"This is the first lesson of the National Alchemy Training Camp," he said. "Never trust what's in front of you."
"This year's International Alchemy Competition will be brutal. People will cheat. They will use traps, lies, and tricks to defeat you before you even begin. If you can't sense danger, you'll be gone before the real battle starts."
Everyone's faces turned pale.
"But what about Gu Jin and Qiao Feng?" Yun Qing asked, her teeth chattering.
Instructor Liu's mouth twitched, like the tiniest hint of a smile.
"They didn't fall for it," he said. "They stayed outside. Which means, in this round… they win."
The students groaned and splashed the water in frustration.
"Seriously?!"
"Ugh, no fair!"
Meanwhile, back outside the dorm, Gu Jin and Qiao Feng were still sitting on the ground.
"I told you something was off," Gu Jin muttered, staring at the entrance.
Qiao Feng yawned. "Good thing I hate walking into weird buildings. Lazy wins again."
Gu Jin almost laughed.
