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Luo Chunlei had a good foundation, and her appearance carried a unique youthful innocence. Unfortunately, the person opposite her, “student Zhang San”, not to mention his physique, was already approaching middle age in terms of mentality. Zhong Chengshuo responded with an “mm” and continued to focus on packing his bag, saying, “Go on.”
The tone was as cold and unfamiliar as a textbook stranger.
“In fact, everyone wasn’t this extreme before. I just came back from being ill, and everyone started acting strange, including what happened to Zhang Hejun. The teacher said it was an accident, but I don’t believe it.”
Luo Chunlei blinked her large eyes as she spoke worriedly.
“I’ve been paying attention to you today, and you’re a person with a strong sense of justice. Zhang Hejun is my good friend. Can I join you in finding the culprit?”
After speaking, she put on a determined look, as if she was ready to fight for justice for her friend*.
*Beat the yamen drum to demand justice (击鼓鸣冤) Refers to the old system in ancient China where people would beat the drum to air out their grievances and demand justice.
Zhong Chengshuo said honestly, “But I don’t know you. What if you’re the culprit?”
The determination on Luo Chunlei’s face faltered for a moment but quickly regained its composure. “It’s fine if you don’t believe me. I’ll just find the culprit on my own.”
Yin Ren hissed near Zhong Chengshuo’s ear.
This girl’s acting skills were good; even better than those third-rate melodrama actors he had watched. What was even rarer was that she didn’t show any nervousness or guilt but rather a faint confidence and excitement.
For a child, this level of confidence was a bit peculiar. If he could get close to her, he might be able to further understand the source of her confidence…
“I know Hejun better than you, and I understand this class better than you. Whether you want it or not, I will help you!” Miss Luo Chunlei continued her assault by sending the pillow while he was drowsy*.
*It’s a metaphorical way of saying he’s looking for help, and she just happens to be the help he needs.
“Then, do your best.” Zhong Chengshuo nodded.
Yin Ren: “…” Alright, his attempt to get closer to her failed miserably.
Luo Chunlei: “…”
Luo Chunlei took a deep breath and forced a smile as she continued, “Let’s talk about Wu Cheng. He’s the one who came to find you today. I’ve been suspicious of him for a long time. He’s been running around after school a lot recently, and he even had a big fight with Hejun because Hejun accidentally bumped into his backpack… Believe it or not, I’ve given you a clue!”
With a slight blush on her cheeks, she huffed heavily, grabbed her bag, and ran off.
“Do you want to go to the cafeteria for a snack? I think you’ll like the braised pork here.” Zhong Chengshuo turned to Yin Ren smoothly and shifted the conversation to the next topic. Luo Chunlei deliberately abandoned her poetic teenage sentiments and transformed into a mature adult who had just blown through the door.
“Let’s go eat nearby. Since she handed us a clue, we can’t let her good intentions go to waste.”
Lord Ghost King’s mind was momentarily swayed by the mention of braised pork, but Zhong Chengshuo pointed out that a child who appeared to be eleven years old devouring four to five catties of braised meat would likely become a legend in the cafeteria by tomorrow.
“Well, let’s go to the nearby pork cutlet shop. My classmates used to love it there,” Zhong Chengshuo suggested earnestly, making an effort to recall.
“It’s close by, so we should be able to finish eating before nine.”
“Isn’t it too late to go for a late-night snack now? Wu Cheng might be waiting outside, ready to tail you,” Yin Ren said with a smile.
Wu Cheng had fought with others, collided with Zhong Chengshuo’s table, and repeatedly caused trouble. This time, he was clearly furious. Meanwhile, Luo Chunlei glanced over every now and then, but her gaze wasn’t as simple as “paying attention”. It seemed she was eager to push Wu Cheng into the spotlight, indicating that the two of them had likely reached some kind of agreement.
Perhaps this trickery might deceive children of the same age, but it fell far short for a thousand-year-old Great Celestial Master.
“After we finish our snack, Luo Chunlei should be close to home by then.” Zhong Chengshuo carefully calculated. “You can enjoy your meal, and I can also determine if she has any specific plans.”
“Then I shall reluctantly comply.”
As Yin Ren was about to leave, he hesitated for a moment at the classroom door. Half of the corruption source was left at the school by the students, and as his dark hair brushed past, all the Evil Force of the corruption source was absorbed without a trace.
Hmm, it tastes average.
……
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Inside the small fried pork cutlet shop, steam wafted through the air. The freshly cooked pork cutlet was crispy and juicy right out of the pan. It was perfect for this chilly autumn night. With a crisp sound, the tender meat and fat burst of warm juices inside the mouth.
However, Yin Ren found it a bit difficult to eat as he was still in his invisible state. Zhong Chengshuo would symbolically pick up a small piece and discreetly feed it to him, taking advantage of the corner for cover, mouthful by mouthful.
The chopsticks danced over the food. Though this person usually had a cleanliness obsession and stayed away from the greasy table edge, at this moment, he didn’t even frown. Lord Ghost King could have used his hair to discreetly consume the food, but at the moment, it seemed like he had forgotten about that as he took each bite confidently.
At the edge of the frenzied vortex, two non-humans sat in the corner. They were currently both wearing school uniforms and listening to outdated foreign songs. Yin Ren took a bite of the pork cutlet, and Zhong Chengshuo had a mouthful of cabbage slathered in sauce along with mild fish meat, enjoying their meal in a harmonious atmosphere.
