“Cough, it’s nothing.” Su Jinqing coughed a few times, saying no more. However, internally, she silently grumbled, “Why would I look at you? Don’t you understand?”
“As for the tall dried corpse, I have no clues yet, but I can feel it played a significant role in this instance. We can only keep watching.”
As soon as Xiao Muyu finished speaking, the system prompt sounded.
“Instance No. 004 ‘The Deathly Seventh Class’ main storyline progress: 75%. Please continue to improve the details and the evidence chain.”
“It’s already 75%. What we just saw must be real, and our speculations should be correct. The remaining question is how to confirm the detailed process of this incident.” Su Jin felt invigorated; she believed they could soon wrap this up.
Shen Qingqiu’s expression was less joyful. The sky would soon be dark, and tonight was destined to be a dangerous night. She was not prepared at all.
However, thinking about the painting, Shen Qingqiu raised a point: “Regarding Sisyphus’ painting, I think it can be interpreted another way. The reason he was punished was that he deceived Death. Could Liu Ya’s painting precisely confirm this?
No matter how much pain Liu Ya is in, Lin Xue’s death is an indisputable fact. And now, to Liu Ya, isn’t Lin Xue still in this world? Isn’t it the same as before her death?”
Xiao Muyu suddenly looked up, a gleam flashing in her eyes. “Cycle, punishment.”
She muttered to herself and then quickly said, “A simple cycle is not enough; it is about enduring endless suffering in the cycle. The recurring fire alarm records might not be the work of ghosts but the deceased repeatedly experiencing their death, in immense pain!”
Zuo Tiantian was stunned. A flash of inspiration hit her, and she hastily interjected, “Yes, yes! I remember in every instance, whether completing tasks or supplementing the storyline, at the end, the vengeful spirits would either let go of their hatred and disappear or be exorcised.
This time, we must find a reason to persuade them to let go of their hatred. Our instance has two tasks: to survive and to clarify the storyline.
To survive, we must end the curse. Otherwise, we will always be on edge. Am I right, Captain Xiao?”
Zuo Tiantian was mostly soft-spoken, but at certain moments, her courage and thinking would surge.
“Right, those people were so vicious, they couldn’t possibly forgive them. Personally, I don’t think they deserve forgiveness! The only thing that can make them let go is their attachment to each other.
Captain Xiao’s analysis is very reasonable. Maybe we can proceed with this idea. Tiantian, your ‘highlight moment’ title is indeed well-deserved.” Su Jin couldn’t help but tease.
Zuo Tiantian felt a bit embarrassed; she had almost forgotten about her ‘highlight moment’ title and didn’t know what use it had.
After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Captain Xiao, does my title need activation?”
Xiao Muyu pondered for a moment and shook her head, “This instance, both Qingqiu and I activated our titles because they were closely related to the instance. We’ve already used two titles; yours might have a surprising effect. It might be useful later.”
On one side, Shen Qingqiu’s eyes sparkled, staring intently at Xiao Muyu. After Zuo Tiantian indicated she understood, Shen Qingqiu smiled at Xiao Muyu, unable to hold back a laugh, turning away as if nothing had happened.
Xiao Muyu’s eyes always caught her, so she didn’t miss Shen Qingqiu’s joyful little expression. Thinking a bit, Xiao Muyu pursed her lips with some helplessness. Just calling her Qingqiu, was it really that exciting?
She lowered her head slightly, and Xiao Muyu’s lips curled up a bit. It was just a name; this was too exaggerated.
Two incidents occurred at Yuanning High School today. The police had preliminary results on Zhang Zhu’s death. Besides the traces left by Zhang Zhu, there were only bloodstains.
However, forensic testing revealed that the blood matched that of Luo Zihao, who had jumped to his death, frightening the forensic examiner out of his wits.
Zhang Zhu’s bizarre posture and unexplainable actions had already terrified him. How did a body sent to the morgue appear in Zhang Zhu’s room?
Surveillance showed no anomalies at the morgue, not to mention Luo Zihao’s body being transported out. The police knew about the rumored curse of Class 7.
This incident was tacitly accepted by the town, so no one pursued it further. Zhang Zhu was still classified as a suicide.
When Chen Kaijie received the news, he understood clearly. They also started saying that if the family had no objections, it would be ruled a suicide.
Zhang Zhu’s parents, dazed and confused, came to school to collect his belongings, said nothing, and left, seemingly resigned to fate. Chen Kaijie, citing frequent accidents at Yuanning High School, decided to stake out nearby. Colleagues in the know quickly advised him against it.
After sending them away, Chen Kaijie finally exhaled.
“If you don’t go back, where will you stay tonight?” Su Jin was worried. The school dormitory was unsafe; staying outside was even more unpredictable.
“The boys’ dorm has vacancies. I’ve spoken to the principal, and he agreed. I’ll stay at the school tonight.” Chen Kaijie looked a bit guilty.
“My position prevents me from acting with you all. If something happens, I can only wait helplessly. I’m really sorry.”
