July 05, 2023 by Wyrd
Ruan Qing lowered his gaze, avoiding the eyes of the three when they discovered him looking at them.
How many existences like them were there in the whole school?
Ruan Qing didn’t believe there were only these three. The monster in the mirror might have been bewitching the students all along to participate in this ritual.
Most importantly, because they were only replaced, no one realized that the original students had long been dead. It’s likely that there were quite a few students who were bewitched.
It was late at night and not easy to find a hotel, so the group went directly to the Su family’s villa.
Although the butlers and maids were somewhat surprised by Ruan Qing’s return in the middle of the night, they didn’t say anything and respectfully arranged the accommodations for everyone.
Ruan Qing naturally went back to his own room.
The first thing he did upon entering the room was to cover all the mirrors.
Just as he finished covering them, there was a knock on his room door. The sound was very faint, and if one didn’t pay attention, they probably wouldn’t even hear it.
Ruan Qing paused for a moment, then walked slowly to the door and opened it.
It was Mo Ran, Xiao Shiyi, and the others, except for the three who had been replaced.
Ruan Qing stepped aside, allowing everyone to enter.
The short-haired player who walked at the back glanced outside, made sure that the three players were not present, and gently closed the door.
Su Qing’s room was very spacious, with a TV, a sofa, and an oversized bed.
The sofa was more than enough to accommodate these few people, but the room was originally covered in luxurious carpeting and was very clean. So everyone didn’t squeeze onto the sofa but found a place to sit casually.
Ruan Qing didn’t want to squeeze with them either and sat directly on the edge of his own bed.
Xiao Shiyi looked around at the covered mirrors and finally turned to Ruan Qing, his face serious, and asked, “Brother Su, have you... already encountered it?”
Ruan Qing knew what Xiao Shiyi was asking and nodded. “In the restroom near the basketball court.”
“I went in with Brother Su at the beginning,” Mo Ran frowned, seeming somewhat puzzled at how that happened.
Ruan Qing replied, “When the mirror broke, a piece fell inside the cubicle I was in.”
Xiao Shiyi glared at Mo Ran, his usually composed eyes showing a hint of anger. “If it was me, I wouldn’t make such a low-level mistake.”
Mo Ran didn’t speak, his expression somewhat gloomy and unclear.
The player with short hair looked puzzled and asked, “What mirror?”
Xiao Shiyi spoke slowly, “There’s something wrong with the mirrors in our school. Once you spend too much time alone in front of the mirror, the reflection inside the mirror comes to life.”
“If that reflection finds an opportunity, it will kill the original person and take their place.”
“Then the replaced person will start to bewitch other classmates and make them participate in the ritual to receive blessings at midnight.”
Xiao Shiyi looked at Ruan Qing. “This issue only occurs with the mirrors in our school.”
Ruan Qing nodded in understanding and asked, “So, what happened with you and Mo Ran?”
“The strength of the Mirror Person and the original person isn’t significantly different. The Mirror Person can kill the original, and the original can also kill the Mirror Person. As long as you kill your own Mirror Person, you gain some abilities.”
Xiao Shiyi adjusted his glasses and continued, “Mo Ran and I accidentally killed our own Mirror Persons.”
“However, it was also our first time participating in the midnight ritual for blessings, and now it seems things are not that simple.”
Xiao Shiyi paused for a moment and said, “As a student of Class 1-1, I’ve never noticed a mirror hidden at the back of the classroom.”
Ruan Qing understood. It would be difficult to hear any slight differences during the noisy daytime, even if someone knocked on the wall.
But if they went at night, it would be dangerous. Even if they didn’t light a white candle, they would still be pulled into the world inside the mirror.
Just like Pei Yan.
Ruan Qing vividly remembered that he didn’t light a white candle, but he still participated in that test.
After waking up, they didn’t see a copy of those who had failed the exam, which proved that, at least for now, they hadn’t died in the world inside the mirror yet. He didn’t know if they would be able to come out alive.
