ADLH Chapter 16: "You Stand Right There, Don’t Move"
Drip... drip...
Water dripped into the sink, shattering into tiny transparent blossoms.
Layers of black sludge and countless strands of hair clung to the rusted old pipes. The red rubber-coated valve, now peeling, failed to completely stop the foul-smelling water from trickling out.
The unique mustiness and stench of water made the air dizzying.
Maybe it was the dripping water, or the darkness—but the whole bathroom was cold and damp, raising goosebumps and making one want to rub their arms for warmth.
The mirror above the sink had already shattered. Shards lay scattered on the floor, reflecting faint light. Thick dust coated the black-and-white tiled floor, and water dripping from the ceiling had turned the dust into muddy sludge.
Creak... creak...
Leather shoes stepped on the glass shards. Golden vertical pupils stared at the broken mirror frame—only a few shards clung to its edges. Qian Ji gazed for a moment, then suddenly smirked. His light brown hand reached forward, picking up a shard.
There was a dark substance and several strands of long female hair on the shard.
He examined it, let out a mocking laugh, and tossed it into the stinking sink.
“Man-eating mirror, huh.”
His thin lips parted. That rough, husky voice scraped against the ears like a tease, enough to make someone blush and shrink their neck.
Qian Ji had already made his assessment. Just as he was about to turn and leave, a blinding white light suddenly illuminated the room—so piercing it felt like it could stab through glass and right into the eyes.
Qian Ji quickly raised a hand to shield his face. His nictitating membrane protected his eyes, but even so, physiological tears welled up in his golden pupils.
Outside the door, the dawdling Fenghuo and Langyan arrived just a bit too late and immediately began to wail while covering their eyes!
“Is it morning already? My poor eyes!”
“Nonsense! We’re wolves, not dogs!”
“Ugh—my eyes—”
Once they adjusted to the light, their teary, bloodshot blue eyes met pitifully. Fenghuo wiped his brother’s tears, looking around. “Why the hell is it so bright all of a sudden?”
“How should I know? Ow, it really hurts.” Langyan whimpered in discomfort, and wiped Fenghuo’s tears with his sleeve in return.
While the two brothers were fussing, Qian Ji’s expression turned grim. A bad premonition struck him. He quickly stepped over to the bathroom window—and there they were: rows of blinding floodlights and a crew of uniformed personnel.
The blazing lights were almost like miniature suns, scorching hot on the skin.
That uniform... those procedures...
Qian Ji’s face twitched. Could it be...
As if spotting him, a few of the crew waved in his direction.
One of the black-uniformed bodyguards grabbed his collar and spoke into a mic: “Boss, we found the gentleman. He’s on the fourth floor.”
Someone on the earpiece replied, and the bodyguard hesitated, then waved even harder and shouted toward Qian Ji with a bright-red face:
“Mr. Qian! Our boss told me to deliver this message: You stand right there, don’t move! Your, ahem...”
The bodyguard coughed, blushing furiously, but finished the sentence:
“Your little cutie will be on the battlefield in four minutes!”
The empty classroom building echoed with the bodyguard’s shout:
"Your little cutie... little cutie... cutie... tie..."
Qian Ji: “…”
Cutie, my ass!!!
Crack—he crushed the marble window ledge with one bare hand.
The wolf brothers peeked out curiously.
“Little cutie? Dragon Lord, is that your friend—”
But they fell silent upon seeing Qian Ji’s face, twisted more terrifyingly than any ghost. His golden pupils sparked with fire, dragon scales appeared on his cheeks, and horns sprouted on his forehead. Even his hands morphed into dragon claws!
The young dragon king was practically spewing dragon aura.
As if switching from a shoujo manga to a berserk comic in one panel, the young dragon lord grinned with clenched teeth—a “world-ending” smile.
Fenghuo, eyes wide: “I’m not saying anything. Lighting a candle for the little cutie... amen.”
Langyan, equally pale: “Don’t ask. Just light a candle. Amitabha.”
The oblivious bodyguard outside was still chatting away:
“Our boss says—he’ll be there in three minutes—”
Qian Ji’s teeth audibly clenched.
He sneered. “Let him come!”
To die.
Fenghuo and Langyan cowered behind a corner, silently watching the door with Qian Ji. A moment later, a man with a backpack and a blank expression walked in.
Fenghuo whispered, “Hey, it’s that human from the other day.”
Langyan nodded. “Mhm.”
