c157

Upon returning to the bus, he carefully examined the pillow, touched it, and already had a speculation in mind.

He probably guessed whose pillow it was – a male classmate named Dong Peng. He’s an extreme character in the class, silent and eerie, usually low-key but with a striking presence.

Most people dare not provoke him.

Some say he must have killed someone, and that’s not untrue.

This person is a dangerous individual who had blood on his hands back in middle school, and Yin Minglu naturally had to be cautious. Moreover, in the plot, this classmate Dong Peng, after entering the assessment, was armed with an electric baton, seemingly comfortable with taking lives, and the body count in his hands was no less than five.

Looking at his expression, Fu Jinxiu’s frown was even heavier than Yin Minglu’s. He coldly asked, “Do you know who this person is?” Bringing such a dangerous item clearly showed malicious intent, as if he had long prepared for a massacre. Fu Jinxiu hoped the young man would reveal the person’s name, keeping everyone away from danger. Especially considering the diary-like writing under the pillow, mentioning the young man’s name, it seemed like a prelude to an attack on him. In matters concerning the safety of friends, Fu Jinxiu naturally refused to tolerate any leniency.

Even without a close look, you could tell there was a fierce killing intent on his face.

“I think I have an idea,” Yin Minglu said. Without waiting for Fu Jinxiu to speak, he reached out and touched Fu Jinxiu’s face, comforting him, “You don’t need to be afraid. I will protect you.”

Fu Jinxiu: ??? I’m not afraid, okay?

However, the young man’s tone was very gentle, and coupled with those enchanting black-and-white eyes, Fu Jinxiu, although stunned, found his originally unruly and irritable heart genuinely soothed, and his lips curled slightly.

After a while, he realized something was amiss with himself. Clearly, he was deeply concerned about the young man’s safety, worrying to the point of wanting to harm someone. How could such intense feelings of jealousy and hatred be dispelled by the young man’s few gentle words?

Thinking of a certain speculation, a strange glint flashed in his eyes. With a cold expression, he asked, “Did you use psychic power on me?”

Upon hearing this, the frequency of Yin Minglu’s blinking, which had already increased, accelerated once again. In Fu Jinxiu’s eyes, the expression seemed to convey a sense of guilt and innocence, especially when the young man sluggishly admitted, “You actually found out.”

Now, soothing was no longer effective. Fu Jinxiu’s face became as still as water, lips tightly pursed, a thin trace of anger evident on his face. He said, “Are you using me as an experiment?” He almost blurted out “you scumbag” because he had been on edge for the young man’s safety, yet the young man used tactics meant for dealing with girls on him. It was clear that the young man didn’t regard him with the same level of concern.

Before Fu Jinxiu could get an answer, his gaze turned even colder. In his heart, there was a complex mix of emotions, a profound sense of being let down.

He turned around, intending to leave.

But the next moment, he suddenly felt a surge of sadness in his heart, as if sensing a girl who was misunderstood by her boyfriend, feeling heartbroken and depressed, desperately pleading for her boyfriend’s forgiveness. It was like a pitiable child afraid of being abandoned by parents, waving tiny arms and begging mom and dad not to leave.

Fu Jinxiu stared in astonishment, his eyes widening.

He turned around and indeed saw a somewhat aggrieved expression on the young man’s face. Delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed. Although the young man didn’t speak, those deep black pupils were fixed on him, resembling a child misunderstood and unsure how to defend themselves.

In his eyes, the seemingly aloof Fu Jinxiu now appeared more like a “scumbag.”

Fu Jinxiu: …

It must be said that the young man’s psychic power was quite strong, and his emotional influence was exceptionally potent. Fu Jinxiu almost instinctively softened, and the anger dissipated like smoke.

His tone softened, and he said to the young man, “Just because I like you doesn’t mean you can use your psychic power on me without restraint.”

“Ah Xiu, you’re not angry anymore. I just wanted to try.” Seemingly aware that his good friend was no longer angry, the young man’s previously aggrieved expression immediately vanished. A smile returned to his face as he spoke cheerfully.