Ruan Qing hoped that they would be able to come out alive, but he also knew that this hope was very slim.
If that powerful monster hadn’t come, maybe he could have tried to plead with the teacher who favored him. However, that powerful monster had even scared the teacher. If they stayed any longer, even those who scored above the class average wouldn’t be safe.
So at that time, he tried asking the teacher if they could leave.
Unexpectedly, the teacher actually let them go.
It’s just that strand of hair... It felt somewhat ominous.
But at that point, Ruan Qing didn’t have a choice. Between a strand of hair and his life, he could clearly distinguish which was more important.
Now it seemed necessary to investigate what had happened in Class 1-1 in the past.
Everyone present thought the same. Only by figuring out what had happened originally would they have a chance to clear the instance.
Even Pei Yan had encountered trouble. If they really waited until later, when that powerful ghost appeared, they would probably be wiped out in this dungeon.
Ruan Qing pondered for a moment and looked up at Xiao Shiyi, hesitating before speaking, “When did Su Zhiwei become the principal of the school?”
Xiao Shiyi was taken aback for a moment. “Let me check.”
After saying that, he took out his phone, searching for something.
“Seven years ago,” Xiao Shiyi put down his phone.
“But he didn’t just appear seven years ago. It seems like he arrived ten years ago and was just an ordinary teacher at that time. He became the principal three years later.”
“An ordinary teacher for three years?” Ruan Qing found it somewhat unbelievable. After all, Su Zhiwei was from the Su family and was the original owner’s nominal uncle.
How could someone from the Su family become an ordinary teacher and remain as one for three years?
Moreover, with such a big problem occurring in the school, Ruan Qing felt it was impossible for him to know nothing.
“Wait.” Ruan Qing paused for a moment after thinking of a possibility. He took out his phone and typed in a question: ‘When did the First High School become the best high school in the province?’
‘Seven years ago,’ came the reply.
Su Zhiwei became the principal seven years ago, and it happened to be the same time when the First High School became the best high school in the province. It was too coincidental.
This Su Zhiwei must have some issues.
Xiao Shiyi also realized that there was something wrong. He hesitated and spoke, “As the principal, he might have the records of all the past students. We can investigate what happened to them after they graduated.”
Let’s see what became of those people.
Ruan Qing wasn’t interested in knowing what became of those people; he wanted to know what happened in the past.
But these two matters didn’t conflict with each other, so he simply nodded.
There were too few clues, and not much could be deduced. Moreover, after a night of tense nerves, everyone was exhausted.
However, no one suggested leaving to sleep.
Although strange things seemed to only happen within the First High School, it didn’t mean that leaving the school would guarantee safety.
It was already past five in the morning, and the sky was gradually getting brighter.
Ruan Qing glanced upward slightly, gesturing toward the closet with a hint of superiority. “There are blankets in there. Take one if you need it.”
After saying that, he lay down on his own bed, covered himself with the blanket, and no longer looked at the others.
Li Shuyang saw this and wanted to walk over to Ruan Qing’s side, but Mo Ran, who wore a sinister smile, stopped him. Mo Ran lowered his voice and said, “Classmate Li, it’s better not to disturb Brother Su’s rest, don’t you think?”
Li Shuyang glanced at Ruan Qing, reluctantly nodded, and entered the closet that Ruan Qing had indicated earlier. He then took a blanket and went to the sofa, claiming the spot.
Xiao Shiyi and Mo Ran didn’t need blankets, but they also entered the walked-in closet.
Other people glanced and followed suit to go in.
Although it wasn’t cold on this early summer night, the previous chilling aura had penetrated their bones, and now they all felt cold.
It was as if they had been immersed in cold water all along, their whole bodies devoid of any warmth.
However, just as they were about to enter the closet, several blankets thrown casually by Mo Ran came crashing out.
The group didn’t say anything about the blankets and simply found a corner, wrapping themselves in the blankets and went to rest.
When Xiao Shiyi was about to leave with a blanket in his arms, Mo Ran held him back.
