Free Web NovelChapter 108: Chapter 108: The False Rescue Signal
The trap came through kindness.
That was what made it effective.
Three days after Floor 14, an emergency message reached Heavenly Gate Academy.
A small academy-affiliated exploration group had gone missing near an outer Tower ruin. Their last signal mentioned glass-like rain residue, wounded students, and a request for seed team support.
It sounded connected to Floor 14.
It sounded urgent.
It sounded like something Qin Yuheng’s team could help with.
Yu Qingmei locked the mission immediately.
No student teams were allowed to accept.
That alone told Qin Yuheng everything.
He went to her office.
"This is bait."
"Yes," Yu Qingmei said.
"Is the missing group real?"
"That is the problem. Partly."
She showed him the file.
A real exploration group existed. They had gone to inspect a minor ruin. Their signal had been altered. The original distress was weaker, less specific. Someone modified it to mention details likely to attract Qin Yuheng’s team.
Glass rain residue.
Seed team support.
Wounded students.
Qin Yuheng’s expression cooled.
"They studied our recent floor."
"Yes."
"Blood Sun."
"Almost certainly."
"What will the academy do?"
"Instructor teams will handle rescue. You will not go."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
He did not argue.
That surprised Yu Qingmei slightly.
"You accept?"
"Yes. This bait is too obvious."
"Good."
But Qin Yuheng was not satisfied with doing nothing.
He asked, "Can I help analyze the altered signal?"
Yu Qingmei considered, then allowed it under supervision.
Qin Mo joined.
Together, they inspected the signal crystal. Qin Mo identified formation-layer tampering. Qin Yuheng used Law-Thread Severing Eye to see faint binding traces in the message structure.
The altered signal contained a hidden tracking hook.
If a team accepted the mission and used the response token, their route would be exposed.
Qin Mo’s face turned pale with anger.
"They wanted to track the rescue team."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Or guide them into a prepared route."
Yu Qingmei’s expression became colder.
The academy sent a decoy response.
Instead of Qin Yuheng’s team, an instructor-led force moved through a false route while another rescue unit approached secretly.
The ambush triggered.
Blood Sun outer agents attacked the decoy.
They were captured or killed. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
The real exploration group was rescued.
For the first time, the academy gained direct prisoners connected to Blood Sun’s operation near Heavenly Gate City.
Xue Rong escaped involvement cleanly.
But several outer channels burned.
He was furious.
Not because the agents were lost.
Because Qin Yuheng did not take the bait.
"He is learning too quickly," Xue Rong said.
Shen Wuji, standing nearby, answered, "He was never reckless in that way."
"Everyone is reckless when the right person screams."
"Then you used the wrong scream."
Xue Rong looked at him coldly.
Shen Wuji lowered his head, but did not retract the words.
At the academy, the failed trap strengthened Qin Yuheng’s position.
Yu Qingmei became more open with him about Blood Sun tactics. Not full secrets, but enough.
"They want you alive," she said.
Qin Yuheng was not surprised.
"My family reached the same conclusion."
"Then understand what that means. They may use sleep gas, contract traps, space seals, hostage lures, or controlled floors. Killing tools become capture tools."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
He immediately adjusted preparation.
Anti-sleep pills.
Space disruption talismans.
Contract-breaking talismans.
Silent Heaven token always carried.
Emergency communication jade linked to Qin Wanshan.
Qin Mo began designing a capture-warning formation.
Qin Lian trained escape routes.
Qin Yuchen trained fighting while retreating with an injured teammate.
Qin Yuheng also evolved several anti-capture items.
[A Grade Space Disruption Talisman]
↓
[SS Grade Void Lock Breaking Talisman]
[B Grade Wakefulness Pill]
↓
[S Grade Soul-Clarity Wakefulness Pill]
He distributed limited versions to the team.
Meanwhile, the academy approved Floor 15.
[Floor 15: Dreaming Stone Village]
Type:
Illusion / social / hidden monster
Known features:
Village remnants, dream loops, false safety, sleeping curse.
Warning:
Teams may forget mission details if dream pressure rises.
Qin Mo read the warning and stared.
"Sleeping curse. After we prepared anti-sleep pills. Coincidence?"
Qin Yuheng shook his head.
"Not coincidence. Progression."
Yu Qingmei warned them again.
"Dream floors are dangerous because they do not feel dangerous at first."
Qin Yuheng understood.
The false rescue signal had used kindness.
Floor 15 might use peace. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
He looked at his team.
"Before entry, we memorize three facts. One: We are climbers. Two: We entered Floor 15. Three: If the village feels perfect, it is false."
Qin Mo added, "Four: Do not drink mystery soup."
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.
"Agreed."
The gate to Floor 15 opened with soft white light.
No roar.
No wind.
No pressure.
Only the smell of warm rice and rain.
When Qin Yuheng opened his eyes, he stood before a peaceful village.
Children laughed.
Smoke rose from chimneys.
An old woman waved from the road.
"Travelers," she called kindly. "Come in before dark."
Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened.
Too peaceful.
