stonecrandall Page 7
Page 7
"Wait a minute." Yukino suddenly closed her book, her gaze lingering on their clasped hands for a second. "Chen Xiao, you seem to know a lot about this club?"
Chen Xiao released Bei Jian's hand and smiled nonchalantly, "I just heard some rumors before."
Kitami looked at Chen Xiao expectantly: "Club president Takashiro-senpai said there's an important induction ceremony tomorrow night... I'm a little scared, Chen Xiao, can you come with me?"
"Of course," Chen Xiao readily agreed.
Yukino suddenly stood up: "I'll go too."
"Huh?" Yui looked at her in surprise.
Yukinoshita adjusted her glasses. "Since it's a request to help a classmate, as a member of the Service Club, I naturally have to participate. And..." She gave Chen Xiao a meaningful look, "...someone needs to supervise the behavior of certain people."
Chapter 8: The Horror in the Infirmary with Hiroko Takashiro
"Yukino, although this is an investigation, you must be careful." Chen Xiao solemnly reminded Yukino Yukinoshita. He knew the seriousness of the matter. It was too risky to let a pure heroine from a slice-of-life anime rashly enter the complex world built by the plot of a hentai anime.
However, Yukino Yukinoshita's mind was made up, and her eyes revealed an unwavering determination.
She glanced at Chen Xiao, a hint of provocation in her voice: "Can I take this as you being concerned about me?"
"Otherwise what?" Chen Xiao's lips curled up, revealing a playful smile.
Yukino Yukinoshita lowered her eyes slightly and said softly, "I just don't want to admit defeat in front of you."
“Now that we’re partners in the same industry, shouldn’t we work together?” Chen Xiao patiently advised.
"Yes. I will." Although Yukino Yukinoshita was somewhat wary of Chen Xiao, she also genuinely felt his care for her.
At noon the next day, sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves and dappled onto the paths of the campus.
Chen Xiao, Yukino Yukinoshita, and Yui Yuigahama arrived at Class 3's classroom together.
A red-haired woman stood at the classroom door. She wore black stockings and a sailor uniform, her thick, white thighs particularly eye-catching. Her figure was curvaceous and alluring, her seductive eyes like a deep pool, gently falling on Chen Xiao and the others, eventually fixing on Chen Xiao, clearly attracted by his appearance.
A slight smile played on her lips as she stared intently at Chen Xiao, saying sweetly, "Isn't this Chen Xiao? Did you come all this way to see me?"
"What an annoying look." Yui Yuigahama muttered under her breath, her brows furrowing slightly.
"Takashiro-kun, we're here to ask you some questions." Before Chen Xiao could speak, Yukino Yukinoshita got straight to the point, her tone straightforward.
"Wait a minute." Chen Xiao quickly leaned close to Yukino's ear and whispered a reminder, "You need to stay calm. Leave this interrogation to me."
Yukino Yukinoshita smiled coldly, her gaze resolute: "As long as you hold firm to your beliefs, no hardship or obstacle can stop you. If you always act evasively and hesitantly, you will only be looked down upon."
"???" Yukino, you probably have no idea how deep the water is in here.
Seeing that Yukino Yukinoshita's attitude was so resolute and that she had spoken so bluntly, Chen Xiao decided not to say anything more and let her question her.
"Isn't this the academically excellent student, the young lady of the Yukinoshita family?" Hiroko Takashiro leaned lazily against the door, a hint of disdain in her eyes. "I have no interest in you whatsoever. Chen Xiao, what brings you to me?"
"..." Yukino was about to retort when Chen Xiao quickly stopped her, smiling as he said to Hiroko Takashiro, "Takashiro-san, I'm very interested in the Occult Research Club. Would you mind if I joined?"
Hiroko Takashiro suddenly realized, as if she remembered something important: "Yesterday a girl said she wanted to join the Occult Research Club, and that you recommended her. She also claimed that you were a member of the club. Do you know her?"
“Kitami-kun, she’s my friend. I recommended her to the Occult Research Club,” Chen Xiao replied calmly.
