Chapter 47: The Haunting at the Charred Dormitory

The group raced toward the charred dormitory building.

The four-story building was small, and as they hurriedly searched through it, the group flung open one dorm after another only to find nothing.

Only upon reaching the top floor did they come to a sudden stop. At the door of an isolated dorm, something resembling yellow paper lay on the ground.

“Looks like it’s over there!”

“Let’s check it out first!”

Without time to think and pushing aside the unsettling feeling gnawing at them, the seven dashed down the narrow corridor toward the farthest dorm.

Seeing the burnt, pitch-black iron door and the yellow paper on the floor, their hearts raced as they realized something was definitely wrong.

“Kick the door open!”

Staring at the locked iron door, Li Zhiping seemed to catch a noise behind him and urged the others impatiently.

Without hesitation, a Level One Awakener suddenly kicked the iron door open. With a stark crash echoing in the dead of night, the door burst open.

A wave of burning stench and damp, musty odor rushed out instantly.

On closer look, Fang Yuan, the one who had kicked the door, felt a chill crawl over his scalp, and several other Awakener members shuddered in unison.

Inside, all that remained was a single bed, reduced to an iron skeleton by the flames. Dark, ashen handprints marred the walls, and near the window, a faint human shape was burned in. In an instant, everyone realized it was the grisly imprint of a body consumed by fire.

With hearts pounding and without a second thought, they all scrambled into the room.

But the moment he stepped in, the leader Liang Tengfei instinctively glanced down at his feet. He felt as if he had stepped on something.

Bending over to inspect, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes.

“Guys, I think I’ve stepped on a talisman!”

As he gripped the talisman, a frigid system prompt suddenly resounded:

“Ding! Acquired Sealing Talisman. A disposable item that, when activated and thrown, seals away ghosts.”

Delighted, he quickly announced the system message as all eyes fell on the talisman in his hand.

“There’s definitely something to seal here, but what now?!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, everyone turned to Li Zhiping, silently pleading for guidance.

Having survived two paranormal dungeons, Uncle Li had become their saving grace.

“Wait for the ghost to approach! When she does, we’ll figure out how to attach the talisman to her!”

“Seal her, and our mission is finished.”

A spark of satisfaction lit up Li Zhiping’s eyes as he spoke confidently, then he cast a cautious glance over his shoulder.

Upon hearing his words, everyone nodded inwardly—until Huang Xia, the only girl in their party, examined the room and voiced her doubts:

“But why would a talisman be on the floor… and in a teacher’s room?”

“Normally, it should be found in her coffin or grave, right?”

Huang Xia’s observation made them all pause—in fact, things were indeed odd.

At the door, Li Zhiping cast a resigned glance at Huang Xia:

“Just because films depict it doesn’t mean it works that way in our situation.”

Think about it: after Wang Fang died and became a ghost, who would she despise most? Obviously the teacher who violated her. Perhaps this dorm was the very place where that atrocity occurred.

“After her death, it made perfect sense for her ghost to linger where hatred was strongest.”

“And the talisman lying on the floor? That must mean it fell off, letting her get away.”

After saying that, Li Zhiping shot a look at Huang Xia—as if she were just a rookie—and sighed quietly.

The others wore awkward expressions; in their nervousness, they hadn’t considered that possibility.

Before anyone could ask about their plan, Li Zhiping’s eyes hardened and he called out urgently:

“Get inside!”

“I can feel it coming! I’m going to tussle with her and lure her in! Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t dare to enter!”

“Once she enters, throw the talisman onto her! And be careful—no mistakes, or we’re all dead!”

After taking a deep breath, Li Zhiping sprinted down the stairs.

In an instant, a piercing, eerie scream burst from the Playground, echoing in all directions.

A wave of unearthly cold swept through, instilling a deep, instinctive terror.

Even those huddled inside could feel the oppressive weight of malice.

Briefly stunned, everyone gasped and exchanged a look of relief:

“Oh my god, thank goodness Uncle Li is with us; who else could stand up to a female ghost?”

“Enough talk—shut the door and hide until Uncle Li lures her in!”

“Thank goodness—when this mission is over, I’m adding Uncle Li to my contacts to thank him!”

Inside, everyone huddled behind the door, waiting for Li Zhiping to lure the ghost in so they could toss the talisman.

In one corner of the room, Yenir scanned the area and suddenly chuckled softly:

“Are you really planning to sit here and wait for death?”

As soon as he spoke, the group turned, shocked, to look at Yenir—the usually silent youth.

“What do you mean?!”

They blurted out, staring at Yenir’s calm expression, utterly confused.

Yenir shook his head and replied in a calm tone:

“I’m simply curious.”

“Have you never thought…”

“…where the ghost is?”

“Or maybe it’s all just ghost talk?”