《Among the Living》


 Chapter 1: The Diary

    [Old City Prison]


    The prison''s architecture resembled a medieval castle, with its grand hall and entrance flanked by fifty-meter-high walls. At regular intervals along the walls, manned watchtowers stood in coordination with drones for joint surveillance.


    Above the walls, an invisible electric grid or some kind of alternative membrane seemed to hover, faintly shimmering in the light.


    A black sedan, adorned with gray stripes and a metallic cap-like ornament on its roof, slowly made its way along the solitary road, eventually stopping in the desolate prison parking lot.


    Two pairs of black leather shoes stepped out simultaneously from the driver and passenger sides, though the sizes of the shoes differed significantly.


    Both individuals were clad in black trench coats, with badges bearing eye-shaped insignias pinned to their chests. However, the materials and colors of the badges varied slightly.


    The driver was a young man who appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties, his youthful features betraying his inexperience. The moment he stepped out of the car, his attention was completely captured by the imposing prison.


    In contrast, the middle-aged man who emerged from the passenger side wore a perpetually weary expression, his face marked by deep eye bags. Stretching lazily, he gave the impression of having slept through the entire journey.


    Rather than looking at the prison, the middle-aged man turned his gaze toward the "rookie" beside him.


    "Are we really this short on manpower?"


    The raspy rhetorical question was like an arm reaching out from a crack in a stone wall, pulling the young man''s attention back from the prison.


    Scratching his head sheepishly, the young man replied, "Mr. Anderson, you fell asleep the moment we got in the car... My name is Zhang Chi, from the Behavioral Science Department. The Minister assigned me to accompany you on this ''prison visit.''"


    "Bring the bird. Follow me."


    Zhang Chi looked puzzled. "Do we really need a bird in a high-security prison like this?"


    Anderson seemed unwilling to explain further. From the inner lining of his coat, he retrieved a metallic container resembling an egg.


    With a mechanical precision, the "egg" opened, and a bird resembling a parrot emerged, perching itself on Anderson''s right shoulder.


    Zhang Chi followed suit, activating a similar device to summon his own bird, which settled on his shoulder.


    Thus, the two men, one leading and the other following, stepped into the foreboding gates of the prison.


    ---


    [Maximum Security Detention Area]


    After verifying their identification, surrendering their weapons, undergoing blood tests, and completing psychological evaluations, they were led by a fully-suited prison guard deep into the facility. They passed through the mixed-use general area, where the atmosphere was chaotic yet relatively open.


    Crude jeers and vulgar remarks echoed from the open cells of the general area as inmates took notice of the two visitors, who, dressed in formal attire and devoid of any protective gear, were a rare sight.


    Beyond the general area, they traversed a fully enclosed corridor, descending fifty meters via a spiral staircase at the end.


    They arrived at the deepest section of the Border City Prison¡ªa place avoided by both guards and the general population of inmates.


    This was the Maximum Security Detention Area, reserved for prisoners who had committed atrocities that defied the bounds of execution-worthy crimes. These individuals were not only unimaginably dangerous but, for reasons unknown, could not be allowed to die.


    "Mr. Di has been transferred to the ''communication chamber.'' Your visitation time must not exceed fifteen minutes. If any dangerous incidents occur, we will immediately terminate the session."


    Anderson clasped his hands together, cracking his knuckles, and gave a word of caution to the young man beside him.


    "Zhang Chi, I¡¯ll handle the conversation from here. Do not speak to Mr. Di unless I explicitly permit it. Avoid making eye contact with him as much as possible."


    "Understood. I''ll focus on taking notes."


    Zhang Chi had already pulled out his department-issued notebook, ready to meticulously document the upcoming conversation.


    "Let¡¯s go."


    They passed through the final transition zone.


    A new type of bulletproof glass served as a barrier, isolating the prisoner within.


    This was Zhang Chi''s first field assignment, and the prospect of interacting with such a criminal made him understandably tense. He had done his research before arriving and was well aware of the kind of dangerous individual he was about to face.


    The file referred to him as a "demon."


    This moniker came from a survivor''s account, which described the perpetrator of a massacre not as a human, but as a devil with flaming eyes and curved horns.


    [Traits: Violent Tendencies, High Intelligence, Lack of Humanity, Superhuman Physique]


    These labels, recorded in the file, were etched clearly in Zhang Chi''s mind.


    However, when Zhang Chi peered through the glass, he saw only an ordinary young man performing standard push-ups.


    No curved horns. No red skin of a demon. Just black hair and yellow-toned skin, much like Zhang Chi himself.


    Even as the visitor''s presence became apparent, the man inside continued his push-ups, silently counting under his breath.


    "198, 199, 200..."


    After finishing two hundred push-ups, "Mr. Di" slowly stood up.


    He had deliberately dressed in a white shirt and slacks to greet his "guests," though his shirt was now soaked with sweat from the exercise.


    Zhang Chi''s first impression of the man was one of friendliness.


    But upon closer inspection, Zhang Chi quickly discerned an intangible sense of danger lurking beneath the seemingly amiable demeanor, prompting him to heighten his vigilance.


    At that moment, "Mr. Di" shifted his gaze toward Zhang Chi, their eyes meeting.


    Despite his exemplary academic record and near-perfect practical training scores, Zhang Chi felt a cold sweat break out across his back. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure, politely nodding in greeting.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Using the nod as a pretext, he buried his head in his notebook, jotting down his immediate **impressions**.


    "Mr. Di, we¡¯re here to request your assistance in analyzing a special case."


    Anderson took the lead, sliding a prepared document onto the scanner. A duplicate copy was soon delivered to Mr. Di.


    It took him only three minutes to skim through the file before stacking the pages neatly and holding them in his hand.


    Their conversation was entirely soundproofed, with communication transmitted via electronic signals.


    Even after processing, Mr. Di''s voice carried an unsettling quality. Though it came through their earpieces, it felt as if it were emanating from the depths of the earth.


    "It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had young visitors. I can help you analyze the case, but on one condition. Talking to an old man like Anderson speeds up my aging process. Let the young one discuss the case with me."


    Anderson, well aware of the prisoner''s temperament, knew that outright refusal would likely render the trip futile.


    He turned to Zhang Chi, who was busy taking notes.


    "Remember, keep the conversation strictly case-related. Avoid sharing personal information at all costs. I¡¯ll be monitoring everything. If anything inappropriate comes up, I¡¯ll terminate the session."


    Zhang Chi, as a formal agent of the Behavioral Science Department, understood that interacting with criminals was an integral part of his future work. Without hesitation, he accepted the task.


    Anderson stepped back, leaving the space to the two younger men.


    Zhang Chi did not rush into conversation. Closing his eyes, he seemed to engage in a peculiar form of internal communication with something deep within his mind.


    When he reopened his eyes, the hesitance of a rookie was gone, replaced by a steely determination.


    Just as he was about to speak to the criminal behind the bulletproof glass, the man greeted him with a friendly wave, his right hand moving in a fixed rhythm.


    The earpiece transmitted the sound of his voice, now noticeably more affable.


    "Come closer..."


    The words seemed to seep into his thoughts.


    But Zhang Chi remained motionless, warding off the mental pull of the man¡¯s voice with sheer willpower.


    The earpiece buzzed again. "Oh? Impressive. A promising rookie. But if you don¡¯t step closer, there¡¯s no point in talking to me."


    "Step forward," Anderson¡¯s voice instructed from behind.


    Reluctantly, Zhang Chi inched closer, stopping a meter away from the glass.


    "Ahem, Mr. Di, I¡¯d like to discuss¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the earpiece interrupted him.


    "What¡¯s your name?"


    Realizing he hadn¡¯t introduced himself, Zhang Chi was about to respond when the voice interjected again.


    "Zhang Zhen... No, wait. Let me guess¡ªZhang Chi, am I right?"


    "Yes."


    Just as Zhang Chi was about to steer the conversation back on track, the man across the glass interrupted again, delivering his analysis of the case outright:


    "This ''Butterfly Killer'' will strike again within three days. It''s highly likely that the next victim is already in his custody. Investigate the areas where his second or third crimes took place, and look into missing obese males aged 45 to 55. You might find some clues."


    While offering his analysis, Mr. Di folded the document in his hands with an almost artistic precision.


    "Thank you."


    Having obtained valuable information, Zhang Chi decided not to linger any longer. He could sense something dangerous brewing.


    Just as he turned to leave, a voice came through his earpiece once more: "So, when do you plan to commit your first murder?"


    "What?!"


    "Let me rephrase that¡ªwhen did you first start feeling the urge to kill, Zhang Chi? Let me guess..."


    Without hesitation, Zhang Chi yanked off the earpiece, severing the verbal connection with Mr. Di.


    But the conversation was far from over. Instead, the voice became even clearer¡ªnot filtered through electronic signals, but emanating directly from behind him.


    If the processed voice had sounded like it was coming from deep underground, then this unfiltered voice was like a fissure opening straight to hell, the raw sound of a demon seeping through.


    "What?!"


    Zhang Chi spun around in shock, only to find that the bulletproof glass separating them had vanished.


    *Stay calm.*


    A whisper in his mind instantly dispelled his panic. Zhang Chi quickly donned the black gloves that came with his trench coat, shifting into combat mode.


    The trench coat, made of multi-layered flexible metal designed for tactical operations, could withstand medium-caliber bullets. Zhang Chi himself had achieved the highest scores in his training group during pre-employment combat tests.


    He assumed a Mongolian wrestling stance, ready to subdue the unarmed prisoner before him.


    Swish!


    Something flashed before his eyes, too fast to see clearly.


    In the next moment, he heard the sound of something hitting the ground repeatedly.


    Looking down, Zhang Chi saw his ten fingers scattered across the floor, the combat gloves sliced cleanly apart.


    The pain was excruciating¡ªten fingers connected to the heart¡ªbut his brain suppressed the sensation, his gritted eyes fixed on Mr. Di. He noticed that the document in Mr. Di''s hand had been folded into the shape of a blade.


    "Paper!"


    There was no time to marvel at Mr. Di''s methods. Zhang Chi adjusted his footing and swung his now fingerless hand with full force.


    Smack!


    The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed.


    But his palm never connected with Mr. Di. Instead, his wrist was caught in an iron grip, the sensation more akin to being locked in a searing-hot metal shackle than being held by a human hand.


    "What kind of monster are you?!"


    Zhang Chi refused to give up. He swiftly raised his leg for a high kick.


    Thud!


    This time, his kick landed squarely.


    Yet the sensation transmitted back through his foot was as if he''d struck solid stone. Mr. Di remained motionless, his head tilted only about ten degrees.


    Danger!


    Zhang Chi felt an unprecedented sense of peril.


    At the same time, the whispers in his mind grew louder, turning into a cacophony. It felt as though his entire face was about to split open.


    Hiss... hiss...


    Something resembling tendrils began to seep out from Zhang Chi''s eye sockets and between his teeth. A crack appeared at the tip of his nose, as if his entire face was about to fracture, revealing something horrifying beneath.


    Chirp! Chirp!


    The incessant chirping of a bird broke through the chaos.


    The bird perched on Zhang Chi''s shoulder¡ªthe one summoned earlier¡ªwas flapping its wings frantically, trying to escape from its master.


    Just as Zhang Chi was about to transform into some terrifying form...


    Whoosh!


    Something invisible struck him from the front, too fast for the naked eye to follow.


    Zhang Chi felt a sharp intrusion in his mouth. The grotesque transformation of his face was forcibly interrupted, his consciousness rapidly fading.


    Looking down, he saw the paper blade, folded from the document, lodged in his mouth and piercing into his brain, destroying a critical part of his neural tissue.


    As he teetered on the edge of death, a fleeting moment of clarity brought back fragments of memory:


    He recalled hearing faint whispers in his mind starting at some point.


    He remembered how those whispers would sometimes make him act like a stranger to himself.


    And he vaguely remembered... killing his girlfriend not long ago.


    *Thud!*


    His body collapsed heavily to the ground, pinkish fluid oozing from his mouth where the paper blade was embedded.


    An agent had been killed.


    Yet the prison alarms remained silent.


    Only the bulletproof glass, now restored, descended once more from the ceiling.


    Outside the glass, Mr. Anderson lit a cigarette at a leisurely pace, his eyes flashing with a hint of surprise¡ªnot at his colleague''s death, but at how much stronger Mr. Di had become during his time in captivity.


    Inside, Mr. Di crouched over the corpse, seemingly conducting an examination. He commented casually, "He didn¡¯t even realize he had already ''changed,'' achieving a perfect disguise... These things are evolving."


    Anderson''s voice came through the earpiece: "Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Di."


    "If you already suspected this man was compromised, why not deal with him internally?"


    Anderson shrugged. "If word got out that we had an ''impostor'' in our ranks, it would cause mass panic. Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of that happening is unacceptable. By comparison, an agent being killed during a prison visit by a dangerous inmate? That¡¯s much easier to explain."


    "Is that so?"


    Mr. Di suddenly stood up and pressed his face against the glass, as if he were about to break through it.


    The sight made even the seasoned Anderson break into a cold sweat. "Mr. Di, rest assured, your assistance will not go unrewarded. The item you requested has been found."


    Hearing this, Mr. Di immediately calmed down, stepping back and softening his tone.


    "Is that so?"


    Anderson pulled out a leather-bound notebook from inside his coat. It looked old and well-worn. "I¡¯ll make a copy for you right now."


    "No need. I want the original."


    To Anderson''s astonishment, Mr. Di held a handful of teeth¡ªfreshly extracted from the corpse¡ªembedded between his fingers like makeshift tools.


    Pressing his hand against the glass, he rotated it in a clockwise motion. The bulletproof glass was sliced open in a perfect circle.


    *Clink, clink.*


    The teeth fell to the ground at Anderson''s feet as Mr. Di extended his hand in a "give it here" gesture.


    This action triggered the prison''s alarms, red lights flashing.


    Yet Anderson did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward and handed over the notebook.


    The moment Mr. Di received the diary, he became "obedient," his attention wholly absorbed by the item.


    He ran his fingers over the cover, even pressing it against his face to inhale deeply, as if savoring the scent of a lover''s skin.


    "Ah, no foreign scent, no signs of tampering. Perfect. Thank you, Mr. Anderson."


    The visit concluded.


    Anderson informed the prison authorities not to interfere with Mr. Di''s diary under any circumstances.


    Back in his room, Mr. Di carefully washed the blood from his hands and dried them with a towel.


    Sitting at his desk, he gently lifted the cover of the diary with his finger, his eyes focusing on the words inside.


    [Owner: Luo Di]


    [Diary Start Date: June 10, 2026]


    Day One: Clear Skies


    As the words entered his eyes, Mr. Di''s thoughts drifted back several years, to a unique and extraordinary time in high school.

 Chapter 2: The Loner

    Whirr, whirr, whirr.


    The ceiling fan spun rapidly, barely pushing away the oppressive summer heat. Yet, the restlessness in the students'' hearts only grew stronger.


    The long-awaited National Founding Festival, a fifteen-day holiday, was about to begin. Less than two minutes remained until the end of the final class.


    Most of the students in Class 5 of Grade 11 were already packing their bags or gazing out the window. After all, the current "culture class" seemed unimportant to them.


    However¡ª


    A boy sitting at a desk against the wall was still attentively taking notes, his gaze darting between the blackboard and his notebook as he tried to record as much as possible.


    Ding-ding.


    The bell signaling the end of class rang.


    The restless students left the classroom in groups of three or five, some sprinting as if afraid of being trapped in school.


    The boy, however, only began packing his books after ensuring his notes were complete, moving at a leisurely pace.