"Hmm, then why did you lie and say you were also in the club?" Hiroko Takashiro asked warily, her eyes scrutinizing her.
Chen Xiao's lips curled up into a confident smile: "Because I want to join, I sent Bei Jian to sound him out first."
Hiroko Takashiro looked at Chen Xiao with amusement, a meaningful smile curving her lips: "Then, Chen Xiao, I'd like to have a private talk with you."
“No problem.” Chen Xiao gestured for Yukino and Yui to step back.
Yukino and Yui exchanged a glance. Before leaving, Yukino whispered in Chen Xiao's ear, "You'd better keep your composure. We're investigating the Dark Bible."
"Mm." Chen Xiao nodded slightly.
"Don't let women bewitch you," Yui Yuigahama reminded him from the side.
"I know," Chen Xiao gave them a reassuring look.
Hiroko Takashiro led Chen Xiao to the dimly lit infirmary with her light, crisp footsteps. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the blinds, casting dappled light and shadow on her beautiful face.
As she turned around, the hem of her black uniform skirt swayed gently, outlining her graceful and captivating curves.
"What is your relationship with Yukino Yukinoshita?" Hiroko Takashiro suddenly asked, her slender fingers gently tracing the edge of the hospital bed in the infirmary, her eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.
Chen Xiao leaned lazily against the doorframe, his gaze roaming unabashedly over her body, from her long, beautiful legs to her slender waist, finally settling on her slightly heaving chest. A playful smile curled at the corner of his lips: "What? Is Gao Cheng... jealous?"
Hiroko Takashiro's pupils contracted slightly, then she chuckled softly: "Heh... I'm jealous of her?" She suddenly took a step forward, almost touching Chen Xiao, and her red lips parted slightly: "I'm just curious, why would someone like you get so close to that arrogant young lady?"
Chen Xiao didn't dodge or flinch, but instead reached out and put his arm around her slender waist, his voice deep and magnetic: "Then who do you think... I should get close to?" His breath brushed gently against Gao Cheng's ear, carrying a hint of ambiguity, "For example... a charming senior like you?"
Hiroko Takashiro's body trembled slightly, but she didn't push him away. She raised her eyelids, a strange light flashing in her eyes: "You really are... as frivolous as the rumors say..."
“Likewise.” Chen Xiao’s fingers lightly caressed her waist, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “But compared to the cold type like Yukinoshita, I do prefer… a warm and proactive senior.”
The infirmary suddenly fell silent, save for the two breathing so close together, a subtle, ambiguous atmosphere filling the air. Hiroko Takashiro chuckled softly, taking a half-step back to create some distance: "Interesting… Chen Xiao, are you going to join the Occult Research Club?"
"Of course," Chen Xiao replied without hesitation.
"To be honest, your appearance is truly captivating." She smiled slightly and recited a mysterious incantation. Instantly, a strange fluctuation occurred in the room, as if an invisible force was surging.
"What are you going to do?" Chen Xiao asked back, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.
"The Occult Research Association doesn't need men, but you can be an exception, provided you show me your abilities." Hiroko Takashiro stared intently at Chen Xiao, her eyes filled with a hint of provocation.
after an hour.
After getting dressed, Chen Xiao looked at Gao Cheng Hiroko's slightly tired yet satisfied expression and smiled meaningfully: "Interesting."
"Why are you so skilled?" Hiroko Takashiro asked, somewhat uneasy and confused, her eyes filled with doubt.
"It seems like you're not quite familiar with it, senior," Chen Xiao replied with a light laugh, a hint of teasing in her eyes.
"Hmm." Hiroko Takashiro's lips curled into a slight smile. "There's a ceremony tonight. Since you want to join the club, that's great. But..." Hiroko Takashiro thought of Yukino Yukinoshita, a cold smile creeping onto her lips. "I make you happier than Yukinoshita, don't I?"
"It's alright." Chen Xiao turned to leave.
"Hehe, see you tonight, I want to give you a little surprise," Hiroko Takashiro called out from behind him.
