29. True and False

When Liu Dezhu said he had transmigrated to Prison 18 and had already met Uncle Li Dong,

to everyone else, it sounded like: "I've played the unreleased beta version of this game, and I've even obtained the unique orange-grade weapon in the game, as well as the most powerful hidden class."

In just an instant, Liu Dezhu became a god-like figure in the students' hearts.

Qing Chen silently observed their reactions, but it was none of his business, and there was no need to expose the other party.

Students asked, "What does Uncle Li Dong look like?"

Liu Dezhu considered before answering, "He's quite special in the prison, unlike the others who all wear prison uniforms; he's the only one dressed in an exercise suit for practicing Tai Chi. I guess he might be the warden or something? He also has two followers, one thin and always smiling, and the other more robust and stern-faced."

"That sounds like a big shot..." a student remarked.

"Right," Liu Dezhu said, "He also keeps a cat, a really big one, with tufts of hair standing up on its ears, looking like a lynx."

Seeing Liu Dezhu describe it so vividly, the others gradually began to believe what he said.

At this point, someone asked, "Did you learn how to change classes from him?"

Under the influence of He Xiaoxiao, many students were using gaming terminology to describe the Inner World.

However, upon hearing this, Liu Dezhu started to falter, "It's not that easy to change classes. You've also heard from He Xiaoxiao that Uncle Li Dong is no ordinary person. Gaining his trust definitely won't be easy."

The students nodded in understanding; that made sense after all.

Thinking it over, they realized that Liu Dezhu might not be certain to get a class change opportunity.

"But," Liu Dezhu quickly added, "now that I've transmigrated to Prison 18, I certainly won't miss this opportunity. Moreover, I've already spoken with Uncle Li Dong!"

Eagerly, everyone's interest was rekindled, "What did you talk about?"

Liu Dezhu continued to prevaricate, "Just exchanged some pleasantries..."

At this moment, only Qing Chen knew what Liu Dezhu had said to Uncle Li Dong: "Give me the class change quest."

Another student asked, "So, being transmigrated into Prison 18, are you a prisoner there? Isn't that dangerous and tough?"

Liu Dezhu replied, "Not really, I'm a bit different from the other prisoners."

Qing Chen knew that was actually true; he was indeed different from the other prisoners, especially since the others weren't in solitary confinement.

Hearing this, he turned and went back to his own classroom, it seemed unlikely that he would find out any useful information from him.

Liu Dezhu probably spoke like this due to youthful vanity.

It is said that when God created humans, His attendants were concerned: "You've given humans curiosity, wisdom, and courage; they might become too powerful."

So God thought it over and replied, "Then give them some vanity and jealousy as well."

Qing Chen felt that having vanity wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but revealing oneself as a transmigrator in the current environment was an incredibly foolish choice.

Especially claiming to know one of the most important figures in the Inner World.

At least according to He Xiaoxiao's guide, Uncle Li Dong was indeed such a figure.

However, obtaining a method to transcend the ordinary from Uncle Li Dong wasn't as easy as the guide made it seem.

Qing Chen knew he had made so many efforts and had only come close.

Amid the exclamations and envy of his classmates, Qing Chen passed by some students who had just arrived to join in the excitement. He didn't intend to enjoy such glory; the gazes of others were irrelevant to him.

Moreover, he suspected that a mysterious organization was probably on its way soon.

They had not shown up last time, but they would definitely come this time.

Yet as he moved against the flow of the crowd, he suddenly saw the timid figure of Nan Gengchen looking down at the back of the group.

"Nan Gengchen," Qing Chen called out.

"Ah? Who's calling me?" Nan Gengchen looked up.

And so, Qing Chen saw Nan Gengchen looking entirely deflated.

"What's happened to you?" Qing Chen wondered. "Did someone hit you?"

"No, no," Nan Gengchen quickly lowered his head and shook it. "I just didn't sleep well."

Qing Chen scrutinized him. There were no mechanical limbs, nothing else out of the ordinary, except he looked a bit under the weather.

He pulled Nan Gengchen back to the classroom and asked softly, "Did someone torment you when you transmigrated?"

"Transmigrate? What transmigration?" Nan Gengchen feigned confusion.

This made Qing Chen suspicious. He was certain the other had definitely transmigrated.

But what exactly had this guy gone through in the Inner World that changed him from his previous cocky self to his current, disheveled state?

"What on earth did you do after you transmigrated?" Qing Chen muttered.

"I didn't transmigrate! Whoever says I did, I'll be upset with them!" Nan Gengchen said.

Alright, since Qing Chen couldn't get any more information, he decided not to probe further.

He had no idea where the other had transmigrated to or what identity he had taken; there was no way he could offer help.

It wasn't until just before class started that Nan Gengchen finally whispered, "Didn't I tell you, there's a group for transmigrators?"

"Yeah, you mentioned that," Qing Chen nodded.

This kid wasn't one to have deep schemes; something as big as transmigration, with no one to confide in, he surely couldn't keep it to himself.

Then Nan Gengchen said, "Did I tell you that someone was selling socks from the Inner World?"

"Yeah," Qing Chen nodded.

"That's fake," Nan Gengchen said. "Don't ask me how I know; just know that he isn't a transmigrator. You simply can't bring back socks from there."

"Yeah," Qing Chen nodded.

Nan Gengchen continued, "Did I tell you about a transmigrator who said they could put you in touch with a wealthy patron?"

"Yeah," Qing Chen nodded.

"That transmigrator is real."

Qing Chen became solemn, "!!!"

He stared at Nan Gengchen, shocked, unable to utter a word for quite some time.

To be honest, his own reaction wasn't even this strong the first time he had transmigrated.

So, Nan Gengchen's listless state was because, after going in, someone had put him in touch with a wealthy patron?

After blurting out more than he intended, Nan Gengchen realized he had said too much and quickly tried to backtrack, "It's just what others in the group were saying, I'm not a transmigrator, okay."

"Yeah, I understand," Qing Chen nodded, accepting his feeble excuse.

Both fell into a long silence.

Qing Chen suddenly asked, "…Was the payment good?"

Nan Gengchen's face changed drastically, "I told you, I'm not a transmigrator."

Right then, the bell rang for class.

But the students' attention wasn't on the teacher who had just entered the classroom; instead, it was on the corridor outside the window… where four figures clad in black stood.

Qing Chen used Nan Gengchen's figure to shield himself as he quietly observed the scene outside.

The black-clad figures were accompanied by the head of the academic affairs office heading towards the classroom next door.

The students whispered amongst themselves in surprise, even the math teacher couldn't help but stand in the hall to get a better look.

Only Qing Chen wasn't surprised, because he had seen these people before.