Another wave of customers entered the shop, and the music couldn’t drown out the sound of tables and chairs rubbing against each other. Yin Ren scanned the shop with his gaze and indeed spotted Wu Cheng.
That brat deliberately sat in the most conspicuous spot in the shop. Unfortunately, his pocket money was limited, and he only ordered a small bowl of udon noodles. When he looked at the pork cutlet and fish in front of Zhong Chengshuo, his gaze was full of resentment.
Yin Ren shook his head with a sigh. Almost at the same time, Lu Xiaohe’s voice came through his headset.
“Luo Chunlei is on the move again. She said in the anonymous group that she’s going to conduct a ‘textual execution’ livestream. Be cautious and make sure to control the situation in a timely manner.”
“No problem, let me switch to the screen.”
In the next moment, the updates from the group appeared on Dog Thing in real-time. Yin Ren put down his phone and gestured for Zhong Chengshuo to watch together.
[The bitch’s relative is also a bitch. I’ve vomited eighteen times today. That guy really thinks highly of himself. He’s just a hypocrite claiming to be looking for the culprit. It’s laughable.]
Luo Chunlei swiftly posted in the group.
[It sounds so stupid that I can’t stand it. Execution, execution!]
[Is it an inherited disease? www so severe http://www.]
Luo Chunlei: [Definitely knocking him off his moral high ground. Tonight is the second episode of <Eliminating Evil for the People>~]”
[How are you going to deal with the new transfer student, o’ chivalrous knight?]
[It’s a secret .] Luo Chunlei responded this way.
Zhong Chengshuo carefully chewed the last strands of cabbage and took a sip of hot tea. “It seems like she did indeed discuss it with Wu Cheng.”
“Shall we go?” Yin Ren stretched his muscles contentedly.
Seeing that they had finished eating and were about to pay, Wu Cheng quickly stood up, deliberately making a loud noise. He exaggeratedly slung his backpack on his back and leisurely walked towards the exit of the shop.
“Follow him.” Zhong Chengshuo swiftly settled the bill.
Wu Cheng was twelve years old and had matured early. He had already reached a height of nearly 1.7 meters, making him an easy target to spot. In the illusion, Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo were both around 1.5 meters tall, so they followed him without much concealment, gradually deviating from his path as they walked behind him.
Wu Cheng led them to an old and abandoned workshop in the old town area.
It was a deserted five-story building with a locked door. It was just past nine, and there were few lights in the vicinity, with hardly any people around. Wu Cheng skillfully jumped through a window and entered, immediately illuminating the corridor with a flashlight.
Zhong Chengshuo diligently followed, going deeper into the building with Wu Cheng. The place was damp and decaying, covered in spiderwebs. Mold stains formed patterns in the corners of the walls, buried in shadows like twisted faces crowded together. The actual faces on the posters had lost their color, and their features blurred into a mess.
Several resentful spirits with stretched-out arms and legs, like spiders, lurked behind the broken door, and their dirty hair dangled through the door crack.
“There’s no corruption source here, but there’s enough evil qi nearby. Something might have happened here before. In another three to five years, perhaps a Resentment Basket will form.”
Lord Ghost King savored the delicious pork cutlet while his tone sounded a bit like a museum guide.
“This time, it’s probably just children causing trouble without the involvement of any other forces.”
Zhong Chengshuo nodded. He played his part thoroughly, occasionally using his phone’s flashlight for illumination. The two of them strolled through the building as if they were exploring a haunted house, but poor Wu Cheng was struggling in front of them—
Wu Cheng was breathing heavily; whether to attract attention or bolster his courage, his footsteps were unusually loud. He circled the first floor twice, then tremblingly ascended to the second floor. In less than half a minute, he disappeared into a dark doorway, and his flashlight suddenly went out, making him seem to vanish into thin air.
Zhong Chengshuo: “…His breathing is still quite loud.”
Yin Ren: “Mm, I can hear his heartbeat. That kid is standing close by inside.”
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A few strands of hair playfully crawled through the shadows, probing into the doorway, only to find it empty. Yin Ren’s smile faded for a moment, and he tapped his earpiece.
“Xiaohe, Wu Cheng is trying to lead us into the elevator shaft.”
The first floor was over four meters high, and the reserved space at the bottom of the elevator shaft was nearly two meters. Falling from a height of six to seven meters, even if there were no sharp objects at the bottom, breaking a leg would be inevitable.
Lu Xiaohe: “…What do you plan to do? By the way, according to regulations, you should withdraw at this point.”
“I’ll teach him a little lesson.” Yin Ren happily ignored the latter part of the sentence.
“Such behavior is despicable.” Outside the earpiece, Zhong Chengshuo nodded in agreement.
Zhong Chengshuo stretched his joints and walked confidently toward the elevator shaft without hesitation.
There was no longer a door near the elevator shaft; it looked like a slightly larger doorway. The surrounding area was covered in fine gravel, making it a bit slippery to walk on. The elevator buttons were covered in dust, and in the darkness, they almost blended with the walls.
Yin Ren held Zhong Chengshuo’s neck loosely from behind, and Zhong Chengshuo’s steps were extremely steady. When he stepped into that darkness, even his heartbeat remained calm.
As expected, Zhong Chengshuo stepped into empty space with one foot. A feeling of weightlessness instantly engulfed him, and the hair on his skin stood on end.
Just before the fall, Yin Ren caught sight of the hiding Wu Cheng—the boy with a swollen nose was hiding behind a damaged part of the elevator shaft wall, which had a large chunk peeled off, leaving just enough space for a person to stand on.
