X University Library.
Upon passing through the entrance and entering the lobby, Bai Lixin noticed the school’s hall of fame hanging on the wall.
At the top were a row of black-and-white photos with a vintage feel.
The second row featured some old individuals, but their photos were in color. In the middle of this row, a colorful landscape photo stood out.
As the only landscape photo on the photo wall, it appeared somewhat out of place.
S419M: [The landscape photo was previously of that grandpa who strangled his wife. The efficiency of the police is quite high, and with evidence and testimonies, they quickly identified the suspect. Although this news wasn’t publicly announced, the school probably received the information, so they took down his photo.]
Escape System: [Originally, the students were unaware of this matter. But now that the school suddenly removed the photo, won’t the students be curious?]
S419M: [They are definitely curious. It’s been spreading like wildfire privately. All the achievements of that grandpa’s life have been erased from the school. This is what they call the more you want to keep something, the more you lose it. He imprisoned his wife throughout his life to uphold his image, not even letting her go even after death. To learn how to do things, one must first learn how to be a person. Even if one has exceptional talents, if their character is lacking, they’re just an intelligent criminal. The honor he spent his life maintaining was so fragile that it couldn’t withstand a single blow.]
The Escape System said with starry eyes: [Brother M, you’re speaking so strongly! You’re quite resolute today.]
While the two systems were chatting, Bai Lixin’s gaze fell on a particular black-and-white photo.
The photo depicted an elegant woman wearing a graceful cheongsam, holding an umbrella while leaning slightly against a granite-made stone gate. Due to the age of the photo, the woman’s facial features were no longer distinct, but it didn’t hinder the enchantment of her captivating eyes.
Even though time had blurred the photo, it couldn’t conceal the woman’s peculiar charisma that shone through.
S419M: [Is there something wrong with this woman, Lord Host?]
Bai Lixin: [Don’t you think this woman looks somewhat similar to the Luo Mei we saw before?]
S419M: [Not really. Even though the woman’s facial features are blurred in the photo, you can still make out the details, and she doesn’t look similar.]
Bai Lixin: [I’m not talking about their appearance. I mean that inner feeling that comes from within. Perhaps I’m being overly sensitive.]
His gaze shifted down the photo wall and as expected, he spotted several talents who had graduated from the acting department.
Shen Mo, Lin Mu, Luo Ran.
Lin Mu’s photo was in black and white due to his passing.
After a moment of eye contact with the young man in the photo, Bai Lixin turned and walked into the library.
For a renowned institution like X University, one might expect the library to be packed with students cramming for exams day and night. However, the reality was the opposite. Within the spacious library, only a few scattered students were flipping through books, and rows of tables next to the bookshelves remained mostly empty, with only a handful of students engrossed in their reading.
Deserted, quiet, lonely.
This was Bai Lixin’s first impression of the library.
“Bai Lixin?”
A probing inquiry came from behind. The voice was hushed, as if afraid of disturbing the students in the library.
Upon hearing the voice, Bai Lixin turned around to see a man in Taoist robes taking a couple of quick steps toward him.
“Oh, it’s you. Hello. What brings you here?” This was the Taoist who had participated in the live exorcism broadcast a few days ago.
The Taoist stroked his beard and whispered, “I heard there’s a haunting here, someone called me to drive away the ghosts. Are you here for the same reason?”
Bai Lixin discreetly observed the Taoist. Unlike the last time where he was dressed casually, today the Taoist carried a heavily laden bag, clearly prepared for the task.
“Hehe, these…” the Taoist gave his bag a shake, “these are treasures left behind by our ancestors. I found out what happened at the TV station after I returned. Those people at the TV station were really shameless. They secretly live streamed us, I wonder if they had a change of heart halfway through the broadcast. By the way, did you see anything when you spent the night in Studio 8?”
“No, it must have fled.” Bai Lixin shook his head, choosing not to inform the Taoist about Luo Ran being a wolf demon.
The Taoist’s eyes dimmed with regret, “I see, then you definitely didn’t receive any payment. What a pity.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘What’s up with this Taoist? Aren’t cultivators supposed to be detached from fame and wealth, with a pure heart and few desires?’
