Chapter 12

Chapter 12: The Haunted Building (Part 2)

The logical summary of the Tian Jingxuan haunting event was already forming in Ming Yue's mind. At the same time, she understood Wang Yangming's intention.

Ghosts are born from unresolved grudges and resentment. If the resentment is strong enough, it can cross the boundary between the spiritual and physical worlds, leading to vengeful spirits causing disturbances. This results in a law enforcement event involving boundary-crossing vengeful ghosts.

Only by understanding the mechanism of how grudges form can one strike decisively and eliminate the enemy in one blow.

This was Wang Yangming's intent.

Tian Jingxuan's land was a prime piece of real estate. In the previous century, it had been home to a group of patriotic overseas Chinese who had fought against the Japanese invasion and served their country with virtue. Over the years, many academicians had emerged from this place. The area continued to be a prime location for top students in Jinling University.

More than a decade ago, when Jinling University built its new campus, the land was acquired after a long struggle. The original plan was to recruit overseas talent, with the intention of creating affordable housing for young teachers during the real estate boom, offering cheap accommodation as resettlement houses.

However, things did not go as planned.

The new campus was located on the outskirts, desolate with no one for miles around. The housing prices there were only one-tenth of the prices in the old campus area.

Perhaps because of their arrogance or desire for centrality, the young talents expressed a strong desire to live in the old campus area. They refused to teach unless they got a place there, leading to a halted project. The development ended up a mess, far from the original plan.

This situation caused Jinling University to lose a lot of resources and money, severely damaging its reputation and luck.

The stand-off lasted for more than a year, but in the end, it was the wealthier senior professors who bought a lot of property in Tian Jingxuan, exchanging it with young teachers and offering them a discount. This helped to finish the construction, albeit barely.

Logically, this issue should have been settled, but—

Ming Yue recalled seeing a commercial on the subway earlier: "Line 2, New Starting Point, Tiantan Station, with new houses starting from 38,000 yuan."

Even the remote and desolate Tiantan Station had seen its real estate prices soar to such a level, so Tian Jingxuan, which was close to Jinling University and well-equipped with education and healthcare facilities, must have skyrocketed in value.

Young talents: "..."

Tian Jingxuan: "Ten years ago, you looked down on me. Ten years later, you can't even afford me."

Ming Yue didn't know whether the young talents would regret their decisions or if anything had happened in the past decade. What she did know was that recently, Tian Jingxuan had made the news:

A large number of apartment units were being sold at a low price to young teachers at Jinling University. There were daily moving complaints from residents, causing online outrage. Some netizens even suspected that certain departments in Jinling City had secretly colluded with Jinling University to take advantage of the market.

Jinling University: "I am not guilty! Don’t spread rumors!"Jinling University: "Why are you dragging me out again to be criticized? It’s hard inside."

If Tian Jingxuan had a spiritual essence, Ming Yue felt that this essence would have definitely beaten those senior talents to death by now.

The grievances had been brewing for over a decade, destroying the illustrious reputation of Tian Jingxuan, which had once been a place of outstanding figures. It had turned from a treasured land into a battlefield for public opinion—just for money.

It was no surprise that the building was haunted, given their involvement.

Ming Yue thought about the young teacher who had spoken so aggressively about the haunting earlier and shook her head.

The written exam began. The five students in the first row displayed clear levels of performance. Ming Yue stood in the fifth position, observing the blank expressions of the four students beside her. She thought to herself that these 'hard assets' hadn't even bothered to check their phones about the Tian Jingxuan incident before coming to the exam—how straightforward.

Three of them were Bai Linlang.

She couldn’t see the first student, An Xueru, and didn’t want to either. Ming Yue took a deep breath, picked up her brush, and began writing. The cinnabar was stamped on yellow paper, not as a spell but as a story—very strange.

Wang Yangming glanced back and urged them harshly, "Hurry up and write. You came to the scene without even checking beforehand. What are you doing here for?"

Several graduate students were already waiting for them. Ming Yue didn’t even look up, writing swiftly as if guided by an invisible hand. Her running script was pleasant to the eye. In the blink of an eye, the red characters covered the yellow paper, flipping over with a swish.

Not long after, another page was flipped over.

The graduate students exchanged glances. Zhai Dan, a second-year student, stepped forward toward Ming Yue.

Bai Linlang wasn’t writing slowly either.

Since last night, when Ming Yue had insisted on forming a team with the third-year students to clean up the Medical School, Bai Linlang had profoundly corrected her perception of Ming Yue. She also despised her own lack of insight over the past six months.

Ming Yue was far from being a fool; she was bold, meticulous, and appeared to be unintelligent when, in fact, she was exceptionally clever.

