Free Web NovelRain, falling gently from the sky.
A figure clad in a black raincoat darted past, rapidly approaching the cold storage in the distant suburbs, their steps on the damp, muddy soil making soft, sticky sounds.
"Creak—!"
The old and heavy iron door was pushed open, letting out a sigh-like sound.
The person flashed into the cold storage, knelt before Berses, cupped their fists, and said, "Adult, we just received news from Squad A. They've finally found traces of the Disaster."
"Oh?" Berses's face showed delight. "Are they keeping a close eye?"
Among the more {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} than thirty special individuals he had discovered, the Disaster could be considered one of the subjects he most desired to study.
"Reporting, Adult, the members of Squad A have followed them and are preparing to act tonight."
"Tonight?" Berses sneered. "Those reckless fools... Even if they have the treasures I gave them, acting tonight might be a bit too confident, wouldn't it?"
The so-called treasures were the results Berses obtained after a long period of studying the Invasion Beast.
He used the flesh and blood of the Invasion Beast to come into contact with the Power of other urban legend, completed the replication, and then used Alchemy to perform a certain degree of deactivation treatment, obtaining special Alchemical potions that could temporarily grant Psychic or urban legend multiple Powers.
However, up to now, the highest level of Power that this special Alchemical potion could grant was only B-.
Going higher in Spiritual Energy fluctuation levels, not only would the bodies of Psychic or urban legend find it difficult to withstand the destructive power of high-level Power, but their own inherent Power's rejection reaction to the new Power would also suddenly intensify.
Berses had tried to improve it many times, but had not been able to achieve breakthrough results.
This was also one of the reasons why he urgently wanted to conduct research centered around the Disaster.
If he could capture the Disaster alive, utilizing her extraordinary characteristic of being able to accommodate multiple high-level Strange Tale Powers, combined with the Invasion Beast's characteristic of being able to replicate most Powers, Berses even had the confidence to create a "God."
That would be a true "God" containing multiple Strange Tale Powers, almost omnipotent, rather than an incomplete defective product like mythological urban legend with incomplete Powers.
However...
"This kind of thing can't be rushed. Go tell those guys in Squad A to keep a close eye on the Disaster and wait for an opportunity to act," Berses said.
Berses collected information through various channels and carefully studied the Disaster's management of the urban legend in Hua City, as well as some of her past experiences. Coupled with her elusive way of acting, he could almost certainly conclude that her vigilance was unusually high.
Although, with the assistance of the special Alchemical potion, the Psychic and urban legend in Squad A had a certain probability of capturing the Disaster.
However, once they failed, alerting the Disaster and making her wary, it would be very difficult to capture her alive again.
Therefore, Berses felt that to capture the Disaster alive, they must find the right moment, a moment where if they didn't strike, that was fine, but if they did, they would definitely succeed.
Anyway, he had plenty of patience.
Just like a few years ago, in order to make Jiang Li, who had extremely high Spiritual Energy potential, his experimental subject.
He had spent almost a year, gradually, successfully leading Jiang Li's father into the abyss of gambling, turning him from a good husband and father into an irrational gambler, and finally losing everything.
Even the ticket for Jiang Li's father's last trip to Dream Come True Entertainment City was sent by someone he dispatched.
He firmly believed that even an old monster like Ju Meng, who had existed for thousands of years, would show flaws, and the Disaster would definitely have a weakness that he could exploit at some point.
————
Under the night sky, the taxi sped through the empty city. A slightly chilly drizzle fell, pattering softly and densely against the car windows, as if whispering about the arrival of the late spring chill.
There was no conversation along the way. Lu Yibei looked at the city being washed by the spring rain outside the window, lost in thought.
As the Huacheng Monster King, she could sense the locations of most urban legend within Hua City through the earth's pulse.
Originally, after hearing Uncle Zhang Shan say that Banshan Elementary School had been closed for more than forty years without any Strange Tale incidents, she already felt a subtle unease.