The Taoist spoke earnestly, ”Meeting each other is fate. Since we’ve crossed paths here, it’s a kind of destiny. How about we move together? It’ll be good to have someone to keep an eye out for the other.”
For Bai Lixin, this suggestion was neither good nor bad, and he had no reason to refuse.
And so, an impromptu two person team was formed.
Perhaps the library’s air conditioning was set too high, or perhaps it was due to the geography, but the temperature inside the library was considerably lower than outside. Even someone like Bai Lixin, who wasn’t very sensitive to temperature, felt occasional cool drafts creeping through his cuffs.
He walked to the window and looked outside.
The library was surrounded by a ring of willow trees. The mature specimens were so big that it would take two young men to encircle them. The supple, slender branches of the willows had already sprouted soft green buds. At this moment, all the willow branches swayed casually with the gentle May breeze, resembling waves lapping at a shoreline from a distance, or an endless grassland beneath a boundless sky.
However, the Taoist’s brow furrowed as he stared at the willow trees outside. His expression was quite serious, “No wonder there are hauntings here. I’ve sensed chilling gusts ever since I came in. Willow trees are associated with yin energy. When making coffins, we generally use willow wood. Willow wood attracts spirits and nurtures souls, and this library is surrounded by willow trees. If it doesn’t attract spirits, who will?”
“The people who constructed this library probably didn’t believe in feng shui. They planted so many willow trees around it, turning this auspicious area into a ghost’s lair.”
Bai Lixin pressed his hand against the glass, the veins on his hand’s back slightly raised, resembling a breakwater by the seashore.
“Is this place an auspicious location?” He gazed at the swaying willow trees outside, his tone flat and devoid of any fluctuations, so one wouldn’t be able to decipher any emotions.
“I’ve looked into the feng shui of this place. It’s nestled between mountains and water, with a dragon-shaped mountain range behind the school. This is a place with dragon veins. Building structures here means prosperity. Look at this school; it has flourished and developed smoothly since its establishment, producing so many accomplished individuals. Don’t underestimate the power of feng shui. It’s the advantage brought by the dragon veins.”
“However, the only flaw is this library. Due to these willow trees, this library has become a den of darkness in this prosperous area, sacrificing it like a black hole, drawing in all negative things.”
“Ghosts thrive here, and if people stay here for too long, it’ll only deplete their yang energy. Over time, it could lead to minor illnesses or even fatal consequences.”
“I suspect the teachers who work here often aren’t in the best health.”
As they spoke, a violent cough echoed from a distance.
Both turned to look and saw a man in his thirties and a face pale emerging from the duty room.
He walked slowly, his entire body weak, giving him a sickly appearance.
The Taoist snorted, and pointed at the man, “See? He’s exactly the type of person I was talking about. Now, you must believe what I said, right?”
“…” Bai Lixin, “I don’t think I ever said I didn’t believe you. I’ve been believing you since the start.”
The Taoist: “…”
The sun gradually sank on the horizon. Due to the tall willow trees obscuring the library’s surroundings, nightfall seemed to arrive much earlier inside the library than in the outside sky.
Although the sun hadn’t completely set, darkness gradually crept into the library.
One by one, the students picking and reading books began to leave, their footsteps hurried and disorganized.
In the span of just five minutes or so, the library was engulfed in complete darkness, with only the two of them remaining.
Leaving the library when it got dark seemed to be an unspoken agreement between all the teachers and students.
Night fell, and the wind outside gradually picked up. A faint earthy fragrance wafted through the cracks in the glass, reaching Bai Lixin’s nostrils.
This scent seemed to indicate rain was on its way.
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, a small lightning bolt struck the sky overhead. About two seconds after the lightning, a low rumble of thunder followed.
The wind outside grew stronger, but the rain hadn’t started yet.
“I was embarrassed at the TV station last time, so I’m going to reclaim my dignity today,” the Taoist muttered to himself as he retrieved a compass from his backpack. “Let me see just how many little ghosts are here.”
The compass had a phosphorescent glow, emitting a faint green light in the dim environment.
The Taoist held the compass in both hands, chanting quietly.
Meanwhile, the previously still compass suddenly swayed.
Soon after, the red and blue pointers on the compass began to rotate.