Seemingly wanting to strengthen his persuasion, as soon as the young man’s words fell, Fu Jinxiu felt a surge of joy in his heart. It burst forth like gushing water, both rapid and lingering, almost causing him to lose control of his stern expression.

Fu Jinxiu: …

Alright, I know you’re happy. Now, please retract your psychic power.

Yin Minglu casually experimented with his psychic power, unaware that the virtual images in the suspended city almost exploded. A few minutes ago, people in the live stream room felt an uncontrollable sadness, as if a chilly rain had fallen on a heart covered in dark clouds. Those with weaker resistance almost shed tears, feeling the urge to comfort the young man.

Soon after, their sadness melted away, replaced by an irresistible flow of joy. It was as if the man who successfully invited the girl for a date in that movie, holding an umbrella, joyfully danced in the rain. That overwhelming joy filled their hearts. Contrasted with the young man’s cute smiling face, how could they not realize the influence he had on them?

【Mom, it’s psychic power!】

【I was just applying a face mask, and suddenly I cried. Tears smeared my face, but soon I burst into laughter again, laughing until snot bubbles came out. My husband stared at me in horror, looking at me like I was crazy. Um…】

【After feeling upset, I couldn’t help but laugh again.】

【Forgive me for being frank, is this student Yin an evolved being, or perhaps a reservist?】

【His psychic power is too strong. Compared to that city’s chief radio host, Fang Fang, with her drizzling psychic power, she seems like a waste.】

【He might be more than just a reservist; he could be an evolved being. The class monitor influenced by him is younger than us, probably another hidden reservist. Damn, this class is full of hidden talents.】

【The assessment just got a lot more interesting. Twenty-five years ago, the devilish victor was also an evolved being.】

The topic then completely shifted, and countless people began to focus on Yin Minglu. Those who were initially indifferent now observed him with meaningful glances. The young man’s online popularity skyrocketed into the top ten, surpassing the notorious young murderer.

Whether it was due to the young man showcasing his abilities or not, whenever he appeared on the screen, netizens couldn’t help but be drawn to him. They subconsciously paid attention to his every word, action, and facial expression, starting to feel that beneath his saintly appearance hid a million mysteries.

By evening, the wild boar meat had been prepared by everyone. The tools used were naturally the sharp knives confiscated by the young man, including those from Dong Peng.

In front of over a hundred classmates, Yin Minglu directly asked, “Classmate Dong Peng, are these knives familiar to you?”

Sensing that something was about to happen, the classmates who were eating meat instantly raised their eyes, looking towards the young man questioning Dong Peng, and asked, “Classmate Yin, what’s going on?”

“The knives used for cutting meat just now were found by me privately in Dong Peng’s luggage, oh, and these.” Yin Minglu took out the electric baton and a pillow, throwing them in front of everyone, with a calm expression, saying, “You can ask Classmate Dong Peng about these, ask him what they are.”

This action was reminiscent of a courtroom trial.

At first, everyone was puzzled, but after seeing the items, their eyes widened in astonishment.

A bold male student turned on the switch of the electric baton, and the sizzling sound of electricity startled him. He quickly threw it away, and his hand felt a bit numb. With a pale face, the student exclaimed, “My goodness, this electric current is too strong, unlike a regular electric baton.”

The voltage passing through the human body with a regular electric baton is very low. Besides some numbness, there is generally no significant damage. However, it was evident that the electric baton they found had a much higher output voltage, almost reaching the point of instantly causing loss of consciousness.

Witnessing this, the others became curious about the seemingly ordinary pillow. After inspecting it closely, they discovered some fluorescent powder. It was clear that this was not something ordinary. Thinking about the sinister intentions behind it, the students couldn’t help but feel a chill down their spines, and their hair stood on end.

“Oh my, how terrifying.”

“What did Dong Peng want to do? I slept next to him yesterday, never thought there would be these things hidden in his pillow.” He now felt as if he had slept next to a wolf baring its fangs.

