Light in the Darkness Chapter 23: A New Mission

Half a month had passed, and Song Zhi and Du Xinlan had gradually adapted to life here.

That afternoon, Jiang Li was struck by a splitting headache, and immediately afterward a new event appeared on the Ghost Record.

This time, the task was a sequential challenge event, consisting of five stages. Only by reaching the last stage could one be replaced and claim victory.

The participants in this event were Song Zhi, Fei Ling, and Jiang Li. The Ghost Record did not specify the exact details of each stage, but emphasized one point: every four people formed a group. At present, Jiang Li’s side had only three, which meant a newcomer would join them for this event.

Jiang Li glanced at Fei Ling. Although survival was difficult, Jiang Li had made up his mind: no matter Fei Ling's attitude, he liked this brave and resolute girl.

Mo Yan, meanwhile, comforted them with, "We’ll be waiting for your safe return."

Time passed, and the event’s start arrived. The three were teleported to a classroom, which was filled with other students—likely a high school. The students seemed unsurprised by the trio’s sudden appearance. Clearly, their reactions were bound by the rules of the Ghost Record.

The task duration was eight hours. As footsteps echoed in the hallway, a voluptuous and striking teacher entered. Thus began Jiang Li and Fei Ling’s third event.

The alluring teacher crossed the podium and went straight to the fourth row, sitting closest to Jiang Li. She was indeed a teacher, but also the newcomer in this event.

Again, footsteps sounded outside. A balding, overweight, greasy middle-aged man in his forties entered, holding a textbook in one hand and a thermos in the other.

As he stepped onto the podium, a burst of blood mist exploded. His body vanished, leaving only his head, which floated high in the air.

Blood-red tears streamed from his eyes, and his voice became unnaturally shrill.

From his mouth came a sharp, blood-crying sound:

"Now, let’s start the game! Hehehe…"

"The rules are simple: Red Light, Green Light."

"Whoever covers my head with the red cloth on the desk at the end represents the group’s victory."

The students were terrified by the scene. Several timid ones immediately fled the classroom, but as soon as they reached the corridor, spirits appeared behind them.

The spirits raised their right hands, and under their mysterious power, the students’ bodies were lifted off the ground, their throats constricted without direct contact.

Within seconds, these vibrant lives vanished; the bodies fell to the floor, and a dark hole appeared, swallowing the corpses.

Then everything disappeared, as if nothing had happened. The spirits outside and the students were gone.

Only the students in the classroom and Jiang Li’s group remained, replaying the horror in their minds.

Jiang Li observed the group. Apart from his trio, a few in the first and fourth rows remained calm. Those in the last row were anxious, but stayed quietly in place.

Jiang Li’s gaze drifted to the left wrists of those in the front row. His pupils contracted sharply.

Fei Ling and Song Zhi also saw the astonishing scene.

There were forty people left inside. After those who fled were eliminated by the spirits, more than thirty remained. Jiang Li discovered that, like his group, all bore the unique countdown timer of the Ghost Record on their left wrists.

So, besides his own city, there were also Ghost Record members from other cities.

What Jiang Li didn’t know was that these people were not members from other cities’ Ghost Record events, but rather…

One… Two… Three… Red Light, Green Light… Don’t move…

As the blood-weeping head spoke, all members in the classroom were forcibly pushed to the same level; fortunately, the room was large enough to accommodate everyone at the rear door.

Hearing the command, Jiang Li stopped moving. Not many followed the head’s instructions, so everyone was crowded together.

With so many people, accidents were inevitable. Those in the corner tripped, toppling a swath of people. Jiang Li watched as, in an instant, fifteen were sentenced to death by this mishap.

Though unwilling, Jiang Li was powerless.

The fifteen bodies suddenly exploded, leaving only blood mist drifting in the air.

There was no trace left behind—except to follow the head’s instructions.

Each time the head counted, it would turn around. If one moved quickly enough, one could cover the head with the red cloth.

One… Two… Three…

Red… Light… Green… Light…

Don’t… move…

Jiang Li’s group of four dashed ahead at the start. The head counted very slowly. Jiang Li worried it might suddenly accelerate, so he signaled to the others. As expected, the head quickened its pace at the last moment.

The four managed to freeze in place, but others were less fortunate. They rushed forward when the head was slow, but the sudden acceleration caught them off guard.

Bang… Bang… Bang…

Like balloons popping, the sound echoed in everyone’s ears. Their faces were ashen.

These were not balloons, but living people.

One by one, lives vanished in this childhood game.

One… Two… Three…

Red Light… Green Light… Don’t… move…

The sharp, demonic voice returned.

Jiang Li sprinted to the front of the crowd. Those behind grew malicious, grabbing his clothes.

As Jiang Li was about to break free, he heard the command not to move. He maintained his running posture, but those grabbing him squeezed unconsciously.

Three more popped like balloons, spraying red mist—like watermelon juice—onto Jiang Li’s back.

There were forty at the start, then ten fled the classroom.

Now thirty remained, and fifteen were lost to one accident.

With three more gone, only twelve survived, including Jiang Li’s four.

Jiang Li passed the first stage without further incident, but in the end, only his group survived.

Throughout the first stage, Jiang Li noticed the voluptuous teacher remained calm. Whatever her reasons, he admired her courage.

Fei Ling, seeing Jiang Li’s gaze lingering on the teacher, felt a surge of jealousy.

She quietly moved to the front, and as they crossed the corridor, they saw four spirits wandering near the main entrance. Fei Ling, still angry, failed to notice the spirits converging on her.

Quick as lightning, Jiang Li grabbed Fei Ling’s hand and dashed away.

Song Zhi and the teacher had already run off when they saw the spirits approaching. After Jiang Li had sprinted a few meters, he glanced back; the spirits hadn’t followed.

They were on the sixth floor of the school. The only way down was through the entrance guarded by spirits, behind which lay the elevator and stairs.

Jumping from the sixth floor was out of the question; they had to pass the spirits and take the stairs.

Jiang Li called Song Zhi and the teacher back. After a brief discussion, they agreed to try passing the spirits—it was risky, but the only way.

Before leaving the classroom, they had checked the surroundings; the only exit was the spirit-guarded entrance.

The four tried approaching again, but the spirits attacked as soon as they got close. When they retreated, the spirits stopped pursuing.

Advancing or retreating seemed equally impossible. As they pondered, they saw a boy at the entrance, eyes closed, passing unharmed through the spirits.

He calmly walked up to them and explained his secret:

"If you close your eyes, the spirits won’t attack."

"In fact, the spirits don’t exist. But because you see them and believe they’re real, they become real."

"So just close your eyes. If you don’t see them, they don’t exist."

"That way, you won’t be attacked."

So, the group closed their eyes and, heart pounding, passed safely through the door.

——————

I’ve been updating daily for half a month now—not much, but at least a chapter each day.

This supernatural story is really hard to write; I’m not sure how to lay out the path for survival.

I think about it a lot every day, but what I write always feels so poor…

Sigh… It’s tough…

Recently, I started another modern romance novel. When I can’t write this one or feel tired, I switch moods and write a love story instead. It’s actually pretty enjoyable.

It’s called "Clouds and Sea, Parting from Beauty." If you’re interested, feel free to check it out.