Chapter 11: How Can Mortals Catch Ghosts??
I turned to Jiang Yan, and she looked at Xuan Yuanchen with a friendly gaze. “Senior Xuan Yuanchen, do you have any other business with her?”
Xuan Yuanchen gradually receded his cold demeanor and gave me a cold smile. “Don’t think that finding the dormitory means you can stay in the Immortal Realm. Let’s discuss that after passing the test!” He abruptly slapped an envelope onto me and coldly turned away, striding off. As he boarded the car, he crossed his legs, picked up his book once again, and cast a sidelong glance at me. “Don’t die.” With those words spoken, he shifted his gaze away, and the car soared into the high sky.
Jiang Yan released her grip on me, and Mao Mao emerged from behind Qing Ming. I picked up the envelope that had fallen to the ground and opened it. Upon reading its contents, I discovered the words: “All freshmen are required to gather in the Lingxiao Hall to prepare for the freshman test.”
“It’s the freshman test!” Mao Mao exclaimed. Suddenly, everyone’s expressions turned tense as they stared at the envelope clutched in my hand.
What kind of test is this freshman test?! Is it an entrance exam?
But I always fail exams!
Seated on the sunken sofa in the living room, silence hung heavy among us. The atmosphere had become strangely peculiar and grave.
Si Yino remained huddled behind his Xiao Bai, resembling an autistic child, while Mao Mao kept his head lowered as if hesitant to speak. Jiang Yan continued sucking on his… um, no, it was a blood bag. Even Qing Ming displayed a serious countenance, his brows furrowed and lips pursed.
What has happened to everyone?
I have a distinct feeling that the freshman test is no ordinary matter.
Especially Qing Ming’s face—it conveys a sense of impending doom!
“What’s the matter with everyone? Why is nobody saying anything?” I couldn’t resist breaking the strange atmosphere and speaking up.
Si Yino didn’t dare to raise his head, stealing glances at me from behind Bai. However, it was Bai who nudged Mao Mao, seated beside him, with his head. Mao Mao scratched his head, appearing somewhat uneasy, and then started staring at Jiang Yan.
It seems that Jiang Yan is the spokesperson for this dormitory.
Jiang Yan released the blood bag and looked at me with concern. “Actually… the freshman test isn’t difficult.”
“I knew it.” I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at them. “Is it a written test or an interview?”
Jiang Yan’s face instantly grew grave, almost as if he believed I wouldn’t return alive.
“It’s… ghost-catching.” As his words fell, I was left dumbfounded in an instant!
Ghost Hunting~~~?!?!?!
My brain instantly froze, like an old computer taking forever to reboot.
But what’s so unusual about it?
This is the Divine and Demon Academy!
Testing the ghost-catching abilities of freshmen is as normal as it gets!
What about written exams and interviews? Those are in the mortal realm. Even some renowned foreign universities prioritize practical skills!
Everyone, including Jiang Yan, looked at me with concern. Jiang Yan continued speaking, “You’re different from all the other students at the Divine and Demonic Academy. We’ve been in the academy since we were children. According to the teaching methods in your mortal realm, we’ve already started exploring and discovering our abilities in kindergarten. We learn to control and awaken our powers in elementary school, and we acquire basic knowledge of the six realms. So, after graduating from elementary school, we can basically handle simple demon-slaying and ghost-catching. It’s the first time we’ve encountered someone like you, who entered the academy at such an old age…” Jiang Yan awkwardly finished speaking and glanced at the others. Mao Mao and the others also wore expressions of worry and embarrassment.
I suddenly understood why someone in the waiting room mentioned that I was old. It turns out they had all been trained since a young age!
“Failing the freshman test isn’t a big deal…” Jiang Yan looked at me with concern. “We’re worried about your safety.”
What?!?!
So, am I putting my life on the line for university?!!!
His words made me want to escape immediately.
“Don’t be afraid.” Suddenly, Qing Ming spoke calmly. His voice, like himself, had a deep and reassuring tone. But… after he uttered those two words, he fell silent. He simply looked at me with an encouraging gaze.
“Qing Ming is right, don’t be afraid!” Jiang Yan seemed to have realized something, pushing aside his previous worries. He looked at me earnestly. “The power of ghosts comes from people’s fear!”
So, when Qing Ming said “don’t be afraid,” he wasn’t referring to the test itself, but rather advising me not to fear ghosts.
“That’s right!” Mao Mao also got excited. “Little Lanjie, the ghosts in the typical freshman test aren’t very powerful. As long as you’re not afraid of them and don’t provide them with energy, they’re just like ordinary people. At that point, you can simply pummel them like monsters!”
“That’s correct.” Jiang Yan nodded seriously. “The more you fear them, the more power they draw from you, and that’s when they can create illusions. Many humans who are killed by ghosts mostly perish in their own illusions. If you’re not afraid of them, they can’t have any influence on you!”
“Oh, I see!” I nodded, starting to grasp the concept. Essentially, fear becomes the source of a ghost’s power.
“Ghosts are the souls of the deceased. In your scientific terms, they can be described as a cluster of energy magnetic fields…” Jiang Yan suddenly delved into the realm of science, and it made me feel quite out of place. He took a few sips from the blood bag and continued to explain earnestly, “Fear, on the other hand, is a form of energy, and ghosts are particularly sensitive to it. They can absorb this energy to enhance their own magnetic field, which enables them to manipulate your brain waves, create illusions, and even exert control over you! Do you understand?!”
I stared at him blankly. Is this supposed to be the Divine and Demon Academy or the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences? I feel like I’ve wandered into the wrong place.
Blinking my eyes, I responded, “I understand, I understand. So, I shouldn’t fear the ghosts and avoid providing them with energy.”
“Yes!” Qing Ming nodded firmly.
“Ah! Little Lanjie, you’re so clever!” Mao Mao exclaimed excitedly, clapping his hands.
Clever? Give me a break! They could have just said “don’t be afraid.” Why did they have to go into all this scientific explanation? It almost left me confused. Fortunately, my brain has a filter.
“Little Lanjie, you’re amazing,” Si Yino said shyly and timidly, peering at me from behind the white snake.
Am I really amazing?
They are the offspring of gods and demons!
And what am I?
“Attention, all freshmen. The freshman test is about to begin. Please gather in the Lingxiao Hall as soon as possible.” Suddenly, a voice penetrated through the roof and resonated above us, as if it came from the heavens.
“It’s starting!” Mao Mao stood up nervously, his expression more excited than anything else. “Go for it, Little Lanjie!”
Jiang Yan also rose to his feet. “Wait a moment.”
Everyone looked at him, puzzled. He bent down and rummaged through the table in the middle, producing something that resembled a talisman, which he placed in front of me. “Take this. If you can’t defeat them, stick this talisman on yourself. The ghosts won’t be able to see you, and you can make a quick escape. Although you may not achieve a high score, you should be able to pass.”
I took the talisman, staring at it in bewilderment, then looked back up at him. “Can’t you give me something that can actually banish ghosts?!”
A hint of embarrassment appeared on his face. “Um… I think… you probably can’t stick the talisman… on them.” After he finished speaking, he grabbed his blood bag and started drinking, avoiding eye contact with me.
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Translator’s notes: Bonus chapter