Xiao Shiyi turned to look at Mo Ran, “?”
Mo Ran silently opened his mouth.
—He’s behaving well tonight.
The teenager could only be well-behaved when he couldn’t rely on his powerful background.
Xiao Shiyi didn’t answer; he just silently looked at Mo Ran.
Mo Ran revealed a peculiar smile.
—Do you want to cooperate?
Xiao Shiyi still didn’t speak, neither refusing nor seeming to agree.
Mo Ran didn’t mind; after saying that, he left the closet with the blanket and found a place to rest on his own.
***
Perhaps because they were no longer inside the First High School, Ruan Qing slept straight through until it was broad daylight.
The group didn’t waste any time and returned to the school after finishing their meal.
Today was Sunday, and they had evening self-study, but before self-study, there weren’t many teachers in the school, including Principal Su Zhiwei.
So, this was the best opportunity.
Everyone headed straight to the principal’s office, and as expected, the office was locked.
This didn’t pose a challenge for Ruan Qing, but his character set-up wouldn’t allow him to pick locks.
As for Mo Ran and Xiao Shiyi, they were capable of forcefully breaking the lock, but not of picking it.
However, it was clear that forcefully breaking the lock was not an option, as Su Zhiwei would definitely notice someone had entered his office.
Fortunately, there was someone among the players who knew how to pick locks. The short-haired player took a step forward, somehow produced a wire from somewhere, and confidently inserted it into the keyhole.
And then... after struggling for a while, the lock still wouldn’t open.
The others grew anxious. “Can’t you hurry up!?”
The short-haired player wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I want to hurry too, but this lock seems to be custom made. I need some time.”
The short-haired player was focused on picking the lock and didn’t notice that several people behind him were now frozen in place.
Someone tugged at his sleeve, but the short-haired player thought they were urging him and impatiently replied, “Stop rushing me. I’ll be able to open it soon.”
The next moment, a gentle voice like the wind sounded behind him.
“This student, what are you doing?”
July 05, 2023 by Wyrd
Ruan Qing lowered his gaze, avoiding the eyes of the three when they discovered him looking at them.
How many existences like them were there in the whole school?
Ruan Qing didn’t believe there were only these three. The monster in the mirror might have been bewitching the students all along to participate in this ritual.
Most importantly, because they were only replaced, no one realized that the original students had long been dead. It’s likely that there were quite a few students who were bewitched.
It was late at night and not easy to find a hotel, so the group went directly to the Su family’s villa.
Although the butlers and maids were somewhat surprised by Ruan Qing’s return in the middle of the night, they didn’t say anything and respectfully arranged the accommodations for everyone.
Ruan Qing naturally went back to his own room.
The first thing he did upon entering the room was to cover all the mirrors.
Just as he finished covering them, there was a knock on his room door. The sound was very faint, and if one didn’t pay attention, they probably wouldn’t even hear it.
Ruan Qing paused for a moment, then walked slowly to the door and opened it.
It was Mo Ran, Xiao Shiyi, and the others, except for the three who had been replaced.
Ruan Qing stepped aside, allowing everyone to enter.
The short-haired player who walked at the back glanced outside, made sure that the three players were not present, and gently closed the door.
Su Qing’s room was very spacious, with a TV, a sofa, and an oversized bed.
The sofa was more than enough to accommodate these few people, but the room was originally covered in luxurious carpeting and was very clean. So everyone didn’t squeeze onto the sofa but found a place to sit casually.
Ruan Qing didn’t want to squeeze with them either and sat directly on the edge of his own bed.
Xiao Shiyi looked around at the covered mirrors and finally turned to Ruan Qing, his face serious, and asked, “Brother Su, have you... already encountered it?”
Ruan Qing knew what Xiao Shiyi was asking and nodded. “In the restroom near the basketball court.”
“I went in with Brother Su at the beginning,” Mo Ran frowned, seeming somewhat puzzled at how that happened.
