Listening to Yan Xiaoning's words, my mind was in complete disarray. Why me again? Why does the world insist on messing with me? Wu Long—no, WULONG (as in a sorcerer, not just "oops")—isn't he supposed to be more professional? Wouldn't it make more sense for him to handle this?
"I'm not doing it!" I flatly refused. "Last time, I almost got choked to death by Feng Lan. If I go again, it's basically suicide! Besides, isn't this your specialty? You handle it!"
"Heh, of course you can refuse," Yan Xiaoning replied lazily. "But I'll tell you now, if you stay on campus in the next few days, not even good fortune will save your life."
I froze. What?! Is she really planning to wash her hands of this? After throwing me under the bus once, now she's not even offering any follow-up support?
"Anyway, I'm off to sleep. Whether you want to live or not, that's up to you," Yan Xiaoning added before going completely silent.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the dinner table was lively. Everyone was clinking glasses and making toasts, and Wulong was clearly the star of the evening. He confidently handled everyone's praise and attention, his face radiating self-assuredness. Just then, he turned to Xiao Xiang and said, "Oh, by the way, your boyfriend asked me to pass on a message before he left. He said tonight's flight has been arranged, and he wants to take you out for a little trip."
Xiao Xiang was stunned. "So soon? I haven't even had time to apply for leave."
"No worries. He's already handled it for you," Wulong said with a faint smile, his tone calm and unruffled.
Hearing this, I frowned. Why tonight of all nights? And why take Xiao Xiang away from the campus? While everything seemed fine on the surface, something felt off. Could it be that Wulong knew he couldn't handle the situation and wanted to ensure Xiao Xiang was safely out of the picture?
Just as I was mulling it over, Yan Xiaoning reappeared suddenly. "Well? Have you made up your mind?"
"Hmph! Don't think scaring me a little will make me give in!" I gritted my teeth and retorted. "But… you'd better tell me how to fix this. You can't just send me to die, right?"
"Finally, you're talking sense." Yan Xiaoning's tone brightened instantly. "As long as we can make Wulong back out, we can handle this ourselves."
"And how exactly do we make him back out?"
"Just repeat after me," she chuckled darkly. Her tone gave me chills.
When it was my turn to toast Wulong, I plastered on a "friendly" smile and raised my glass. "Master Wulong, I've heard so much about you, and seeing you in person, you truly live up to your reputation! But I have a question. I heard that the small forest has a unique shape—wider on the east and narrower on the west—making it a classic coffin ground. It's said to have been nourished by vengeful spirits and birthed a ghost fetus. Digging up such a place could trigger a bloody disaster. How do you plan to unearth the ghost fetus?"
The room fell silent instantly. Wulong's confident smile stiffened slightly, and his sharp eyes locked onto me, as if probing for something.
"Wang Lin, have you had too much to drink? Coffin ground? Ghost fetus? Sounds like something out of a novel," Liu Bin muttered quietly.
I waved him off, signaling him to stay out of it while silently praying: Yan Xiaoning, your "script" better work!
Wulong hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It's true that coffin grounds have their peculiarities, but I have a way to lure out the ghost fetus. All I need is a willow branch, and it will emerge willingly."
"A willow branch?" I nearly rolled my eyes internally. "Sounds like gardening." Out loud, I parroted what Yan Xiaoning fed me. "While willow is indeed a yin wood and can attract ghost entities, you're forgetting something. A ghost fetus isn't like an ordinary spirit—it has a physical body. Once it surfaces, it will trigger a bloody catastrophe. Even with your expertise, it'll be hard to escape unscathed."
The room tensed further as Wulong's expression grew more solemn. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, clearly deep in thought.
"How do you know all this?" Xiao Xiang asked me, her tone full of surprise.
"Uh… I read a lot of books," I said, brushing it off with a laugh while silently celebrating. Yan Xiaoning's "script" was working!
After a long pause, Wulong raised his head. "If what you say is true, I'll use the Five Dragons Life-Saving Talisman for protection, and then burn the ghost fetus to ashes with Samadhi True Fire. That should solve the problem, right?"
"Ha! The Five Dragons Life-Saving Talisman?" Yan Xiaoning snorted. "Tell him that talisman will only make his death worse!"
Summoning all my courage, I added, "The Five Dragons Talisman is powerful, but in a coffin ground—a place of extreme yin energy—the earth veins will turn into ghost sinews and bind the talisman. Not only will it fail, but it'll backfire and harm the user."
Wulong's face turned ashen. His hand trembled slightly, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
"Wang Lin, stop spouting nonsense!" Xiao Xiang scolded me. "The master hasn't said anything like that. What do you know, as an amateur?"
The others voiced their disapproval as well, except for Xiao Ying, who studied me with a complex look, seemingly lost in thought.
Wulong lowered his head and remained silent for a long time, as if struggling with an internal conflict. Finally, he looked up, his gaze unfocused and distant. "Maybe… you're right."
The room froze. The confident and commanding Wulong from moments ago seemed to have vanished.
I stood and gave everyone a slight smile. "In that case, let's postpone tonight's action. Master Wulong, have a good rest tonight. I'll figure something out."
Turning to Xiao Xiang, I said, "Have a nice trip." As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt like I'd swallowed a fly.
Outside the restaurant, I let out a deep breath and whispered to Yan Xiaoning, "What was all that about? Was it just bluffing?"
"Bluffing?" Yan Xiaoning sneered. "Coffin grounds, ghost sinews, bloody disasters—they're all real. His fate is already sealed. Against this setup, he's doomed."
"Then what about us?" I asked nervously.
"Of course, it's your turn to step up." Yan Xiaoning's voice was brimming with confidence. "Be ready by ten tonight. Head to the forest and settle this once and for all."