Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Whispers of the Departed

The whispers ​crystallized into bone-needles​ stabbing Zhang's eardrums:

"Return my 3.00g soul-weight…"

"Settle the blood-interest…"

"Debtor… join us…"

Lin Xue's shadow flickered beside him, her fingers ​bleeding cinnabar runes​ onto the dusty floor514:

​​「通胜债簿•未偿命数」​​

(Tongsheng Ledger • Unpaid Lives)

"Every whisper is a ​karmic creditor," she murmured, eyes reflecting ​swirling debt-sigils. "This library is their ​flesh-ledger prison."

Zhang's tumor ​ruptured with blue hunger, tendrils of light ​latching onto spectral throats. The air reeked of ​rotting lychees and rust—the stench of ​souls decaying in cosmic ledgers​620.

​​*CRACK!​​*

Bookshelves ​peeled like flayed skin, revealing ​spine-bone scrolls​ etched with names:

​**■ Student Lin Mei ■ Debt: 7.00g ■ Collateral: Eyesight​

​■ Professor Chen ■ Debt: 12.33g ■ Collateral: Unborn Son**​

"See the ​interest compounding​?" Lin Xue's voice turned icy. "They borrowed from ​Tongsheng's forbidden vault… now their souls ​accrue eternal penalties."

A cold hand ​materialized from parchment, gripping Zhang's wrist.

"You carry the Collector's tumor…" the whisper ​seared his mind. "Audit our accounts… or become our new jailer."

The tumor ​blazed indigo, projecting ​holographic chains​ that bound the ghost-hand:

​DEBT TRANSFER PROTOCOL ACTIVATED ■ NEW CREDITOR: ZHANG XIAONIAN​

"​Audit them?​​" Zhang snarled, ​cinnabar veins pulsing up his neck​922. "I'll do better."

He slammed his palm onto the floor. Stone tiles ​liquefied into mercury, reflecting ​thousands of screaming faces—the library's ​true foundation of damned souls​1516.

"Show me the principal ledger."