When they reached the twelve o’clock direction, the compass stopped.
Bai Lixin subconsciously followed the compass’s direction with his gaze. The compass pointed directly at the staircase, which appeared even darker and deeper in color than the surrounding spaces. The yellow door at the staircase landing was ajar, and peering inside, one could only see endless darkness.
In the concealed darkness, an unseen gaze seemed to be peering into this place.
The Taoist took a deep breath.
The surroundings were quiet, with only their breathing audible.
Suddenly, there was a sound of metal friction.
The Taoist’s shoulder visibly twitched, and both of them instinctively lowered their heads.
The stationary compass began to rotate again.
This time, the compass spun two full rotations before finally stopping at the three o’clock direction.
Following the pointer’s direction, Bai Lixin saw that this time the compass pointed towards the bookshelf area. Looking in that direction, it pointed directly at a table.
Books were still scattered on the table, as if someone had just left them there. The compass silently pointed as if there was an unseen soul reading a book at that very spot.
The Taoist gave a dry laugh, “Just two ghosts, nothing much.”
As he spoke, the sound of metal friction echoed again.
This time, not only did the compass rotate faster, but it also continued for a much longer duration.
The Taoist held the compass and explained, “My compass not only detects the location of these supernatural things but also their distance from us. The faster it rotates, the closer they are.”
Suddenly, the compass stopped, pointing directly at Bai Lixin.
Or more precisely, it indicated the direction Bai Lixin was in.
And behind Bai Lixin, there was only a closed window.
The Taoist’s forced smile vanished instantly, and he stiffly turned his head towards Bai Lixin’s back.
In an instant, his expression changed dramatically, and his pupils visibly shrank to two small dots.
The corners of the Taoist’s eyes twitched uncontrollably, as if he had seen something terrifying.
Bai Lixin turned his head cautiously, only to find an enormous face looming before him.
It was a face as aged as weathered tree bark, crisscrossed with the marks of time. The skin was dark, and the cheeks were hollowed like withered bones.
The old face bore no expression. It was pressed tightly against the glass, its dark skin adhering to the surface like a deformed piece of chewing gum.
A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, momentarily illuminating the room with an eerie blue glow.
Under this light, the two of them saw the face outside the window even more clearly.
The face was pressed seamlessly against the glass, with drooping eyelids that nearly covered its nearly all-black eyes.
Suddenly, a pair of withered hands emerged from below the window, slamming heavily against the glass, and a loud echoing “bang” resounded through the silent darkness.
The Taoist’s shoulders twitched again.
“Hey, who are you two?!”
The old wrinkled and creased face opened its mouth to interrogate, “Quickly leave the library. Don’t you know people aren’t allowed to stay in the library at night?!”
The words were spoken by an elderly man. Although his voice was aged and hoarse, it was audible to them.
The Taoist finally calmed down, gathered his courage, and took a glance outside the window before asking with half puzzlement, “Are you human?”
The old man’s pitch-black eye sockets widened instantly, his face filled with anger. He slammed the window forcefully several times to vent his frustration, “Of course, I’m human! If I am not human, what are you people?”
After confirming that the old man outside the window was indeed human, the Taoist finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Gaining some courage, he walked up to the window, hesitated for a while with his hand on the window switch, and eventually lowered his hand without opening the window.
The Taoist explained their purpose through the window.
The old man shook his head as he listened, muttering angrily, “Sin, a big sin! A bunch of well-fed dog-like things, instead of wasting time like this, why not think of how to educate a few students? These useless mutts, they’re destroying the heritage of our ancestors. These idiots, have their brains been squeezed out of the door? A bunch of morons, sooner or later you’ll regret it. Curse upon you, sons of bitches!…”
Bai Lixin: “…”
Taoist: “…”
‘My goodness, he’s been ranting for so long, and he didn’t even repeat himself once.’
————————————
In the live broadcast room.
[Insult a bit slower. I’m writing, I’m writing.]
[Copying homework, don’t disturb the idle.]
[Wow, was this old man’s mouth made by a machine gun? Rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat. Doesn’t this energetic old man need to catch his breath?]
[ “Old Ginger is Still Spicy”]
[??? Spicy enough to pierce the heart?]