In an instant, Yin Ren twisted his wrist and threw Dog Thing into the elevator shaft.
The teenage Ghost King’s hair was the first to touch the ground, and his soft wings firmly caught Zhong Chengshuo. The bottom of the elevator shaft was filled with rusty metal debris, and if someone had actually fallen down, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Just as Zhong Chengshuo was about to speak, his lips were pressed shut by Yin Ren’s index finger. Yin Ren cleared his throat and imitated Zhong Chengshuo’s voice, letting out a series of cries.
“Help! Help me! My leg hurts! There’s so much blood!”
Zhong Chengshuo: “……”
Listening to “himself” wailing and sobbing was truly a new experience. He silently held onto the wings, observing the performance of the Great Celestial Master.
“Wu Cheng, are you there? …It was my fault during the day. You don’t need to save me. Just throw down my phone…” Yin Ren hoarsely choked, sounding desperate. “Or you can help me call for a doctor. If this continues, I’ll die, wuwuwu!”
A strand of black hair twisted up the floors, quietly forming an eyeball at the end. In Yin Ren’s vision, Wu Cheng carefully climbed back to the elevator shaft. He didn’t respond to “Zhong San’s” call but silently picked up the phone at the elevator entrance and fiercely slammed it against the ground twice.
The gadget was mercilessly beaten, and its battery plummeted. Within a few minutes, it angrily blacked out.
Once he confirmed that the phone couldn’t be turned on again, Wu Cheng used tissues to pick up the gadget and forcefully threw it down the elevator shaft.
“Idiot!” After completing all this, Wu Cheng covered his nose and shouted, “Serves you right! Serves you right for showing off! Serves you right for following me!”
“Save me…” Zhang San’s voice gradually weakened. “Ah… Ahh…”
“Just wait. I’ll go ahead, and you can stay here and maintain your dignity.” Wu Cheng’s voice trembled a bit. He turned his back, resolutely refusing to look down the elevator shaft.
Yin Ren remained silent, only softly whimpering and sobbing. He also released a bit of evil qi, causing a surging smell of blood to gradually fill the air.
Sweat trickled down Wu Cheng’s forehead as he muttered a few more curses, then walked away. Before leaving, he even remembered to take out a water bottle from his backpack and dilute the footprints on the nearby ground. After completing all this, he finally took out his phone, wiped off the sweat, and sent a message to Luo Chunlei:
[I haven’t finished my math homework yet.]
Immediately after, he left without looking back.
At the same time, Dog Thing laid in the pile of waste for a moment, reluctantly extending its small legs and running back to Yin Ren’s side. Its screen lit up again, and the messages from the anonymous group continued to flicker.
Luo Chunlei: [I calculated it myself; a despicable person will get what they deserve. Mission accomplished.]
[Double kill, awesome!]
[All talk, no action*. The little cockroach is still alive, but brother cockroach can die? I’m right in the city, watching.]
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*Loud thunder but little rain (雷声大雨点小) Idiom referring to a situation where there’s a lot of noise and talk but little action or results.
Luo Chunlei ruthlessly countered: [Watch out. Don’t let me find out who you are.]
……
The next day, Zhong Chengshuo was the first to arrive in the classroom and sat in his seat with his homework neatly organized.
Yin Ren chewed on a tea egg in his mouth, casting a skeptical glance around—
Clearly, when he left, he absorbed all the Evil Force corruption, but as the night passed, they sprouted again, even more than before.
“Xiao Ge, Xiao Huang, did anyone approach the school last night?” Yin Ren struggled to swallow his breakfast.
“I didn’t notice anyone,” Huang Jin said bitterly. “Xiao Ge wasn’t feeling well yesterday, and she said her investigations might not be accurate. Remember to check on her at noon; something seems off with her condition.”
“I see. What about your side, Xiaohe?”
“Everything seems normal. There were no suspicious individuals or objects that approached.”
Lu Xiaohe retrieved specific data.
“The reappearance of Evil Force occurred shortly after the end of evening self-study, when there were still hundreds of people on campus. I can only determine one thing—those sources of corruption regained their intensity of Evil Force in an instant. Yin Ren, do you know what this signifies?”
It signified that the one who restored the Evil Force wasn’t human.
Since the sources of corruption weren’t external and couldn’t reproduce on their own, the only remaining possibility was that someone within the school was directly creating the sources of corruption. The divination of the origin of the carriers of corruption that indicated it came “from all directions” could now be explained.
Therefore, Yin Ren brazenly provoked and completely cleared out the corruption on campus.
Unexpectedly, the response from the other side was also… loud. It was as if they couldn’t wait to tell him that this matter involved a powerful entity that was “non-human”, rather than being the work of Sunken Society.
However, Mr. Qiu was hard to catch while Qi Xin was elusive. All the Primordial Elementals were doing their best to conceal themselves, so what was the meaning behind this inexplicable move?
Yin Ren leaned back against the top of Zhong Chengshuo’s head, who was gradually furrowing his brow. “Zhong Ge, let’s return to the Shian temporary base at noon. I have something to discuss with everyone.”
“I also—” Zhong Chengshuo was interrupted by a series of coughs before he could finish the word “also”.
When Wu Cheng entered the classroom with a milk bag in his mouth, he saw Zhang San sitting intact at the desk. Instantly, he choked on the milk and started coughing incessantly.
Following closely behind was Luo Chunlei. Seeing Zhong Chengshuo sitting unharmed, a flash of surprise briefly crossed her face, but the interest in her gaze grew deeper.
