Chapter 747: Welcoming Ceremony
“Don’t worry, and don’t misunderstand us. The Sunday Night School is a place for everyone to communicate and learn.” Doctor Bai walked down the podium and stood in the middle of the classroom. “The majority of the citizens in this city will run into different problems. Some can be solved easily, but some will never have an answer. That’s why this place came into being. We can come together to discuss and solve problems.” Doctor Bai meant that Sunday Night School was a place where everyone could benefit.
“I think so too.” Shen Luo didn’t dare to say anything otherwise. He nodded. He wouldn’t be able to escape since there was no taxi in the countryside.
“Thank you for your approval. Then, the class will continue. After the class is over, we’ll have a welcoming ceremony for you.” When Doctor Bai said that, all the students in the class smiled meaningfully.
“There’s no need to go through all that trouble.” Shen Luo stammered, but Doctor Bai and the other students ignored him. They started to talk about other things again.
Their mental state aside, the students there were all professional. They were good at psychoanalyzing. However, they didn’t use their knowledge to aid the victims but used their professionalism to make the victims suffer even more. Shen Luo sat in the last row. He was shaking. The butterfly in his brain became a lot quieter.
‘Are these people from the same gang as the Butterfly? It senses its kin, so it stops struggling?’ Shen Luo’s expression was sad. He really didn’t know why he was so unlucky. His Iyashikei game turned into a horror game, and now his real life was also a horror game. Doctor Bai finally finished his class at 2 am.
“It’s my happiest moment every week to exchange knowledge with everyone. This week’s class is over.” Doctor Bai stood on the podium and patiently wiped away all the ‘lessons’ written on the board.
“Teacher Bai, you haven’t given us the homework for next week.” A young man in the first row stood up and said.
“There’s homework?!” Shen Luo, who was trying to sneak away, turned back to look. “What is wrong with these people?”
“The homework for next week is simple. I need every student to hypnotize a person using the methods I taught you. Try to imprison and control them mentally.”
“Can we target children?” “There’s no limitation. It’s up to your preference.” Doctor Bai wiped away the last bit of the lesson plan. He clapped his hands. “Alright. It’s time for the welcoming ceremony.”
The students gathered around Shen Luo. The class was very passionate. No one wanted to leave even if the class was over.
“Don’t worry. It’s just a simple ritual.” Doctor Bai placed a white pillbox on Shen Luo’s table. “If you don’t feel well, you can take this. It’s very effective. I have no complaints before.”
“Come, Xiao Shen.”
“Welcome the new student!” “Don’t be shy. I was very reserved when I first came here too. But then, I slowly like this place when I realize everyone is like me.”
“I’ll go get the car. You bring the tools.” The couple from the BBQ stall left. Then, a car horn came from downstairs.
“Come on.” The group surrounded Shen Luo and Doctor Bai as they moved to the building's backdoor. The boss had parked the car. He had changed into black clothes too.
“There’s really no…” Before Shen Luo could say anything, he was shoved into the car by two strong young men. It was late midnight. There was no one on the street. The buildings nearby were abandoned too.
“Those big companies have controlled the media and filled it with the lies about new homes. They compelled the original citizens here to move to the crowded city. The countryside became abandoned. After the older generation passed away, there’s no one left.” Doctor Bai looked at the emptiness outside the car. He suddenly turned to ask Shen Luo, “Whose fault do you think it is that this place is shrouded in darkness?”
“I don’t know.” Shen Luo was too afraid to contemplate that question. He wanted to call the police, but he was afraid he’d be killed.
“The city center is rapidly advancing. Human lives are twisted by technology. The countryside is being returned to flora and fauna. They became the owners here…” Doctor Bai stopped because a modified car was turning around from the corner. The driver appeared to be drunk because he was speeding too. If the BBQ stall boss didn’t react fast, there would be an accident already.
“Watch the road! Fuck!” The music from the radio was deafening. Before the boss even said anything, the driver rolled down the window to curse at them. The passenger in the backseat also gave Shen Luo’s group the middle finger. No one in Shen Luo’s car reacted. They only stared at the passengers in the other car.
The driver assumed this was cowardice, so he spat at the boss’ car.
“The welcoming present has arrived.” The boss suddenly laughed. He turned to ask for Doctor Bai’s opinion. Doctor Bai turned to Shen Luo. “What do you think?”
“What does this have to do with me? Do you want me to scold them? I’m very good with that!” Shen Luo had just said that when the boss picked up the speed. He purposely approached the other car to force them to stop. The other driver was drunk, and he was taunted. After this happened twice, he rammed into the boss’ car. Then he parked and grabbed an iron rod as he got out of his car.
