Book 7: Chapter 27: Photographs

Book 7: Chapter 27: Photographs

The theater clubs last rehearsal was in a few days. The performance would be two days later.

Zhao Jiang never made a move, making the three of us exceptionally nervous. Pending disaster wasnt the scary thing. Instead, it was the waiting period before it happened.

Before the rehearsal, Bao Da Tong and I roamed the campus. To the other students, it looked like Bao Da Tong was going around and taking souvenir pictures since he was about to return home. In reality, we were investigating whether Zhao Jiang had set up any traps, especially around the lake.

The resentful aura is growing heavier and heavier. Bao Da Tong struck a pose and then pretended to tie his laces, sticking a symbol-inscribed stone into the soft mud.

He had gathered many small stones early this morning, drawing unobtrusive symbols on each one. He had been lamenting over not having brought more of his old dads talismans. His own powers were limited, which extended to the talismans he made.

Is he about to make a move? I asked quietly.

I dont know, but hes definitely preparing something. He leaned against a tree by the lake and took another picture. Can you develop these pictures quickly? I cant tell clearly with the flowing air, but it would be different with pictures for reference.

I looked at the camera in his hands.

It was an ordinary camera, but Bao Da Tong had drawn dense symbols on the lens using blood. People only saw me taking his pictures, but didnt realize I could only see bars of ink, as if everything within view was trapped in a cage.

The blood was a mixture of his and mine since I was the one taking pictures while he cast his spells. He claimed neither could be lacking, though I really doubted if his supernatural camera was actually useful. He claimed it was based on his old dads spirit capturing talisman. Since it could capture spirits, it could naturally also capture their likeness.

Are you able to develop the photos or not? He asked again when I didnt respond.

I indicated that it was not a problem. The head of the photography club was my bro. Such a small matter was easily handled.

You have to do it personally. If something was really photographed, it would terrify others. He instructed. Come take a picture of the water!

I was getting annoyed at being ordered around, but still complied. After taking a bunch of pictures of the lake, I was sent off to go develop the photos. He remained by the lake and continued appreciating the view.

Strangely, despite the many symbols on the lens, the photos came out very clear. The ones of him in front of the track field, the dormitory, the library and the cafeteria were all super ordinary. Only the ones by the lake were exceptions!

He had taken a total of three photos by the lake. He was crouched by the railings around the lake for one, leaning against the tree for another and one was of the open space, with the top of the small auditorium and the small stone bridge in the background.

The three photos were stained to varying degrees. Initially, it looked like glare from the light. Upon closer examination, there was always something next to Bao Da Tong.

In the first picture, a blurry dark strand stretched from the water, wrapping around his leg. It looked ready to drag him into the water. In the second, a snowy hand reached out from within the tree towards his heart. In the third, there wasnt anything next to him, but dark clouds shrouded the auditorium.

I stared blankly at these photos, knowing why Bao Da Tong was unharmed despite so many attacks. It could be seen from the photos: a layer of light covered his body. It seemed to be glare from the sunlight. However, the sun wasnt bright enough today and it was also a little cloudy. Therefore, it definitely wasnt the suns reflection. It was a protective shield he had formed. Although it was weak enough to be unnoticeable, it still protected him from harm. It was also visible via this supernatural camera!

I had also been by the lake at the time. If Bao Da Tong had taken my picture, would there also be strange things around me? I didnt feel unwell anywhere, which meant I also had something invisible protecting me. Did Nana have any safeguards?

If not, I would be the one to protect her!

With these determined thoughts, I glanced at my watch. My arranged time with Bao Da Tong was coming up and I hurriedly placed the last few photos into the solution, carefully stirring them with tweezers. Slowly, the images captured by the camera appeared.

Four photos, four human faces!

This means tonights rehearsal is his only chance?

My thoughts exactly, or I wouldnt need to be so nervous. Bao Da Tong scratched his head. Tonight will be very dangerous. We must be careful. Go pick up Nana first. Ill go stroll around the backstage area. Tonight, you guard the front of the stage while I guard the back. He bent over as he spoke, handing me a small sack on the ground.

Ive drawn symbols on all the stones in here. Sorry, the effects are far from ideal, but they are good enough against normal spirits. Oh, that rod is made of peach blossom wood. It can ward off evil spirits! Man, it was really hard to find a peach tree in the city, and Im also not good at carving. You should improvise as best you can.

Normal spirits? Are you saying he has helpers? I frowned.

Not helpers. Its someone forced into his service. Since he ate the souls of the child and the worker, Im guessing its Xiao Ling. You should show mercy, shes a pitiful person!

I nodded, grabbing the sack of jumbled things and went to fetch Nana. Since it was the last rehearsal, things were a little different. Normally, people wore their normal clothes while they rehearsed. If any mistakes happened, they would immediately stop and make adjustments. Since they were doing the final rehearsal today, the students were all in their costumes as they performed the play in its entirety. It was like the actual show, and they wouldnt take any breaks either.

I saw in the left-most seat in the front row. There were stairs leading up to the stage there, allowing me to rush up if anything really happened. Bao Da Tong had already wormed his way backstage. Using his charm, he had already gotten in good graces with the two young girls responsible for the costumes and props, and was now posing as a stagehand waiting in the back.

The clubs rehearsal was not open to the public. Therefore, apart from us, only the director, extras and significant others of the members were beneath the stage. There were around a dozen people. Everyone else sat in the middle. I was the only one in the corner, my hand gripping the sack tightly.

I was unaffected by the beautiful costumes, moving plot and romantic lines. My attention was fully focused on the surroundings for any signs of abnormality. Time passed slowly and nothing had happened yet. Bao Da Tong also didnt give any signals from behind the stage. Everything seemed calm but I grew more and more nervous.

With Zhao Jiangs deep obsession towards Nana, how could he let things go if tonight was his final chance? Why hadnt he made his move? Could he be plotting something? But the play was nearing its end. Was he planning on making his move in the chaos after the performance ended?

Thinking of this, I observed the stage even more nervously. It was almost the final scene. The male and female leads changed their costumes and entered the stage. The spotlight fell upon them.

Under the light, Nana appeared especially resplendent. My mind wandered for a moment, thinking that she should apply for work as an actress. Her graceful figure, brimming passion and exquisite features were all very suitable for the stage, even though she currently wore a mask.

Buta mask?! Did the plot call for that?

I bolted upright, a sense of wrongness filling my heart!

The male lead wore a mask in this play because his character had burns across his face. But why did the female lead need one? Nana hadnt been wearing one previously, so the play hadnt been altered!

I looked around at the others and saw they were also very confused. Only the two on stage were still caught up in their performance.

What kind of prank is this? I heard the directing student grumble.

Was it a prank? Or

I looked at Nana again and suddenly figured out what was wrong!

Nana was passionate about acting and had joined the club in her first year. However, she had a very unprofessional issue: she loved to look at the audience while she was on stage. The more important the moment, the more it would happen. In the past she would look at Ah Zhan, and nowadays she looked at me.

But today, during the most critical scene, she never glanced below the stage. She only stared at the male lead, apparently engrossed in the performance. This was completely impossible!

Her efforts for the play werent for show, but she knew we were in danger. Her emotions should be extremely unstable and I had spent a long time comforting her earlier before she was willing to get on stage. She had also been extremely nervous while acting earlier. How could she suddenly have calmed down, and become immersed in her performance without even looking at me?

Nana! I cried out, grabbing one of the stones at the same time.