    At that moment, a shadow crept over his desk, spreading and covering its surface.


    Instinctively, the boy clenched his fist and turned around quickly. What he saw, however, was a pair of hands resting lightly on the edge of his desk. Following the fair but toned arms upwards, he found a familiar, gentle smile that quickly dissolved his wariness.


    The owner of the shadow was none other than Wu Wen, the current class president of Grade 11, Class 5.


    Standing at 1.7 meters tall with near-perfect proportions, Wu Wen¡¯s high ponytail and sporty appearance made it clear she was an athletic type.


    Today, being the day before the holiday, there was no need to wear school uniforms. Wu Wen was dressed casually in summer sportswear: a white T-shirt layered with a light-colored sun jacket, snug athletic shorts, and white sneakers.


    After confirming it was the class president, the boy relaxed and continued packing his books.


    "Hey, Luo Di," Wu Wen said. "I¡¯m planning to go out for a couple of days during the holiday. Do you have time to join?"


    "No."


    The president, undeterred by the straightforward rejection, leaned closer and lowered her voice.


    "It''s not just for fun. My family pulled some strings, and I got us an early opportunity for fieldwork. You know how important that is¡ªit¡¯ll be recorded in our personal files and help with next year¡¯s college admissions."


    Luo Di didn¡¯t respond immediately and continued packing his books.


    The president, showing remarkable patience, waited quietly.


    Finally, after he packed his last book, he spoke. "Who else is going?"This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "If you join, there¡¯ll be four of us. There¡¯s someone from our class who¡¯s been on leave, plus a friend of mine from outside school. She¡¯s a girl, by the way. Two boys and two girls¡ªperfect balance."


    "Don¡¯t worry," she added, "we¡¯re all top athletes. No one will hold you back."


    Fieldwork opportunities were rare, and Luo Di nodded in agreement.


    The president extended her arm into his view, nearly blocking his line of sight, and pointed to the flexible metal wristband on her wrist.


    "The fieldwork is scheduled to start in seven days. We¡¯ll call you the day before departure to meet up and buy the necessary supplies together."


    "Okay."


    Just then, the school¡¯s broadcast system came on.


    ¡ÚAll teachers and students are required to swipe their cards and leave the school within fifteen minutes. The school will conduct a comprehensive pre-holiday inspection. Those who fail to leave on time will receive a demerit and be sent to the school clinic for a full check-up.¡Û


    "Luo Di, how about a race? Let¡¯s see who gets to the school gate first!"


    "No."


    Already poised to run, the president could only sigh in disappointment. "Alright, fine."


    The two walked through the campus, one behind the other. No matter how eagerly the president waved at him to hurry, Luo Di maintained his steady walking pace. It seemed he had calculated the time perfectly and wasn¡¯t worried about being left behind.


    By the time he reached the gate, the president was already seated in a luxurious private car.


    Luo Di could faintly sense someone inside the car watching him. But he was used to such stares and paid them no mind.


    Instead, he boarded a familiar bus, taking a seat in the last row by the window. Just as he was about to take a nap, a loud announcement echoed through the vehicle.


    Buzz, buzz, buzz.


    Three high-pitched tones emphasized the importance of the broadcast.


    "Tomorrow marks the annual National Founding Festival, granting all citizens a fifteen-day holiday. We would like to remind everyone to enjoy their vacation responsibly while strictly adhering to the National Corner Safety Law.


    Those designated as regional service personnel during the holiday are expected to fulfill their duties and will receive corresponding holiday compensation afterward.


    When traveling during the holiday, citizens must comply with the Corner Law regulations of different areas.


    For those planning to visit suburban regions, please make the necessary preparations, present a health certificate before leaving the city, and undergo a comprehensive psychological evaluation upon returning."


    The first part of the announcement was in Russian.


    Although Luo Di was a citizen of the Huaxia nation, he understood it perfectly, as Russian was a mandatory subject in cultural classes.


    The subsequent announcements were repeated in Chinese, English, German, and Italian.


    Luo Di¡¯s original plan was to spend the entire holiday at home, but now he had to reconsider due to the upcoming fieldwork.


    ¡ÚNext stop: No. 13 Resettlement Community. Doors will close in ten seconds.¡Û


    After getting off the bus, Luo Di quickly walked to the deepest part of the community¡ªto his Home.


    At the entrance, a family photo of four hung above the shoe cabinet: Luo Di, his parents, and his sister.


    A note left on the cabinet informed him that his parents had taken his sister on vacation. This year, the responsibility of watching the house fell to him, the busy high school student.


    Far from complaining, Luo Di was delighted.


    He loved being home alone. Traveling, on the other hand, was pure torture for him.


    From the fridge, he took out frozen beef and green peppers, steaming two large buns to go with them.


    While cooking, he retrieved a beautifully packaged DVD and a 25kg dumbbell from his bedroom, placing them in the living room.


    Buzz.


    The TV turned on, and the DVD player began to spin.


    The title "Friday the 13th Part III" appeared on the screen, accompanied by an old-school soundtrack.


    Holding a bun stuffed with beef and green peppers in one hand and the dumbbell in the other, Luo Di alternated between bites and bicep curls.


    Throughout the entire meal and workout, his eyes never left the screen, even though he had watched the movie more than thirty times.


    Yes.


    He had loved this genre of film since childhood, particularly the characters within them.


    Unlike the class president and others who underwent systematic training, Luo Di trained his body in the most ordinary ways, inspired solely by the physiques of movie characters.


    Dumbbells, weighted squats, push-ups, and nightly runs of over ten kilometers were his regimen.


    He believed that, with persistence, he would one day become as physically imposing as the killers in the movies he admired.

 Chapter 3: Hobbies

    The movie ended.


    The dumbbell in Luo Di''s hand was already soaked in sweat, but he showed no intention of resting. He immediately laced up his running shoes, ready for his nightly run.


    [20:00]


    The streets were still as bright as daytime, thanks to the dense network of streetlights and the permanent luminous panels affixed to every building''s surface.


    Additionally, each street was patrolled by "sanitation workers" on rotating shifts. These workers, equipped with glowing devices on their bodies, focused on illuminating less-lit corners and routinely maintaining the streetlights.


    Luo Di put on his headphones, his playlist filled with BGM from genre films, and began his run around a park not far from his home.


    Pace: 3 minutes 30 seconds per kilometer.


    However, he had barely started when he felt a gust of wind behind him.


    Another runner had caught up¡ªa man taller and more muscular than Luo Di by at least one size.


    As they passed each other, there was no exchange of words, just a faint smile at the corners of their mouths.


    The two were long-time running companions, having first met on the park track half a year ago. Although Luo Di couldn''t keep up with the other''s pace, it never affected his mindset.


    ---


    Three hours later, in the park restroom.


    Luo Di stood by the sink, wringing the sweat out of his shirt. When he looked up, the mirror reflected a pale, young face. His short, straight black hair was drenched with sweat, and his gaunt appearance made him look older than his high school age, as if he were malnourished.


    Just then¡ªwhoosh!


    Something flew in through the restroom door.


    Luo Di''s reflexes were astonishing. He raised his hand and caught the object mid-air with precision.


    It was a bottle of vitamin drink.


    The runner from earlier had followed him into the restroom and was now at the adjacent sink, using a towel to wipe the sweat off his forehead. Despite his high running pace, his breathing was barely audible.


    "Thanks," Luo Di said, gulping down the bottle of energy drink, which bore a German label. This new type of energy drink was quite expensive, far beyond the budget of an average high school student.


    In the mirror, the reflection revealed a blonde man with chiseled, mature features and a hint of stubble, clearly not of the same nationality as Luo Di.


    Yet, the man spoke in slightly accented Mandarin: "Graduating next year?"


    "Yes."


    "That''s a pity. If you were graduating this year, I could have directly recruited you. Your determination and physical fitness already meet the company''s average recruitment standards. Next year might be a different story. We''ll see then."Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    As he spoke, the blonde man reached out and squeezed Luo Di''s arm, nodding approvingly.


    "By the way, with your abilities, you should consider starting your ''Social Practice'' early. I happen to have an opening. Are you interested? If you complete it early, you can focus solely on physical and mental training next year, avoiding the risks of ''Practice Accidents'' before graduation."


    Luo Di was taken aback. Such a valuable opportunity had presented itself twice in one day.


    "I already have plans. My practice will likely start in a week."


    "Oh? That makes sense. A talented young man like you must be a priority for your school. Can you share what kind of practice it is? Which category? School-arranged practices are usually more conservative."


    "I''m not sure yet."


    The blonde man seemed tempted to push further but eventually decided he might be overstepping. He simply patted Luo Di on the shoulder.


    "Here, take this."


    He handed Luo Di an off-white, thick business card. The Roman letters on it displayed his personal information.


    Although they had known each other for half a year, the man had never shared his contact details due to work reasons.


    [Frederick Lofi]


    Contact Number: LOFI-¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€


    "If you encounter any dangerous situations during your practice, call this number. I''ll come immediately. Of course, you can also call if you encounter any unusual circumstances. But only if it''s dangerous."


    The word "dangerous" was emphasized in Russian.


    "Thank you."


    Although their interactions had mostly revolved around running, Luo Di was well aware that Lofi''s identity was far from ordinary. Having a connection with someone like him could greatly benefit his future education and career.


    "See you tomorrow night."


    Lofi left.


    Luo Di continued to examine the tastefully designed business card. Unfortunately, it contained no company information¡ªjust a name and a phone number.


    Tonight''s conversation made Luo Di even more excited about the upcoming "Social Practice."


    Practices varied in type and difficulty. Successfully completing a high-difficulty practice would significantly increase the chances of direct employment with a "company" after graduation. In Luo Di''s eyes, someone as outstanding as the class monitor, Wu Wen, would never settle for an easy practice project.


    ---


    On his way home, it was already past midnight. The city''s streets remained brightly lit, indistinguishable from daytime.


    Back home, Luo Di followed his usual routine: checking all the curved corners in his house to ensure the long-lasting lights were working properly. After feeding the Corner Parrot hanging on the balcony, he climbed into bed.


    Even during sleep, the lights had to remain on.


    This wasn''t just Luo Di''s habit; it was the norm for everyone living here. People had long adapted to sleeping in brightness. Darkness, on the other hand, made them uneasy and unable to rest.


    ---


    [One week later]


    Luo Di wasn''t particularly fond of the concept of vacations. Aside from grocery shopping and running, he spent all his time at home pursuing his hobbies. When not watching DVDs, he would dedicate some time to drawing.


    He enjoyed and excelled at sketching characters from movies. Occasionally, when inspiration struck, he would design original characters in the style of B-movies, focusing especially on mask designs. Luo Di dreamed of one day wearing one of his designs to events like comic conventions or Halloween.


    At the moment, he was staring at a drawing pinned to the left side of his desk¡ªa mask design he was most proud of. He planned to have it custom-made at a leather shop once he successfully graduated.


    Just as he was lost in thought, a vibration on his wrist snapped him back to reality. It was the first call he''d received since the National Founding Festival.


    Sliding the green answer button, the voice on the other end practically shouted.


    "Luo Di! Tomorrow''s the practice day. You need to come out today. We''re meeting up to buy supplies for the practice."


    "Do we need to go buy something?"


    "Of course! My practice area is in the suburbs, so we need to prepare a lot of things in advance."


    "Class monitor, can you give me an idea of what we need? If I already have some of the items at home, we won¡¯t need to buy them."


    "Don¡¯t worry about it! Since I¡¯m the one asking for your help, I¡¯ll cover all the expenses for the practice-related items. Just pick whatever we need, and make sure to pick the best quality.


    The only thing you need to bring is your body¡ªafter all, you¡¯re the only one in class who¡¯s better than me in sports.


    If we successfully complete this practice, my family might even give you a generous bonus."


    "Oh."


    "One hour later, meet me at the Terminal Supermarket."


    ---

 Chapter 4: Shopping

    <div>


    The bus sped down the exclusive transit lane at a velocity of 150 km/h.


    For most residents, public buses were the primary means of transportation, offering one of the fastest ways to travel within the city. Moreover, due to the "Corner Law," the city had no subway system whatsoever.


    The meeting spot chosen by the class monitor was the largest supermarket in the city, a place Luo Di had only visited once, five years ago.


    ¡ÚNext stop: Terminal Supermarket (Front Plaza). This is a high-density platform. The doors will remain open for ninety seconds. Please exit in an orderly manner.¡Û


    Through the bus window, the colossal landmark building came into view.


    The exterior of the structure utilized a dynamic projection lighting system, providing continuous illumination while simultaneously broadcasting cutting-edge product advertisements.


    Each entrance bore the supermarket''s emblem¡ªa "brain placed within a shopping cart."


    The bustling front plaza made Luo Di feel uneasy. Aside from school, he hadn''t been to such a crowded place in a long time. Hastily, he dialed the class monitor''s number.


    Almost as soon as he started dialing, a familiar voice called out from the side, accompanied by a slender arm waving energetically in the air.


    "Luo Di!"


    Today''s class monitor wore a white T-shirt with a cute bunny printed on the chest, paired with her usual snug athletic pants and white sneakers.


    Standing beside her were the other members of the practice team.


    One of them was a male classmate who had been on sick leave recently. His athletic performance was second only to Luo Di and the class monitor, ranking third in the class, but his academic grades had always been number one.


    He wore custom-made glasses with a prescription exceeding 500 degrees, a casual shirt paired with sporty cropped pants, and stood at an impressive height of 183 cm. His appearance immediately marked him as a well-rounded achiever, excelling in both academics and sports. He was also the vice monitor of Class Five.


    Luo Di rarely interacted with his classmates and was equally unfamiliar with this person. In two years of high school, they had exchanged fewer than ten sentences.


    Of course, the vice monitor himself was also somewhat introverted and peculiar, often spending his free periods alone at the far end of deserted staircases or on the rooftop, engrossed in books.


    As for the other team member, she was the class monitor''s friend from another school.


    Her light blonde hair cascaded down to reveal a pair of emerald-green eyes, set against fair skin. She wore a short-sleeved shirt similar to the class monitor''s, featuring a cartoonish fierce dog on the chest, paired with athletic shorts.


    Compared to the class monitor''s slender legs, this Caucasian girl''s legs were noticeably thicker¡ªmore muscular, to be precise, with pronounced definition.


    Notably, she was the tallest among the four of them.


    As Luo Di approached, the class monitor enthusiastically began introductions.


    "Our vice monitor Gao doesn''t really need much introduction, does he? Gao Yuxuan was still recovering at home but decided to give me, his class monitor, enough face to join this practice session."


    Luo Di and Vice Monitor Gao exchanged a glance and nodded politely.


    The class monitor then turned to her friend from another school.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "Anna Ivanovna, a student at the best high school in our city. Though her grades are only above average at her school, they would definitely be top-tier at ours.


    I''d say, Luo Di, you''re probably the only one here who could beat her in sports."


    Anna had already stepped closer, scrutinizing this seemingly ordinary young man. In perfectly enunciated Russian-accented Mandarin, she said, "So, you''re the guy whose sports scores are higher than Wen''s? Care for an arm-wrestling match?"


    Before Luo Di could refuse, the class monitor had already stepped between them.


    "Anna, don''t scare off the teammate I worked so hard to recruit. You can save those challenges for later when you''re more familiar with each other. Our time is tight, so let''s get on with buying the necessities for this practice session."


    Anna seemed a bit disappointed at not getting to arm wrestle, so she strode ahead, persistently flexing her biceps to show off her strength.


