Chapter 2

School starts at eight, and there is evening self-study.

Because he stayed up late reading a story on the forum the previous night, Yang Jian was yawning all day at school, listless and sleepy. Every time he wanted to sleep in class, the image of the old man's photo would inadvertently pop up in his mind, and in his daze, he felt as if the hollow, lifeless, and terrifying eyes were staring at him from somewhere.

A sudden jolt, and he regained his spirit.

"That photo is really eerie. I couldn't sleep again."

"Hey, hey, Yang Jian, lend me a word." A head poked over, belonging to a tall and thin student.

His name is Zhang Wei, Yang Jian's desk mate.

Yang Jian asked, puzzled, "What do you mean by 'lend me a word'?"

"Hey, don't try to wriggle out of it. I saw you yawning all day, so you must have been up to some naughty things last night."

Zhang Wei patted his shoulder and lowered his voice, "Have you found any good stuff recently? Share it quickly, let your brother enjoy it too."

Yang Jian said, "Enjoy your head, I was reading a ghost story on my phone last night, so I went to bed late."

"Ghost story? Speaking of ghost stories, Yang Jian, do you know about the paranormal event that happened in a residential area in the city a while ago?" Another classmate joined in.

"What paranormal event?" Yang Jian asked, "I haven't heard about it."

Zhang Wei said, "I know about it too. It's said that in one night, over twenty people in a residential area hanged themselves collectively. Their bodies were hanging on the burglar bars, like cured meat. It was really scary. I have a photo of it, but I don't know if it's real or not."

He then took out his phone, opened the photo album, and flipped to a photo.

The photo was taken in the evening, and due to poor lighting in the residential area, it was a bit blurry. However, it was still possible to see the human-shaped outlines hanging on the burglar bars of the balconies, densely lined up. The faces of the corpses were grotesque and terrifying, especially their wide-open, fear-filled eyes, hinting at the horror they experienced before death.

From a distance, the dozens of corpses indeed looked like cured meat. What was strange was that the heads of the corpses were inside the burglar bars, while their bodies were below, and the gaps in the bars were too small for an adult to pass through.

Moreover, the heads were tilted back, in a bizarre, broken position.

The more he looked, the more he felt a sense of unease and fear. This photo had a similar effect to the photo of the old man in Yang Jian's phone, evoking strong emotions.

"Damn, where did you get this photo? I couldn't find it," the classmate said.

Zhang Wei said proudly, "A friend of mine took it while passing by. The place is now sealed off, so you can't take photos there anymore. If you want it, call me 'Dad,' and I'll give it to you. And stop calling me 'Yang Wei,' I recently took an English name."

"Speaking of which, I also have an English name: 'Woshi Shabi.' Remember, call my English name loudly when you see me on the street."

Yang Jian said, "We all went through nine years of compulsory education, so why are you guys so outstanding?"

"We all went to tutoring classes, which you can't do," Zhang Wei said proudly.

"Speaking of paranormal events, I've heard a lot about them online recently. They sound so real that I'm scared to look. Do you think these things are real or fake? Is there really a place haunted by ghosts?"

A female classmate named Miao Xiaoshan joined in.

Yang Jian said, "Most of the stories online are fake. I won't believe in ghosts unless I see them with my own eyes. However, it's better to be safe than sorry. If you really encounter these things, it's best to stay away."

"That's true," Miao Xiaoshan nodded.

"Everyone, be quiet."

At this moment, Teacher Wang shouted and walked into the classroom, "The school has temporarily changed today's evening self-study to a safety awareness class, mainly to promote student safety. I don't want to hear anyone talking during the lecture, disrupting the class discipline. Now, please welcome Mr. Zhou Zheng to give the lecture. Everyone, please applaud."

Hmm?

Yang Jian clapped while feeling puzzled. A safety lecture so late?

But when Zhou Zheng, who was to give the lecture, walked into the classroom, his eyelids twitched.

This man named Zhou Zheng was wearing a gray windbreaker, tightly wrapped around his body, and a mask. It was a hot day, and he had a badge hanging from his chest, but what caught everyone's attention was his terrifying appearance. His face was extremely emaciated, almost skeletal, and the shape and contours of his cheekbones were visible. His face had no extra flesh, and his eyes, due to his extreme emaciation, appeared large and bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for days.

