Screw it—if it's a fight, then I'll fight!
Clenching my teeth, I forced myself to get up, forming a nine-petal lotus hand seal as I stumbled toward the pit, muttering the incantations the ghost girl had taught me. The distance wasn't far; within a few steps, I was back. But just as I reached for the red net, a shadow leaped out of the darkness—Pei Long.
We collided shoulder to shoulder, and though he was as skinny as a bamboo pole, his force knocked me off my feet and sent me flying.
"Thud!"
I crashed into a tree again, the impact reverberating painfully through my skull.
At that moment, I nearly broke down. Didn't that dead girl promise to change my luck? Does this mean my "new luck" is hitting the same tree repeatedly? What are the odds I'd bash the exact same lump on my head three times in a row?
"Idiot! Stop playing hero and get out of this cursed forest! Run to the boiler room—it's your only chance!" the ghost girl yelled at me furiously.
"Why the boiler room?" I groaned, rubbing my bruised head as I struggled back up.
"The heat in there is the strongest around. That ghost fetus won't dare go near it! Hide until sunrise, and you'll survive!"
I was about to agree when a piercing scream shattered the night. The four girls, terrified out of their minds, scattered in all directions.
Turning around, I saw the ghost fetus climbing out of the pit. Its glowing red eyes locked onto the fleeing girls with a malicious intensity.
Pei Long rushed at it with a peachwood sword, forming a sword seal with his left hand as he struck at the fetus's head. His movements were swift and precise, but before I could make sense of the situation, someone came hurtling straight toward me.
The dim light from a flashlight only revealed a silhouette. I couldn't make out the face, but as she got closer, the ghost girl's anxious voice rang out, "It's Xiao Ying! Hold her! Use your yang energy to protect her, or Feng Lan will possess her!"
Fear surged within me as I noticed a shadowy figure swaying unsteadily behind Xiao Ying, moving like a drunken phantom. Screw that—it didn't look remotely human!
Without hesitation, I opened my arms just as Xiao Ying crashed into me. She was dazed and didn't even see me standing there.
Her warm, soft body pressed against mine, and for a fleeting moment, my fear gave way to an unexplainable warmth.
"Is that you, Wang Lin?" Xiao Ying's voice was trembling, her breath brushing against my ear, sending a tingling sensation through me.
"How did you know?" I asked, stunned by her sudden familiarity.
"I saw you… crashing into that tree…" she murmured, her voice laced with worry.
I was mortified. So my most embarrassing moment was caught by her. Fantastic.
"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you!" I said, trying to sound heroic, though my legs were still shaking.
"Mm," she whispered softly, nestling against my shoulder like a frightened kitten.
The ghost girl's voice interrupted our moment. "Feng Lan's gone—run!"
Reluctantly, I released Xiao Ying and turned just in time to see Pei Long being flung aside by the ghost fetus. His peachwood sword had disappeared, and he crashed into a tree, landing in a crumpled heap.
At that instant, Feng Lan's shadow darted toward Pei Long and vanished as it seemed to merge with him.
The ghost girl snorted coldly, "Serves him right. Failed the ritual, and now he's paying the price. Let's go!"
I hesitated. As much as I disliked Pei Long, he had come here to fight the ghost fetus and save all of us. Could I really just leave him behind?
"Wang Lin, let's get out of here!" Xiao Ying tugged on my arm, her voice urgent.
"You go first. I'm saving this idiot!" I said, pushing her toward safety as I turned to run back.
"Saving who?" she blurted, confused for a moment. "He's a lost cause!"
Ignoring her protests, I sprinted toward Pei Long but tripped halfway and landed flat on my back.
"Idiot! If you want to die, leave me out of it! Get out of the forest!" the ghost girl roared furiously in my head.
"Shut up!" I barked back. "Saving a life is worth it, even if it's Pei Long's…"
Before I could finish, my head slammed into the ground, stars exploding before my eyes. Furious and exasperated, I briefly considered banging my head a few more times to end the misery.
"Aah! The ghost fetus is coming!" Xiao Ying's scream brought me back to reality.
I looked up to see the ghost fetus hurtling toward Xiao Ying. Without thinking, I lunged forward and tackled her to the ground, shielding her with my body.
An icy chill washed over me, paralyzing my muscles as the ghost fetus's claws grazed my back. I shut my eyes, overwhelmed by despair. This was it—I was done for.
But then, just as the ghostly claws made contact, something unexpected happened.
My body twisted involuntarily, flipping me onto my back, exposing my chest. The ghost fetus's face loomed inches above mine, its blood-red eyes gleaming with malevolence.
Suddenly, a burst of sparks erupted from the protective talisman hanging around my neck. The ghost fetus shrieked, recoiling as if burned, then darted back into the shadows, disappearing entirely.
Panting heavily, I collapsed onto the ground, completely drained.
"Wang Lin… are you okay?" Xiao Ying's voice was shaky, her concern evident.