The Arrival of Horror

Chapter 2Impromptu teaching

Impromptu teaching

Yang was feeling drowsy throughout the day at school due to staying up late reading a spooky story on a forum the night before. The image of the old man from the story kept haunting his thoughts, making him feel a sense of dread as if those eerie, lifeless eyes were watching him.

In an attempt to shake off his sleepiness, Yang suddenly snapped back to reality. His classmate Zhang Wei, nicknamed "Erectile Dysfunction" due to a mix-up with his name on the first day of school, teasingly suggested watching a movie to pass the time.

Zhang Wei, noticing Yang's tiredness, jokingly insinuated that it must be due to engaging in some naughty activities the night before. However, Yang explained that it was actually because he stayed up late reading a ghost story on his phone.

This conversation led to another classmate mentioning a recent paranormal incident in a local neighborhood where several people were found hanging from their windows, resembling a scene of macabre horror. Zhang Wei even showed a blurry photo he claimed to have from the incident, displaying the eerie sight of contorted bodies with fearful expressions.

As they examined the disturbing image, it bore a resemblance to the unsettling photo of the elderly man on Yang's phone, evoking similar emotions of unease and fear.

Amidst the discussion, Zhang Wei proudly revealed that the photo was captured by a friend who happened to be passing by the area. However, due to the area being sealed off, obtaining such photos was no longer possible. Zhang Wei also announced his new English name, "Wodejier Yingbangbang."

In response, another classmate humorously declared their own English name as "Woshishabi" and insisted on being addressed by it in public. This banter lightened the mood momentarily, but the eerie stories and images continued to linger in their minds.

Translation of the passage into English: Temporary Lecture

School, 8 o'clock, evening self-study.

Due to staying up late reading a story on a forum the night before, Yang felt drowsy all day at school, lacking energy. Whenever he tried to focus in class, he found himself drifting off, with the image of the old man's photo unintentionally creeping back into his mind, those hollow, lifeless eyes seeming to stare at him from somewhere.

With a start, he shook himself back to alertness.

"Can't sleep again, that photo is really creepy."

"Hey, hey, Yang, lend me a movie to watch," a tall, thin student next to him said, leaning in.

Yang was puzzled, "Erectile dysfunction? What do you mean by lending a movie?"

Zhang Wei, nicknamed Erectile Dysfunction due to a mispronunciation on the first day of school, had that nickname stick with him for three years. It was a sad story.

"Hey, stop making excuses. You've been yawning all day; you must have been up to something naughty last night," Zhang Wei said, patting his shoulder and lowering his voice. "Got any good resources lately? Share them quickly, let your bro have some fun too."

Yang replied, "Fun my foot, I stayed up late last night reading a ghost story on my phone."

"Ghost story? Speaking of ghost stories, Yang, do you know about the paranormal events that happened in a neighborhood in the city recently?" another classmate nearby chimed in.

"What paranormal events?" Yang asked. "Why haven't I heard about this?"

Zhang Wei said, "I know about this too. It's said that overnight, over twenty people in a neighborhood hanged themselves collectively, their bodies hanging on the anti-theft windows like dried meat, truly terrifying. I have a photo from there, but I can't confirm if it's real or not."

After saying that, he took out his phone, opened the gallery, and showed a photo.

The photo was taken in the evening, and due to poor lighting in the neighborhood, it appeared somewhat blurry. However, the outlines of human figures hanging on the anti-theft windows in the neighborhood were still discernible, hanging densely in a row. The faces of the bodies appeared grim and terrifying, especially with their eyes wide open in fear, leaving one to wonder what horrors they experienced before death.

From a distance, the dozens of bodies did indeed resemble dried meat, and what was odd was that the heads were inside the anti-theft windows while the bodies were below, in a gap too small for an adult to pass through.

Moreover, the heads were tilted backward, assuming a bizarre, broken posture.

The more one looked at it, the more unsettling and fearful it seemed. This photo bore a striking resemblance to the one of the elderly man in Yang's phone, capable of stirring one's emotions.

"My goodness, Erectile Dysfunction, where did you get this photo from? How come I didn't find it?" the classmate beside him said.

Zhang Wei proudly said, "It was taken by a friend passing by. The area is now sealed off, so you can't go there to take pictures anymore. If you want it, just say daddy, and I'll give it to you. And stop calling me Erectile Dysfunction; I've recently adopted an English name."

"What English name?"

"Wodejier Yingbangbang."

"In that case, I also have an English name: Woshishabi. Remember, from now on, please loudly call me by my English name."

Yang asked, "We all have nine years of compulsory education, so why are you guys so outstanding?"

"Yang, we all attended cram schools; it's something you can't learn," Zhang Wei said smugly.

"When it comes to paranormal events, I've heard a lot of people talking about them online recently. It sounds so real that some of them scare me so much I can't even look. Do you think these things are real or fake? Could there really be haunted places?" a female classmate named Miao Xiaoshan asked as she leaned in.

Yang replied, "Most online stories are fake. Unless you see it with your own eyes, I don't believe in ghosts in this world. But some things are better to believe they exist than not. If you really encounter these things, it's better to stay away."

Miao Xiaoshan nodded in agreement.

"Everyone, be quiet."

At that moment, Teacher Wang entered the classroom with large strides. "The school has issued a last-minute notice. Today's evening self-study will be replaced with a safety awareness lecture. During the lecture, I don't want to hear anyone talking or disrupting the class. Please welcome Mr. Zhou Zhengzhou to give the lecture."