    ---


    Terminal Supermarket (T.S.M)


    At the entrance, there was a security checkpoint similar to those found in smart airports. Every customer had to pass through an inspection before entering. The scanners also identified the wristbands worn by individuals, retrieving their most recent valid "Psychological Report."


    As students, the four of them underwent psychological check-ups at the school infirmary every two weeks, which made this process quite convenient.


    After passing through security, they were immediately approached by a manager in a tailcoat, who addressed the class monitor directly.


    "Honored VIP customer, how may I assist you today?"


    "No need, just make sure to activate the express checkout lane for us when we pay."


    "In that case, I won''t disturb you further. We''ll be monitoring your movements at all times. Should you require any assistance, simply wave at one of the cameras."


    Luo Di silently observed everything. It was rumored that Terminal Supermarket memberships couldn''t be purchased with money alone, and the number of members was extremely limited.


    The class monitor skillfully grabbed a large shopping cart and reminded the group, "We have three hours to shop. Let''s start by picking up the essentials."


    ---


    [Living Essentials - Outdoor Survival Equipment Section]


    This section offered everything one might need for outdoor camping and survival.


    Luo Di, unfamiliar with the specifics of the practice session, had no idea what items would be suitable for fieldwork. He simply watched as the others selected their gear.


    "Long-lasting high-intensity flashlight," "Portable electric lamp," "Windproof lighter," "Matches," "Portable first aid kit," "Backpack with integrated toolset"¡ªthe initial selections were relatively standard.


    Then the vice monitor picked up a standard-issue combat knife, while Anna chose a tactical axe bearing a military-grade emblem.


    The class monitor, however, refrained from selecting any weapons. Instead, she turned to the last member of the group. "Luo Di, why aren''t you picking anything? I told you, all practice-related expenses are on me, so don''t feel shy."


    "Uh, are these cold weapons meant for dealing with wild animals?"


    "Exactly! Oh, I forgot to explain the type of ''practice'' we''re doing. Silly me¡ªno wonder I always score poorly on academic subjects compared to Gao."


    The class monitor quickly stepped back to Luo Di''s side, her light steps almost skipping. She leaned in close, her warm lips nearly brushing against his ear, and whispered softly.


    Her voice was like a gentle caress, each word sliding out as if massaging his eardrum.


    "Since everyone here is considered an outstanding student, I asked my dad to pull some strings and arrange a high-difficulty ''new practice'' for us. A research institute in our city is conducting a field project for exceptional youths.


    This project simulates scenarios involving [Anomalous Events]."


    "Don''t worry," she added. "These simulated events are far less dangerous than the real thing, and with the institute''s precise controls, there''s absolutely no risk to our lives."


    "Simulated anomalies?" This was the first time Luo Di had heard of such a thing.


    "Yes, recently, many top students have been secretly participating in these practices. They provide a significant boost for college applications."


    "And the difficulty level?"


    "Somewhere between three stars and the maximum, depending on our ''lottery result'' when we arrive. So, Luo Di, hurry up and pick a self-defense tool.


    If you haven''t done any extracurricular training in this area, I personally recommend the combat knife we practiced with during PE class."


    "Alright, I''ll take a look around on my own first."


    ---


    Temporarily leaving the group, Luo Di''s lips twitched slightly. Upon learning that the practice would involve simulated anomalies, a deep-seated excitement began to stir within him, bubbling up from the depths of his thoughts.


    He even considered pre-ordering a custom mask, though time wouldn''t allow it.


    Since the practice involved simulated combat against targets, Luo Di immediately thought of slasher-style weapons from movies. He stopped in front of a machete.


    Just as he reached out to grasp the handle, the sound of an engine suddenly roared behind him.


    Turning around, Luo Di''s pupils instantly froze and contracted. The excitement brewing in his eyes seemed to ooze out like pus, spilling over as his gaze locked onto a special counter in the supermarket.


    [Chainsaw Section]


    <div>

 Chapter 5: Chainsaw and Machete

    In a world dominated by smart appliances and an abundance of renewable energy, Luo Di had almost forgotten the sound of a fuel engine at work.


    The growl of this old-fashioned, fuel-powered chainsaw from a bygone era instantly brought back memories of his favorite movie.


    Before he even realized it, he found himself standing in front of the display counter.


    "Interested in chainsaws, young man? You look pretty strong. Want to give it a try?" The burly shopkeeper, with his body wrapped in layers of fat and muscle, naturally wouldn''t miss the chance to make a sale. After all, very few people buy chainsaws these days.


    "Just taking a look."


    Most of the chainsaws in the shop were vintage fuel-powered models, but there were also a few new ones equipped with high-performance batteries. These new chainsaws surpassed traditional fuel-powered ones in terms of charging methods, portability, and operational power.


    Luo Di ran his fingers over the teeth of the chainsaw blade, carefully sniffing the gasoline scent emanating from the engine compartment. It felt as if he had stepped into the most iconic hunting scene from the movie.


    But reason quickly took over, and his gaze fell on the price tags.


    The vintage chainsaws were priced between 2,600 and 3,000 rubles, which converted to just over two hundred in his country''s currency. In contrast, the new chainsaws were at least three times more expensive.


    At that moment,


    A delicate face leaned in beside him, staring at the chainsaws along with Luo Di.


    "You like this kind of thing? Well, it''s not bad. Our fieldwork is tentatively set in some forested area, so this might actually come in handy. Who knows, we might need to cut wood for a fire.


    Let''s go with this one¡ªit looks pretty good."


    The class monitor pointed to a sleek, silver-plated portable chainsaw priced at a whopping 25,000 rubles.


    For Luo Di, this price was obviously too high, so he waved his hand to refuse.


    But the class monitor had already picked up the silver chainsaw and headed to the counter. "Where we''re going, there''s no gasoline supply. If the fuel runs out, these cheap models will be useless. Besides, their size makes them inconvenient to carry.


    Don''t worry about the cost. As long as we pass the fieldwork, its value will far exceed the expense of these items.


    Even if I had my dad here, he''d definitely pick the most expensive and best one for you. It''s called effective investment, got it?"


    In his two years of high school, Luo Di had little interaction with the class monitor outside of classroom-related matters. This sudden enthusiasm caught him off guard.


    Still, he didn''t refuse.


    The silver chainsaw she chose was indeed appealing¡ªa brand-new product with a retractable feature.


    With a press of the side button, the protruding "blade" could fold back, making it look like a compact silver suitcase. It was moderately weighted, easier to handle than a fuel-filled chainsaw, and boasted greater power.


    Although Luo Di wanted to recreate the authentic movie scenes, he thought it best to play it safe given the unique nature of the fieldwork.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Thank you."


    As he accepted the chainsaw, Luo Di noticed a well-known company logo engraved on its surface.


    Loke Electronics (with the word "Lok" encased in an arched halo).


    Specializing in the manufacture of modern smart power appliances, the quality was undoubtedly reliable.


    While Luo Di was running his fingers over the chainsaw, appreciating its texture, the class monitor had already moved over to a knife shop ten meters away.


    "Luo Di, why not pick out a knife while you''re at it? After all, a chainsaw is a bit over the top. I''ve never seen anyone use one for self-defense.


    Besides, my private tutor taught me one thing: relying too much on electricity isn''t always a good idea. Tools powered directly by our own physical energy are the most reliable."


    "Alright."


    Luo Di didn''t mind, especially since it was the class monitor footing the bill.


    He ultimately chose a machete that suited his style, almost identical to the one from Friday the 13th. The moment he gripped the wooden handle, his arm instinctively lifted, slashing toward an empty area.


    Swish!


    The movement was almost identical to the scenes in the movie.


    The heavy sound of the blade slicing through the air caught the attention of the others. Even the blonde-haired Anna found herself more intrigued by this boy, muttering softly:


    "I have to arm-wrestle this guy someday."


    The class monitor raised her arm high, signaling everyone to gather. "We''ve almost got everything we need. Now let''s head to the research institute to confirm the details of this fieldwork, do a quick health check, and sign the forms."


    "Thanks, my dear Wen Wen!"


    Anna gave the class monitor a bear hug that almost crushed her, while Gao Yuxuan nodded politely in gratitude.


    Luo Di had already thanked her earlier when buying the chainsaw, so he said nothing more.


    The vehicle carrying the four high schoolers drove to the municipal research institute. Any city-level or higher institution had the authority to arrange "social practice" programs for students.


    The class monitor had already taken care of everything, and the process went smoothly.


    However, the research institute deliberately kept some of the rules and details under wraps, promising to explain them during the journey to the fieldwork area tomorrow.


    "Make sure to get a good night''s sleep, everyone. We need to meet at the institute''s entrance at 6:30 AM tomorrow. Here''s to a successful simulated fieldwork!"


    "Got it."


    After exchanging goodbyes,


    Luo Di chose to take the most cost-effective option¡ªthe bus. But before he could reach the bus stop, a pure white sports car pulled up beside him.


    The window rolled down, and the class monitor, lowering her sunglasses, waved at him quickly.


    "Get in! If I get photographed here, I''ll lose points on my license!"


    Luo Di first walked toward the back seat, but it was already filled with various items, so he had no choice but to sit in the passenger seat.


    "Class monitor, you can drive?"


    "You can get a provisional license at sixteen. I passed with a perfect score, so don''t worry. Where do you live? I''ll drop you off."


    "No. 13 Resettlement Community."


    The class monitor immediately adjusted her posture, gripping the steering wheel tightly while mimicking an AI voice.


    "Understood! Precision navigation activated. A 20-year veteran driver is at your service."


    As she stepped on the gas, she glanced at the passenger seat, catching a fleeting smile on Luo Di''s face.


    "Well, look at that¡ªyou can smile. You''ve been so serious all day, just like Gao Yuxuan. So boring."


    "No, I''m not."


    "By the way, Luo Di, during today''s health check at the institute, your physical condition met the standards but wasn''t exactly healthy. You''re missing a lot of trace elements."


    The class monitor switched to one-handed driving, skillfully opened the glove compartment, and pulled out a bottle of vitamins.


    "This is unopened. Take it. Don''t be polite with me. As long as we pass this new fieldwork, I''ll cover all your school expenses from now on if need be."


    "Alright."


    Luo Di didn''t hesitate. He had a strong attachment to his physical health, and supplements like these were necessary.


    "Class monitor, you didn''t seem to buy anything today."


    "Are you talking about self-defense tools? I prepared my own a long time ago. You''ll see when the time comes."


    "Okay."


    Luo Di said no more, turning his gaze to the cityscape flashing past the window.


    The class monitor glanced at him again, wanting to say something, but swallowed her words.


    The rest of the ride was silent.


    The car stopped at the entrance of the resettlement community. The class monitor leaned out, curiously observing the old housing complex built with government funds, her face full of intrigue.


    "Which building do you live in?"


    Carrying the bags he had purchased, Luo Di pointed straight ahead. "The one at the very back."


    "Can I visit your house sometime? Maybe during the holidays?"


    "Better not."


    The class monitor keenly noticed a fleeting look of displeasure on Luo Di''s face when this topic came up. His pupils seemed a bit unusual as well, prompting her to quickly change the subject.


    "Alright then, see you tomorrow!"


    "Yeah, see you tomorrow."

 Chapter 6 – Rules of Practice

    Early Morning


    [05:30]


    Luo Di slung his well-packed backpack over his shoulder, carrying a silver metal box as he left the community.


    The previous day, he had already reported to the community about his 48-hour absence for the practice activity. During this time, community staff would assist in checking the lighting conditions at his home.


    The front gate of the local Research Institute bore a conspicuous plaque, its lettering framed in polished brass.


    A black seven-seater business van was already parked by the roadside. This was the designated vehicle for transporting participants to the practice site.


    Although Luo Di arrived half an hour early, someone was already standing at the institute''s entrance¡ªVice Class Monitor Gao Yuxuan.


    Their personalities made it unlikely for them to strike up a conversation. To avoid any awkwardness, Luo Di chose to stand ten meters away under a streetlamp and double-checked the contents of his backpack to ensure he hadn¡¯t forgotten anything.


    While inspecting his belongings, Luo Di noticed something peculiar about Gao Yuxuan. His left arm seemed unusually stiff, and even his fingers appeared somewhat rigid¡ªlikely a result of his prolonged two-week leave from school.


    Five minutes passed in silence before Gao Yuxuan unexpectedly approached him. He fished a small green metal box out of his pocket.


    ¡°Uh... want one?¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Luo Di accepted two sugar-free mints. These were quite effective for staying alert.


    As the two exchanged mints, a luxurious black sedan pulled up.


    Wu Wen and Anna stepped out from the back seat simultaneously, their eyes widening at the odd scene before them. ¡°Wow! Since when did you two become so close?¡± Wu Wen teased.


    At her comment, Gao Yuxuan immediately turned and walked away.


    Luo Di, on the other hand, remained indifferent. He never cared much about how others perceived him.


    At that moment, a middle-aged woman in a white lab coat stepped out of the institute. Her stern, disciplinarian-like face was enough to make anyone break out in a cold sweat.


    ¡°Since everyone is here, get on the van,¡± she ordered curtly.


    ¡°Yes, Professor Qin,¡± Wu Wen replied, suddenly becoming much more subdued. She seemed to know the woman, and her demeanor instantly turned obedient. The group loaded their luggage into the van''s trunk and boarded the vehicle.


    The doors closed.


    At that moment, the four passengers couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit tense.


    As the van started moving, Professor Qin¡¯s voice came through the car¡¯s audio system.


    ¡°This trip will take about an hour.


    Listen carefully as I explain the details of this practice session and some of the rules. Afterward, you¡¯ll have a chance to ask questions.


    What I¡¯m about to say will directly impact your chances of completing the practice successfully¡ªor even surviving it. So, I hope you¡¯ll pay attention and remember every word.


    This practice session will take place in the Experimental Zone, located 30 kilometers outside of Jupiter City.


    1. The practice is expected to last 48 hours. If you can resolve the root cause of the event before the time is up, you may finish early and leave. Of course, if you manage to endure the full 48 hours, it will still count as a completion, regardless of whether the anomaly is resolved.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    2. The difficulty level of the practice will be randomized to simulate real-world unpredictability and to train your ability to face the unknown.


    Once the practice begins, the research team will not intervene unless a life-threatening injury occurs. However, any intervention will result in your practice being deemed a failure.


    3. Leaving the practice area in any form is strictly prohibited.


    This practice will employ **Simulated Anomalies**, developed by the Joint Research Institute. The environmental changes, bizarre events, impostors, and anomalies you encounter will closely mimic real-world incidents.


    Now, let¡¯s go over the details of the practice:


    1. Within the practice area, there are multiple random ¡°objects.¡± Once you find and activate one, the corresponding anomalous event will begin. You have no more than 30 minutes to locate and trigger these objects.


    2. The difficulty of the events will not be disclosed in advance. You¡¯ll need to face the unknown, investigate the unknown, and handle the unknown.


    3. Any effective subjective actions you take may improve your personal evaluation for this practice.


    4. The Simulated Anomaly technology was only implemented last year. While most of the system is stable, minor glitches remain. If you notice any irregularities during the practice, you may report them to us, which will also enhance your personal evaluation.


    Now, it¡¯s your turn to ask questions.¡±


    Wu Wen, ever the classroom overachiever, was the first to raise her hand.


    ¡°During the practice, are there relatively safe periods for us to rest, like for sleeping or eating?¡±


    ¡°No. Once the practice begins, you will be in constant danger.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Wu Wen replied, visibly disappointed, though she quickly recovered.


    Gao Yuxuan, meanwhile, was busy scribbling notes in his notebook as he posed his question:


    ¡°If we trigger an anomaly by activating one object, will the other objects in the area be retrieved by your team? Or can we trigger multiple events?¡±


    ¡°Good question. You don¡¯t need to worry about that.


