Who left their last words here?

Chapter 91 The Upside-Down Girl; Clearly a Major (5k)

"Crash..."

The Dead Sea Scrolls vibrated and flew out of Bai Zhou's arms, turning the pages to the second half on its own.

The details were like trying to see flowers through a fog—vague and unclear to Bai Zhou.

Just a fleeting glimpse made Bai Zhou feel dizzy and disoriented. He dared not look any longer and quickly looked away.

Then, the open Dead Sea Scrolls exerted a powerful, whirlwind-like suction force on the notebook.

"This is……?"

Bai Zhou blinked, while an incredible and bold guess arose in his mind.

Not long after, a faint golden glow, just like the rain of light that Fang Xiaoyan had turned into when she disappeared, only more solid, slowly flew out from the notebook Fang Xiaoyan had left behind.

Under Bai Zhou's unwavering gaze, it burrowed into the open pages of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

What vivid and lively shadows have been left on it!

There was a "pop" sound.

The Dead Sea Scrolls were closed again.

Everything around returned to silence, and all the abnormalities disappeared.

Bai Zhou eagerly took the Dead Sea Scrolls into his hands and began to read them.

As before, he could only open the first volume about the "Thousand-Faced Moon," where the images of the "Cursed Colossus" and the "Life-Stealing Cat" were vividly depicted.

As for the content that follows, it remains locked in place by those strange chains on the spine, completely still.

It was as if everything that had just happened was just Bai Zhou's unrealistic fantasy.

"So..."

On the surface, Bai Zhou remained expressionless, but his heart was in turmoil.

The Dead Sea Scrolls... seem to have preserved "a part" of Fang Xiaoyan.

Could it be that the forbidden book that records the secrets of death contains a way to help the dead return in its later parts?
—Even if Fang Xiaoyan is an “abnormal” person who doesn’t exist and isn’t even considered a living being?
Bai Zhou couldn't be sure, but at least it gave him something to look forward to.

If he becomes powerful enough to unlock the corresponding chapters of the Dead Sea Scrolls, will he be able to resurrect Fang Xiaoyan?

I wonder how Fang Xiaoxia will react when she finds out she suddenly has a capable younger sister.

...If this can save this life, Bai Zhou wouldn't mind offering a helping hand.

Bai Zhou never considered himself a saint or hero who would save the people, but who made him happen to see and experience it?
People are always moved by the passing of life before their eyes, especially since Fang Xiaoyan's life ended so brilliantly.

"..."

As I sat at my desk, deep in thought, a raven's soft whisper suddenly came from beside me:

"It's so late, and you haven't gone home yet."

"It seems that Mr. Shirazumi really enjoys his job on his first day."

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhou turned his head in surprise.

But Ya was startled, and a hint of doubt flickered in his eyes.

Contrary to expectations, Ya only saw the weariness on Bai Zhou's face, his bloodshot eyes filled with a hint of confusion, and even his usually proud and unruly ahoge (cowlick) drooping down.

With a slight furrow in her brow, Ya came to Bai Zhou's side. The rich aroma of coffee wafted into her nostrils, and the girl gently patted Bai Zhou's shoulder.

She asked earnestly and softly:

"what happened?"

"That's... a long story."

It's quite a coincidence—

What Bai Zhou blurted out unconsciously was the opening line that Fang Xiaoyan had said many times before.

From Bai Zhou's brief description, Ya learned about Fang Xiaoyan's story.

Upon hearing this, Ya was speechless for a moment, realizing why Bai Zhou was in this state.

"The lives of extraordinary people are always like this: every story begins with a chance encounter that catches you off guard, but ends with you going your separate ways."

"In this world where leaving is all the more common, extraordinary people always have to get used to saying goodbye."

The crow shook its head and stood beside the white boat, whispering:
"But I think Fang Xiaoyan's story is not a tragedy, and her departure was easy and relieved... so it's not something to be sad about."

"On Earth, there is a story about a little human race. It tells the story of a little human girl named Ality who lives by borrowing things, but is discovered by a human boy."

Crow suddenly began to tell a story, which caught Shiraishu's attention:

"The boy's kind help to Ellie attracted the attention of the adults. Ultimately, because the whereabouts of the dwarves were exposed, Ellie's family decided to move away. Before leaving, she gave the boy her hairpin as a keepsake..."