The Ming family was indeed different, Bai Linlang thought with admiration. Having been defeated by Ming Yue’s so-called "useless" performance for four months, she was now once again overcome by Ming Yue’s sharpness. The "betrayal" of her previous view had been smooth and effortless, not a single slap in the face.

But the Bai family’s daughter still had a little pride. For today’s spell exam, she had come with full confidence and preparation, ready to face the challenge.However—

“Swish.”

Bai Linlang’s pen paused, the familiar sound.

She continued writing.

Not long after, “Swish.”

Bai Linlang: “...”

She remembered sitting next to Ming Yue during the general knowledge exam, when she had been dominated by that fast speed.

She stopped writing and turned her head. As expected, she saw Ming Yue handing two pieces of yellow paper to the graduate student and smiling at the senior.

Bai Linlang: “...”

The surrounding wind howled, turning clothes into ragged fabric, but Bai Linlang saw overwhelming confidence in Ming Yue’s smile, like the sun shining over ten thousand miles of the Yangguan Pass.

Her pen tip paused, and the ink stained red on the paper brought her back to reality. She became alert in her heart and hurriedly continued writing.

Graduate student Zhai Dan quickly glanced through Ming Yue’s account of the Tian Jingxuan incident, thinking to herself, "Quite thorough, all the gossip facts are in place, and it’s readable."

Zhai Dan showed no expression on her face, nodded, and took the papers, leading Ming Yue forward to stand in a position closer to the building. There, another row of tables awaited, with stronger dark energy that made people's long hair stand up.

"Junior, are you ready?" Zhai Dan put on gloves, her aura changing drastically. The blood-stained yang energy enveloped the surface of her gloves. "I’m Zhai Dan, a second-year graduate student, a disciple of Teacher Wang. I’m in charge of clearing the outer three buildings. Please follow my instructions and draw the talismans." After saying this, she turned around, picked up a steel bar, and stood ready for action.

Ming Yue: “...”

Ming Yue hurriedly nodded, her eyes involuntarily glancing over the steel bar.

The building ghost was different from human ghosts. If the land itself gave birth to resentment and spirits, then the land would help the building ghost bully and challenge the ghost-slaying practitioner.

Unfortunately, humans couldn’t live without their feet touching the ground, and this was making things messy, with black mist and dark energy swirling everywhere, rapidly climbing upward—first, the dark energy needed to be brought down. Ming Yue quickly formulated a plan in her mind. As soon as Zhai Dan shouted "Sedation talisman," she drew a talisman in one stroke. Almost as soon as the words were spoken, she handed up the yellow paper.

Swiftly, with divine speed.The cinnabar marks on the paper were clear, completed in one go without any interruption.

Zhai Dan: “...”

Zhai Dan silently stared at the talisman handed to her, unable to resist asking, “Junior, did you draw this in one stroke?”

Ming Yue nodded, picked up her brush, and in the blink of an eye, drew another one and handed it to Zhai Dan.

Zhai Dan, who was directly facing the impact: “...”

A few graduate students nearby: “...”

It wasn’t that drawing a talisman in one stroke was so incredible. In fact, drawing in one stroke did make the power of the talisman stronger. However, talismans had requirements for the thickness of the strokes and the shapes that needed to be drawn, and a broken or discontinuous stroke was often more effective than the riskier one-stroke drawing method. The success rate with broken strokes was typically higher than with the one-stroke method.

So, broken strokes were the more conventional method.

But today, Zhai Dan had witnessed, aside from the mentor, another one-stroke talisman.

Zhai Dan: “You’ve practiced before?”

Ming Yue, the daughter of the Ming family, had just entered school this year. While the Spirit Sealing Institute might not be known to everyone, those who paid a little attention had likely heard about it.

Similarly, Ming Yue’s average performance in class wasn’t a secret either.

Zhai Dan: “I genuinely suspect the Spirit Sealing Institute has raised a bunch of blind people (bangs table).”

Ming Yue honestly replied, “My family has a lot of talisman paper, and I learned to draw when I was young.”

Upon hearing this, Zhai Dan’s expression became even stranger.

Ming Yue mistakenly thought Zhai Dan felt her drawing wasn’t good, so she hurriedly added, “Senior, don’t be angry. I didn’t do well in the practical classes this semester, which delayed your work. I’m sorry.”

“I promise, the next talisman will be even faster!”

Zhai Dan: “...”

Zhai Dan forced a smile, saying, “No, Junior, you’re very good.” Then she turned her face and exchanged glances with the other graduate students, showing a bitter smile.People say that graduate students from prestigious schools aren't as vibrant as undergraduates. Zhai Dan used to not be affected by such opinions, after all, research is hers, and opinions belong to others. Worrying about those things was less useful than moving more bricks.

However, the shock of reality always comes unexpectedly.

Ming Yue in front of her was full of youthful energy, her eyes bright, humble and cautious, not arrogant. Her shoulders were young but solid, like the future of the world.