[ “A Family That Has An Elder Is Like Having a Treasure”]
[Hahaha, you can have the old treasure, I’m not interested.]
————————-
It seems the old man’s insults were directed at the high-ranking leaders of the school.
After he finished berating the group, the old man’s gaze suddenly shifted toward Bai Lixin and the Taoist. In a frosty tone, he said, “Hey, you two.”
The Taoist felt a bit flustered by this unconventional little old man. “Wh-what?”
“I warn you, be careful. There’s a powerful guardian here protecting the school. If you harm it, you’ll face divine retribution.”
“While it’s not completely dark yet, I advise you to leave quickly. Don’t venture in here, or else you won’t even know how you’ll die.”
“I’ve said my piece. Listen if you can, if not, it’s up to you.”
Originally thinking that the old man would persist in making them leave, they didn’t expect him to leave with just these words. He immediately turned around and walked into the embrace of the willow trees, leaving the Taoist and Bai Lixin in bewilderment.
“Shua!”
The compass, completely unaware of the outside incident, continued to rotate its pointer diligently.
After a few rounds, the compass stopped at the five o’clock direction.
Just as Bai Lixin and the Taoist lifted their heads to look around, the compass suddenly moved again.
Quickly, it stopped again at the twelve o’clock direction.
This time, it didn’t even give them a chance to look. The compass started moving once more.
After that, the compass seemed to have a built-in motor, stopping and spinning at high frequency until it eventually gave up on stopping altogether, spinning wildly.
The mute compass seemed to be conveying to the two that they were now surrounded by the unseen ghosts.
Bai Lixin glanced at the frenzied compass and looked at the Taoist with a questioning expression.
The Taoist simply gave a wry smile, reached below the compass, and lightly pressed a certain spot with his fingertip.
A crisp sound of a switch rang out, and the compass instantly stopped spinning like an angry bird that had run out of steam.
The Taoist put the compass back in his bag, saying, “Hehe, don’t mind, this thing runs on electricity. Occasionally, it shorts out or has a bug. It seems to be a bug this time.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
X University Library.
Upon passing through the entrance and entering the lobby, Bai Lixin noticed the school’s hall of fame hanging on the wall.
At the top were a row of black-and-white photos with a vintage feel.
The second row featured some old individuals, but their photos were in color. In the middle of this row, a colorful landscape photo stood out.
As the only landscape photo on the photo wall, it appeared somewhat out of place.
S419M: [The landscape photo was previously of that grandpa who strangled his wife. The efficiency of the police is quite high, and with evidence and testimonies, they quickly identified the suspect. Although this news wasn’t publicly announced, the school probably received the information, so they took down his photo.]
Escape System: [Originally, the students were unaware of this matter. But now that the school suddenly removed the photo, won’t the students be curious?]
S419M: [They are definitely curious. It’s been spreading like wildfire privately. All the achievements of that grandpa’s life have been erased from the school. This is what they call the more you want to keep something, the more you lose it. He imprisoned his wife throughout his life to uphold his image, not even letting her go even after death. To learn how to do things, one must first learn how to be a person. Even if one has exceptional talents, if their character is lacking, they’re just an intelligent criminal. The honor he spent his life maintaining was so fragile that it couldn’t withstand a single blow.]
The Escape System said with starry eyes: [Brother M, you’re speaking so strongly! You’re quite resolute today.]
While the two systems were chatting, Bai Lixin’s gaze fell on a particular black-and-white photo.
The photo depicted an elegant woman wearing a graceful cheongsam, holding an umbrella while leaning slightly against a granite-made stone gate. Due to the age of the photo, the woman’s facial features were no longer distinct, but it didn’t hinder the enchantment of her captivating eyes.
Even though time had blurred the photo, it couldn’t conceal the woman’s peculiar charisma that shone through.
S419M: [Is there something wrong with this woman, Lord Host?]
Bai Lixin: [Don’t you think this woman looks somewhat similar to the Luo Mei we saw before?]
S419M: [Not really. Even though the woman’s facial features are blurred in the photo, you can still make out the details, and she doesn’t look similar.]