In stark contrast to the fearful reactions of the students, the online comments were going crazy.

【666, so there really was someone planning murder from the beginning. Look at how well-equipped these crime tools are.】

【Yeah, if it weren’t for this Yin student meddling in others’ affairs, half of the passengers on the bus would surely be dead.】

【Exactly, whether male or female, facing those knives and electric batons, there’s no way to fight back. You can only let them have their way, and if things get really bad, there’s also the possibility of drugs. What a thrilling plot! Why did it end prematurely? Profanity, profanity, profanity—】

In the midst of the public confrontation, facing Yin Minglu’s question, Dong Peng’s face darkened. He sneered a few times and said, “You’re questioning me? What qualifications do you have to question me? Classmate Yin, I haven’t asked you yet, why did you casually go through my luggage without my permission?”

Yeah, no matter what, stealing and rummaging through someone’s luggage without their consent is wrong. The shrinking crowd heard the words and looked again at the expressionless Yin Minglu.

Seeing this, Dong Peng felt secretly pleased and began to turn the tables: “Classmate Yin, you’re really taking yourself too seriously. Now that we’re all trapped here, waiting for rescue after the fog clears, we listen to you out of respect for our classmates’ camaraderie. But it doesn’t mean you can ‘control’ us, not considering us, privately wanting to rummage through our luggage.'”

“I admit those things are mine, but possessing them doesn’t mean I have thoughts of harming my classmates. Just because I look fierce doesn’t mean I’m planning harm. Classmate Yin, on the other hand, you should explain to everyone why and on what grounds you want to go through my luggage.”

Dong Peng’s tone emphasized the two words “control,” transforming from an evidently cunning potential assailant to an innocent, offended victim. His attitude was boldly assertive, tinged with a subtle but palpable hostility.

Some present did notice Dong Peng’s attempt to shift focus, but they maintained an eerie silence. They too were curious about why Yin Minglu had gone through Dong Peng’s luggage. Was Classmate Yin, having rummaged through Dong Peng’s belongings, going to do the same to them and then interrogate them?

No one wanted to witness such a scenario.

Facing Dong Peng’s counter-questioning, Fu Jinxiu sneered twice. He had just been about to step forward to defend the young man, claiming he had discovered the note and traced it back.

However, before he could speak, Yin Minglu grabbed him, then pursed his lips, devoid of any color, and somewhat reluctantly said, “Alright, you want a reason, I’ll give you one.”

In the art of verbal sparring, how could he possibly lose?

“Dong Peng, initially, when I questioned you in front of everyone, I wanted you to explain yourself, giving you a chance. But since you’ve posed it this way, to avoid misunderstandings and being unjustly accused, I have no choice but to lay out the whole truth for everyone.” The tone of the young man made it seem like he had initially considered his classmates’ reputations, reluctant to expose Dong Peng’s past privacy. However, now compelled, he had to choose to unveil Dong Peng’s cover to prevent any misconceptions. Essentially, he was understanding.

“What truth?” Everyone curiously asked, feeling like they were about to hear some extraordinary secret.

“Dong Peng, I never judge people by appearances, nor do I think that just because you look fierce and possess dangerous items, you would necessarily harm others. However, what if you have actually harmed someone before?”

“What???” The crowd was shocked, gasping in disbelief as they stared at Dong Peng.

Dong Peng himself widened his eyes, seemingly incredulous about how Yin Minglu knew. Despite that, he remained composed and immediately retorted, “Yin Minglu, don’t speak without evidence. You’re making baseless accusations. Do you know how many years one can get for defamation and slander?”

His demeanor was straightforward, exuding a righteous anger that momentarily left his classmates in a daze, unsure whether it was genuine or a facade.

In the storyline, this student Dong, after committing murder, once confessed that he despised mathematics the most. During junior high, he sought leniency from a teacher, asking to add a point to his report card so he could pass. This way, he hoped to avoid the torment of facing consequences from his family. When the teacher refused, he flew into a rage, followed the teacher, and viciously stabbed them with a knife before making a swift escape.