    Anomalous events are directly controlled by our research institute. You can only trigger one event. Even if you find additional objects later, no further activations will occur. You will only face one event.¡±


    Anna, sitting with her chin resting on her fist, furrowed her brow, beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she struggled to think of a good question. Ultimately, she remained silent.


    Sitting in the back row, Luo Di waited until everyone else had finished before asking his question:


    ¡°If we engage in conflict with a Simulated Anomaly and cause environmental damage that creates unlit **Corners**, will the practice be interrupted?¡±


    This question made Professor Qin¡¯s face darken.


    ¡°In theory, such a scenario shouldn¡¯t occur. The experimental area has been specially designed by the institute to prevent the formation of Corners.


    All potentially corner-forming structures¡ªdoors, windows¡ªhave been modified into reinforced cylindrical shapes. Over 300 hidden cameras and modified wild Corner Parrots are deployed throughout the area. Any unlit Corners will be immediately detected.


    That said, you should still avoid such situations. If your actions lead to the creation of a **Corner**, resulting in unforeseen dangers, your personal report will not pass even if you complete the practice.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    With no further questions, the van reached the outskirts of Jupiter City.


    The city was surrounded by 50-meter-high luminous walls, with numerous watchtowers, drones, and patrols ensuring its safety.


    The exit gates resembled highway toll booths, with eight lanes in total. Many private cars were lined up, as people intending to leave the city during the National Founding Festival had to undergo health checks before departure.


    The research institute¡¯s van, classified as a special vehicle, bypassed the queue via a dedicated lane.


    Once outside the city, the highway maintained the same high density of streetlights as inside. The forests flanking the road were wired with lighting systems, ensuring continuous illumination. Some trees had even been biologically modified to emit light on their own.


    Occasionally, the silhouettes of well-paid forest rangers could be seen moving through the woods.


    As the van sped along the main highway, buildings became increasingly scarce. Apart from service areas and watchtowers, there were few signs of human habitation. Rural areas and towns no longer existed; everything revolved around cities.


    After some time, the van left the main road, turning onto a narrow country lane.


    On one side of the road was a steep hillside; on the other, dense trees nearly blocked out the sky. The lighting here was noticeably dimmer but still within safe levels.


    Contrary to expectations, the van¡¯s destination wasn¡¯t a research facility nestled in the woods or a secluded building for the practice.


    Instead, the vehicle stopped at an unremarkable roadside spot.


    For the first time, Professor Qin turned to face the four young participants.


    ¡°From here, you¡¯ll head up this small hill, which is less than 100 meters high. The moment you step onto the soil of the hill, the practice will begin.


    The objects that trigger the events are scattered across the hill. Remember, you have only 30 minutes to locate and activate them.¡±


    Each of them grabbed their luggage and got out of the van. Gazing up at the densely vegetated hill with its dim lighting, they couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. Their first-ever social practice was about to begin...

 Chapter 7: Anomalous Objects

    <div>


    After dropping off the young participants, the van drove another thousand meters and stopped beside an ordinary streetlamp.


    Stepping out of the vehicle, Professor Qin ran her hand along the surface of the streetlamp, searching for something. A hidden verification device clicked open.


    Clack.


    A staircase leading underground appeared by the roadside.


    The stairs descended to a depth of fifty meters, ending at a subterranean research facility responsible for overseeing and managing this practice session.


    ¡°Good morning, Professor Qin!¡±


    ¡°How are the preparations? Those young participants should have started climbing the hill by now.¡±


    ¡°All departments have conducted self-checks more than three times, and all equipment is in green status.


    Additionally, the health parameters of the four participants are above average, with one of them nearing the excellent range.


    This practice session is bound to be a success. Oh, by the way, Professor Qin, would you like to join our betting game?¡±


    One of the staff members held a transparent square box filled with folded paper slips.


    Despite her stern demeanor, Professor Qin did not refuse. She slipped a pre-written paper slip into the box and placed a bet of a thousand rubles.


    Her wager was on which **object** the four high school students would choose¡ªa little side entertainment amidst their work.


    Although she participated in the game, Professor Qin sternly reminded everyone, ¡°Entertainment is fine, but the priority is ensuring the flawless execution of the simulation. Any errors will result in strict accountability for the responsible project lead.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    At that moment, the monitoring department reported, ¡°They¡¯ve started climbing the hill!¡±


    Any staff members who were free gathered around the monitoring area.


    The monitoring center was an open circular space with numerous electronic screens arranged in a grid. Standing in front of the screens, one could easily access all information about the practice area.


    Over three hundred surveillance feeds were managed by AI algorithms, which automatically prioritized important footage, moving it to the central screens.


    The participants¡¯ monitoring footage was permanently displayed in the central area, with additional auxiliary screens for closer observation and recording.


    Everyone silently prayed in their hearts¡ªsome for the smooth progress of the practice, others hoping their bets would align with the objects chosen by the four participants.


    ---


    [Five Minutes Earlier]


    At the roadside, at the foot of the hill.


    Wu Wen was doing standard stretches, her eyes fixed on the 35-degree incline of the hill. ¡°If the timer only starts once we step onto the hill, we might as well make some preparations here.¡±


    Following her suggestion, everyone took out gear they might need for the climb.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    It was the height of summer, and the scorching heat made their short-sleeved shirts and shorts prone to scratches from the dense foliage.


    Wu Wen¡¯s preparations were impressively thorough, including knee pads, leg wraps, gloves, and a collapsible trekking pole.


    Luo Di, on the other hand, had given no thought to such things and came completely unequipped.


    Fully geared up, Wu Wen continued, ¡°So, should we split up to look for the objects, or stick together?


    According to Professor Qin, the practice won¡¯t officially start until we find and activate the relevant objects, which is when the real danger begins. Splitting up to search might not be a bad idea.


    After all, we only have thirty minutes to find the objects. I suggest we split up first and regroup in the last ten minutes.¡±


    Her proposal seemed reasonable. The group gathered together to activate the wristbands¡¯ **real-time location sharing** feature.


    ---


    [07:10]


    The climb began.


    Each of the four participants headed in completely different directions, moving as quickly as possible given the time constraints.


    Anna, with her blonde hair tied back, was the fastest and most professional among them, disappearing from sight first.


    Luo Di was momentarily impressed by her physical fitness and survival skills, but Wu Wen¡¯s voice called out from the side.


    ¡°Heh, our Anna is pretty amazing. Not only does she excel in sports, but she¡¯s also skilled in various wilderness survival techniques. Don¡¯t let her outshine you later.¡±


    Luo Di didn¡¯t respond, focusing instead on climbing in his chosen direction.


    Once he was entirely separated from the group and could no longer see anyone around, he felt a sense of relaxation.


    His thoughts drifted back to a time years ago when he had gone hiking with his family, and a rare smile crossed his face.


    But the pleasant memory didn¡¯t last long.


    A sudden Yin Wind swept through the mountain, brushing against his exposed arms like icy fingers. Every hair on his body stood on end.


    Alert, he stopped and observed his surroundings.


    His fingers instinctively rested on the chainsaw¡¯s ignition button.


    Scanning the area, he saw no signs of life, but his gaze fell upon a peculiar tree.


    Unlike the other trees on the mountain, this one was larger, thicker, and eerier. Its trunk twisted unnaturally, earning it the nickname Crooked Neck Tree.


    The chilling wind seemed to emanate from this tree.


    Though Luo Di¡¯s academic performance was average, he recognized this type of tree¡ªit was a Chinese scholar tree.


    The Yin Wind continued to blow, as if the tree itself were calling out to him.


    Such an anomaly was almost certainly connected to the practice¡¯s object.


    Approaching cautiously, Luo Di¡¯s eyes locked onto a pitch-black hollow in the tree¡¯s trunk.


    The wind was seeping out from this hollow, accompanied by a faint hissing sound, like the dying gasps of an old man.


    Taking out a flashlight from the side of his backpack, he shone its beam into the hollow.


    The light illuminated a small box hidden within the tree¡ªa redwood gold-inlaid box.


    Mindful of potential risks inside the hollow, Luo Di didn¡¯t reach in directly. Instead, he found a suitable stick to carefully maneuver the box out. After some effort, he finally retrieved it.


    The moment the box left the hollow, the Yin Wind ceased abruptly.


    It was as if the old man had exhaled his final breath and passed away in peace.


    ---


    Meanwhile, on another part of the mountain.


    Anna, the fastest and most experienced in the group, paused to check her wristband¡¯s shared location feature. She had already put significant distance between herself and the others.


    ¡°Not bad, Wenwen¡¯s so-called amazing guy doesn¡¯t seem that amazing after all,¡± she muttered.


    Just as she was about to begin searching the forest, a sharp **clicking sound** echoed from the woods.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    It couldn¡¯t be one of the others catching up; she had just checked their locations a few seconds ago.


    Unlike most high school girls, Anna didn¡¯t panic. Instead, she gripped her tactical axe tightly, remaining on high alert.


    Her thoughts were clear¡ªaccording to the research institute¡¯s rules, no direct danger should occur before the practice officially began. The clicking sound was likely related to one of the objects.


    Anna immediately moved toward the source of the sound and soon discovered a clearing in the forest. This wasn¡¯t an ordinary clearing¡ªthere were no trees, not even weeds. The barren ground was cracked and dry, emitting an inexplicable sense of heat.


    In the center of the clearing, a visible fissure in the ground seemed to beckon her. It was just wide enough for an arm to reach in.


    Click.


    The sound echoed again.


    There was no doubt¡ªthe source of the sound was coming from within the fissure.


    Anna crouched down, flashlight in hand, and cautiously approached the crack. As the beam of light angled downward, she leaned in to peer into the depths.


    For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a charred black tongue writhing inside. Startled, she recoiled instinctively.


    Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she leaned in again for another look. This time, there was no tongue¡ªonly a metal box engraved with a hexagram and goat head symbol.


    <div>

 Chapter 8: Dedication

    The half-hour allocated for object searching had only ten minutes left.


    The four of them quickly regrouped by sharing their locations. Just as Anna was about to boast about her find, she realized that everyone else had also discovered objects that seemed capable of triggering the practice session.


    Based on their brief descriptions, finding these objects wasn''t particularly challenging. Once they approached the locations, they could clearly sense the environmental changes brought about by the objects, even feeling a direct pull toward them.


    The four objects were:


    - The "Redwood Gold-Inlaid Box" found by Luo Di,


    - The "Goat Head Hexagram Metal Box" found by Anna,


    - The "Ancient Book Bound with Bones" found by Gao Yuxuan,


    - And the "Red Umbrella Tied with Ink Measuring Line" found by Wu Wen.


    As the four items were brought together, the research institute''s surveillance cameras immediately zoomed in on the scene.


    The staff who had placed bets on the corresponding objects began to show excitement one by one. However, there could only be one grand prize, and it depended on how these young participants made their choice.


    Director Qin had also placed a bet on one of the objects.


    However, her focus wasn''t on the outcome of the wager; instead, she wore a rare expression of concern. It seemed that among these four objects, one was particularly dangerous.


    Wu Wen''s father had close ties with the research institute and was considered a significant benefactor. Qin had to ensure that no accidents occurred during this practice session.


    "Let''s hope they don''t choose that one... Otherwise, I''ll need to notify the city''s medical team to stand by in advance."


    ---


    The four objects were placed on a flat stone surface.


    With eight minutes remaining, they were about to choose one item to activate the corresponding event.


    "Should we vote on it?" Wu Wen, the class monitor, sought everyone''s opinion.


    The vice monitor, Gao Yuxuan, proactively offered his suggestion: "I propose we each use our knowledge to quickly analyze these objects.


    I lean toward choosing an object with moderate difficulty. This is our first practice session, and it''s also our first time working together.


    Personally, I feel the red umbrella might correspond to an anomaly that is unkillable, possibly a spiritual entity. It''s not a good choice.


    The ancient book might involve a summoning ritual or a curse-related anomaly, which is also difficult to handle.


    I suggest we choose one of the two boxes."


    "Don''t pick this metal box! I have a bad feeling about it..."


    Anna, usually the bold one, recounted her experience of finding the metal box, particularly the unsettling "tongue-clicking sound." Even now, recalling it sent chills down her spine.


    Luo Di, however, seemed intrigued by Anna''s story. He offered his own interpretation: "A goat head, a hexagram¡ªit might correspond to some kind of demon. This is a classic Western-style exorcism theme. If we choose this object, possession might occur. I agree it''s not a good choice."


    Although Luo Di was a fan of B-movies, he had also seen many other Western horror films and had some knowledge of the genre.


    Wu Wen, the class monitor, looked pleased as she observed the discussion, especially happy to see the two usually quiet boys actively participating.


    "Based on everyone''s input, we''ve ruled out three objects. That leaves only the wooden box Luo Di found. By the way, Luo Di, did you encounter anything strange or unsettling when you found the box, like the kind of unease Anna described?"A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Just a cold breeze. I think the anomaly behind the wooden box might have a moderate difficulty level."


    Wu Wen glanced at the dwindling time. "Then it''s decided! Who''s going to try activating the box?"


    "Wenwen, I remember you know a lot about these kinds of things," Anna teased.


    "Tch~ Anna, I''m trying to give the boys more chances to participate! Fine, I''ll do it."


    Wu Wen took out a Swiss army knife, pressed her ear against the surface of the wooden box, and skillfully manipulated it. With a click, the locked wooden box opened.


    Inside the box was an old, copper key.


    At the same time, a broadcast echoed through the forest.


    ¡ì The anomalous event has been activated. Please proceed to the mountaintop area promptly. ¡ì


    ---


    In the research institute,


    Three staff members who had bet on the correct object were ecstatic, eagerly splitting their winnings.


    Although Director Qin hadn''t picked the right object, she still breathed a sigh of relief. The group hadn''t chosen the troublesome and dangerous item.


    Unnoticed by the others, a nondescript employee stood silently in a corner, muttering to himself:


    "They had it right there... Why didn''t they choose it? Why didn''t they choose it?"


    ---


    [In the Forest]


    Anna stared at the objects left behind on the stone surface. "What should we do with these? It feels wrong to just leave them here."


    Wu Wen nodded in agreement. "You''re right. How about we return these to their original spots on our way up the mountain? It won''t take long."


    "Alright."


    The red umbrella had been found beneath a large boulder, with cinnabar symbols painted on its surface.


    The ancient book had been discovered inside an abandoned, moss-covered tent, surrounded by claw marks left by fingers.


    Finally, only the metal box remained. After a short uphill trek, the group arrived at a barren clearing in the forest.


    Not only did no plants grow here, but there was also an inexplicable heat in the air, with temperatures noticeably higher than the surroundings.


    Anna slowed her pace, carefully approaching a crevice in the ground. Just as she was about to return the eerie box to its original spot...


    Click.


    That strange tongue-clicking sound echoed again, this time feeling as though it reverberated inside Anna''s skull.


    The sudden, chilling noise startled her, causing the metal box to slip from her hands.


    The box fell into the crevice, dropping about half a meter down.


    Thud! It hit the bottom with a loud noise.


    Frightened, Anna quickly shone her flashlight into the gap. Fortunately, the box hadn''t cracked or deformed; its metal construction was of exceptional quality.


    Of course, that made sense. These containers, designed to house such objects, must have undergone special processing to withstand damage.


    Still wary of the box''s ominous nature, Anna crouched down, preparing to move it back into position.


    Just as she was about to reach over the crevice, a hand suddenly grabbed her arm.


    It was Luo Di.


