Chapter 14: Turning Against Each Other

Seeing the three of them like this, Zhang Xiaofan let out a sigh. With the tangled relationships among these three, plus Guo Daqiang, it was impossible to make sense of it all.

Several boys were sneaking glances at Zhang Yanyan; after all, she had been involved with two men at once. Though it had been forced by a ghost, people conveniently ignored that detail and gossiped about her.

"Enough, Zhang Yanyan was the victim here, haunted by a ghost. Let's not talk about her anymore; she's already upset enough," Shen Fengxing tried once more to play the peacemaker.

At that moment, a rush of footsteps sounded at the door. Guo Daqiang arrived, bringing a group of outsiders with him—five in all. "Beat those two guys for me! Messing with my woman? Damn it!" Guo Daqiang snarled.

The five thugs surged forward like a pack. Though not well known, each radiated a dangerous energy.

Zhou Jian slammed the table and cursed, "Guo Daqiang, you dare?"

Zhou Jian was not someone to be trifled with. Though a model student by reputation—Zhang Xiaofan couldn't recall him ever fighting or having any bad habits—it didn't mean he was easily bullied.

Zhang Xiaofan had thought Zhou Jian and Xu Xiaolong would be outmatched and beaten, but unexpectedly, Zhou Jian leapt into the air and smashed his fist forward.

The leader of the thugs lunged, their fists meeting, but the thug recoiled with a cry, clutching his hand in pain.

Zhou Jian stepped forward, adopting a defensive stance, and coldly declared, "I've practiced martial arts since childhood. Do you really think a few of you can take me?"

With that, he unleashed a spinning kick, sending the thug leader crashing into the wall. The others drew knives, but Zhou Jian snatched up a chair and, moving with astonishing speed, battered them all. The thugs fell to the ground, groaning, their knives scattered.

Standing over the leader, Zhou Jian spat, "Get lost, or I'll beat you every time I see you."

None of the thugs dared linger—they fled in a panic.

Zhou Jian turned to Guo Daqiang and asked icily, "You still want to fight?"

Guo Daqiang hadn't expected the muscle he'd hired to be dispatched so easily. His face went pale, but preserving his pride, he sneered, "Remember this—I'll make you pay."

"Say that again," Zhou Jian stepped forward.

Guo Daqiang shrank back in fear.

"Let it go," Zhang Yanyan suddenly called out.

At her words, Zhou Jian took a deep breath, returned to her side, and said, "Yanyan, don't worry. I'll protect you."

"Wow, Zhou Jian knows martial arts?" someone exclaimed.

"Yeah—he fought five guys alone and came out without a scratch. So dominant! How did I never notice him before?" swooned a lovesick girl.

Zhang Xiaofan sighed. The rift between Zhang Yanyan and Guo Daqiang was now truly unbridgeable.

Ping!

Bao Lei: I never knew you were so incredible, Zhou Jian. I never noticed before.

"WeChat message!" a classmate called out.

Everyone hurried to check their phones.

Zhou Jian: Can we stop playing this game?

Bao Lei: Sure, kill yourself now and you won't have to play anymore.

Zhang Xiaofan shook his head. Making deals with a ghost was impossible.

Then Sun Yang sent another red envelope—this time for 500.

Sun Yang: The game is leveling up. We're now at stage two. Good luck, classmates.

"What's going on?"

"What does stage two mean?"

Sun Yang: You'll see soon enough. Try to grab as many red envelopes as you can. For stage three, I'll open the Netherworld Taobao Mall. Stay tuned.

"Netherworld Taobao... Why does that sound so familiar?" Zhang Xiaofan muttered.

He snatched a red envelope—56 yuan. Checking his Netherworld wallet, he now had 122.

"Is this money for shopping on Netherworld Taobao? What could it possibly sell?" Zhang Xiaofan wondered.

Ping!

Bao Lei: Anyone who grabbed an envelope ending with 2, prepare for a tug-of-war match.

Bao Lei: Participants are Zhao Wuzheng, Cheng Yang, Zhang Yanyan, Zhang Xiaofan, Guo Daqiang, Xu Xiaolong, Zhou Jian.

Bao Lei: These seven may form teams as they wish, with Zhang Yanyan and Guo Daqiang as team captains.

Bao Lei: Losing team faces death. The match will take place on the field, time limit two hours.

Bao Lei: Winners each receive three hundred nether coins.

Reading the rules, Su Qianqian looked at Zhang Xiaofan with concern, and he gave her a reassuring glance.

Yet Zhang Xiaofan frowned. Now the stakes had risen—winners could earn extra nether coins. Was this the balance in the nether wallet?

No one took the nether coins seriously. Everyone thought it was another trick by the ghost. After all, nether coins were for the dead; no one wanted them, so nobody paid attention.

"So, Zhang Yanyan and Guo Daqiang must be on opposing teams, and the remaining five have to choose between them for the tug-of-war," Hu Xiaotian observed.

He looked at Zhang Xiaofan. "Xiaofan, who will you pick?"

Zhang Xiaofan's gaze flickered as he looked at Guo Daqiang. "Although I really dislike Guo Daqiang, with his personality he's bound to do whatever it takes to win people over."

"Yeah, he comes from a wealthy family—he'll probably try to buy support," Hu Xiaotian sighed.

Zhang Xiaofan rubbed his forehead. The ghost was truly cunning, using this method to divide the classmates.

At that moment, Guo Daqiang stood up, holding his phone. "Join my team for tug-of-war and I'll give each of you a thousand yuan. How about it?"

Zhao Wuzheng and Cheng Yang were instantly delighted. "Great, we accept!"

But then Zhang Yanyan stood up. "Guo Daqiang, you're ruthless."

"Heh, you wretched girl—this is the price for defying me," Guo Daqiang said smugly.

Zhou Jian said coldly, "I'll stand with Zhang Yanyan."

Xu Xiaolong nodded. "Me too."

Guo Daqiang's expression changed. "Zhou Jian, Xu Xiaolong, I was wrong before. Let's let bygones be bygones and stay friends. Don't let this woman come between us."

Zhou Jian shook his head. "Yanyan made huge sacrifices to save us. We won't abandon her."

Xu Xiaolong wasn't fooled either. "Forget it, Guo Daqiang. I know what you're like. You say nice things now, but you're probably thinking about how to deal with me and Zhou Jian after the game."

Guo Daqiang's face darkened, clearly exposed.

Zhang Yanyan looked at them gratefully. "Thank you, both of you."

Finally, she turned her gaze to Zhang Xiaofan.

Now, Zhang Xiaofan was the only one who hadn't chosen a side. Whichever team he joined would almost certainly win. His decision was critical.

"Xiaofan, I'll give you a thousand yuan," Guo Daqiang said anxiously, pulling out the money.

Zhou Jian and Xu Xiaolong, seeing this, quickly pooled their money as well. "Zhang Xiaofan, we've been friends. You can't abandon us now."

"To hell with you—if I save you, I'll die!" Guo Daqiang cursed, then threw out ten thousand yuan. "Xiaofan, join my team. It's all yours."

Zhou Jian and Xu Xiaolong turned pale—they couldn't match that offer and grew desperate.

Zhang Yanyan sobbed, "Zhang Xiaofan, please... help me."