The moment Ruan Xingzhou entered, Qian Ji greeted him with the deadliest head-pat imaginable.
His large hand engulfed Ruan Xingzhou’s entire head, fingers so tight the veins on his hand popped.
Ruan Xingzhou felt like his skull might implode.
Qian Ji hissed through clenched teeth, “How the hell did you follow me here? Hm!?”
Emotionless as always, Ruan Xingzhou clutched his head and quietly replied, “I put a tracker on you…”
“Hehehehehe…” Qian Ji laughed darkly. He suddenly lifted his head, eyes wide. “Liar. I’d know if you messed with me. You think I’m some dumb mortal!?”
The grip tightened.
My skull! My poor skull!
Ruan Xingzhou, eyes wide: “Of course you didn’t notice. I put it on your… uh…”
Qian Ji frowned. “Put it where?”
Ruan Xingzhou: “On your... that part.”
Qian Ji narrowed his eyes. “Be specific!”
Under increasing pressure, Ruan Xingzhou’s usual deadpan faltered. He glanced aside like a guilty husky and whispered:
“...On your underwear.”
Qian Ji froze: “...What did you say?”
“Your underwear.”
“...Say it again.”
Ruan Xingzhou blinked, patted Qian Ji’s shoulder, and attempted a cute face, “Darling, let me explain.”
“No need.” Qian Ji let him go, took a deep breath—and the next moment, golden fire erupted around him.
“I’M BURNING YOU ALIVE!”
Thirty minutes later...
Qian Ji walked in front, Fenghuo and Langyan brought up the rear, and Ruan Xingzhou walked in the middle.
Head down, lips turned down, red fingerprints stamped on his forehead from Qian Ji’s grip. His previously sleek hair was now a frizzy mess, still smoking slightly, and smelled unmistakably of scorched hair.
His expensive designer leisurewear now had several charred holes. Fortunately, Qian Ji’s fire wasn’t ordinary—he’d held back at the last second, burning only the clothes and sparing Ruan Xingzhou himself.
Ruan trailed behind silently, not even trying to pet the dragon.
He muttered dejectedly to himself, “I’m done... I’m done... I’m so done…”
Fenghuo and Langyan walked behind him, faces twitching with suppressed laughter.
Qian Ji, initially in a terrible mood, caught sight of Ruan’s sorry state and almost cracked a smile. But thinking about the tracking device on his underwear, he hardened his expression again.
The tiny tracker had been cleverly disguised as part of the soft rubber tag on his waistband—no wonder he hadn’t noticed. Even gods don’t typically inspect their underwear tags, after all.
With the darkness gone, the spooky atmosphere of the school building was completely ruined.
As they searched classroom after classroom, it seemed that the ghosts had sensed their strength—or perhaps were simply scared off by the sudden flood of light. By the time most rooms were checked, they hadn’t encountered a single ghost.
“Maybe the thing went into hiding?” Langyan murmured. “I mean, darkness is their advantage. Now it’s bright as day.”
Qian Ji frowned slightly, his expression frosty.
Behind him, Ruan was rubbing his frizzy hair and about to suggest turning off the lights when a sharp female scream echoed from downstairs.
Without hesitation, Qian Ji grabbed Ruan and sprinted toward it. Fenghuo and Langyan followed close behind.
In the blink of an eye, they reached the third-floor classroom where the scream had come from. Agonized wailing seeped through the door.
With a BANG, Qian Ji kicked the door open—glass shards exploded outward!
Qian Ji narrowed his eyes, and the flying shards suddenly froze mid-air, then gently clattered to the ground.
The gust of air and dust made Ruan tear up. As he blinked, Qian Ji silently moved to block the wind.
As Ruan opened his eyes again, several panicked students rushed toward them.
“I’m done playing! Help!”
“She’s gone mad!”
“The door’s open, RUN—!”
“Finally! The door is open—!”
The terrified students shoved and clawed to get past the four of them.
Qian Ji didn’t even flinch—he kicked the first one flying.
Fenghuo and Langyan followed suit, tossing the rest back inside.
Desks and chairs were overturned, screeching across the floor.
The injured students lay on the ground, moaning in pain. The ever-emotionless Ruan turned away—no sympathy.
At the podium stood a pretty girl with long black hair. She turned to them with a wide grin, arms spread.
All around her—on desks, podiums, windowsills—burned white candles with eerie blue flames.
Her pale face split into a smile so wide it reached her ears.
“Welcome to my game…”
“Fresh meat that smells so good.”
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