Hurrying downstairs, I noticed a shadow moving from the south toward us. I quickly circled around the academic building and slipped back into the new dorm. As soon as I stepped in, a piercing scream shattered the stillness of the night. My heart jolted. Could it be that the old guy or the seductive fox spirit had been killed?
The ghost girl sighed and said, "That was Liu Yan's scream. Someone must have taken her out." Her hearing was exceptionally sharp, capable of identifying someone just by their scream.
I was stunned, suspecting that whoever killed Liu Yan was connected to those scoundrels. It might even be the exorcist that Yu Zixin hired. After all, Liu Yan had just frightened that pair of jerks, and now she was gone. The timing couldn't be more coincidental. With Liu Yan dead, I'd lost my leverage over those two, which meant restoring my student status was probably out of the question. Even more concerning, staying in this dorm might no longer be safe.
As I pondered my next steps, the ghost girl suddenly gasped in shock. "It wasn't a human! It was Feng Lan who devoured Liu Yan's soul! How is that possible? She's fully absorbed the ghost fetus in just a few days?"
Her words sent shivers down my spine. No way—Feng Lan is out so soon? My spiritual connection skills are still at a beginner's level. How am I supposed to face her? I asked her, face pale, "What should we do?"
"What else? Run for it!" she urged.
"Alright, let me grab my stuff upstairs first," I said, dashing toward the stairs.
"Get back here! What's more important, your stuff or your life? Run!" she shouted anxiously.
Behind the dorm was a wall. I bolted outside, circled the building, and ran toward it. But after just a few steps, the ghost girl urgently warned me that Feng Lan had found us and anticipated our escape route, blocking the path ahead. Damn it. I turned and ran back. But where could I go? I couldn't outrun her no matter how fast I ran. To be honest, running or not felt equally futile.
Yet when faced with danger, humans instinctively run, like fleeing from a tiger even if they know they can't escape its claws. Who knows? Maybe the tiger would suddenly lose interest and stop chasing. Then again, thinking like this might make me the foolish one.
"Don't run in a straight line! Go left five steps... forward thirteen steps... then turn right and go eight steps..." the ghost girl shouted, correcting my escape route. I didn't bother questioning her, guessing it had something to do with Qimen Dunjia and navigating life-or-death doors. So, I counted steps as I zigzagged forward, eventually reaching the edge of a small grove.
I froze in place. "Isn't this Feng Lan's lair? Why did you lead me here?" I wanted to cry. This was literally throwing myself into the tiger's mouth.
"I didn't tell you to go into the grove! Run fifty meters east, now!"
Realizing the grove wasn't the destination, I quickly turned east and sprinted like mad. Fifty meters went by in no time. When she shouted, "Stop!" I slammed on the brakes. Just as I halted, a chilling, eerie laugh echoed from a few meters behind me. My scalp tingled. Seriously, why do ghost women always have to laugh so creepily? Couldn't she let out a cheerful giggle for a change?
"We're safe now. This is the Tiger's Retreat—Heavenly Stem Six Yi paired with Earthly Stem Six Xin, combined with the Resting Door, situated in the Gen Eight Palace. Even a formidable ghost like Feng Lan wouldn't dare break through this position. For now, our lives are spared!" the ghost girl explained, gasping for breath.
Tiger's Retreat, Cat's Crawl—whatever it was, I didn't understand. The only thing that mattered was that she said we were safe. Relieved, I squatted down, panting. It amazed me how mystical this world was. A random patch of ground could hold such protective power that even a ghost as terrifying as Feng Lan wouldn't dare intrude. Incredible.
"Creeeak... heh-heh-heh..." Feng Lan's laughter grew closer, bringing a bone-chilling cold with it. I squinted into the darkness and saw a faint shadow wandering back and forth, blocked by an invisible barrier that kept her from approaching.
"Don't mind her. I'm going to teach you the third set of incantations and hand seals. Start practicing now. If you reach the third stage, you'll be able to connect spiritually with Feng Lan. Then we might survive the night!" the ghost girl urged.
"With Feng Lan staring me down, how could I focus? Besides, with the Tiger's Retreat protecting us, aren't we safe?" Concentrating in such conditions felt impossible. Trying to advance my skills would be suicidal.
"We have no choice. This is a desperate gamble. The Tiger's Retreat will weaken as the hour changes. It won't hold Feng Lan for long," she explained.
Great. From beginner to intermediate, it took me a whole day. And now I was supposed to master the third stage in two hours? Still, given the urgency in her tone, I had no choice but to take the risk. Clenching my teeth, I sat cross-legged, memorized the incantation and hand seals, and tried to calm my mind.
But the icy wind and ghostly laughter kept gnawing at my nerves, making focus impossible. The third stage required absolute mental clarity, far more demanding than the earlier stages. Just as I recited the incantation, my mind spiraled into chaos, and heat surged through me. Suddenly, I had a vision of Professor Qiu's seductive gaze and snow-white curves...
The emotional turbulence caused a sharp pain in my throat, and I coughed up warm blood. Before I could open my eyes, the ghost girl shouted, "Think of your girl! If you don't control yourself, we're not the only ones dying tonight. She won't escape Feng Lan either!"
Her words hit me like a slap. Imagining Xiao Xiang meeting a gruesome fate like Liu Yan's sent cold sweat running down my back. I forced myself to focus, recalling how I practiced during the day—by counting stars. Slowly, I drowned out distractions, and my mind settled.
Just as I found my calm, something struck my forehead hard. The pain and fright shattered my concentration, and I fell backward. Energy surged uncontrollably, and I spat several mouthfuls of blood like a fountain, splattering my face.
"That bastard again!" the ghost girl hissed angrily. "He's the one manipulating Feng Lan to kill. We're doomed!"
Numb and paralyzed on one side, I laughed bitterly, resigned to my fate. "Who is this guy? Why haven't you mentioned him before?"
"He's from the Ghost Sect—"
Before she could finish, her tone shifted. "Wait, a savior is coming! We still have hope tonight!"
Excited, I asked, "Who is it?"
"Wu Long!"