Chapter 15 Midnight?

"Midnight?" Zhou Taifu exclaimed.

It seemed that Zhen Jianren was right. There wasn't much time left. The deadline was before the third rehearsal.

"There are three most suspicious directions right now," Yu Wen said after thinking. "First, there's that Director Li. We've never met her, but she's hidden in the shadows, watching our every move. I think she at least knows about the events from back then."

"Second, there's the music classroom in Block C. That's where we first caught the ghost on camera, and the only time. That place has special significance for the ghost."

"Third, the equipment center." Speaking of this, Yu Wen turned to look at Jiang Cheng. "Last time, Mr. Hao said he encountered a ghost painting there..."

"That's right," Jiang Cheng nodded very sincerely, then pointed to Zhen Jianren and said, "It was him in the painting, I saw it clearly! The painting was very well done!"

Zhen Jianren glared at him and said angrily, "Speak properly! Don't point at me!"

"Alright," facing these two people, Yu Wen's already limited patience was running out. She continued to analyze, "The clues should be among these three. Time is pressing, let's split up."

Yu Wen's suggestion sounded reasonable, and no one objected.

Jiang Cheng and Fatty chose to find Director Li to understand the situation. Yu Wen and the others took advantage of the fact that there was no rehearsal to look for clues in the music classroom.

The remaining equipment center was left to Zhen Jianren and Luo Yi.

The task was nearing its end, and at this point, no one cared which location was more dangerous.

If they couldn't find the key clues before midnight tomorrow and end the task, everyone would die.

After saying that, Yu Wen and her group left first.

Zhen Jianren stopped suddenly at the door, then turned his head abruptly as if he had realized something, looking towards room 404.

Gradually, a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.

This place... he frowned slightly, as if something was missing.

"Guardian brother!" A voice came, Jiang Cheng greeted enthusiastically, "After you find your portrait, please pay attention to the lower right corner of the painting!"

Zhen Jianren's train of thought was interrupted, his face changed slightly. "What do you mean?"

Luo Yi, who hadn't left yet, also turned back to look at Jiang Cheng, his expression gradually becoming strange.

"Huff—"

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Cheng sat up straight, his expression solemn as if he were going to pay tribute to his ancestors.

Zhen Jianren couldn't help but feel nervous.

At this moment, the aura that the former was displaying made him feel uncomfortable all over.

Only Fatty smelled a familiar scent...

"There might be the ghost's name left there," Jiang Cheng said.

Zhen Jianren's pupils shrank involuntarily, and slowly, his whole person became excited, "You mean... the painting is signed?!" He muttered to himself, "We can get the female ghost's name from the painting! And then confirm it through the name..."

Unexpectedly...

Jiang Cheng straightened his body and shook his head, "No, I mean at least you'll die knowing why."

......

The small road after the rain was a bit muddy, Zhen Jianren stepped on it, feeling slippery under his feet.

The painting that Jiang Cheng mentioned lingered in his mind like a nightmare.

"Are we really going there?" Luo Yi, who was behind him, asked in a strange tone.

Zhen Jianren stared at the road ahead, without looking at him, "There's no need to discuss this question."

Luo Yi closed his mouth.

The two's footsteps stepped on the slippery road surface, making "creaking" sounds.

When passing a supermarket, the two bought some bread and ham sausages, then swallowed them while walking, washing it down with mineral water.

The feeling of hunger from last night had continued until now.

Zhen Jianren rubbed between his eyebrows, his ominous premonition had not dissipated since yesterday.

It was as if there was a pair of eyes staring at him somewhere.

The equipment room was located in a relatively remote area, on the side of the old playground.

This side of the playground had also been abandoned long ago.

After the rain, it was practically a mud pit.

They passed by the side of the playground, trying to choose cleaner paths to walk on, but still got their shoes dirty.

Finally, they stopped.

Zhen Jianren looked up.

A dilapidated sign stood to one side, with the words "Equipment Center" written in black on a white background.

The gate was wide open, but no one could be seen inside.

"Is no one here?" Luo Yi frowned, looking inside, "They should be eating breakfast in the cafeteria at this time."

After thinking for a while, Zhen Jianren shook his head, "Probably not. According to Yu Wen's description, the old man has pale skin and a limp. This is a long distance from the cafeteria, and the road is so slippery, he wouldn't go to the cafeteria."

"You mean... he's still here?"

"Probably."

Luo Yi's expression became serious, "This old man doesn't look like a normal NPC, he should be an important clue character."

Zhen Jianren was on guard, and circled around with Luo Yi, discovering that the huge equipment center only had this one door to enter. There was a small door on the side, but it was sealed from the outside with wooden boards.

When they returned to the front of the door again, the two went up.

They didn't enter rashly, but hid outside the door to observe.

Holding their breath and waiting carefully for a while, they realized that it was as quiet as death inside.

"What to do?" Luo Yi asked in a low voice.

Standing here, the unease in Zhen Jianren's heart became even stronger.

According to Yu Wen, there was an old man inside.

But... he was also a man.

As it stood, he was the only male in this school besides them.

Moreover... Zhen Jianren looked at the door in front of him. A very thick chain was hanging on the door, and a dark iron lock, looking very solid.

Luo Yi also became nervous at this moment. After all, Jiang Cheng's description had a kind of indescribable terrifying atmosphere. Standing here, he couldn't help but think of the female ghost who painted.

Even more terrifying was... the huge, strange bloody handprint.

"Strange..." Zhen Jianren suddenly spoke.

Luo Yi's throat rolled, and he asked in a low voice, "What's strange?"

"Where does this old man usually live?"

"He should live here," Luo Yi glanced around and then retracted his gaze.

He had scouted some schools with many girls, and knew that some teachers, after retiring, considered staying in the school to do some work within their ability due to their physical condition.

For example, dormitory teachers, or more leisurely miscellaneous teachers, librarians, and so on.

The old man should belong to this category.

"But..." Zhen Jianren pointed to the lock on the door, his expression becoming strange, "The lock is on the outside."

Luo Yi was stunned for a moment, then his brow furrowed slowly.

That's right, this point was indeed suspicious. If the old man lived here at night, then he should lock it from the inside. How could the lock be on the outside?

Unless...

Zhen Jianren suddenly thought of that small door.

The small door was sealed from the outside with wooden boards, and the surrounding area was nailed full of nails as thick as a baby's finger.

"He's not here willingly," Zhen Jianren turned to stare at Luo Yi, frowning, "This is imprisonment."