Chapter 14: Do You Even Know What Absolute Defense Means?
“By the way, where’s your school uniform? Don’t lose the key to unlocking the scenario—this is your proof of identity. Only when you wear it are you truly a student of Gaoshan High School; take it off, and you become an intruder.” Qíng Héyǐkān suddenly realized this problem.
This guy came to class, yet he was still dressed in military combat gear?
Wait a minute...
Could this be the reason he was called to the detention room?
“Oh, I wear it like underwear underneath. Want to see?” Wu Wang said as he prepared to unzip.
Qíng Héyǐkān shook her head frantically, frightened.
“No need. I have to go now; I only got ten minutes to visit the infirmary.” She sighed helplessly. “This damn school even regulates the time for seeing a doctor! Unless the school nurse issues a certificate on the spot declaring you unfit to attend class, any reason counts as breaking school rules.”
“Hm?”
Wu Wang’s brow twitched upon hearing this news.
He suddenly thought of a way to get the school nurse to give him a certificate.
Of course, that would have to wait until after finishing time in the detention room.
Time was running short.
Although Old Yao said he could return before class ended, his current role was still that of a student; he couldn't just leave whenever he wanted without consequence.
The main issue was—
Wu Wang felt utterly uneasy all over.
“I’m heading back too. See you at mealtime.”
Ever since locking eyes with Director Kè and growing that red-eye disease on his wrist, Wu Wang’s senses had become extraordinarily sharp.
Especially his eyesight—he could instantly sense if someone was secretly watching him, even on a busy street.
But since leaving the classroom, that eerie sensation of being watched hadn’t gone away. Something kept spying on him!
The longer it lasted, the stronger the feeling became. He suspected that if he stayed out of the classroom too long, something bad would happen.
After bidding Qíng Héyǐkān farewell, Wu Wang hurried back to the classroom.
Teacher Yao was still standing coldly at the podium, watching the students quietly study. When Wu Wang returned, he said nothing, just tilted his head slightly, signaling him to sit down.
Back in his seat.
Baili Dao quietly shifted over.
To be honest, he didn’t want much contact with this mentally unstable newbie, but some things were too curious not to ask.
“Hey, where did you get this report card? Do you even know your last test scores?” Baili Dao’s tone turned serious.
That threatening remark Teacher Yao made before they left had stuck with him.
While Wu Wang was out, Baili Dao checked his own score on the report card—
[Chen Baili: 90 points] [Rank: 5]
That was the identity he held within this scenario.
From Yao’s threat, could poor grades bring punishment?
There was a test tomorrow, and Baili Dao felt uneasy; no one knew what strange content this eerie school might test on.
“First, I stole this notebook from the podium. Second, don’t call me ‘hey,’ my name’s Chu Yuxian!” Wu Wang said seriously.
Baili Dao was speechless.
When did this guy start losing it?
But the next moment, he saw Wu Wang point to the top of the report card. His pupils suddenly contracted—
[Chu Yuxian: 100 points] [Rank: 1]
Damn! He really was called Chu Yuxian!
Baili Dao’s expression turned worried, and his eyes filled with pity.
Top of the class!
If he wasn’t first after tomorrow’s exam, Teacher Yao would probably use that as an excuse to punish him.
Looks like soon there’d be one less companion...
Oh no, better survive the upcoming detention room first before worrying about tomorrow’s test.
“Ding-ling-ling~”
The bell for morning study break rang.
Teacher Yao suddenly stood up, as if holding back for a long time, baring his slightly yellowed teeth, and ominously called out by name: “Chu Yuxian, come with me. The teacher expects you to study well and become a pillar of society.”
Then he turned and left.
He didn’t worry that Wu Wang wouldn’t follow.
Because refusing to comply would mean defying the teacher and disrespecting authority—a consequence far worse than detention!
Before long, the two arrived at the detention room.
At the door, Teacher Yao pulled a keycard from his jacket pocket and swiped it next to the room’s entrance, then casually opened the heavy door.
Inside was pitch black, utterly dark.
Before Wu Wang entered, Yao shouted into the room, stretching his neck:
“Student Chu Yuxian! Due to eccentric clothing violating the student behavior code, homeroom teacher Yao Qing recommends corrective assistance!”
The room seemed spacious; his grating voice echoed multiple times.
After about five seconds, rustling footsteps came from inside—dense and frequent, irritatingly so, like many shoes scraping the floor.
Moments later, three figures appeared at the entrance.
Their positions were subtle; lit by outside light, Wu Wang could only see their worn canvas shoes and faintly stained red school pants. Their upper bodies were engulfed in shadow.
Seeing them, Yao’s tone grew a bit nervous as he forced a smile: “Troublesome, isn’t it? I’ll leave this guy to you. I’ll come back in an hour to pick him up, if he’s still able to come out.”
No reply from the others.
Yao turned to Wu Wang, voice cold: “Go in. Do as those inside tell you.”
With that, he turned and left.
Wu Wang shrugged and strode in boldly.
An attack comes, a defense follows!
Boom—
As soon as he stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind him with a thunderous crash. Judging from the sound and the door’s thickness, it was impossible to force open by human strength.
The temperature inside was low; the air reeked of nauseating rot and decay.
In the pitch-black darkness, even his own breathing and heartbeat sounded loud and clear.
Dead silence, darkness, the unknown.
Anxiety surged fully now; an ordinary person would have started trembling.
Plop—
Suddenly, icy-cold hands landed on Wu Wang’s shoulders. A breath, chilled to the bone, whispered into his left ear.
A hoarse voice, as if a steel rod was stuck in the throat, spoke brokenly: “You... will play a game with us.”
A second similarly hoarse voice came from the right: “I represent your beloved clothing interests... he represents your parents...”
“And I... am your friend...” the third voice appeared in front of Wu Wang. “The three of us will hide in the corners. You must catch us.”
“Whomever you catch... will disappear...”
“You must catch at least one within an hour! Otherwise, all that we represent will vanish!”
Then the three voices vanished simultaneously.
The cold sensation on his shoulders vanished as if nothing had happened.
Hearing this, Wu Wang understood.
This detention room was a place to deal with “trash.”
Anything unrelated to studying was disposed of here.
He also understood why students feared the detention room so much—because losing certain things was more terrifying than death.
Compared to clothing interests, catching parents or friends would be truly unbearable for most.
Wu Wang didn’t doubt whether these ghosts could affect people outside.
Based on Qíng Héyǐkān’s description of the changes in those who went inside, whatever was selected was genuinely erased by the vengeful spirits!
And surely there were more than just these three types of things. People care about many things.
So far, only two common concerns appeared, plus one option designated by Teacher Yao.
Repeated visits would likely customize the options more and more, tailored specifically to the entrant.
No wonder those who came often became like study machines—they lost everything they cared about except study, which took root deep in their minds.
Swish—
He bent down, drew a dagger from inside his combat boots, and casually twirled it in the dark.
“Catch you? No no no, whoever I catch, I’ll slice to bits~”
Wu Wang wanted to see if the ghosts in this detention room had anything to do with the bodies thrown inside.
As for the consequences...
“Parents? Sorry, my folks died five years ago. I’m an orphan now.”
“Friends? Sorry again, I have no friends at the moment—though plenty want to kill me.”
“Do you know what absolute defense means?”