Who left their last words here?

Chapter 84 "Exam King", another plot twist (Part 2)

A chase...?
The girl who fell from the sky and her sudden cry for help seemed to mark an unusual beginning that would shatter the peaceful routine of daily life.

A mysterious girl, stuck on the balcony like a clothes rack, says she's actually being hunted by an alien weapon and asks if you want to go to hell with her.

Typically, the plot that follows is that the unlucky guy who gets caught up in the anomaly embarks on a spectacular adventure where magic and everyday life intertwine, and he gradually drifts away from an ordinary life.

However, there is also a subplot where the person who is spouting nonsense is sent to a mental hospital for psychological counseling, thus narrowly preserving his own life, which is as calm as plain water.

But isn't this just a coincidence?

He's really no good at psychological counseling.

But when it comes to exorcising demons and catching ghosts, he happens to have plenty of strength and skills!
No one understands the anomalies better than Bai Zhou!
—It should even be said that it was completely effortless.

Because his purpose in coming to the school was to cause "abnormality"!
"What happened?"

Bai Zhou immediately got up from his office chair, walked to the door with great interest, and looked out the window.

But the door was empty.

Who's hunting you down?

Bai Zhou inquired:
"Don't be afraid, there's...there's a teacher here!"

As he spoke, he clenched his fist.

"Squad Leader Fang" looked shaken, leaning against the door frame, panting heavily.

"It's... the King of Exams!"

She gave a completely baffling answer with a serious expression.

"?"

"What is that?" Bai Zhou was stunned.

He had imagined all possible answers from the other party: demons and monsters, strangely dressed magicians, mysterious organizations, or aliens.

—But what is Exam King?
Is he the king of cheating in the exam room who kills with a pencil, folds draft paper into origami cranes to ride, and has rulers and erasers each with their own special abilities?

Has this child gone stupid from studying?
"You're the king of exams... can he protect you from failing your exams?"

Bai Zhou looked at the other person with suspicion and asked tentatively.

"Probably not."

Class monitor Xiao Fang shook her head, and seeing that Bai Zhou seemed unconvinced, her expression became anxious:

"But he really is chasing me! You have to believe me, teacher!"

"..."

Seeing this, Bai Zhou slowly composed himself and became serious.

As an extraordinary being, he cannot ignore his students' cries for help regarding the "anomaly" in this strange and mysterious world.

It's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't.

Bai Zhou carefully examined the view outside the window, his spirituality stirring slightly as he sensed traces of spiritual energy in the vicinity.

But found nothing.

The corridor outside the door was quiet, with neither a person nor a ghost in sight.

Unlike usual, this time, his spirituality gave him no hints of danger.

"so……"

"Where is that exam king? I don't seem to see him."

Bai Zhou turned to look at the girl, asking her softly while scrutinizing her.

Upon hearing this, the girl glanced furtively out the window, and after a moment nodded in a seemingly serious manner.
"He's gone! It seems he was scared away by the teacher!"

"Thank you, teacher. I'm saved. Goodbye, teacher—"

As he spoke, the child opened the office door and was about to slip out.

Then, she was called back by Bai Zhou, who looked completely bewildered.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute!"

Bai Zhou called out to Class Monitor Fang, looking him up and down at his nervous appearance, seemingly lost in thought.

Sure enough, I was scammed.

A cunning middle school student! A liar at such a young age!

Why are you in such a hurry to leave?

"Did you come here under this pretext to skip military training?"

With a stern face, "Zhou Ya's" ordinary-looking young face took on the air of a teacher's authority:
"Did you make up the so-called 'Exam King' too?"

"No! I just need to get back to military training!"

Class monitor Xiao Fang immediately panicked and quickly defended himself:

"I actually ran into him today! The exam king! The campus ghost story that so many people have heard of!"

“Campus ghost stories…” Bai Zhou suddenly frowned, his expression turning serious:
"Could you explain in detail?"

Upon hearing this, Class Monitor Fang shrank back and began to recount the story with some fear.

It turns out that there has always been a strange tale about Yuanmeng Middle School.

He's called the Exam King, and he appears whenever school exams are approaching.

"The king of kings is practically the embodiment of anxiety itself."

Class monitor Xiao Fang commented as follows.

At first, someone saw him in a corner of the canteen at three in the morning, studying while putting a steamed bun covered in ink into his mouth, making his mouth black.

Later, a classmate saw him by the library window at four in the morning. He saw that he had tied one end of a rope to his hair and the other end to the ceiling beam of the library to prevent himself from dozing off while studying.

Later, during evening self-study, a classmate noticed a hole in the wall next to them. Looking through the hole, they saw a figure studying and reciting texts in the darkness, using the light stolen from the hole.

No one remembers what he looked like, not even his gender, let alone his age and name.

But the students insisted that the person was real, and these stories were passed down from generation to generation of students.

People respectfully refer to him as the "non-existent King of Exams" and the "King of Tests".