    He had noticed Anna''s odd behavior and intervened for safety reasons, handing her a stick.


    "Don''t use your hands."


    "Oh."


    Anna took the stick and used it to push the metal box back into place. The tongue-clicking sound did not return.


    As she turned to thank Luo Di for his help, a pair of hands pushed her from behind, urging her to move quickly up the mountain.


    It was Wu Wen. "Don''t waste time. Let''s get moving."


    As the group left the barren area where not even weeds could grow, the stick Anna had used to move the box was left behind. Not long after, the stick dried out completely, turned to charcoal, and crumbled into dust, scattering with the wind.


    ---


    [Objects Activated]


    As they walked, the two girls chatted about the new simulation system.


    "Wenwen, how do you think the research institute creates such realistic ''anomalous events''? Some kind of advanced biotechnology?"


    "Maybe it''s corpses."


    "Corpses? Are you saying the institute uses the bodies of those impostors they''ve killed, reworking them into controllable practice units?"


    "Exactly. That would make it more realistic."


    "Ugh, that''s gross. But if that''s true, it¡¯s not a bad idea. After all, once we graduate, we''ll have to face real anomalies and impostors that could appear around us at any time. Getting used to it early might not be a bad thing.


    If this kind of training becomes widespread, people''s survival rates could improve significantly in the future."


    Climbing this hundred-meter hill turned out to be more exhausting than expected.


    As they approached the mountaintop, the temperature gradually dropped.


    Occasional gusts of cold wind blew through the forest, and the clouds thickened, obscuring the bright sunlight of the day.


    Finally, the four of them emerged from the last ring of trees near the summit, where an old Chinese-style mansion came into view.


    The structure consisted of a front and back yard, surrounding walls, and a two-story main building.


    Directly facing them was a large red wooden door adorned with gold embellishments.


    Hanging above it were conspicuous white lanterns, with the word "µì" (Dedication) written on their surfaces.


    The three participants of Chinese descent felt a deep discomfort at the sight, while Anna, who had learned about such customs in her textbooks, only knew it was related to the dead and felt no particular emotion.


    Wu Wen took out the copper key they had found in the wooden box. With a click, it fit perfectly, unlocking the door.


    This marked the official start of their field practice.


    ---

 Chapter 9: A Chilling Welcome

    "Is this the white lantern I''ve heard about? I read that you Huaxia people used to hang these during funerals... I''ve seen plenty of pictures in books, but this is my first time seeing one in real life."


    Anna, tall enough to easily reach the lantern, raised her hand to examine it closely. But before she could touch it, the class monitor yanked her away.


    "Come on, let''s go! This thing is considered unlucky, and it might even be dangerous during our practice."


    "Alright, Wenwen, I wasn¡¯t going to mess with it."


    Anna trusted her best friend implicitly and turned her attention to the now-unlocked redwood door. Her strong arms pushed against it.


    Creak~


    The heavy, slightly rotten wooden door swung inward.


    The courtyard was overgrown with weeds that obscured the stone path beneath. The chilling wind persisted, and the cold seemed to deepen.


    After confirming that there was nothing unusual in the front yard, the four of them followed the faintly visible stone path, buried under the grass, to the main entrance of the mansion.


    The intricately carved wooden doors were unlocked, but no one was in a hurry to push them open. After all, the event had already begun, and danger could be lurking just beyond the door.


    They decided to stick to their tried-and-true method.


    Everyone stepped back as far as possible while the class monitor used her hiking stick to gently nudge the door open.


    As the door slowly creaked open, everyone held their breath, ready for battle.


    When the door was fully open, nothing leaped out, and there were no human silhouettes in sight. Instead, an overpowering stench rushed out like an invisible, slender hand that snaked into their throats, clawed at their stomachs, and tugged at their esophagi.


    Although they had undergone various training sessions at school, they had little practice dealing with such intense odors.


    Except for Luo Di, the other three were overwhelmed by the urge to vomit.


    The class monitor reacted quickly. She immediately pulled out masks from her backpack and handed one to each person, which helped alleviate the discomfort.


    With the smell somewhat under control, they stepped into the mansion''s grand hall.


    The space had been arranged as a mourning hall.


    White drapes hung in waves around the room, fluttering in the cold wind.


    A redwood altar stood at the center.


    Four bowls of white rice, now moldy, sat on the altar with burnt-out incense sticks sticking out of them.


    The food offerings and fruits had completely rotted, becoming nests for decomposers that feasted on this rare banquet.


    Upon closer inspection, one thing stood out as particularly odd. The funeral setup was traditional and meticulous, yet one crucial element was missing:


    The deceased''s portrait.


    At this moment, the class monitor, now wearing a mask, seemed to transform. Her sharp gaze swept across the hall before she issued the next instructions:


    "From now on, we need to stick together as a team and conduct a thorough inspection of the mansion. Once we''ve confirmed it''s safe, we''ll come back here to clean up this moldy mess."If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Under her leadership, the inspection began.


    All the mansion''s windows were covered with white paper, significantly reducing the natural light and casting a persistent gloom over the interior.


    This dimness only served to highlight the white lanterns hanging along the corridors, making them the primary sources of light.


    The tense inspection of the mansion concluded quickly.


    Contrary to their expectations, no dangers or anomalies appeared. The entire mansion was devoid of life, and they couldn''t find the missing portrait.


    One noteworthy discovery was the master bedroom on the second floor. It was spacious and well-lit. If they could ensure its safety, they might even rest there instead of setting up tents outside.


    With the main building cleared, only the backyard remained unchecked.


    Oddly enough, the two-story mansion had no windows facing the backyard.


    However, Gao Yuxuan''s keen observation revealed that windows had once existed but had been sealed with cement long ago.


    The only access to the backyard from the main building was a modern iron door, completely out of place in the old mansion''s design.


    The door had no keyhole and was bolted shut from the inside, with something heavy seemingly blocking it. The four of them couldn''t open it with their combined efforts.


    Left with no other choice, they decided to try climbing over the outer wall to enter the backyard.


    While the front yard''s walls were unremarkable, the backyard''s walls were topped with sharp, blade-like barbed wire, rusted and menacing.


    Through the gaps in the wall, they could only see the twisted top of a tree, resembling the locust tree where Luo Di had previously found the wooden box in the forest.


    Perhaps this tree was directly related to their current practice.


    The class monitor pulled out various protective gear, including knee and wrist guards, from her backpack, preparing to climb over the barbed wire.


    Standing at the back of the group, Luo Di offered a suggestion: "Let me stand on Anna''s shoulders. Maybe I can cut through the barbed wire; it would be safer that way."


    Anna immediately agreed, punching her palm. "Good idea! Wenwen, you shouldn''t climb alone. If you get caught on the wire and get tetanus, it''ll be a big problem."


    "Fine~ I''ll leave it to you two."


    Anna''s physical strength was truly impressive.


    As Luo Di stepped onto her shoulders, Anna, in a crouched position, rose steadily without any unnecessary wobbling.


    Even with their combined height, they barely reached the top of the wall.


    Luo Di, wearing gloves, grabbed the edge of the wall for stability.


    Buzz!


    The automatic chainsaw they had bought at the Terminal Supermarket roared to life. Its alloy teeth easily sliced through the rusty, coarse barbed wire.


    As a large section of wire fell away, the top of the wall was cleared, leaving an opening wide enough for one person to pass through.


    With practiced ease, Luo Di climbed onto the wall, displaying remarkable agility.


    When his eyes fell on the backyard, he froze, and his voice turned icy.


    "The iron door to the main building should be openable from the inside. Wait for me there; I''ll unlock it."


    With that, Luo Di leapt down into the backyard.


    The class monitor and the others quickly returned to the mansion. Along the way, Anna whispered to the monitor, "Wenwen, this guy''s got some serious skills. His balance is incredible, and he''s so efficient."


    Wu Wen''s eyes crinkled into crescents above her white mask. "He''s very capable."


    When they reached the iron door leading to the backyard, they could faintly hear the sound of heavy objects being moved on the other side.


    This was followed by the buzz of the chainsaw.


    Clang!


    The chain securing the door fell away.


    The sliding iron door slowly opened.


    The backyard came into view.


    The three high schoolers standing at the door were stunned, their expressions shifting rapidly.


    It wasn''t just the visual impact.


    A stench, carried by the cold wind, assaulted their senses.


    It penetrated their masks, invaded their noses, and even seemed to seep into their mouths, leaving a distinct taste on their tongues. It was several times stronger than the smell in the hall.


    The combination of the stench and the scene before them created an overwhelming mental shock.


    It felt like a feverish hallucination, flooding their consciousness and washing over their thoughts.


    If the earlier experience in the hall was an appetizer, this was undoubtedly the main course of the day.


    Anna was the first to succumb, vomiting on the spot.


    Gao Yuxuan clutched his stomach and hurried back to the mansion''s restroom.


    The class monitor gripped her mask tightly, her eyes flickering with struggle. After a moment, she steadied her churning stomach and once again surveyed the scene.


    The backyard was littered with the corpses of cows and pigs, along with their excrement. Flies swarmed in droves.


    Oddly, despite the overwhelming stench, they hadn''t noticed it while outside the wall. It was as if the backyard had been shrouded in some invisible barrier.


    But the animal carcasses and the smell weren''t the real focus.


    Wu Wen''s gaze quickly locked onto the center of the backyard, where a massive, twisted locust tree stood.


    Four figures dressed in traditional Huaxia attire hung from the crooked branches by ropes. Their levels of decay varied, but their bulging eyes were uniformly fixed on the mansion.


    Fixed on its sole entrance.


    Fixed on the intruders who had ventured inside.


    Given the mansion''s funeral theme, it seemed these people had arranged their own funeral, with the four students as the unwitting guests.

 Chapter 10: Collecting the Dead

    **[Mansion Lobby]**


    The four individuals, wearing gloves and masks, were busy packing up the rotting food and tossing it out of the mansion.


    They tried their best to rinse the floor with clean water, at least to reduce the stench inside the building. As for the problem in the backyard, they decided to deal with it later.


    After cleaning the mourning hall, the group proceeded to install a device called "strip wall lights" throughout the mansion.


    These lights were flat and elongated, designed to be affixed to ceilings or walls. Equipped with advanced battery technology, they could emit light continuously for up to a week without recharging.


    This ensured adequate lighting during the fieldwork, even if the lanterns were destroyed.


    The entire process took over three hours. During this time, everything in the mansion remained normal¡ªno unusual sounds or sightings.


    **[Second Floor - Master Bedroom]**


    The group temporarily gathered in the master bedroom, wiping sweat from their foreheads with tissues while discussing the most challenging and suspicious area¡ªthe backyard.


    Even now, just thinking about the smell of the backyard made Anna''s stomach churn.


    Rough estimates suggested that at least thirty pigs and cows were piled up in the backyard, most of them in a state of gigantism.


    Dragging each carcass to the wilderness for burial would be too labor-intensive and time-consuming. Moreover, the bodies might carry highly contagious pathogens.


    But leaving the corpses in the backyard unaddressed could potentially link them to some sinister ritual.


    Of course, the most concerning issue was the four human corpses hanging from the tree.


    Frequent horror movie viewer Luo Di used his divergent thinking to come up with a chilling hypothesis:


    The food in the mourning hall was meant for them, the "guests," while the scattered pigs and cows in the backyard were prepared for the "hosts" hanging from the tree.


    Perhaps, at some point, the tree''s "hosts" would come back to life.


    At this thought, Gao Yuxuan, leaning against the curved corner of the wall, offered his suggestion: "Burn it all. Burn the tree along with everything in the backyard. That way, we can get rid of the stench and eliminate the danger."


    Luo Di couldn''t agree more. Burning did seem like the best solution.


    However, how to burn it was another problem.


    The class monitor tapped her chin with her finger, trying to recall relevant knowledge from their cultural studies. "Most of these animal corpses are already in a state of gigantism. You''ve all experienced the intensity of the stench. If we burn them recklessly, it might cause an explosion.


    Why not drag the bodies to the mountains and toss them down a slope?"


    Standing by the bed, Luo Di interjected, "No need to burn the animal corpses. Just burn the four human bodies on the tree."


    The monitor immediately questioned, "How do we burn them? Burning the tree directly is also dangerous. The methane concentration in the backyard is probably above the explosive threshold. If we''re not careful, the entire mansion could blow up."


    "We burn them outside. Move the corpses to an open space outside the mansion, dig a shallow pit, pile up enough firewood, and cremate them on the spot."


    The monitor nodded in agreement. "Good idea! Let''s split up into pairs. Anna, you and Luo Di prepare the firewood for burning. I''ll go with Gao to move the bodies."


    "Yay!"


    Anna, relieved that she wouldn''t have to go to the foul-smelling backyard, turned around and hugged the monitor tightly, almost suffocating her with the force.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    However, Gao Yuxuan disagreed. "No, I think all four of us should act together.


    The bodies hanging in the backyard are highly suspicious. There might be danger during the moving process. Let''s head to the backyard now and move the bodies outside before discussing the cremation."


    After breaking free from Anna''s grip, the monitor clenched her fist and smacked it into her palm. "Alright, it''s decided! Everyone, put on your masks. There are four of us, just enough to carry one body each.


    Oh, and bring our sleeping bags. We can use them to wrap the corpses and isolate any potential pathogens. Anyway, we''ve already found a room to sleep in."


    Anna, who had just been relieved, now started gagging again, putting on not one but four layers of masks.


    **[Backyard]**


    The corpses of pigs and cows were scattered across the backyard, forming winding paths.


    The spaces between the paths were filled with various fluids seeping from the decaying bodies.


    Countless flies were feasting here, dancing, spinning, and indulging themselves.


    Perhaps it was because they had already faced the initial shock, but this time, the group managed to hold it together.


    They wrapped themselves in raincoats, put on gloves, and completely covered their shoes with plastic bags.


    "Let''s go."


    *Squelch!*


    Luo Di led the way, with the monitor quickly following behind.


    Stepping on the soft, sticky fluids was still somewhat unpleasant for her.


    "Luo Di, you don¡¯t seem fazed at all. We never received this kind of training in school."


    "I cook often at home and sometimes visit the market to help slaughter poultry. Occasionally, I¡¯ve even participated in pig slaughtering. Compared to this, the smell is only slightly stronger. It¡¯s not too different."


    The monitor didn¡¯t doubt his explanation. Instead, she shifted her attention to another topic. "Wow, you can cook? If we make it through this, can we try your cooking?"


    "No."


    The monitor¡¯s expression shifted slightly before she changed the subject again. "Be careful when retrieving the bodies later. There might be danger."


    "Got it."


    The group finally reached the locust tree in the center of the yard, stepping through the filth.


    Perhaps due to long-term absorption of the filth, the tree trunk was covered with dense pores, from which the mansion¡¯s chilling wind seemed to seep.


    The sight of these countless tiny holes was deeply unsettling.


    The four corpses hanging from the tree appeared to be the mansion''s owner, his wife, and their two children.


    The heights at which they were hanged seemed deliberate:


    The presumed patriarch, an elderly man, was hanging the highest and was the most decomposed.


    The middle-aged woman was next.


    The two younger individuals hung at the lowest points, showing early signs of gigantism. They likely prepared everything in the house before finally hanging themselves.


    Luo Di noticed something peculiar about the family, especially the elderly man at the top. His fingernails were covered in black spots, entirely blackened and unusually long.


    It gave the impression that his nails had continued growing even after death.


    Next came another challenge:


    **How to retrieve the body at the top?**


    The bodies of the two young individuals and the middle-aged woman were successfully retrieved. There was no change in the corpses during the cutting of the ropes or the bagging process.


