Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1234 - 599
Previously on Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups...
"Dazhuang, where have you gone?"
"Li Dazhuang, hurry out here! Stop playing hide-and-seek!"
Fang Cheng and the members of the Supernatural Research Society shouted Li Dazhuang's name as they continued their search.
The interior of the water plant was a labyrinth of pipes and discarded equipment, making navigation difficult for those unfamiliar with its layout.
Winding passages and crisscrossing structures meant it was easy to get lost.
As dusk settled, the lack of lighting within the facility cast eerie shadows.
The group fumbled their way deeper, eventually reaching the reservoir section.
The odor of decay became more potent here, mingling with an inexplicable foulness that stung their nostrils.
Surrounded by enclosed pump rooms, the ambient light diminished further, creating an atmosphere akin to complete darkness.
This suffocating environment caused Fang Cheng and the others to instinctively quiet their steps, their faces etched with tension.
They were apprehensive that something horrifying might suddenly emerge from the gloom.
"Hey, I think I see a shadow over there!"
Wang Lan suddenly whispered, pointing ahead.
Everyone’s attention snapped to the spot she indicated.
In the corner of a disused pump room, a silhouette stood with its back to them.
Based on its build and clothing, it strongly resembled Li Dazhuang.
He was hunched over, facing the wall, and emitting low, disjointed murmurs, as if lost in a private conversation.
The words were too indistinct to discern their meaning.
"Fatty, what are you doing? We’ve been looking everywhere for you!"
Zhou Ming exclaimed, stepping forward impulsively.
However, a sense of dread washed over Fang Cheng.
A chilling premonition surged within him, reminding him of his grandfather’s posture the previous night – facing away, making similar inhuman sounds.
"Don’t go near him!"
Fang Cheng yelled, an instinctive warning.
Zhou Ming, who had taken a couple of steps, halted abruptly at Fang Cheng’s shout, turning back in confusion.
"What’s wrong?"
Wang Lan’s brow furrowed, picking up on the unease in Fang Cheng’s voice.
Noticing all eyes on him, Fang Cheng explained in a low tone:
"Don’t you find Li Dazhuang’s behavior strange? It looks like he’s possessed by something malevolent."
"You think so?"
Wang Lan instinctively took a half-step back, her voice tinged with nervousness.
"Fatty’s always like this, a bit eccentric and loves playing pranks..."
Zhou Ming glanced at Wang Lan, noting her hesitant expression. He then composed himself, forcing a smile.
"Heh, with all of us here, even if it’s something real, we’ve got nothing to be afraid of."
As he spoke, he brandished the toy gun filled with talismanic water.
"Besides, we have this spiritual artifact to subdue demons and vanquish evil. No matter how ferocious the entity, it can be contained, right, Lin Xue?"
Lin Xue quickly affirmed, nodding.
"Of course, this is the sacred water I obtained from the Shrine."
Fang Cheng opened his mouth, intending to voice another objection.
Yet, seeing their nonchalant expressions, he ultimately restrained himself and opted to observe.
"Hey, Fatty, what’s up with you?"
Eager to impress the girls, Zhou Ming displayed more boldness than usual.
However, he wasn’t entirely reckless, maintaining his grip on the water gun with both hands as he cautiously approached Li Dazhuang.
He then lightly tapped Li Dazhuang’s back with the gun's muzzle.
At this moment, Li Dazhuang’s body swayed slightly.
Then, he began to turn around slowly and stiffly.
A collective gasp escaped the group as they beheld Li Dazhuang’s face.
His pupils had rolled back entirely, exposing only the bloodshot whites of his eyes.
An unnervingly wide grin contorted his lips, from which dark, viscous fluid dripped relentlessly, emitting a putrid stench.
"Oh my god!"
Zhou Ming yelped in shock, dropping the talisman water gun with a clatter.
Fang Cheng’s pupils constricted, his gaze fixed on the ghastly visage of Li Dazhuang.
This face, this smell – it was disturbingly similar to the encounter from the previous night.
"Be careful, Zhou Ming!"
He shouted an immediate warning, lunging to pull Zhou Ming back.
Regrettably, his action was a fraction too late.
Li Dazhuang’s eyes, now completely white, locked onto Zhou Ming, and he swiftly grasped his arm.
"Ah—"
Zhou Ming cried out in terror, struggling frantically.
But the possessed individual’s strength was formidable, pulling Zhou Ming into an unnerving embrace.
Li Dazhuang opened his mouth, mimicking a retching motion.
In the next instant, a torrent of foul-smelling black liquid erupted, directly drenching Zhou Ming’s face.
The moment the liquid made contact, Zhou Ming’s body began to convulse violently.
His expression rapidly shifted from terror to a vacant indifference, and his pupils started to roll back.
Dark veins instantly snaked across his once clear complexion.
"This is bad, they're both on the verge of becoming corpses! Hurry and use the talisman water on them!" With swift reflexes, Wang Lan lifted the toy water gun, unleashing a barrage of shots at Li Dazhuang and Zhou Ming. Fang Cheng, not wasting time debating the meaning of "becoming corpses," immediately joined the spraying. "Splash! Splash! Splash!" Streams of clear water struck the duo with precision. Yet, it merely left a few damp patches on their clothes, appearing to have no effect whatsoever in repelling any demonic influence. The stench grew even stronger, its foulness becoming more pervasive. "Ah Xue, didn't you say the talisman water was potent?!" Wang Lan cried out, bewildered. Lin Xue's complexion paled, her voice trembling with a mix of panic and embarrassment, "Perhaps... perhaps the talisman water has lost its potency, or maybe this type of malevolent spirit is impervious to such attacks?" At that very instant, the Ghost Detector she held in her hand blared a continuous, piercing alarm. Fang Cheng's eyes widened, his gaze fixed intently on the scene. He could faintly discern what looked like a contorted shadow lurking within Li Dazhuang and Zhou Ming, writhing incessantly beneath their skin as if performing some ancient ritual of possession.