“Good morning!” She sweetly smiled at Zhong Chengshuo.
“Good morning,” Zhong Chengshuo politely responded.
“You…no. You…last night…it’s impossible…” Wu Cheng rushed to Zhong Chengshuo’s side, then instinctively took two steps back. He rubbed his bruised, purple nose and looked around in confusion. “Yesterday—yesterday there was such a strong smell of blood…”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. I’m busy, so please don’t disturb me if there’s nothing else.”
Wu Cheng disregarded the onlookers nearby. His fingers trembled and sweat formed on his forehead. “Where were you last night? Tell me, where were you last night!”
“I grabbed some supper last night, then went home. Nothing special,” Zhong Chengshuo responded while staring at him with his pitch-black eyes. “Is that enough?”
“No, you followed me last night. We… We were eating at the pork cutlet restaurant. I know—I know you followed me…”
“I told you, I went home after eating supper.” Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes remained fixed on Wu Cheng without blinking—when he didn’t display any emotions, his gaze indeed sent chills down one’s spine, and Yin Ren knew it well. “And you were walking ahead of me. I remember it very clearly.”
“No, no, it’s impossible. Last night…last night…you followed…” There was a hint of sobbing in Wu Cheng’s voice. “If it wasn’t you, then…”
Zhong Chengshuo shook his head. “Classmate, it’s time for morning reading. If there’s nothing else, could you please leave me alone?”
He paused for a moment, forcing a somewhat stiff smile.
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“I haven’t finished my math homework yet.” Zhong Chengshuo emphasized each word.
Upon hearing the familiar excuse, Wu Cheng swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and a sob escaped his throat. The next second, he rushed out of the classroom without even putting down his school bag, leaving behind a faint odor of urine in the air. The surrounding students looked at each other before chasing after him, howling.
On the other hand, Luo Chunlei remained motionless, with a relaxed expression. She neatly organized her desk and chatted with the girls around her.
……
During the long break, Zhong Chengshuo stood up enthusiastically, ready to continue his “annoy everyone” plan. However, to his surprise, Luo Chunlei, leaving behind her usually well-acquainted female companion, was the first to leave the classroom.
Yin Ren patted Zhong Chengshuo’s shoulder, gesturing for him to stay in the classroom, and flew after her alone.
Luo Chunlei skillfully climbed the stairs, heading straight for the top floor of the school. She turned her head, finding no one around, and entered the women’s restroom on the top floor.
Yin Ren: “…”
The Great Celestial Master silently flew to the outer wall and summoned the fierce ghost Hu Tao.
When she was summoned, Hu Tao was still holding a bag of potato chips in her arms. She glanced back and forth between Yin Ren and the women’s restroom a few times with a puzzled look before showing a hint of satisfaction. “Not bad. You still have some principles. Why did you call me?”
“Help me confirm the situation of the girl inside.” Yin Ren pointed to the stall where Luo Chunlei was located. “I can listen to the sounds myself.”
Hu Tao made an OK gesture and dove into the old restroom.
As Yin Ren had expected, this girl didn’t come here for physiological needs. Before long, he heard Luo Chunlei’s whisper.
“The transfer student in our class is not normal. There must be something supernatural about him.” Luo Chunlei’s voice was very low, as if she was talking to someone. “Zhang Hejun’s relative is interesting. He might be from your side, like one of those self-proclaimed Taoist exorcists.”
Immediately, there was complete silence, and Yin Ren couldn’t hear any sound.
“Mm-hmm, I know.” Luo Chunlei, however, seemed to have received some kind of response. “Can I kill him then… since finding classmates is definitely not an option. Even the biggest guy in our class is useless. I thought it was just the girls before, but now even the boys are so cowardly.”
“To be honest, he’s the type of person I dislike the most. I feel uncomfortable just looking at him. I’ll be even happier if he disappears!” she added in a coquettish tone. “I can’t give up. Besides, Zhang Hejun is so stupid, but this person is more challenging, so it’s more fun.”
The following silence grew even longer.
“Huh? Do I really need your help? It’s not fun if adults help… How about I try again, and if it still doesn’t work, then you can help me.” Luo Chunlei’s coquettish tone became a bit eerie.
“Thank you, thank you so much—”
After a while, Luo Chunlei hummed a song as she left the stall. Hu Tao, who had been secretly observing the whole process while holding her potato chips, furrowed her brow as she left the stall.
“It’s very strange.”
Before Yin Ren could ask, Hu Tao spoke first.
“That girl was talking to her own mirror. I saw it. Besides her reflection, there was no one else in the mirror—is she mentally unstable? Talking to herself? Well, she couldn’t see me. I even brought my face right in front of hers, and her eyes didn’t even blink.”
“Thank you for your help.”
Yin Ren casually severed a strand of hair as payment for Hu Tao’s services. After confirming that there was no one else in the restroom, the Great Celestial Master entered with a stern face and circled the area several times, just as Hu Tao had described—he didn’t sense anything out of the ordinary either.
It was a peculiar situation.
Yin Ren descended from the top floor, checking the condition of the corruption on each floor. By the time he returned near the classroom, two classes had ended, and the break was about to be over.
After the next class, it would be lunch break, and he could discuss it with Zhong Chengshuo. Yin Ren floated a bit faster and slipped quietly through the back door crack.
However, before he could float into the room, he heard a scream from inside—
“Find a teacher quickly!”
A sharp female voice shouted.
“Zhang San is in trouble! Find a teacher—!”