Because it's like a ghost spawned during exam season, spreading the terrifying anxiety of "It's all over, it's all over, you're too late."

Legend has it that everyone who sees him feels deeply ashamed and guilty for their lack of effort and inaction, and while feeling terrified of the upcoming exams, they study desperately.

As for Class Monitor Xiao Fang, although he had seen this legend on the campus forum before, he had always been skeptical.

until today.

On her way to the restroom, she unknowingly got lost in a grove of trees.

There was a student in a school uniform standing under the shade of a tree, head down, reading a book without moving.

As I passed by him, a review sheet fell at Class Monitor Fang's feet.

"Hey student, here are your study materials..."

Class monitor Xiao Fang had just helped pick up the review materials when he noticed something unusual about them.

Because what's on it is clearly just a childish drawing.

It had Xiao Fang's name written on it.

—This seems to be a self-portrait that Xiao Fang, the class monitor, drew for his future self when he was in kindergarten.

Behind them are large, crooked characters written by his mother:
"Always number one!"

That moment.

Overwhelmed by anxiety and guilt, Xiao Fang's heart was filled with immense unease and guilt.

Then she saw the other person's face clearly:
A face without features!
"Ghost!!!"

With a scream, Class Monitor Fang fled the grove of trees and ran towards the nearest teaching building, instinctively heading into the first office he saw.

Teachers are usually people that students subconsciously feel they can rely on.

But it must be admitted that this squad leader, Xiao Fang, did indeed find the right person.

"Students without faces, wearing the Dream-Fulfilling School Uniform?"

Bai Zhou frowned, suddenly believing what Class Monitor Xiao Fang had said.

Because he had indeed seen such a being.

In the Dream Realm of the Reflection Ruins, there were not just one or two such students, but hundreds lined up in a long queue.

Thinking about it carefully, those people were indeed quite "studious".

But surely this "exam king" couldn't have just run away from the Reflection Ruins, could he?

"So, you're saying he didn't actually pursue you?"

"You came here on your own."

Bai Zhou summarized the information brought by Class Monitor Xiao Fang.
"And every student at Dream Middle School has a chance to meet him when the exams are approaching, right?"

"……almost?"

Looking at Bai Zhou's serious analysis, Xiao Fang seemed quite surprised:
"Teacher, do you really believe what I'm saying?"

Normally, teachers wouldn't believe such nonsense from students.

Considering that this was a psychological counseling room, she was prepared for the other party to think of her as having a mental illness.

However, Bai Zhou's seriousness and earnestness seemed genuine.

"Believe me, I don't think it makes sense for you to tell such a story just to fool a stranger like me."

Bai Zhou nodded.

"But what puzzles me is..."

"If this 'exam king' is just someone who makes people study hard when they meet him, then isn't he quite harmless? He might even be a rather strange tale."

Xiao Fang smiled sheepishly: "...I heard that's what the teachers who tell the 'Exam King' stories say."

Bai Zhou gave the shifty-eyed class monitor, Xiao Fang, a deep look. Whether the "Exam King" truly existed remained in doubt.

If such strange tales had truly existed at a prestigious school for so long, the authorities would have been alerted long ago.

Unless it doesn't exist, or is always harmless.

But Bai Zhou, who came specifically to investigate the school, wouldn't easily give up on this lead.

"I'm willing to believe you, classmate."

Finally, looking at Class Monitor Fang, Bai Zhou said this:
"Which class are you in? If you encounter similar trouble again, you can come to me anytime."

"To be honest, I'm quite interested in ghost stories."

"If you experience any discomfort afterward, you can come here anytime!"

At this moment.

This unremarkable new teacher,

It left an exceptionally tall figure on the still inexperienced squad leader, Fang.

...Because Squad Leader Fang was busy going back to military training, the matter ended there.

Bai Zhou decided to keep a close eye on this squad leader, Xiao Fang.

Of course, Bai Zhou also learned of her name and background.

Class 3, Grade 7, class monitor Fang Xiaoyan.

—Sure enough, this person definitely knows Fang Xiaoxia!
Even their names are so similar, and their facial features are so alike...

Could they be sisters?

However, she was precocious and intelligent, and also served as class monitor.

A homebody girl who loves playing video games.

The difference is so striking that one can't help but wonder where these sisters came from...

afterwards.

Bai Zhou went to the grove of trees that Fang Xiaoyan had mentioned.

Don't even mention "exam king," I didn't see a single piece of scratch paper.

I did find a young couple having a secret rendezvous here. They didn't even dare to hold hands; they just chatted.

When the children encountered Bai Zhou, who was walking by seriously with a thermos in his hand, they were all frightened like quails, and then Bai Zhou scolded them and made them leave.

Early romantic relationships are absolutely forbidden!
To fall in love at such a young age, yet have to wait until the other person dies before getting married—what an agonizing and long wait that must have been!

