Chapter 46: Echoes of the Haunted Past

In the office, Huang Xia looked excitedly at the report in her hand, her eyes instinctively turning toward Li Zhiping.

“Uncle Li, could this fire report be the reason the school was abandoned?”

Li Zhiping nodded calmly, his expression easing slightly:

“Send the report out to everyone. Let’s search for other useful leads,” he said.

“For safety’s sake, make sure no one approaches the scene of the fire,” he continued.

Huang Xia nodded and promptly forwarded the information Li Zhiping had provided.

Huang Xia: “Everyone, take a look. Li Zhiping and I found this fire report; it states that a year ago a fire broke out at the school, tragically killing several teachers.”

“Then, strange incidents began to occur in the school, plunging everyone into panic.”

“I suspect this fire might have been started by a ghost! Has anyone come across any other details?”

After the message was sent, Yenir glanced at it and quickly shared the information he had gathered as well:

Yenir: “A year ago, the school experienced a sexual assault, allegedly carried out by a teacher. The victim went by the name Wang Fang.”

Liang Tengfei: “I have something too! It’s a compensation contract demanding the school and its teachers pay for mental distress. It’s signed by Wang Kun!”

“Wait a minute—could this Wang Kun be related to Wang Fang?”

“However, the contract seems incomplete; it only bears the signature of the victim’s family.”

Everyone grew excited as they looked at the clues they had gathered. It seemed they could piece the whole story together.

Fang Yuan: “Guys, I found a few torn photos—a class group shot. I suspect one of the girls in it is Wang Fang!”

Liang Tengfei: “Photos?! Then send them over quickly! Let’s search a bit more before we regroup!”

…….

Inside the silent Teaching Building, it was pitch dark. Dim light from outside filtered through the windows, casting ghostly shadows on the floor.

Clutching a few photos tightly, Fang Yuan barely dared breathe as he headed for the designated Classroom where everyone had agreed to meet.

Walking down the corridor, he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching him—perhaps he was just spooking himself.

“Damn it, stop watching me… please, just leave me alone…”

Muttering a quiet prayer, he felt every hair on his body stand on end as he hurried through the winding corridor.

The sound of his footsteps echoed hollowly along the corridor, and out of the corner of his eye, something seemed to flash by.

He instinctively looked up.

In an instant, an overwhelming chill seeped into his heart.

He saw, on the right side of the corridor, a figure in white with unkempt hair, silently watching him.

“Fuck!!”

Startled, he quickly turned and fled in a panic.

In his frantic state, he slipped suddenly and collapsed onto the floor.

Just as he was about to scramble to his feet, he noticed a vague white image reflected on the floor before him.

His pupils widened in shock.

That indistinct white figure appeared to lean over him, its reflection on the white tiles swiftly transforming into a pale, ghastly face.

It looked like a white sheet pierced by three holes—where the eyes and mouth should have been, there was only darkness.

“Ahhhhhh!!”

A heart-wrenching scream erupted.

Clutching the photos, Fang Yuan didn’t dare look back as he bolted, racing down the stairs in the opposite direction.

……

“What was that sound!?”

Everyone scattered throughout the Teaching Building was startled by the noise and looked up nervously.

“Ghost! I saw a ghost! It must be that girl, Wang Fang—the one with long hair!”

Trembling, someone called for help on the public channel. Meanwhile, the sprinting Fang Yuan cursed that his Agility Type training wasn’t enough to save him.

Soon after the message was sent, Huang Xia responded instantly:

“What floor are you on?! Uncle Li wants to know your location—he’s coming for you right away!”

……..

Five minutes later.

With a pale face, Fang Yuan looked gratefully at Li Zhiping, repeatedly thanking him in his dazed state:

“Uncle Li, thank you so much! Without you, I’d never have made it out alive!”

Moments earlier, as Li Zhiping arrived, a burst of red light shot from his eyes toward the white figure. With a chilling scream, the figure vanished.

“It’s okay.”

With a gentle smile, Li Zhiping calmly reassured him:

“At this early stage, the ghost’s threat isn’t overwhelming. I can hold her off for now, but what comes next is uncertain.”

As if struck by an idea, he looked gravely at Huang Xia:

“Miss Huang, I think we’ve gathered enough information. Let’s get everyone together and decide our next move!”

Huang Xia nodded, then sent out a message on the public channel:

“Everyone, hurry to the Classroom! Let’s compare our findings! The longer we delay, the higher the risk of another attack!”

……

A few minutes later, everyone anxiously laid out the clues they had found.

“Fire report, compensation contract, suspected photos of Wang Fang, information on deceased teachers, ghost rumors, a student’s diary, a fund raised by the townspeople, and records of a Taoist summoned for aid.”

The seven of them sat facing each other, exchanging glances as they reviewed all the evidence.

After reviewing everything, Huang Xia was the first to break the silence:

“Everyone, after going through these clues, here’s what I think happened.”

“A year ago, a sexual assault scandal rocked the school. A girl named Wang Fang was abused by a teacher, and later her parents demanded compensation—but nothing was settled. After the incident was covered up, the distraught Wang Fang likely committed suicide, and her lingering resentment sparked these hauntings.”

“Then the hauntings grew worse, and after Wang Fang allegedly killed several teachers, the school was forced into abandonment.”

As soon as she finished, Fang Yuan, shaken by the encounter with the ghost, enthusiastically agreed:

“Exactly! I agree completely!”

“I saw that girl—she was standing in the corridor! If it weren’t for Big Brother Li Zhiping saving me, I doubt I’d be alive!”

Everyone nodded, convinced that the clues painted a clear picture.

“That seems right. But now the question is: what exactly does ‘sealing’ mean in this mission? Has Wang Fang been sealed, and if so, where?”

Amid the puzzled murmurs, Li Zhiping cleared his throat and pointed to the records of the Taoist they had summoned:

“Everyone.”

“I suspect that after the continuous hauntings, the townspeople brought in a Taoist who sealed Wang Fang’s spirit within the school. But over time, the seal has likely weakened or come undone. Let’s find the sealing spot as soon as possible—I believe the most likely place is the burnt Dormitory Building, since that’s the only location we haven’t checked!”

That settled it. Seeing that the key to the mission had been revealed, everyone agreed.

Sitting aside and not joining the discussion, Yenir furrowed his brow as he glanced at the information on the table.

For some reason, he felt that it all seemed too simple.

The girl, abused in life, turned into a vengeful ghost targeting those who wronged her—and even after being sealed, she resumed her rampage…

This storyline is just like those cheap domestic films—far too simplistic!

Just as that thought crossed his mind, a sudden, thunderous crash erupted outside the Classroom.

The tightly shut Classroom door trembled violently, as if struck by something heavy.

“This is bad!”

“She’s coming for us!”

Li Zhiping’s expression turned grim as a flash of red light flickered in his eyes.

“Ahhhh!!”

With a piercing scream, the cold, eerie presence outside the door finally dissipated.

Shaken, everyone gasped for breath, gazing at the middle-aged man with newfound admiration.

Yet, despite repelling the ghostly woman, Li Zhiping showed no sign of relief; his tone was urgent as he spoke:

“Everyone! This mission may seem simple now, but that only covers the easy part—I suspect the real challenge lies within the sealing!”

“Let’s move! We can’t waste any time—we need to head to the burnt Dormitory Building immediately!”

The burnt Dormitory Building loomed in the dim light, resembling the solemn door of a crematorium, silently awaiting their arrival.