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Luo Chunlei had a good foundation, and her appearance carried a unique youthful innocence. Unfortunately, the person opposite her, “student Zhang San”, not to mention his physique, was already approaching middle age in terms of mentality. Zhong Chengshuo responded with an “mm” and continued to focus on packing his bag, saying, “Go on.”
The tone was as cold and unfamiliar as a textbook stranger.
“In fact, everyone wasn’t this extreme before. I just came back from being ill, and everyone started acting strange, including what happened to Zhang Hejun. The teacher said it was an accident, but I don’t believe it.”
Luo Chunlei blinked her large eyes as she spoke worriedly.
“I’ve been paying attention to you today, and you’re a person with a strong sense of justice. Zhang Hejun is my good friend. Can I join you in finding the culprit?”
After speaking, she put on a determined look, as if she was ready to fight for justice for her friend*.
*Beat the yamen drum to demand justice (击鼓鸣冤) Refers to the old system in ancient China where people would beat the drum to air out their grievances and demand justice.
Zhong Chengshuo said honestly, “But I don’t know you. What if you’re the culprit?”
The determination on Luo Chunlei’s face faltered for a moment but quickly regained its composure. “It’s fine if you don’t believe me. I’ll just find the culprit on my own.”
Yin Ren hissed near Zhong Chengshuo’s ear.
This girl’s acting skills were good; even better than those third-rate melodrama actors he had watched. What was even rarer was that she didn’t show any nervousness or guilt but rather a faint confidence and excitement.
For a child, this level of confidence was a bit peculiar. If he could get close to her, he might be able to further understand the source of her confidence…
“I know Hejun better than you, and I understand this class better than you. Whether you want it or not, I will help you!” Miss Luo Chunlei continued her assault by sending the pillow while he was drowsy*.
*It’s a metaphorical way of saying he’s looking for help, and she just happens to be the help he needs.
“Then, do your best.” Zhong Chengshuo nodded.
Yin Ren: “…” Alright, his attempt to get closer to her failed miserably.
Luo Chunlei: “…”
Luo Chunlei took a deep breath and forced a smile as she continued, “Let’s talk about Wu Cheng. He’s the one who came to find you today. I’ve been suspicious of him for a long time. He’s been running around after school a lot recently, and he even had a big fight with Hejun because Hejun accidentally bumped into his backpack… Believe it or not, I’ve given you a clue!”
With a slight blush on her cheeks, she huffed heavily, grabbed her bag, and ran off.
“Do you want to go to the cafeteria for a snack? I think you’ll like the braised pork here.” Zhong Chengshuo turned to Yin Ren smoothly and shifted the conversation to the next topic. Luo Chunlei deliberately abandoned her poetic teenage sentiments and transformed into a mature adult who had just blown through the door.
“Let’s go eat nearby. Since she handed us a clue, we can’t let her good intentions go to waste.”
Lord Ghost King’s mind was momentarily swayed by the mention of braised pork, but Zhong Chengshuo pointed out that a child who appeared to be eleven years old devouring four to five catties of braised meat would likely become a legend in the cafeteria by tomorrow.
“Well, let’s go to the nearby pork cutlet shop. My classmates used to love it there,” Zhong Chengshuo suggested earnestly, making an effort to recall.
“It’s close by, so we should be able to finish eating before nine.”
“Isn’t it too late to go for a late-night snack now? Wu Cheng might be waiting outside, ready to tail you,” Yin Ren said with a smile.
Wu Cheng had fought with others, collided with Zhong Chengshuo’s table, and repeatedly caused trouble. This time, he was clearly furious. Meanwhile, Luo Chunlei glanced over every now and then, but her gaze wasn’t as simple as “paying attention”. It seemed she was eager to push Wu Cheng into the spotlight, indicating that the two of them had likely reached some kind of agreement.
Perhaps this trickery might deceive children of the same age, but it fell far short for a thousand-year-old Great Celestial Master.
“After we finish our snack, Luo Chunlei should be close to home by then.” Zhong Chengshuo carefully calculated. “You can enjoy your meal, and I can also determine if she has any specific plans.”
“Then I shall reluctantly comply.”
As Yin Ren was about to leave, he hesitated for a moment at the classroom door. Half of the corruption source was left at the school by the students, and as his dark hair brushed past, all the Evil Force of the corruption source was absorbed without a trace.
Hmm, it tastes average.
……
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Inside the small fried pork cutlet shop, steam wafted through the air. The freshly cooked pork cutlet was crispy and juicy right out of the pan. It was perfect for this chilly autumn night. With a crisp sound, the tender meat and fat burst of warm juices inside the mouth.
However, Yin Ren found it a bit difficult to eat as he was still in his invisible state. Zhong Chengshuo would symbolically pick up a small piece and discreetly feed it to him, taking advantage of the corner for cover, mouthful by mouthful.
The chopsticks danced over the food. Though this person usually had a cleanliness obsession and stayed away from the greasy table edge, at this moment, he didn’t even frown. Lord Ghost King could have used his hair to discreetly consume the food, but at the moment, it seemed like he had forgotten about that as he took each bite confidently.
At the edge of the frenzied vortex, two non-humans sat in the corner. They were currently both wearing school uniforms and listening to outdated foreign songs. Yin Ren took a bite of the pork cutlet, and Zhong Chengshuo had a mouthful of cabbage slathered in sauce along with mild fish meat, enjoying their meal in a harmonious atmosphere.