Zhai Dan was 23 this year, and she always thought her prime years were just right, ready to serve the country at the perfect time.

But at this moment, watching Ming Yue pick up her brush to draw talismans, Zhai Dan suddenly felt an indescribable emotion.

She was 18 years old.

A genius born in the new millennium.

Zhai Dan sighed, feeling that her lament about "Every year new talents emerge, and the old ones are left behind on the shores" was quite absurd.

Well, at least there are good seeds to take on the burden of Spirit Sealing, to earn us fame, and to save our hundred-year-old prestigious school.

Zhai Dan composed herself and was about to continue calling out for the talismans when a stack of "Sinking Qi Talismans" was handed to her. Each one was designed to be drawn in one go without interruption. Ming Yue nodded and said, "Two definitely won’t be enough, Senior."

Zhai Dan: "..."

This person wasn't human, she was like a human-shaped ruler and compass.

Zhai Dan laughed and rubbed Ming Yue's fluffy hair, “Thank you, Junior.”

She then laid out the talisman paper, slammed the table, pinched a wind talisman, lit it, and it turned into a whirlwind. The ten "Sinking Qi Talismans" flew into the air, flat against the ground, charging toward the swirling black mist. In the blink of an eye, the black fog dissipated significantly, revealing green vegetation on the ground again. The effect was astonishing.

A few graduate students were attracted and looked up, whistling.

“Zhai Dan, nice talisman!”

“Sister Dan’s speed has improved!”

“It wasn’t me who drew it, it was Junior.” Zhai Dan didn’t take credit.

“Hey, which precious little junior is this? I’ll get to know you sometime.”"Zhou Jingren, you're really disgusting."

"Quiet." Wang Yangming scolded, looking up for a moment. He was satisfied with the combination of Zhai Dan and Ming Yue, and pointed out, "Don't just draw Sinking Qi talismans."

"Zhou Jingren, score them."

"Got it, teacher." Zhou Jingren said casually.

"Alright, teacher." Zhai Dan nodded, then instructed, "Junior, Fire Talisman."

Ming Yue swung her arm in a circle and slapped the talisman paper, "How many, Senior?"

Zhai Dan looked at the group of Yin energy bound in the air by the Sinking Qi talismans and estimated, "Three."

"Okay." Ming Yue quickly painted two talismans, using both hands at the same time. The classmates watching from behind the table whispered in shock.

"Ming Yue isn't left-handed!"

"Bullshit, she's not right-handed either!"

Such flair.

Zhai Dan: "..."

After multiple shocks in a short period of time, Senior Zhai had become numb to surprise.

At this point, ten minutes had passed, and the five students in the first group finally sent up the second person.

Zhai Dan glanced at Bai Linlang and thought numbly, How could this little cutie not even surpass the first in this group? No, forget about the second, the entire department might not be able to surpass it.

"Thank you, Junior."

Zhai Dan took the talisman paper that Ming Yue had drawn and simultaneously drew a Wind Talisman in her hand, sending the Fire Talisman into the air—Ming Yue tiptoed behind her to peek at how Zhai Dan drew the Wind Talisman.

The Fire Talisman soared into the sky, and when it touched the black mist, it immediately exploded! The Yang energy burned like fuel, and with a loud bang, a great fire ignited, as if a meteor had fallen from the sky. It also burned away a group of Yin energy that other graduate students had caught. A continuous trail of golden flames stretched for a hundred meters in the air, magnificent and beautiful.The huge noise startled everyone present, making them all jump at once. The crowd outside the light barrier paused for a moment, then clapped loudly.

Clap clap clap!

Look, it's a show-off.

Look, it's a cultured person.

All the freshmen were so shaken they covered their ears and crouched down on the ground.

Zhou Jingren shouted, "Zhai Dan, are you trying to kill me?! I just remembered, my score got burned by your fire ash!"

Zhai Dan, not showing any weakness, retorted, "How would I know?! This is just a simple Fire Talisman! I even added a Wind Talisman to help with the combustion!"

Ming Yue: "..."

Ming Yue stood awkwardly in the back.

Bai Linlang: "..."

Bai Linlang stared at Ming Yue, her eyes shining brightly.

Wang Yangming couldn't stand his students embarrassing themselves in front of the juniors. He slammed the table, "What are you shouting about! Haven't you seen someone with enough Yang energy before?" He then called Zhai Dan over and whispered instructions:

"Let Ming Yue try drawing a few Yin Talisman."

Zhai Dan: "..."

Zhai Dan immediately understood the truth behind the explosion incident, inhaling sharply and nodding at the teacher.

This isn't a junior, this is practically a human-shaped self-moving explosive device, Zhai Dan thought, feeling uneasy.

She should be placed on a pedestal to be admired.