Zhou Huai’s face showed just the right amount of surprise.

The Lord of Senluo, Lin Zhu.

One of the only two remaining SS-Class Professionals in the Great Xia Country.

Who would have thought that this seemingly somewhat harsh-looking old woman was actually such a legendary existence?

No wonder Zhang Donglai said that only here was the safest place in the Great Xia Country.

With Her presiding, even the crazy people from the Dawnbreaker Guild wouldn't dare to step foot here.

Seeing that he understood, Zhang Donglai’s expression relaxed.

“If there’s nothing else, Marshal Zhao and I will leave first.”

He patted Gandalf’s shoulder.

“You can rest assured and stay here, get some good rest.”

“Tomorrow, I will arrange for students from the Imperial Capital Academy to bring you to the dungeon area.”

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, nodded at the two of them.

“Thank you, Generals.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Donglai waved his hand, a sincere smile on his face.

“What’s with the thanks?”

“If anyone should be thanking, it should be me thanking you.”

He sighed with emotion.

“If it weren't for you turning the tide during the National Examination, I might have already been suspended and investigated.”

“More seriously, I might not have avoided a prison sentence.”

“So, it’s I who should be thanking you.”

As he spoke, he pulled out an ancient-looking badge from his jacket pocket.

The badge was entirely crafted from mithril, with a pure blue gem embedded in the center.

“A small gift, a token of my respect.”

Zhang Donglai handed over the badge.

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, took it.

It felt slightly cool to the touch.

【Chapter of Purity (Epic)】

【Type: Accessory】

【Spirit +200】

【Entry One: Active Skill: Purify】

【Effect: Consumes 100 Mana, immediately removes all control effects from self. Cooldown: 2 minutes.】

Zhang Donglai looked at Gandalf and explained with a smile.

“I saw your performance on Triple Island.”

“Your skills are strong, and your shield is thick, but you lack means of crowd control removal.”

“If you encounter another Professional like Guo De, who specializes in strong control, you could easily fall into a passive state.”

“This badge should be of some help to you.”

Zhou Huai felt a warmth in his heart.

General Zhang was indeed a thoughtful person.

As he said, Gandalf’s Profession, though powerful, wasn’t perfect.

Once controlled, even the thickest shield was just a living target.

This equipment came at just the right time.

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, pinned the badge to his chest and thanked him again.

“Thank you, General Zhang.”

Zhang Donglai smiled and waved his hand, then turned and left with Zhao Menghai.

After seeing the two off, Lin Zhu’s slightly impatient voice came from the courtyard.

“What are you still standing there for?”

“Come inside with me.”

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, followed Lin Zhu into the eerie villa covered in vines.

The moment the door was pushed open, Zhou Huai’s eyelids couldn't help but twitch.

The sight outside was already strange enough.

The scene inside could only be described as bizarre.

There was no sofa in the living room; instead, there was a huge 'fungal mat' woven from soft moss and fungi, gently undulating as if breathing.

The light fixture above wasn't a regular light bulb either.

It was a strange plant growing upside down, with countless glowing spores scattered on its cap, casting a soft fluorescent glow.

The TV on the wall had a screen that was an entire, massive, smooth tree burl, playing an unknown black-and-white image.

What made his scalp tingle even more was the floor.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of dark green vines, soft to step on, even making faint “squeaking” sounds.

Those vines were constantly wriggling and intertwining, like countless snakes moving underfoot.

Only one thought remained in Zhou Huai’s mind.

Marshal Zhao had a good reason not to see you.

Who would want to stay in this ghostly place all day?

“Watch your step.”

Lin Zhu instructed without looking back, her voice ancient.

“Don’t step on them too hard.”

“If these little guys complain to me, you’ll be kicked out.”

Zhou Huai pouted internally.

You are the strong one, you are right.

He could only follow cautiously, trying to make his steps lighter.

The two, one in front and one behind, ascended the stairs formed by massive, winding tree roots to the second floor.

