Qing Kuang

Mulan said you did it on purpose, Huo Ran kept explaining that the floor split by itself.”

“That’s the price he has to pay as my dad.” Kou Chen said. 

“Alright fine,” Xu Chuan said, “Then why did you have to grab him like that?”

Kou Chen hopped down a few steps: “He makes you want to tease him.”

“…What?” Xu Chuan was a bit confused.

“Don’t you think he looks like Lu Huan?” Kou Chen said. 

“Lu Huan?” Xu Chuan stared at the back of his head.
Kou Chen asked for Lu Huan’s name on his second day here, like he was interested in her or something, but Lu Huan clearly said her name when she introduced herself the day before.

Xu Chuan didn’t really understand Kou Chen’s train of thought.

“Is there a logical connection between the two?” Xu Chuan asked again.

“Dunno,” Kou Chen hopped down the last flight of stairs, “Wanna go see the haunted building tonight?” 

“What’s wrong with you?” Xu Chuan said.

“I’ve been here for so long and yet I haven’t been inside,” Kou Chen turned around, eagerness written on his face.
“I wanna know what scared Liang Mulan like that.”

“Fuck off, I’m not going.” Xu Chuan said.

“You…” Kou Chen laughed. 

“I’m a girl.” Xu Chuan said.

 

 

The humanities building was beside the teachers’ office building, and you could see Old Yuan and Ms.
Liang in the office through the window.

Everyone in Humanities 1 all crowded at the window, some pressed up against the glass, others piled up on the chairs and tables. 

Ms.
Liang was a bit agitated, although they couldn’t hear what she was saying, they could pretty much guess from her pointing up then down.
Old Yuan was a lot calmer, with practically no body language.
When he turned and saw everyone, he waved them off and closed the curtains.

From a position standpoint, they were luckier than Humanities 3.
After the curtains were closed, they saw that a bunch of people were standing downstairs.

“Can you see anything?” Someone yelled down.

“Nope.” Someone replied, “What can you guys see?” 

“They’re arguing,” Someone said, “They closed the curtains.”

The people from Humanities 3 still craned their necks to look up, Wei Chaoren couldn’t help but ask: “It’s not like you guys can see or hear anything, what are you doing?”

“Liang Mu… Ms.
Liang said,” Someone spoke, “Before the problem is solved, before you guys apologize to us, we’re not to step foot in the classroom.”

“What, you guys are rallying?” Wei Chaoren said. 

“What’s the point in talking to them?” Lu Wei was very unhappy about the exchange going on, cutting them off.

“An apology is off the table,” Wei Chaoren said, “Be on your way now, stop dreaming.”

 

Twenty minutes later, Old Yuan walked into the classroom, not betraying the results on his face. 

“Old Yuan, what happened?” Someone asked urgently.

“Kou Chen, Huo Ran,” Old Yuan said, “You two were the main perpetrators, go down and clean up their classroom.”

“They already cleaned up.” Kou Chen said.

“Just pretend,” Old Yuan said, “Wave the broom around, you’re not completely in the right either.” 

Huo Ran glanced at Kou Chen.
Kou Chen stood up, and he followed.

Old Yuan continued: “Take the supplies with you, so you don’t have to come back up in case they don’t let you use their stuff.”

 

Huo Ran sighed, looking at the broom in the corner.
He realized they weren’t all new, only one looked pretty fluffy.
He hurried over, even if they were just putting on airs, he still wanted a new one.

As his hand touched the broom handle, Kou Chen’s hand reached over, flicking the back of his hand harshly.
He withdrew his hand in pain. 

“You…” As he grit his teeth and turned back to Kou Chen, he already had the new broom in his hand.
He even smiled at him.

Huo Ran bit back the urge to curse, picking up another one.
As he was about to leave, Kou Chen suddenly turned back around to pick up a dustpan with a smile, face so close to his they nearly touched.
He walked out of the classroom with a ‘look at me with these two items I’m such an honest person’ expression.

Ms.
Liang stood silently at the doorway of Humanities 3.

Huo Ran peered into the room, it really was empty, they were all standing outside on the field. 

But the tension from earlier had pretty much dissipated already, they were all just watching the fun now.
Some of them even waved at Huo Ran and Kou Chen as they entered.

Kou Chen looked up, walking underneath the broken part of the ceiling.
He stabbed the broom at the floor: “Right here, sweep.”

“…Sweep what?” Huo Ran looked down at the floor that had not only been swept but mopped too.

“Why don’t you go ask Liang Mulan?” Kou Chen bent down and started sweeping the floor in all seriousness, even lifting up the table to sweep under it. 

Drama queen!

Huo Ran saw no point in doing it, but he could only start sweeping as well.

To distinguish himself from the drama queen, he swept very half-heartedly, not even bending down.

Mainly because there was really nothing to sweep, there would probably be more dust on a desk that hadn’t been wiped all summer. 

“Take this more seriously.” Kou Chen looked back.

Huo Ran stayed silent, looking at him.

“Liang’s watching from the door, if she starts going on about ‘not respecting her’ for half an hour again.” Kou Chen glanced at the door.
“I’m gonna tie you up in the haunted building for a night.”

Huo Ran hesitated, bending down through the humiliation to sweep like Kou Chen.
But he was very annoyed at Kou Chen’s words: “You talk like the haunted building is yours.
Even if I stand inside for you to tie me up you might not dare go inside.
Keep bragging.” 

“Mhmm…” Kou Chen paused, thinking.
Then he said, “Okay.”

“What?” Huo Ran started.

 

“You don’t need to stand there for me to tie up,” Kou Chen said.
“One hour.
From 12 to 1, first one out loses.”

“Going to the haunted building at night?” Huo Ran started again. 

“Relax, if you’re too scared to go, I won’t tell anyone.” Kou Chen continued sweeping.

“What are we betting?” Huo Ran asked.

“Anything,” Kou Chen said, “If I lose I’ll call you daddy.”

“No need,” Huo Ran said, “I’d prefer a daughter.” 

Kou Chen thought about it: ” How about the loser has to do something for the other? As long as it’s not against the law, you can cash in whenever.”

“Deal.” Huo Ran agreed, “What if no one loses? Or if we run out at the same time?”

“There’s no way,” Kou Chen said, “Who cares about the specifics, are you going or not?”

“I am.” Huo Ran said. 

Kou Chen underestimates him.
Although he really has never been there, it’s not because he’s too scared, it’s just that the thought never crossed his mind.
The school says it’s dangerous, that students are forbidden to go there.

Of course… He is scared of ghosts, but who isn’t scared of ghosts!

Everyone’s scared of ghosts, he has his own strengths.
Forget about spending a night in a damn building, he’d been spending nights alone in a tent in the middle of nowhere before Kou Chen was even in middle school!

If you want to support us, please download our awesome cultivation game Taoist Immortal!