“Do you know who I am?” The driver saw the ad for the BBQ shop on the old van. He stumbled to the van. “I’m going to teach you a lesson today. Get out!” He slammed the iron rod into the van.
“This man has a modified car and dares to race when he’s drunk. We better leave him be.” Shen Luo kept winking at the idiot outside the car, but the driver ignored him.
“Come out! Come out!” The iron rod crashed into the van windows until the glass shattered. The driver finally saw the passengers inside. The twisted faces stared at him. The eyes wanted to consume him. The young man woke up from his inebriation. He thought there was only one driver inside the van. He didn’t expect the whole van to be full. He didn’t know what to do with the iron rod. However, he used to be a road bully. After some hesitation, he continued to curse. But this time, his voice was smaller, and he was also retreating.
“This man has the habit of using violence to solve problems.”
“Yes. He is also driving a private modified car that a normal person won’t afford even if they work their whole lives.”
“This is a wonderful present for our new student.”
The doors opened, and the adult students got out. They looked normal and had normal lives.
“What are you doing?!” The young man realized things were not right. He ran to his car, but because he was drunk, he tripped and fell. When he tried to get up, his legs were grabbed.
When the driver’s friend saw this, he grabbed a weapon to help his friend, but he was soon overpowered too.
“I have a good idea.” One of the students put on gloves. They expertly dragged the two young men into a nearby building. The screams disappeared into the night. Shen Luo stared at this, and the anxiety in his heart grew.
“You need to calm down. If you want to escape, this is the best chance. Only you and I are here now.” Doctor Bai smiled. “Ol Wei has taken the van key, but the key of the modified car is still in the ignition. You can get into the car and drive away.”
“Why, why would I do that?” Shen Luo did have that plan. Before he could do anything, Doctor Bai walked to the modified car.
“Many people will misunderstand us when they’re first here. It’s fine.” Doctor Bai put on gloves and a mask. He opened the backdoor. “This young man is the son of a rich merchant. We’ve been watching him for a while already. You might think we’re bad people, but are we worse than people like him?” The backdoor swung open. A fainted woman lay in the backseat. She was bloody.
“What has she done wrong?” Doctor Bai asked, “She has done nothing wrong. If we didn’t pass by, her ending would be worse.” Doctor Bai walked back to Shen Luo and pointed at the car key. “Why don’t you guess why the two young men were driving her to the countryside?” Doctor Bai didn’t give Shen Luo the key. He patted Shen Luo’s shoulder and signaled for him to follow him. The smell in the air was special. Shen Luo turned to look at the corner, and his expression shifted. A wild dog had its eyes gouged out. It was whimpering on the door. The young man’s body was shattered and twisted into a macabre art. His mouth was stuffed. His eyes were picked out, and the dog’s eyes were shoved into his eye sockets. “I call this ‘worse than a dog’.” The man who sat beside Shen Luo earlier said gracefully.
“Teacher Shi’s taste is impeccable.” Doctor Bai clapped. Then, he handed something covered in white cloth to the man. “Let us begin the welcoming ceremony.”
Teacher Shi pulled off the white cloth. It was a dull knife underneath. He walked to his art and delivered the first stab before handing the knife to the next student. None of them delivered the fatal blow. In the end, the bloody knife was handed to Shen Luo.
“It’s your turn.” Doctor Bai’s eyes moved to the butterfly wound on Shen Luo’s arm. “Many people have been waiting for you.”
“This is not so good.” Shen Luo hadn’t even killed a chicken before.
“Why? He’s a pure evil person. If you let him go, more people will be tortured and killed.” Doctor Bai and the others surrounded Shen Luo, applying him a lot of pressure.
“This is a slippery slope. If I kill this man now, will I have less resistance to killing someone who made small mistakes in the future? In the end, would I attack the innocent?” Shen Luo couldn’t accept this. He rejected the knife. However, his arm with the butterfly wound grabbed the knife on its own. The students stared at Shen Luo. He said no, but his body moved faster than his lips.
“I…” Shen Luo didn’t wear any gloves, so his fingerprints were all over the knife. He quickly tried to let go, but at that moment, the butterfly in his brain enlarged and flapped its wings!
“The butterfly is feasting on my malice. It’s growing!” Shen Luo couldn’t take the pain. Just as he was about to break, a car horn came out the road outside.
A taxi stopped beside the two cars. The taxi driver urged his passenger to get back into the car, but the passenger didn’t seem to hear him.
