The Taoist’s Revelation and a Midnight Visitor

The footsteps paused and resumed, sometimes light, sometimes heavy. The person was definitely wearing leather shoes; their steps were distinct and crisp. As he listened, Ming Zhong found himself, for a fleeting moment, wanting to open the door and investigate. Yet, he resisted the urge, instead counting the footsteps as a form of self-hypnosis.

Wang Dongdong emerged from the restroom, sighing dramatically.

“Oh, I’m utterly exhausted,” he groaned. “Ming Zhong, you’re up.”

“Too stinky. I’m not going. I’m sleeping,” Ming Zhong replied softly.

Wang Dongdong scoffed, likely feeling quite drained from his earlier endeavors. He didn’t argue, simply climbing silently into his bed.

Moments later.

“Which idiot is pacing back and forth out there in the middle of the night?” Wang Dongdong muttered under his breath.

“They’re probably anxious about the upcoming college entrance exams,” Ming Zhong answered softly. “Just ignore them. Aren’t you tired enough from… that? Go to sleep.”

“But why the hell are they wearing leather shoes in the middle of the night? Are they deliberately trying to keep me awake?” Wang Dongdong’s voice rose slightly.

Fearing that Wang Dongdong might, in a fit of pique, open the door and confront the ghost, Ming Zhong quickly advised:

“Just count their footsteps in your head, like counting sheep. It works pretty well.”

“Alright, I’ll try it.”

A few minutes later, just as Ming Zhong was drifting off to sleep, Wang Dongdong suddenly sat bolt upright in his bed.

“Damn it! I can’t take it anymore!”

Ming Zhong jolted awake, quickly whispering:

“Fatty Wang, calm down.”

“There’s a mock exam tomorrow, and I’m burning with enthusiasm! I can’t cool down!”

Fatty Wang was already out of bed, clad only in his underwear. At this moment, his movements were surprisingly agile, showing no trace of weakness.

Ming Zhong dared not be careless and immediately scrambled out of his own bed. Fortunately, his bunk was positioned near the door wall, while Fatty Wang’s was closer to the balcony, allowing Ming Zhong to intercept him in time.

“Fatty Wang, I have sleeping pills here. How about you take a few?”

Ming Zhong was at a loss for how to persuade Wang Dongdong. Without knowing that the entity outside wasn’t human, any normal person would likely go out to confront them.

“Huh? Ming Zhong, you’re acting weird tonight,” Wang Dongdong asked, puzzled. “Who tries to persuade someone like that?”

Ming Zhong sighed in resignation. It was time to lay his cards on the table.

“Actually, I have a secret.”

“A secret? How big is it? Is it as big as mine?” Wang Dongdong asked, jiggling the ample flesh on his chest.

In the dormitory, illuminated only by a sliver of moonlight, Ming Zhong instinctively glanced at Wang Dongdong’s chest. It was indeed more substantial than many girls in their class. However, on those… mounds, there seemed to be a few curly hairs?

A wave of nausea washed over Ming Zhong, and he quickly averted his gaze.

“I’m serious,” he stated.

“Mm-hmm, I’m listening intently. Go on,” Wang Dongdong said. Though the intermittent footsteps outside were steadily increasing his irritation, he patiently waited for Ming Zhong’s explanation.

“I can see things… unclean things,” Ming Zhong declared, his voice serious and solemn.

Wang Dongdong immediately grew serious as well, his voice deep.

“Ming Zhong, actually, I have a secret too.”

“What?”

“I am a direct disciple of the Maoshan Sect, thirty-sixth generation. My Taoist name is True Man Zhainan.”

Ming Zhong frowned deeply at once.

“Fatty Wang, I’m not joking! The one outside is definitely not—”

“Not human, right?” Wang Dongdong chuckled, a profound, unconcerned look on his face. “This humble Taoist has long been aware. Considering that life is not easy and death is also bitter, I hope it can let go of its obsession and transcend on its own.”

Wang Dongdong let out a long sigh.

“Alas, it was deluded in life and remains unenlightened in death. Let this humble Taoist go forth, to guide and liberate it.”

“Amitabha~”

“Benefactor, do not hinder this humble Taoist! This is my sacred mission!”

With a drawn-out declaration, Wang Dongdong suddenly lunged towards the dormitory door.

“Hey! Fatty Wang!”

Ming Zhong quickly reached out to grab him, but alas, Fatty Wang’s ample flesh was smooth and slick, causing him to slip away.

In that instant, Ming Zhong regretted not having blocked the door directly.

He watched as Fatty Wang’s chubby hand gripped the doorknob, then twisted and pulled. The door wasn’t old, so it opened without a loud sound.

The fluorescent lights in the corridor had been powered off at curfew. Now, only the sound-activated lights flickered on, triggered by the footsteps. The low-wattage incandescent bulbs cast a dim, yellowish glow, which, along with the inexplicably chilling air from the corridor, seeped into the dormitory.

By the faint, yellow light, Ming Zhong saw Fatty Wang’s two round shoulders suddenly shrug. At that very moment, Ming Zhong’s gaze subtly shifted.

His eyes pierced through the gap between Wang Dongdong and the doorframe, revealing a small girl skipping past their door in the corridor.

