The other students and the beautiful English teacher, Miss Lv Yanling, didn't notice anything unusual about Wu Xiaoman at first. Everyone was too busy drinking the so-called "holy water," which could supposedly cure all illnesses. Who doesn't have some minor ailments, right?
Wu Xiaoman suddenly grinned, showing her white, perfectly aligned teeth, and screamed as she lunged toward me.
"Ahhh...!"
"..."
It was only then that everyone realized something was off with Wu Xiaoman. What did "something off" mean? At that moment, Wu Xiaoman was acting like a madwoman—baring her teeth, waving her arms, shaking her head wildly, her hair in disarray. She almost seemed ready to tear her clothes off. Amitabha Buddha!
Damn it! Seeing Wu Xiaoman charge at me, I instinctively activated my Yin-Yang Step, a technique I had practiced since childhood. In a flash, I spun and slipped past my classmates.
"Woah…!"
Another ear-piercing scream from Wu Xiaoman as she completely disregarded the others around her and locked onto me, continuing her relentless charge.
A few of the girls screamed and cried, while the more composed ones tried to surround her and subdue her.
I understood that Wu Xiaoman had been possessed by a a sinister, ghostly force spirit after being cursed some time ago. Perhaps the talisman I gave her helped keep the spirit at bay, but now, in this place where the Yin energy was particularly dense, the so-called "holy water" seemed to have triggered the evil spirit's full force, overwhelming her mind.
That damned "holy water."
Damn it, why is it always me? Why is it that every time something goes wrong, I'm the one it happens to? Is it because, deep down, Wu Xiaoman subconsciously dislikes or even hates me? The possibility seemed quite high.
I didn't have time to think too much. I threw my beloved green bird to the ground and, seeing Wu Xiaoman charging at me again, I dodged, and she followed, lunging once more. This wide, flat space in the medicine water gorge became our battleground—me dodging, her chasing.
Born into a family of Yin-Yang Cultivators, I had mastered the Yin-Yang Step, a technique that allowed me to dodge with lightning speed—like the wind, quick as a flash!
But no matter where I went, Wu Xiaoman, possessed by the a sinister, ghostly force, was right behind me. It was as if she had a deep grudge against me. She wouldn't stop until she knocked me down!
All the girls had been paralyzed with fear. Miss Lv Yanling screamed and, along with Cao Kui and my little bird, chased after Wu Xiaoman. Zhang Yu, crying, yelled for me to be careful. Cheng Fan collapsed to the ground, too scared to move.
Everything had fallen into chaos.
Hearing Zhang Yu's panicked but worried voice, I felt a brief moment of gratitude. But, to hell with it. So what if Wu Xiaoman's possessed by a a sinister, ghostly force spirit?
Why should I be running?
What am I afraid of?
I'm a Cultivator!
Earlier, I'd instinctively dodged, not expecting her to get so obsessed with chasing me. I was now irritated and, suddenly turning around, I stopped.
Wu Xiaoman, possessed by the spirit, was caught off guard by my sudden movement. When my classmates saw me stop, they yelled for me to get away.
Why should I dodge? I thought about it for a moment. I had no reason to.
As Wu Xiaoman continued to lunge at me, I calmly reached into my pocket, took out a Calming Talisman, and held it tightly in my right hand, fully charged with energy. There was no way I couldn't subdue a mere a sinister, ghostly force spirit.
Her claws were fierce, her strength was evident, but I, a Cultivator—even in my heart-moving phase, with no specific spells—trusted in the power of my Xuanhuang Banner. No evil spirit could overcome me.
As everyone stared in fear, Wu Xiaoman, possessed by the evil spirit, grabbed my shoulders, mouth wide open, and lunged for my neck.
I channeled my energy, ignored her move, and silently muttered "疾!" before quickly pressing the Calming Talisman to her forehead. Just as her mouth was about to close around my neck, I used one hand to press her head, my foot sweeping in to take her down.
This Calming Talisman was infused with my own energy, vastly different from the motion-sickness talisman I gave her yesterday. As soon as she and I fell to the ground, I noticed a momentary clarity in her gaze. But then, just as quickly, her face twisted again as the a sinister, ghostly force took over her mind once more.
Cao Kui, who had been following closely behind, rushed over and helped hold her arms down.
"Ahhh…!"
Cao Kui let out a pained scream. Poor guy, I didn't expect Wu Xiaoman, in this state, to possess such immense strength. In a moment of carelessness, she grabbed his arm and sent him flying. I heard the sickening crack of his shoulder dislocating.
Miss Lv Yanling, Zhang Yu, Cheng Fan, and the others, terrified, stayed away from me and Wu Xiaoman, rushing over to check on the injured Cao Kui.
"Hiss…"
The pain was unbearable. I held down Wu Xiaoman's arms, but I had forgotten about her legs. She suddenly kneed me in the stomach, and I gasped for air, enraged. I locked her legs with mine.
"Ahhh!" Wu Xiaoman opened her mouth again, aiming for my nose. I braced myself and bumped my forehead against hers.
Ha! You think you can win? Finally got you!
But as I looked down at our positions, I froze. Wait a minute—why do we look like this...?
With my hands pinned to her arms, my legs wrapped around hers, and my head pressing against hers, we were in a very compromising position. And with Wu Xiaoman struggling beneath me, it looked strikingly similar to one of those... scenes.
What is this? Why is my chest so soft?
A sin!
Damn it! Amitabha Buddha!
A crowd of classmates was watching us, and I couldn't be thinking such thoughts right now. I suppressed the bizarre impulse and quickly focused. I raised my head and directed another burst of energy onto the Calming Talisman on her forehead.
Wu Xiaoman's face contorted in pain, but she soon regained her usual cold, aloof demeanor. As she saw me above her, she screamed, "Don't—no! Help! Somebody!"
It seemed like she had regained her senses, but her scream... why did it sound so strange?
Just as I was about to release her, I noticed her eyes flash with that same malicious, evil glare.
How strong is this a sinister, ghostly force?
I released another burst of energy into the talisman, strengthening the seal.
Wu Xiaoman came to her senses again and screamed, "Zhang Santong! You pervert! Don't do this!"
As soon as she finished shouting, the evil spirit once again seized control.
I continued to inject more energy into the talisman.
Once again, Wu Xiaoman regained clarity and cried out, "Don't! Please! Let me go! What you're doing is illegal!"
Under the influence of the a sinister, ghostly force, Wu Xiaoman struggled beneath me. I couldn't help but feel flustered, my blood rushing. On top of that, hearing her plead only made it worse.
Though the students around us didn't know exactly what was happening, they understood that Wu Xiaoman had regained her senses for a brief moment. I had to make sure she wouldn't misunderstand me.
Miss Lv Yanling, being cautious, approached us and stood nearby. I didn't know what she was planning, but I hoped she would help calm things down.
This little a sinister, ghostly force really had me in a tight spot. I couldn't believe how awkward this situation had become. My temper flared up, and, in a moment of heat, I applied more force to restrain her limbs, my head slowly lowering toward hers...