NOVEL NEXT Ch. 25
Chapter 25: Bai Quye
When Lu Feng’s fingers once again touched that icy hard object, his scalp instantly exploded with a tingling sensation.
That hard object was crawling with countless maggots.
Under Lu Feng’s touch, they slowly wriggled and squirmed across his palm, curling their rice-sized bodies.
Since it had already come to this, Lu Feng no longer held back.
With a decisive heart, he grabbed the flat hard object in one go.
Crack—squelch—crack—squelch—
Who knew how many maggots burst under his grip.
Lu Feng only felt his whole hand covered with the slimy fluid seeping from their bodies.
Enduring the urge to vomit, Lu Feng clenched his teeth and pulled the hard object out of the hole.
It was a bone, origin unknown, still with bits of rotting, foul-smelling flesh attached.
Yet upon closer inspection, Lu Feng recognized it—it was most likely a human sacrum.
Because the shape of a human sacrum was unique, unlike that of any other animal…
As for where this human bone came from, and why it still looked so “fresh”—Lu Feng no longer wanted to think about it.
After all, in this old mansion, what was impossible?
The bone was swarming with maggots feasting on the remaining flesh.
Lu Feng noticed that on the back of the sacrum, something seemed to be carved.
Ignoring his disgust, Lu Feng brushed the maggots away, revealing beneath their bodies two crooked digits—
……
The five regrouped in Lu Feng’s room, sitting around the table.
Lu Feng had already washed the bone and his hands, yet he still felt an indescribable odor clinging to them.
After explaining how he had found the bone, the others all showed surprise.
Their gazes at the bone turned strangely wary.
“Feng Feng, this bone you stumbled across… what’s with the numbers carved on it?”
Lin You could not help asking as he picked up the bone to examine it.
“I’d advise you not to touch it—”
Lu Feng drawled,
“When I found it, there was still rotten flesh on it. And judging from its shape… this is most likely a human sacrum.”
Lin You’s face changed at once.
He hurriedly put the bone back on the table.
“As for these numbers… no clue for now. But since I found this in my own room, maybe the other rooms have similar things hidden.”
Lu Feng paid no mind to the others’ uneasy expressions.
He picked up the bone and placed it before them.
“This bone might just be the clue we need to break the stalemate.”
……
After a brief discussion, they decided that among the boys, Zhang Tong—who had good relations with others—would do the searching, while on the girls’ side, Yu Mo would be the one to approach.
Of course, if similar wall holes were found in the girls’ rooms, they would not be the ones to dig into them.
Lu Feng and the other boys would do it.
After hearing how Lu Feng retrieved this bone, the two girls had firmly refused to do it themselves.
Half an hour later, Zhang Tong and Yu Mo returned, but both looked troubled.
“No good. Many people just refused to open their doors.”
Zhang Tong reported.
“Same on my side…”
Yu Mo added, her gaze never once landing on Lu Feng.
Lu Feng was not surprised at this outcome.
After all, they had just witnessed Su Qi’s tragic death in the morning.
Those who had seen it were now likely on the verge of collapse, naturally in no mood to care about other matters.
Sigh, I only hope what I fear most won’t happen…
Human emotions resonated with one another.
Excitement or joy, sorrow or despair—once the first person acted, there would soon be a second, then a third…
Lu Feng recalled that in Japan, there was a forest called the Suicide Forest, where every year hundreds ended their lives.
Someone had once filmed a documentary about it, claiming that ever since entering the forest, they constantly felt pressure, as though voices whispered endlessly in their ears.
But with his Yin-Yang eyes, Lu Feng had clearly seen that there were no spirits in the footage.
Whether the filmmaker’s words were true or not could not be confirmed, but the psychological suggestion of “suicide” itself was likely far more powerful than any actual ghostly influence.
Thus, Lu Feng could hardly imagine what kind of chain reaction might occur in such an oppressive environment once the first suicide appeared.
Thinking of this, Lu Feng made up his mind.
“It’s late already. Everyone should rest early. We’ll deal with this tomorrow… maybe things will improve once people calm down.”
Even if unspoken, Lu Feng could see the exhaustion on everyone’s faces.
If not them, then at least himself—he was already about to collapse, eyelids drooping heavily.
“Then… what if tomorrow they’re still the same?”
Zhang Tong asked worriedly.
“In that case… we’ll just have to use special means.”
Lu Feng spread his hands helplessly.
……
Bai Quye curled up on her bed.
The sheets beneath her, soaked in blood, had long since dried.
The clotted blood formed dark red patches of eerie color.
She had not left the bed for two days, nor eaten or drunk… The girl could not understand why her frail body had endured this long.
Suddenly, her door was knocked.
“Xiao Bai, are you there? I haven’t seen you for two days. Are you alright?”
From outside came Dong Ningning’s voice.
Her tone was urgent, tinged with worry and anxiety.
Dong Ningning was the only one in class who could be called Bai Quye’s friend.
She was sunny, cheerful, gracious, and pretty.
Even toward Bai Quye, who had always been invisible in class, she treated her as a true friend.
When boys whispered and mocked Bai Quye behind her back, Dong Ningning would unhesitatingly step up for her, scolding them until they could not reply.
And yet, such a gentle and kind girl actually fell for that delinquent-like Wu Fan—this was something Bai Quye could never understand.
Aside from some family wealth, Wu Fan was useless.
Yet Bai Quye never believed Dong Ningning to be the type of girl who cared for money.
Her thoughts returned to the present.
Hearing Dong Ningning’s voice, Bai Quye wanted to respond, but her throat was so parched and raw she could not even make a sound, let alone rise from the bed to open the door.
Fortunately, Bai Quye had not locked her door.
When Dong Ningning realized she was not answering, she pushed the door open herself.
Inside was pitch-dark, barely a thing visible, and there was a faint stench of blood.
Dong Ningning frowned and turned on the light.
The next moment, she saw Bai Quye curled up like an infant on the bed, her body gaunt and deathly pale.
Beneath her lay a glaring pool of crimson.
“Ning… Ning…”
In such a state, Bai Quye being able to speak at all was nothing short of a miracle.