The little girl passed by the door, her pattering footsteps gradually fading into the distance. Then, pattering once more, they grew closer and closer. The little girl passed the door a second time.

“Eh-yee~?”

This time, she stopped, tilting her head to look towards their door, uttering a sound of confusion.

Ming Zhong quickly stepped forward, pulling the seemingly stunned Fatty Wang back inside the room. Immediately, Ming Zhong reached out to close the door, but Fatty Wang braced it with his hand.

“Ming Zhong, what are you doing?”

And in that brief delay.

Tap, tap, clap!

Two small hops, then a final jump with feet together.

The little girl landed directly in front of them.

She wore a goose-yellow dress and a pair of small red leather shoes. Her hair, untied, fell naturally in a fluffy cascade. The little girl looked up, tilting her head, her large, clear eyes fixed on the two of them.

Her cheeks were slightly plump, fair with a rosy blush, making her look incredibly cute.

Ming Zhong, though still puzzled, let out a breath of relief.

Clearly, the little girl was alive.

“Eh-yee?” The little girl emitted another questioning, adorable sound.

Wang Dongdong’s righteous fury had vanished, and with it, his mission as a thirty-sixth generation direct disciple of the Maoshan Sect.

“Little sister, what are you doing out so late?” Wang Dongdong asked, crouching down with what he believed was a benevolent smile.

The little girl immediately hopped backward, her expression wary, her eyes darting to Ming Zhong. Wang Dongdong turned back, casting a mournful glance at Ming Zhong’s face, instantly feeling deeply wounded.

What has become of society? Even children this small are despicable face-worshippers! he thought.

“Big brother, we’re playing hide-and-seek!” The little girl politely smiled at Wang Dongdong, answering his question earnestly.

Wang Dongdong felt the wound in his heart instantly heal. He chuckled, “Little sister, playing is fine, but you shouldn’t be out at night, okay? Mommy will worry. Hurry home!”

“Should big brother walk you downstairs?”

After asking, Wang Dongdong lowered his voice and spoke to Ming Zhong:

“I remember now! This is Auntie Zhang, the dorm supervisor’s daughter. Let’s take her down to Auntie Zhang on the first floor.”

Ming Zhong shot a series of meaningful glances at Wang Dongdong, but the latter failed to grasp their meaning. Instead, he retorted, “You don’t want to? Fine, I’ll go alone.”

Ming Zhong was almost driven to laughter by this ridiculously oblivious fatty.

She said “we”! That means at least two people. So where is the other one? Hiding for hide-and-seek? he thought.

“Little sister, you said you’re playing hide-and-seek. Where’s your friend? Are they hiding?” Ming Zhong asked with a smile.

The little girl instantly looked upset, pouting her lips.

“Big sister doesn’t know where to hide,” she mumbled. “Linlin can’t find her.”

Ming Zhong instinctively sensed something eerie about the situation, but Wang Dongdong merely chuckled.

“Don’t worry, Linlin. Big brother will help you find her, okay?”

“No!”

The little girl, Linlin, was surprisingly principled. She raised a tiny fist, declaring firmly:

“Linlin has to find her myself! No cheating!”

Wang Dongdong was about to say more when a woman, dressed in pajamas and slippers, suddenly ran towards them. Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were a bit red, clearly indicating she had just woken up. Upon arriving, she immediately began apologizing profusely:

“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! Linlin has disturbed you two students, I apologize!”

“Linlin, quickly apologize to the two big brothers!”

“I’m sorry, two big brothers!” Linlin bowed, her etiquette impeccable.

Wang Dongdong immediately chuckled.

“It’s alright, Auntie Zhang. Linlin is very cute.”

Ming Zhong remained silent, merely smiling and nodding at Auntie Zhang.

“I’m sorry, Linlin, let’s go. You two students should hurry back to rest; you can still get a couple of hours of sleep.”

Auntie Zhang apologized once more, then pulled Linlin away.

“Auntie Zhang?” Wang Dongdong called out.

Ming Zhong immediately tried to pull him back, but it was too late.

“Linlin’s big sister is hiding. You should hurry and find her, okay? It’s late, and the child might get scared.”

Hearing Wang Dongdong’s words, Auntie Zhang’s back merely paused for a moment. She offered no reply, continuing to lead Linlin down the stairs.

Before descending, the little girl Linlin looked back, waving her tiny hand with a smile.

“Bye-bye…”

Wang Dongdong also waved his plump hand.

“What a little angel.”

“Auntie Zhang will probably go look for Linlin’s big sister later, right?”

Ming Zhong pulled the foolishly grinning Fatty Wang back inside, gently closing the door.

“What are you doing? Ming Zhong, you’re really strange tonight, aren’t you!?”

“Perhaps I am strange, but you need to pay a little more attention.”

“What do you mean?” Fatty Wang frowned deeply, his eyes almost disappearing into his rolls of flesh.

Ming Zhong climbed into his bunk.

“Our country has a comprehensive criminal code.”

Having said his piece, Ming Zhong fell silent. Wang Dongdong didn’t understand his meaning until he, too, lay in bed, when a sudden realization dawned on him.

“Damn it, I’m not a lolicon!”