After class, the entire campus fell into a serene silence.
I went downstairs to wash my face and brush my teeth. The construction site's water pipe was just a few steps away from the building entrance. Hidden between the library and the lab building, this spot was rarely visited. After finishing, I filled a cup with water and returned to my room. Without a stove, I had no choice but to munch on dry instant noodles. Feeling idle with no sleepiness or desire to go out—especially to avoid being spotted—I thought, Should I just continue practicing the Spirit-Communing Technique?
"Yan Haoning… Xiao Ning… Ningning… Ugh, you damn ghost girl, stop pretending to be dead…"
BANG! My forehead smacked hard against the cement floor, swelling instantly into a lump.
"Pretend to be dead? I AM dead!" the feisty ghost girl snapped. "You've been pestering me all night! Just as I managed to fall asleep, you're screaming again?!"
What do you mean, pestering you all night? It sounded like I had done something indecent to her. Rubbing my aching forehead, I muttered, "I wanted to keep practicing the Spirit-Communing Technique."
"You idiot! Daytime is so noisy; how could you possibly quiet your mind to practice? Go ahead, practice if you want, but don't expect me to keep you company. I'm going back to sleep!" she huffed before vanishing.
Why did I even bother provoking this tigress? Now I had a throbbing lump on my forehead. While silently cursing her ancestors, my phone buzzed with a text notification. The signal in this building was spotty at best, so I assumed it was one of my buddies, Kong Mingfei or Lei Chen, checking in. But to my surprise, it was from Xiao Ying.
"You left the hospital without saying goodbye, and I couldn't reach you by phone. I heard this morning that you packed up and left campus. I know you don't have a place to stay. I rented an apartment at 701, Building 3, Dongling Jiang Garden, near campus. You can move in."
Reading the text, I felt a warmth in my chest. Xiao Ying was truly a kind-hearted girl. Even though I had saved her life, her hospital care had already repaid the debt. Inviting me to stay in her rented apartment was going above and beyond.
But I was infamous across campus now—a so-called pervert. While she might not care about appearances, I couldn't ruin her reputation further. Shaking my head, I turned off my phone to avoid any further awkwardness.
Thinking about her kindness, I resolved that I must save her and Xiao Xiang, no matter what. Ignoring the ghost girl's warnings, I sat cross-legged on the ground and began chanting the incantation.
Practicing during the day was indeed harder—my mind was restless, making me feel suffocated and irritable. Panic rose, and I suspected this was the precursor to losing control, possibly even fatal! I tried to stop but found myself unable to halt the chant. My spirit began flickering, emerging and disappearing amid swirling black mist.
Fear gripped me. Was my spirit preparing to leave my body permanently? If so, I might soon be sharing tea with the Grim Reaper. No way! I forced myself to calm down, chanting the incantation repeatedly in my mind. The trick worked. Slowly, my thoughts settled, and the restlessness faded.
Unaware of how much time had passed, my spirit stopped flickering in the black mist and stood still. Suddenly, another shadow appeared beside me—a figure with disheveled hair and an aura of death, terrifying and eerie.
My spirit gestured for it to come closer. The figure raised its head, revealing a ghastly face: hollow, bloody eye sockets, a wide gaping mouth with no tongue, and blood dripping from its lips.
Oh my god, it's Liu Yan!
Terror consumed me as my body trembled uncontrollably. Panic and dread surged in waves, threatening to stop my heart. Just as I was on the brink of collapse, the horrific vision vanished, and the fear subsided. I opened my eyes to find myself back in my room, drenched in cold sweat.
"Lucky I woke you in time, or you'd be a goner," the ghost girl scolded me.
Relieved, I realized she had saved me. Swallowing my pride, I muttered, "Thanks."
Her tone softened. "You've actually made some progress. Practicing during the day absorbs solar energy, making your progress faster. Congratulations—you've reached a new level."
"Really? I've leveled up?" I asked, feeling a surge of joy.
"What leveling up? You're still a rookie," she teased, though her smile betrayed her amusement.
I chuckled sheepishly and asked, "I saw Liu Yan. Was that really her spirit?"
The ghost girl nodded. "Yes, she hasn't left campus yet and is still nearby. Your beginner-level technique allows you to connect with weak, recently deceased spirits like hers. From now on, you can communicate with her whenever you need."
My eyes lit up. "Can she help me make money? Pick up girls? Solve all my problems?"
"Dream on! A small ghost like her can only help scare people," she retorted with a yawn. "It's almost nightfall. Stop practicing for now and get some rest."
I glanced outside. The dim light of dusk was creeping into the room—I had been meditating the entire day. After stretching and eating some cold instant noodles, I lay down but couldn't sleep. Tossing and turning, I eventually got up and wandered outside.
The campus was pitch dark and eerily silent, the hour likely past eleven. I strolled aimlessly until I noticed a light in the administrative building. It was coming from the office of Mr. Chen, the dean.
The sight stirred an idea. Tonight was his duty shift—perhaps I could do something to him. After all, this old man had been a thorn in my side for three years, and his actions had finally gotten me expelled.
But how? Inspiration struck. I whispered to the ghost girl, asking how to summon Liu Yan without meditating.
"All you need is a hand gesture and a single chant. But what are you planning to do?"
"Never mind that," I replied with a grin. "Let's just say I'm testing the technique."