"Huh?" Bai Zhou glanced at the notebook on the table, then looked up and blinked.

So, what I mean is...

Gently tucking a strand of long hair behind her ear, Crow and White Boat exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

"Some beautiful things, once experienced, are enough."

"You were lucky to have met this squad leader, Xiao Fang, and to have helped her while also witnessing her passing, right?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhou fell silent, then pondered.

He felt that what Crow said made a lot of sense, and if there had been no unusual activity involving the Dead Sea Scrolls, then what Crow said would have made even more sense.

"But……"

Bai Zhou blinked and slowly picked up the Dead Sea Scrolls from his hands:
"Although Fang Xiaoyan is gone, it seems she hasn't completely left..."

crow:"?"

You broke them up?
After hearing Bai Zhou's explanation, Ya's thoughts were similar to Bai Zhou's, but her expression also became serious:

"You should still remember my warning."

"Any secret techniques or rituals involving life and death must be approached with utmost caution."

"Even Dr. Dee has fallen to that level; you must remember his example!"

"Just like that half of the ancient character within you, before you are strong enough, do not touch these taboos that you should not touch!"

"Don't worry, don't worry..."

Bai Zhou felt that Miss Ya's only concern was his cautiousness and fear of death.

"No matter what, you're still here watching over things, aren't you?"

"..."

Crow neither confirmed nor denied Bai Zhou's answer, but simply shook his head, his expression growing increasingly serious:
"Actually, the reason I came to the school to find you was because of those ritual symbols you gave me."

"You mean... those rituals that were just broken?"

Bai Zhou's expression turned serious:

"You've successfully broken through?"

"To be honest, I was startled when Fang Xiaoyan disappeared. I was worried that the disintegration of the ritual might have alerted someone."

Upon hearing this, Crow waved his hand and said, "Then you can put your worries aside."

"Because it's pointless for you to do anything about these rituals—it's a medium-sized ritual that was already accomplished long ago!"

"A ritual that was... completed long ago?"

Bai Zhou's eyes slowly rose from their seats.

His sense of smell, which had become increasingly acute in his extraordinary abilities, had detected something extremely dangerous.

“Yes.” Raven nodded. “The reason the symbols you see are broken is because they were completed once before and then discarded.”

"These symbols were only reawakened as emotions accumulated within the school."

"However, this time, these broken symbols played a role that was very different from, or even the opposite of, that of before."

"That's how 'Fang Xiaoyan' and 'Exam King' came to be, two beings from the Void Realm who should have been devoid of intelligence, mistakenly entering the mortal world!"

"...In fact, the appearance of Fang Xiaoyan and the Exam King was most likely not part of the mastermind's plan, but a byproduct of the ritual operating in reverse!"

"Completely the opposite?"

Bai Zhou's eyes widened, his pupils contracted slightly, "You mean..."

"I'm afraid it's the one you're thinking of!"

The crow nodded solemnly.

"In earlier times, the original purpose of these ritual symbols was likely to randomly pull students from the present world into the Reflection Ruins in schools!"

"Imagine this scene..."

"In a secluded corner of the campus, a lone student returning late is quietly swallowed up by the shadows spreading from that corner."

"Without the student's knowledge, he took a step and arrived at Dream Realm Middle School, a world completely opposite to the real world, in the Reflection Ruins!"

The crow frowned deeply.

"The people who arranged these ceremonies are exceptionally skilled."

"But what I can't understand is, if all of this is related to the major, then what is his purpose in doing this?"

"Making 'talent' for profit is one thing, but capturing real people and bringing them into the Reflection Ruins... what kind of conspiracy is he plotting?"

The more the crow spoke, the lower its voice became.

Sending ordinary people to the Dream Realm Middle School in the Reflection Ruins?

The pervasive pollution of the Void Realm will drive them mad, and the bizarre monsters that roam the area will tear them to shreds, leaving them powerless!

"...Yes, what is he trying to do?"

Bai Zhou suddenly shivered:
"Crow, don't you think this design looks familiar?"

"what?"

Crow was taken aback for a moment, but then, seeing the complex expression on Bai Zhou's face, his pupils suddenly contracted:

"You mean-"

"Wancheng!"

