Book 5: Chapter 20: Divide and conquer

Book 5: Chapter 20: Divide and conquer

The student was headless, but still seemed to be able to see. He barged into the group. While everyone screamed and shrank away, he crashed to the ground. Only then did the blood start spurting from his neck!

The rain was cold and the blood was warm. Almost everyones clothes and skin had been splashed crimson. It wasnt clear how it happened, but regardless, everyone was filled with indescribable terror!

Two of the girls fainted on the spot. Another guy started running back in the direction of the pool, screaming loudly, Im not leaving anymore! Im going back! Im going He got further and further away. No matter how desperately we called him, he didnt turn back! The rest of us waited, restless and afraid that something else was going to happen. However, a while had passed without anything out of the ordinary.

At this time, the rain stopped.

Maybe we should go back! Someone suggested after the student that ran off didnt seem to get harmed.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

No one answered him because none of us knew what to do. We were like prey being hunted by something unknown within the darkness. It wouldnt rest until we were all dead!

As we were being indecisive, that womans voice rang out again. She was humming, the muffled, plaintive tone coming from all directions and making it impossible to tell where she was. We only felt that the tune was right by our ears, seeping into the deepest parts of our hearts.

Dearest son, hurry and sleep, the moon. She slowly crooned.

She was singing a lullaby. Her voice was filled with content enthusiasm, as though she were a mother coaxing her child to sleep after dinner. What should have been a gentle rhythm ended up sounding incomparably sinister!

We arent able to leave anymore! Shes going to eat all of us! One of the students suddenly started screaming hysterically. He sat down and started digging, as though trying to make a hole to hide in. All of us! Eaten! Eaten! Eaten!

His insanity stimulated everyones already frayed nerves. The group immediately started destabilizing. Cries and shouts were everywhere, the despairing attitude spreading throughout the group. It was as if we had no chance of survival at all. It seemed everyone was giving up on all thoughts of resistance!

I was completely panicked. I yelled at them all, trying to get them to snap out of it. It was useless. Yet I knew if things continued like this, we would all die!

At this moment, the silent Ah Zhan suddenly walked over. He randomly grabbed the girl closest to him and, without regard for the fairer sex, gave her a resounding slap. Then he moved on to the next person. Only after getting to the seventh person did the others get themselves under control.

Didnt you want to die? Why are you scared of getting slapped? He said mockingly. Go scram off and die if you want to, stop making a ruckus. Go off by yourselves if you want. Go right into the woods. Its death all the same, right?!

The others were suddenly subdued by him flipping out, not daring to retort. They were frozen in place. He was usually cold and taciturn. No one had ever seen him lose his temper like that.

In the silence, that womans voice sounded once again. She was still singing the lullaby, but perhaps Ah Zhan was too infuriated because he yelled, Shut up! He actually managed to make that weird noise stop.

Those who want to die, scram! Those who want to live should immediately crouch down for me! Ah Zhan said loudly. Moreover, I swear I will leave whoever disobeys behind in this ghostly mountain!

His imposing manner and the ghostly word contained an indescribable sense of oppression. Everyone crouched down without a word, ready to follow him blindly.

Ah Zhan saw that the situation was slightly more under control and beckoned towards me. When I walked up beside him, he drew a seal in the air. The sound around us vanished. Only then did I realize he was afraid of being overheard and set up a boundary. However, his powers were rather weak back then and the boundary was very small. It was only enough to cover the two of us. If he had been able to cover everyone inside, there wouldnt have been so many problems!

We cant keep going anymore. He said quietly. Although the boundary was there, he still didnt seem too assured. He looked around vigilantly as he spoke.

Whats wrong?

I didnt expect them to leave that place and pursue us. He frowned in annoyance. Perhaps they had already attached themselves to our belongings while we were busy saving people. Theoretically they shouldnt be able to go too far from their remains, unless they are possessing something.

I watched as Ah Zhan crouched and drew talismans in blood in every direction. I called the others to pull up the weeds still inside the circle. Now, we seemed to be within a clearing.

Ah Zhan, where are you going? Seeing him about to leave, the silent Nana cried out. Only then did I notice she was just as frightened as the rest. I actually didnt pay special attention to her since we had all been in a state of shock.

Im going to look for the lost student. You stay here. Wan Li will protect you guys. Ah Zhan responded and then left before anyone else could speak.

None of us can leave this circle. As long as we stick together and stand firm, nothing will happen to us! Seeing Ah Zhan leave, everyone seemed to have lost their backbone. I could only harden myself and act as the leader.

I wrapped the talismans Ah Zhan left behind in the weeds we pulled up and then made a bonfire, instructing everyone to sit around it. I told everyone to ignore any weirdness they may see. As long as they stayed here, they would be fine.

Ah Zhan will return, right? Nana sat beside me and asked while trembling all over.

I comforted her while observing our surroundings.

Everything had been peaceful. Due to the fire and our preparations, those ghosts hadnt harassed us in a while. However, this unusual peace was like a heavy boulder on our hearts. It felt like they were hatching some bigger scheme. Things may seem alright on the surface, but the strong uneasiness weighed heavily upon us.

As expected, the moment the fire started weakening, rustling noises came from all over.

Wu..

That womans crying rang out again.

Im so cold. Pull me out! She begged. Im about to give birth to my child. Wu.hes about to starve!

We stayed in place, sticking close to each other, our arms touching. Everyone remained in the circle and didnt dare respond or raise our heads.

Im so cold. Pull me out! She repeated, slowly getting closer. However, she never entered the circle. It was clear the talismans arrayed in the trigram positions were effective. Although they couldnt drive her away, they at least prevented her from coming close.

At this time, I also realized that Ah Zhan would be facing off against that weird infant.

How heartless. Pull me out, Im cold!

She continued speaking but we still just ignored her!

Hmph, you think you can hide? After messing around for a while, she abruptly lost her temper. Her voice became extremely sinister. Suddenly, a strange wind blew by our ears.

Something swept over from the dark woods. It seemed like a balloon. It was inflated yet was light enough to float. It flew right above us!

Look at me! The balloon suddenly spoke.

We knew it was that woman speaking and that it wasnt a balloon. However, we couldnt help but look up.

Drip.

A drop of blood fell.