Although it was normal for claypot rice not to contain children, a creepy place like an abandoned school felt very wrong in the current environment where urban legend were rapidly increasing.
As they continuously approached the old mining area of Huacheng Cement Factory, Banshan Elementary School was close at hand. Lu Yibei used the earth's pulse to sense the surroundings, and the feeling of unease in her heart grew stronger.
It was as if, in the unseen, something extremely dangerous was approaching.
That feeling was like cold, fine spider silk, wrapped around her heart, making her feel unusually restless.
Around Banshan Elementary School, she did not sense the presence of urban legend. Not even within a three-kilometer radius were there any urban legend.
If the earth's pulse were compared to a Strange Tale version of a surveillance system, that place was like a blind spot.
There were two possibilities for this situation.
The first possibility was that after Banshan Elementary School closed, most people who knew of its existence forgot about it, rarely mentioned it, and no Strange Tale legends spread, so naturally, no urban legend were born.
However, the probability of this situation was relatively low.
According to Uncle Zhang Shan, the reasons why Banshan Elementary School was abandoned, in addition to the restructuring of Huacheng Cement Factory, included the flawed technology and excessive mining at the lime mine, which caused mine collapses, subsequently leading to the deformation of the school's foundation and the school buildings becoming dangerous structures.
Not far from the school, underground, were collapsed mine tunnels where people had died. In other places, Strange Tale legends would have evolved into seventeen or eighteen versions.
The second possibility was that there was something there that the urban legend feared, perhaps a Strange Tale powerful enough to block the detection of the earth's pulse.
Given the result of asking the urban legend of Hua City if they knew about Banshan Elementary School previously, which was a complete lack of knowledge, Lu Yibei felt that there was a high possibility that a terrifying Strange Tale capable of blocking the earth's pulse detection existed within Banshan Elementary School.
Could that Strange Tale be Qinan Bamboo?
If so, would she feel repulsed by my sudden visit and then attack me? Lu Yibei wondered.
Just then, Zhang Shan's slightly trembling voice reached her ears.
"You, what are you taking a knife out for?"
"Huh?" Lu Yibei was startled for a moment and looked down.
Perhaps she was too engrossed in thought. It wasn't until Uncle Zhang Shan interrupted her thoughts that she realized she had somehow already taken the Lingtai Pure Karma out of the metal box and was holding it in her hand.
"Uh..." Lu Yibei looked at Zhang Shan, who had freed up a hand to take out a self-defense stun baton from a storage box. She organized her words and explained, "Don't be scared! Aren't we almost there? I need to prepare in advance, just in case I encounter something after going inside and get caught off guard."
"But..." Zhang Shan frowned, hesitating to speak.
But didn't you just say? There are no urban legend there.
"You mean to say that no Strange Tale incidents have ever happened there, right?" Lu Yibei said playfully, her eyes twinkling. "Utterly foolish!"
"Most of you humans are always like this, easily deceived by appearances, thus tending to believe what you want to believe. But sometimes, the truth often contradicts the views of the majority."
"Have you, at midnight, when the crows rise and fall, gone inside to see?" Lu Yibei asked sinisterly, the pale light of the headlights reflecting on her expressionless face.
When Zhang Shan heard Lu Yibei make such remarks about his alma mater, he frowned and probed, "Do you mean to say that there are urban legend in Banshan Elementary School, I just don't know about it?"
"Then later, when you go in, can you take me with you? I'll just follow behind and watch, collect material, and absolutely won't cause trouble!"
"......"
Listening to stories is no longer enough; you want to go inside and see?
I think you've really lost your sense of reality...
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Lu Yibei muttered inwardly. After thinking seriously for a moment, she didn't answer Zhang Shan's question but changed the subject, saying, "How about I tell you a story? Consider it the fare."
Zhang Shan, "......" Didn't you just say there were no stories today? Making it up on the spot? You just don't want to pay for the ride, do you?
