Chapter nine.
A setup
"Who would have thought someone would dare to entrap me?" I muttered to myself, striding forward while the wind played with my uniform. As I thought about the arrogant encounter with that unknown entity, frustration bubbled up inside me. There had always been something peculiar about that encounter I had back in junior high graduation. But why was this lazy ghost appearing now?
I entered the school cafeteria, a gathering place specially designed for meals. It boasted an elegant Chinese-style bistro for mass feeding. I had seen students filling the cafeteria on time countless times before. Despite that, it remained a wonderful place to catch up with friends and enjoy a satisfying meal. It's not like I hadn't been to the cafeteria before; it's just that I hadn't spent much time here or paid much attention to it. Although I had been at this school for over a month, I still felt detached.
Inside the eatery, I witnessed everyone indulging in a variety of Chinese delicacies. From a distance, I could sense the vibrant atmosphere of their joy as they spoke freely and uninhibitedly. I couldn't help but wonder what made eating such a delightful experience. Hadn't these people eaten before? It still amazed me how indifferent most people seemed when it came to food. As I entered the restaurant, the crowd made me feel as small as an ant, just as the rumors had suggested. Despite the bustling crowd, there was still a semblance of order. I looked around, only to find myself feeling lost. All the tables were occupied, except for one with a single girl sitting at it.
That person happened to be Li Min, the most beautiful and aloof girl in my class. Even though others were focused on their meals, it was clear that many eyes were stealing glances at her, observing her every move as if she were some sort of spectacle. 'Are they fools? Haven't they ever seen an attractive girl eat before? These people are simply crazy.'
One of the guys at the table expressed his disbelief, saying, "So Li Min eats too, huh?"
Interrupting the conversation, another guy sitting nearby complained, "Well, how else do you expect her to survive?"
Curiously, another guy inquired, "Does she even defecate?" Dismissing the idea, he added, "I wonder if her feces pass through the same hole as everyone else."
An impatient individual cut in, cursing in displeasure, "Come on, where else would you expect it to pass through? Does defecation have a special formula? Shameless!"
They shamelessly continued to gossip about Li Min, making her the center of attention. It often baffled me how these guys had nothing better to do in their lives. They effortlessly created topics out of thin air—how foolish! In reality, there was nothing particularly unique about the way Li Min ate. It was simply that everything she did attracted attention.
People were amazed to see a girl like her eat a pancake as if it were something extraordinary. 'Isn't that just a pancake on her table? Why is everyone so fixated on her eating it?' The other students, both muscular and slender, are also having pancakes. How foolish of them to try and imitate her! Most of these students prefer heavier meals to fuel their sports activities. Look at them now. Truly disgusting!
They purposely avoided the girl who had captured their attention, treating her like an untouchable angel. Yet, she remained indifferent to their actions, as if they didn't exist. At this point, they completely disregarded my presence. Despite being previously labeled as a troublemaker, I was inconsequential now. However, not many people feared me given the current circumstances. It seemed that my own problems were insignificant compared to their current predicament. All attention was now focused on a single place.
Since there were no available tables, I innocently approached the table where Li Min was seated. She exuded a cold yet tranquil demeanor, drawing everyone's attention. I couldn't help but wonder how many guys this girl had rejected. It was clear to me that most guys only fantasized about her without making a move. They were as timid as a zebra facing a lion.
Innocently, I chose a chair at her table, arranged it, and sat down, unaware of the uproar I had caused. I was met with ghostly stares, and some even attempted to stand up, treating me like an unexpected nuisance. Musing about them, I muttered, "I thought they had forgotten about me. How did they recognize me so quickly now?" I paused and added, "Was it because I sat with their supposed goddess?"
These individuals feared that I would tarnish their goddess, but their friends restrained them. However, I couldn't care less about their misery. I unwrapped my meal, which consisted of a serving of millet and roasted duck. The aroma filled the air as I clumsily broke my chopsticks and began eating as if I were the only person in the world. I purposely made loud munching sounds to provoke their hatred. It mattered little to me whether they were ghosts or humans—they were of no concern. Did they think I wanted that chair? Who occupied all the chairs in the cafeteria? If they can't answer such a simple question, they should disappear.
Disregarding the hostile glares of the fools around me, I swiftly assessed Principal Liu Huan's demeanor. Contemplating his deceitful nature, anger coursed through me like an unquenchable volcano. How could someone be as shameless as him? Furthermore, as I envisioned the golden steel monument, an unsettling feeling washed over me. That enigmatic object seemed capable of absorbing all knowledge in the world. The depiction of the Buddha, Phoenix, and dragon on it piqued my curiosity, yet the origin of the voice that sent shivers down my spine remained the most mysterious aspect.
Recalling that voice, "I am the Wisdom Emperor, renowned as the Gods-Mind," I sneered, pondering, 'Why not call himself the God's Soul as well?'
That night, as the voice spoke, I questioned why it had entered my consciousness at that moment. The response came with even greater arrogance. "You were utterly useless before, but your rebellious behavior has granted you the privilege of sitting with this 'Lord.' I am an ancient spirit of wisdom." Pausing for a moment, the voice corrected itself, "No, to be precise, we are ancient spirits of wisdom. We are two minds united as one, the overlords." Without waiting for my response, the arrogant voice added, "No one could harmonize with this seat until you came along, with your aura of war and lawlessness. This seat can absorb your malevolent energy for its recovery and functionality." The spirit spoke with unwavering confidence, completely disregarding my existence.