    The backyard remained as foul-smelling as ever, with no additional anomalies.


    Now, it was time to retrieve the elderly man''s body.


    Instead of climbing the tree, Luo Di and Anna teamed up again. Standing on Anna¡¯s shoulders, Luo Di barely reached the elderly man¡¯s position.


    Swinging the machete in his hand¡ª*Swish!*


    The hemp rope snapped.


    The elderly man¡¯s body fell straight down, almost brushing against Luo Di¡¯s body. For some reason, perhaps an instinctive sense of danger, Luo Di instinctively stepped back.


    Standing on Anna¡¯s shoulders, this backward step caused him to lose his balance and fall.


    The expected impact with the ground never came.


    With his hands shielding his head, Luo Di felt confused. He could clearly feel two strong arms supporting his back and legs, holding him steadily.


    Anna had reacted quickly, turning and extending her arms in the instant Luo Di lost his footing, catching him just in time.


    Luo Di didn¡¯t feel embarrassed. Instead, he was surprised that a high school girl could easily catch someone weighing 80 kilograms. His evaluation of this foreign student from another school rose once again.


    Meanwhile, the monitor and Gao Yuxuan quickly bagged the body.


    "Hey, how long are you two planning to stay like that? Be careful, or you¡¯ll get called to the office for a lecture!"


    The monitor grinned mischievously, using her wristband¡¯s photo mode to capture the moment as a memento of this fieldwork.

 Chapter 11: Special Handling

    **Corpse Disposal and Relocation**


    The entire process proceeded as usual.


    The four corpses lay obediently inside their sleeping bags, quietly awaiting cremation.


    In addition to the bodies, everyone was also concerned about the strange locust tree in the backyard. Burning it along with the corpses would have been ideal, but the risk of a fire in the backyard was too high.


    Even if they managed to burn it from a distance, any explosion or spreading flames could engulf the entire mountain in a wildfire.


    At that point, they would be forced to evacuate, which would mean leaving the Practice Area and failing the task.


    For now, they could only burn the corpses and consider dealing with the tree later¡ªperhaps cutting it down with a chainsaw or an axe, both of which seemed feasible.


    ---


    **[Outside the Mansion]**


    On a relatively flat piece of ground,


    The tasks of digging a pit and collecting firewood were divided into pairs to proceed simultaneously.


    Gao Yuxuan stared at the four body bags, his mind already recalling lessons from cultural studies.


    "I''ll handle the firewood. For burning these ''Corpses of Yin,'' the best choice is wood with the strongest Yang energy¡ª''lychee wood.'' I saw plenty of it when we climbed the mountain earlier."


    The class monitor, Wu Wen, patted Luo Di on the shoulder. "You two boys can handle the woodcutting. Luo Di has a chainsaw, so it should be quick. Leave the digging to us girls.


    "If the corpses show any signs of movement, we''ll call for help. Don''t wander too far while cutting wood."


    Anna rummaged through the mansion and found two rusty shovels. She also lent her tactical axe to Gao Yuxuan for woodcutting.


    With tasks assigned,


    Under Gao Yuxuan''s guidance, they quickly located the so-called lychee wood. Thanks to the modern efficiency of Luo Di''s chainsaw, they easily felled a tree that would have required two people to wrap their arms around.


    All that remained was to drag the tree back and cut it into thin strips for burning.


    ---


    On their way back, dragging the tree behind them,


    Luo Di broke the silence, eager to probe Gao Yuxuan, the top student in cultural studies, for insights related to their fieldwork.


    "Vice monitor, have you figured something out?"


    "More or less. A traditional Chinese mansion, a locust tree, and Corpses of Yin... If we leave these bodies alone, they''ll likely transform into [Jiangshi] tonight. Four at once. Even if this is a simulated anomaly, they''d be tough to handle.


    "Plus, we might get infected with corpse poison, which would mess up both our lives and studies. Burning them is the best option. And as for that locust tree in the backyard, it¡¯s better to..."


    "Cut it down," Luo Di interjected.


    "Exactly. Burn them first, then deal with the tree."


    The two seemed to have reached a tacit understanding.


    ---


    When they returned to the open space in front of the mansion,


    The girls were still digging.


    Their short sleeves were drenched with sweat, adding a unique summer charm to the scene.


    But Luo Di''s focus was not on them¡ªit was on their actions.


    Both girls were strong, especially Anna, who seemed to have untapped brute strength. However, their efficiency with the shovels was low; it was clear that their usual training did not include digging.


    Luo Di stepped forward and asked, "Do we have another shovel?"


    "Just these two."


    "Let me take over."


    Taking the shovel from Anna, Luo Di joined the task. Gao Yuxuan, lacking any digging experience, stood aside.  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ---


    Half an hour later,


    They had dug a pit large enough to fit all four bodies, with room to spare.


    The class monitor gave Luo Di a thumbs-up. He had dug nearly two-thirds of the pit himself, showcasing his skilled and precise technique.


    The monitor even picked up a few tips, thinking she might use them someday.


    Meanwhile,


    Anna hadn¡¯t been idle. After being relieved of digging duties, she had chopped the tree into burnable strips.


    Everyone quickly filled the pit with the wood strips, using lighters, tissues, and other flammable materials to ignite the fire.


    Once the flames grew strong enough, they placed the four corpses into the pit one by one. The fire, fueled by lychee wood, rapidly consumed the long-dead Corpses of Yin.


    Crackle, crackle¡ª


    A nauseating stench wafted from the pit.


    ---


    Just as everyone thought the cremation was proceeding smoothly,


    Plop!


    A single raindrop landed on Luo Di''s face.


    Without warning, a torrential downpour began.


    "Quick!"


    Though they reacted swiftly, rushing back to grab a tarp and setting it up over the pit as fast as they could, the rain was relentless. Water pooled on the ground and flowed into the pit, extinguishing the flames.


    The heavy rain snuffed out the fire in no time.


    The only silver lining was that the fire had burned for nearly an hour before the rain started. While it hadn¡¯t reached the duration of a full cremation, most of the flesh should have been incinerated, leaving only charred remains and bones.


    ---


    Using flashlights, the group inspected the pit.


    Among the blackened bones, one corpse stood out.


    It remained mostly intact, barely affected by the flames.


    "This is... the old man who was hanging at the top," someone murmured.


    After confirming that the other three bodies had been reduced to bones, they worked together to lift the old man''s corpse out of the pit.


    His clothes and skin were burned away, and his flesh was charred black. Some areas were damaged, but the overall structure remained intact.


    A foul, sticky liquid seeped from the scorched flesh, seemingly the reason the fire had failed to consume him.


    This corpse was clearly abnormal. How should they handle it?


    ---


    The rain showed no signs of stopping.


    Looking at the ominous clouds above, it seemed likely to last all day. A second cremation would have to be done indoors.


    However, given the corpse¡¯s fire-resistant nature, even half a day of burning might not be enough.


    The mansion, being made of wood, posed a high risk. If they lost control of the fire, the consequences would be catastrophic.


    Gao Yuxuan stared at the eerie old man''s corpse and muttered, "If we leave it, it¡¯ll definitely transform tonight. We need to deal with it¡ªeither burn it again or..."


    The class monitor¡¯s eyes lit up as she thought of a bold idea. Just as she was about to speak,


    Luo Di crouched beside the corpse, tying its hands to a leftover wooden stick with rope.


    "I¡¯ll handle this one. Vice monitor, come with me. You two go back to the house and change clothes. I¡¯ll take care of it quickly."


    The class monitor hesitated, eyeing the strange corpse. "Shouldn¡¯t we stick together? This one seems... off."


    Luo Di¡¯s tone was firm. "It¡¯s fine. The two of us are enough. We¡¯ll be back soon."


    The class monitor didn¡¯t insist. She and Anna were soaked to the skin and needed to change. "Turn on your wristband locator. If you¡¯re not back in fifteen minutes, we¡¯ll come find you."


    "Got it."


    ---


    Luo Di dragged the old man¡¯s corpse to a steep slope,


    With Gao Yuxuan following behind, puzzled. "Are you planning to toss the body down the slope and hope it rolls to the bottom? That won¡¯t work. The dense forest will stop it after a short distance.


    "Besides, it¡¯s already showing signs of transformation. Even if you throw it down, it¡¯ll climb back up tonight. At best, you¡¯ll buy us half an hour."


    "No."


    "Then what¡¯s your plan..."


    Crack!


    A bolt of lightning lit up the sky,


    Interrupting Gao Yuxuan¡¯s question.


    The flash of light highlighted the silver chainsaw in Luo Di¡¯s hand, its blade already spinning at high speed.


    "You!"


    Gao Yuxuan immediately understood everything¡ªand why Luo Di had refused to let the girls come along.


    Luo Di¡¯s expression hardened, becoming both resolute and terrifying.


    "When I¡¯m done, throw the pieces as far as you can."


    "Got it."


    Gao Yuxuan swallowed hard, suppressing his nausea. He kept his eyes fixed on Luo Di.


    He had never imagined that the quiet, top-performing athlete in their class could come up with such a grim plan.


    But he had to admit¡ªit was the best, fastest, and safest solution.


    ---


    **Research Institute**


    Everyone watched the events unfold on the screen.


    A supervisor in charge of psychological assessments approached Director Qin. "Are you sure this person¡¯s psychological report is accurate?"


    Director Qin, who carried their reports with her at all times, pulled them out on the spot.


    Luo Di¡¯s report showed no abnormalities, except for a label: [Introverted].


    "This is the best course of action under the circumstances. His initiative should be praised, not questioned."


    "Agreed. If his psychological state is truly sound, this young man is worth keeping an eye on."


    ```

 Chapter 12: Threat Neutralized

    ¡¾Records Department¡¿


    The Records Department within the Research Institute neither required regulatory equipment nor needed to handle experimental scenarios.


    Their sole responsibility was to analyze in real-time and meticulously document the entire fieldwork process. Should they anticipate any potential dangers, they would immediately report them to higher authorities to ensure the overall stability of the practice.


    The office was equipped with several movable blackboards.


    On the central blackboard, the theme of this fieldwork was written: "Corpse Planting."


    The difficulty level of this theme was variable and would be finalized before midnight based on the subjective actions of the participants.


    At present, the staff of the Records Department were visibly excited, their minds and bodies gradually relaxing as the situation unfolded.


    The subjective actions displayed by the four young participants had significantly reduced the difficulty of this theme, greatly increasing the stability of the practice. The estimated success rate now exceeded 90%, and they might even consider popping the champagne early.


    The department head, wearing a satisfied smile, placed a red tag labeled ¡°Ritual Interruption¡± onto the blackboard.


    ---


    ¡¾The Mansion - Master Bedroom¡¿


    Two girls, drenched in a mix of sweat and rainwater, rummaged through their backpacks for spare clothes.


    They had attended the same kindergarten, elementary, and middle school.


    Unfortunately, they were supposed to be in the same high school as well, but an incident led Wu Wen to transfer schools. Over the past two years, their time together had been greatly reduced, limited to occasional weekends without cram school.


    And girls at this age underwent the most significant changes.


    As the two removed their tops in the master bedroom, Wu Wen was startled by the sight before her.


    Anna not only possessed a height and muscle mass far exceeding the average girl but also displayed physical development that was equally above average.


    "Two years apart, and you''ve grown this much!"


    Though both girls usually carried themselves with confidence, Anna instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, casting a peculiar glance at Wu Wen.


    Just as Anna was about to say something, she froze, her gaze fixed on something unusual on Wu Wen''s body.


    "Wenwen, what''s going on with your body?"


    "Huh? Oh, you mean these¡­" Wu Wen replied nonchalantly. "My dad arranged for me to attend the highest-level tutoring classes. The teachers are strict, and accidents happen."


    "These don''t look like accidents," Anna remarked.


    While wiping the water off her body with a tissue, Anna leaned closer to examine the bluish-purple marks and scars on Wu Wen''s skin, some of which had even left permanent traces.


    Before Anna could get a clearer look, Wu Wen had already slipped on a black T-shirt.


    "The human body is resilient, Anna. You should know that better than anyone. As long as it helps me grow stronger, I don''t mind pushing the limits. After all, what we''ll face in the future won''t stop at just leaving scars."


    "Wenwen~ Isn''t your dad being too harsh on you?"You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "My dad''s just concerned about me. After all, I made mistakes, and this is the only way to catch up with the top tier. If I had kept up back then, I could''ve gone to the same school as you¡­ But it''s not so bad. At least there, I wouldn¡¯t have met someone as interesting as Luo Di."


    "True, that guy is definitely something."


    Anna also changed into a white T-shirt.


    When the two opened the shared map, the dots representing the two boys were already moving toward the mansion.


    The class monitor, now wearing a raincoat, took out two more raincoats to hand to the boys when they returned.


    "Shall we go downstairs to meet them? If they¡¯ve really dealt with the corpse, they¡¯ll probably need to handle the tree in the backyard next. Luo Di¡¯s chainsaw was definitely a good purchase."


    ---


    ¡¾The Backyard¡¿


    When everyone regrouped in the hall, the class monitor quickly noticed a hint of discomfort lingering on Gao Yuxuan''s face and curiously asked:


    "How did you two deal with the corpse so quickly?"


    "Tossed it," Luo Di replied.


    The monitor nodded. "Found a slope and threw it down the mountain, huh? No wonder you were so fast. By the way, how are you planning to deal with the tree in the backyard?"


    "Cut it down."


    With everyone in agreement, they headed back to the backyard.


    The sudden downpour had interrupted the feast of flies, masking some of the pungent odor.


    Thanks to the rain, the heat generated during woodcutting would dissipate quickly, significantly reducing the risk of an explosion.


    The monitor attached a light strip to the tree trunk to avoid creating a "corner" during the cutting process.


    When the high-speed rotating saw blade touched the surface of the tree trunk,


    (Ah!)


    Everyone heard a faint scream, as if it came from the tree itself. The entire locust tree began to tremble slightly.


    Luo Di didn¡¯t stop. The cutting continued.


    At times, foul-smelling sap splattered outward, resembling blood spurting from severed arteries.


    At other times, large clusters of leaves suddenly fell, each one seemingly etched with a face contorted in pain.


    In less than ten minutes, the entire locust tree collapsed with a loud crash.


    The cross-section of the trunk revealed no tree rings. Instead, it was entirely rotten, riddled with countless small holes, the sight of which made everyone''s scalp tingle.


    The tree had decayed to such an extent that it should have withered long ago.


    ---


    ¡¾Post-Cutting and Rest¡¿


    Four raincoats were hung in the front yard, left to the rain to wash away the filth.


    Outside the master bedroom, the two girls waited while Luo Di and Gao Yuxuan changed inside.


    Gao Yuxuan stuffed his discarded clothes into a trash bag and tied it tightly, as if the extreme filth on them made washing unnecessary.


    As he stood up to place the garbage at the door, his eyes were drawn to a certain "spectacle."


    It was a muscular back with contours akin to a painting or something one might only see on TV¡ªa physique far beyond what was typical for someone of their age. At certain angles, the muscles seemed to faintly outline a menacing face.


    Gao Yuxuan, though ranked third in class for athletics, was far behind the first and second places.


    He never imagined that Luo Di would possess such a physique. No wonder Luo Di consistently ranked first. Knowing Luo Di¡¯s modest family background, Gao Yuxuan realized that achieving such a body must have required immense hardship, and his heart filled with admiration.


    ---


    ¡¾Dinner and Rest¡¿


    By 5:00 PM, the group had been active since early morning. Aside from a few sips of water, they had consumed almost no nutrients.