"A long time ago, uh, about forty years ago, there was an elementary school built around a mine. The students attending were all children of the mine's employees," Lu Yibei recounted slowly. freёweɓnovel.com
“The story takes place one afternoon. On that day, the students in the school were quietly attending classes in their classrooms when suddenly a terrible earthquake struck.”
“In an instant, the ground shook, the mountains swayed, and the sun and moon lost their light. Accompanied by violent Roar, the school buildings collapsed. Most of the students and Teachers didn't have time to escape and were buried alive under the ruins.”
“In that Disaster, many people died, including Little Zhang's several very close friends...”
“Wait!” The more Zhang Shan listened, the more he felt something was wrong. He couldn't help but interrupt, “Why do I always feel like you're implying something?”
More than forty years ago, Banshan Elementary School did experience a slight “earthquake” due to a mine accident, and it was that “earthquake” that turned the school buildings into dangerous structures.
“No way! There are so many people surnamed Zhang, why does it have to be you?” Lu Yibei said expressionlessly and righteously, “I just saw this scene and suddenly thought of this story.”
After a pause, she looked at Zhang Shan through the rear-view mirror. Seeing that he didn't say anything, Lu Yibei continued, “Little Zhang and his friends were very close friends, it's not an exaggeration to say they were like brothers. As they were dying, they were thinking of Little Shan...”
“Hey! My surname is Zhang and my name is Shan, are you really not talking about me?” Zhang Shan roared in a low voice, his palms sweating.
“You're really overthinking it! My story is just more down-to-earth.” Lu Yibei denied, and then...
Silently activated her Charm ability.
According to her deduction, a terrifying urban legend might be hidden in Banshan Elementary School. It was already very dangerous just letting Uncle Zhang Shan get close to the school. If he really went in, she probably couldn't guarantee his safety one hundred percent.
As for why she didn't tell him the truth and let him leave on his own...
Firstly, Lu Yibei was worried that even if he knew there was a urban legend at Banshan Elementary School, the 'inflated' Uncle Zhang Shan might become even more enthusiastic.
Secondly, if she told a story, she wouldn't have to pay the taxi fare!
“They were thinking of the unconscious Little Zhang, unable to bear letting him wake up and see that cruel scene. They all knew that Little Zhang was timid and weak-willed, and probably couldn't accept all of that.”
Zhang Shan, “...” She is definitely talking about me. When I was a child, I started reading all sorts of urban legend stories to build up my courage because I was timid, and eventually became obsessed with urban legend stories!
That's right, as a urban legend, she should have many ways to know about my past experiences.
But why did she suddenly start telling me these things? Could it be...
Impossible, impossible, I just had a drink with them not long ago, how could they be urban legend? Zhang Shan thought.
Although there were some minor discrepancies between the story Lu Yibei told and his experience, under the influence of the Charm ability, he felt as if she was an old person who had personally experienced those events, and what she said was highly credible.
Unconsciously, his palms were sweating, cold sweat dripped down his cheeks, his heart pounded, and Lu Yibei's unhurried and slightly eerie voice kept coming from his ears.
“So, they chose to become urban legend and worked together to weave a dream for Little Zhang, a dream as real as reality.”
“In the dream, the earthquake didn't cause the school buildings to collapse. In the dream, there was no urban legend in the school where hundreds died or were injured. In the dream, Little Zhang's memory seemed to be frozen at the most beautiful moment, and his friends were always by his side, growing up with him.”
As Lu Yibei spoke, she activated Mengmeng's innate skill. Several invisible tendrils extended from behind her and silently attached themselves to Zhang Shan's head.
Later, I'll let you experience a holographic projection-style urban legend story! Lu Yibei thought, silently observing the scenery outside the window, ready at any moment to let Zhang Shan see his “friends.”
“Time flew by. By chance, Little Zhang, who was already middle-aged, revisited the old place. His friends sensed his approach and, after discussing it, made a decision to tell Little Zhang the truth.”
“They believed that the current Little Zhang had grown into a responsible, courageous, and upright man, and would surely be able to face the cruel truth of the past.”
