Mysterious Revival - Chapter 13 - The Parchment

Fang Jing indeed hadn’t left the school. However, he had lost his way. Despite Zhou Zheng’s help in escaping the terrifying teaching building, he remained trapped here. In his panic to avoid the Old Man, he had blindly run into a small grove outside the school playground.

These were the school’s greenery trees, not a large area by any means. Yet, under the shroud of darkness, these few dozen trees seemed like an endless primeval forest, trapping Fang Jing and the few remaining classmates within. No matter which direction they walked, they remained in the grove, never finding a way out.

“Damn it, why? Why is that old ghost still following me? Shouldn’t it be after Yang Jian?” Fang Jing’s face was drenched in cold sweat from fear. “Yang Jian must be dead. He must be, which is why the old ghost has chosen me as its target. It must be.”

“The future has changed, so now I’m the one replacing Yang Jian as the target of that old ghost.”

“But I’m not Yang Jian. How am I supposed to survive against this old ghost?”

Fang Jing was filled with regret. If he had known, he should have pretended to be friendly with Yang Jian, letting him take the lead while he hid in the back. He had been too hasty, forgetting that Yang Jian wasn’t the biggest threat right now-the Old Man was the most terrifying presence.

“Fang Jing, listen, those footsteps are coming again,” someone beside him said, their voice trembling with fear.

“So soon? One person should be able to hold off the vengeful ghost for a few minutes,” Fang Jing raised his head suddenly, then gritted his teeth, scanning the people around him.

The remaining classmates avoided Fang Jing like he was an evil ghost. From the moment he pushed Yang Jian into the restroom, he had left behind Zhao Qiang, Wan Feng, He Qiuyan… He had abandoned over a dozen classmates through various means, using their lives to stall the ghost behind them.

Some had tried to escape Fang Jing’s control, disappearing into the darkness, never to be seen again. Now, only five or six classmates remained by his side. They didn’t dare run, believing that staying with Fang Jing had kept them alive so far, while those who left might already be dead.

Fang Jing, armed with his knowledge, had become a tyrant among them, feared by all.

“Damn, these people have wised up. They won’t let me leave them behind anymore. If I force someone to stay, they’ll probably run away immediately,” Fang Jing cursed inwardly, sensing the others’ wariness and hostility.

“Let’s go.”

He didn’t force anyone to stay behind this time, instead urging them to continue running through the dark, lightless grove.

Just then, Fang Jing’s phone rang. The caller ID showed Zhang Wei.

Fang Jing hesitated but decided to answer. Zhang Wei and the others had been separated earlier; perhaps there was some progress to report.

“Fang Jing, it’s me, Yang Jian.” Yang Jian’s voice came through the phone.

“Ah!” Fang Jing nearly jumped out of his skin, almost dropping the phone. “Aren’t you dead? Are you human or ghost?”

“Thanks to you, I’m still alive,” Yang Jian’s voice was cold.

Fang Jing’s expression shifted. He had personally pushed Yang Jian into the ghost-infested restroom, yet he survived. How was that possible for any ordinary person?

“Why are you calling me?” Fang Jing forced himself to calm down and asked.

Yang Jian replied, “Do you want to survive? Do you want to leave the school alive?”

“You have a way?” Fang Jing asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.

“I’ve become a Ghost Tamer. Do you think I have a way?” Yang Jian said.

“Great, get me out of here,” Fang Jing said eagerly.

“Heh.”

Yang Jian’s laugh carried a hint of mockery.

“What happened before wasn’t intentional. I was just trying to survive. We’re classmates; can’t we resolve any misunderstandings? If you get me out of here, you can do whatever you want. I’ll even let you beat me up for free,” Fang Jing pleaded, clutching the phone.

Yang Jian said, “Cut the crap. If you want me to get you out, you better satisfy me. Otherwise, prepare to be stuck here.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I met Zhou Zheng earlier. He said there’s something strange about you. I want to know what it is. And someone mentioned in the classroom that you know the future. Is that true?” Yang Jian asked.

“Yes, that’s right. I know the future. I have information about future events,” Fang Jing said. “Get me out of here, and I’ll tell you everything. As a Ghost Tamer, you won’t live long. I have a way for you to survive. If you follow my method, you can harness the power of an evil ghost without worrying about it taking over your body. It’s a method developed by the international research institute, still in confidential trials, to be revealed in three months.”

“You’ll be ahead of other Ghost Tamers, with greater achievements in the future.”

“You’re lying. Zhou Zheng said no one can come from the future. He also mentioned the research institute’s experiments on this. There’s no such thing as a time traveler,” Yang Jian continued.

Fang Jing’s heart skipped a beat as the footsteps behind him grew closer. He ran faster, panting heavily, “I don’t have memories of the future. The information I know comes from a parchment. It’s from the future, sent to me by some method. The content was written by me ten years from now. Yang Jian, save me. If I die, you’ll get nothing.”

A parchment with future information?

Yang Jian’s expression changed during the call.

If people can’t come from the future, objects might be able to. It’s possible.

“I want that parchment,” Yang Jian said immediately.

“No, I can’t give it to you. It’s mine,” Fang Jing firmly refused.

“You have no choice. That thing is close behind you. You won’t last long. Knowing the future is useless if you’re dead,” Yang Jian said.

Fang Jing hesitated.

But the situation gave him no time to think, as the footsteps behind him grew louder.

“Alright, I’ll give it to you.”

Fang Jing was out of breath, unable to run any further. The surroundings were dark, and his phone illuminated the area, revealing he was still in the grove.

He couldn’t find a way out.

He didn’t want to die, so he chose to compromise.

“But, Yang Jian, if I give it to you now, how do I know you’ll save me?” Fang Jing, though afraid of death, was cautious.

Yang Jian said, “The ghost following you, I can teach you how to shake it off. But you only have one chance. If you try any tricks, I’ll refuse the deal without hesitation.”

“Okay, what do you want me to do?” Fang Jing asked.

“Turn left,” Yang Jian instructed.

Fang Jing gritted his teeth and changed direction, running left.

“Now go right,” Yang Jian continued.

Fang Jing complied, and a surge of joy filled his heart.

The footsteps behind him gradually faded; he was distancing himself from the ghost.

It worked.

Yang Jian really had the ability to save him.

“Hand over the parchment,” Yang Jian demanded.

Fang Jing’s eyes flickered, “What if you don’t save me after I give it to you? Get me out of here first. Once we’re out of the school, I’ll give it to you immediately.”

“So, the deal’s off? Well, be careful then. That thing’s catching up again,” Yang Jian said.

“Beep beep…” The call ended.

At the same time, the footsteps behind Fang Jing resumed, sending a shiver down his spine.

He looked around.

At some point, the few classmates who had been with him were gone. He was alone.