Bai Lixin: [I’m not talking about their appearance. I mean that inner feeling that comes from within. Perhaps I’m being overly sensitive.]
His gaze shifted down the photo wall and as expected, he spotted several talents who had graduated from the acting department.
Shen Mo, Lin Mu, Luo Ran.
Lin Mu’s photo was in black and white due to his passing.
After a moment of eye contact with the young man in the photo, Bai Lixin turned and walked into the library.
For a renowned institution like X University, one might expect the library to be packed with students cramming for exams day and night. However, the reality was the opposite. Within the spacious library, only a few scattered students were flipping through books, and rows of tables next to the bookshelves remained mostly empty, with only a handful of students engrossed in their reading.
Deserted, quiet, lonely.
This was Bai Lixin’s first impression of the library.
“Bai Lixin?”
A probing inquiry came from behind. The voice was hushed, as if afraid of disturbing the students in the library.
Upon hearing the voice, Bai Lixin turned around to see a man in Taoist robes taking a couple of quick steps toward him.
“Oh, it’s you. Hello. What brings you here?” This was the Taoist who had participated in the live exorcism broadcast a few days ago.
The Taoist stroked his beard and whispered, “I heard there’s a haunting here, someone called me to drive away the ghosts. Are you here for the same reason?”
Bai Lixin discreetly observed the Taoist. Unlike the last time where he was dressed casually, today the Taoist carried a heavily laden bag, clearly prepared for the task.
“Hehe, these…” the Taoist gave his bag a shake, “these are treasures left behind by our ancestors. I found out what happened at the TV station after I returned. Those people at the TV station were really shameless. They secretly live streamed us, I wonder if they had a change of heart halfway through the broadcast. By the way, did you see anything when you spent the night in Studio 8?”
“No, it must have fled.” Bai Lixin shook his head, choosing not to inform the Taoist about Luo Ran being a wolf demon.
The Taoist’s eyes dimmed with regret, “I see, then you definitely didn’t receive any payment. What a pity.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘What’s up with this Taoist? Aren’t cultivators supposed to be detached from fame and wealth, with a pure heart and few desires?’
The Taoist spoke earnestly, ”Meeting each other is fate. Since we’ve crossed paths here, it’s a kind of destiny. How about we move together? It’ll be good to have someone to keep an eye out for the other.”
For Bai Lixin, this suggestion was neither good nor bad, and he had no reason to refuse.
And so, an impromptu two person team was formed.
Perhaps the library’s air conditioning was set too high, or perhaps it was due to the geography, but the temperature inside the library was considerably lower than outside. Even someone like Bai Lixin, who wasn’t very sensitive to temperature, felt occasional cool drafts creeping through his cuffs.
He walked to the window and looked outside.
The library was surrounded by a ring of willow trees. The mature specimens were so big that it would take two young men to encircle them. The supple, slender branches of the willows had already sprouted soft green buds. At this moment, all the willow branches swayed casually with the gentle May breeze, resembling waves lapping at a shoreline from a distance, or an endless grassland beneath a boundless sky.
However, the Taoist’s brow furrowed as he stared at the willow trees outside. His expression was quite serious, “No wonder there are hauntings here. I’ve sensed chilling gusts ever since I came in. Willow trees are associated with yin energy. When making coffins, we generally use willow wood. Willow wood attracts spirits and nurtures souls, and this library is surrounded by willow trees. If it doesn’t attract spirits, who will?”
“The people who constructed this library probably didn’t believe in feng shui. They planted so many willow trees around it, turning this auspicious area into a ghost’s lair.”
Bai Lixin pressed his hand against the glass, the veins on his hand’s back slightly raised, resembling a breakwater by the seashore.
“Is this place an auspicious location?” He gazed at the swaying willow trees outside, his tone flat and devoid of any fluctuations, so one wouldn’t be able to decipher any emotions.
“I’ve looked into the feng shui of this place. It’s nestled between mountains and water, with a dragon-shaped mountain range behind the school. This is a place with dragon veins. Building structures here means prosperity. Look at this school; it has flourished and developed smoothly since its establishment, producing so many accomplished individuals. Don’t underestimate the power of feng shui. It’s the advantage brought by the dragon veins.”
