Chapter 24

Chen Nan and Fatty continued to lead the way.

They also explained everything about this place.

But whether it was an illusion or not, Wu Wang always felt they were silently pulling away from him.

“That’s roughly the situation.”

Chen Nan gave a helpless, bitter smile.

According to her, students appeared out of thin air in this art building at intervals, and the two of them were no exception—only they arrived earlier than most.

Usually, students who appeared out of nowhere remembered only their names and that they were students of Gaoshan Middle School, with no further details.

To prevent others from panicking, Chen Nan suggested everyone form a class to stick together for comfort.

She took on the role of head class monitor, and any conflicts or emergencies among classmates could be brought to her.

She was a natural-born female leader.

“I hope the teachers and classmates outside notice we’re missing and find us soon,” Chen Nan smiled reassuringly: “But at least here, we don’t have to attend classes—everyone just needs to have fun! The art building has all kinds of art and music supplies!”

They had recently been discussing painting graffiti on every wall of the art building.

Everyone could freely unleash their wild imaginations.

“So you were the first to arrive?”

Wu Wang asked curiously.

Chen Nan shook her head and pointed to the side: “He was the first. I was second. When I arrived, Fatty was so scared he crouched under a desk trembling.”

“Sis Chen… don’t expose my weaknesses.” Fatty scratched his head embarrassedly.

He really was cowardly.

It was common knowledge in the art building, so they always sent him to greet new arrivals to build up his courage and social skills.

As they chatted, they reached a large classroom.

Inside were shelves filled with paint.

All the desks had their legs removed, leaving only wooden planks, paired and tied together to form makeshift beds, topped with quilts sewn from curtains and other fabric.

“Conditions are limited, don’t mind it,” Chen Nan patted Wu Wang’s shoulder and smiled: “You’ll stay in this classroom. Liu Yang will too. Since you already know each other, look out for one another.”

Yet this casual gesture.

Made Wu Wang instantly catch the anomaly.

He frowned, uncertainly asking: “You… know his name is Liu Yang?”

As far as he remembered, since entering the art building, only he had spoken the name Chu Yuxun—Liu Yang had not uttered a word and was still bewildered.

This question left Chen Nan utterly confused.

She frowned: “Of course I do. He was the previous student to appear. You’re the one who just appeared—you two arrived just a day apart.”

She then lightly punched Liu Yang in the chest, annoyed: “You, too—where did you disappear to all day? I haven’t seen you once.”

Liu Yang: “?”

Who the hell are you, sister?!

Do I even know you to be touching me like that?

He was about to ask something when Wu Wang stopped him.

“It’s fine, you two go ahead. This kid just woke up and is a bit dazed. I’ll just tidy up my bed.” Wu Wang flashed an even brighter smile.

Though he still appeared mentally normal, Chen Nan was still worried.

She gently pulled Liu Yang aside and warned: “Keep an eye on him. Don’t let him hurt himself again.”

Liu Yang: “?”

So why the hell are you so familiar with me?!

Before he could say anything, Chen Nan, after giving the warning, left the classroom with Fatty.

No sooner had they gone.

Than Wu Wang’s smile vanished.

He had seen through the true nature of the art building.

“Heh, Gaoshan Middle School really is the Corpse-Scented Gate.” Wu Wang sneered.

Chen Nan, Fatty, and the other students in the art building were already dead—they just didn’t remember.

He had always felt something was off.

It was because everything here was too normal!

Outside, Gaoshan Middle School was full of living people, yet oppressive and lifeless.

Inside the art building, all were dead, yet bursting with youth.

The students appearing here were those who died because of the Black Room—whether they died inside it on the spot or committed suicide by jumping afterward, it made no difference.

The parts of their humanity and youth stripped from them were restored here, and they forgot they were dead, as if deceiving themselves into believing they were in a warm, cozy school.

No wonder the dead students were dumped into the Black Room.

Corpses represented lifeless, aimless zombies—easy for the Ghost School to control.

The ghosts appearing in the classrooms symbolized the obsession of becoming learning machines, which is why they belonged to no side—anyone who obstructed their studying triggered the appearance of the tentacle ghosts.

“Principal Wang, it seems you’re not quite invincible after all,” Wu Wang grinned wildly: “You’re afraid… afraid that something inside the art building will destroy the outside Gaoshan Middle School?”

As he spoke, his gaze turned to Liu Yang.

He hadn’t expected this casual move to be correct.

When a corpse returned to the art building, it meant Liu Yang’s two sides had met and merged—he was now a complete “person” again.

He had become a student capable of independent thought, no longer just a learning machine.

Principal Wang feared this!

He feared these restored, normal students might uncover secrets hidden within the art building!

“Liu Yang, come with me for a walk.” Wu Wang patted his shoulder and suggested.

“Where to?”

Wu Wang smiled chillingly: “Let’s see what forbidden zones the art building has. Those are the places we should play in.”

Liu Yang: “...”

Though he didn’t fully understand, the translation was clear—let’s go find death.

“Can I refuse?”

“Only if you can convince me.”

He pulled out his dagger, named Tang Niu, from his military boot and spun it in a flourish to show Liu Yang that under normal circumstances, Wu Wang was reasonable.

Besides, reason was still on his side right now.

Plop—

Wu Wang suddenly felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand.

He had knocked over a can of paint on a nearby shelf.

His entire palm was stained bright red.

This familiar red and pain…

"To anyone else, this copy would be confusing and uncertain. But sorry—today, it’s me." Wu Wang sneered.

In a daze, he saw himself in a cluttered, dilapidated classroom—the earlier motion had caused a row of nails to pierce his palm, about ten of them, densely packed.

Outside the classroom, footsteps rustled.

And that eerie, chuckling sound again.

Clearly, both the steel pipes and the nails were connected to the ghost inside the real art building.

Without flinching, Wu Wang pulled out each rust-covered nail, then drove his dagger deep into his own heart.

【Undying】! Revived in full strength!

He twisted his neck, his vision returning to the warm, tidy classroom.

He now understood the building’s mechanics.

Events on both sides had symbolic counterparts—if he avoided contact with any red paint here, he was safe on the other side.

Otherwise, death would follow.

“Go find death… oh, find the forbidden zones, Liu Yang brother. Don’t be afraid,” Wu Wang comforted: “I’ll teach you the essence of bravery—worst case, you die.”

“Five-day limit? Completely unnecessary. Let me show you how my undying self clears this supernatural game!”