Lin Zhu pushed open a bedroom door.

“You’ll live here from now on.”

Zhou Huai peeked in.

The bed was relatively normal, just an ordinary wooden plank bed.

But from the ceiling above the bed, dense vines hung down.

Those vines slowly twisted in mid-air, like countless worms, looking quite disgusting.

Lin Zhu seemed to find nothing wrong with this at all.

She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and began to announce the rules.

“Go to bed on time after 8 PM.”

“Don’t make any noise.”

“Handle your own meals.”

“Don’t bother me if you have something, and especially don’t bother me if you don’t.”

She lifted her eyelids, her cloudy eyes looking at Gandalf.

“Understood?”

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, nodded expressionlessly.

“Understood.”

“Hm.”

Lin Zhu responded, then turned and left.

“Get some rest early.”

“Bang!”

The door slammed shut.

Zhou Huai looked at the eerie bedroom, arranged for Gandalf’s Smart Core AI to idle in the room, and then immediately shifted his consciousness back to his main body.

Eternal Night Guild, third floor.

Zhou Huai opened his eyes, looked at his bright and clean room, and let out a long sigh of relief.

A feeling of returning from Hell to Heaven spontaneously arose.

Thank goodness.

Thank goodness he didn't have to stay in that ghostly place himself.

Otherwise, he had no doubt he would go insane.

...

Time quickly passed to the next morning.

Zhou Huai once again transferred his consciousness to Gandalf.

He pushed open the door and practically fled the eerie villa.

The morning sun shone on him, dispelling the last trace of gloom in his heart.

By the fence {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} at the villa entrance, a woman was already waiting.

She had shoulder-length short hair, with the ends slightly curled inward, giving her a neat and capable look.

She wore the white uniform dress of the Imperial Capital Academy, which accentuated her graceful figure.

Her features were delicate, her skin fair, and she wore a perfectly appropriate smile.

Although her beauty was slightly less than Ye Xi’s, she was definitely a campus belle-level beauty.

Seeing Gandalf emerge from the villa, her smile brightened a few shades, and she proactively approached him.

“You must be Student Gandalf, I presume?”

Her voice was clear, like an oriole.

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, calmly nodded.

“That’s me.”

“May I ask, how should I address you?”

The woman extended her hand to him, poised and confident.

“My name is Lu Zhiyi.”

“General Zhang arranged for me to be your dedicated guide.”

Gandalf gave her hand a light shake, then released it.

The two walked side by side along the wide, tree-lined avenue of the Academy.

Lu Zhiyi seemed to be a very talkative person, introducing various buildings and anecdotes of the Academy along the way.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she leaned close to Gandalf and, in a very low voice, asked with barely suppressed shock.

“Student Gandalf, you... you actually slept a whole night in Principal Lin’s villa?”

Zhou Huai was a bit puzzled.

“Is there a problem?”

“Problem?”

Lu Zhiyi’s eyes widened, as if she were looking at a monster.

“Don’t you think Principal Lin’s villa... is terrifying?”

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, still maintained that calm and collected expression on his face.

“It’s not too bad.”

“Just minor scenes.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhiyi’s gaze towards him immediately filled with admiration.

“You’re amazing.”

She lowered her voice and continued mysteriously.

“It is said that a senior student was once temporarily arranged to stay in Principal Lin’s villa.”

“And guess what happened?”

“As soon as she fell asleep that night, she felt something moving.”

“When she opened her eyes, she found all those vines on the ceiling had drooped down.”

Lu Zhiyi couldn’t help but shiver as she said this.

“Those vines even had tongue-like things growing on them, constantly licking her neck.”

“That senior student was so scared that she broke down on the spot and ran out of the villa that very night.”

Zhou Huai’s heart sank.

In his mind, certain... unhealthy images he had seen in his previous life suddenly surfaced.

Tentacles, humiliation, bondage...

A very bad premonition spread through his heart.

It’s over.

My Gandalf...

Could he be defiled?