Chapter 9 Clues
As soon as the system notification sound ended, Gu Yunqing could clearly feel that the power of "trust" from the readers had become even stronger.
Readers' recognition of his prophetic abilities as the alias "Zhuge Jin" is steadily increasing.
Zhuge Jin's prophetic abilities have been enhanced, and his perception of surrounding energy fluctuations has become increasingly acute.
At this moment, a strange atmosphere permeated the classroom during lunch break.
The joy of surviving the ordeal and the shock of the new information left Di Wenzhou, Bai Muling, and even Yue Qingqing with lingering excitement and fear on their faces.
Unconsciously, they formed a loose circle centered around Jun Xiangbei and Zhuge Jin.
Although the "one-meter" safe distance is still strictly observed, the invisible barrier seems to have diminished considerably.
Jun Xiangbei's cool gaze swept over everyone, and he began to share his discovery concisely, his voice as steady as if he were giving a mission report: "In the old archives room on the east side, I found a graduation yearbook from several years ago. Senior 3 (1) class."
He deliberately skipped over the details of the infiltration and the bloodstains on the photos, extracting only the key information: "The headless girl is confirmed to be named Yan Ruxuan."
He paused, making sure everyone heard the name, and then continued: "In the class photo in the yearbook, besides Yan Ruxuan, there are several other students whose faces or body parts are covered with special stains."
“A girl with a twisted shadow on her neck, a boy with rotten stains on his cheeks, a student with multiple marks that look like sutures on his body, and a student who is unusually short and mostly shrouded in shadow.”
With his powerful memory and keen observation skills, he clearly described these distinctive features: "These features closely match the appearance of some of the 'classmates' in the classroom, whose names are covered up in the photos."
However, he changed the subject and calmly pointed out the limitations: "Unsurprisingly, these are the carriers of the rules we are looking for, and we currently have too little information about them."
Xin Yuan'er said with a headache, "I only know that if I call out the right name of the ghosts, I can get information from them, but I don't know what the risks are if I call them out wrong."
Di Wenzhou, who had been listening in silence, couldn't help but speak up, his face filled with doubt: "The graduation yearbook... could there be a mistake? Or have they changed too much over the years and the dates don't match up? What if we call out the wrong name and anger them..."
He thought of Shi Zihao and Yan Ruxuan's tragic fate and felt lingering fear.
Xin Yuan'er rolled her eyes and said speechlessly, "It's not like I'm asking you to go and die right now. Shouldn't we find some clues and match them up one by one?"
"For example, are there things in the classroom that record their names and photos? Old books in the desks, award lists on the walls, and the like?"
Their discussion was all reasonable and based on a rational caution stemming from the instinct for survival.
Zhuge Jin, however, remained seated quietly to the side. His gaze, hidden from view by the white veil, had already taken in every corner of the classroom.
During a brief pause in the discussion, he spoke slowly, as if it were just a spontaneous remark, yet it reached everyone's ears with precision:
“Traces of the past remain, subtle and inconspicuous. The truth of a moment often lies within reach.”
Zhuge Jin's words remained cryptic, but their meaning became clearer than before.
Jun Xiangbei immediately understood his meaning. He looked at Zhuge Jin and pondered in his heart.
The silver-haired man in front of me, dressed in white, always seemed to be able to point the way in this unique way at crucial moments.
A quick, knowing glint flashed in his eyes, and his gaze then fell upon the book corner on the east side of the classroom and the honor board on the back wall.
He even started rapidly scanning the desks used by those ghost students.
Zhuge Jin's live stream:
"The pro has given another hint. I also want to run a dungeon with the Seer."
"So the clue is in the classroom? Got it! Let's start the search."
"Why is the God of War acting so dazed in this instance? It doesn't seem like his usual style."
"I think so too. Could it be that the God of War has split himself into two again...?"
"Upstairs, what's been divided into? You should at least get your facts straight!"
"Hehe, I won't tell you, just keep watching Jun Shen's live stream and you'll find out."
And the readers are—
[Zhuge Jin's hints are becoming increasingly straightforward.]
This feeling of having everything under control is incredibly cool.
“I understand,” Jun Xiangbei said, ending Di Wenzhou and Bai Muling’s hesitation.
"Mr. Zhuge means that there is likely information in this classroom that corresponds to the identity. We need to find it as soon as possible."
He quickly made arrangements, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "Lunch break is about to end, time is limited, everyone spread out and search."
“I’ll take charge of guarding the area.” Jun Xiangbei’s gaze turned toward the classroom doors and windows.
“If there is any sign that a teacher is approaching, I will immediately issue a warning, and everyone must stop immediately and return to their positions.”
Zhuge Jin nodded slightly, acquiescing to Jun Xiangbei's arrangement.
