The three young men glanced up simultaneously, their legs weakening with fear.
Above the slumbering student hovered a yellow talisman, suspended a foot above his body, motionless.
"Retrieve it."
The talisman drifted slowly back. The male student standing beside Gu Lili hastily moved aside.
The once unconscious youth now opened his eyes.
"I am an agent summoned by the police. Please dress and come with me."
"Understood."
Gu Lili led the way, the talisman following closely behind, while the students trailed nervously.
They proceeded directly to the academic affairs office.
School officials and law enforcement awaited their arrival.
Upon witnessing the floating talisman, all present wore expressions of astonishment, utterly perplexed.
Gu Lili cast a brief glance at the striking foreign youth and addressed the assembly, "When I encountered this student at the male dormitory entrance, I observed a white shadow drifting nearby. I had no time to warn him—perhaps he wouldn't have believed me regardless—so I employed the talisman to track it. It led me to the third floor, where this malevolent spirit was clinging to this student."
She gestured toward the nearly possessed youth. "Thankfully, I intervened in time. Reflecting carefully, when we stood at the entrance, the spirit ignored us and proceeded to the third floor. This suggests it prefers those deeply asleep over those awake—after all, students are generally vigorous and resilient, making them difficult targets. The spirit seeks those most vulnerable."
Her gaze shifted toward the talisman's resting place. "You are Wu Yajun, the male student who drowned himself last year. Yet, if you truly took your own life, why do you harbor such intense resentment?"
Wu Yajun attempted to flee but was unable. He remained silent, merely staring at Gu Lili.
"Not a word?" Gu Lili turned to the principal. "Try to contact his family. Since he refuses to speak, I shall escort his spirit to the netherworld. His fate will be decided there."
"Wait!"
Wu Yajun's voice startled everyone into stunned silence. None present, had they not witnessed it firsthand, could have believed in such supernatural phenomena.
"You have caused the deaths of three students. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I have my reasons."
"Oh?" Gu Lili fixed him with a steady gaze. "Your own life means nothing to you, and others' lives are but trifles in your eyes. I am eager to hear your reasons."
"I chose to drown myself after the devastation of heartbreak. But once dead, I regretted it. Seeing my weeping, brokenhearted parents, I longed to live again, which is why I hesitated to reincarnate. Yet, I never imagined that even after all this time, people would still mock and scorn my foolish act…"
Gu Lili sighed inwardly. Those three students who died likely never fathomed the tragic cause behind their fate.
A wave of melancholy swept through the gathered crowd.
Drawing her ritual implements from her bag, Gu Lili solemnly guided Wu Yajun's spirit to the underworld.
She asked the others to wait, then ventured to the lakeside, quickly discerning where the missing wandering spirits had gathered—here, at the lake.
These restless souls, unwilling to reincarnate and clinging to the mortal realm, required resolution.
Returning, Gu Lili addressed the principal, "I recommend the school fill in that lake and conduct a grand ritual there."
"Very well, Miss Gu. Is the lake truly so full of these spirits?"
"This school sits upon an ancient mass grave. The presence of restless spirits is not surprising. But from what I observe, most have congregated by the lake. It is imperative that it be filled."