Dusty past

"Where did you encounter the Earthbound Spirit last time?" Ye Xirou turned around and asked.

"Um... at the entrance of the second-floor office," Ye Li replied.

"Okay, this time we'll go straight to the second floor," Ye Xirou said.

"Hold on a moment, let me start a live stream," Wen Qing said eagerly as she took out her equipment.

Seeing her fully equipped, Ye Xirou couldn't help but feel speechless.

"Alright, let's go," Wen Qing said brightly after gearing up.

Ye Xirou nodded, and the two of them entered Tianwang Elementary School together.

"Brothers and sisters, it's your host Wen Qing here, once again exploring Tianwang Elementary School! Let's give it a thumbs up!" Wen Qing smiled at the screen and spoke.

Then she turned the camera around to show the surroundings, finally pausing on Ye Xirou's face.

"Oh my god, Wen Qing, where did you find this beauty? She's like a fairy, so beautiful!"

"Wen Qing, move aside, you're blocking my view of the beauty!"

"Wen Qing, maybe you should consider changing hosts, I don't think you're suitable."

Wen Qing said angrily, "You guys, you're so superficial!"

"It's not like that, Wen Qing. Although you're beautiful too, this lady is even more beautiful!"

"You guys... hmph!"

Wen Qing acted angrily, pretending to be upset.

"Alright, Wen Qing, let's move on," Ye Xirou reminded her.

She could feel the ghostly aura growing stronger as they entered the school.

"Oh, right, let's go," Wen Qing nodded and quickly caught up with Ye Xirou's pace.

"Keep watching, today I'm going to uncover the secrets of Tianwang Elementary School," she clenched her fists and said.

The two of them arrived on the second floor and walked straight towards the office.

"You see, it's that one!" Ye Xirou looked up and saw a short figure in white standing silently there.

Even the second time seeing it, she was still a little scared. Wen Qing timidly hid behind Ye Xirou.

"This is hilarious! Is the host scared now?"

"Host, you're going too far. You're pushing this beautiful young lady out!"

Ye Xirou remained calm and walked directly towards the figure.

"Oh my, this young lady is so courageous!"

"Amazing! I, as a grown man, feel inferior!"

Wen Qing pouted and said disdainfully, "You guys don't understand anything. Xirou is an anomaly, a powerful anomaly."

"No wonder! So the host has found a master!"

"Ah, could it be the same person as last time?"

"What are you talking about? That's not a 'big brother,' it's a beautiful sister."

Wen Qing didn't say anything, she just watched as Ye Xirou approached the Earthbound Spirit.

She silently swallowed her saliva. Ye Xirou looked at the Earthbound Spirit and asked, "Who are you? Why have you been here all this time?"

The Earthbound Spirit lifted its face, revealing a young and innocent visage. "You shouldn't have come here," it said.

Ye Xirou was taken aback. "Why not?"

"I can't hold on much longer. He's about to come out."

"Who is he? And who are you?"

"I... I..." The Earthbound Spirit hesitated. "My name... My name is Wang Kexin."

What?

Ye Xirou trembled all over. Wang Kexin, the girl who was bullied to death! Had she turned into an Earthbound Spirit?

"What! She's Wang Kexin!"

"Oh my god, Wang Kexin has become an Earthbound Spirit. What exactly happened all those years ago?"

"Quick, host!"

Wen Qing was also shocked. The person involved in that incident from years ago had appeared right in front of her.

"You've been here all these years?" Ye Xirou asked, her brow furrowed.

"Yes, I... no, it should be the eight of us, we've been guarding this elementary school," Wang Kexin replied.

"Eight of you?"

Ye Xirou was astonished. Wen Qing suddenly spoke, "Eight of them? Are you saying the seven girls who bullied you were also here?"

"Bullying, is that how the outside world sees it?" Wang Kexin gave a bitter smile. "Perhaps that's the case, but they were not bad people, in fact."

Both Ye Xirou and Wen Qing fell silent. It seemed that the truth was different from what the outside world had portrayed.

"All eight of us have had unimaginable experiences, and it's all because of a demon. It's all his fault!" Wang Kexin's face twisted with resentment.

A demon?

Both of them were puzzled. What exactly had happened at Tianwang Elementary School in the past? There were hidden secrets behind all of this.

Just then, the entire Tianwang Elementary School began to shake violently. The ceiling rumbled, and the ground cracked inch by inch, as if the entire building was about to collapse in an instant.

"He's causing trouble again!"

"It has been eighteen years, and we can barely contain him anymore!"

Wang Kexin gave a bitter smile, her eyes filled with profound despair.

"What exactly is it? What are you sealing away?" Wen Qing urgently shouted. "Tell us!"

"It's none of your concern. This is not something you can solve," Wang Kexin replied.

"You have to leave now, or you won't be able to leave at all!"

Seeing Wang Kexin in this state, Ye Xirou fell silent. It seemed that she would only believe in herself if she demonstrated some power.

"It's fine, leave it to me," Ye Xirou said calmly.

Wang Kexin was taken aback. Then she saw Ye Xirou slowly raise her hand, and a surge of blue spiritual energy gathered in her palm.

"Icebound Winter!"

She pressed her palm onto the ground, and a chilling aura spread out, with inch by inch of ice appearing out of nowhere.

Crack!

The ice rapidly spread in all directions, climbing up the walls and reaching the ceiling. The whole world turned into ice and snow, shimmering with white light and an intense cold.

With this move, Ye Xirou had frozen the entire room.

"You... you... you!" Wen Qing pointed at Ye Xirou in shock, her face filled with disbelief. She knew Ye Xirou was extraordinary, but she had no idea she was this powerful. Freezing an entire house was beyond what an ordinary person could achieve.

"Wen Qing, turn off the livestream. It's not suitable for too many people to witness what's about to happen," Ye Xirou said softly.

Wen Qing was momentarily stunned, then nodded.

"Brothers and sisters, sorry about that. Miss Xirou has spoken, so I can only say goodbye!" Wen Qing addressed the audience.

"No, don't! Wen Qing, wait! This young lady is incredible!"

"Her spiritual power has materialized, even stronger than our city lord!"

"With this kind of spiritual power, isn't she an A-level master? Host, let us see the livestream!"

"Yeah, don't turn it off so hastily!"

Regardless of their pleas, Wen Qing still shut down the livestream.

And at this moment, Wang Kexin regained her composure.

"Can you tell us the truth now?" smiled Ye Xirou.

She pondered for a moment, appearing somewhat hesitant.

Suddenly, seven figures dressed like them appeared out of thin air.

"Kexin, tell them, she's strong, maybe she can help," one of them spoke.

"Ranran, you guys..."

"Sigh, alright, I'll tell you," she no longer resisted.

"We eight will directly transmit our memories to you," softly said Ranran.

Then, all eight of them raised their hands and gently pointed towards Ye Xirou and Wang Kexin.

"Let you discover the truth of everything for yourselves."

As a surge of memories flooded into their minds, the two finally learned what had happened eighteen years ago.