Wang Lingyu, knowingly asking.

Wang Lingyu knew the class rep planned to support her, clenched her hands into fists under the table, and said loudly, "Dare then!"

"Good!"

Xu Zhiyuan stretched out the last syllable with a teasing smile, "So Wang Lingyu, your task is—confess to someone present!"

The others suddenly realized something and clapped and cheered.

Wang Lingyu made up her mind, immediately turning towards Yan Luo.

"Yan Luo, I declare you mine!"

So nervous was she, she bit her tongue.

Her face went red in an instant, quickly waving her hands, "No, no, that doesn't count, let me start over..."

"I know." Yan Luo answered seriously.

Wang Lingyu halted, heart pounding up her throat, quietly watching Yan Luo.

"…Then what?"