# 7
**Chapter 7: I Want to Live**
“Wang Shao?!” Li Yifei and the others shouted in unison at the familiar voice.
The three exchanged glances, then bolted toward the alley Wang Shao had entered.
Lin Qiye stood alone, frowning at the dark passage, his expression grave.
He didn’t know what had happened, but a bad premonition stirred in his chest.
Old district outskirts, psychotic killer, a strange stench, a scream…
Something was off.
He hesitated, wrestling with himself, then sighed in resignation, lifted his Guide Cane, and rushed into the alley.
On any other day, Lin Qiye would never get involved; he’d run the other way as fast as he could.
A scream meant nothing good.
Nothing good meant trouble—robbery, murder, stumbling onto a crime scene—he wanted no part of any of it.
He had no burning curiosity, no surplus sympathy, no wish to play hero.
Most importantly, he couldn’t fight; what if he lost his life?
But this time was different.
Reluctant as he was to admit it, Wang Shao’s danger was tied to him.
If they hadn’t insisted on walking him home, Wang Shao might have taken another route, or left earlier, and avoided this.
Lin Qiye hated owing favors.
Whatever happened, he had to take a look; if things turned ugly, he’d run.
Blindfolded, he moved fast. The closer he got to the scream, the tighter his frown.
The stench grew stronger.
“AAAAAAH!!!”
A second scream—female this time—came from around the corner.
Jiang Qian!
Lin Qiye skidded at the bend; his mental perception caught the three of them.
Not far ahead, Jiang Qian sat paralyzed, mouth wide, trembling in terror.
Before her, Liu Yuan and Li Yifei stood like statues, eyes locked ahead, shaking.
Beyond… he couldn’t sense.
His eyes still sealed, his world limited to ten meters of mind-sight; anything outside was true darkness.
What had they seen?
He couldn’t see, but his hearing was sharp: a wet, ripping sound, like something gnawing with savage relish.
Exactly like Little Black Lai chewing a bone.
“What happened?” Lin Qiye whispered.
Jiang Qian flinched at his voice, clutching his sleeve, teeth chattering.
“Monster… it’s eating Wang Shao’s face!”
Lin Qiye’s face changed.
“RUN!!”
He and Li Yifei roared together.
The moment the word left their mouths, Liu Yuan bolted like a mad dog, crashed into Lin Qiye’s shoulder, scrambled up, and fled screaming.
“Monster—help! SOMEBODY! Monster!”
The collision staggered Lin Qiye; before he steadied himself, heavy footfalls shook the ground—something bear-sized charging.
Jiang Qian’s pupils shrank; with sudden strength she leapt up and sprinted away shrieking.
Li Yifei? He’d already vanished after yelling “run,” even faster than Liu Yuan.
If Liu hadn’t knocked Lin Qiye, he’d be far ahead too.
That instant’s delay left him and Jiang Qian last.
Everyone seemed to forget the “handicapped” kid they’d promised to escort home—oh, not entirely forgotten; Liu had kindly shoved him.
Lin Qiye sneered inwardly.
No time for grudges; as he took two steps, something burst into his ten-meter range.
Human… yet not.
It had limbs and a head, but ran on all fours like a hyena, bulked like a brown bear.
And on its head: a ghost-face, pale and twisted, a half-meter crimson tongue writhing like a snake.
Lin Qiye’s expression darkened.
It was fast—world-class sprinter couldn’t outrun it.
He gauged the distance to the alley mouth; his heart sank.
He’d never make it.
Think…
His mind raced, sweeping the surroundings for anything to slow it.
His senses landed on Jiang Qian’s backpack.
“Throw your bag! Slow it down!” he shouted.
Jiang Qian jerked, eyes flashing. Screaming, she yanked the bag—
—and hurled it at Lin Qiye.
His pupils contracted.
He never expected her to turn on him.
The bag smacked his chest before he could react.
Through mind-sight he saw her face: white with terror, yet her eyes blazed with ruthless resolve.
“Lin Qiye, right? Your seat’s ready, over there…”
“I’m class monitor Jiang Qian; ask me anything…”
“Your aunt left the deepest impression—stood here with a basket of eggs, handing them out, begging us to look after you…”
“We promised her we’d take care of you…”
That shy, kind monitor had become a hysterical fiend.
She stared at him, guilt, madness, venom swirling.
Yes, I’m the monitor; I said I’d help; I promised your aunt; I’d tutor you, walk you home, save your meals—fine!
But now…
I want to live.
So,
please die.
Time seemed frozen. Lin Qiye’s gaze was night-black, bottomless.
A backpack wouldn’t delay the monster long, but a body might.
That was Jiang Qian’s choice.
The bag wasn’t heavy, yet the surprise blow checked his stride.
Behind him the creature sprang.
In that lightning instant, Lin Qiye smiled—coldly.
As if eyes grew in his back, he ducked, slipping beneath the pounce, and whipped his Guide Cane in a low sweep that cracked against Jiang Qian’s ankle.
She shrieked and crashed down.
A heavy black shape slammed onto her…
Night blossomed scarlet with blood.