However, his stomach was highly distended, like a beer belly full of fat, which was unusual for someone so thin.

This abnormality and strangeness made everyone feel uneasy.

At this moment, Zhou Zheng stood on the podium, exuding a dark, haggard, and numb aura. His body was stiff, and his bloodshot eyes moved slightly, like two dull, lifeless glass beads.

As his gaze swept over the students, they all felt an inexplicable fear.

Yang Jian subconsciously clenched his fists, his body tensing up, and he dared not meet his gaze, thinking to himself, "This feeling is even stronger than when I faced that photo..."

"Hello, everyone. My name is Zhou Zheng, and I am the head of Dachang City. I am glad to be standing here alive to give you this lecture today."

Zhou Zheng finally spoke, his voice dry, hoarse, and grating, like glass scraping across the ground. Combined with his extremely emaciated face, it made everyone feel uneasy.

Standing here alive to give a lecture?

Yang Jian felt a chill. This statement sounded strange.

Zhou Zheng then picked up a piece of chalk and turned to the blackboard, writing a large, clear word:

Ghost~!

"Ghost legends have existed since ancient times, not only in our country's history but also in the histories of other countries. My knowledge of history is not good, so I won't go into the details of ancient times. You just need to understand the general idea."

Zhou Zheng's voice was still hoarse and grating. He continued, "However, there are some things you must believe now. In recent years, paranormal events have increased exponentially, no longer just isolated incidents but are gradually evolving into a global disaster. If this situation is not effectively controlled, the future... perhaps the entire world will have no future."

Everyone felt surprised upon hearing this.

How did a safety awareness lecture turn into a ghost story session?

And he even exaggerated to the point of the world's end.

Not only the students but even Teacher Wang was taken aback.

"I cannot say more about this, and you should not ask. Please remember what I am about to say. This safety lecture may save your lives in the future."

Zhou Zheng did not continue but turned to the blackboard and wrote another sentence: Ghosts cannot be killed.

"In the near future, you may encounter situations you never want to face, such as... encountering a ghost. Although it may be disheartening, please remember this: ghosts cannot be killed. So, even in extreme fear, do not think of fighting them, because your lives are insignificant to them. They can kill you as easily as stepping on ants, no, even more easily. Perhaps with a blink or a snap of their fingers, you will be done for."

His bloodshot, haggard eyes stared at everyone, and he said with utmost seriousness, then turned to the blackboard and wrote the second sentence.

"Only ghosts can defeat ghosts."

Zhou Zheng continued, "If ghosts cannot be killed and possess extraordinary abilities, it means that the technological power of all countries is useless. Bombs, even nuclear weapons, are ineffective. If scientists cannot solve the 'ghost' problem in the future, the only method currently available is to use ghosts to defeat ghosts. I know you have doubts and some may think I am crazy, but it's not important. What's important is to listen to me and remember these words deeply, as you will need them in the future."

"Of course, I hope you never need to use them."

"Yang Jian, what is this guy talking about? I don't understand at all," Zhang Wei whispered.

Yang Jian said, "I don't understand either, but I feel uneasy after hearing these words."

"Could it be that the Earth has mutated, like in the novels?" Zhang Wei said.

"It shouldn't be...," Yang Jian hesitated.

Although he had fantasized about the existence of gods and superpowers, the reality of these things would inevitably cause panic, as they pose a significant threat to ordinary people.

Zhou Zheng continued on the podium, "Since ghosts cannot be killed and possess extraordinary abilities, combining these two factors, we can pose a question: If an ordinary person is targeted by a ghost, how can they survive? This is the key point, and I hope you remember it for life."

He then turned and wrote the third sentence on the blackboard: Understand the patterns of ghosts.

"Every entity has patterns, and ghosts are no exception. According to research data, each ghost has a nearly fixed method of killing and acting, like a computer program. You need to press the power button for the computer to run, and you need to click the mouse to open software. Overcome your fear, understand the patterns of ghosts, find their weaknesses. This is the only chance for an ordinary person to survive when targeted by a ghost."

"Remember, if a ghost targets you, this is the only way to survive. Don't be lucky; the terror of these things exceeds your imagination."

He repeated this with a serious tone.