Another wave of customers entered the shop, and the music couldn’t drown out the sound of tables and chairs rubbing against each other. Yin Ren scanned the shop with his gaze and indeed spotted Wu Cheng.
That brat deliberately sat in the most conspicuous spot in the shop. Unfortunately, his pocket money was limited, and he only ordered a small bowl of udon noodles. When he looked at the pork cutlet and fish in front of Zhong Chengshuo, his gaze was full of resentment.
Yin Ren shook his head with a sigh. Almost at the same time, Lu Xiaohe’s voice came through his headset.
“Luo Chunlei is on the move again. She said in the anonymous group that she’s going to conduct a ‘textual execution’ livestream. Be cautious and make sure to control the situation in a timely manner.”
“No problem, let me switch to the screen.”
In the next moment, the updates from the group appeared on Dog Thing in real-time. Yin Ren put down his phone and gestured for Zhong Chengshuo to watch together.
[The bitch’s relative is also a bitch. I’ve vomited eighteen times today. That guy really thinks highly of himself. He’s just a hypocrite claiming to be looking for the culprit. It’s laughable.]
Luo Chunlei swiftly posted in the group.
[It sounds so stupid that I can’t stand it. Execution, execution!]
[Is it an inherited disease? www so severe http://www.]
Luo Chunlei: [Definitely knocking him off his moral high ground. Tonight is the second episode of <Eliminating Evil for the People>~]”
[How are you going to deal with the new transfer student, o’ chivalrous knight?]
[It’s a secret .] Luo Chunlei responded this way.
Zhong Chengshuo carefully chewed the last strands of cabbage and took a sip of hot tea. “It seems like she did indeed discuss it with Wu Cheng.”
“Shall we go?” Yin Ren stretched his muscles contentedly.
Seeing that they had finished eating and were about to pay, Wu Cheng quickly stood up, deliberately making a loud noise. He exaggeratedly slung his backpack on his back and leisurely walked towards the exit of the shop.
“Follow him.” Zhong Chengshuo swiftly settled the bill.
Wu Cheng was twelve years old and had matured early. He had already reached a height of nearly 1.7 meters, making him an easy target to spot. In the illusion, Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo were both around 1.5 meters tall, so they followed him without much concealment, gradually deviating from his path as they walked behind him.
Wu Cheng led them to an old and abandoned workshop in the old town area.
It was a deserted five-story building with a locked door. It was just past nine, and there were few lights in the vicinity, with hardly any people around. Wu Cheng skillfully jumped through a window and entered, immediately illuminating the corridor with a flashlight.
Zhong Chengshuo diligently followed, going deeper into the building with Wu Cheng. The place was damp and decaying, covered in spiderwebs. Mold stains formed patterns in the corners of the walls, buried in shadows like twisted faces crowded together. The actual faces on the posters had lost their color, and their features blurred into a mess.
Several resentful spirits with stretched-out arms and legs, like spiders, lurked behind the broken door, and their dirty hair dangled through the door crack.
“There’s no corruption source here, but there’s enough evil qi nearby. Something might have happened here before. In another three to five years, perhaps a Resentment Basket will form.”
Lord Ghost King savored the delicious pork cutlet while his tone sounded a bit like a museum guide.
“This time, it’s probably just children causing trouble without the involvement of any other forces.”
Zhong Chengshuo nodded. He played his part thoroughly, occasionally using his phone’s flashlight for illumination. The two of them strolled through the building as if they were exploring a haunted house, but poor Wu Cheng was struggling in front of them—
Wu Cheng was breathing heavily; whether to attract attention or bolster his courage, his footsteps were unusually loud. He circled the first floor twice, then tremblingly ascended to the second floor. In less than half a minute, he disappeared into a dark doorway, and his flashlight suddenly went out, making him seem to vanish into thin air.
Zhong Chengshuo: “…His breathing is still quite loud.”
Yin Ren: “Mm, I can hear his heartbeat. That kid is standing close by inside.”
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A few strands of hair playfully crawled through the shadows, probing into the doorway, only to find it empty. Yin Ren’s smile faded for a moment, and he tapped his earpiece.
“Xiaohe, Wu Cheng is trying to lead us into the elevator shaft.”
The first floor was over four meters high, and the reserved space at the bottom of the elevator shaft was nearly two meters. Falling from a height of six to seven meters, even if there were no sharp objects at the bottom, breaking a leg would be inevitable.
Lu Xiaohe: “…What do you plan to do? By the way, according to regulations, you should withdraw at this point.”
“I’ll teach him a little lesson.” Yin Ren happily ignored the latter part of the sentence.
“Such behavior is despicable.” Outside the earpiece, Zhong Chengshuo nodded in agreement.
Zhong Chengshuo stretched his joints and walked confidently toward the elevator shaft without hesitation.
There was no longer a door near the elevator shaft; it looked like a slightly larger doorway. The surrounding area was covered in fine gravel, making it a bit slippery to walk on. The elevator buttons were covered in dust, and in the darkness, they almost blended with the walls.
Yin Ren held Zhong Chengshuo’s neck loosely from behind, and Zhong Chengshuo’s steps were extremely steady. When he stepped into that darkness, even his heartbeat remained calm.
As expected, Zhong Chengshuo stepped into empty space with one foot. A feeling of weightlessness instantly engulfed him, and the hair on his skin stood on end.
Just before the fall, Yin Ren caught sight of the hiding Wu Cheng—the boy with a swollen nose was hiding behind a damaged part of the elevator shaft wall, which had a large chunk peeled off, leaving just enough space for a person to stand on.
