As the day broke, Tan Wenbin woke up intending to relieve himself in the bathroom and then catch a little more sleep upon returning.

As he opened his eyes, he saw Brother Xiao Yuan sitting at the desk, with a freshly painted picture on the wall, depicting a person holding a candle, eerie and sinister.

Tan Wenbin immediately sat up and silently walked to stand behind Brother Xiao Yuan.

He was surprised, was the River Crossing coming again?

Li Zhiyuan spoke: "Inform the others, go on alert."

"Alright."

Tan Wenbin donned his clothes and walked out of his dorm room to the door of Ah You's dorm.

At this hour, the others in the dorm were still sound asleep, knocking would disrupt their rest.

Tan Wenbin patted his left shoulder.

The vengeful infant lifted its head, ghostly energy diffusing.

He knew, regardless of how deeply Ah You was asleep earlier, he would definitely awaken with vertical pupils: there is an Evil!

Sure enough, soon the door opened, and Lin Shuyou, rubbing his eyes, looked at Tan Wenbin: "Brother Bin?"

"Notify Run Sheng and Meng Meng, go on alert."

Lin Shuyou immediately straightened his expression: "Understood!"

Tan Wenbin then headed to the bathroom.

He had Ah You deliver the message, not to shirk this task, but because he knew, the newly joined Ah You greatly enjoyed and took pleasure in this sense of participation.

Even if it was just a simple errand, he relished it, as it continually reinforced the perception of "I am a part of this team."

When Tan Wenbin first joined, he also went through this phase, feeling restless without anything to do.

Inside the dormitory, Li Zhiyuan continued to gaze at the painting he had made.

He now needed to clarify two questions.

The first question was: Is the fifth wave here?

No, it shouldn't be; it can't be so soon.

Having proactively dealt with the fourth wave, there should be a relatively long period of stability or a rest period.

Even if the River Crossing wants to continue changing tactics on him, it shouldn't reduce to winning by quantity and fast pace to leave him breathless, as it doesn't fit the aesthetic of the exam setter.

On the flip side, if it were indeed that simplistic, Li Zhiyuan would actually be glad.

Thus, it shouldn't be his fifth wave, not driven by the River Crossing.

The second question, the purpose.

During the meal in the afternoon, the Golden Lion had opened its eyes at him.

When sleeping at night, the lion spirit entered his dream, even at the cost of burning itself, to convey a message to him.

Was it warning him, or seeking his help?

Similar events hadn't been unheard of before; the Big Fish of the second wave and the Corpse-Driving Daoist of the fourth wave were essentially seeking his help.

But that was during the River Crossing, where he had to face it, and those seeking his help meant he could also gain certain benefits and help from it.

So, Li Zhiyuan thought the lion spirit was warning him.

It couldn't be asking for help, as there wasn't that sort of relationship, and the other party hadn't provided adequate benefits; he wouldn't meddle in others' affairs.

Of course, a warning implied a demand for benefits; only that the demand comes later.

Once he confirmed the warning was real, solved this problem, and acknowledged the lion's feelings, he'd likely want to repay that kindness.

Having sorted these things out, Li Zhiyuan looked at the figure in the painting with greater clarity.

What,

Are you coming to seek me?

Drinking soup,

Do you think you're Meng Po?

Tan Wenbin returned.

Li Zhiyuan stood up: "Brother Binbin, take down the painting, let's have a meeting."

"Alright."

The store basement, highly private, suited for meetings.

Its drawback lay in its dimness; even with a bulb, it emitted a yellow glow, further contributing to an eerie atmosphere, yet fitting the meeting's spirit.

Being on alert is a term in the "Walking River Behavior Regulations."

Upon notification, all team members immediately cut off all non-essential social activities, maintaining close distance responses, and no longer acting alone.

This was a consensus learned from experience.

Only, previously this method was employed in dealing with River Crossing, entering this mode only upon sensing the splashes of waves.

"This time, I don't think it's the waves."

Li Zhiyuan's voice resonated in Run Sheng's room.

Yin Meng's room wasn't suitable for meetings, as someone needed to smoke.

Tan Wenbin sat there, lit a cigarette.

Lin Shuyou extended his hand, trying to mimic lighting one, but Tan Wenbin slapped his hand away, glaring: Do not imitate.

Actually, Li Zhiyuan knew that Tan Wenbin couldn't quit smoking for another reason, which was as wave after wave passed, the two vengeful infants on his shoulders gained certain Merits, further awakening, and the original Seal was becoming hard to isolate their influence on the host.

Tan Wenbin would constantly endure restlessness, especially during thinking, as emotions would noticeably fluctuate, but he always restrained himself, never speaking about it.

Run Sheng then lit his "cigar."

He wasn't adept at overseeing major matters, but luckily the team didn't require his brain for it.

Nonetheless, during meetings, he hoped to understand more.

Inside the room, apart from the dimness, an additional layer of swirling smoke added to the ambiance.

If someone passed by outside and peeked inside through the half-open window, they'd mistaken it for a gathering of ghostly figures holding a meeting.

Xiao Hei continued to sleep soundly, its dog nose inhaling and exhaling, as Run Sheng's fragrant smoke was absorbed, appearing quite content.

In the past, when Run Sheng smoked in the room, Xiao Hei would follow alongside, purely functioning as an exhaust fan.

Xiao Hei occasionally let out a small sneeze, as today's smoke had an impure taste.

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