Ruan Qing replied, “When the mirror broke, a piece fell inside the cubicle I was in.”
Xiao Shiyi glared at Mo Ran, his usually composed eyes showing a hint of anger. “If it was me, I wouldn’t make such a low-level mistake.”
Mo Ran didn’t speak, his expression somewhat gloomy and unclear.
The player with short hair looked puzzled and asked, “What mirror?”
Xiao Shiyi spoke slowly, “There’s something wrong with the mirrors in our school. Once you spend too much time alone in front of the mirror, the reflection inside the mirror comes to life.”
“If that reflection finds an opportunity, it will kill the original person and take their place.”
“Then the replaced person will start to bewitch other classmates and make them participate in the ritual to receive blessings at midnight.”
Xiao Shiyi looked at Ruan Qing. “This issue only occurs with the mirrors in our school.”
Ruan Qing nodded in understanding and asked, “So, what happened with you and Mo Ran?”
“The strength of the Mirror Person and the original person isn’t significantly different. The Mirror Person can kill the original, and the original can also kill the Mirror Person. As long as you kill your own Mirror Person, you gain some abilities.”
Xiao Shiyi adjusted his glasses and continued, “Mo Ran and I accidentally killed our own Mirror Persons.”
“However, it was also our first time participating in the midnight ritual for blessings, and now it seems things are not that simple.”
Xiao Shiyi paused for a moment and said, “As a student of Class 1-1, I’ve never noticed a mirror hidden at the back of the classroom.”
Ruan Qing understood. It would be difficult to hear any slight differences during the noisy daytime, even if someone knocked on the wall.
But if they went at night, it would be dangerous. Even if they didn’t light a white candle, they would still be pulled into the world inside the mirror.
Just like Pei Yan.
Ruan Qing vividly remembered that he didn’t light a white candle, but he still participated in that test.
After waking up, they didn’t see a copy of those who had failed the exam, which proved that, at least for now, they hadn’t died in the world inside the mirror yet. He didn’t know if they would be able to come out alive.
Ruan Qing hoped that they would be able to come out alive, but he also knew that this hope was very slim.
If that powerful monster hadn’t come, maybe he could have tried to plead with the teacher who favored him. However, that powerful monster had even scared the teacher. If they stayed any longer, even those who scored above the class average wouldn’t be safe.
So at that time, he tried asking the teacher if they could leave.
Unexpectedly, the teacher actually let them go.
It’s just that strand of hair... It felt somewhat ominous.
But at that point, Ruan Qing didn’t have a choice. Between a strand of hair and his life, he could clearly distinguish which was more important.
Now it seemed necessary to investigate what had happened in Class 1-1 in the past.
Everyone present thought the same. Only by figuring out what had happened originally would they have a chance to clear the instance.
Even Pei Yan had encountered trouble. If they really waited until later, when that powerful ghost appeared, they would probably be wiped out in this dungeon.
Ruan Qing pondered for a moment and looked up at Xiao Shiyi, hesitating before speaking, “When did Su Zhiwei become the principal of the school?”
Xiao Shiyi was taken aback for a moment. “Let me check.”
After saying that, he took out his phone, searching for something.
“Seven years ago,” Xiao Shiyi put down his phone.
“But he didn’t just appear seven years ago. It seems like he arrived ten years ago and was just an ordinary teacher at that time. He became the principal three years later.”
“An ordinary teacher for three years?” Ruan Qing found it somewhat unbelievable. After all, Su Zhiwei was from the Su family and was the original owner’s nominal uncle.
How could someone from the Su family become an ordinary teacher and remain as one for three years?
Moreover, with such a big problem occurring in the school, Ruan Qing felt it was impossible for him to know nothing.
“Wait.” Ruan Qing paused for a moment after thinking of a possibility. He took out his phone and typed in a question: ‘When did the First High School become the best high school in the province?’
‘Seven years ago,’ came the reply.
Su Zhiwei became the principal seven years ago, and it happened to be the same time when the First High School became the best high school in the province. It was too coincidental.
