Chapter 37: The Final Seconds

Page 1/3

Su Qianqian glanced at her phone anxiously. “Only ten minutes left, but we still haven’t searched two floors. Besides those, there’s a boiler room and a bathhouse nearby. How about we split up? That way we’ll be faster.”

Zhang Xiaofan looked back at Su Qianqian’s worried face and refused. “The scratched-off names mean that either you or I must be on those two floors. Let’s search carefully; we’ll definitely find something.”

Su Qianqian nodded worriedly and went to the fourth floor. At the first room around the corner, she found a girl hanging by the neck in the dormitory.

The girl’s clothes were tattered beyond recognition, her flesh rotting and exuding a strong stench.

Zhang Xiaofan focused intently. The girl’s hands flailed wildly in midair.

From previous experience, Zhang Xiaofan knew that a room with a ghost always had a name.

He said, “I’ll go in and take a look.”

This time, Su Qianqian insisted on going in together. Zhang Xiaofan agreed, thinking the ghost wasn’t very powerful anyway.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered, the hanging rope snapped. The ghost turned its head, and a hideous expression formed on its decayed face.

Just as Zhang Xiaofan was about to act, Su Qianqian took the initiative. She shouted sharply and threw out a red talisman paper, shouting, “Break!”

The talisman was clearly of high level. As her voice fell, the ghost screamed miserably and was knocked back. Before Zhang Xiaofan could move, Su Qianqian pulled out her golden scissors.

Now, this golden scissors had several talisman papers affixed to it, which clung firmly. A radiant glow burst forth, as if the talismans were alive, and the scissors quickly radiated a strong spiritual power.

Su Qianqian stepped forward swiftly. The dazzling light made the ghost scream and retreat. Then she opened the scissors and, with a “snap,” cut off the ghost’s head.

Zhang Xiaofan was stunned. He hadn’t expected Su Qianqian to be this powerful now, and it was clear the golden scissors had been enhanced by talisman magic, making them far stronger than before.

Su Qianqian’s face was pale, her chest rising and falling rapidly, making Zhang Xiaofan’s heart ache with longing.

Fortunately, he knew this wasn’t the time for distractions and hurriedly asked if she was alright.

Su Qianqian shook her head. “It’s the first time I’ve unleashed the golden scissors’ power. Didn’t expect dealing with ghosts to be so easy.” Then, suddenly, she kissed Zhang Xiaofan on the cheek and said, “See? I can protect myself.”

Zhang Xiaofan felt deeply moved. Even if he was a fool, he could tell that Su Qianqian was trying to ease his worries by handling the ghost herself, so he wouldn’t have to fret over her.

Page 2/3

Su Qianqian scanned the room and finally spotted her name written at the top of the rope from which the ghost had hung.

“I’ve found mine. You should go find yours quickly,” she urged.

Zhang Xiaofan closed the door behind her. “Be careful.”

Su Qianqian nodded firmly and forced a smile so Zhang Xiaofan wouldn’t worry. After he shut the door, he left. After searching the floor for a while, he didn’t find his name.

He looked at the list again, his heart sinking. Only five minutes remained. He headed to the boiler room on this floor and was surprised to find Song Feng there.

“Oh, Brother Xiaofan, so capable, yet you still haven’t found your name?” Song Feng chuckled, standing beside a frozen corpse, which appeared to be his handiwork.

Zhang Xiaofan had no time for talk. Time was running out. He climbed to the fifth floor and suddenly his pupils contracted as he saw writing on the steps: “First-floor parking lot, Zhang Xiaofan.”

He was ecstatic. This had to be a signal left by his teammates after seeing his name in the parking lot below.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Zhang Xiaofan hurried downstairs. Passing Song Feng, he noticed the latter’s cold sneer, which made him uneasy, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.

Only two minutes left. He rushed down the stairs and quickly reached the third floor. Looking at the scratched area, Zhang Xiaofan suddenly felt a chill.

If the other party could scratch off the writing here, couldn’t they also write false information to mislead him?

Thinking this through, Zhang Xiaofan looked up. Earlier, he and Su Qianqian had searched the first and second floors, while others had gone upstairs. So no one had been to the first-floor parking lot before!

“Damn it, Song Feng, you trapped me!”

It was obvious: the writing upstairs was deliberately left by Song Feng to prevent him from going to the fifth floor, misleading him to the first floor. And if time ran out without completing the task, death would be the outcome!

Such malice.

Without hesitation, Zhang Xiaofan turned and hurried upstairs. Though exhausted, only a little over a minute remained. The situation was critical.

Finally, with one minute left, he reached the fifth floor. Kicking open the first room’s door—empty. The second room—also empty.

Suddenly, his phone chimed. Without looking, Zhang Xiaofan knew the game was entering its final countdown.

Page 3/3

His breathing grew rapid as dozens of rooms lay ahead.

“Calm down, calm down.” Zhang Xiaofan forced himself to steady his nerves. Searching each room carefully would take too long. He needed a quick way to find the right room.

Looking at the rooms, an idea struck him. Since Song Feng had tricked him downstairs, that meant Song Feng must have found a room with his name. If so, Song Feng must have left some trace.

And that trace… right—the room had a ghost. For Song Feng to find the name, he must have entered the room, likely using his ice powers.

Zhang Xiaofan ran while scanning carefully. Suddenly, a chill washed over him.

The cold emanated from Room 523 ahead!

He looked at the doorknob, which was coated with a layer of frost. Twisting it, Zhang Xiaofan cursed silently—Song Feng had frozen it!

Without hesitation, Zhang Xiaofan ignited a great flame in his hand. With a “boom,” the fire quickly melted the frosted doorknob. Then, with a bang, he forced the door open.

Prepared to fight the ghost inside, he instead found a corpse frozen stiff. Zhang Xiaofan’s heart leapt—Song Feng must have discovered his name here because he had broken in and even killed the ghost.

Moving the corpse aside, Zhang Xiaofan found his name written on the floor.

At that moment, his phone chimed.

Opening it, he saw a message from Bao Lei: “Time’s up! Good. Looks like all classmates found where their names were. As a fellow classmate, I’m pleased.

The warm-up game is over. Now it’s time to find the life-and-death cards!

The life-and-death cards are hidden somewhere in the old staff dormitory. Before five o’clock, those holding the life cards live; those without, die!

Classmates, good luck!”