NOVEL NEXT Ch. 9
Chapter 9: Roll Call
Originally, he wanted to tell Yu Mo and the others about the situation outside, but thinking that many people had yet to return, Lu Feng decided to wait until everyone was present before speaking to them all together.
As more and more people came back, the group gathered to discuss what they had discovered in the school.
The results were surprisingly unanimous—
They had all found nothing.
From the two points they summarized, the first was that so far, they had found no way to leave the school.
The second was that, apart from the 36 students of Grade 3 Class 2, there was no one else in the school.
At that moment, Lu Feng also told them about the disappearance of the entire Grade 3 Class 2 in the outside world.
Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces turned deathly pale.
Only when Lu Feng quickly added that leaving this school should allow them to return to normal did their expressions look slightly better.
Faced with this strange and unsettling reality, everyone began discussing in panic.
But perhaps because of humanity’s natural reliance on groups, the students’ unease was slightly eased.
Many put forward their own theories—
Mass hysteria, collective time travel, higher-dimensional space, and so on.
“Alright, alright, everyone go back to the classroom. Didn’t the broadcast say someone will come later to do roll call? When the time comes, we can just ask him.”
The class monitor, Zhang Tong, who had calmed down a little, raised his voice.
The noisy chatter finally quieted somewhat, though mixed in were a few disdainful snickers,
“Here we go again, even now he can’t stop pretending.”
“We don’t even know what’s going on, and he’s still bossing people around?”
“Exactly, exactly, he’s always the one talking the most.”
The voices were not loud, but they still reached Zhang Tong’s ears.
His face darkened, but he said nothing.
After all, the current situation was not suitable for quarreling with them.
Lu Feng glanced at those who had spoken and, unsurprisingly, saw the troublemakers who always occupied the back seats—Wu Fan, Xiao Zhiquan, and the overweight Zhang Yifeng.
These three were the type of thorns every class had.
Teachers paid them little attention as long as they didn’t cause too much trouble, especially since all three came from wealthy families.
Because of the teachers’ unconscious indulgence, they never took anyone seriously.
The only exception was Lu Feng—whom they would flatter just so they could copy his homework and cheat during exams.
Now, without the teachers’ restraint, the three became even more reckless, completely ignoring the bizarre situation before them.
Lu Feng frowned but also kept silent.
He had no time to worry about such trivial people.
The commotion temporarily settled.
Everyone walked back into the classroom, only to immediately notice Liuli sitting alone in the corner.
A wave of astonishment spread through the group, and discussions broke out—
“Who is she? When did our class get such a pretty girl?”
“Never seen her. She’s definitely not from our class!”
“Then why is she here? Didn’t the broadcast just say our class is complete?”
Liuli ignored the messy chatter.
She turned her head and shot a cold glance at Lu Feng, then looked away from everyone.
Though it was only a fleeting glance, Yu Mo still caught the subtlety.
She asked Lu Feng in surprise,
“Xiao Feng, do you know that girl?”
Lu Feng did not answer.
With a serious expression, he pulled Yu Mo back to their seats.
He had noticed that Liuli’s body was trembling slightly.
That look she had given him just now—rather than cold—it seemed more like… a plea for help.
What exactly was she afraid of?
Perhaps influenced by Liuli, that inexplicable sense of dread in Lu Feng’s heart grew heavier.
The unrest didn’t last long.
Though glances kept drifting toward Liuli, the classroom gradually regained order, leaving only faint murmurs.
Lu Feng swept his gaze across the room, counting the people present—36 students.
Including Liuli, that made 37.
This only deepened his confusion.
Hadn’t the broadcast said “all students of Grade 3 Class 2”? Why was Liuli here?
And as a ghost, how had she suddenly come alive after entering this world?
With these questions in mind, Lu Feng instinctively looked toward Liuli again, only to see her looking extremely distressed.
As it happened, the seat she had chosen was unfortunately right next to Wu Fan.
Now that Wu Fan had returned to his seat, he kept pestering her, striking up conversation nonstop, making Liuli visibly annoyed.
Lu Feng couldn’t help but admire Wu Fan’s nerve.
At a time like this, he still had the mind to hit on a girl.
In a horror movie, this kind of guy wouldn’t last ten minutes.
Finally, unable to endure it any longer, Liuli abruptly stood up.
She carried her chair to Lu Feng’s desk, and under everyone’s gaze, she placed it down with a sharp “bang” before sitting right beside him.
Lu Feng stared blankly at her, about to speak, when Liuli leaned in close and whispered,
“I know you have many questions for me, but these things can’t be explained in a few words. Whatever you want to know later, I’ll tell you everything.”
Because of their closeness, Lu Feng could clearly smell the faint fragrance on her.
But he had no mood to enjoy it now.
After listening, he nodded, then lowered his voice apologetically,
“Um… sorry, Liuli. I couldn’t keep our promise, because…”
“I know what happened. When you said those things outside the classroom just now, I heard everything…”
Liuli sighed and lowered her head in despair.
“I can understand. In that situation, any normal person would come to the school to check. But…”
Her tone shifted, and her gaze at Lu Feng grew hateful,
“I will never forgive you for it.”
“……”
“…But… it’s useless to say this now. Even if you regret it, it’s already too late…”
Liuli lifted her head, glanced at the electronic clock on the wall, and murmured,
“The game… is about to begin.”
Game?
Lu Feng did not understand what she meant by “game.” Just as he was about to ask, a strange sound suddenly came from outside the classroom—
Ka-ka-ka—ka-ka-ka—ka-ka-ka—
It was like two wooden blocks being forcefully rubbed together, shrill and chilling.
At the same time, footsteps slowly approached the Grade 3 Class 2 classroom.
In that instant, Liuli’s face turned deathly pale.
Her body trembled violently, and she instinctively shrank closer to Lu Feng.
Lu Feng still didn’t understand why she reacted this way.
But what he was about to witness would be etched into his memory forever.
A figure stepped stiffly into view at the classroom door—
It was a life-sized wooden doll.
Its face had crudely painted features, but its mouth was drawn into a huge, blood-red grin.
Just looking at it made one’s skin crawl.
Its appearance immediately threw the class into chaos.
Screams burst from several girls.
“Shhh——”
The doll raised a finger to its lips, signaling for silence.
Instantly, the classroom became as quiet as a tomb.
Lu Feng was horrified to discover that, along with the doll’s gesture, he was unable to speak.
He couldn’t even open his mouth!
Under the terrified gazes of everyone, the doll walked stiffly to the podium.
Every movement of its joints produced that grating “ka-ka” wooden creak.
Standing on the podium, it faced the class and let out a hoarse, dry laugh.
Lu Feng immediately recognized it—wasn’t this the same voice from the broadcast just now!
“Welcome, students, to Evil Spirit High School. I am Teacher Zhu. I am very pleased to be your instructor for the third Grade 3 Class 2. Now, let us begin roll call—”