    Even for exceptional young individuals, their bodies were nearing their limits, with fatigue and hunger setting in simultaneously.


    Knowing the duration of the practice in advance, they had packed some supermarket-bought food in their backpacks, including self-heating meals and energy snacks.


    "Luo Di, here¡¯s yours."


    Having just eaten two wafers, Luo Di was handed a steaming self-heating meal by the class monitor.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t just for him¡ªthe monitor had prepared one for everyone.


    "Thanks."


    The warm, flavorful meal was a welcome relief. As Luo Di ate, he reflected on the day''s events, trying to deduce the final threat level of the simulated practice. However, as his thoughts deepened, a worm-like fatigue wriggled through his mind. He was simply too tired.


    Luo Di decided to abandon his thoughts for now and take a nap after finishing his meal.


    On the other side, Anna seemed unsatisfied with just eating. She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out two bottles of high-proof vodka labeled in Russian.


    "Anyone want a drink? After getting drenched in the rain, it¡¯s perfect for warming up."


    The others shook their heads. Being underage aside, most people found alcohol impaired their thinking and actions.


    But for Anna, with her pure Russian heritage and a childhood spent drinking at home, a meal without alcohol was incomplete. For her, alcohol seemed to enhance her state and help her rest better.


    "Ah~ None of you drink? Guess I¡¯ll drink alone."


    Unbothered, Anna uncorked a bottle and drank directly.


    A fiery warmth coursed through her throat, turning her cheeks rosy. Her posture gradually became less ladylike.


    As she took a few bites of food and prepared for her fourth sip¡ª


    Click!


    A sudden, directionless "tongue-clicking sound" reached her ears, sending a chill down her spine. She nearly dropped the bottle in fright.


    Anna glanced at the others, who were still eating as if they hadn¡¯t heard a thing.


    "Was it the alcohol?"


    Without hesitation, she corked the bottle. Her drinking for the day was officially over.

 Chapter 12: Threat Neutralized

    ¡¾Records Department¡¿


    The Records Department within the Research Institute neither required regulatory equipment nor needed to handle experimental scenarios.


    Their sole responsibility was to analyze in real-time and meticulously document the entire fieldwork process. Should they anticipate any potential dangers, they would immediately report them to higher authorities to ensure the overall stability of the practice.


    The office was equipped with several movable blackboards.


    On the central blackboard, the theme of this fieldwork was written: "Corpse Planting."


    The difficulty level of this theme was variable and would be finalized before midnight based on the subjective actions of the participants.


    At present, the staff of the Records Department were visibly excited, their minds and bodies gradually relaxing as the situation unfolded.


    The subjective actions displayed by the four young participants had significantly reduced the difficulty of this theme, greatly increasing the stability of the practice. The estimated success rate now exceeded 90%, and they might even consider popping the champagne early.


    The department head, wearing a satisfied smile, placed a red tag labeled ¡°Ritual Interruption¡± onto the blackboard.


    ---


    ¡¾The Mansion - Master Bedroom¡¿


    Two girls, drenched in a mix of sweat and rainwater, rummaged through their backpacks for spare clothes.


    They had attended the same kindergarten, elementary, and middle school.


    Unfortunately, they were supposed to be in the same high school as well, but an incident led Wu Wen to transfer schools. Over the past two years, their time together had been greatly reduced, limited to occasional weekends without cram school.


    And girls at this age underwent the most significant changes.


    As the two removed their tops in the master bedroom, Wu Wen was startled by the sight before her.


    Anna not only possessed a height and muscle mass far exceeding the average girl but also displayed physical development that was equally above average.


    "Two years apart, and you''ve grown this much!"


    Though both girls usually carried themselves with confidence, Anna instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, casting a peculiar glance at Wu Wen.


    Just as Anna was about to say something, she froze, her gaze fixed on something unusual on Wu Wen''s body.


    "Wenwen, what''s going on with your body?"


    "Huh? Oh, you mean these¡­" Wu Wen replied nonchalantly. "My dad arranged for me to attend the highest-level tutoring classes. The teachers are strict, and accidents happen."


    "These don''t look like accidents," Anna remarked.


    While wiping the water off her body with a tissue, Anna leaned closer to examine the bluish-purple marks and scars on Wu Wen''s skin, some of which had even left permanent traces.


    Before Anna could get a clearer look, Wu Wen had already slipped on a black T-shirt.


    "The human body is resilient, Anna. You should know that better than anyone. As long as it helps me grow stronger, I don''t mind pushing the limits. After all, what we''ll face in the future won''t stop at just leaving scars."


    "Wenwen~ Isn''t your dad being too harsh on you?"This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "My dad''s just concerned about me. After all, I made mistakes, and this is the only way to catch up with the top tier. If I had kept up back then, I could''ve gone to the same school as you¡­ But it''s not so bad. At least there, I wouldn¡¯t have met someone as interesting as Luo Di."


    "True, that guy is definitely something."


    Anna also changed into a white T-shirt.


    When the two opened the shared map, the dots representing the two boys were already moving toward the mansion.


    The class monitor, now wearing a raincoat, took out two more raincoats to hand to the boys when they returned.


    "Shall we go downstairs to meet them? If they¡¯ve really dealt with the corpse, they¡¯ll probably need to handle the tree in the backyard next. Luo Di¡¯s chainsaw was definitely a good purchase."


    ---


    ¡¾The Backyard¡¿


    When everyone regrouped in the hall, the class monitor quickly noticed a hint of discomfort lingering on Gao Yuxuan''s face and curiously asked:


    "How did you two deal with the corpse so quickly?"


    "Tossed it," Luo Di replied.


    The monitor nodded. "Found a slope and threw it down the mountain, huh? No wonder you were so fast. By the way, how are you planning to deal with the tree in the backyard?"


    "Cut it down."


    With everyone in agreement, they headed back to the backyard.


    The sudden downpour had interrupted the feast of flies, masking some of the pungent odor.


    Thanks to the rain, the heat generated during woodcutting would dissipate quickly, significantly reducing the risk of an explosion.


    The monitor attached a light strip to the tree trunk to avoid creating a "corner" during the cutting process.


    When the high-speed rotating saw blade touched the surface of the tree trunk,


    (Ah!)


    Everyone heard a faint scream, as if it came from the tree itself. The entire locust tree began to tremble slightly.


    Luo Di didn¡¯t stop. The cutting continued.


    At times, foul-smelling sap splattered outward, resembling blood spurting from severed arteries.


    At other times, large clusters of leaves suddenly fell, each one seemingly etched with a face contorted in pain.


    In less than ten minutes, the entire locust tree collapsed with a loud crash.


    The cross-section of the trunk revealed no tree rings. Instead, it was entirely rotten, riddled with countless small holes, the sight of which made everyone''s scalp tingle.


    The tree had decayed to such an extent that it should have withered long ago.


    ---


    ¡¾Post-Cutting and Rest¡¿


    Four raincoats were hung in the front yard, left to the rain to wash away the filth.


    Outside the master bedroom, the two girls waited while Luo Di and Gao Yuxuan changed inside.


    Gao Yuxuan stuffed his discarded clothes into a trash bag and tied it tightly, as if the extreme filth on them made washing unnecessary.


    As he stood up to place the garbage at the door, his eyes were drawn to a certain "spectacle."


    It was a muscular back with contours akin to a painting or something one might only see on TV¡ªa physique far beyond what was typical for someone of their age. At certain angles, the muscles seemed to faintly outline a menacing face.


    Gao Yuxuan, though ranked third in class for athletics, was far behind the first and second places.


    He never imagined that Luo Di would possess such a physique. No wonder Luo Di consistently ranked first. Knowing Luo Di¡¯s modest family background, Gao Yuxuan realized that achieving such a body must have required immense hardship, and his heart filled with admiration.


    ---


    ¡¾Dinner and Rest¡¿


    By 5:00 PM, the group had been active since early morning. Aside from a few sips of water, they had consumed almost no nutrients.


    Even for exceptional young individuals, their bodies were nearing their limits, with fatigue and hunger setting in simultaneously.


    Knowing the duration of the practice in advance, they had packed some supermarket-bought food in their backpacks, including self-heating meals and energy snacks.


    "Luo Di, here¡¯s yours."


    Having just eaten two wafers, Luo Di was handed a steaming self-heating meal by the class monitor.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t just for him¡ªthe monitor had prepared one for everyone.


    "Thanks."


    The warm, flavorful meal was a welcome relief. As Luo Di ate, he reflected on the day''s events, trying to deduce the final threat level of the simulated practice. However, as his thoughts deepened, a worm-like fatigue wriggled through his mind. He was simply too tired.


    Luo Di decided to abandon his thoughts for now and take a nap after finishing his meal.


    On the other side, Anna seemed unsatisfied with just eating. She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out two bottles of high-proof vodka labeled in Russian.


    "Anyone want a drink? After getting drenched in the rain, it¡¯s perfect for warming up."


    The others shook their heads. Being underage aside, most people found alcohol impaired their thinking and actions.


    But for Anna, with her pure Russian heritage and a childhood spent drinking at home, a meal without alcohol was incomplete. For her, alcohol seemed to enhance her state and help her rest better.


    "Ah~ None of you drink? Guess I¡¯ll drink alone."


    Unbothered, Anna uncorked a bottle and drank directly.


    A fiery warmth coursed through her throat, turning her cheeks rosy. Her posture gradually became less ladylike.


    As she took a few bites of food and prepared for her fourth sip¡ª


    Click!


    A sudden, directionless "tongue-clicking sound" reached her ears, sending a chill down her spine. She nearly dropped the bottle in fright.


    Anna glanced at the others, who were still eating as if they hadn¡¯t heard a thing.


    "Was it the alcohol?"


    Without hesitation, she corked the bottle. Her drinking for the day was officially over.

 Chapter 13: Secrets

    The class monitor meticulously sorted out the dinner waste produced by everyone, packed it up, and threw it outside the mansion. When she returned, she found that everyone was already locked in a battle with their eyelids.


    "Everyone seems so tired~ How about this? We''ll take turns standing guard, two hours each, so everyone can get six hours of rest."


    "Rody contributed the most today and worked the hardest, so he earns the right to sleep on the bed."


    "I''ll take the first shift tonight. Maybe it''s because I didn''t exert myself much, but I''m not tired at all."


    Almost as soon as the monitor finished speaking, Rody had already collapsed onto a wicker chair and fallen asleep, faint snores audible in the quiet room.


    Gao Yuxuan laid out a moisture-proof mat on the floor as his makeshift bed, leaving the large bed entirely for Anna.


    It made sense¡ªsomeone of Anna''s stature really couldn''t sleep anywhere else.


    In this dilapidated old house where someone had died, the bedding was, of course, unusable. Anna stripped the bed down to its bare frame, laid her own moisture-proof mat over it, and reluctantly settled down to sleep.


    "Ah, youth¡ªable to fall asleep the moment they lie down~"


    The monitor gazed at the three sleeping figures in the bedroom with a look of satisfaction. Strangely, there was no trace of fatigue on her face.


    The sound of heavy rain battering against the mansion created a natural white noise, masking any other sounds.


    The monitor, moving with the grace of a ballet dancer, began to twirl and spin lightly across the room.


    After finishing her impromptu dance, she approached the old dressing table in the master bedroom. She wiped the dust off the mirror and then used a tissue to clean an antique wooden comb.


    Loosening her ponytail, she applied some kind of ointment onto the comb and began to slowly brush her hair in front of the mirror.


    The reflection in the mirror showed her face, always smiling. From the start of the fieldwork until now, she hadn''t displayed a shred of nervousness.


    ...


    Night fell.


    Unlike cities, which remain brightly lit under ample artificial light, this small hill in the outskirts was now shrouded in complete darkness.


    The wall lamps that the group had preemptively placed around the mansion were doing their job, keeping the entire building illuminated.


    **[9:00 PM]**


    Assigned to the last watch, Rody woke up as if he had set an internal alarm clock. He expected someone to come and switch shifts with him, but instead, three pairs of eyes were staring at him intently.


    "You''re awake?" The monitor asked excitedly.


    "What are you all doing?"


    "Come quickly~ Gao Yuxuan discovered a secret about this mansion during his watch, so he woke us all up. Considering how exhausted you were today, we decided to wait an extra half hour for you."


    "A secret? What kind of secret?"


    The monitor, feigning mystery, stood by the wall and knocked on it. A clear, hollow sound echoed back.


    "Gao Yuxuan measured the length of the hallway and compared it to the width of the master bedroom and the adjacent room. He found a significant gap between the two rooms¡ªlarge enough to fit a hidden compartment."


    "There''s likely a secret chamber here. We just haven''t found the switch. Perhaps the owner of the house removed it beforehand."


    Rody also tapped on the wall with his fingers. "It doesn¡¯t sound very thick. We should be able to break through it, right?"The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Exactly~ But we were worried about waking you up."


    The monitor turned gracefully, spreading her arms to the left to reveal her close friend.


    Anna, holding a masonry hammer, was already prepared to break through the wall. Judging by the hammer''s worn condition, it was likely something they had found inside the mansion.


    With a burst of strength, she twisted her waist and swung her arms, delivering a powerful blow.


    *Bang!*


    The force was astonishing. One swing created several cracks in the wall, with the impact point completely caved in.


    Without pause, she swung again.


    *Boom!*


    The second blow created a fist-sized hole, allowing a glimpse into the pitch-black interior.


    The darkness inside made everyone uncomfortable. Growing up in the city, they were unaccustomed to such complete darkness; even the most remote alleys were lit to some degree.


    Seeing the unsettling blackness, the monitor quickly threw a touch-activated light ball inside.


    *Pop!*


    The ball activated upon impact, emitting a white light. Strangely, the reflected light turned red.


    The wall-breaking continued.


    *Boom!* With the third blow, a large section of bricks collapsed. As the secret chamber was fully revealed, a distinct, overpowering stench wafted out.


    Unlike the pure decay from the backyard, this stench was mixed with the scent of incense.


    The floor was littered with the corpses of crows. The light ball they had thrown in earlier now rested among the dead birds. The cramped chamber offered no suitable place to step.


    The walls of the chamber were painted deep red with crow blood.


    At the far end of the chamber stood an altar draped in yellow cloth. On it were a metal oil lamp, rotting fruit offerings, burnt incense sticks, unused yellow talismans, and a family photo.


    This was the first time they had found a photo of the family who once lived in this mansion.


    However, the main ritual items seemed to have been removed.


    One other detail stood out in the chamber: four hooks were mounted on the ceiling, one at each corner of the rectangular room, seemingly meant to suspend something.


    Drawing on both textbook and extracurricular knowledge, Gao Yuxuan began to analyze. "Perhaps someone was conducting corpse refinement here... If I''m not mistaken, these hooks were likely used to suspend a coffin."


    "Corpse refinement?"


    The first thought that came to everyone''s mind was the four bodies hanging from the locust tree in the backyard, especially the elderly man''s body, which had been the hardest to burn.


    Rody''s sharp eyes noticed something odd about the photo on the altar.


    Wrapping his shoes in plastic bags, he carefully stepped over the crow corpses to retrieve the black-and-white photo.


    "This is¡ª!"


    Everyone froze upon seeing the photo.


    It depicted five people.


    The young man and woman, the middle-aged woman, and the elderly man were the four bodies they had already dealt with.


    But there was a fifth person¡ªa middle-aged man in a wheelchair, dressed in plain clothes.


    Although the old-fashioned black-and-white photo was somewhat blurry, it was clear that this man was in poor health, likely suffering from a severe illness.


    Standing behind him, pushing the wheelchair, was the elderly man who had been hanging highest in the tree¡ªthe one hardest to deal with.