Bai Zhou couldn't understand.

Besides...

Teacher, I'm still single, how can you two be so sweet?

This is not possible!

Later, Bai Zhou asked around again.

The strange tale of the "Exam King" has been discovered to be true.

Unlike the students who exaggerate, the teachers are quite optimistic about the existence of the "exam king".

"If there really is an exam king in the world, then he can only exist in our Dream Middle School, where the key high school admission rate is 100%."

"If it can motivate students to study hard and have a bright future, I'd be happy to have as many 'Exam Kings' as there are, no matter how fake they are."

These are the exact words of the academic affairs director.

In his view, the legend of the "exam king" actually reflects more the psychological state of students who are afraid of exams and have too much academic pressure.

"This is your responsibility as a school counselor, Ms. Zhou. Your task is actually quite challenging."

The dean of academic affairs had a very serious expression when he said this:
"Teenagers are sensitive and prone to overthinking, so you need to guide them carefully."

"If you encounter any problems at work, you can contact me anytime."

"……I understand."

Afterwards, Bai Zhou strolled around the school again.

However, no abnormalities were found.

"Exam King..."

Muttering this term to himself, Bai Zhou returned to his office.

Perhaps the dean of academic affairs is right?
Perhaps the so-called "exam king" is a reflection of students' psychological state.

It doesn't actually exist, but it does harm students' mental health.

Thinking about it this way, Bai Zhou felt deeply ashamed.

As an extraordinary being, when he heard about campus ghost stories, his first reaction was naturally to strike back with full force, as an extraordinary being.

However, they forgot the responsibilities of a school counselor.

Faced with the psychological pressure on squad leader Xiao Fang, he not only failed to offer any counseling...

Instead, they offered a mysterious invitation, similar to the one in adventure novels: "Let's go on an adventure together, leave it to me."

—That's a huge dereliction of duty!
Next time we meet, let's try some talk therapy.

Thinking this, Bai Zhou reopened the book "Black Cat's 8000 Questions" in front of him.

Make the most of every moment to study, and who wouldn't become a master of exams?

Skipping over the dry, everyday topics, Bai Zhou followed the table of contents and began reading the sections on history and mythology with great interest.

Upon seeing familiar content, Bai Zhou became even more interested and his spirits lifted.

Byzantium?
Irina, the Byzantine?

Rome? Byzantium is Rome?

Bai Zhou blinked twice with his clear eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhu Luo Ji...

Zhu Luo, Zhu Luo...

Is this the era of the annihilation of Rome?
……is that so?
Before I knew it, lunch break was over.

As the school bell rang throughout the campus, Bai Zhou closed his book.

Picking up the thermos teacup from his desk, Bai Zhou, who had perfectly integrated into his new identity, once again began a thorough campus patrol, trying to find any clues that might be amiss.

No matter if you're an exam king, a test-taking master, or a memorization expert... as long as you dare to show your face, he'll immediately bring you to justice!

Before I knew it, I walked to the white boat near the playground and saw a group of students doing military training.

Although it was early autumn, the scorching sun still made the students suffer, leaving them drenched in sweat.

Passing by rows of lines, Bai Zhou followed the signs and found the military training team of Class 3, Grade 7.

Fang Xiaoyan was not seen in the queue.

This student... is he skipping class again?

—You're the class monitor!
Just then, the instructor issued an order for a temporary break.

"Ten-minute break! Don't forget to drink water!"

Standing at a distance, Bai Zhou waved to a student.

The student paused for a moment, then ran over in a flash.

—In schools, the role of a teacher is incredibly useful.

What if you were also carrying a thermos?

This would make Bai Zhou look not only like a teacher, but even like a leader at the level of director or above!

"Teacher, who are you looking for?"

A student with a buzz cut and a very strong build ran over and asked cleverly.

After carefully considering his words, Bai Zhou asked:
"Hello, classmate."

"This is Class 3, right? Isn't Fang Xiaoyan from your class here?"

"Fang Xiao... Yan?"

The guy with the buzz cut looked blank, as if he hadn't realized what was happening.

It's normal to not remember classmates' lives right after the start of the semester, so Bai Zhou reminded him:
"—That's your class monitor."

But the student with the buzz cut looked even more bewildered.

"...Teacher, do you think there's a possibility?"

Looking closely at Teacher Bai Zhou's face, he said cautiously:

"There's no student named Fang Xiaoyan in our class?"

"and……"

He pointed to himself and said somewhat uncertainly:
"—I'm the class monitor of Class 3!"

"?"

Bai Zhou blinked.

Are you the class monitor of Class 3?
Who is Fang Xiaoyan?

...What do you mean, there is no student named Fang Xiaoyan at all?

As if realizing it only after the fact—

Bai Zhou stood there, stunned.

Even though they were standing under the blazing sun,

But a chilling sensation shot up Bai Zhou’s spine and straight to his brain.

(End of this chapter)