In an instant, Yin Ren twisted his wrist and threw Dog Thing into the elevator shaft.
The teenage Ghost King’s hair was the first to touch the ground, and his soft wings firmly caught Zhong Chengshuo. The bottom of the elevator shaft was filled with rusty metal debris, and if someone had actually fallen down, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Just as Zhong Chengshuo was about to speak, his lips were pressed shut by Yin Ren’s index finger. Yin Ren cleared his throat and imitated Zhong Chengshuo’s voice, letting out a series of cries.
“Help! Help me! My leg hurts! There’s so much blood!”
Zhong Chengshuo: “……”
Listening to “himself” wailing and sobbing was truly a new experience. He silently held onto the wings, observing the performance of the Great Celestial Master.
“Wu Cheng, are you there? …It was my fault during the day. You don’t need to save me. Just throw down my phone…” Yin Ren hoarsely choked, sounding desperate. “Or you can help me call for a doctor. If this continues, I’ll die, wuwuwu!”
A strand of black hair twisted up the floors, quietly forming an eyeball at the end. In Yin Ren’s vision, Wu Cheng carefully climbed back to the elevator shaft. He didn’t respond to “Zhong San’s” call but silently picked up the phone at the elevator entrance and fiercely slammed it against the ground twice.
The gadget was mercilessly beaten, and its battery plummeted. Within a few minutes, it angrily blacked out.
Once he confirmed that the phone couldn’t be turned on again, Wu Cheng used tissues to pick up the gadget and forcefully threw it down the elevator shaft.
“Idiot!” After completing all this, Wu Cheng covered his nose and shouted, “Serves you right! Serves you right for showing off! Serves you right for following me!”
“Save me…” Zhang San’s voice gradually weakened. “Ah… Ahh…”
“Just wait. I’ll go ahead, and you can stay here and maintain your dignity.” Wu Cheng’s voice trembled a bit. He turned his back, resolutely refusing to look down the elevator shaft.
Yin Ren remained silent, only softly whimpering and sobbing. He also released a bit of evil qi, causing a surging smell of blood to gradually fill the air.
Sweat trickled down Wu Cheng’s forehead as he muttered a few more curses, then walked away. Before leaving, he even remembered to take out a water bottle from his backpack and dilute the footprints on the nearby ground. After completing all this, he finally took out his phone, wiped off the sweat, and sent a message to Luo Chunlei:
[I haven’t finished my math homework yet.]
Immediately after, he left without looking back.
At the same time, Dog Thing laid in the pile of waste for a moment, reluctantly extending its small legs and running back to Yin Ren’s side. Its screen lit up again, and the messages from the anonymous group continued to flicker.
Luo Chunlei: [I calculated it myself; a despicable person will get what they deserve. Mission accomplished.]
[Double kill, awesome!]
[All talk, no action*. The little cockroach is still alive, but brother cockroach can die? I’m right in the city, watching.]
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*Loud thunder but little rain (雷声大雨点小) Idiom referring to a situation where there’s a lot of noise and talk but little action or results.
Luo Chunlei ruthlessly countered: [Watch out. Don’t let me find out who you are.]
……
The next day, Zhong Chengshuo was the first to arrive in the classroom and sat in his seat with his homework neatly organized.
Yin Ren chewed on a tea egg in his mouth, casting a skeptical glance around—
Clearly, when he left, he absorbed all the Evil Force corruption, but as the night passed, they sprouted again, even more than before.
“Xiao Ge, Xiao Huang, did anyone approach the school last night?” Yin Ren struggled to swallow his breakfast.
“I didn’t notice anyone,” Huang Jin said bitterly. “Xiao Ge wasn’t feeling well yesterday, and she said her investigations might not be accurate. Remember to check on her at noon; something seems off with her condition.”
“I see. What about your side, Xiaohe?”
“Everything seems normal. There were no suspicious individuals or objects that approached.”
Lu Xiaohe retrieved specific data.
“The reappearance of Evil Force occurred shortly after the end of evening self-study, when there were still hundreds of people on campus. I can only determine one thing—those sources of corruption regained their intensity of Evil Force in an instant. Yin Ren, do you know what this signifies?”
It signified that the one who restored the Evil Force wasn’t human.
Since the sources of corruption weren’t external and couldn’t reproduce on their own, the only remaining possibility was that someone within the school was directly creating the sources of corruption. The divination of the origin of the carriers of corruption that indicated it came “from all directions” could now be explained.
Therefore, Yin Ren brazenly provoked and completely cleared out the corruption on campus.
Unexpectedly, the response from the other side was also… loud. It was as if they couldn’t wait to tell him that this matter involved a powerful entity that was “non-human”, rather than being the work of Sunken Society.
However, Mr. Qiu was hard to catch while Qi Xin was elusive. All the Primordial Elementals were doing their best to conceal themselves, so what was the meaning behind this inexplicable move?
Yin Ren leaned back against the top of Zhong Chengshuo’s head, who was gradually furrowing his brow. “Zhong Ge, let’s return to the Shian temporary base at noon. I have something to discuss with everyone.”
“I also—” Zhong Chengshuo was interrupted by a series of coughs before he could finish the word “also”.
When Wu Cheng entered the classroom with a milk bag in his mouth, he saw Zhang San sitting intact at the desk. Instantly, he choked on the milk and started coughing incessantly.
Following closely behind was Luo Chunlei. Seeing Zhong Chengshuo sitting unharmed, a flash of surprise briefly crossed her face, but the interest in her gaze grew deeper.
