The Ghostly Doppelgänger and a Hungry Spirit

Fu Ziqing drifted through the vast, white expanse. She raised her hand, observing that her arm had solidified, no longer appearing translucent.

Yet, with a mere thought, her arm instantly reverted to its transparent state.

In this semi-transparent form, Fu Ziqing sensed an even deeper connection to the surrounding space.

A sudden realization dawned upon her.

Her translucent state seemed to resonate more profoundly with this particular space, explaining why the colossal ship had manifested earlier.

The black anchor, she mused, was akin to a key, unlocking a certain restraint within her spirit body and enabling her to establish this connection with the space.

With these thoughts in mind, Fu Ziqing gazed upwards into the void, vaguely discerning the colossal ship once more.

However, in a fleeting moment of distraction, the ship vanished again.

“Is my ability still insufficient?”

Fu Ziqing mused to herself.

Given the chance, she truly wished to discover what lay aboard that magnificent vessel.

Recalling her gaze and thoughts, Fu Ziqing gestured forward, and the phantom image of a large eyeball materialized out of thin air.

“I told you, you couldn’t escape.”

Fu Ziqing smiled faintly at the phantom eyeball.

Naturally, this was merely an apparition, yet Fu Ziqing could render it corporeal at will.

Just then, Fu Ziqing suddenly felt a profound sense of ‘hunger.’

Evidently, utilizing the power of this space exacted a toll on her.

Thus, Fu Ziqing decided to spare the little rubber ball for now.

Soon after, her form dissipated within the space.

Fu Ziqing was off to hunt for sustenance.

Inside the Chuanbei Police Station.

Zhao Yunzhong, engrossed in reviewing documents on his computer, suddenly felt something stir restlessly within his pocket.

“Stop fidgeting! I’m busy.”

Without even looking, he knew it was The Book of Spirit Sealing causing mischief again.

Then, The Book of Spirit Sealing abruptly flew out of his pocket, pressing itself directly against his chest.

“I told you not to cause trouble.”

Zhao Yunzhong reluctantly set aside his work, reaching to pry The Book of Spirit Sealing from his chest.

Yet, he found it utterly immovable.

“What’s wrong?”

Zhao Yunzhong sensed its distress, its fear.

This surge of emotion seemed to affect him as well, prompting him to raise his hand, hesitating, before ultimately patting The Book of Spirit Sealing gently on his chest.

Unable to bring himself to utter comforting words, he could only stiffly stroke The Book of Spirit Sealing, offering it solace in his own awkward way.

A moment later, sensing that The Book of Spirit Sealing’s emotions had somewhat stabilized, Zhao Yunzhong spoke again.

“Did something happen?”

The Book of Spirit Sealing finally detached from his chest, hovering before Zhao Yunzhong and swaying erratically from side to side.

“You’re saying you encountered an incredibly terrifying Miss Ghost?”

Zhao Yunzhong’s expression turned subtly complex as he inquired.

“A Miss Ghost that even you are afraid of?”

The Book of Spirit Sealing bobbed slightly up and down, a clear sign of affirmation.

Zhao Yunzhong’s confusion deepened.

“But haven’t you been with me all this time? Where could you have possibly encountered a Miss Ghost?”

Could it be Miss Doll?

Is she really that formidable? Even The Book of Spirit Sealing is afraid of her?

The Book of Spirit Sealing began to spin wildly in the air, appearing highly agitated, as if struggling to articulate its experience.

Its agitation intensified, and dark mist even began to emanate from its form.

Zhao Yunzhong quickly seized The Book of Spirit Sealing, speaking at the same time.

“Alright! Alright! Don’t rush! Don’t rush!”

His expression flickered with an internal struggle, but he ultimately managed to speak in the gentlest tone possible.

“Uh… there… be good now…”

“Rest in my pocket, take your time.”

The Book of Spirit Sealing gradually calmed, and the emanating black mist receded back into it.

It flew up to nuzzle Zhao Yunzhong’s face before returning to his pocket.

Zhao Yunzhong gently pressed his hand against his pocket, reassuring The Book of Spirit Sealing.

Then, Zhao Yunzhong instinctively raised his left hand, glancing at his palm.

The vivid red number there had, at some unknown point, doubled.

“60”!

Zhao Yunzhong rubbed his eyes, confirming it repeatedly.

It was indeed “60.”

“This… this is truly baffling!”

Zhao Yunzhong was both astonished and perplexed.

Fu Ziqing departed from the dormitory building.

Shortly thereafter, she arrived at Dengke Tower.

Fu Ziqing wandered through Dengke Tower for a while, moving from classroom to classroom, until she finally spotted Ming Zhong in one of them.

She slipped into the classroom through the back door, observing Ming Zhong in the second-to-last row by the window, seemingly engrossed in solving problems.

Fu Ziqing made her way towards him.

It was nearing 4:30 PM, with just over half an hour remaining until the exam concluded.

Typically, at this point, most examinees would be diligently tackling the last one or two challenging problems.

As Fu Ziqing walked by, she incidentally observed the other students, almost all of whom were indeed repeatedly working out the final problems on their scratch paper.

It appeared those last two questions were quite difficult.

Continuing her path, as she neared Ming Zhong, Fu Ziqing noticed him with his head bowed, seemingly staring at his exam paper, yet his hand remained still.

Upon closer inspection, Fu Ziqing saw that Ming Zhong’s test paper was still on the first page.

Had he already begun reviewing?

Fu Ziqing noted that the test paper itself was relatively clean, with only a few simple drafts; his answer sheet was likely tucked beneath it.

Assuming he had finished, Fu Ziqing quietly inquired.

“Hey, are you done?”

Ming Zhong offered no response.