"Isn't it very similar?" Bai Zhou nodded, his eyes lowered: "They both secretly capture people and bring them to the Reflection Ruins to achieve their own goals."

As he spoke, Bai Zhou's voice lowered:

"Those fellow villagers who came from the city are still under the major's command..."

Crow's brows furrowed tightly.

The two do sound somewhat similar.

But she couldn't understand how Major Luo could suddenly become involved with the Blood Worship Cult.

Just a short while ago, the Blood Worship Cult was tricked by the major...

At this moment, Bai Zhou suddenly thought:
"I think this school must have had records of students mysteriously disappearing in the past."

"—And there's more than one!"

This matter is not difficult for Bai Zhou to verify now.

The price was just a pack of Furongwang cigarettes.

With the help of a packet of Furongwang cigarettes bought from a convenience store near the school gate, Bai Zhou got the answer he wanted during a conversation with the gatekeeper.

As expected, five or six years ago, Yuanmeng Middle School did have more than one case of students and even teachers going missing.

Many sheriffs were dispatched at the time, but the investigations all came to nothing in the end.

Finally, the school changed its principal, replaced its security team, and renovated the campus.

Everything finally calmed down.

This was three years ago.

Bai Zhou roughly calculated the time...

Three years ago, it was the year Fang Xiaoxia graduated!
In the same year, the ceremony was completed and abandoned, and it was also in this year that "Fang Xiaoyan" and "Exam King" were born.

Also in that year, the school's rate of students admitted to key universities increased from 95% to 100%, and its students achieved top three rankings in the Tinghai City Junior High School Entrance Examination, transforming it from one of the top five schools in Tinghai to a well-deserved number one.

—The timeline matches up!

"It seems that the answer behind all the mysteries lies hidden in the Dream Realm Middle School within the Reflection Ruins."

Finally, Bai Zhou, who had joined forces with Ya, came to a conclusion, but couldn't help shivering.

We still need to go to that place.

But the experience of almost being lassoed by the homeroom teacher with a pointer left Bai Zhou with some lingering trauma.

At that moment, Crow pulled out that chilling crystal ball from somewhere.

Upon seeing him, Bai Zhou's buttocks began to ache, reminding him of the days he spent meditating and practicing asceticism at the base.

“It’s already dark. You should prepare to deal with the major soon… It seems we absolutely cannot let him know that we’ve discovered these things at the school.”

As he spoke, Raven tapped the crystal ball three times with the tip of his finger.

It made three crisp sounds: "snap, snap, bang."

The next instant, the silvery-white crystal ball turned into a deep black, like the night sky.

The twinkling starlight appeared on it.

"But the starlight tonight is particularly fitting; in this gap between dusk and night, perhaps we can use this opportune moment to cast a divination—"

"Let's divine the future of the Dream-Fulfilling Middle School within that Reflection Ruins."

Crow placed the crystal ball in her palm on the ground in front of Bai Zhou, then slowly sat down cross-legged, her slender fingertips seemingly grasping something on the crystal ball.
“My teacher once taught me that the mysterious world is always full of fog, but the wise can always find a way to dispel the fog.”

"—And divination is simply the most straightforward and direct method in the hands of the extraordinary!"

The raven's voice was slow and gentle, while simultaneously gesturing for Bai Zhou to look at the crystal ball:

"I think this will inspire you on your future path."

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhou looked at the crystal ball with a dazed expression, cautiously examining it as if nothing was amiss.

The next moment.

"Buzz!"

The crystal ball on the ground vibrated.

The starlight in the sky gathered like pale golden liquid and shone into the crystal ball.

The moment the starlight burst forth, Bai Zhou's gaze, fixed on the crystal ball, became unfocused, as if the world were spinning.

"This is……!"

In a hazy, dreamlike state, he felt as if he had entered the interior of a crystal ball, which was not made of glass or crystal, but rather a thick fog.

But as the white boat "plunged," the fog suddenly dissipated, surging and convulsing, turning into intermittent flashbacks in front of the white boat, gray and rustling, as if there was a bad signal.

Then, he saw...

He saw a gray, gloomy campus.

The familiar oath echoed in my ears.

Like a free wind, Bai Zhou felt himself drifting past the frenzied and enthusiastic crowd, his gaze exploring the interior of the school.