This Su Zhiwei must have some issues.
Xiao Shiyi also realized that there was something wrong. He hesitated and spoke, “As the principal, he might have the records of all the past students. We can investigate what happened to them after they graduated.”
Let’s see what became of those people.
Ruan Qing wasn’t interested in knowing what became of those people; he wanted to know what happened in the past.
But these two matters didn’t conflict with each other, so he simply nodded.
There were too few clues, and not much could be deduced. Moreover, after a night of tense nerves, everyone was exhausted.
However, no one suggested leaving to sleep.
Although strange things seemed to only happen within the First High School, it didn’t mean that leaving the school would guarantee safety.
It was already past five in the morning, and the sky was gradually getting brighter.
Ruan Qing glanced upward slightly, gesturing toward the closet with a hint of superiority. “There are blankets in there. Take one if you need it.”
After saying that, he lay down on his own bed, covered himself with the blanket, and no longer looked at the others.
Li Shuyang saw this and wanted to walk over to Ruan Qing’s side, but Mo Ran, who wore a sinister smile, stopped him. Mo Ran lowered his voice and said, “Classmate Li, it’s better not to disturb Brother Su’s rest, don’t you think?”
Li Shuyang glanced at Ruan Qing, reluctantly nodded, and entered the closet that Ruan Qing had indicated earlier. He then took a blanket and went to the sofa, claiming the spot.
Xiao Shiyi and Mo Ran didn’t need blankets, but they also entered the walked-in closet.
Other people glanced and followed suit to go in.
Although it wasn’t cold on this early summer night, the previous chilling aura had penetrated their bones, and now they all felt cold.
It was as if they had been immersed in cold water all along, their whole bodies devoid of any warmth.
However, just as they were about to enter the closet, several blankets thrown casually by Mo Ran came crashing out.
The group didn’t say anything about the blankets and simply found a corner, wrapping themselves in the blankets and went to rest.
When Xiao Shiyi was about to leave with a blanket in his arms, Mo Ran held him back.
Xiao Shiyi turned to look at Mo Ran, “?”
Mo Ran silently opened his mouth.
—He’s behaving well tonight.
The teenager could only be well-behaved when he couldn’t rely on his powerful background.
Xiao Shiyi didn’t answer; he just silently looked at Mo Ran.
Mo Ran revealed a peculiar smile.
—Do you want to cooperate?
Xiao Shiyi still didn’t speak, neither refusing nor seeming to agree.
Mo Ran didn’t mind; after saying that, he left the closet with the blanket and found a place to rest on his own.
***
Perhaps because they were no longer inside the First High School, Ruan Qing slept straight through until it was broad daylight.
The group didn’t waste any time and returned to the school after finishing their meal.
Today was Sunday, and they had evening self-study, but before self-study, there weren’t many teachers in the school, including Principal Su Zhiwei.
So, this was the best opportunity.
Everyone headed straight to the principal’s office, and as expected, the office was locked.
This didn’t pose a challenge for Ruan Qing, but his character set-up wouldn’t allow him to pick locks.
As for Mo Ran and Xiao Shiyi, they were capable of forcefully breaking the lock, but not of picking it.
However, it was clear that forcefully breaking the lock was not an option, as Su Zhiwei would definitely notice someone had entered his office.
Fortunately, there was someone among the players who knew how to pick locks. The short-haired player took a step forward, somehow produced a wire from somewhere, and confidently inserted it into the keyhole.
And then... after struggling for a while, the lock still wouldn’t open.
The others grew anxious. “Can’t you hurry up!?”
The short-haired player wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I want to hurry too, but this lock seems to be custom made. I need some time.”
The short-haired player was focused on picking the lock and didn’t notice that several people behind him were now frozen in place.
Someone tugged at his sleeve, but the short-haired player thought they were urging him and impatiently replied, “Stop rushing me. I’ll be able to open it soon.”
The next moment, a gentle voice like the wind sounded behind him.
“This student, what are you doing?”
