Me? I was transported into a book? And I became a vicious villain?

The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the bluestone road, making Chu Mengmeng and Xiao Yichen's figures particularly slender. Returning to the familiar town, they did not relax at all. The experience in the ruins was like an indelible shadow, shrouding their hearts.

"Let's go to the Magic Academy." Xiao Yichen said in a firm tone. He knew that with their current abilities, they could not unlock the secrets of the ruins, let alone find the legendary artifact.

The Magic Academy is located in the center of the town. It is an old and solemn building. The dean is a highly respected magician who is said to have profound knowledge and powerful magic, and is highly respected by people.

Walking into the dean's office, a strong scent of books hits you. The dean is studying an ancient magic book at his desk. When he hears footsteps, he slowly raises his head and looks at the person who is coming with deep eyes.

"It's you, young men." The dean's voice was deep and magnetic. "I heard that you went to the ruins?"

Chu Mengmeng and Xiao Yichen looked at each other and told the dean everything they had experienced and felt in the ruins. They eagerly hoped that the dean could provide help and give them some pointers.

After listening to their story, the dean was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "That ruins is far more dangerous than you think. It contains powerful magical power, but it is also full of unknown risks."

"Dean, we know we were reckless this time, but we must find that artifact!" Chu Mengmeng said in a firm tone, with an unshakable determination in her eyes.

The dean shook his head with a trace of regret in his eyes: "Children, I know you are brave, but some things require more than courage. Your current abilities are not enough to cope with such a difficult task."

"Dean, please believe us. We will work hard to improve ourselves and will never let you down!" Xiao Yichen also stepped forward with a sincere tone.

The dean was silent. He looked at the two young men in front of him, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes. He knew their determination, but he also knew the danger of the ruins.

After a while, he slowly said, "You guys go back first, let me think about it..."

Chu Mengmeng and Xiao Yichen wanted to say something more, but seeing the dean's resolute attitude, they could only swallow the words that were on the tip of their tongues. They respectfully said goodbye to the dean and turned to walk out of the dean's office.

In the room, the dean looked at their departing figures with deep eyes, wondering what he was thinking. He reached out and took down an old parchment scroll from the bookshelf, and slowly unfolded it...

The afterglow of the setting sun gradually faded, and night fell quietly. Chu Mengmeng and Xiao Yichen were walking on the way home, but they were no longer as relaxed and happy as before. Their footsteps were heavy, as if they were pressed by a huge rock, and every step seemed extremely difficult.

"Are we just going to give up like this?" Chu Mengmeng murmured in a low voice, her tone full of reluctance and loss. She knew that what the dean said made sense, and that their current abilities were indeed not enough to deal with the dangers in the ruins, but when she thought of the artifact that was related to the lives of countless people, she couldn't just sit back and watch.

"Mengmeng, the dean is doing this for our own good." Xiao Yichen held her hand, trying to comfort her, "We can't joke with our own lives."

"But..." Chu Mengmeng wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Xiao Yichen, "I know what you are worried about, but we can't be impulsive. Believe me, we will find a way."

After returning home, Chu Mengmeng sat at the table in a depressed mood, and the dean's words kept echoing in her mind. She began to doubt her own abilities. Could it be that they really could not take on this responsibility?

"Don't be discouraged, Mengmeng." Xiao Yichen walked over to her with a cup of hot tea and gently stroked her hair. "We still have time and can slowly improve ourselves."

"But, the dean..." Chu Mengmeng hesitated. She didn't understand why the dean was unwilling to help them. Was it really like he said, that they were not qualified enough?

"The dean is well-informed and must have his reasons." Xiao Yichen comforted, "Let's not think too much about it and go to bed early."

However, that night, Chu Mengmeng couldn't fall asleep. She tossed and turned, her mind full of the ruins and the artifact. She knew that she couldn't just give up. She had to find a way to unlock the secret of the ruins and find the legendary artifact.

The next morning, Chu Mengmeng got up early and decided to go to the magic academy again to persuade the dean to help them. However, when she arrived at the gate of the academy, she was told that the dean had gone out to travel and would not be back for an unknown time.

Chu Mengmeng suddenly felt extremely disappointed and lost. Was fate really going to play such a trick on them? Just as she was about to turn around and leave, she found a pile of sundries in the corner of the entrance to the academy, and there seemed to be some books among them...