"What kind of surprise? Preferably not a shock." Chen Xiao stopped and turned around to ask.
"Anyway, you'll definitely come." Hiroko Takashiro thought for a moment, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "After all, Kitami seems to trust you a lot, and besides..."
Chen Xiao remained silent, secretly pondering to himself that if this woman weren't still of some use to him, he would have loved to teach her a lesson. Unfortunately, he couldn't now; what he truly desired was the power of that book.
After leaving the infirmary, Chen Xiao went straight to the classroom where Bei Jian was.
As expected, Kitami was nowhere to be found.
Chapter Nine: The Mysterious Summoning, and the Misunderstanding Between Kitami and Chen Xiao
School's out, evening.
Chen Xiao, Yukino Yukinoshita, and Yui Yuigahama arrived at the old school building.
"Is this the base of the Occult Research Society? It feels so eerie." Yui Yuigahama looked around. At the entrance, she could see groups of women dressed in black, wearing black hoods and black Western robes.
Every woman is a student in school.
"Chen Xiao?" A female student looked up and her gaze fell on Chen Xiao.
"you know me?"
"You're the most handsome man in the whole school, how could I not know you? My name is Saeki Kaori!"
"You were waiting for me here?"
“Takashiro told me to wait for you. She also said you would bring two companions.” Saeki Kaori smiled playfully, holding Chen Xiao’s hand and placing it on her heart. “You were able to pass Takashiro’s test, so you must be a very interesting man. Do you like the sound of my heartbeat? Or do you just like the feel of it?”
Yui Yuigahama sulked, "Saeki-kun, can you please stop touching Chen Xiaojun like that? You have no sense of propriety whatsoever as a girl should have."
Kaori Saeki chuckled, even bursting into laughter. "How adorable! You're Chen Xiao's classmate and a member of the Service Club, right? Since you're all here, we happen to have something to ask the Service Club."
"What's going on?" Yukino felt tense and uneasy for some reason. The eyes of the people around her were filled with hostility, making it hard to doubt whether the people here were mentally sound.
"Everyone, please come in with me! You'll find out what it is once we're inside." After Saeki Kaori finished speaking, she clapped her hands, and a beautiful girl with blonde hair walked out. Saeki Kaori exuded a captivating charm.
This woman's eyes appeared pure and natural, like those of a very innocent young girl.
"Shiraki, take Yukino and Yui Yuigahama to another room. As for Chen Xiao, you come with me."
"What do you want?" Yukino Yukinoshita had just finished speaking when a group of women appeared from the darkness on the left and right sides.
He dragged Yukino and Yui toward the interior of the Occult Research Club.
“Chen Xiao, now you can come with me.” Saeki Kaori smiled knowingly.
"Your service is very attentive."
"Takashiro said you're dangerous, so we have to hold back, right? As long as you cooperate with us, Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama will be fine."
Chen Xiao was still somewhat worried, "Don't you have any other men in your occult research club?"
"Of course not, this is only open to women."
"Then I'll assume you're right for now."
“Chen Xiao, I really can’t bear to kill you.” Saeki Kaori held Chen Xiao’s body. “I can even understand why Takashiro values you so much and wants you to activate the sacrifice.”
"The offering refers to Kitami?"
“Yes, you are indeed very smart. Those two women as hostages are indeed somewhat useful.” Saeki Kaori listened to Chen Xiao’s heartbeat. “Wait, promise me that after you and the sacrifice, you must satisfy me. I’ve heard Takagi talk about your abilities.”
"I don't know what you mean." Chen Xiao was secretly delighted, but pretended not to understand.
"It's alright, you'll understand soon." The two walked through the dark and damp basement.
Flames blazed all around.
At the end, a group of mystical women were seen binding the girl Kitami to a stone coffin by candlelight.
Hiroko Takashiro, on the other hand, adopted an air of superiority.
He is holding a blood-red cross in his right hand.
He held a bloodstained knife in his left hand.
He started by using a knife to cut bloody marks on all ten of his fingers.
Kitami was bound, struggling, her eyes filled with pain.