Huh?

While clapping, Yang felt puzzled. A safety lecture at this hour?

But as the lecturer Zhou Zhengzhou entered the classroom, his eyelids twitched.

This man named Zhou Zhengzhou was wearing a gray windbreaker, tightly wrapped up, even wearing a mask. It was a scorching hot day, and he had some unknown credentials hanging from his chest.

What caught attention was his terrifying appearance. His face was extremely emaciated, almost just skin and bones. You could even see the shape and contours of his facial bones. There was no excess flesh on his face, and due to extreme thinness, his large eyes appeared bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept in days.

But beneath the emaciated face, his belly was protruding high.

It looked like he was carrying a beer belly full of fat, but a person with a beer belly shouldn't be this thin.

It was abnormal, strangely abnormal, causing an unsettling feeling.

At this moment, Zhou Zhengzhou stood on the platform emitting a dark, numb aura, rigid all over, his bloodshot eyes slightly moving, like two dim and lifeless glass beads.

As his gaze swept over, all the students felt an inexplicable sense of fear.

Yang instinctively clenched his fist, his whole body tensing up involuntarily, avoiding eye contact, thinking to himself, "This feeling is even stronger than when I saw that photo..."

"Students, hello everyone. My name is Zhou Zhengzhou, an international criminal police officer. I am very happy to be alive and standing here today to give you a lecture."

Zhou Zhengzhou finally spoke. His voice was dry, hoarse, and piercing, like glass scraping against the ground. Coupled with his extremely emaciated face, it made people shudder.

"I am very happy to be alive and standing here today to give you a lecture"

Zhou Zhengzhou finally spoke, his voice dry, hoarse, and piercing, like glass scraping against the ground, coupled with his extremely emaciated face, making people shudder.

"To be alive and standing here giving a lecture?"

Yang's heart skipped a beat; something about this sounded strange.

At this moment, Zhou Zhengzhou picked up a chalk and turned to write a messy yet unmistakably clear word on the blackboard: Ghost~!

"Ghosts and supernatural legends have existed since ancient times, not only in our country's history but also in the histories of various countries. I'm not well-versed in history, especially ancient events, so let's talk about major events in recent decades: the Louvre incident in France, the haunted villa incident in the United States, the ghostly shadows in the island nation's parking lot, the curse of the Egyptian pharaohs... and the incident in our country's Fengmen Village."

Zhou Zhengzhou's voice remained hoarse and grating as he continued, "Some say that the end of science is theology, and that's absolutely correct. Students, there are some things you must believe now. In recent years, supernatural events in various countries have been explosively increasing, evolving into a global catastrophe. If this situation is not effectively controlled, the future... perhaps the entire world will have no future."

Everyone felt somewhat puzzled upon hearing this.

How did this safety lecture turn into a ghost story convention?

And now he's claiming the world is facing extinction.

Not just the students, even Teacher Wang was momentarily stunned.

"I can't elaborate on these matters, and please refrain from asking questions. Please pay close attention to what I'm about to say. This safety lecture may one day save your lives."

Zhou Zhengzhou didn't continue but turned to write another sentence on the blackboard: Ghosts cannot be killed.

"In the near future, you may encounter situations you never want to face, such as... encountering a ghost. Although it may be unsettling, remember this: ghosts cannot be killed. So, even in extreme fear, never try to confront them, as your lives are insignificant to them. Killing you is as easy as squashing a few ants, or even easier. Perhaps with a blink of an eye or a snap of their fingers, you're done for."

His bloodshot, haggard eyes stared at everyone, earnestly delivering this message, then turned to write a second sentence on the blackboard.

"Only ghosts can deal with ghosts."

Zhou Zhengzhou continued, "If ghosts cannot be killed, it means that the technological might of all nations will be useless. Talismans, spells, bombs, even nuclear weapons, all futile. If scientists worldwide cannot c***k the 'ghost' issue, the only solution currently is to use ghosts to deal with ghosts. I know you may have doubts, some might even think I'm insane, but that's not important. What's crucial is to listen to me and remember these words, as you may need them in the future."

"Of course, I hope you never have to."

"Yang, what is this person talking about? I can't understand at all," whispered Zhang Wei beside him.

"I don't quite understand either, but these words make me feel uneasy," Yang replied.

"Could it be that the Earth is undergoing some kind of mutation? Like in the novels?" Zhang Wei speculated.

"I don't think so..." Yang hesitated.

Although he had fantasized about the existence of immortals and superpowers, the thought of these things being real inevitably instilled fear, as it posed a significant threat to ordinary people.

On the podium, Zhou Zhengzhou continued, "Since ghosts cannot be killed and possess extraordinary abilities, combining these two factors raises a question: how can an ordinary person survive being targeted by a ghost? This is crucial. Remember this, forever, ideally for a lifetime."

After saying this, he turned back to write a third sentence: Understand the rules of ghosts.

"Every phenomenon has rules to follow, and ghosts are no exception. Research data indicates that each type of ghost has an almost fixed method of killing and modus operandi, like a computer program. Just as you press the power button to start a computer, or click the mouse to open software, overcoming fear, understanding the rules of ghosts, and finding vulnerabilities is the only chance an ordinary person has to survive being targeted by a ghost."

"Remember, if you're targeted by a ghost, besides this method, you have no other way to survive. Don't harbor any illusions. The horror of that thing exceeds your imagination." He repeated the sentence with a heavy tone once more.