"Wait, Xiao Yichen, look!" Chu Mengmeng pointed at the pile of debris, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Xiao Yichen walked closer and found that the pile of debris was mostly old magic equipment and some unknown materials, which looked like things abandoned by the academy.

"Just some discarded magic items, nothing special." Xiao Yichen took a glance and lost interest.

"Don't be impatient, let's take a closer look." Chu Mengmeng was not giving up. She squatted down and began to search.

Suddenly, her fingers touched something hard. She carefully peeled away the debris covering it, and an old book appeared before her.

The cover of the book was dark brown leather, with no words or patterns on it, only the traces of time were clearly visible. Chu Mengmeng gently stroked the cover, and an ancient and mysterious atmosphere came to her face.

"This book..." Chu Mengmeng's heartbeat inexplicably accelerated. She had a hunch that this book might be related to the ruins.

She couldn't wait to open the book, and a faint musty smell wafted out. The pages were yellowed, as if they had gone through countless years, and the words on them were not the common language they were familiar with, but an ancient and complex symbol.

"What kind of text is this?" Xiao Yichen came closer, frowning, "I've never seen it before."

Chu Mengmeng shook her head. She couldn't recognize these symbols either. They flipped through the entire book but couldn't understand a single word.

"Could it be some kind of lost ancient magic text?" Chu Mengmeng guessed, "Maybe someone in the academy knows it."

Holding on to the last glimmer of hope, they took the books to find the administrator of the college library, a gray-haired old man.

The old man took the book, examined it carefully for a moment, and said slowly: "This is the ancient Elven language, which has been lost for thousands of years. Almost no one can decipher it now."

Chu Mengmeng and Xiao Yichen's hearts suddenly sank.

"Is there no other way?" Chu Mengmeng asked unwillingly.

The old man pondered for a moment and said slowly: "I have heard that in the east of the continent, there is a hermit scholar who is proficient in various ancient languages. Perhaps he knows..."

Before the old man finished speaking, Chu Mengmeng and Xiao Yichen looked at each other, and a glimmer of hope ignited in their eyes.

"Let's set off now without further delay!" Chu Mengmeng said in a firm tone, as if she had seen the dawn of hope.

However, they didn't know that what was waiting for them would be an even more difficult and dangerous journey...

"Knock, knock, knock..." Chu Mengmeng knocked gently on the door of the Dean's office of the Magic Academy, feeling uneasy. Since returning to the town, they haven't closed their eyes to rest, and they are obsessed with unlocking the secrets of the ancient book.

"Please come in." The dean's voice was low and magnetic, as majestic as ever.

Chu Mengmeng and Xiao Yichen walked into the office, where the dean was sitting at the desk, flipping through a thick magic book. He raised his head and glanced at the two of them with a sharp gaze, as if he could see through their thoughts.

"Dean, we have encountered some difficulties and hope you can give us some advice." Chu Mengmeng handed over the ancient book respectfully and told the dean everything about their experiences in the ruins and the ancient book.

The dean took the ancient book and frowned slightly. He turned the page and carefully examined the symbols on it, without saying a word for a long time.

"Dean, do you recognize these words?" Chu Mengmeng asked expectantly, hoping that the dean could give them guidance like an omnipotent wise man.

However, the dean shook his head and said in a heavy tone: "The text on it is very ancient. I only know a little bit about it and cannot fully interpret it."

Chu Mengmeng's heart suddenly sank, as if she had fallen into an icy abyss. Are they really going to return empty-handed?

"But..." The dean paused, as if he thought of something, "I once saw a similar symbol in an ancient book, and I vaguely remember..." As he spoke, he walked to the bookshelf and looked for something.

Chu Mengmeng and Xiao Yichen held their breath and waited nervously, hoping that the dean could find the ancient book and solve their doubts.

However, after searching for a long time, the dean found nothing. He shook his head and said helplessly: "It seems that I remembered it wrongly. The book is gone."

Chu Mengmeng and Xiao Yichen's hopes were completely shattered. They slumped in their chairs like two deflated balls.

"Is there really no other way?" Chu Mengmeng murmured to herself, her tone full of despair.

The dean was silent for a moment, then said slowly: "Maybe, you can go..." He stopped abruptly, as if hesitating about something.