Was he worried the invigilator would misunderstand during the exam?

Considering this, Fu Ziqing felt it might be inappropriate to disturb him further, so she whispered.

“I need to talk to you about something. After your exam, meet me under the tree where we met this morning.”

Still, Ming Zhong remained unresponsive.

It was then that Fu Ziqing sensed something was amiss.

“Ming Zhong?”

She raised her voice, then leaned in for a closer look. Good heavens! He was sleeping!

Fu Ziqing frowned, bit her lip, and turned to leave.

Feeling ‘hungry,’ she naturally sought sustenance. After some thought, she concluded that only ghost energy or actual ghosts could satisfy her.

She had initially intended to ask Ming Zhong, who claimed to frequently see ghosts, to point her towards some haunted spots, saving her the effort of searching.

Yet, the fellow was sleeping during his exam!

Never mind, I’ll just find them myself…

Lost in thought, Fu Ziqing arrived at the entrance of Dengke Tower, about to step outside, when her footsteps abruptly halted.

She saw Ming Zhong walking towards her.

“Eh!?”

Fu Ziqing was startled. Was she hallucinating?

Before she could properly confirm, the Ming Zhong opposite her also noticed her, exclaiming in surprise.

“Senior Sister? When did you get here?”

He even spoke to her! It wasn’t a hallucination!

“What is going on?”

Fu Ziqing, filled with doubt and surprise, blinked at the Ming Zhong before her.

“Aren’t you taking an exam?”

“Exam?”

Ming Zhong walked up to Fu Ziqing, looking a little puzzled, then chuckled.

“Of course I’m taking an exam; I’m just heading there now.”

“No, the exam is almost over…”

Fu Ziqing blurted out instinctively, then waved her hands repeatedly.

“No! No! That’s not the point!”

She scrutinized the Ming Zhong before her, looking him over again and again.

The ‘Ming Zhong’ continued, sounding somewhat bewildered.

“Almost over?! Isn’t it not even three o’clock yet… And Senior Sister, what ‘point’ are you talking about?”

Fu Ziqing’s eyes narrowed suddenly. At that moment, she finally perceived the strangeness of the “Ming Zhong” before her.

He had no life aura whatsoever!

Was it a ghost?

Fu Ziqing took a step forward, then smiled faintly.

“Stand still, don’t move.”

The “Ming Zhong” frowned, asking with confusion.

“Senior Sister, what are you doing?”

“Shh~”

Fu Ziqing placed her index finger to her lips, speaking softly.

“Close your eyes.”

“I’m not ready… No… Senior Sister, what exactly do you want?”

The “Ming Zhong” appeared a little flustered.

He instinctively retreated a step.

Fu Ziqing’s eyes sharpened slightly.

Had this thing detected danger?

Quite alert, isn’t it…

However, Fu Ziqing was feeling ‘hungry’; how could she possibly let this thing escape?

Smack!

Fu Ziqing instantly slapped the “Ming Zhong” across the face.

She controlled her strength, merely causing the “Ming Zhong” to stagger, not intending to disperse it with a single blow.

“Senior Sister?”

The “Ming Zhong” clutched its face, its eyes wide with incomprehension and disbelief.

Then, as if remembering something, it hastily spoke.

“Senior Sister, that was just a dream… and I didn’t do anything in the dream…”

“What dream are you talking about!”

Fu Ziqing cut him off with a cold laugh.

“It seems you have some skill, not only capable of mimicking his appearance but also knowing what dreams he had.”

At this point, Fu Ziqing frowned.

“Wait, you haven’t already devoured Ming Zhong, have you? No wonder he didn’t react when I called him…”

“Senior Sister, what are you talking about? I am Ming Zhong! Would I eat myself?”

The “Ming Zhong” stared with bewildered eyes.

“Heh heh!”

Fu Ziqing sneered.

“I could tell at a glance you weren’t human! And you still dare to pretend! Watch me beat you back to your true form!”

With that, Fu Ziqing raised her hand and swept it, causing the “Ming Zhong” to instantly fly upwards, hovering in mid-air.

Then, Fu Ziqing pointed a finger downwards, and the “Ming Zhong” plummeted rapidly from the sky.

“Senior Sister, no!”

Amidst the “Ming Zhong’s” shriek, it suddenly vanished into thin air.

Fu Ziqing paused, surprised.

“Hm?”

It managed to escape?

That shouldn’t be right. Aside from its ability to mimic, she could sense that this ghost was not strong at all…

The more Fu Ziqing thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

She looked up, gazing in the direction of Ming Zhong’s classroom.

With a flicker of her form, Fu Ziqing floated directly towards that area.

Meanwhile, in the classroom, Ming Zhong suddenly awoke with a jolt.

Seeing the pristine test paper before him instead of a cold floor, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Another nightmare…

Ming Zhong pondered, his expression somewhat dazed.

In just half a day, I’ve had two nightmares in a row…

This must be the influence of Yin energy… no, according to Senior Sister, it should be ghost energy, right?

Senior Sister…

As he lowered his head in thought, he suddenly saw a head emerge from his test paper.

“What the hell!?”

Ming Zhong jolted back in fright, his chair slamming into the desk behind him.

The noise caused many examinees to cast displeased glances his way.

“That student! Pay attention to your exam!”

The invigilator also issued a warning.

Ming Zhong quickly sat upright.

Before him was indeed Fu Ziqing’s head, emerging from the desk.

Ming Zhong looked at Fu Ziqing with a wry, furrowed brow.

“You’re not dead.”

Fu Ziqing’s words made Ming Zhong freeze in surprise.

“Find me after your exam, by the tree from this morning.”

After speaking, Fu Ziqing’s head sank back into the desk.