“Is everyone here?”

Late at night, three figures quietly gathered before the girls’ dormitory of XXX Technical College.

“This is my first Level One mission… How many times have you two done this?” The lead boy’s legs trembled slightly, his face pale with a faint trace of fear.

“Second time for me. But last time, I just rode on a senior’s coattails—tagged along the whole time.”

“Third time. I’ve got some experience.”

The reply came from a young man and woman. Fear flickered in their eyes too, but they held themselves noticeably calmer than the younger boy.

“What items do you have? I’ve got three exorcism talismans, a bottle of ox bile, and a wind chime.”

The other two exchanged a strange look.

“Items are your trump cards. Why spill them so easily?”

“But aren’t we a team? If we fail, we all die!”

Exorcism talismans only stalled ghosts briefly. Ox bile let you see spirits; the wind chime warned when one drew near. Combined, their gear couldn’t harm a ghost.

Level One VIP missions tested survival—gauging courage, reflexes, and wit of these so-called software users. Only at higher tiers would they fight ghosts directly. Without even basic evasion skills? They were just prey. No wonder novice death rates stayed high.

“I’ve seen it,” the man said. “Someone reveals all their cards upfront, hides a trick, waits till everyone’s items run out—then uses us as human shields and bolts. Happens all the time.”

Their mission: explore the haunted dorm. Intel gathered earlier revealed that six years ago, three students jumped to their deaths; a girl hanged herself in a bathroom. Classmates, nothing more. Teenage heartbreaks, ordinary stuff. But too many deaths forced the school to seal the building and bury the story after compensation. Only locals knew. Outsiders still enrolled.

Years passed. Enrollment grew. Building new dorms cost too much. So the school planned to reopen it. Most who knew had graduated; staff signed confidentiality agreements, staying silent.

“If only we’d come later,” someone muttered. “Once redecorated, more people means more targets for the ghosts. Not like now—just us in this empty shell.”

“My task: Room 501. Where the three jumped. Stay inside three minutes minimum.”

“Same,” the pair replied in unison.

“I’m assigned to the bathroom… where she hanged herself. Am I… going alone?”

“Relax. We face three ghosts. You? Just one.”

*The talismans last thirty seconds,* the man thought, relief warming him. *I’ve got four. She must have some too. If we cling close, we’ll both stay protected. Even if we barely escape… alone together in the dark, surrounded by terror—she’ll be scared. I’ll wrap her in my arms. Any girl would melt after that. After braving life and death together… hehehe.*

He stole another glance at her.

Around twenty. Black shoulder-length hair. Slender frame. Average looks, sporty clothes. Not a stunner, but stood out in a crowd.

“Main goal: survive. Secondary: uncover how they died. Rich rewards after… but how? No one’s here. Ask the ghosts?”

Unaware of his stare, the girl stepped inside, muttering.

Six years of abandonment. Humid city air. Without ventilation, wood and paper would’ve molded fast.

“Forget the tasks. Just survive.”

—————————

Meanwhile, Dr. Chen still agonized over which horror case to accept.

[Level One VIP Missions: Nan Shan Mental Hospital—Horror Rating: Three Stars (Team). XXX Technical College—Horror Rating: Two Stars (Team). Death Bus—Horror Rating: One Star (Solo). VIP horror missions rank one to three stars; three = hardest in tier. Missions two stars or higher typically require teams.]

“Bro, send a pic~”

Dr. Chen lay in bed, ignoring the missions, chatting with the software instead.

“You’re feisty.”

“You dragged me in. You owe me. Hehe… girl or guy?”

“I am Gui Gui!”

“What ghost?”