Shen Qingqiu glanced at him, “Are you a man or not? This position wasn’t your choice. Everyone has their role, so no apologies. Besides, tonight, you might not need to apologize. Have a good meal, gather your strength, and let’s do well tonight.”
She spoke of the possible hunt tonight as if it were a mob boss rally, both serious and casual, making Chen Kaijie laugh and cry.
“Compared to Miss Shen, I feel ashamed to call myself a man. I understand. I will perform well.” He stood straight, speaking earnestly.
There was no evening study session. Most students returned to their dorms early after dinner. No one dared to stay in Zhang Zhu’s dorm.
Li Yuehang and the others wanted to sleep elsewhere but, having seen Zhang Zhu’s death, no one dared to sleep with them.
In the end, the three boys moved to another room, the vacant Room 409.
Hearing Chen Kaijie’s introduction, Xiao Muyu’s face tightened. “409, again with 409?”
“This doesn’t feel like a coincidence.” Zuo Tiantian shivered, thinking of the girls’ dorm 409, which gave her the creeps.
“They had no choice. If they didn’t stay in 409, they’d have to stay in the cursed dorm. So, of course, they went to 409.” Chen Kaijie was also uneasy.
“If 409 has problems, avoiding it isn’t an option.” Xiao Muyu was calm; she understood Chen Kaijie’s feelings.
Chen Kaijie fell silent. Then Shen Qingqiu’s voice came from over there, “Here, we can’t even ensure our own survival. Everyone is at the mercy of fate. Clearing the instance quickly is the only way to save them.”
“I understand. I won’t be unclear. Besides, if our guesses are right and Liu Ya and the others want to kill them, it’s their own fault.”
He sighed, more worried about what the five in their team might face tonight. In this situation, there was no extra compassion to spare.
On the other side, Su Jin and Zuo Tiantian seized the opportunity to whisper, “They’ve left.”
Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu exchanged a glance, quietly bypassing the main path toward the teaching building.
By the time they reached the first classroom on the second floor, it was already 7:50. Some students hadn’t left yet.
Zuo Tiantian was worried, “What now? Searching in front of them isn’t good, right?”
She glanced at Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu. Both ignored her gaze and instead looked at Su Jin.
Zuo Tiantian looked at Su Jin and suddenly understood.
Su Jin, helpless, said, “As the disgraceful Su teacher, I have to do something unethical again.”
She straightened up, adjusted her clothes, composed herself, and walked into Class 7 unhurriedly.
Standing at the podium, Su Jin waved at the students, “It’s hard to focus on studying now. Come to the office to help me tidy up; it will change your mood.”
Playing the teacher, Su Jin was quite convincing. The students in Class 7, though puzzled, followed her out.
Once they left, Shen Qingqiu skipped the door, jumped lightly through the window, and landed in Liu Ya’s seat.
Opening the drawer, Shen Qingqiu quickly sifted through the items. Textbooks, school bags, workbooks.
Soon she found a sketchbook. Opening it, Shen Qingqiu saw the page with Sisyphus.
Shen Qingqiu flipped through a few pages, finding it to be a sketchbook. The last part of it mainly depicted Sisyphus repeatedly.
Reaching the last page, she flipped backward. The scenes were shocking, almost replicas of Sisyphus, until earlier pages where the scene changed.
A particularly gloomy image leapt from the paper. The previous pages were drawn with black pens, without color.
But this image was entirely filled with chaotic, twisting black lines, densely packed on the paper. Yet the intended content was still visible.
In a room with colored flames, dark red fire claws reached out like demonic hands to ensnare a curled-up girl.
The girl’s body was twisted and deformed, her face unrecognizable, her eyes full of fear and pain.
Around the flames were six people, with both short and long hair. They all had hideous expressions, mouths open in exaggerated laughter, drooling.
But amidst their celebration, they didn’t notice a half-body figure behind them.
This figure was tall, its upper body seemingly cut off by the paper’s edge, arms outstretched, fingers like dry branches reaching for the six.
Zuo Tiantian turned away, “This drawing is so uncomfortable.” The innate discomfort and fear made her feel suffocated.
Shen Qingqiu handed the drawing to Xiao Muyu for a closer look.
“This should depict Lin Xue’s death scene.” The central girl, though abstract and chaotic, had very expressive eyes, almost teary, standing out against the drawing’s style. Only those eyes retained a hint of beauty.
“The tall figure must be the dried corpse with Lin Xue. What is its relationship with her? It seems eager to save Lin Xue and seek revenge.” Chen Kaijie pondered aloud. Xiao Muyu surveyed the room, “Finished looking?”
After Shen Qingqiu nodded, she took over and flipped through.
Dark red words, like dried blood, spread across the paper.
“None of them are innocent. They all deserve to die!”
Not just resembling blood, but written in blood, the chilling malice hit them head-on.
Author’s Note: Thanks for everyone’s support and encouragement. I’ve been having writer’s block and couldn’t settle down, so I’m late.
Thanks to Saber for the deep-water reward. I’ll remember it even if I can’t update more for now.
