Chapter 21: An Old Trick Repeated

Bang. Bang, bang...

The soccer ball once again rolled into the courtyard, tracing the same arc as before.

No matter how familiar people are with terrifying scenarios, they still foolishly fall into the same traps time and again. The lessons of those who came before become nothing more than tales for the next generation to laugh at. Humanity, when it comes to learning from its mistakes, seems hopelessly incorrigible.

Tanya watched as the ball landed at her feet once more, a flash of crimson in her eyes glaringly bright. Without hesitation, she aimed a fierce kick at the ball.

Clap, clap!

Standing off to the side, Chu Ning applauded, thoroughly approving of Tanya’s actions. What a pity he couldn’t call out, “Great shot!” at the top of his lungs.

The ball ricocheted off the wall and bounced back to Chu Ning. He lifted it deftly with his foot and, seizing the moment as it hovered in midair, booted it forcefully over the wall.

“Ah, peace at last! Those little brats won’t bother us again, ha ha!”

Chu Ning laughed triumphantly, hands on his hips. In his eyes, those pesky kids were like stubborn patches of plaster—impossible to shake off. He couldn’t even resort to force, or else if he dealt with the little ones, the older ones would come, and then he’d be tormented twice over.

A resentful voice drifted over the wall: “Brother, I saw you kick away my soccer ball! Give it back! Or else, I’ll take you instead—”

Liu Lingling’s wailing, banshee-like voice came to an abrupt halt. She’d never encountered someone so crude! The shock left her unable to continue reciting her usual lines, the ones she used to draw out fear and nourish herself.

All she saw was Chu Ning raising both middle fingers—the international sign language—one slow motion with the left, then the right, lips pursed in a mock gun shape.

“Just you wait, you brat!” Liu Lingling spat out her threat before vanishing in a flash, as if to prove her words weren’t empty—when she said she’d retreat, she retreated!

Chu Ning bit his lip and looked innocently toward the spot where Liu Lingling had disappeared, perfectly imitating a little girl’s aggrieved expression—a vivid demonstration of pitifulness on her behalf.

Pfft!

Tanya covered her mouth to hide her unseemly expression, but the sparkle of laughter in her eyes betrayed her.

As expected, it takes a villain to deal with a villain! She couldn’t help but think, as the soccer ball reappeared at her feet, making her keenly aware of the world’s treachery.

She had to admit, perhaps Chu Ning was right. Even if it was all a coincidence, she was too disheartened to bother looking for another explanation.

Outside the wall, Liu Lingling furiously kicked at it, leaving deep footprints as though she wanted to vent her anger on the wall in Chu Ning’s stead.

“Stop! Kicking the wall won’t help! Ouch! Why are you kicking me?” Ye Hui clutched his shin, howling in pain. He’d only meant to console Liu Lingling, telling her not to bottle up her anger, as it was bad for her health. Who would have thought that good intentions would earn him a beating?

Liu Lingling’s chest heaved as her anger subsided. “Kicking a person feels so much better!” she sighed contentedly.

“Oh? Who was it that said she wanted to be a good person and move her with love?” Ye Hui teased sarcastically. Clearly, she wasn’t cut out for the role, but insisted on forcing herself into it. Now that she’d failed, she used him as a scapegoat.

“More money! More money! More money!” Liu Lingling’s voice grew louder, glaring resentfully at Ye Hui, who looked on gloatingly. This mission was crucial for Ye Hui, and yet here he was, making snide remarks!

Ye Hui apologized sincerely, declaring that as long as money wasn’t involved, they were still friends. He wiped the smile off his face and solemnly devised a second plan more suited to their style.

“Sis, we could just get rid of Tanya by physical means—quick and simple.”

“Fine, let’s do it your way,” Liu Lingling said, cracking her knuckles, eager to deal with the one who’d infuriated her. No, not the scoundrel who had no respect for elders and children, but the Tanya beside him.

Ye Hui checked the time. They couldn’t afford to delay any longer, or they’d miss lunch. He shook off his food-obsessed thoughts; midday was when ghosts and monsters were at their weakest, which didn’t work in their favor.

In the courtyard, Chu Ning stood beneath the pagoda tree, teaching Tanya how to get under people’s skin—or, to be precise, how to deal with villains and be wary of strangers.

He spoke at length, sharing the wisdom he’d accumulated over the years, when suddenly he sensed the air shift. He turned toward the source of the disturbance and saw the soccer ball hurtling toward them at high speed.

“Don’t move!”

Noticing Chu Ning’s unusual alertness, Tanya also spotted the oncoming ball. Instinctively, she was about to dodge, but Chu Ning’s command stopped her. Her brain failed to react, and she blindly obeyed, standing there like a fool, waiting for the ball to strike.

Whoosh! The ball sliced through the air, wreathed in ghostly blue flames, charging at them with menace.

In that instant, Tanya was filled with regret. She should have pulled Chu Ning away with her, instead of listening to him and standing there like an idiot.

Now, it was too late to dodge. All she could do was hope the ball’s attack wouldn’t be fatal. Yet she could already feel the freezing cold of the blue ghost fire, chilling her to the bone.

A chuckle rang out. Chu Ning shook his pinky disdainfully. “Missed!” he scoffed.

It was almost insulting, as if they didn’t know he’d been a goalkeeper since childhood! No ball aimed at the goal had ever so much as grazed him, so he’d never been injured on the field.

If his opponent was so inept as to actually touch him, they might as well retire then and there! He took the trajectory of dodgeball seriously.

Just as Chu Ning predicted, the ball shot right through the gap between them!

Crack!

The soccer ball struck the pagoda tree behind Chu Ning. The trunk snapped clean in half, leaves and branches scattering across the ground. A chill lingered in the broken wood, and inky black liquid oozed from the stump, darkening the earth around it.

Tanya stared wide-eyed, reassessing her own fighting prowess—she really was as weak as Chu Ning had once joked. No, perhaps even weaker.

“Take this!” Chu Ning trapped the ball under his foot once more and kicked it back in the direction it had come, as if to say that his patience had been tested one too many times.