“However, the only flaw is this library. Due to these willow trees, this library has become a den of darkness in this prosperous area, sacrificing it like a black hole, drawing in all negative things.”
“Ghosts thrive here, and if people stay here for too long, it’ll only deplete their yang energy. Over time, it could lead to minor illnesses or even fatal consequences.”
“I suspect the teachers who work here often aren’t in the best health.”
As they spoke, a violent cough echoed from a distance.
Both turned to look and saw a man in his thirties and a face pale emerging from the duty room.
He walked slowly, his entire body weak, giving him a sickly appearance.
The Taoist snorted, and pointed at the man, “See? He’s exactly the type of person I was talking about. Now, you must believe what I said, right?”
“…” Bai Lixin, “I don’t think I ever said I didn’t believe you. I’ve been believing you since the start.”
The Taoist: “…”
The sun gradually sank on the horizon. Due to the tall willow trees obscuring the library’s surroundings, nightfall seemed to arrive much earlier inside the library than in the outside sky.
Although the sun hadn’t completely set, darkness gradually crept into the library.
One by one, the students picking and reading books began to leave, their footsteps hurried and disorganized.
In the span of just five minutes or so, the library was engulfed in complete darkness, with only the two of them remaining.
Leaving the library when it got dark seemed to be an unspoken agreement between all the teachers and students.
Night fell, and the wind outside gradually picked up. A faint earthy fragrance wafted through the cracks in the glass, reaching Bai Lixin’s nostrils.
This scent seemed to indicate rain was on its way.
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, a small lightning bolt struck the sky overhead. About two seconds after the lightning, a low rumble of thunder followed.
The wind outside grew stronger, but the rain hadn’t started yet.
“I was embarrassed at the TV station last time, so I’m going to reclaim my dignity today,” the Taoist muttered to himself as he retrieved a compass from his backpack. “Let me see just how many little ghosts are here.”
The compass had a phosphorescent glow, emitting a faint green light in the dim environment.
The Taoist held the compass in both hands, chanting quietly.
Meanwhile, the previously still compass suddenly swayed.
Soon after, the red and blue pointers on the compass began to rotate.
When they reached the twelve o’clock direction, the compass stopped.
Bai Lixin subconsciously followed the compass’s direction with his gaze. The compass pointed directly at the staircase, which appeared even darker and deeper in color than the surrounding spaces. The yellow door at the staircase landing was ajar, and peering inside, one could only see endless darkness.
In the concealed darkness, an unseen gaze seemed to be peering into this place.
The Taoist took a deep breath.
The surroundings were quiet, with only their breathing audible.
Suddenly, there was a sound of metal friction.
The Taoist’s shoulder visibly twitched, and both of them instinctively lowered their heads.
The stationary compass began to rotate again.
This time, the compass spun two full rotations before finally stopping at the three o’clock direction.
Following the pointer’s direction, Bai Lixin saw that this time the compass pointed towards the bookshelf area. Looking in that direction, it pointed directly at a table.
Books were still scattered on the table, as if someone had just left them there. The compass silently pointed as if there was an unseen soul reading a book at that very spot.
The Taoist gave a dry laugh, “Just two ghosts, nothing much.”
As he spoke, the sound of metal friction echoed again.
This time, not only did the compass rotate faster, but it also continued for a much longer duration.
The Taoist held the compass and explained, “My compass not only detects the location of these supernatural things but also their distance from us. The faster it rotates, the closer they are.”
Suddenly, the compass stopped, pointing directly at Bai Lixin.
Or more precisely, it indicated the direction Bai Lixin was in.
And behind Bai Lixin, there was only a closed window.
The Taoist’s forced smile vanished instantly, and he stiffly turned his head towards Bai Lixin’s back.
In an instant, his expression changed dramatically, and his pupils visibly shrank to two small dots.
The corners of the Taoist’s eyes twitched uncontrollably, as if he had seen something terrifying.
Bai Lixin turned his head cautiously, only to find an enormous face looming before him.
It was a face as aged as weathered tree bark, crisscrossed with the marks of time. The skin was dark, and the cheeks were hollowed like withered bones.
The old face bore no expression. It was pressed tightly against the glass, its dark skin adhering to the surface like a deformed piece of chewing gum.
