Chapter 111: None of the Four Can Be Spared (4)

Zhou Bushan, upon hearing this, also leaned toward the crack in the door, hoping to take a look.

Shi Xianyu reminded him, "They were peering at us through the crack just a moment ago; they were terrified by my eyes."

Of course, she had been just as startled by their eyes, though she hadn't let it show.

Zhou Bushan paused, then turned and knocked on the door. "Excuse me, is young Master Wang Aiguo in? I am a Taoist priest from the Changle Palace. Mr. Wang has sent me to bring you home. I am not a ghost or a monster; there is no need to be afraid."

Behind the door, there was a flurry of rustling. A boy suppressed a surge of intense joy and whispered, "It’s my dad... my dad sent someone to save me! ...Hurry, open the door..."

Someone next to him seemed to whisper a few words of caution, and there was a sound like a group of people murmuring among themselves. After a moment, the boy leaned toward the door and asked, "Are you really sent by my father?"

"Yes," Zhou Bushan said good-naturedly. "Mr. Wang was worried I might not be able to find you, so he gave me a photograph of you."

He took a photo from his person and held it close to the crack in the door, hoping the people inside could see it clearly.

"It’s my photo!" the boy let out a stifled scream, wild with joy. "Open the door! Open it, open it!..."

Despite his words, it took a long time for Zhou Bushan and Shi Xianyu to get in. There was the clanking of iron chains and the screeching of desks and chairs being dragged—it seemed there were many obstacles behind the door. After much effort, the door to the second-floor cafeteria finally creaked open.

Over a dozen students were gathered inside, all of them looking anxious and casting suspicious, fearful glances at Zhou Bushan and Shi Xianyu.

Seeing them in person, Shi Xianyu noticed that these students appeared quite mature. The boys were all dressed in suits, and most of the girls wore heavy makeup, looking nothing like high school students.

"Everyone, don't be afraid. I will lead you all out of here," Zhou Bushan said, taking charge the moment he stepped inside. "Now, everyone stand in a circle and hold hands. Do not let go. I am going to perform a ritual."

The students’ faces lit up with hope.

A girl in a champagne-colored gown let out a cold snort and said, "I think you’d better stop with the wishful thinking. Unless we help her get revenge, she won't let us leave!"

"If we can leave, why wouldn't we?!" young Master Wang exclaimed excitedly. "I don't care! I’m going back, no matter what! I’ve had enough!"

A young man standing next to the girl in the champagne gown, who appeared to be her companion, spoke up: "In that case, let those who want to leave stand in a circle, and those who don't want to leave can stay behind."

There was hardly any hesitation; everyone except the two of them moved to join the circle.

A girl wearing a dark green cheongsam walked over and urged, "Yuxi, come with us. Even if we have to help Xiaoling get revenge, we can figure out a way once we are outside."

Another girl with curly hair, wearing a pink tulle dress, chimed in, "Yes, Yuxi, let’s go quickly. This place is too terrifying!"

"What good is it to go outside!" the girl called Yuxi sobbed, covering her face in despair. "I dream about her every night! Every night! Every night! What did I ever do wrong that she refuses to let me go?"

When she started crying, everyone gathered around to comfort her. Even young Master Wang, who had been so eager to leave, looked hesitant and softened his tone, saying, "But the Taoist priest from Changle Palace is here. With the priest here, there must be a way to solve this."

Concerned for the reputation of Changle Palace, Zhou Bushan immediately puffed out his chest and reassured them: "Everyone, follow me out first. We can discuss any problems later."

With a mix of coaxing and persuasion, the group finally pulled Yuxi over, placing her in the center like a star, and then held hands in a circle.

With the sudden increase in the number of characters, Shi Xianyu tried her best to remember them all.

On her side, Zhou Bushan picked up his peach wood sword, chanting incantations while performing various gestures.

Shi Xianyu watched him with curiosity, wondering if he could actually lead these people out.

Her mission was to find the murderer, and she wasn't strictly bound to stay in this place. If Zhou Bushan could get these people out, it wouldn't hinder her at all.

Zhou Bushan circled the students three times, waving his sword for quite a while. Gradually, cold sweat began to bead on his forehead, and his expression turned increasingly grim.

Shi Xianyu figured he was struggling because he was trying to take so many people at once.

She continued to watch him wield the sword.

Gestures alone didn't seem to be enough, so he unhooked a string of bronze bells from his waist, shaking them as he walked while reciting more incantations.

As time ticked by, the only sounds in the cafeteria were his chanting and the ringing of the bells.

Other than the increasing amount of sweat on Zhou Bushan's brow, nothing seemed to change.

The waiting students finally lost their patience. Young Master Wang frowned and asked, "Priest, is there some kind of problem?"

Zhou Bushan wiped his sweat with great effort, looking puzzled himself. "Yes, there is a problem... why isn't it having any effect?"

Shi Xianyu: "............"

Young Master Wang asked, "Is it because there are too many people at once? Maybe we should try one by one. Priest, take me out first. We can go out one by one!"

The other students exchanged subtle looks, clearly disapproving, but since Zhou Bushan had been hired by Wang Aiguo’s father, they couldn't say much.

Zhou Bushan nodded. "Very well, let’s try one by one."

The students looked at each other and silently dispersed.

Zhou Bushan took a deep breath, walked up to Wang Aiguo, picked up the peach wood sword again, and began to chant:

"As commanded by the law! Go!—"

Wang Aiguo braced himself, closing his eyes in anticipation of leaving.

"Go! ...Go! Go!..."

Wang Aiguo stood rooted to the spot; his body hadn't moved an inch.

"This... what is happening..." Zhou Bushan was dumbfounded. His procedure was flawless, so why wasn't it working?

The girl named Yuxi suddenly laughed, mocking them mercilessly: "I told you! She has us trapped here on purpose. Unless we find the murderer, none of us are getting out!"

A thought stirred in Shi Xianyu’s mind. She immediately said to Zhou Bushan, "Hurry, check if you can leave yourself."

Zhou Bushan was horrified. He quickly chanted an incantation to cast a spell, and sure enough, not only could he not lead others out, but he, too, was trapped in the school! He couldn't leave!

"This..." Zhou Bushan panicked, looking around. "Could it be that some evil magic has been cast on this place? Why can't I get out?"

"It’s a curse..." the girl named Yuxi said, her emotions spiraling into madness as she laughed through her tears. "She put a curse on us. Unless we find the murderer, every single one of us... will die here!"

The students looked miserable, huddling together in fear.

"Since that’s the case, then let's find the murderer," Shi Xianyu said, looking at them calmly. "There must be a reason we are trapped here. Since we can't get out for now, we might as well figure out who the killer is. You’ve been here for a long time—do you have any clues?"