With a clear direction and Jun Xiangbei's guarantee, Di Wenzhou and Bai Muling no longer hesitated and nodded.
Yue Qingqing also mustered her courage and offered to help check the lower-ranking places like the honor roll.
Xin Yuan'er followed closely behind Zhuge Jin, and like a lackey, took out a tea set from his spatial backpack and poured Zhuge Jin a cup of tea.
"Boss, you must be thirsty after talking so much. Here, have a cup of tea to soothe your throat."
Zhuge Jin's lips twitched slightly, but he still accepted it gracefully and said indifferently, "Thank you."
Xin Yuan'er was overjoyed to receive the big shot's thanks and immediately set off to search for clues.
Zhuge Jin remained seated, showing no intention of participating in the search.
His role is that of a "prophet" and an "observer," rather than a typical "searcher."
Too much action will only destroy the carefully maintained sense of mystery.
Zhuge Jin looked through the white veil at Jun Xiangbei.
Jun Xiangbei's tall figure stood like a lone pine tree at the front of the classroom, seemingly focused on guarding the door. However, Zhuge Jin's keen senses detected that the corner of his eye would always, almost imperceptibly, briefly sweep over his direction.
There was no doubt or scrutiny in his gaze, but rather a complex inquiry, even a hint of bewilderment and attention stemming from a strong attraction that he himself was not fully aware of.
It's like a meticulous scientist discovering a puzzle that can't be solved with existing formulas, feeling both distressed and captivated.
A faint sense of amusement, typical of someone in control, stirred within Zhuge Jin.
Jun Xiangbei's awkward reaction was exactly what he wanted.
The male protagonist of the original work is being drawn step by step into the drama he himself is directing, without even realizing it.
The search was proceeding tensely and slowly.
Suddenly, Bai Muling let out a very soft, suppressed gasp: "Found it!"
She pointed to a nearly completely faded group activity photo in the corner of the honor roll, with a line of blurry text below that could be vaguely discerned as: "...Award: Literature Group...Members: Lin Yurou (Group Leader), Yan Ruxuan, Zhao..."
Almost simultaneously, Yue Qingqing also reported in a trembling voice: "The student with the twisted neck, there's a sketchbook in her desk, and on the title page it says, 'Lin Yurou...'"
The names match.
The girl with the shadow on her neck in the graduation photo is the twisted-neck ghost in front of us, named Lin Yurou.
“Here!” Di Wenzhou lowered his voice, lifting his head from a worn physics workbook. “The name of this workbook is… Gao Zhizhou? That name seems…”
Jun Xiangbei quickly recalled: "The boy in the graduation photo had rotten stains on his cheeks."
One by one, the goals were confirmed.
The players were greatly encouraged, and their efficiency increased dramatically.
However, just as they were basking in the excitement of their discovery—
Beneath Zhuge Jin's white veil, his gaze suddenly sharpened.
His senses detected an unmistakable aura of rule-based power rapidly approaching from the direction of the stairwell.
It wasn't an ordinary teacher on patrol, but that "male teacher".
He could even faintly "hear" the signature, unhurried yet imposing sound of leather shoes.
"end."
Zhuge Jin's cold voice wasn't loud, but it struck the hearts of all players like an alarm bell.
It's just one word.
Everyone froze instantly, quickly restoring their belongings to their original state, retreating rapidly from the search area, spreading out, lowering their heads, pretending to rest or space out, their hearts pounding.
The very next second after they finished their cover-up—
The classroom door was pushed open.
Teacher Li, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, stood at the door with a perfect yet fake smile on her face. Her gaze, like a searchlight, slowly swept over every corner of the classroom and every player.
His gaze lingered subtly for a fraction of a second on the reading corner, the honor roll, and the desks of those few obnoxious students who had been the focus of his attention.
The air in the classroom seemed to freeze, and the players almost stopped breathing.
Teacher Li's smile seemed to deepen, sending chills down one's spine.
But in the end, he said nothing and did nothing. He simply turned away as if he had just happened to be passing by, slowly withdrawing his gaze.
The door closed gently.
Only when the terrifying footsteps completely faded away did everyone breathe a sigh of relief, their backs already soaked with cold sweat.
They subconsciously glanced at Zhuge Jin, who remained calmly seated.
Once again... he foresaw the danger.
Jun Xiangbei stared at Zhuge Jin, his eyes surging with an unprecedented surge of emotions.
The feeling of being precisely protected and invisibly guided strongly impacted his established behavioral patterns and cognitive system.
An indescribable thrill quietly began to grow deep within his cold, mechanical core.
Zhuge Jin calmly accepted everyone's gaze, his heart undisturbed.
The clues have been found, the crisis has passed, and the "prophet's" reputation has been solidified once again.
And the most important "audience," the male protagonist of the original work, could no longer take his eyes off him.
The play continues.
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