The Choice

“Why are they touching their own necks?” Zhang Kai asked with a sharp intake of breath.

Wang Ye silently nodded. "That's right."

"But why are they making this gesture?" Zhang Kai asked, puzzled.

Wang Ye was silent for a few seconds before suddenly looking up at the ceiling. "It's the water."

"Water?"

"That's right. The only thing I can think of is that water must be dripping onto their necks, so they reflexively reach to touch it." Wang Ye furrowed his brow in thought as he spoke.

"So you mean this ghost's killing method has something to do with water?"

"Making contact with water dripping from the ceiling."

"At least that's one of the ghost's killing rules."

As Zhang Kai listened to Wang Ye's words, he fell silent for a long time before looking deeply at Wang Ye.

This young man was truly mysterious in Zhang Kai's eyes. He seemed like an ordinary person, yet also made Zhang Kai feel somewhat wary.

In just over ten minutes, Wang Ye had shocked him countless times. But most incredible was how he deduced one of the ghost's killing methods based solely on the scene before them.

If Wang Ye knew Zhang Kai's inner thoughts, he would probably reply...

When one has experienced ghostly events and paid the price of countless lives over and over, they will naturally grow.

The people of this time are still too young.

"We can't confirm yet if the ghost has other killing methods."

"But what we can be sure of is..."

"This ghost can evolve."

Wang Ye's eyes were grave as he continued, "The sound of dripping water is getting more frequent."

"If the floor gets covered in water, we'll be in trouble."

"I suggest you notify your team members to beware of the dripping water, so we don't lose a few lives for no reason. That would be a shame."

Wang Ye glanced at Zhang Kai as he spoke.

Zhang Kai was silent for a few seconds before taking out his phone and sending a text message. Staring at the phone's dim glow, it was unclear what he was thinking.

A minute later, Zhang Kai took a deep breath and relaxed somewhat.

"My team should arrive in about 10 more minutes."

For some reason, when Zhang Kai said this, he sounded a bit more confident. Perhaps getting completely led by Wang Ye previously had been a serious blow.

Wang Ye nodded slightly. "For now, the simplest solution is to cover your head with clothing, stand still, and wait for rescue."

"..."

Zhang Kai was silent for a few seconds, his voice becoming lower. "But who knows how much the ghost could evolve in ten minutes."

"And...how many could die."

Hearing Zhang Kai's words, Wang Ye's mouth curled up in a faint, fleeting smile. His gaze toward Zhang Kai also held a hint of appreciation.

"Since you already know, what are you waiting for?"

But Wang Ye's voice remained as calm as ever, as if nothing could make his emotions waver. In this terrifying environment, it subconsciously made people feel much more at ease.

As he spoke, Wang Ye took off his coat and held it above his head with both hands. "Now we can only gamble."

"Gamble that the water has to make contact with skin to be fatal."

"Of course, you'll also have to pray your shoes are waterproof."

Wang Ye continued speaking as he walked to the wall. He took a deep breath. "Now, let me test it out for you."

Wang Ye stepped forward.

A drop of water dripped onto Wang Ye's uniform with a muffled plop.

Wang Ye's expression didn't change at all as he silently waited.

Three seconds later...

"So it has to make contact with skin?"

"Looks like we got pretty lucky. Follow me."

Wang Ye calmly analyzed the situation, then quietly said as he continued forward.

Zhang Kai watched Wang Ye's departing figure, his eyes complex.

How strong this person's heart must be. That one step, although it looked simple and easy...

If his guess was wrong, the price would have been death.

It was like dancing on the edge of a blade.

But an ordinary person had fulfilled his role as cannon fodder and taken that step. If Zhang Kai shrank back now, he probably wouldn't be able to hold his head high for the rest of his life.

Zhang Kai smiled self-deprecatingly and silently imitated Wang Ye, holding his coat over his head.

In the dim corridor...

Bodies lay everywhere. Only two figures walked forward silently, without making a sound.

The scene was eerily bizarre.

"Hurry up, the dripping is getting faster. If our clothes get soaked through, we can go join them in death."

Wang Ye's brow furrowed slightly as he felt the increasing speed of the dripping and quickened his pace forward.

Zhang Kai followed behind Wang Ye. Hearing this, his expression changed, and he gritted his teeth to match Wang Ye's speed.

One minute later...

Outside the principal's office.

"Stand behind me, I'll open the door!"

Wang Ye spoke and violently kicked the principal's office door.

Bang!

Opening the door by hand now would be seeking death. Although kicking the door seemed reckless, it was the best option left.

Inside...

A middle-aged man's corpse was draped over the desk, its body dried up like the other corpses in the hallway.

Wang Ye silently stepped back behind Zhang Kai.

He had perfectly fulfilled the testing role of cannon fodder. Things were now beyond his capabilities.

What made Wang Ye frown was that the dripping inside the room was even more frequent, and the floor already had a thin layer of accumulated water.

In the green glow of Zhang Kai's eyes, Wang Ye vaguely saw a shadowy figure floating behind the principal. On the desk, a golden bottle's lid had opened at some point.

"Seeking death!"

Wang Ye's eyes were sinisterly dark. That golden bottle was clearly a container used to seal the ghost. This ghost had been suppressed before!

Yet someone had opened it!

Undoubtedly, the one who opened the bottle was the principal.

After the eternal night, the revived horrors...and now there were still people daring to open sealed golden artifacts!

"Zhang Kai, how much longer?"

Wang Ye took a deep breath and quietly asked.

"9 minutes."

"How long can you suppress the ghost?"

"5 minutes is my limit."

A hint of bitterness flashed across Zhang Kai's mouth.

They were out of time...

Fortunately, the only good news was that the shadowy figure just stood there faintly, not moving.

Ghosts that didn't move were relatively easy to deal with.

At least...

After killing an entire school building of people, there was no one left for this ghost to kill.

"Endure for 4 more minutes, then start suppression!"

Wang Ye closed his eyes, was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly opened them and spoke.

"..."

Zhang Kai silently nodded.

Wang Ye's actions meant more innocent people would die in the next 4 minutes.

But he didn't criticize this saintly decision, because he knew this was the best solution.

Although it sounded cold-blooded...

It was the only option that could save more lives.