A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, momentarily illuminating the room with an eerie blue glow.
Under this light, the two of them saw the face outside the window even more clearly.
The face was pressed seamlessly against the glass, with drooping eyelids that nearly covered its nearly all-black eyes.
Suddenly, a pair of withered hands emerged from below the window, slamming heavily against the glass, and a loud echoing “bang” resounded through the silent darkness.
The Taoist’s shoulders twitched again.
“Hey, who are you two?!”
The old wrinkled and creased face opened its mouth to interrogate, “Quickly leave the library. Don’t you know people aren’t allowed to stay in the library at night?!”
The words were spoken by an elderly man. Although his voice was aged and hoarse, it was audible to them.
The Taoist finally calmed down, gathered his courage, and took a glance outside the window before asking with half puzzlement, “Are you human?”
The old man’s pitch-black eye sockets widened instantly, his face filled with anger. He slammed the window forcefully several times to vent his frustration, “Of course, I’m human! If I am not human, what are you people?”
After confirming that the old man outside the window was indeed human, the Taoist finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Gaining some courage, he walked up to the window, hesitated for a while with his hand on the window switch, and eventually lowered his hand without opening the window.
The Taoist explained their purpose through the window.
The old man shook his head as he listened, muttering angrily, “Sin, a big sin! A bunch of well-fed dog-like things, instead of wasting time like this, why not think of how to educate a few students? These useless mutts, they’re destroying the heritage of our ancestors. These idiots, have their brains been squeezed out of the door? A bunch of morons, sooner or later you’ll regret it. Curse upon you, sons of bitches!…”
Bai Lixin: “…”
Taoist: “…”
‘My goodness, he’s been ranting for so long, and he didn’t even repeat himself once.’
————————————
In the live broadcast room.
[Insult a bit slower. I’m writing, I’m writing.]
[Copying homework, don’t disturb the idle.]
[Wow, was this old man’s mouth made by a machine gun? Rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat. Doesn’t this energetic old man need to catch his breath?]
[ “Old Ginger is Still Spicy”]
[??? Spicy enough to pierce the heart?]
[ “A Family That Has An Elder Is Like Having a Treasure”]
[Hahaha, you can have the old treasure, I’m not interested.]
————————-
It seems the old man’s insults were directed at the high-ranking leaders of the school.
After he finished berating the group, the old man’s gaze suddenly shifted toward Bai Lixin and the Taoist. In a frosty tone, he said, “Hey, you two.”
The Taoist felt a bit flustered by this unconventional little old man. “Wh-what?”
“I warn you, be careful. There’s a powerful guardian here protecting the school. If you harm it, you’ll face divine retribution.”
“While it’s not completely dark yet, I advise you to leave quickly. Don’t venture in here, or else you won’t even know how you’ll die.”
“I’ve said my piece. Listen if you can, if not, it’s up to you.”
Originally thinking that the old man would persist in making them leave, they didn’t expect him to leave with just these words. He immediately turned around and walked into the embrace of the willow trees, leaving the Taoist and Bai Lixin in bewilderment.
“Shua!”
The compass, completely unaware of the outside incident, continued to rotate its pointer diligently.
After a few rounds, the compass stopped at the five o’clock direction.
Just as Bai Lixin and the Taoist lifted their heads to look around, the compass suddenly moved again.
Quickly, it stopped again at the twelve o’clock direction.
This time, it didn’t even give them a chance to look. The compass started moving once more.
After that, the compass seemed to have a built-in motor, stopping and spinning at high frequency until it eventually gave up on stopping altogether, spinning wildly.
The mute compass seemed to be conveying to the two that they were now surrounded by the unseen ghosts.
Bai Lixin glanced at the frenzied compass and looked at the Taoist with a questioning expression.
The Taoist simply gave a wry smile, reached below the compass, and lightly pressed a certain spot with his fingertip.
A crisp sound of a switch rang out, and the compass instantly stopped spinning like an angry bird that had run out of steam.
The Taoist put the compass back in his bag, saying, “Hehe, don’t mind, this thing runs on electricity. Occasionally, it shorts out or has a bug. It seems to be a bug this time.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