At that time, lacking evidence and being a minor, he had sufficient alibis to prove he was not present at the scene. Despite being heavily suspected, and amidst a lot of gossip, he faced no legal consequences. After transferring to another school, he continued his life as a “hero.”

Yin Minglu then narrated this modified version of events from an outsider’s perspective.

Years ago, the group had heard about the murder of a math teacher at Second High School, but the identity of the perpetrator remained unknown. Now, hearing Yin Minglu speak so convincingly, coupled with Dong Peng’s unsettling transfer history and distorted features, many were inclined to believe seven or eight out of ten.

Dong Peng naturally denied it vehemently, even accusing Yin Minglu of falsely claiming he committed murder. He argued that it was a blatant smear campaign, a form of bullying on campus. According to him, because of his non-compliance, they were attempting to isolate him through cold violence, all to establish Yin Minglu’s authoritative position of being uncompromising.

Under the scrutiny of everyone, he felt immense pressure, as if he were a criminal being stared down by a jury, forcing him to rack his brains to find a way to exonerate himself.

Yin Minglu continued, “You think I believed the rumors from Second High and smeared you. But do you know, that teacher didn’t actually die; he—”

Before he could finish, an enraged Dong Peng, without thinking, interjected, “Impossible! He died a long time ago!”

After impulsively blurting out those words, Dong Peng immediately snapped back to reality. His heart sank as he realized he had inadvertently admitted to something. Glancing at the fearful and wary gazes of the crowd, beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead. Clenching his teeth, he accused, “You’re deceiving me!”

Yin Minglu’s expression remained cold. “I didn’t deceive you. That teacher indeed didn’t die. He entered a PVS, persistent vegetative state, commonly known as a ‘vegetative state.’ He’s truly unconscious, but when he lies in bed, his mouth keeps moving, forming the shape of words, constantly uttering your name.”

As he spoke, he mimicked the mouth movements, pronouncing Dong Peng’s name. Simultaneously, he unleashed his psychic power. The image of a bedridden patient, unable to move and nearing the end of life, carrying the burden of unfulfilled resentment, emerged.

Before the crowd could fully react, Dong Peng felt as if a heavy hammer had struck him on the head. His mind went blank, unable to think. His face turned deathly pale as he exclaimed in shock, his eyes wide with terror, “Are you human or a ghost!?”

Yin Minglu glanced at him with a smile that seemed neither approving nor disapproving, and said in a leisurely tone, “Of course, I’m not a ghost, but by reacting like this, are you admitting guilt?”

Before Dong Peng, who was scared stiff, could stand up, Yin Minglu picked up the police baton, casually performed a move, aiming it at Dong Peng’s face. Then, raising an eyebrow at the dumbfounded crowd, he remarked, “Why don’t you tie him up? After we squat for rescue, we can take him to the police station.”

“Oh, oh.” The crowd’s reaction was a beat slow, thinking that indeed it’s better to tie up such a murderer for a sense of security, or they wouldn’t feel safe either.

Another budding criminal was thus snuffed out by Yin Minglu in its infancy.

That night, as everyone slept soundly in their dreams, Dong Peng, who was bound, suddenly widened his eyes and looked outside the window in terror, shouting, “Ah, ah, ah, there’s a ghost!”

A series of screams woke up the entire car. Dong Peng, who had been continuously cursing and provocatively speaking due to his dissatisfaction after being tied up, had already earned the displeasure of the others. Now, disturbing their peaceful dreams, each one crawled out of bed, grabbed his collar, and wanted to give him a few punches.

However, Yin Minglu said, “He’s right; there really is a ghost.”

Everyone: ???

Before they could respond with, “Yin, my friend, we believe in science,” they saw, in the dense fog outside the window, the gradual emergence of a woman’s figure. The woman’s hand pressed against the glass, gazing at the people inside the bus, with a smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

Everyone: OMG! OMG! OMG!

---

 

Love what you read? A little donation can go a long way!