Under the gray sky, everything was lifeless, yet every now and then a few comical yet eerie sounds could be heard.

The funeral music echoing from the radio, the mathematical formulas wriggling on the blackboard, the walls covered with purple mushrooms.

There were also teachers patrolling the corridors, pointers and rulers tucked under their arms, their eyes dark and unfathomable, their footsteps echoing long, long in the moldy corridors…

A library with its gaping maw ready to devour anyone it deems dangerous, and a bare, clawed tree spirit lurking in a corner, disguised and lurking...

This small school of reflections is full of traps and dangers; it's practically a kingdom of monsters and a lair of ghosts.

But in the end—

What else did Bai Zhou see...?

The wind, acting as a form of vision, led us astray into an abandoned teaching building on the hill behind the school.

All the walls and facilities inside were gone, leaving only countless pulsating, sticky pink fleshy lumps, with scarlet fascia connecting each floor, like a dense spider web covering everything.

And wrapped inside the chunks of meat were all sorts of things.

Torn test papers, rusty and abandoned desks and chairs, a roaring diary, and countless illusory and mysterious shadows.

Finally, these pink chunks of flesh coalesced into a mountain of flesh, resembling the shape of a heart, and slowly pulsated with a peculiar rhythm.

However, this is not over yet.

All the chunks of meat seemed to be bound and pulled by some kind of gravity, spiraling towards the center of the mountain of flesh, as if in worship.

There, in the very center of the heart, the white boat saw…

one person"!
The "person" was suspended upside down by a scarlet muscle line, surrounded in the center by a mountain of flesh composed of dense clumps of flesh, like a sleeping empress, or a sleeping blasphemous demon.

Her eyes were peacefully closed, and even when she was upside down, her hands were clasped in front of her chest, as if she were a devout nun in prayer. Her serene face was very quiet.

On "her" face, mysterious and evil black lines spread, like veins, from her neck to her ears, and finally converged at the center of her forehead, forming a shape similar to "π".

Behind it, there were also strangely mysterious black symbols, densely imprinted on the piled-up chunks of meat, pulsating along with the meat.

At first glance, this symbol resembles a shriveled apple with a bite taken out of it...

"!"

Bai Zhou suddenly felt his heart skip a beat.

Because Bai Zhou had seen this demonic "her".

Remove the mountain of flesh as a background, remove the dark blue lines on their faces...

— "She" is clearly the mysterious female classmate who appeared in Fang Xiaoxia's graduation photo, whom Fang Xiaoxia forgot but left behind a last message!

"Pfft... Splat!"

Just then, footsteps cautiously trod across the mountain of flesh, breaking the silence.

A man's furtive figure appeared here.

Bai Zhou quickly turned his gaze and saw the man placing several cute dolls he was holding tightly in front of the girl.

"Bah..."

As the zipper of the doll was slowly pulled open, the "human figure" inside was revealed.

Then, as if sensing the appearance of the "talent," several vein-like structures suddenly emerged from the mountain of flesh behind the girl—

Like greedy, crimson serpents opening their massive jaws, they bit down on the "talented individuals."

The lumen pulsates, and the blood vessels absorb these "talents" one by one.

In the blink of an eye, all the talent was drained, leaving only the withered skin of the doll.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Accompanied by a satisfied, low hum from the blood vessels, the pulsation of the flesh became increasingly powerful.

The man also showed a satisfied smile.

Only when these veins turned to stare at him again did the man, who felt a jolt, hurriedly complete a devout and standard ritual gesture.

Then, the blood vessels, still not quite satisfied, receded one after another, and everything returned to quiet.

The scene was so terrifying and bizarre that it made people lose their minds.

—This mysterious and furtive man seems to be feeding this mountain of flesh and this upside-down girl!
"...!"

When he could finally see everything clearly, Bai Zhou's pupils suddenly contracted, and his eyes widened in horror.

Because he suddenly discovered—

Behind the upside-down girl, writhing blood vessels extended from the mountain of flesh—

Each one was remarkably similar to the F-grade black box [Bloodthirst Legacy] that he had once seen at Branch 36!
Compared to the shriveled "Blood Thirst Remains," these blood vessels were far more vibrant and robust.

As for the man who feeds the horrifying flesh and hangs upside down...

—Clearly, it's a major!!!

(End of this chapter)