46. Chapter 46: Savior or Murderer?

I was stunned for a moment, staring at Liu Sui with a trace of fear. "What did you say?"

Liu Sui repeated, "I'm saying the person in the footage is you. You're the one who made Qiu Xiaoli commit suicide."

By then, my heart was not just fearful; more than that, I felt a bitter, involuntary sneer born from betrayal.

"You're not joking, are you?"

Liu Sui shook his head. "I never joke. I've told you before, the flesh soul curse on your back is no ordinary thing. The person in the footage is indeed you—but not entirely you."

His words only deepened my confusion. I stared at Liu Sui as if he were a monster, but he refused to say more and instead pushed me out of the room.

I returned to my dormitory and that night, while showering, I accidentally touched my back. To my shock, two protrusions had appeared on my back at some unknown time. Lost in a game, with Li Xiang also distracted on the phone, I quietly lifted my shirt in front of the mirror.

What I saw was chilling—the ghostly human figure on my back was becoming increasingly distinct. By now, the face was clearly visible.

I covered myself again and returned to bed, uneasy.

Two days passed, and life regained some semblance of calm. I was relieved to hear that Qiu Xiaoli had awakened and returned to school.

As for Jin Yuan, the school had started paying attention to him. Rumors flew that he had been hit by a car and died, but officially, he was listed as missing. After all, there was no body, no proof of death.

Though my days had quieted, my heart remained restless. I realized I had changed—I no longer wanted to talk to anyone and had grown unusually taciturn.

What puzzled me even more was Qiu Xiaoli. Since leaving the hospital, I hadn’t visited her. Knowing she was back at school eased my mind somewhat.

Occasionally, I ran into her on campus. But the moment she saw me, she would turn and flee, as if she’d seen a ghost.

On the third day, Qiu Xiaoli’s parents came to thank me at a restaurant outside the school.

After several days, their attitude toward me had softened considerably. They kept thanking me, saying I had saved their daughter’s life and that if I ever needed anything, they were ready to help.

Actually, Qiu Xiaoli’s parents were decent people. At the hospital, her mother had been a bit overbearing, but that was only because she was desperate. Now, sitting across from me, she appeared unusually gentle.

I paid little attention to them and instead focused on Qiu Xiaoli. She was clearly afraid of me. During the meal, whenever I glanced at her, she immediately lowered her head. If her parents hadn’t been there, she might have just walked away.

Curious, I asked her, "Qiu Xiaoli, why do you keep avoiding me? Am I really that scary?"

This was not the pale girl in the white dress from the bus; this was a living, breathing young woman, her delicate face framed by her height of about 1.7 meters, giving her an elegant and poised appearance.

She glanced at me once, then quickly looked down again, focusing on her food without uttering a word. Her father tried to smooth things over, "Li Xi, don’t take it personally. Xiaoli probably isn’t used to things yet—she just woke up. She’ll get better with time."

Her mother added, "Xiaoli’s a stubborn girl. She hasn’t even said thank you to the person who saved her life. Li Xi, once she’s feeling better, we’ll bring her to thank you properly."

But no sooner had her mother spoken than Qiu Xiaoli put down her bowl, pointed at me, and said, "Savior? No, you’re the murderer."

With that, she bolted out of the restaurant. Her parents, startled, shouted and chased after her. I quietly paid the bill and left as well.

Back in my dorm, I soon received a call from Qiu Xiaoli’s parents. They had found her and wanted me to come out again so she could apologize. I shook my head and declined.

My mood grew restless. Hearing Li Xiang’s loud shouting outside the dorm entrance, I lost the will to go inside. I turned and wandered aimlessly around campus.

Before I knew it, I had passed the football field. Qiu Xiaoli’s words echoed in my ears: "You’re a murderer?" Was the person in that footage really me?

Liu Sui said the school was problematic, and the flesh soul curse on me was far from ordinary. Yet he refused to explain in detail. Could there be some taboo involved?

Lost in thought, I recalled the old man by the lake. He was wise and experienced; aside from Liu Sui, perhaps only he could clear my doubts.

I quickly reached the old man by phone. His voice was aged and hoarse on the other end. I poured out everything that had happened at school recently.

After listening, he was somewhat perplexed. "You mean you have a flesh soul curse?"

I hurriedly confirmed, "Yes."

He sighed deeply. "No wonder. It all makes sense now."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

The old man said, "Lately, I’ve been puzzled by something. Before meeting you, I lived in seclusion deep in the mountains, never leaving. Then, one day, I felt compelled to go out for a walk. I had a premonition I would meet someone. When I reached the lake, I met you."

"Is that strange?"

"Not exactly strange. But the flesh soul curse is far more complex than you imagine. It can alter a person’s fate."

"Alter a person’s fate?"

He didn’t answer directly but said, "Everything you’ve encountered recently stems from the curse on you. The source of it all lies within you."

I felt helpless. "What am I supposed to do? I’m in so much pain."

"The only way is to summon the fierce ghost inside you. Only by knowing who it is and what it wants can you take the next step."

The call ended abruptly. The old man did not share the method to summon the ghost, only that no technique yet exists to do so safely without harming me.

I continued wandering campus and eventually reached the archives building. It was closed at night, shrouded in darkness, but I sensed someone inside.

Worried it might be a thief, I stepped closer. Before I could approach, I heard sobbing.

Nearer still, I saw Cheng Keyan leaning against the wall, crying uncontrollably. When she noticed me, her sobs grew louder.

I froze, uncertain. I hadn’t wanted to get involved; I usually avoided her. But now, how could I turn away?

The archives were pitch black. Leaving her alone here felt dangerous.

Hesitant, I called out, "Teacher Cheng."

She instantly stopped crying. "Go away. I’m fine. I don’t need anyone’s pity."

I was at a loss but managed to say, "Teacher Cheng, you should leave too. It’s so dark in the archives."

She glanced at me. "Are you worried about me?"

I looked at her, speechless. Then she beckoned me over and pushed open the door to an office, saying, "Come, over here."