Li Mo stepped up to the black coffin. "The first incense has burned out, and the second one has just been lit. This signifies the start of the second day. Now, I'll explain the rules for the vigil."
"You might call it a wake or a night watch—it doesn't matter. The terminology and origins are irrelevant. What matters are the critical rules I'm about to share."
"I can't guarantee that all of these rules will apply. At best, they're a set of reference answers, but the fact that they've been passed down means they hold merit. All you need to do is follow them faithfully."
Most of the answers were restrained, mirroring the cautious approach required when dealing with the anomalies.
After all, no one wanted to inadvertently violate some hidden rules and die on the spot.
Li Mo extended his hand, brushing the black coffin. Despite the blazing fire behind him, the coffin remained chillingly cold.
This coldness meant the coffin was functioning as intended, suppressing evil forces. If warm or even scalding blood began to seep from the corners, it would signal danger—evidence that the coffin's seal had been compromised and the entity within was starting to break free.
Turning to the group, Li Mo said gravely, "First rule: From now until 7 a.m. tomorrow, no one is allowed to leave the area illuminated by the fire. Not even you, Kira. No matter what happens, do not approach the entrance of the auditorium. This is not a suggestion—it's an order."
"Second: Do not touch the black coffin unless faced with the third or final scenarios."
"Third: If the corpse inside the coffin begins to emit a foul odor, deal with it immediately. Under no circumstances should anyone utter vulgarities during this process. Doing so will not only fail to suppress the stench but will intensify it. You should understand what that implies."
"Fourth: No inappropriate or intimate behavior is allowed—this includes any acts of lust or depravity."
Li Mo spoke slowly, emphasizing each rule. Compared to blindly stumbling through the dark, adhering to these inherited guidelines increased their chances of survival.
In an unknown situation, a misstep often meant certain death; following the rules, even imperfectly, left room for correction.
"But, Senior… aren't you the only man here?" one of the Valkyries asked, raising her hand with an air of innocence.
"Pfft…" Kira couldn't suppress a laugh.
It wasn't until this moment—amidst their ongoing encounters with ghosts—that the group realized that, among the people present, Li Mo was indeed the only male.
"Same rule applies to women," Li Mo responded coldly.
"Ah, boo~" Several Valkyries and St. Freya students stuck out their tongues teasingly.
Li Mo wasn't surprised. In a world plagued by the Honkai, where Valkyries were the frontline defenders, the physical prowess of these women far surpassed that of ordinary men.
The Honkai's nature also ensured that while women had a chance of survival, men were almost entirely wiped out, leading to a world heavily dominated by women. Naturally, this imbalance led many Valkyries to look inward for companionship—a mutual understanding among them.
Clearing his throat, Li Mo suppressed a strange sensation, an ink-like liquid threatening to rise from his stomach. He forced it back down.
This was the price of dying twice. Over time, such symptoms would only worsen.
He could still detect a faint stench on his skin—a hint of corpse rot. Even though his heart beat steadily, his blood flowed, and his organs functioned normally, he couldn't halt this unnatural decay.
"Fifth rule: Ignore all sounds, phenomena, and figures in the darkness."
"Sixth rule: This one applies for the next five days—do not disturb the current arrangement of the funeral. Nothing is to be moved."
"We're currently burning the second incense stick, marking the end of the first day. Tonight, we may face a deadly scenario associated with the second day. As such, we must prepare for the rituals of both the first and second days. Of course, I can't guarantee anything. If nothing happens, all the better. If it does, handle it as best as you can."
Li Mo glanced towards the auditorium's entrance. It was shrouded in darkness, but one thing was clear: there was no door.
The absence of a door meant no risk of triggering the fatal rule of "opening the door." Even ordinary people could safely enter the auditorium for refuge.
From his experiences so far, doors associated with ghosts functioned not as protective barriers but as conduits for malevolence—a wedge for anomalies.
It was simple logic: without ghosts, doors divided spaces into the living and the dead, repelling the latter. However, once a door became haunted, its protective function was nullified, turning it into a medium for ghosts to kill.
The auditorium doors bore signs of deliberate destruction. Combined with the auditorium's intricate setup, it was clear to Li Mo that the funeral's host was no ordinary person.
Abilities capable of shielding against anomalies perception were wasted here. If Li Mo had such powers, how many anomalies could he have neutralized?
Then there were the suppressive incense sticks, the black coffin subduing the malevolent forces…
And that eerie funer portrait. The portrait might not contain a ghost; instead, it likely imprisoned one. Whatever was trapped inside, its release would surely result in an unstoppable killing spree.
The faint scent of black, acrid blood seeping from that hinted at just how dangerous the entity inside might be.
In short, every detail of this funeral was meticulously designed to keep the living alive.
Those too oblivious to understand didn't deserve the privilege of attending this funeral.
This certainty made Li Mo confident in the fifth rule. For example, if a knocking sound came from outside the auditorium, it could immediately be deemed as an anomaly.
After all, with no doors intact, where could a "normal" knocking sound come from?
"Lastly, in the worst-case scenario—if all else fails—open the coffin and throw out the headless corpse. Cram as many people as possible into the black coffin. Survive if you can."
Li Mo hadn't planned to share this final contingency, but if even a reset couldn't resolve the crisis, he'd need to escape.
In such a case, the newcomers inexperienced with anomalous phenomena would likely all perish.
That's why he shared this grim fallback.
This method was ruthless. The coffin wasn't spacious, and with over twenty people present, chaos and bloodshed were inevitable as they fought for survival.
Kira hesitated. "Wait, doesn't this contradict the second rule? Aren't we forbidden from touching the coffin?"
Li Mo nodded, his tone heavy. "Which is why this is only for desperate circumstances. The black coffin's suppression is fully active now."
"But once inside, there's no guarantee you'll come out. If someone opens the lid from outside, fine. If not, you're as good as dead."
"At least starving to death won't leave a mess for the next group."
Li Mo opened the coffin lid, revealing the headless corpse inside.
For reasons he couldn't explain, an irrational urge to take the corpse's place welled up within him.
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