“Good morning!” She sweetly smiled at Zhong Chengshuo.
“Good morning,” Zhong Chengshuo politely responded.
“You…no. You…last night…it’s impossible…” Wu Cheng rushed to Zhong Chengshuo’s side, then instinctively took two steps back. He rubbed his bruised, purple nose and looked around in confusion. “Yesterday—yesterday there was such a strong smell of blood…”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. I’m busy, so please don’t disturb me if there’s nothing else.”
Wu Cheng disregarded the onlookers nearby. His fingers trembled and sweat formed on his forehead. “Where were you last night? Tell me, where were you last night!”
“I grabbed some supper last night, then went home. Nothing special,” Zhong Chengshuo responded while staring at him with his pitch-black eyes. “Is that enough?”
“No, you followed me last night. We… We were eating at the pork cutlet restaurant. I know—I know you followed me…”
“I told you, I went home after eating supper.” Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes remained fixed on Wu Cheng without blinking—when he didn’t display any emotions, his gaze indeed sent chills down one’s spine, and Yin Ren knew it well. “And you were walking ahead of me. I remember it very clearly.”
“No, no, it’s impossible. Last night…last night…you followed…” There was a hint of sobbing in Wu Cheng’s voice. “If it wasn’t you, then…”
Zhong Chengshuo shook his head. “Classmate, it’s time for morning reading. If there’s nothing else, could you please leave me alone?”
He paused for a moment, forcing a somewhat stiff smile.
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“I haven’t finished my math homework yet.” Zhong Chengshuo emphasized each word.
Upon hearing the familiar excuse, Wu Cheng swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and a sob escaped his throat. The next second, he rushed out of the classroom without even putting down his school bag, leaving behind a faint odor of urine in the air. The surrounding students looked at each other before chasing after him, howling.
On the other hand, Luo Chunlei remained motionless, with a relaxed expression. She neatly organized her desk and chatted with the girls around her.
……
During the long break, Zhong Chengshuo stood up enthusiastically, ready to continue his “annoy everyone” plan. However, to his surprise, Luo Chunlei, leaving behind her usually well-acquainted female companion, was the first to leave the classroom.
Yin Ren patted Zhong Chengshuo’s shoulder, gesturing for him to stay in the classroom, and flew after her alone.
Luo Chunlei skillfully climbed the stairs, heading straight for the top floor of the school. She turned her head, finding no one around, and entered the women’s restroom on the top floor.
Yin Ren: “…”
The Great Celestial Master silently flew to the outer wall and summoned the fierce ghost Hu Tao.
When she was summoned, Hu Tao was still holding a bag of potato chips in her arms. She glanced back and forth between Yin Ren and the women’s restroom a few times with a puzzled look before showing a hint of satisfaction. “Not bad. You still have some principles. Why did you call me?”
“Help me confirm the situation of the girl inside.” Yin Ren pointed to the stall where Luo Chunlei was located. “I can listen to the sounds myself.”
Hu Tao made an OK gesture and dove into the old restroom.
As Yin Ren had expected, this girl didn’t come here for physiological needs. Before long, he heard Luo Chunlei’s whisper.
“The transfer student in our class is not normal. There must be something supernatural about him.” Luo Chunlei’s voice was very low, as if she was talking to someone. “Zhang Hejun’s relative is interesting. He might be from your side, like one of those self-proclaimed Taoist exorcists.”
Immediately, there was complete silence, and Yin Ren couldn’t hear any sound.
“Mm-hmm, I know.” Luo Chunlei, however, seemed to have received some kind of response. “Can I kill him then… since finding classmates is definitely not an option. Even the biggest guy in our class is useless. I thought it was just the girls before, but now even the boys are so cowardly.”
“To be honest, he’s the type of person I dislike the most. I feel uncomfortable just looking at him. I’ll be even happier if he disappears!” she added in a coquettish tone. “I can’t give up. Besides, Zhang Hejun is so stupid, but this person is more challenging, so it’s more fun.”
The following silence grew even longer.
“Huh? Do I really need your help? It’s not fun if adults help… How about I try again, and if it still doesn’t work, then you can help me.” Luo Chunlei’s coquettish tone became a bit eerie.
“Thank you, thank you so much—”
After a while, Luo Chunlei hummed a song as she left the stall. Hu Tao, who had been secretly observing the whole process while holding her potato chips, furrowed her brow as she left the stall.
“It’s very strange.”
Before Yin Ren could ask, Hu Tao spoke first.
“That girl was talking to her own mirror. I saw it. Besides her reflection, there was no one else in the mirror—is she mentally unstable? Talking to herself? Well, she couldn’t see me. I even brought my face right in front of hers, and her eyes didn’t even blink.”
“Thank you for your help.”
Yin Ren casually severed a strand of hair as payment for Hu Tao’s services. After confirming that there was no one else in the restroom, the Great Celestial Master entered with a stern face and circled the area several times, just as Hu Tao had described—he didn’t sense anything out of the ordinary either.
It was a peculiar situation.
Yin Ren descended from the top floor, checking the condition of the corruption on each floor. By the time he returned near the classroom, two classes had ended, and the break was about to be over.
After the next class, it would be lunch break, and he could discuss it with Zhong Chengshuo. Yin Ren floated a bit faster and slipped quietly through the back door crack.
However, before he could float into the room, he heard a scream from inside—
“Find a teacher quickly!”
A sharp female voice shouted.
“Zhang San is in trouble! Find a teacher—!”