    The monitor immediately pieced everything together. "I knew it! The age gap between the old man and the middle-aged woman was too large for them to be a couple. It turns out the old man was the housekeeper.


    This sickly man was the master of the house!


    He must have been skilled in some form of Taoist magic. Gravely ill and nearing death, he decided to refine his own corpse, with his entire family as crucial participants.


    The family was likely controlled by talismans or had their minds altered, and they were taught the steps of corpse refinement in advance.


    The first stage of the process took place in this secret chamber.


    The bodies were placed in a coffin suspended in the chamber, absorbing yin energy through the dense crow blood. Once enough was absorbed, the family would carry the coffin to the actual site for corpse refinement.


    Most likely, a hidden cave.


    Afterward, the family would decorate the mansion with funeral arrangements, slaughter all the pigs and cows in the backyard, and finally hang themselves.


    The animal carcasses and the hanged bodies nourished the locust tree in the backyard. The yin energy gathered at the tree roots and transmitted downward, completing the final stage of corpse refinement.


    Unfortunately, we interrupted the process.


    All their careful preparations were ruined, and the man in the photo may have climbed out of his coffin early due to the disrupted ritual. He might have already returned to the mansion."


    The monitor''s words sent a chill through everyone, freezing their breath. Their heads turned in unison toward the paper-covered bedroom door, motionless.


    ---

 Chapter 14: The Undead

    [One Hour Ago]


    In the mountains, at the hollow of a tree where Luo Di had first discovered the wooden box, a low, guttural roar now echoed from deep within.


    The interruption of the corpse refinement ritual¡ªcaused by the felling of the locust tree and the burning of the corpses¡ªhad awakened something.


    As if following an invisible camera lens, the perspective dives deeper into the hollow, revealing a hidden cavern where a coffin lies ajar. The lens then retreats to the hollow''s entrance, where a rotting, blackened, and cracked hand emerges. It is clear that "it" is still incomplete, its consciousness fragmented, unable to fully awaken without having "absorbed" the blood of its kin.


    ---


    Inside the mansion, the group had been silently watching the paper windows for a long time. Yet, no shadow appeared, nor was there any sound of footsteps.


    Suddenly, Luo Di seemed to realize something. He quickly stepped toward his backpack, fastening a machete with a leather sheath and securing chains to his waist, while grabbing the silver chainsaw case with his right hand.


    Without needing to say a word, the others followed suit, each equipping themselves with makeshift weapons. Gao Yuxuan had only a survival knife. Anna initially wanted to carry her entire backpack but, considering that their target had yet to appear, decided against wasting energy and settled on taking her tactical axe.


    As for Wu Wen, she had not revealed any defensive tools since they began their climb up the mountain. Now, she reached into her bag and pulled out something long.


    A cold glint flashed. It was an eight-sided Han sword forged with modern craftsmanship, its design dominated by simplicity, straight lines, and rectangular shapes.


    The jet-black hilt was etched with vertical grooves, its narrow diamond-shaped guard seamlessly blending with the black scabbard, which used modern magnetic technology for a perfect fit. At first glance, it looked more like a sleek black metal rod than a sword.


    After arming themselves, the group donned white masks. Without exchanging a single word, they seemed to know exactly where they needed to go and what they had to do.


    Descending from the second floor of the mansion, they walked along the corridor to the familiar back courtyard door. The stench lingered, but this time, none of them seemed to notice. There was no sign of physical discomfort.


    Standing at the doorway, they shone their flashlights into the backyard under the night sky. Everything appeared as it had before, except the felled locust tree now lay amidst the carcasses of pigs and cows, obstructing their view of what lay beyond.


    Unlike the afternoon rain, which had masked much of the ambient noise, the light drizzle of the night made the silence almost deafening. In this eerie stillness, they could hear faint, unsettling sounds coming from the depths of the courtyard, just beyond the fallen locust tree.


    Wu Wen quickly raised a finger to her masked lips, signaling the others to move quietly. They advanced cautiously, their footsteps almost silent as they stepped through the sticky muck. Neither the stench nor the texture beneath their feet distracted them; all their attention was focused on the strange, discordant noise beyond the tree trunk.


    The closer they got, the clearer the sound became¡ª the tearing of flesh and the crunching of bone.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    When they reached the locust tree, they peeled back the branches obstructing their view, only to freeze in shock.


    It was as if a doctor had just delivered a terminal diagnosis. Although they had all mentally prepared themselves for such a sight, the reality of it was far more horrifying than they had imagined.


    Dressed in black robes with buttons stitched in the shape of a Taoist Eight Trigrams, the figure''s head unmistakably matched the photograph of the diseased middle-aged man.


    His face was veined with inky black blood vessels, covered in pustules left by his illness. Cloudy, milky-white eyes stared blankly at the world.


    He stood upright, his arms stretched out horizontally as he held a rotting cow''s head before him. His blackened teeth tore into the decayed flesh, sucking out the remaining Yin energy from within.


    Around him, the carcasses of pigs and cows had been almost entirely consumed, as he desperately tried to make up for the incomplete ritual.


    Perhaps sensing that the cow''s head was nearly drained, or perhaps aware of the group''s presence, the creature suddenly stopped.


    With a loud crack,the cow''s skull fell to the ground.


    Balancing on the tips of his toes, his body tilted forward at a 30-degree angle. Then, propelled as if by an invisible force of Yin energy, he began gliding across the filth-covered courtyard, rapidly closing in on the intruders.


    ---


    [Perspective Switch]


    When the undead creature tilted its head, the four youths knew they had been exposed.


    The choice before them was clear: fight or flee? Should they engage in the backyard or find another location?


    But these questions had already been answered before they descended the stairs. Running or hiding was not an option.


    With the ritual interrupted, this was their best chance to destroy the creature. Delaying would only allow it to grow stronger, while they would become increasingly fatigued.


    However, staying in the backyard, the site of the ritual, would give the creature a natural advantage. The open clearing in front of the mansion, where they had burned the bodies earlier, seemed like a better battleground.


    "Go!"


    As the undead pursued them, the group began to sprint. Wu Wen and Luo Di led the charge, with Anna close behind, and Gao Yuxuan bringing up the rear.


    Wu Wen was the first to cross the sticky muck of the courtyard and step onto the mansion''s wooden floors. She was about to pick up speed when she noticed Luo Di had fallen to the back of the group, seemingly on purpose.


    Her eyes, visible above her mask, showed no trace of fear. Instead, they held a hint of approval, even a touch of admiration.


    The group''s retreat went smoothly. Even Gao Yuxuan, the slowest among them, managed to keep pace, his 100-meter sprint time of 11.9 seconds just enough to stay ahead of the undead.


    ---


    At the mansion''s entrance, the pit where the bodies had been burned was now filled with rainwater, charred bones floating on the surface.


    As the undead pursued them into the clearing, its nostrils flared, catching the lingering scent of kin in the air. Driven by instinct, it momentarily shifted its focus, approaching the pit where the bones lay.


    Realizing that the flesh of its kin had been utterly destroyed and could not be absorbed, it let out a deafening, beast-like roar.


    But as its attention wavered, one of the group seized the opportunity to strike.


    A polished tactical axe, engraved with the logo of a renowned civilian-military manufacturer, sliced through the air in a perfect arc before striking the undead''s shoulder.


    Crunch!


    The axe bit into its flesh, but only about three centimeters deep. Anna was stunned by its hardness¡ªit felt less like flesh and more like something between stone and metal. The impact left her arm slightly numb from the recoil.


    "Whoosh!" Pulling the axe free, Anna quickly retreated, shouting, "This thing is tougher than I thought! Regular physical attacks won''t kill it. I''ll grab something from my room¡ªhold it off for now! I''ll be right back!"


    With that, Anna ran back into the mansion, an idea forming in her mind for how to deal with the undead.


    Though her attack hadn''t caused significant damage, it had clearly posed a threat. The undead''s head snapped toward Anna''s retreating figure, but its path was soon blocked by another target.


    The air filled with the roar of an engine. The chainsaw had come to life.

 Chapter 15: Reinforcements

    Anna raced up the stairs, her heart pounding as she made her way to the master bedroom. She needed to retrieve a ¡°Yang-infused object,¡± something specifically designed to counter the undead.


    ¡°So this is Wu Wen¡¯s country¡¯s ¡®jiangshi¡¯¡­¡±¡°Back in Russian, we used the same word for zombies, but they¡¯re completely different creatures.¡±


    ¡°Even though we interrupted the ritual in time and stopped this jiangshi from fully evolving, its body is still unbelievably tough. My axe, which can chop through a tree with one swing, barely scratched its shoulder bone.¡±


    ¡°And this is just a heavily controlled simulation practice under the Research Institute¡¯s supervision. The real ¡®anomalies¡¯ must be far more terrifying. My strength and skills are nowhere near enough. No wonder the teacher cut me from the sports team. I¡¯ll have to double my training when I get back to school.¡±


    Pushing aside her chaotic thoughts, Anna found herself standing in front of the master bedroom door.


    Just as she reached for the handle¡ª


    Click.


    A sharp, crisp tongue-click echoed through the air.


    That single sound sent a wave of fear crashing over her, far exceeding the terror she felt downstairs with the jiangshi.


    Her gaze was involuntarily drawn to the hallway beside her.


    She distinctly remembered that the master bedroom was at the very end of the hallway, with the door right next to the corridor''s dead end.


    But now, the hallway seemed to stretch endlessly into the shadows.The far end was swallowed in pitch blackness, with no light strips lining the walls. There was no way to see where it ended.


    The sound had come from within that darkness.


    The longer Anna stared, the more her fear grew, her mind spiraling into dread.


    Then, she thought she saw something¡ªa figure slowly emerging from the shadows, its body gradually taking shape.


    It was a horrifying creature with a tongue for a head,walking forward step by step like a living person.


    It was about to step out of the darkness,about to reveal some unknown and terrifying ultimate form.


    Slap!


    A hand suddenly clapped down on Anna¡¯s shoulder.


    The unexpected touch jolted her back to reality. In the blink of an eye, the hallway returned to normal¡ªjust three meters away was the dead end, with a decorative vase standing at the far wall.


    ¡°Anna, what are you doing just standing there?¡±


    Anna turned her head to see Gao Yuxuan, his usual composed demeanor intact behind his glasses.


    ¡°Did you hear anything strange just now?¡± she asked, her voice trembling slightly.


    ¡°No¡­ Hurry up! Wu Wen and Luo Di can¡¯t hold out much longer.¡±


    With the situation at a critical juncture, Gao Yuxuan didn¡¯t have the luxury to think about anything else. Every second wasted was a gamble with his teammates¡¯ lives.


    He had followed Anna back to the mansion for a simple reason: among the four of them, he was the least athletic. If even Anna¡¯s axe couldn¡¯t harm the jiangshi, his survival knife would be completely useless.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    But Gao Yuxuan had come prepared. In his backpack was a special item, originally intended to provide medical support for his teammates. Now, it might just be their best weapon against the jiangshi.


    Seeing Gao Yuxuan rush into the master bedroom to search for his item, Anna quickly followed.


    Though the fear from the tongue-click still lingered at the back of her mind, she couldn¡¯t afford to dwell on it. Her best friend was in danger, and that thought was enough to push her forward.


    She kept reminding herself to trust the Research Institute, to believe that this simulation would only trigger one anomalous event.


    As her fear gradually subsided, Anna rummaged through her backpack and found the tool she needed to deal with the jiangshi. However, it required some preparation before it could be used.


    While assembling her equipment, Anna noticed Gao Yuxuan holding a strange wooden box. Inside, arranged in neat rows, were long silver needles.


    ¡°Are those¡­ for acupuncture?¡±


    Though Anna wasn¡¯t from Wu Wen¡¯s country, she was well aware of the renowned practice of traditional Chinese medicine.


    In a world where a major corporation monopolized biomedical technology, these affordable and effective TCM clinics had become an essential part of the healthcare system, providing accessible treatment for ordinary people.


    Anna herself had once tried acupuncture, which had significantly improved her physical condition after just one session. It even helped her achieve excellent results in her subsequent physical exams.


    But the silver needles in this box were much longer than those used in acupuncture. The longest one could easily pierce through an arm.


    Meanwhile, the tools in Anna¡¯s hands were three bottles of vodka they had brought for dinner.Two of them were her favorite 60-proof spirits, while the last was a bottle of Spirytus, a 96-proof vodka known as ¡°The Water of Life.¡± Typically used for mixing cocktails, Anna never expected it to come in handy like this.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    When the two of them reopened the master bedroom door, they could hear the clash of metal from outside, even from a distance.


    ¡°Wu Wen!¡±


    Having experienced the jiangshi¡¯s toughness firsthand, Anna knew just how difficult it was to deal with. Her concern for her best friend completely suppressed the lingering fear from earlier. She decided to deal with the strange hallway later¡ªafter they survived this ordeal.


    As they sprinted out of the mansion, the scene before them made them freeze in their tracks.


    The sounds of battle had stopped.


    The gleaming, silver-coated chainsaw lay on the ground near the mansion¡¯s entrance, its blade broken and unusable.


    Luo Di was sprawled on the ground ten meters away,his right hand clutching his left upper arm, where three finger-wide holes had pierced through his muscle. The wounds were blackened, oozing blood and pus.


    However,on the ground nearby was a severed arm wrapped in a tattered sleeve. Foul black blood pooled around it. Judging by the rough cut, it had been severed by the chainsaw.


    At the cost of his chainsaw and his own injury, Luo Di had managed to cut off one of the jiangshi¡¯s arms.


    Anna and Gao Yuxuan were stunned by Luo Di¡¯s feat,but only Luo Di himself knew that it was Wu Wen¡¯s relentless efforts to distract the jiangshi that had given him the opportunity to wield the unwieldy chainsaw effectively.


    Wu Wen¡¯s combat skills were far beyond what one would expect from a high school student.


    ¡°Ahhh¡ª¡±


    Thick black mist poured from the jiangshi¡¯s mouth. Losing an arm had only made it angrier, and it now locked its sights on Luo Di, its primary target.


    Its cloth shoes lifted as it charged forward with terrifying speed.


    Luo Di, still struggling to get up, seemed unable to dodge in time.


    At the critical moment,something glowing flew through the air from the mansion¡¯s entrance, tracing a perfect arc before smashing into the jiangshi¡¯s side.


    With a deafening crash of shattering glass and a monstrous roar, flames erupted, spreading across the jiangshi¡¯s body as the intense smell of alcohol filled the air.


    The improvised Molotov cocktail didn¡¯t engulf the jiangshi entirely, but the flames managed to burn parts of its body.


    The Yang-infused fire naturally countered the Yin energy of the undead.Though the pus oozing from the jiangshi¡¯s skin helped suppress the flames, the burns were still effective.


    Seizing the opportunity, another object was thrown¡ªthis time, not at the jiangshi but at Luo Di.


    Smack!


    He caught it firmly.


    It was a bottle of 60-proof vodka, its cap still intact.


    Though it didn¡¯t meet the 70¨C75% alcohol standard for medical use, it still had some disinfectant properties. Without hesitation, Luo Di poured the vodka over his wound.


    The pain was excruciating,and the corpse poison wouldn¡¯t be so easily neutralized.


    At that moment, a gentle hand rested on Luo Di¡¯s shoulder. The touch brought him back to the memory of the day before their break, when Wu Wen had first invited him to join this field practice.


    A soft voice came from behind her mask:


    ¡°Leave the rest to us. A maimed jiangshi is nothing we can¡¯t handle. Don¡¯t underestimate your teammates.¡±```


    ---