“So, they quietly waited at the foot of the mountain where the former school was located, waiting for Little Zhang's arrival, until midnight fell, when the crows rose and fell.”
As her voice fell, the skill activated.
The next moment, Zhang Shan turned a corner, and the main gate of Banshan Elementary School suddenly appeared in front of the road without any warning, entering his line of sight.
“Screech—!”
The piercing sound of emergency braking rang out, and the taxi stopped by the roadside. Wild grass grew sparsely by the road, and the cold wind was desolate.
At the end of the car headlights, the school gate, overgrown with wild vegetation, was covered in rust.
Five pale figures stood side by side, waving gently and mechanically, as if saying goodbye, or as if signaling someone to approach.
Behind them, the outlines of the mountain and the school ruins swallowed by darkness were like a lurking monster waiting to devour someone.
The cement road in the mountains, moistened by the fine rain, extended from in front of the school gate to their location, gleaming under the high beams, looking like a grand avenue leading to heaven or the underworld.
Seeing the scene before him, Zhang Shan immediately felt terrible. If he hadn't usually exercised and had good physical fitness, he would have suffered from some acute cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease on the spot.
I don't object to you telling a down-to-earth story, I'm even happy about it, but you can't do this kind of 'down-to-the-underworld' operation! Zhang Shan fiercely complained about Lu Yibei in his heart.
In his memory, it should still be three to five minutes' drive from Banshan Elementary School.
Now the school gate suddenly appeared before his eyes, and there were several familiar faces standing at the entrance waving at him. This was one hundred percent a urban legend event.
“Uncle, why did you stop?” Lu Yibei appropriately leaned close to Zhang Shan's back and whispered in his ear, “Hurry up and keep going!”
“Gulp—!” Zhang Shan swallowed hard, pointed out the window, and weakly said, “We're... we're already here! It's... it's just ahead.”
“Ahead? Isn't that the road ahead? I don't see a school!” Lu Yibei said in confusion, “Could it be... you saw something?”
“I didn't!” Zhang Shan blurted out, then realizing his reaction was too intense and might arouse suspicion, his voice immediately lowered.
“I... I'll just drop you off here? Please get out of the car quickly?”
“Huh? Didn't you just say you wanted to go into the school with me to take a look?” Lu Yibei tilted her head and said.
As she spoke, her small hand grabbed Zhang Shan's shoulder, and at the same time, she subtly activated a faint Spiritual Energy. A bone-chilling coldness emanated from her fingertips, as cold as a corpse that had climbed out of a morgue cabinet.
Zhang Shan shivered and shook his head like a rattle drum, “No, no, I have to rush back to livestream. If I don't go back soon, the listeners will be getting impatient.”
“Alright then!” Lu Yibei sighed, pretending to be helpless, “Um, Uncle, how much is the fare? Someone told me when I came that you must pay the fare when taking a taxi.”
“Don't need it, hurry up and go!” Zhang Shan said loudly with agitated emotions.
Lu Yibei shrugged and quickly pushed open the car door and got out.
The gentle breeze and fine rain blew over. She carried Lingtai Pure Karma with one hand and strode forward swaggeringly. Listening to the car noises and engine humming from behind, she was in a joyful mood.
What is humanitarian spirit? This is humanitarian spirit!
Not only is she happy to help others and never charges taxi fares, but the sense of fullness she provides when someone is frightened is much greater than that of a normal person.
Uncle Zhang Shan is really a good person! Good people should live a long life, so let me face any danger alone.
Lu Yibei thought, gazing at the vaguely visible buildings on the mountainside, her eyes narrowing.
————
Two minutes later.
Shortly after Lu Yibei left the road at the foot of Banshan Elementary School mountain, a gust of wind sounded from the darkness.
Five black figures flew from a distance, briefly stopped in place, looked in the direction Zhang Shan had left, and then chased after Lu Yiybei, quickly running towards the mountainside...
