The room was eerily silent after Wu Long's analysis. We had already heard some of Feng Lan's story, but the added details about her unburned corpse and the formation of a ghost child made the situation even more horrifying. Someone muttered, "But wasn't her body cremated after she died? How could it still be buried in the grove?"
Sitting beside me, Wang Zitao immediately found a flaw to pick at. "Master, you're making this sound so mystical. Did you see it yourself, or did you just calculate it?"
Wu Long smiled faintly, his expression calm and enigmatic. "The mysteries of heaven and earth lie in my grasp. The truth of this world cannot escape my eyes." He raised a hand—long, slender, and as pale as jade, his fingers more delicate than most women's.
Seeing his hand, I couldn't help rolling my eyes. This delicate little claw claims to hold heaven and earth? Sounds impressive, but I doubt it's reliable.
Another classmate, Fang Ziqi, chimed in. "So where exactly is the body? Surely not really in the grove?"
Wu Long's calm gaze swept across the room. "Of course, it's there. That spot is rich with Yin energy, a rare site for cultivating uncorrupted corpses and ghost children."
A few audible gasps filled the room. Wang Zitao, however, scoffed. "Master, that's too far-fetched. Even if this is a university, who would let a corpse get buried in the grove? This isn't a cemetery!"
Xiao Xiang's face flushed slightly. After all, she was the one who invited Wu Long, and his credibility being questioned was embarrassing. "Master Wu Long is a renowned exorcist in the area. He wouldn't speak without basis," she defended.
Wang Zitao raised an eyebrow disdainfully. "If he's that great, why not read our fortunes? If he's accurate, we'll believe him."
Wu Long smiled gently and turned to Wang Zitao. "Very well. Let's start with you." His gaze swept over Wang Zitao's face before he spoke casually: "Your cheekbones are prominent, and your nose has a faint knife-edge—a trait of a schemer. Last March, you deliberately framed a classmate, leading to their expulsion. You've been feeling guilty ever since."
Wang Zitao's expression froze instantly, his eyes wide in shock, unable to retort. Everyone else in the room exchanged knowing looks. There had indeed been a student expelled in March, a case we all assumed was a misunderstanding. To learn there was foul play behind it left us stunned.
Ignoring Wang Zitao's embarrassment, Wu Long shifted his gaze to Fang Ziqi and spoke coldly. "You appear steady on the surface, but your mind harbors darkness. You have a peculiar hobby: stealing girls' underwear and even peeking at them showering. You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Fang Ziqi's face turned beet red. His lips trembled, but Wu Long's piercing gaze silenced him completely.
"Whoa," Liu Bin muttered under his breath, shooting Fang Ziqi a look of disbelief. "Always seemed like a decent guy, but turns out he's a creep."
Several girls in the room instinctively crossed their arms, casting wary and disdainful glances at Fang Ziqi.
Wu Long continued, pointing out each person's traits. Liu Bin was lustful but harmless; the class's "queen bee" was lazy and temperamental; Xiao Ying, on the other hand, was praised as kind, generous, and warm-hearted.
When it was my turn, Wu Long paused, smiled slightly, and said nothing.
Surprised, Xiao Ying asked, "Master Wu Long, what about Zhang Zheng? Why didn't you read him?"
Wu Long chuckled and gave me a knowing look. "His fate has recently shifted. He has done too much good, to the point where some 'secrets' are better left unsaid."
A chill ran down my spine. It felt like Wu Long had seen through something, but I couldn't quite tell what.
At that moment, Yan Xiaoning's voice rang in my head. "Lucky for you, he didn't spill the beans, or your embarrassing childhood stories would've been out for everyone to laugh at."
"What embarrassing stories?" I shot back defensively.
"Oh, like peeing in your neighbor's water jar, or walking into the girls' bathroom and getting beat up..." she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.
"Enough! Stop it!" I cut her off quickly, beads of cold sweat forming on my forehead.
After Wu Long's readings, everyone was convinced of his abilities. Once the room settled, he continued. "Feng Lan's body was never cremated. Someone secretly buried her in the grove, likely for some sinister purpose. The ghost child's creation was the result of her resentment reaching a breaking point."
"Then why did she only kill Li Dezhi last night?" Liu Bin couldn't help but ask.
"Feng Lan's resentment is strong, but her strength is limited. To sustain the ghost child's growth, she needs to absorb Yang energy from males. That's why she targeted Li Dezhi," Wu Long explained. His voice then dropped ominously. "Next, to balance Yin and Yang, she will seek a pure Yin girl. The most likely target is... Xiao Ying."
Everyone froze, their gazes shifting to Xiao Ying. Her face turned ghostly pale, her eyes wide with terror.
"What should we do?" Xiao Xiang asked anxiously.
Wu Long's tone was grave. "Tonight, we must go to the grove, locate Feng Lan's body, extract the ghost child, and perform a ritual to seal it completely. Otherwise, her resentment will grow stronger, causing even greater disasters."
"Great idea," Yan Xiaoning sneered in my mind. "Too bad he doesn't realize this will only plunge the whole school into bloodshed."
I subtly mouthed, "What do we do, then? Can we handle this together?"
"No way. He may have skill, but he lacks experience. He's not up to it," Yan Xiaoning replied disdainfully. "This can only be resolved by you."
"Me?!" I almost jumped out of my chair. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely," she said matter-of-factly. "Your Yang energy naturally counters her, and with my guidance, it's the only solution."
My heart sank to rock bottom. I had hoped to rely on Wu Long, but it seemed like I was being shoved back into the line of fire against Feng Lan.