Writing on the Wall

Chapter 10: Writing on the Wall

Burdened by all sorts of doubts, I went to school. All along the way, I kept thinking about the monk's question. When I returned to the classroom, Wu Yong said to me mysteriously, "Liang Fan, do you know that something happened recently?"

"What happened?" I asked curiously.

"I heard the Abandoned School behind us is going to be demolished. Apparently, several construction teams have already gone in," Wu Yong said.

"That's impossible." I spoke with absolute certainty. The Abandoned School was an extremely ominous place. Anyone who went inside would be hunted down by Han Qianqian.

"How could I lie to you? Nothing happened to them after they went in. It seems those haunting rumors were all just exaggerations passed from person to person." Wu Yong looked disappointed.

I said nothing, but a storm was raging in my mind.

Without a doubt, the school authorities must have discovered something. That was why they were so eager to eradicate the Abandoned School. But if that was the case, why had those people come out unharmed?

The moment I thought of this, I turned and walked out.

When I arrived at the Abandoned School, I found that I was not the only one there. Li Tongtian had come as well.

People were constantly entering and leaving the entrance of the Abandoned School. They were all construction workers, each carrying various tools. Even an excavator had already been driven in.

Seeing this, my expression became complicated.

The Abandoned School was my nightmare. If it were demolished, that would naturally be a good thing. But if it brought about even more terrifying consequences, we would be in trouble.

Li Tongtian saw me, pulled me aside, and said quietly, "We're in serious trouble."

"I feel the same way. The school authorities must have realized something, so they're sparing no expense to demolish this place." I looked at him, my face filled with caution.

"If they can destroy Han Qianqian while demolishing it, that would be a good thing. But the problem is, that may not happen." Li Tongtian looked at me, his eyes unusually panicked. "If they fail to destroy Han Qianqian, she'll become even more vicious."

"And have you ever thought about this? The school buildings around us are natural shelters. We hide inside them to escape Han Qianqian's pursuit. Relying on these buildings, we can barely keep her at bay. But even so, every escape is a nightmare for me."

"But what if they demolish the school buildings? When that happens, we'll have nowhere to hide! You should understand better than I do what it means to encounter Han Qianqian on open ground!"

My expression changed drastically. Li Tongtian's words made me afraid to imagine it. Thinking of the terror of facing Han Qianqian head-on, I hurriedly said, "I'll stop them."

"There's no need for that." Li Tongtian looked at me excitedly. "Haven't you noticed? These people are entering and leaving the Abandoned School freely, yet nothing has happened at all. Han Qianqian hasn't appeared either. Isn't that strange?"

"Han Qianqian is inside the Abandoned School. She's there even during the day. I've seen it myself. What could be keeping her from appearing? Could it be..." I narrowed my eyes and looked ahead, a cold smile curling across my lips.

"The person who suppressed Han Qianqian five years ago has returned," Li Tongtian said.

"Based on my deduction, when Han Qianqian ran amok five years ago and so many people died in a single day, the school authorities must have taken action. They invited an expert who used a coffin, ink lines, and bracelets to suppress Han Qianqian here. Then they moved away."

"They thought that would keep them safe, but who could have known that Han Qianqian would actually escape? They had no choice but to invite that person back." I stroked my chin as I spoke.

"The facts are obvious. But who could that person be?" Li Tongtian asked.

"I think I already know." After saying that, I walked into the Abandoned School.

Workers filled every corner of the Abandoned School, inside and out, and no one paid any attention to us. After looking around, I headed for the basement.

When we reached the basement, we saw that it was eerily gloomy. A figure stood before the coffin.

Li Tongtian took a step back, his eyes full of caution. But after seeing the figure's outline, I asked softly, "Master, were you the one who sealed Han Qianqian back then?"

The figure turned his head. He wore a bamboo hat, held a khakkhara in his hand, and wore a black monk's robe. Looking at us, he said, "She is no longer here."

"Someone released her."

After saying this, he turned and walked out.

I hurried after him, asking repeatedly, "Who released her? And where is she now?"

"That isn't important. What matters is her current condition." The monk looked at me and asked, "You have ghostly aura clinging to you. Tell me, what exactly have you been through?"

Li Tongtian hurriedly tried to tell him everything, but I pulled him back.

I briefly explained what had happened, but left out the scars on our backs. I only told him that we had encountered Han Qianqian by chance and that she had kept pursuing us.

The monk nodded indifferently, then suddenly asked me, "Are you saying she can appear during the day?"

Chapter 10: Writing on the Wall

"Yes. She isn't afraid of sunlight at all and is no different from a living person. Black dog blood and virgin boy's urine are completely useless against her as well." I spoke hurriedly.

"Then that explains it. For a ghost like her, ordinary things are completely useless." The monk shook his head and looked at me. "The bracelet in your hand is called the Evil Ghost Bracelet. Back then, I put a pair of them on her wrists."

"These bracelets were evil objects to begin with, but they were perfect for suppressing evil spirits. Unfortunately, one of them is already gone. The bracelet you have can no longer display its true power."

"Therefore, although it can injure Han Qianqian, it cannot truly harm her."

I looked at the monk and hesitated before asking, "Then why did you seal her instead of destroying her?"

"Amitabha. Buddha is compassionate. Her resentment was too great. If I destroyed her, she would inevitably fall into the eighteenth level of Hell and never reincarnate. Therefore, I sealed her away to gradually ease her malevolent aura. Once it had completely dissipated, I could send her to reincarnation and grant her release." The monk slightly furrowed his brow, pressed his palms together, and recited a Buddhist invocation.

I nodded and lowered my head. "Master, you are compassionate. I only ask that you resolve her soon, so we no longer have to suffer her pursuit."

"I'll remain here for the next few days. As long as she dares to appear, I'll deal with her," the monk said.

"May I ask your Dharma name, Master?" Li Taiyi asked.

"My Dharma name is Du Mo." The monk spoke softly. He looked to be only in his thirties, but his knife-carved, handsome face was filled with coldness.

"Master Du Mo, do you know whether the person who killed Han Qianqian back then was killed by her?" I suddenly asked.

"I do not know." After saying this, Du Mo turned and left.