Chapter 77: Terrifying Campus, Sun Doll (15)

Compared to those who were flailing in extreme terror, Tang Mu’s emotions hardly stirred. She had no desire to linger among these noisy, panicked children, who could only shriek and wail when faced with trouble. They were simply a burden.

Tang Mu intended to slip quietly into the shadows, unwilling to become entangled with these “little ones” any further. But Zi Yushu had sensed her intention to retreat.

“Tang Mu, this whole affair was started by your sister, wasn’t it?” His words seemed casual, almost careless.

Yet Tang Mu understood perfectly. With Zi Yushu’s perennial status as the top student in the grade, and his advanced intellect—having already mastered the curriculum for grades seven through nine—he was deliberately signaling to the others. He wanted them to seek vengeance, to direct their fear and anger toward Tang Mu, making her the scapegoat.

He was provoking conflict.

Seeing the others successfully incited by Zi Yushu, a chill flickered in Tang Mu’s eyes.

“But the ultimate reason my sister died lies with you,” she replied, her expression innocently untroubled. “I was never close to her. How could I possibly know about the grudges accumulated over six years of elementary school?” A deft riposte.

Zi Yushu’s attempt at stirring the waters failed.

“Moreover, classmate Zi Yushu, you just gave me flowers. How can a boy have two faces—on one hand, trying to be my ‘good’ friend, and on the other, wanting me to fall into a trap? Who knows how many classmates in Grade Six, Class Two you’ve already harmed? I can’t help but pity them.”

She paused, tilting her head in thought. “If memory serves, classmate Ge Yangrong sits right behind Zi Yushu, doesn’t he? If Zi Yushu had been willing to let Ge Yangrong see the math answers, perhaps Ge Yangrong might still be alive.”

...

Zi Yushu pressed his lips together.

He countered, “Ge Yangrong died because he got too close to certain people, and then—”

He stopped abruptly, realizing the fatal flaw in his own words.

Tang Mu seized upon it, a triumphant smile blossoming at the corner of her lips.

“Exactly. If Ge Yangrong died because he got too close to certain people, just who are those ‘certain people’? And if Wen Anyi and Liu Yuanming are about to die next, is it also because of ‘certain people’ that they must leave us?”

It was clear now: when a girl goes mad, she can be truly terrifying.

Wen Anyi, who had been crying bitterly, was instantly roused. She sprang up from her crouched position and, pointing straight at Zi Yushu’s nose, began to curse him.

“It’s all your fault! If not for you, we wouldn’t be going through this! Yang Rongrong was forced to transfer by you, Tang Mo was driven to jump by you! You owe us an explanation! You need to take responsibility for our lives!”

Wen Anyi’s accusation turned the gaze of the entire class upon Zi Yushu.

He was, after all, just a child. No matter how high his intelligence or how twisted his nature, visible panic had crept across his face.

Yet those with S-level mental strength are rulers in any situation. After only a few minutes of fluster, he regained his composure.

“Oh.” His tone was icy. “You’re just too stupid. What does any of this have to do with me?”

Cornered, Zi Yushu revealed his true nature—cruel, cold, and utterly callous.

“Wolves are born to eat sheep. It’s the food chain; it’s nature’s law. So why should I apologize to you morons?”

After insulting the group, Zi Yushu looked again at Tang Mu.

“What a pity. I thought we might walk the same path.”

Tang Mu’s smile remained. “Correction: we are of the same kind, but not of the same path.”

Zi Yushu nodded, “Then I wish you well surviving in this place that devours people.” He no longer intended to stay with these fools—just being around them felt like it would lower his own intelligence. Idiots could do anything foolish, and a few provocative words could send them into a frenzy. If he were to die, it would be because he was dragged down by their stupidity.

As for Tang Mu—the only real opponent in the whole school—he resolved to give her his utmost attention.

It was rare to meet someone of his caliber. He was exhilarated.

Zi Yushu melted into the darkness.

As he vanished, Tang Mu withdrew from the crowd as well.

After Wen Anyi and Liu Yuanming died, the spirits of “Wei Mingzhe,” “Pei Lübo,” “Ge Yangrong,” “Wen Anyi,” “Liu Yuanming,” and “Kui Yingying” would begin their assault.

Naturally, she needed to prepare in advance.

As for Wen Anyi’s tears? No one paid them any mind.

Midnight, 0:00.

The windows of Dormitory 044 rattled wildly, opening and closing again and again. The door thudded incessantly. Something outside seemed to be hammering it, desperate to break in.

Jing You simply couldn’t sleep.

Already, the deaths of six classmates had filled her with terror, making sleep impossible. Now, with the mad banging on the wooden door and windows, who could possibly rest?

Jing You couldn’t help but turn over, glancing toward Tang Mu’s bed.

“Um… are you asleep?”

Tang Mu had no interest in responding.

Jing You, receiving no reply, grew more frightened. When fear takes hold, people desperately clutch at anything to prove they still have some control over their lives.

“Tang Mu, why is our dorm the most haunted, the most eerie? I’ve heard that other dorms don’t have these strange noises at night. Could it be because there’s something wrong with this room itself…?”

“Shut up,” Tang Mu snapped. “You’re noisy.”

Jing You fell silent.

But she couldn’t keep quiet for two minutes before she began rambling again. “Um, I heard that Wen Anyi was found in the bathroom, and Liu Yuanming was on the sports field, pierced through the throat by a falling tree branch. After Qiu Haoyu and Tang Lixuan searched the entire campus, they found that only the students of Grade Six, Class Two remained. Everyone else had vanished… Do you think all this might be connected to Tang Mo’s tragic death?”

“…If it is, Tang Mo is your sister. Could you plead with her, ask her not to kill us? I just transferred here today. I don’t know anything… I don’t want…”

Tang Mu was nearly driven mad by Jing You’s incessant chatter.

“Can’t you be quiet?”

Jing You pouted. The dorm wasn’t the only thing making noise—the windows and door were constantly pounding. How could anyone sleep?

Moreover, she wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she kept feeling her blanket was damp, as if it couldn’t keep her warm at all.

But that shouldn’t be. She’d aired it out in the sun that day.

Jing You followed the damp patch with her hand.

Was it water?

It felt sticky, very sticky.

She brought it to her nose.

A strong, metallic scent.

Blood?

Ah? Could it really be blood?